This is... American Idol!

Ryan Will Host Idol Gives Back Solo

2008-04-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

I meant to write this in the morning, before leaving... but I always have a hard time waking up. Anyway.

Ellen DeGeneres will not co-host Idol Gives Back, as was previously publicized. According to Access Hollywood, she has an "unforeseen production schedule" that conflicts with the show.

Too bad, I like Ellen, but I'm sure Ryan will do a good job.

Kelly Clarkson Demos Online

2008-04-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I heard four song demos by Kelly Clarkson have leaked (or something similar to leaked) online.

They are:
1. Close Your Eyes
2. One Day
3. Ready
4. With a Little Bit of Luck

... And I found them here.

The poster took the links down after much bashing in the comments, but you can still find alternate links in, ironically, the comments section!

I will not preach. I will not voice my opinion. Some think downloading leaks is disrespectful to the artist, others don't mind.

But if you would like to download them, you know where to find them.

Remember Her?

2008-04-04T11:54:00.001-07:00

Yes, friends, she is back.

Ashley Ferl, the little girl whose cheeks were once wet with tears for Sanjaya was in the audience in Tuesday's Idol. And guess what? She was crying. Again. For whom?

For Jason Castro.

I don't know if having Ashley as a fan is very helpful for Castro. Sanjaya, after all, is considered by many to be a joke who doesn't have nearly of Castro's talent... And, having Ashley as a fan, may draw some unwanted parallels between the two.

What do you think?

My apologies...

2008-04-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

Guys,

I am so sorry for not updating the past few days. School is keeping more than busy and, to add to that, I have job interviews to attend... Oh, my last semester of college!

I haven't even been able to watch AI last night and tonight! ...Ugh.

Tomorrow, it's back to updating!

T.

Danny Noriega Singing on Rosie O'Donnell's Cruise!

2008-03-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

Remember that cruise to which Rosie O'Donnell invited Danny Noriega? Well, Ross Matthews, The Tonight Show's "intern" was also aboard, and he posted a video on his blog where you can see both guys singing "I Love Rock 'n' Roll."

He writes: I saw him in the buffet during breakfast one morning and dragged him and his friends back to my room to film a TALKY for all of YOU!

Haha! Check the TALKY out below:

Predicting the Order of Finish

2008-03-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

Oscar Dahl from BuddyTV has just posted a list where he predicts, using logic, the order of finish in this season's Idol.

Here's the list:

9. Syesha Mercado - She's going to give another pretty good performance next week, but it won't be enough to save her.

8. Kristy Lee Cook - Even though she avoided the bottom three this week, Cook has spent the last month on the precipice of elimination. If she comes out next week wearing only a flesh-baring American flag and two bald eagles on her shoulders, however, all bets are off.

7. Carly Smithson - I'm liking Carly more and more as the season goes along, but I don't think she possesses the fan base I expected her to at the beginning of the season.

6. Jason Castro - Jason goes one of two ways beginning next week. Either he steps up, becomes motivated and gives us some uniquely great performances, or he folds. His lack of effort recently has been noticeable and, frankly, I'm not all that sure Jason's heart is in this thing.

5. Ramiele Malubay - She has a pretty good voice, but it's clear that she's outclassed by most of the remaining singers. This is where the talent difference just becomes too vast.

4. Michael Johns - For all I care, you can switch Michael and Jason on this list. That's how close I think the two of them are at this point.

3. Brooke White - I almost placed Brooke in second place, but then I got to thinking – when it comes down to the Davids and Brooke, which one is not like the other? Brooke and Archuleta would logically appear to have a similar voting base.

2. David Cook - The rocker versus the pop singer. This will be very similar to last year's final. David Cook will probably be very happy to lose out to Archuleta and in the process gain that much more freedom when it comes to recording his debut album.

1. David Archuleta - The simple fact is this: David not only has to have some really poor performances to not win, he's going to need a string of really bad performances to get ousted.

...What do you think?

On Former Contestants' News...

2008-03-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

Not much seems to be going on in this season's Idol front, so shall we catch up with contestants from previous seasons?

In the next few months, expect to see three contestants out and about with their new albums:

Josh Gracin (Season 2) will release his second album, We Weren't Crazy next week. Expect uptempo country songs!
Chris Sligh's (Season 6) debut album, Running Back to You, comes out on May 6 replete with Christian-themed songs.
Jon Peter Lewis's (Season 3) second album, Break the Silence drops on June 3!

# 2 on Yahoo!'s Top Overall Searches

2008-03-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

It seems like Idol is # 2 on today's top overall searches on Yahoo! Woo-hoo! Go Idol! The only season 7 contestant in the list is David Cook, who comes in at # 9.

And... remember Haley Scarnato? She's # 20 on the "movers" list. Why? I don't know for sure, but I've recently heard stories of Haley's scary experiences with a stalker, forcing her to move from Nashville. There have also been some rumors floating around of her possible hookup with Blake Lewis... Check out her interview on American Idol Extra below. (Seen here).

"Ryan Seacrest No Fan of Himself in the Nude"

2008-03-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Not exactly an Idol scoop, but the headline caught my attention...

Ryan has been recently featured on the cover of Details magazine, and here's what he had to say to a reporter at the publication's party about his biggest fashion turn-off:

"Me, naked! I’m not turned on by it."

Eh... thanks for letting us know, Ryan?

Seen here.

What Does Simon Think of the Mosh Pit Arm-Waving?

2008-03-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, many of us have been there. Many of us have sat in utter hypnotic states as hysterical girls in the new Idol mosh pit wave their arms to the left... and to the right... to the left... and to the right... to the left... and to the right... You get the point. So what does Simon think?

It's a little bit annoying at times, because you kind of think that it's like they're all hypnotized! [Laughs] That's probably the best way of describing it. It's like they all wake up after it's finished and think What have I just been doing?
...
So we may have to sit them down in the future. I think it's good idea for the final; I'm not sure it's a good idea for the [regular shows]. Particularly, when you've got someone at the piano doing a Sting song, there's nothing much to wave about, is there?

Seen here.

Remember Melinda and Chris?

2008-03-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

If you are/were a fan, here's your chance to catch them on a Dreyer's ice cream national promotional tour!

Click on the image below for more info:

David Hernandez to Star on "Rent"?

2008-03-27T16:36:00.001-07:00

I had seen David a few days ago on TMZ as he arrived in New York, apparently to audition for a role in "Rent," now that it has been extended (yay!) through Sept. 7, but I only found out details now...

According to MTV, David auditioned for the role of Roger but may be cast in a smaller part... We'll find out in a few weeks.

Good luck, David!

For more on this, click here.

Idol Gives Back Tickets On Sale!

2008-03-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

If you are lucky enough to live in the L.A. area and happen to be free on, say, April 6, you'll be happy to know that Idol Gives Back tickets are now on sale HERE!

Ticket prices range from $50 to $500 (excluding taxes, convenience charges, etc.).

Get your tickets now! Not only will you be helping to raise money for charities around the world, you'll be helping me to fulfill one of my dream vicariously through you!

What You Didn't See Last Night!

2008-03-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

I have to confess, every Wednesday and Thursday morning I wake up, hop out of bed in my PJs (messy hair, half-closed eyes and all) and head straight to my computer, where People Magazine's "What You Didn't See" awaits me with juicy tidbits of Idol gossip and backstage happenings from last night.

...

Quite sad, I know. But somehow, it almost makes me feel like I was... there.

Anyway, here are my favorite highlights of what we didn't see last night:

British pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield caught some attention with her long blond hair and midriff showing outfit as she watched the show sitting between the now regular spectator Danny Noriega and David Hernandez, who got a bear hug when Noriega spotted him. (Say what you may, I miss Danny on the show!)
When Kimberly Locke’s performance was running on the monitor, Syesha decided to head over across the stage and spend some time chatting up friend Carly Smithson (who just found out she was safe) over on the couch — and then Chikezie followed suit, also heading over to hug and chat with pal Michael Johns. These two spent so much time over with the safe Idols, that producer Nigel Lythgoe had to go up on stage and lead them back to their seats. (All together now: AWWW!)
Carly Smithson and Brooke White, the first to learn they would not be leaving the show (for now), hugged each other tight as the Ford video “I Want You to Want Me” played on the big screen. (I'm a fan of these two!)