Simon Fuller, the entertainment magnate behind “American Idol” and its charity event airing Wednesday, is trumpeting a starry lineup that includes Elton John, Alicia Keys and Carrie Underwood. But he played it coy when asked about the “Idol Gives Back” role of two other prominent people. Bill and Melinda Gates, supporters of the fundraiser since […]
Category Archives: American Idol
American Idol winner sparks smoking debate
BOGOR, Indonesia – Just a few miles after passing a towering Marlboro Man ad, a second billboard off the highway promotes cigarettes with a new American face: Kelly Clarkson. The former American Idol winner invites fans to buy tickets to her upcoming concert in Jakarta, the nation’s capital. The logo of her sponsor is splashed […]
Seacrest Out-Of-It
In past “American Idol” seasons, viewers looked to Paula Abdul to supply the show’s requisite loopy comedy and awkward moments. But now, with Paula gone, host Ryan Seacrest seems to have stepped into that buffoon role, exhibiting increasingly bizarre behavior all season long. Until this week, his oddest antics had occurred when sparring with Simon […]
‘American Idol’ Top 9 Results
Ryan Seacrest opened Wednesday night’s “American Idol” elimination show with this irritating, heart-palpitating tease: “Prepare yourself for a surprise or two. Shocking results!” What, more bagpipes? Maybe a xylophone, a triangle, a tissue paper and comb, or some other odd instrument accompaniment? Another heckler bumrushing the stage, hopefully this time with “SOY BOMB” Sharpie’d across […]
‘American Idol’ Top 9 Go Helter Skelter
It was a very daytrippy Tuesday when “American Idol” held its Lennon/McCartney Night. No, no one performed a song by the Plastic Ono Band or sang the backwards-masked “Tomorrow Never Knows.” That would’ve been cool. But there was a didjeridoo, a bagpipe player, an actual good performance by underdog Tim Urban, a (hopefully pre-screened) heckler […]
‘Idol’ Castoff Has Critiques For Show’s Judges
Now that Didi Benami knows she won’t be the next “American Idol,” she has some criticism for the judges. “I would say be more consistent just like they told me,” the 23-year-old Benami said. Early in the competition the judges liked her unique singing style, but over time changed their tune. Last week, they panned […]
First ‘Idol’ Hopeful Eliminated
It’s always tough to be the first to go. Lacey Brown, the 24-year-old from Amarillo, Texas, learned that lesson Wednesday night when she was the first of the 12 “American Idol” finalists sent home. While her ouster may not have been a surprise, the biggest revelation of the night was that the controversial judges’ save […]
‘American Idol’ Top 12 Announced:
Hey, readers! Hear that? That faint whoosh in the background? That’s the sound of the entire “American Idol” soundstage unhinging from its foundation, being hoisted high into the air, and jumping over a proverbial shark. Because on Thursday’s all-important results show (the episode that determined this season’s top 12), my personal favorite male and female […]