American Idol winners David Cook and Jordin Sparks, as well as runners-up David Archuleta and Katherine McPhee, will perform on the Teen Choice Awards, airing August 4th on FOX.
Nominee Cook and Archuleta are, of course, on tour with American Idol, while Jordin has her third consectuive Top 40 hit with "One Step at a Time" (her song "No Air" is up for several awards). McPhee is currently working with producer David Foster and is appearing in the film "House Bunny."
It is unclear whether the former Idols will be presenting or performing at the awards.
Also set to appear at the event are Shia LaBeouf, Rachel Bilson, Channing Tatum, David Archuleta, Lil Mama, LL Cool J, Demi Lovato, James Marsden, Leighton Meester, Sophia Bush, Josh Holloway, Ryan Sheckler, Steve Carell, Chris Brown, Scarlett Johansson, Zac Efron, Pink, Danica Patrick, Selena Gomez, JoJo, Minka Kelly, Jesse McCartney, Chad Michael Murray, Chace Crawford, Kristen Bell, Drake Bell, Mischa Barton, Brittany Snow and Hayden Panettiere.
Stay tuned for more info...
Friday, July 25, 2008
David Cook, David Archuleta, Katherine McPhee and Jordin Sparks Will Appear on Teen Choice Awards
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Katharine McPhee Marries Longterm Boyfriend
She may have lost a record deal, but now she's got a husband!
American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee married her longtime boyfriend Nick Cokas this weekend, according to website TMZ.com. They had been engaged since the summer.
The wedding between the 23-year-old singer and the 42-year-old actor took place in Los Angeles.
UPDATE: Here are some more details about the wedding, courtesy of JustJared:
– Vows were exchanged in a 45-minute late afternoon ceremony at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church
– McPhee wore a strapless ivory Manuel Mota gown and Neil Lane jewels (diamond and platinum chandelier earrings and diamond and platinum bracelets)
– Cokas wore an Armani tuxedo
– Fellow season five Idol contestants Kellie Pickler and Mandisa were among the 305 guests
– McPhee’s bridesmaids wore floor-length pink dresses
– Floral arrangements included pink, purple, peach and white roses as well as green hydrangea and pink cherry blossoms
Sunday, January 27, 2008
IDOL MADNESS: Sunday Report
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Spread the word to vote for your faves!
Remember, voting for all Round of 32 matches ends Thursday January 31, 11:59PM EST, so there's plenty of time to still vote!
Here are updates (as of 1/27 at 7:00PM EST) of the Round of 32 match-ups in all divisions. Click on any match-up to vote!
Matches to keep an eye on:
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. # 7 Josh Gracin
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
#2 Ruben Studdard vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
Cowell Bracket
#1 Kelly Clarkson vs. #9 Chris Richardson
Chris continues to chip away at Kelly's lead, but the original Idol is still way out front.
Today: Kelly 64%-36%
Yesterday: Kelly 65.5%-34.5%
Jan 25: Kelly 67%-33%.
#2 Ruben Studdard vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
The Velvet Teddybear is trying to rally, and he's making up some ground -- he gained 8% since yesterday.
Today: Kellie 59%-41%
Yesteray: Kellie 67%-33%
Jan 25: Kellie 66%-34%
#3 Tamyra Gray vs. #6 Jasmine Trias
Jasmine's lead continues to diminish -- she's lost 8% since Friday! Could Tamyra be staging a comeback?
Today: Jasmine 67%-33%
Yesterday: Jasmine 72%-27%
Jan 25: Jasmine 75%-25%
#4 Jennifer Hudson vs. #5 Bo Bice
After a minor setback yesterday, Bo continues to lead the Oscar winner.
Today: Bo 58%-42%
Yesterday: Bo 54%-46%
Jan. 25: Bo 55%-45%
Seacrest Bracket
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
The Soul Patrol has come roaring back, boosting Taylor's take by 5% and making this match with Constantine a real horse-race.
Today: Constantine 56%-44%
Yesterday: Constantine 61%-39%
Jan 25: Constantine 75%-25%
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #7 RJ Helton
I saw Spamalot this afternoon (read my review here), but it looks like some of the Claymates were voting for their boy -- they've lifted his lead over RJ to 40%!
Today: Clay 70%-30%
Yesterday: Clay 58%-42%
Jan 25: Clay 52%-48%
#3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #6 Vonzell Solomon
In this battle of the divas, Melinda stays out on top.
Today: Melinda 66%-34%
Yesterday: Melinda 66%-34%
Jan. 25: Melinda 64%-36%
#5 LaKisha Jones vs. #13 Bucky Covington
No change here -- Bucky is still on track for his second straight upset and a show-down with Taylor in the next round.
Today: Bucky 71%-29%
Yesterday: Bucky 71%-29%
Jan. 25: Bucky 72%-28%
Abdul Bracket
#1 Fantasia vs. #9 Ace Young
Fantasia gained back a few % points, but it's not going to be enough if she's going to defeat Ace.
Today: Ace 66%-34%
Yesterday: Ace 68-32%
Jan. 25: Ace 69%-31%
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
Last year's champ is still in serious trouble -- she's totally lost her lead to Anthony, and is down almost 7% from yesterday. Not good!
Today: Anthony 56%-44%
Yesterday: Anthony 52%-37%
Jan. 25: Jordin 58%-42%
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #6 Nikki McKibbin
In this battle of the third place finishers, Elliott has lost about 5% points since Friday, but is still way out on top.
Today: Elliott 76%-24%
Yesterday: Elliott 77%-23%
Jan. 25: Elliott 81%-19%
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
Blake still has the slight lead, but this remains one of Round 2's closest contests.
Today: Blake 51.7%-48.3%
Yesterday: Blake 51.5%-48.5%
Jan. 25: Kimberley 50.2%-49.8%
Jackson Bracket
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
Carrie has lost 8% since Friday, but she still holds a commanding lead.
Today: 72.4%-27.6%
Yesterday: Carrie 76%-24%
Jan. 25: Carrie 80%-20%
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. # 7 Josh Gracin
After leading early, Daughtry has fallen way behind Gracin. If Chris' fans don't start voting harder, we're going to have a huge upset on our hands.
Today: Josh 58%-42%
Yesterday: Josh 50.3%-49.7%
Jan. 25: Chris 55%-45%
#3 Latoya London vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
Latoya still maintains a healthy lead.
Today: Latoya 58.5%-41.5%
Yesterday: Latoya 57%-43%
Jan. 25: Latoya 62%-37%
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
Katharine continues to struggle with Gina, in fact losing 3% and falling even deeper in the hole. Where are the folks with McPheever?
Today: 55%-45%
Yesterday: Gina 52%-48%
Jan. 25: Katharine 53%-47%
Sunday, January 20, 2008
IDOL MADNESS Jackson Bracket -- Draw, Seeds and First Round Match-Ups
Vote in the Abdul Bracket First Round Match-Ups and see the results of the Cowell and Seacrest Bracket First Round Match-Ups
Jackson Bracket First Round Match-Ups:
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #16 Brandon Rodgers
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. #15 Camile Velasco
#3 Latoya London vs. #14 Corey Clark
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #13 Jon Peter Lewis
#5 Justin Guarini vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
#6 Paris Bennett vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
#7 Josh Gracin vs. #10 Nikko Smith
#8 Christina Christian vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
Visit IDOL MADNESS Main Page
The top 2 seeds of the Jackson bracket were two of the hottest pop stars in 2007. #1seed Carrie Underwood picked up 3 Grammys (and countless other awards) and released a sophomore album on her way to selling several million records last year. #2 seed Chris Daughtry picked up 3 American Music Awards and 4 Grammy nominations on his way to selling 3 million records.
Trying to keep those two seeds from reaching the Final Four will be a pair of runners-up (#5 seed Justin Guarini and #4 seed Katherine McPhee) and a trio of divas (#9 Mandisa Hundley, #6 Paris Bennett, and #3 Latoya London). Overall, Season 5 contestants could overpower this bracket with strong 2, 4, 6, and 9 seeds. Anyone dare call for the sweep??
1 Carrie Underwood
2 Chris Daughtry
3 LaToya London
4 Katharine McPhee
5 Justin Guarini
6 Paris Bennett
7 Josh Gracin
8 Christina Christian
9 Mandisa Hundley
10 Nikko Smith
11 Anwar Robinson
12 Gina Glockson
13 Jon Peter Lewis
14 Corey Clark
15 Camile Velasco
16 Brandon Rodgers
Friday, January 18, 2008
IDOL MADNESS: Friday Report
Spread the word to vote for your faves!
Remember, voting for all Round of 32 matches ends Thursday January 31, 11:59PM EST, so there's plenty of time to still vote!
Here are updates (as of 1/25 at 3:30PM EST) of the Round of 32 match-ups in all divisions. Click on any match-up to vote!
Cowell Bracket
#1 Kelly Clarkson vs. #9 Chris Richardson
Clarkson has her hands full with Richardson, but currently leads 67%-33%.
#2 Ruben Studdard vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
Pickler is trying to pull of her second straight upset; she leads Studdard 66%-34%.
#3 Tamyra Gray vs. #6 Jasmine Trias
Jasmine's fans have come on strong, propelling her to a 75%-25% lead over Tamyra. Where are Tamyra's fans??
#4 Jennifer Hudson vs. #5 Bo Bice
Today's featured match is a nail-biter, with Bice currently leading Oscar winner Hudson 55%-45%.
Seacrest Bracket
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
Constantine's fans have certainly mobilized, but where is the Soul Patrol? Constantine is currently ahead 75%-25%.
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #7 RJ Helton
Perhaps the Claymates are too busy going to see their boy in Spamalot, because he's struggling with RJ, holding a slim lead of 52%-48%. Could an upset be brewing?
#3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #6 Vonzell Solomon
In this battle of the divas, Melinda is currently on top, 64%-36%.
#5 LaKisha Jones vs. #13 Bucky Covington
Bucky pulled off Round 1's biggest upset by sending Diana Degarmo packing; with a 72%-28% lead, will he do the same to LaKisha?
Abdul Bracket
#1 Fantasia vs. #9 Ace Young
Fantasia fans, where are you? Your girl is currently losing to Ace Young, 69%-31%!
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
Last year's champ is ahead of Anthony Fedorov, but just by a bit; Jordin currently leads 58%-42%.
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #6 Nikki McKibbin
In this battle of the third place finishers, Elliott is way out on top, 81%-19%.
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
In Round 2's closest match, Kim and Blake are in a dead heat, with Kimberley enjoying an oh-so-slight lead of 50.2%-49.8%.
Jackson Bracket
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
Carrie continues to roll, enjoying an 80%-20% lead over Mandisa.
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. # 7 Josh Gracin
Daughtry is having a surprisingly difficult time with Gracin -- right now he's only up 55%-45%.
#3 Latoya London vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
Anwar knocked off Paris Bennett in the first round, but as of now he's having trouble getting the best of Latoya. The Season 3 fourth place finisher is currently ahead 62%-37%.
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
After barely squeezing out a win over Jon Peter Lewis in the first round, Kat has her hands full with Gina -- she's barely leading 53%-47%.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Ten Best Initial American Idol Auditions of All Time
As my post 'Am I Wrong For Dreading the American Idol Auditions?' illustrates, I'm not the biggest fan of the initial audition round of American Idol. Having said that, there have been some truly fantastic initial auditions, and I thought I'd pay tribute to those now.
Please note, this list only includes auditions that were televised during the original season. Thus, auditions like Kelly Clarkson's, which were not originally shown, are not included.
Here we go...
1. Frenchie Davis
What a force of nature! There was no full-figured divas in Season 1 of American Idol, so when Frenchie walked in during Season 2, no one knew what to expect -- or how Simon and co. would respond. They had no choice after her tour de force delivery of "And I Am Telling You...", which simply blew the roof off the place. If Frenchie hadn't been disqualified from the competition, we very well might be referring to her as American Idol Winner Frenchie Davis.
2. Justin Guarini
The sad truth is, Justin was never as good as this first audition. Smooth, sexy and confident, he sounded fantastic, wooing both Paula and the audience.
3. Clay Aiken
Paula was "away" during Clay's Idol debut, and what she missed is the stuff of legends -- a ridiculously strong voice coming from a dweeby white kid. It threw the judges for a loop --Randy didn't know what to make of it, and even Simon had to acknowledge the power of this kid's voice. Amazing.
4. Jennifer Hudson
Apparently the producers didn't think highly enough of the future Oscar winner to include her with the rest of the auditions -- she was shepherded off to the "Best of the Rest" special. No matter -- she stood and sang, and I was instantly in love.
5. Melinda Doolittle
The first time timid back-up singer Melinda opened her mouth to croon "For Once In My Life" it was clear she had something special. It was also the first time we saw her modest "Who me?" expression, catapulting her to instant frontrunner status.
6. Katharine McPhee
She looked a little rough (and insecure), but Season 5's second place finisher sounded spot-on and showed enormous control singing "God Bless the Child." Fantastic.
7. Kimberley Locke
She would go on to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" several more times throughout the season, but it was this first rendition that was the most impressive. Simon called it a "master-class in singing." I'd agree.
8. Jordin Sparks
She was a bit too sweet for Simon's liking, but the growl she whipped out in the middle of Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" gave a hint of the vocal prowess she would later display.
9. Tamyra Gray
Coming in like a spitfire on Red Bull, Tamyra was the first girl on Idol to really show some pipes. The judges took notice -- and so did the audience.
10. Ruben Studdard
Like Frenchie, the judges didn't quite know what to make of the big guy, who showed effortless charm crooning "Ribbon in the Sky." His style (and smile) didn't change much over the course of the season, but who cares -- he's the Velvet Teddybear!
Honorable Mentions:
Josh Gracin
Fantasia
Diana Degarmo
Carrie Underwood
Chris Daughtry
LaKisha Jones
Taylor Hicks
Constantine Maroulis
More American Idol Best-Of Lists
Friday, January 04, 2008
Where is American Idol Season 6' Breakout Star?
About seven months after the end of the last season of American Idol, and with under two weeks to go until Season 7 gets going, the question remains...
Where is Season 6' breakout star?
Granted, Jordin Sparks has had radio success with her single "Tattoo" (still in the Top 10 on the pop chart), and both she and Blake Lewis had respectable debut sales weeks for their respective albums. And, yes, LaKisha Jones is now on Broadway in The Color Purple, Chris Richardson and Phil Stacey are both supposedly working on albums, and Sanjaya Malakar remains a household name. While there is still plenty of time for any of these contestants to really enter into the next level of superstardom, none of them has (yet) come close to rivaling the success of the show's most famous alumni.
So...where's the Clarkson? The Underwood? The Daughtry?
You don't have to be a superstar to be successful -- Elliott Yamin, Kellie Pickler, Kimberley Locke and Bucky Covington have made very nice careers for themselves, without selling millions of albums. And, not every season's winner was an instant mega-star -- Fantasia, for example, was well-received out-of-the-gate, but it wasn't until her tour de force performance in The Color Purple that people started really taking her seriously.
Additionally, it doesn't have to be the show's winner who breaks out -- while both Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee still have a presence on the music (and movie) scene, Daughtry made it clear right from the get-go that he was a force to be reckoned with, while Jennifer Hudson took two years after her elimination from the show before she became a household name. However, none of this past season's contestants can claim they have done the same -- or that they even have the real potential to do so.
Will Melinda Doolittle release an album and become the next Norah Jones? Will Jordin's follow-up singles significantly boost her album sales? Will Chris Richardson become the next Justin Timberalke? I'm just not sure.
With Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson under their belt, there's no doubt the show has already produced huge stars, but the bigger question for the show is: is it still capable of doing so?
I believe it is, and if you buy into the hype for the upcoming season, we may find our "biggest star yet!" While that remains to be seen, I'm hoping some of this year's performers tap into whatever that intangible thing is that makes someone not just successful, but special. It's happened before -- I believe it can happen again.
Click to visit Idol Thought's AMERICAN IDOL CENTRAL for show recaps and rankings, news on former contestants, best-of lists and much more
Friday, December 14, 2007
Daughtry, Underwood, Clarkson, Hicks, Pickler, Fantasia, Yamin, McPhee and Covington All Finish in the Top 200 Year-End Album Chart
While Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis haven't seen much traction with their newly released albums, former Idol contestants Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood are doing just fine, thank you very much. Daughtry's album Daughtry was the number one selling album of the year according to Billboard, moving 3.2 million albums, while Underwood's Some Hearts (released in 2005!) was the year's #5 album.
Outside of the top 20, Underwood's sophomore album, Carnival Ride, finished at #56; Kelly Clarkson's My December took the #66 spot; Taylor Hicks' debut grabbed #74; Kellie Pickler's Small Town Girl was #95; Fantasia's self-titled second disc was #105; Elliott Yamin finished at #114; Katharine McPhee grabbed #159; and Bucky Covington took #187.
Here are the year's Top 20:
1. DAUGHTRY Daughtry
2. KONVICTED Akon
3. THE DUTCHESS Fergie
4. HANNAH MONTANA Soundtrack
5. SOME HEARTS Carrie Underwood
6. ALL THE RIGHT REASONS Nickelback
7. FUTURESEX/LOVESOUNDS Justin Timberlake
8. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 Soundtrack
9. NOW 23 Various Artists
10. MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT Linkin Park
11. B'DAY Beyonce
12. GRADUATION Kanye West
13. ME AND MY GANG Rascal Flatts
14. LOVE The Beatles
15. THE SWEET ESCAPE Gwen Stefani
16. HANNAH MONTANA 2 (SOUNDTRACK)/MEET MILEY CYRUS Miley Cyrus
17. AWAKE Josh Groban
18. NOT TOO LATE Norah Jones
19. TAYLOR SWIFT Taylor Swift
20. KINGDOM COME Jay-Z
Click to visit Idol Thoughts' American Idol Central
Friday, December 07, 2007
American Idol's Blake Lewis On Track To Sell About 100K Albums
Just two weeks after Jordin Sparks' debut album failed to make much of a dent on the sales chart, word comes that Blake Lewis is on track to move about 100K copies of his debut album. That amount should be enough to land him in the Top 10 on this week's album chart -- a comparable position to Jordin's debut. This is a bit surprising, considering Blake's single, "Break Anotha," has not had nearly the traction that Jordin's "Tattoo" has had.
Idol runners-up have had mixed success in their debut weeks. While Season 2 second-place finisher Clay Aiken still holds the record for biggest debut sales week of any Idol contestant, Justin Guarini, Diana Degarmo, Bo Bice and Katharine McPhee have not been nearly as successful. If estimates for Blake's CD hold, he will have the third highest debut from a runner-up.
Take a look at the debuts for each of the second place finishers:
1. Clay Aiken, 613K
2. Bo Bice, 225K
3. Katharine McPhee, 116K
4. Justin Guarini, 50K
5. Diana Degarmo, 47K
Click for the sales numbers for Idol winners
Source: Hits Daily Double
Friday, November 02, 2007
IDOL MADNESS (Jackson) Rnd of 32: #4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
Division: Jackson Bracket
The Match-Up: #4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
Idol Thoughts Prediction: Glocksen knocked off Justin Guarini in the first round, and McPhee barely squeezed by Jon Peter Lewis, so this could be a tighter battle than one might think. I still think Kat will be able to pull this one out, although it might be close -- perhaps 58%-42%?
Round of 32 Match-Ups:
Cowell Bracket
#1 Kelly Clarkson vs. #9 Chris Richardson
#2 Ruben Studdard vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
#3 Tamyra Gray vs. #6 Jasmine Trias
#4 Jennifer Hudson vs. #5 Bo Bice
Seacrest Bracket
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #7 RJ Helton
#3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #6 Vonzell Solomon
#5 LaKisha Jones vs. #13 Bucky Covington
Abdul Bracket
#1 Fantasia vs. #9 Ace Young
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #6 Nikki McKibbin
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
Jackson Bracket
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. # 7 Josh Gracin
#3 Latoya London vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
Visit the IDOL MADNESS Main Page
Thursday, November 01, 2007
IDOL MADNESS (Jackson Bracket) Rnd of 64: #4 Katharine McPhee vs. #13 Jon Peter Lewis
Jackson Bracket First Round Match-Ups:
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #16 Brandon Rodgers
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. #15 Camile Velasco
#3 Latoya London vs. #14 Corey Clark
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #13 Jon Peter Lewis
#5 Justin Guarini vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
#6 Paris Bennett vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
#7 Josh Gracin vs. #10 Nikko Smith
#8 Christina Christian vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
Visit IDOL MADNESS Main Page
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Former Idols Nominated For Many Teen Choice Awards
A slew of former American Idol contestants, along with a couple of Idol judges, have been nominated for Teen Choice Awards, which will be presented August 26 on Fox. Here are the Idol-related nominees:
Choice Movie, Actress -- Drama: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Choice Movie, Hissy Fit: Ryan Seacrest, Knocked Up
Choice Movie, Breakout Female: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Choice TV, Reality Show: American Idol
Choice TV, Personality: Ryan Seacrest, American Idol and Simon Cowell, American Idol
Choice TV, Male Reality Star: Sanjaya, American Idol
Choice TV, Female Reality Star: Jordin Sparks, American Idol
Choice Music, Female Artist: Carrie Underwood
Choice Music, Breakout Artist Female: Katharine McPhee
Choice Music, Breakout Artist Group: Daughtry
Choice Music, Rock Track: "It's Not Over," Daughtry
Choice Music, Payback Track: "Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood and "Never Again," Kelly Clarkson
Choice OMG Moment: Sanjaya Malakar sports a faux-hawk on American Idol
Click here for a full list of Teen Choice Award nominees.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Katharine McPhee To Star in Independent Film
Is Katharine McPhee the next Jennifer Hudson?
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kat will star in an upcoming independent film called The Last Caller. The film is apparently a coming-of-age story about "a self-obsessed woman who searches for love, hope, and meaning during random events with other urban seekers." Unlike Hudson, who won an Oscar for belting her way through Dreamgirls, McPhee will not be singing in the film.
Right after her stint on American Idol there were rumors circulating that Steven Spielberg was interested in working with Katharine. Well, this may not be Indiana Jones, but she's gonna make it to the big screen anyways. Congrats Kat!
Click for more News on Former American Idol Contestants
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Ranking the American Idol Runners-Up
Now that we have gotten to the American Idol runners-up, these rankings become much more subjective -- all of these contestants were fantastic, so ranking them is, above all, a matter of personal taste. Remember, these rankings are determined on American Idol performances only, not on what the contestants have accomplished since their time on the show.
1. Clay Aiken (Season 2)
Best Known For: The dork who transformed into a singing superstar
Best Performance: "Solitaire," "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Worst Performance: "Vincent"
Post-AI: Debut CD sold amost 3 million albums; follow-up CD of primarily covers has been somewhat of a disappointment; several national tours; working with Unicef; recently made a trip to Afghanistan
2. Katharine McPhee (Season 5)
Best Known For:
Best Performance: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
Worst Performance: "All in Love is Fair"
Post AI: Released debut CD earlier this year; first single "Over It" was a Top 30 pop hit; second single "Love Story" released this month
3. Blake Lewis (Season 6)
Best Known For: Beatboxing wonder
Best Performance: "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Time of the Season"
Worst Performance: "Keep on Dancin'"
Post AI: Who knows??
4. Diana Degarmo (Season 3)
Best Known For: Jordin's predecessor as an endlessly cheery teenager
Best Performance: "Don't Cry Out Loud," "No More Tears"
Worst Performance: "My Heart Will Go On"
Post AI: Debut CD didn't make much of a ripple; has started to make a name for herself in the theater world, appearing on Broadway in "Hairspray" and in the national tour of "Brooklyn"
5. Bo Bice (Season 4)
Best Known For: One of Season 4's "rockers"; distinctive way of holding the microphone stand; paved the way for Chris Daughtry to achieve real rock 'n roll success on the show
Best Performance: "In a Dream"
Worst Performance: "Corner of the Sky"
Post AI: Debut CD had middling success; has had several health problems; recorded the title song for the film Blades of Glory
6. Justin Guarini (Season 1)
Best Known For: Being the first-ever American Idol hearthrob; Sideshow Bob-esque curly hair
Best Performance: "Get Here"
Worst Performance: "PYT"
Post AI: Debut CD barely sold; film From Justin to Kelly was a flop; released independent CD; co-hosts "Idol Talk" on TV Guide Channel
Read more American Idol News/Recaps/Commentary
Read more American Idol Best-Of Lists
Sunday, May 20, 2007
American Idol Finale Buzz: Will Britney Be There?
Perezhilton.com is reporting that a rumor is circulating that Britney Spears will be performing on this week's American Idol finale. Could it be true? I mean, the president deigned it a worthy platform to try and redeem his public image a few weeks back by appearing on the show, why wouldn't Britney use the same platform to announce to the world that she is back and better than ever?
I'll believe it when I see it. But, lest we forget, last year at this time there were rumblings about Prince -- and look who showed up in the final moments of Season 5. If Britney does decide to lip synch and dance for the country it would be quite the watercooler moment, that's for sure.
All of this talk gets me thinking -- what surprises are in store for us this week? Last year, in addition to Pince, we got Chris Daughtry and Live duetting on "Mystery" (a track that has gotten many a spin on my ipod), Meat Loaf and Katharine McPhee doing a totally bizarre duet of Celine Dion's "All Coming Back to Me," Mary J. Blige nearly eating Elliott Yamin for lunch singing U2's "One," and Toni Braxton sexin' it up with Taylor Hicks on "In the Ghetto." How can they possibly top that?
I've heard that both Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood will be returning to the Idol stage, and I would imagine Taylor Hicks and even Katharine McPhee or Chris Daughtry might make appearances. I've also heard an unsubstantiated rumor that Jordin Sparks will be performing with the Dreamgirls. Although I'm skeptical Beyone would show up, Jennifer Hudson does have an album with Clive Davis coming out later this year.
Will there be exciting duet partners this year? A Melinda/Gladys Knight duet would be fierce, and whipping out Jennifer Holliday to sing with LaKisha would bring the house down. And how entertaining does a J-Lo/Sanjaya pairing sound? The possbilities are endless!
Stay tuned to Idol Thoughts for more news on the finale as it trickles in. Remember, even after American Idol comes to an end, there will continue to be updates on former Idol contestants (including this year's crew), along with recaps and commentary on summer shows "So You Think You Can Dance," "On the Lot," "Top Chef," "Big Brother," "Pirate Queen" and more (see Summer TV) So bookmark Idol Thoughts now!
Read more American Idol News/Commentary
Friday, May 18, 2007
Ten Best 'Top 3' Performances of All Time
With this year's finale right around the corner, it's time to rank the Ten Best 'Top 3' Performances of all time. This is a round that has produced some of the most memorable performances in Idol history. Interestingly, while four of the five winners have a performance that made the list, the top 4 spots are actually taken by runners-up.
Reminder: This year's performances are not eligible for the Ten Best lists.
Here we go...
1. Katharine McPhee, "Over the Rainbow"
When it was first announced that Simon Cowell had chosen this song for Katharine to sing, I'm sure there was a lot of eye-rolling going on around the country (my own eyes included). But when she appeared on screen, looking gorgeous as she draped herself across the floor, and started singing the rarely-sung opening a capella, all doubts immediately vanished. Rarely have a song and singer merged so beautifully on the Idol stage, as Katharine gave an emotional, moving, incredibly well-sung and interpreted performance. This is one of the most dazzling performances in Idol history.
2. Bo Bice, "In a Dream"
There has been a lot of talk about all of the risks Blake Lewis has taken this season, but one of the biggest risks in Idol history came when Bo Bice elected to sing, completely a capella, the little-known song "In a Dream." Not only did he sound great, and do something that no performer had done before him (or, for that matter, since), he reminded us what the Idol competition is all about -- pure voice. They start their Idol experience by singing a capella in front of the judges, and Bo completed the circle by doing the same thing in the Top 3. Totally balls-y and totally fantastic.
3. Diana Degarmo, "Don't Cry Out Loud"
Who would have thought that a treacly 70's ballad by Melissa Machester could have such life in 2004? Diana's style may not have been to everyone's liking, but as her voice soared on the choruses of this tune ("Don't cry out looooooooooooooooud") it became impossible for even her biggest detractors to acknowledge how much talent this teenager had.
4. Clay Aiken, "Unchained Melody"
We've heard many times throughout the seasons that this is Simon Cowell's favorite song, but of all the contestants who have attempted to do it justice, Clay is the only one who has succeeded (Kellie Pickler's Season 5 rendition ranks as one of the very worst). Although we hardly needed another reminder, this performance confirmed that Clay's voice was truly magical.
5. Kelly Clarkson, "Without You"
This is probably one of the most challenging songs ever tackled on the Idol stage, and Kelly managed to make Mariah Carey's rendition look practically irrelevant after wrapping her golden voice around the tune. Somehow she managed to step it up even further on her results show performance of the song -- in fact, if I could have included Kelly's results show performance on this list it probably would have grabbed the #1 spot. It was readily apparent by this point in Season 1 that Ms. C could do no wrong.
6. Kimberley Locke, "Inseparable"
Kimberley didn't have a chance in hell at making the finals in Season 2, but it didn't stop her from performing her heart out. All three of her performances that evening were fantastic, but best of all was this Toni Braxton number, which perfectly suited K-Lo's rich, sultry tones. She wasn't going to go any futher in the competition, but she certainly left the viewers with a good taste in their mouths.
7. Taylor Hicks, "Try a Little Tenderness"
Once Chris Daughtry had gotten the boot back in Season 5 it was pretty clear Taylor was going to take the title, and he made further strides at securing his claim to the top spot with this spirited performance. It was just the trick to get his "Soul Patrol" all fired up, and may have even gained him a new fans in the process. The question is -- where did all those fans go?
8. Carrie Underwood, "Making Love Out of Nothing At All"
I've said it before and I'll say it again -- Carrie Underwood + 80's power ballad = sheer bliss. While this performance didn't have quite the punch of her earlier triumph "Alone," wailing the Air Supply tune helped her show she could do more than sing contemporary country tunes.
9. Elliott Yamin, "I Believe to My Soul"
The true sign of a great Idol performance is when a contestant can sing an unknown song and really make it work. Elliott accomplished this feat with his final performance of the season, taking the little known tune and using a combination of soulful vocal licks and his undeniably likeable personality to hit this one completely out of the ballpark. He may not have made it to the finals, but he's a winner in my book.
10. Ruben Studdard, "Smile"
I thought it was a strange song choice back in Season 2, but in retrospect this was a perfect choice for the Velvet Teddy Bear. It was his smile, after all, that had first endeared him to the audience, and singing the Charlie Chaplin number reminded viewers just why they fell in love with him in the first place.
Honorable Mentions:
Carrie Underwood, "Cryin'"
Clay Aiken, "Mack the Knife"
Fantasia, "A Fool in Love"
Fantasia, "Chain of Fools"
Justin Guarini, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down"
Justin Guarini, "Let's Stay Together"
Kelly Clarkson, "Think Twice"
Kimberley Locke, "Band of Gold"
Ruben Studdard, "If Ever You're In My Arms Again"
Vonzell Solomon, "On the Radio"
Read more American Idol Best-Of Lists
Monday, May 07, 2007
Ten Best 'Top 5' Performances of All Time
Yep, it's time once again to dig into Idol history and identify some of the best performances of all time. This time around, it's the Ten Best 'Top 5' Performances.
Click here to read Ten Best 'Top 6' Performances
Click here to read Ten Best 'Top 7' Performances
Click here to read Ten Best 'Top 8' Performances
The most famous runner-up tops this list, with two other runners-up and three winners also making the cut. This is also the first time that a contestant has had two songs on the list, and the recipient of this honor is not who you might expect it to be!
There were also so many good 'Top 5' performances that I decided to include a few more as honorable mentions. Enjoy...
1. Clay Aiken, "Solitaire"
This is one of those magical Idol performances, where everything -- singer, song, lighting, timing -- come together to create something truly memorable. Until Clay wrapped his golden vocals around this song, it was just an old Neil Sedaka chestnut. Once Clay got through with it, to paraphrase Mr. Sedaka himself, it was Clay's song forever. Truly astounding.
2. Tamyra Gray, "A House is Not a Home"
Simon called this performance one of the best that he had seen on television ever. While that may be a bit of an overstatement, there is no denying that Tamyra felt every single word of this Burt Bacharach classic, proving that she had the chops of a modern day Dionne Warwick. Bringing the audience, Paula Abdul, and herself to tears, Tamyra totally nailed it.
3. Carrie Underwood, "Bless the Broken Road"
Every once in a while a contestant gets the chance to sing a song that gives the audience an idea of what kind of music they will put out if/when they achieve success after the show. Giving an understated yet beautiful spin to this Rascal Flatts tune, Carrie did just that -- proving she more than had the chops to become a successful country music artist. With this performance she launched herself (and Rascal Flatts) into the stratosphere.
4. Katharine McPhee, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
What Carrie did for Rascall Flatts, Katharine did for KT Turnstall. Boldly performing the entire song from a kneeling position (something she would repeat a few weeks later with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"), Katharine flirted with the band members and the audience, and brought a youthful spark to this infectious tune. A perfect song choice and a near-perfect rendition.
5. Trenyce, "Proud Mary"
Trenyce must have known she didn't have a shot at cracking the Top 4 back in Season 2, but that didn't stop her from giving it her absoulte all on the classic Tina Turner song. What could have been karaoke-esque turned into a dazzling showcase for Trenyce's performance and vocal skills. She still got the boot, but this performance has lingered in the memory.
6. Latoya London, "Don't Rain on My Parade"
Latoya + Soaring high notes = Heaven. It's a hard song to do justice to, and Latoya just nailed it. Barbra Streisand, eat your heart out.
7. Fantasia, "What Are You Doing the Rest Of Your Life"
Speaking of Babs, Fantasia took on another of La Streisand's songs, and once again showed off her amazing interpretational skills. I mean, no one feels a song like Ms. 'Tasia. Dedicating this tearjerker of a song to her daughter, Fantasia left nary a dry eye in the house (in my house, at least).
8. Trenyce, "Love Will Keep Us Together"
Yes, surprisingly it is Trenyce who is the first performer to grab two spots on one list! Flirty and fun, Trenyce absolutely killed this song, making some wonder if they should have taken the one-named shoplifter more seriously earlier in the competition. Despite her strong one-two punch, it proved to be too little, too late.
9. Kelly Clarkson, "Walk on By"
Kelly has called this her least favorite Idol performance, but I love the way she showed off her lower register, wrapping her blues-y tones around the Burt Bacharach tune. I'd be lying, though, if I said that I haven't always wanted to hear her sing her original song choice for that evening, "Anyone Who Had a Heart." Now that would have been amazing.
10. Justin Guarini, "Look of Love"
How appropriate for Justin to sing about the "Look of Love," when he had been giving the camera that same gaze all season! Dressed, appropriately, in a flowy/hippie-esque shirt, this was Justin at his breeziest and sexiest. Easily one of his best performances.
Honorable Mentions:
Chris Daughtry, "Renegade"
Diana Degarmo, "Come On Get Happy"
Diana Degarmo, "Someone to Watch Over Me"
Kimberley Locke, "Where The Boys Are"
Latoya London, "Too Close for Comfort"
RJ Helton, "Best That You Can Do"
Monday, April 16, 2007
Ten Best 'Top 7' Performances of All Time
Yep, it's time again to take a glance backward into Idol history, to choose the Ten Best 'Top 7' performances of all time. This list is dominated by women, although two rockin' men manage to sneak on. In addition only two winners appear on the list, with two famously evicted-before-their-time contestants grab the top two spots.
(As a reminder, performances from the current season are not eligible for on any of these Ten Best lists)
Ten Best Top 8 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 8th PLace Finishers
Ranking the 9th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 9 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 10th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 10 Performances of All Time
Ten Best Top 11 Performances of All Time
Ten Best First Finals Performances
Ten Best Semifinals Performances of All Time
1. Jennifer Hudson, "Weekend in New England"
It would have been a travesty if Jennifer Hudson had been voted off after any of her performances on American Idol, but it was particularly devastating that she got the boot after this showstopper, which, as far as I'm concerned, is one of the best performances ever seen on AI. It was here that we got a glimpse of what we would later see in droves in Dreamgirls -- that soaring voice and that ability to take a song and infuse it with such emotion that it, as guest coach Barry Manilow said, transcends "to another level." Simply magnificent.
2. Tamyra Gray, "If I Were Your Woman"
As I wrote in my post Is Sanjaya (Gulp) The Second Coming of Tamyra Gray, Tamyra, better than any contestant before or after, totally threw herself into that week's theme, embracing not just the music but the style as well. For 70's week, she appeared resplendant in an afro, long flowy skirt, and barefoot, to blow away the judges and audience with this Gladys Knight hit. One of Tamyra's best performances.
3. Vonzell Solomon, "I'm Every Woman"
Baby V was in the shadows of Carrie, Bo, and Constantine up until this point, but when she unleashed her inner diva on this Chaka Khan classic, she made sure she was in the shadows no longer. Hitting some of the highest notes that have ever been sung on the show, Vonzell announced she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
4. Kimberley Locke, "New York State of Mind"
Kimberley had stuggled mightily the first few weeks of the competition to get into the good graces of the audience, but when she wrapped her golden vocals around the Billy Joel gem, giving the song a sultry, jazzy spin, she sewed up their love and affection once and for all.
5. Christina Christian, "Ain't No Sunshine"
Sometimes a song and performer meet and magic can happen. Christina certainly wasn't Season 1's strongest vocalist, but when she used her smoldering good looks and pleasent-enough vocals on this Bill Wither's tune, the result was, indeed, somewhat magical.
6. Bo Bice, "Vehicle"
Bo + classic rock = great performance. That formula worked several times for Season 4's rocker, and this may have been the best combination of the two. This performance was so good, it ended up the B-side of his single (featuring Richie Sambora on guitar).
7. Katharine McPhee, "Someone to Watch Over Me"
As far as I'm concerned, Katharine never sounds better than when she is singing standards ("Come Rain or Come Shine," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow") and her performance of this Ella Fitgerald gem is no exception. Looking magnificent and sounding just as good, this is Katharine in her true element.
8. Fantasia, "It's A Miracle"
'Tasia goes to church! This is one of the strangest performances ever seen on Idol (with cut-aways to Fantasia's mother and daughter watching from backstage), but there is no denying the sheer force of energy and passion this girl can bring to a song. I loved it.
9. Chris Daughtry, "It's A Wonderful World"
Proving he was capable of showing a softer side, Chris wrapped his vocals around the tender song, providing an unexpectedly moving musical moment from the rocker. True, he didn't smile much, but he did show he's capable of more than just rockin' out.
10. Kelly Clarkson, "Don't Play That Song"
Even though I had never heard this song, Kelly sold it, riffing like crazy toward the end. Definitely not Ms. C's strongest performance of the competition, but it proved she could sing anything and make it work.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Is The Final Four Now a Foregone Conclusion?
Every season of American Idol has brought surprises in the Final 4 -- sometimes good surprises (Kimberley Locke, Vonzell Solomon, Elliott Yamin), sometimes not-so-good (Nikki McKibbin, Jasmine Trias).
This year, more than any other year, the Final 4 seems like a bit of a foregone conclusion. Would anyone else be shocked if Melinda, LaKisha, Jordin, and Blake were not the last four standing?
True, there have been surprises so far this season (Sabrina not making the Top 12, the relatively early exits of Stephanie Edwards, Chris Sligh, and Gina Glocksen), and there will most likely continue to be surprises, at least minor ones, as the next few weeks unfold. But as of now, there are four contestants who have made at least one appearance in the Bottom 3, and there are four contestants who have managed to steer clear of the Bottom 3. That kind of division has never been so clear at this point in the competition.
Phil Stacey has been in the Bottom 3 three times. Haley Scarnato has been in the Bottom 2 for the last two weeks. Sanjaya Malakar made his only Bottom 2 appearance during the Top 12 round, while Chris Richardson fell into the Bottom 2 during Top 11 week. While the order in which these contestants will fall is slightly up in the air, I'm guessing the next four weeks will see these four exit one-by-one. (My guess of the order, at this moment, is Haley, then Phil, then Sanjaya, and then Chris).
As far as I'm concerned, this is the most predictable Top 4 we've ever had on American Idol. While Season 2's Kimberley Locke certainly deserved a Top 4 spot, talent-wise, her early Bottom 3 appearances certainly did not make her a lock to still be standing toward the end. The same could be said for Vonzell, Elliott, and even Katharine McPhee, who dipped into the Bottom 3 a couple of times herself before finishing as last year's runner-up.
Right now, however, Melinda, LaKisha, Jordin, and Blake seem so far ahead of the rest of the pack (in terms of talent and fanbase size) that there would have to be a major upset for one of these contestants to not make it to the final 4. Of course, Sanjaya's incomprehensible popularity could stand in their way, or Chris' cute-ness could propel him past LaKisha or Jordin, but I think these four have cemented such strong followings, and will continue to add to their legion of admirers over the next four weeks, that they will be able to hold off even the terrifying Malakar invasion.
But hey, I've thought Haley was going to go three of the last four weeks...so what do I know?
Friday, April 06, 2007
Ten Best Top 8 Performances of All Time
Yep, it's time again to take a glance backward into Idol history, to choose the Ten Best Top 8 performances of all time. The list is topped by two former winners, and features the most heated battle for the #1 spot yet. In the past the Top 8 round has provided us with some classic performances, including two songs from musicals, four Queen songs, and two songs that have been reprised during the current season of Idol. (As a reminder, performances from the current season are not eligible for on any of these Ten Best lists)
Without further ado...
Ranking the 9th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 9 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 10th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 10 Performances of All Time
Ten Best Top 11 Performances of All Time
Ten Best First Finals Performances
Ten Best Semifinals Performances of All Time
1. Fantasia, "Summertime" (Season 3)
This is probably the most acclaimed Idol performance of all time, and with good reason -- it is simply stunning. 'Tasia had already proven by this point in the competition that she had undeniable vocal chops, but when she sat on the stage, singing and feeling the classic Porgy & Bess song like her life depended on it, she took herself and the viewers to another level. Idol has often been criticized for being a glorified karaoke competition, but Fantasia transcended that notion by miles, providing the kind of breathtaking experience only a true artist can. Simply magnificent.
2. Kelly Clarkson, "Natural Woman"
In any other week this performance would have easily grabbed the #1 spot -- this week, however, she just misses out on that top spot thanks to Fantasia's brilliant "Summertime." If Kelly had announced her arrival with "Respect" and continued to impress with "You're All I Need," it was this spectacular showing that she really displayed how much talent there was underneath that endearingly dorky persona. Dressed to kill in a tie and hat, Kelly handled the vocal demands of this song flawlessly, even hitting a Mariah Carey-esque whistle note in the middle, a vocal feat that hasn't been duplicated on the show (or by Kelly) since. Sheer brilliance.
3. Latoya London, "Somewhere"
'Tasia may have stole the show during the Top 8 week in Season 3, but Latoya also showed off some serious chops on this classic from the musical West Side Story. Effortlessly scaling the vocal demands of the song, Latoya soared as she sang "Somehow....some day...somewheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere." It gives me chills to even think about.
4. Paris Bennett, "The Show Must Go On"
With Mandisa having been given the boot the week before, Paris stepped up to fill in the void as the resident diva of Season 5, bringing drama and stellar vocals to this Queen song (which I had never heard before this performance). In so doing, she revealed she was capable of much more than just singing jazzy standards. Hopefully we'll see a little bit of Paris' rocker side on her upcoming album.
5. Constantine Maroulis, "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Yes, here's Constantine again -- at this point I guess I really can't deny that he did provide some memorable performances during his tenure on the show. On paper this performance should have been a disaster -- but somehow, Constantine pulled it off, transcending kitsch to give a bonafide showstopping performance. I still don't really want to buy the guy's CD (if he ever releases one), but I've gotta give him his due for this undeniably entertaining performance.
6. Rickey Smith, "Endless Love"
Compare Chris Sligh's massacre of the Lionel Ritchie/Diana Ross duet to Rickey's incredible vocal performance of the song, and there is no question who comes out on top. Rickey scaled the high notes of this song (both Ritchie and Ross') magnificently. While I wasn't Rickey's #1 fan during his time on the show, there is no denying that the tone of his voice, coupled with the beautiful melody of this song, was a match made in heaven. Well, maybe there is denying it, since Rickey was voted off after this performance!
7. Jennifer Hudson, "I Have Nothing"
In a week when Fantasia and Latoya both tore the house down, the third diva, Ms. Hudson, was not far behind, taking a Whitney Houston song and hitting it right out of the park. Momentum was building for the girl, after her astounding "Circle of Life" the week before, and she did not disappoint with this stirring rendition. LaKisha sang the song well this year, but her rendtion doesn't hold a candle to this Oscar winner's.
8. Elliott Yamin, "Somebody to Love"
By this point in the competition Elliott was really starting to find his footing, and he continued to show his funkiness by bringing a soulful, smoky flavor to this Queen song. Not Elliott's strongest of the competition, but an excellent showing nonetheless.
9. Katharine McPhee, "Who Wants to Live Forever" (Season 5)
Supposedly this was the song Mandisa was supposed to sing had she not been kicked off the previous round, but it's hard to imagine anyone else other than Katharine wrapping her golden vocals around the soaring Queen tune. Again, not Katharine's best of the competition, but certainly worthy of a spot on this list.
10. Josh Gracin, "Amazed" (Season 2)
I've become a much bigger fan of Josh Gracin since he left the show than I was when he was on it, but this performance of the Lonestar hit allowed Josh to perform well within his pop/country comfort zone, and, for once, he scored a slam dunk.
Ranking the 9th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 9 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 10th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 10 Performances of All Time
Ten Best Top 11 Performances of All Time
Ten Best First Finals Performances
Ten Best Semifinals Performances of All Time
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