Off to MTV!

Friday, May 16, 2008, 08:30 AM | Personal

I’m so nervous! I hope I’m funny. But I don’t know if I can even talk straight. I’m a mess.

So we’re going to have a round-table discussion for MTV News with the following American Idol writers: Jim Cantiello of MTV.COM, Michael Slezak of EW.COM, Maura Johnston of Idolator.com and MJ from mjsbigblog.com! MJ is coming all the way from Boston. Isn’t that cool?

There’s going to be make-up, and video cameras and stuff, it’s kinda frightening. I’ve never done this before. I have some of the questions in front of me and I can’t think well. It’s like losing the lyrics to “We Can Work It Out”. I have to remember to say David Archuleta will win American Idol. Maybe I’ll say it twice. Maybe that’s the only thing I’ll say. Hahaha.

I think I’ll Live Blog my journey from my BlackBerry…

Recently on Rickey.org:

96 Comments

1

Good luck Rickey! I’m sure you will do fine! Have fun!

2kidsdogs on May 16, 2008 at 8:36 am
2

PS: Can you tell Michael Slezak that I share in his Jason Castro and ALexandrea Lushington love?

2kidsdogs on May 16, 2008 at 8:38 am
3

Congratulations and Good Luck Rickey!!!!

You’ll do great! You’re the best person to represent us, Archies! We love you!

rainbowskyway on May 16, 2008 at 8:46 am
4

Good luck Rickey! You’ll do great! Thanks for representing our David!!!

archieangel on May 16, 2008 at 8:46 am
5

Good luck Rickey! Try not to make a fool out of yourself by being too one sided. It would be smarter for you to come across as more objective.

Go Cook!!

flgurl on May 16, 2008 at 8:46 am
6

Rickey, you’ll be fine
Have fun

DeniseP on May 16, 2008 at 8:47 am
7

Breath in Breath out, in and out………you are a pro Rickey and I am positive you will look as cute as a bug! Isn’t that really all that counts

Muwah!!!!

Sweet Melissa on May 16, 2008 at 9:02 am
8

Rickey, we believe in you!!!! All the best!!

Blue Sandals on May 16, 2008 at 9:04 am
9

Good Luck Rickey!!

Spread some Archie love!!

Everyone else, go to the aol homepage and vote. They are asking if David A has an unfair advantage, and claiming that AI always gives him the pimp spot. They are so annoying!

Brookeabcdefg on May 16, 2008 at 9:05 am
10

BTW, when will MTV air this thing?

Brookeabcdefg on May 16, 2008 at 9:05 am
11

Good luck Rickey!

sleepyinsomniac on May 16, 2008 at 9:06 am
12

BREATHE, Rickey, and remember: You Rock!!!! you’ll do great. Just think of yourself as a spokesman for all your cuckoo-crazy fans. You’re our voice of reason, Rickey, haha. Maybe that’s too tall an order. Okay, just BREATHE…. Namaste, Rickey.

GirlyGirl45 on May 16, 2008 at 9:06 am
13

GO GET EM RICKEY!!!

mechanic on May 16, 2008 at 9:09 am
14

mechanic 13,
GO GET EM RICKEY!!! –> yeah! ahahaha.

rainbowskyway on May 16, 2008 at 9:14 am
15

Rickey! The fame, the fame! I love that you’re on MTV today.

jackielea on May 16, 2008 at 9:17 am
16

Have fun big guy. Do we get to judge your performance? Try not to be pitchy.

Scout1971 on May 16, 2008 at 9:23 am
17

Good luck! You´ll be fantastic!

laureldj on May 16, 2008 at 9:23 am
18

Rickey, Good luck and best wishes!!! Believe!!! We’ll be rooting for you!
DA is blessed to have your support. Thank you Rickey.

(Just a thought to remember, now you can understand how DA felt under pressure and still gave his best in each peformance.)

DA For The WIN!

DAFTW on May 16, 2008 at 9:24 am
19

Go get ‘em tiger or chihuahua or whatever…

DAFTELW!!!

archftw on May 16, 2008 at 9:29 am
20

Good luck Rickey!

fountainhead on May 16, 2008 at 9:30 am
21

Good luck Ricky! No one better than you to represent David (and us!)

dazdnconfuzd on May 16, 2008 at 9:44 am
22

Good luck, Rickey!! Thanks for all that you do.

indicgo on May 16, 2008 at 9:45 am
23

ANYONE KNOW THE PRESALE PASSWORD FOR TODAY’S 10:AM PRESALE???

(IT’S THE INTERNET PRESALE, NOT THE POPTARTS ONE. THE PASSWORD IS NOT “POPTARTS” FOR THIS SALE)

dazdnconfuzd on May 16, 2008 at 9:45 am
24

Rickey, you’ll be awesome-b/c you’re part of TEAM DAVID! We believe, Rickey, we believe!
Tell them how crazy we are for David and that he inspires people of ALL AGES! Roll over those “other guys” like a steam roller!!!

Rickey FTW!!!

chelley on May 16, 2008 at 9:46 am
25

Good Luck to you! Have the best time during the interview. I think you have a great blog and I’ve seen how popular it has become. Congrats on that!

ra_chatterbox on May 16, 2008 at 9:47 am
26

Represent Rickey!!

Did you see the David Foster comments on the final that were on AccessHollywood? He thinks David Archuleta has the most potential and really thinks the better talent is in the Archer.

Also, there’s a pretty good argument that it will come down to actual performances that night!! (Freaky and incredible that it still matters.) Cook has the “coasts” and Arch has the heartland/everything in the middle. It’s so close that what they sing and how they do it could in fact make the difference.

And the media, which is based in CA or NY, is from the coasts. Everyone predicted Bo Bice over Carrie–everyone. These city folk often dismiss the rest of country–and it’s a big country. The meek shall inherit.

You’ll do great Rickey! Can’t wait to see it.

Suzanne on May 16, 2008 at 9:51 am
27

Rickey, Relish the moment and have a great time!

Don’t forget to mention your Rickeyjayas (you know, Fanjayas addicted to your site) Hee Hee!

fj2554 on May 16, 2008 at 9:53 am
28

RICKEY, you will be fantastic as long as you are bing yourself. And if you are being yourself, I can’t believe anyone will be able to argue with a sweet and gentle man.

I can’t wait to see some clips!

richie on May 16, 2008 at 10:06 am
29

OK, I must learn to proof before posting.

I bet you will be fantastic as long as you are BEING yourself, not as long as you are a BING cherry.

LOL

richie on May 16, 2008 at 10:07 am
30

Go Rickey ! Go Rickey !
I know you’ll be funny ! How can you not be ?

oOo on May 16, 2008 at 10:15 am
31

Just be yourself, Benjamin, I mean Rickey.

Mrs. Robinson on May 16, 2008 at 10:17 am
32

Good Luck Rickey!!! I know you will knock em dead!

Jonathan67 on May 16, 2008 at 10:26 am
33

dazdnconfuzd and everyone else- today’s internet presale password for the idols tour is: 2008idols

Try your luck with that if you havent gotten tickets yet. Honestly, the ticket selection was just as mediocre as wed.’s presale for me. you guys can try it but I would also try general if you really want something good.

Won’t be on much today, studying for grad school finals. bye!

Indomass on May 16, 2008 at 10:31 am
34

Dazdnconfuzd: ignore the presale if you can, if the show did not sell out in your area last year (and I don’t think it sold out anywhere). You’ll find better seats on your own closer to the date of the show. I know it seems risky, but everyone I know got much better seats by waiting than I did.

Okay, back to Rickey. Channel your superheroes and your superpowers…

GirlyGirl45 on May 16, 2008 at 10:35 am
35

Yay, Rickey! Just think “I have more fans than Jason Castro. I have more fans than Jason Castro.” You’ll be great. Can’t wait to see you!

lever2000 on May 16, 2008 at 10:36 am
36

Good luck Rickey!!! We believe in you!

violet4ever on May 16, 2008 at 10:40 am
37

Rickey..

DealMeAnAce on May 16, 2008 at 10:42 am
38

As I was saying…

Rickey,

Obviously, you are going to be needing an agent after this MTV appearance..and I would like to apply for the position.
I have already started to piece together a rider outlining all of your basic requirements…including a wardrobe of your favorite fun & funky t-shirts, a green room filled with state-of-the-art new computer games, and an unlimited supply of Jolt cola & pixie-stix (red only).

Who knew a few years ago..that the journey would take you here?

Enjoy the moment, my friend.

DealMeAnAce on May 16, 2008 at 10:50 am
39

Rickey, you’ve got to be stoked and pumped.

Are you getting that shakey feeling?

Omigosh! Do you know where you’re going to park?

Just say a little prayer before you go on.

Vikilee on May 16, 2008 at 11:00 am
40

good luck rickey…..fight for the love nugget!!!!

lets crown the prince!!!!

fluffysasha on May 16, 2008 at 11:13 am
41

Amazing…One of David’s youtube videos of Stand By Me has already recevied over 900,000 HITS and it is only one week old!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV_cNPcyOrQ

Its bound to reach ONE MILLION hits before the weekend is out. This is astronomical, on the same scale with Imagine’s views within the first week.

DC has never had this amount of traffic on any of his videos. And Rickey said that DC is the most popular on the internet, BUT, Archie is clearly the most popular on youtube!

Shelly on May 16, 2008 at 11:19 am
42

Rickey, you are living your dream!
— Paula Abdul

(OK. Not really. But just picture her saying it over and over while you’re in the green room.)

And remember, it’s just a $*(%!/& TV show, and we’re just deluded and crazy fans with no personal lives to speak of, so who’s going to take us seriously anyway?

Tell ‘em:

Archie’s singing has cured cancer in lab rats.

Tom Cruise archie-magically denounced Scientology and converted to LDS after hearing The Chose One sing “Angels”. (Tom’s still “straight”, though.)

Osama Bin Laden has put out a video claiming Jeff Archuleta is really a great Dad and an all-round good person. (But Carly Smithson was gypped.)

Gas prices dropped $.50 a gallon in Murray UT last week after David visited.

John Edwards announced that he will endorse a contestant for winning American Idol after next week’s results show.

Myanmar military leaders agree to allow humanitarian aid workers inside the country; but only if they are David Archuleta fans.

Hillary Clinton addresses a rally after winning in West Virginia: “Gosh. Gosh! Gosh!! Where did you all park?”

In the next debate, Hillary Clinton has David A sing a medley of: “When You Believe”, “The Long and Winding Road”, “We Can Work It Out”, “Imagine”, and “Stand By Me”.
Barack requests “And So It Goes”.

TopCat on May 16, 2008 at 11:22 am
43

Rickey!! I’m so proud of you! Don’t be nervous! (I’ll be nervous FOR you!) Can’t WAIT to “see you on the TV!

beebeecava on May 16, 2008 at 11:29 am
44

Rickey Rickey honey, you will do jst fine…

Lexus on May 16, 2008 at 11:29 am
45

Good luck Rickey! I know you’ll be great and make all of us proud!!

davida_please on May 16, 2008 at 11:36 am
46

Top cat, Vikilee, Dealmeanace

you’re all absolutely hilarious. Couldn’t stop laughing!!

All the best to both Davids. They are both winners. No more bashing or comparisons… somehow it really doesn’t do any favors your own favourite.

Hope it will be a gripping finale…hope my heart can take all the drama and suspense. GOSH!!

DAFTW!!!

frangipenni on May 16, 2008 at 11:42 am
47

Good luck Rickey!! Please post it when it’s aired and done taping!!!

AmoreChic on May 16, 2008 at 11:46 am
48

Good Luck Rickey, do yourself and Archie proud. This should be fun.

thevoice on May 16, 2008 at 11:50 am
49

GOSH!!! I’m really looking forward to seeing that video! RYFTW!

merrr on May 16, 2008 at 11:51 am
50

Go Rickey!
#41 LMAO!

maitrang on May 16, 2008 at 11:56 am
51

Indomass, thanks for that password, no luck finding better seats.

GirlyGirl45, how close to the date did you wait to get tickets? I’m going to try again tomorrow but I can always re-sell what I’ve bought.

TopCat, LOL at your post, that was great!

archieangel on May 16, 2008 at 12:03 pm
52

If anyone on here read the chat on fanblast last night, please see my question at the bottom of the “Gosh” thread. (about song selection).

Go Rickey Go!

Suzanne on May 16, 2008 at 12:06 pm
53

Male contestants David Cook, David Archuleta and Jason Castro dominate
the show’s consumer discussion online with 14.3% and 12.5% and 10.5% buzz
volume, respectively. Brooke White continues to be included in
conversations after being voted off two weeks ago with 7.5% buzz volume,
while Syesha Mercado trails with 5.4%, more than two times less the amount
of buzz compared with Cook and Archuleta.

The most popular American Idol contestant from opinions and feedback
from Hey! Nielsen’s online panel is Carrie Underwood. David Archuleta is
this season’s most popular according to HeyNielsen.com.

Most Popular American Idol Contestants*
1) Carrie Underwood
2) Clay Aiken
3) David Archuleta
4) David Cook
5) Kelly Clarkson

Most Popular American Idol Contestants Season 7*
1) David Archuleta
2) David Cook
3) Jason Castro
4) Brooke White
5) Danny Norriega

Source: HeyNielsen.com, *Based on member opinions and feedback

Web Traffic to American Idol Sites*
Month Unique Audience Time per Person
Mar-07 7,273,000 0:07:03
Apr-07 6,478,000 0:07:13
May-06 6,153,000 0:12:33
May-07 5,234,000 0:10:01
Mar-06 5,171,000 0:12:28
Mar-08 4,298,000 0:08:13
Apr-06 4,043,000 0:10:41
Feb-08 3,891,000 0:07:31
Feb-07 3,516,000 0:07:57
May-05 3,375,000 0:07:58
Source: Nielsen Online, *Web traffic for American Idol is represented
by traffic to either americanidol.com or idolonfox.com, depending on which
garnered the most traffic for the given time period, Time per Person
(hh:mm:ss)

ealbino on May 16, 2008 at 12:12 pm
54

Best wishes, Rickey. You will be awesome.

bike2tilden on May 16, 2008 at 12:12 pm
55

link to article above.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-15-2008/0004814690&EDATE=

The Nielsen Company Measures the American Idol Phenom

ealbino on May 16, 2008 at 12:13 pm
56

archieangel, like an idiot, I bought mine as soon as the presale went up. Mistake. Wait. Or buy and resell your crappy seats.

GirlyGirl45 on May 16, 2008 at 12:13 pm
57

Good Luck Rickey!! We love ya!

kwat11 on May 16, 2008 at 12:13 pm
58

Goodluck Rickey, you gonna do good and make your points known!

CookieMonster on May 16, 2008 at 12:36 pm
59

Rickey, I just hope you stand up to Slezak and challenge him on his overzealous opinions on Archie. I have at times wanted to challenge him to a good old fashion duel at sunset. Don’t let him entirely get away with bulldozing our boy. He is not as bright and witty as he thinks he is.

houstonrufus on May 16, 2008 at 12:57 pm
60

Rickey just remember!!!

DAFTMFW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

karidol on May 16, 2008 at 1:23 pm
61

please check yahoo email we have some exciting news!

Thanks!!!!!!

fluffy10 on May 16, 2008 at 1:35 pm
62

Good Luck Rickey, You’ll do fine, deep breaths…

Make sure you post a link to the Video, Can’t wait to see it.

hifi2020-mark on May 16, 2008 at 2:04 pm
63

Fluffy, surely you are talking about word that Taylor Hicks is going to be on Broadway in the umpteenth revival of ‘Grease.’ And I am sure Rickey will be running to the box office to get tickets!

Or maybe not. Hmmmm…. Rickey in a room full of Soul Patrolers. Yeah, guess not.

richie on May 16, 2008 at 2:06 pm
64

Good luck!!

Moe on May 16, 2008 at 2:07 pm
65

rickey!!!!!!!!!!!!!are you back? i’m sure you were funny, you’re always funny, well except for when you are sad:(
how did it go?
David Archuleta for the win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rousie on May 16, 2008 at 2:10 pm
66

ealbino - thanks for the Nielsen study.

Based on web content:

Most Popular American Idol Contestants Season 7*
1) David Archuleta
2) David Cook
3) Jason Castro
4) Brooke White
5) Danny Norriega

Source: HeyNielsen.com, *Based on member opinions and feedback

violet4ever on May 16, 2008 at 2:13 pm
67

GOOD LUCK RICKEY!! I’ll be praying for you. You’re gonna do awesome!

allisonxD on May 16, 2008 at 2:16 pm
68

ROUSIE, I don’t believe he is back yet.

richie on May 16, 2008 at 2:17 pm
69

The peeps are rooting for you RICKEY! Can’t wait to hear how it went.

JadoreAce on May 16, 2008 at 2:20 pm
70

To keep people interested and talking while Rickey is otherwise engaged in superfandom, I thought I would post this about the guest stars on the finale of AI7.

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/05/15/jonas-brothers-american-idol/

richie on May 16, 2008 at 2:20 pm
71

And apparently the rock fans will also be represented.

http://www.dailypress.com/features/dp-tkt_onerepublic_0516may16,0,573951.story

richie on May 16, 2008 at 2:21 pm
72

Hi, Richie, thanks for the updates

GirlyGirl45 on May 16, 2008 at 2:25 pm
73

GIRLY, no problem! Just waiting to get an update from Rickey, so killing time checking out news items on the web.

Yes, I need to get a life!

richie on May 16, 2008 at 2:28 pm
74

Haha. Really cool, and good luck!

When can we expect to see this on our television screens?

Klope62 on May 16, 2008 at 2:32 pm
75

Go Rickey!!!!!

hapi on May 16, 2008 at 2:34 pm
76

Oh Rickey, I am so excited for you, I know you can do it,good luck and congratulations.
Big hug from me

roma on May 16, 2008 at 2:37 pm
77

I keep checking the news to make sure Rickey hasn’t taken the whole studio hostage until they agree to vote for Archie.

richie on May 16, 2008 at 2:37 pm
78

More finale news:
Rumor has it that with Paula Abdul’s first studio release in over a decade due in stores this summer, the Forever Your Girl star will debut a song from her upcoming album on the “Idol” finale on May 21st. And Paula fans can expect an all-out “Idol” extravaganza. We hear that this season’s Top 12 “Idols” will perform with Paula on the brand new Nokia Theatre stage — and two “Idols” from each of the past six seasons will also return to Hollywood for the spectacular season-closer.

http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/7130

Yeah, I don’t know if I am excited to see the train wreck commonly referred to as Paula singing live, either.

richie on May 16, 2008 at 2:46 pm
79

richie hmmmm

fluffy10 on May 16, 2008 at 3:07 pm
80

So do you think OneRepublic is singing with Cook? Like Chris Daughtry sang with Live?

If David Archuleta sings with the Jonas Brothers, that would royally stink. (I’ve been hoping for a Natasha B/David A duet.)

Gee Richie–maybe you can do some investigation regarding where Natasha is going to be on Wednesday?

Suzanne on May 16, 2008 at 3:12 pm
81

“In other concert news, songwriter Edwin McCain has canceled his show scheduled for Wednesday at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach. McCain was to perform with TRADOC Rock, an Army rock ensemble. No reason was given for the cancellation.”

hmmmm…..maybe he’ll be a surprise guest at the finale and do a duet of “I’ll Be” with Archey?!!!!!

one can dream…

Indomass on May 16, 2008 at 3:20 pm
82

Suzanne, Natasha is in Myrtle Beach on May 20th, playing the House of Blues, and in Clearwater, FL on the 22nd, so the 21st is always a possibility.

I would think they are playing with the Davids, since they don’t usually have people on just to be by themselves, at not on the finals.

Maybe Rickey got some info at MTV, cause I am just finding info and making crap up.

richie on May 16, 2008 at 3:21 pm
83

The best thing about dreams, Indomass, is they are free and usually hurt no one.

Fluffy, was the ‘hmmmm’ a question or just a thought forming?

richie on May 16, 2008 at 3:24 pm
84

If David performs w/ the Jonas Bros., I’m going to seriously barf. They are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not in the same league and people would automatically assume that David belongs in the “teeny bopper” category.

***BLECH—just thinking about it…***

chelley on May 16, 2008 at 3:26 pm
85

Just saw word on MJs Big Blog that the MTV thing is done, according to MJ herself. It is about time Rickey checked in!

richie on May 16, 2008 at 3:28 pm
86

out of those confirmed, Archey SHOULD do a duet with One Republic.

Indomass on May 16, 2008 at 3:28 pm
87

richie I’ll let you decide

fluffy10 on May 16, 2008 at 3:31 pm
88

Fluffy, I was fearful that it was perhaps a little gas from hearing about Paula singing live…

richie on May 16, 2008 at 3:33 pm
89

Richie you are quite the jokester so I’ve been told

fluffy10 on May 16, 2008 at 3:35 pm
90

Fluffy, now you are scaring me just a bit. After all, I am usually the stalker…

LOL

richie on May 16, 2008 at 3:39 pm
91

Richie, feel free to email me anytime and we can exchange stalker techniques!

fluffy10 on May 16, 2008 at 3:46 pm
92

That’s great Rickey I know you did a great job!!

Donna on May 16, 2008 at 4:13 pm
93

Archieangel, GirlyGirl is 100% correct. My presale tix were row 26; the ones I bought (different show) 2 days before the event were row C (which were side view to the stage so I exchanged them for row G when I got to the venue. Turned out to be 4TH ROW. So be careful with those abc’s. They can be deceiving).

Hope this is not too confusing. To recap: consider waiting, but make sure you know what you’re getting when you purchase an alpha rather than numeric seat designation.

Rickey, you will slay them, I’m sure! Don’t worry about bringing the funny. You’ll do that if you just be your usual quirky self

hesterprune on May 16, 2008 at 5:06 pm
94

Hope it went well Rickey! Congrats!

fa3ryg1rl on May 16, 2008 at 8:32 pm
95

WOW…..I know Jim! I think this is great for you Rickey! All these “American Idol” bloggers/reviewers all in ONE place!? Awesome! We’ll see how it goes.

shadow25 on May 16, 2008 at 10:03 pm
96

All archies go onto the aol poll and vote for archie he needs the support Arch-angels and archies so plz vote vote vote more than 1 time your allowed to vote as many times as you want

Dominic4Archuleta on May 16, 2008 at 11:36 pm