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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Kris Allen wins ‘American Idol’
At the end of a star-studded finale, and after nearly 100 million votes were cast, 23-year-old Kris Allen was named “American Idol” Season 8 champion over rival Adam Lambert. The singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas — noted for accompanying himself on guitar or piano and twisting the arrangements of popular songs — bested his rival, 27-year-old actor and singer Lambert.
“Idol” makers seemed to be pushing for Lambert: two weeks ago, Simon Cowell all but told America to vote for him and, during Tuesday’s performance show, Lambert received the lion’s share of the judges’ praise. But America was not ready to crown such an unusual contestant who favored the outrageous and theatrical over Allen’s more mainstream style and homey charm.
The finale was much more elaborate than in recent years, featuring performances from the sublime to the ridiculous: The last female contestant to leave the show, Allison Iraheta, sang a beautiful duet of “Time After Time” with Cyndi Lauper, while Lambert glammed up the stage with KISS. Allen and Lambert (whose vocal stylings have been unwisely compared to Freddie Mercury’s) delivered a spirited rendition of “We Are The Champions” with the surviving members of Mercury’s band, Queen (perhaps Lambert has found his post-Idol gig).
Allen seemed genuinely surprised and gracious, telling host Ryan Seacrest, “I don’t even know what to say right now; I’m not even here,” and claiming that Lambert deserved to win. And in the end, American was forced to endure one final rendition of “No Boundaries,” the awful coronation power ballad co-written by new “Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi. Even seeing DioGuardi almost strip down to a bikini for charity mid-show did not excuse that.
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Troy Kimmel returning to Austin’s airwaves
Troy Kimmel is heading back to KEYE — albeit for a limited run.
Kimmel, who served as the CBS station’s chief meteorologist from 2000 to 2003, will spend the summer filling in on weekend newscasts while management attempts to find a replacement for Megan Campbell.
One of the city’s best-known weathercasters, Kimmel has also spent time working at KTBC and KVUE. Currently chief meteorologist for Clear Channel’s Austin radio stations and a senior lecturer at UT, he broke the news in a Facebook post Wednesday:
“Ok.. it’s official.. I’m headed back to KEYE TV (CBS) here in Austin to freelance and help out in the weather department with Susan Vessell. Just a summer commitment.. but should be fun!!”
Kimmel starts this weekend, and can be spotted on KEYE’s weekend newscasts, which air Saturday at 6 and 10 p.m. and Sunday at 5:30 and 10 p.m.
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CBS announces fall lineup: moves ‘The Mentalist,’ picks up ‘Medium’
Here’s the Associated Press report on the CBS fall slate:
NEW YORK (AP) — A couple of television crime-fighters are on the move: Patricia Arquette and “Medium” from NBC to CBS, and Simon Baker’s “The Mentalist” to CBS’ Thursday-night lineup.
CBS, the last of the top four broadcasters to reveal its fall schedule to advertisers this week, said it was canceling “Without a Trace,” “The Unit” and “Eleventh Hour.” New series with Jenna Elfman and Julianna Margulies are moving in.
The nation’s most popular network is a model of stability in a roiled broadcast industry. It’s the only network with more viewers this season than last, yet still lost money because of a depressed advertising market.
CBS moved quickly to grab “Medium.” As an aging show, production costs were going up. But since it is made by a production company owned by CBS Corp., the costs were more easily absorbed by CBS. It lands on CBS’ Friday schedule at 9 p.m., between “Ghost Whisperer” and “Numb3rs.”
Simon Baker’s “The Mentalist” was broadcast TV’s only real new hit this season, and CBS decided to move it from Tuesday nights to Thursday at 10 p.m.
Thursdays are important for networks as they seek income from advertisers like film studios looking ahead to the weekend. CBS also said it sees the chance to gain a competitive edge at 10 p.m. with NBC’s decision to air Jay Leno’s new comedy show at that hour each weeknight.
“No matter how well he does, there’s going to be more (audience) share available at 10 o’clock for people who put on great dramas,” said CBS Corp. chief executive Leslie Moonves, “and that’s what we do.”
CBS tinkered with its Monday-night comedy lineup, except for 9 p.m. stalwart “Two and a Half Men.” The network is moving “How I Met Your Mother” up a half hour to 8 p.m., and shifting “Big Bang Theory” to 9:30 p.m. in the hope of nurturing it as a hit.
Elfman’s new show, “Accidentally on Purpose,” debuts at 8:30 p.m. Based on a true story, it’s about a San Francisco film critic who gets pregnant after a one-night stand with a young slacker, then decides to keep both the baby and the dad.
Much like it did with its “CSI” franchise, CBS is now spinning off “NCIS,” which has surprised even network executives with its burst of popularity the past year or so. “NCIS: Los Angeles” features Chris O’Donnell and rapper LL Cool J as a former Navy SEAL, and will air directly after “NCIS” on Tuesday.
CBS says it has an opportunity on Tuesdays with ABC, NBC and Fox’s schedules that night dominated by reality shows like “Dancing With the Stars” and “The Biggest Loser.” “If you don’t want to watch reality, we are the only game in town,” said Kelly Kahl, CBS’ chief scheduling executive.
Margulies stars in “The Good Wife,” about a stay-at-home mom forced back into the workplace when her politically prominent husband is sent to prison after a sex scandal. It will air Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
CBS is bringing on one other new series in the fall. “Three Rivers,” to air Sundays at 9 p.m., is a medical drama about organ donation.
CBS also renewed the comedy “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” which ABC had been eager to pick up if CBS didn’t want to air it any longer.
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‘Idol’ speculation: Kris Allen takes it
Kris Allen and Adam Lambert squared off last night in what “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest called the battle of “the guy next door vesus the guyliner.” Here’s my take:
Round one: Contestants’ choice
Adam reprised his popular rendition of Tears for Fears’ “Mad World,” but with a “Twilight” twist, wearing a floor-length black coat and prowling a stage covered in ethereal clouds of dry-ice smoke. He also imbued it with a more romantic, less desperate tone this time out. I guess he was going for votes from the teen girls and moms who drove that movie’s box office.
Kris slid onto a piano bench and reprised his version of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” a judge and fan favorite from earlier in the season. Sweet and soulful, Kris’ confidence was up, the vocals were solid and the performance seemed sweet and genuine.
Winner: Kris. Both contenders chose the right songs, very important at this point in the competition. The judges heaped praise on each, but Simon called this round correctly.
Round two: Producer’s choice
Simon Fuller chose “A Change Is Gonna Come,” a classic R&B tune — and a really interesting pick — for Adam. It seems like the whole “Idol” machine wants Adam to win, and it’s hard to imagine a better number to woo fans of Danny Gokey, whose votes will decide the winner. Adam cleans up nicely, does a stellar job with the vocals and appropriately tones down the facial tics.
Kris is assigned Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On.” This time he brings out an acoustic guitar and strums along and croons with a few bongo players. It’s pleasant enough, but Kris’ fans are used to seeing him really change up the arrangements on these familiar tunes and his performance here is pretty basic. Also, he’s doing that thing again with the strained face that makes him look like the more stupid brother from “My Name Is Earl.”
Winner: Adam. Viewers got to see a different kind of performance from him — and a good one, so different from “Mad World” — while Kris, though good, gave us more of the same.
Round three: Huh?
Fans hoping for a better coronation song from “Idol” judge (and — as we kept hearing all season — professional songwriter!) Kara DioGuardi than previous years’ viewer-penned efforts had to be disappointed with that mess. “No Boundaries” is the aural poster child for the kind of pointless, inspirational power ballad so loved by the show’s runners, but loathed by its target audience. Honestly, who is ever going to run out and buy this song? The show needs to take a clue from its two finalists, neither of whom is suited to interpret this kind of sappy dreck (nor cram that many syllables into a measure way too short for them): the “Idol” dynamic is changing, and this coronation song business needs to keep up with the times.
Both contestants gave it a go, but neither could be expected to do anything special with that material. Perhaps Kris could have tipped the scales by accompanying himself again, maybe on the xylophone. Considering it was a toss-up, the judges’ gushing over Adam and damning of Kris with faint praise seemed especially transparent.
Winner: Anyone whose DVR stopped early.
While I think Adam is more talented and deserves to win, I still believe that the more marketable and familiar Kris will take most of the Danny Gokey votes, and the title.
What do you think?
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