After more than two and a half years of regularly blogging about all things Idol, I am announcing that IDOL LIVE will be put on hiatus indefinitely. Considering my love for this show has been waning ever since Season 5 and I am just starting my final, most challenging semester of college, I don't have the time, nor the drive, to continue with my regular blogging duties.
The quality of this past season didn't help matters, as I almost ended IDOL LIVE immediately following the end of the season, but decided to carry on in case anything interesting happened (and technically, the Fantasia episode warranted my decision to stick with it). But as Idol enters its 10th season as a shadow of its former self, I think it's better to stop now rather than sit and watch the Titanic's deck chairs rearranged one last time.
Who knows, maybe by the time Simon's The X Factor debuts next fall I will be back on the blogging bandwagon? But for now, I'll be sitting on the sidelines and observing from a quieter perch. To all of you who have read my posts, commented and contributed your own material over the years, I sincerely thank you for your interest. You are what kept me going.
I can still be reached at idollive.net@gmail.com, if necessary, and I will continue to monitor IDOL LIVE's Twitter account, but will not be publishing new material.
And with that, I will leave you with the chorus of Carrie Underwood's "Wheel of the World," one of my favorite tracks of hers:
It's the wheel of the world
It's the wheel of the world turning around
In the blink of an eye
It can change your life
And it never even slows down
It's the wheel of the world
Thanks again,
-Mike
Showing posts with label simon cowell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label simon cowell. Show all posts
Sunday, September 19, 2010
"It's the wheel of the world"
Monday, August 16, 2010
Flashback: Briana Ramirez-Rial's "Don't Know Why"
If there was any one contestant to appear on stage during the Top 32 of Season 3 who would be remembered more for her appearance than for her voice, Briana Ramirez-Rial was that semifinalist. What was even more amazing was the disparity between her appearance and her voice. Watch her sing Norah Jones's "Don't Know Why" during her Group 2 performance below:
While Briana wasn't that bad looking back at this performance, Simon and Randy just felt something was off about the whole spectacle. Once those two drove the nail into her coffin, Briana's apparent tweaking out on the couch next to Ryan while she was supposed to be asking for votes didn't help her cause. In effect, Briana was ahead of her time, and had she appeared on the show in the future (especially the most recent edition) she probably would have made it further.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Flashback: Patrick Forston's "Un-Break My Heart"
Raise your hand if you remember Patrick Forston (it's okay if you don't, since I didn't). The gospel/soul singer tried his best on Idol's second season, where he appeared in Group 1 of the semifinals and performed "Un-Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton. While Patrick's vocals seemed to gain a good response from Paula and Randy, it was the issue of style that made this performance especially memorable. Watch the ordeal below:
While Simon probably had a point, it's ironic thinking about how Ruben Studdard was able to actually win the same season wearing similar outfits from time to time. Even though Patrick's vocals were a little too similar to Toni's, it's fair to say his clothes are what set him apart, and the fact that Papa Forston was willing to come forth and defend his son against the evil Season 2 Simon was definiyely respectable.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Simon reacts to Ellen's departure
That didn't take long. Simon Cowell has already spoken with The Hollywood Reporter (courtesy of Billboard) regarding the news that his pal (and onetime first day enemy) Ellen DeGeneres won't be pulling up a chair between Randy and Kara anymore:
"As I got to know Ellen, I grew to really, really like her. I have huge respect for her because she's always been in control of her own destiny."
Wow, for a really lame, generic statement, that's too nice to say anything about.
It's incredible to think that Simon's very last episode (aka the Season 9 finale) ultimately was Ellen's last episode as well. Only the former got a grandiose farewell tribute and the latter got nothing. It's too bad, but Ellen was probably too big for the Idol brand. Maybe she'll be back for more when Seacrest finally takes his final bow? While judging is not something she's cut out for, hosting is absolutely right up her alley.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Jennifer Lopez replaces Ellen DeGeneres - is she the right fit?
Of course, none of this would have been possible had Nigel Lythgoe not returned to his role as Executive Producer earlier today, and as much as I don't like him as a person, he does know how to make some smart business decisions.
My reaction isn't so much about any particular like for J. Lo, instead my general dislike of Ellen as a judge. Apparently she kind of felt the same way about the idea of staying on past her inaugural season, as made evident in the full release from FOX below (courtesy of Nikki Finke & Nellie Andreeva over at DHD):
Ellen DeGeneres has decided to bow out from her role as a judge on AMERICAN IDOL next season. DeGeneres served as a judge during the ninth season of IDOL, the No. 1 hit series on television.
“A couple months ago, I let FOX and the AMERICAN IDOL producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” said DeGeneres. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on IDOL and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”
“We love Ellen and understand and support her decision to bow out of IDOL,” said Peter Rice, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Networks Group. “We were fortunate to receive the humor, energy and love for talent that she brought to the show.”
“It was a joy to work with Ellen,” added Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “She brought an incredible spirit to IDOL and was a great new addition to the team. While we’re saddened by her decision, we are very appreciative that she gave us ample notice so that we could work through it together.”
“I loved Ellen’s passion for the artists and her nurturing skills,” said IDOL creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “She brought honesty and optimism to our judging panel and I will miss her greatly.”
“We will miss Ellen, she has been the consummate professional throughout her time on the show, and she’ll always be part of the AMERICAN IDOL family,” added Cecile Frot-Coutaz, IDOL executive producer.
AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.
As for the growing rumor that Steven Tyler has been offered Simon's spot, that is also a move that would be alright with me. Steven is obviously a legend in his own right with Aerosmith and all, and he can actually sing, plus he's been in the industry long enough to know the ins and outs (no offense, Kara).
Speaking of Kara, expect her to walk the plank next. Her one-year contract has yet to be extended and considering the next round of auditions begins in just a few weeks, it's unlikely she'll be offered an extension at this point.
So while this story is far from over, everyone can go to bed knowing there is some sanity restored to Idol going forward, and that's a good thing for everyone.
What do you think about Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler as judges? Are the good fits? Could Nigel & co.have done any better?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
'Idol' odds 'n ends: total of 26,000 turn out for Milwaukee, Nashville auditions
The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:
>The Season 10 auditions kicked off in Nashville on Thurs., July 15, where about 10,000 hopefuls stood in line on the first day (16,000 in all performed in front of producers). This week, auditions journeyed to Milwaukee, where another 10,000 turned out for a shot at becoming the next Lee DeWyze. Per a post by EW's Michael Slezak:
“The numbers of people turning up to the American Idol auditions in Nashville and Milwaukee have been incredible,” said show creator Simon Fuller, in a release. “These attendance figures are significantly up on the last few years, and there is clearly renewed excitement and interest in the show, which is great to see.”
Ryan Seacrest took us on a behind the scenes tour of the Bradley Center to see what things are like, well, behind the scenes. Watch the piece below:
Auditions will next hit New Orleans, La., on Monday. If you're interested in giving Season 10 a shot (and at this point, you might as well throw your hat in the ring!) be sure to check out AmericanIdol.com/Auditions.
>As you've probably heard by now, Chris Isaak is the latest replacement for Simon Cowell being floated around. The rumor du jour comes on the heels of a Reuters and Hollywood Reporter piece claiming Isaak met with FOX twice in recent weeks for consideration of taking over for Simon. Per the piece:
While Fox insists no decision is imminent, the clock is ticking to replace Cowell as preliminary auditions get under way for the talent show's 10th season. Peter Rice, the network's new entertainment chairman, has said he expects the new "Idol" judge to join the audition roadshow by early September.
Other potential replacements that keep coming up in the media include Harry Connick, Jr., Bret Michaels and now...apparently...Donald Trump (huh!?). If Team FOX care about sparing fans from hearing about all this speculation, they'll hurry up and name a replacement fast.
>Lee DeWyze took time to speak with AmericanIdol.com about how the tour has been going with his fellow Season 9 Top 10 finalists. Lee covered a limited range of topics dealing with the tour and offered up a limited range of answers questions posed by both fans and AI.com. One of Lee's more interesting responses:
As the American Idol, Lee is the headliner of the Season 9 tour. Since he’s the last person to perform at each show, what does he do to pass the time while he’s waiting for his set? “I’m still trying to figure it out,” Lee remarked. “I have time to listen to a full album, so I’ll pick one and listen to it. I just try and chill, because if I just sit around and wait, I’ll get tired. During Casey’s and Crystal’s sets, I’ll go watch them and listen to the crowd and get pumped up.”
Lee said he's aiming for a "folk-rock" sound on his forthcoming album and he's been writing "everything so far." Lee, who apparently has been writing since he was 16 years old, said he's anticipating his hometown stop of Chicago because all his family and friends will be there. Read the full interview at AmericanIdol.com.
>Kellie Pickler had to break some bad news to the organizers of the St. Joseph County Grange Fair in Centerville, Mich., as she backed out of her scheduled show to close out the fair on Sept. 25 due to an extension of Rascal Flatts' tour, on which she is an opening act. This news came in conjunction with fellow country artist Chris Young's withdrawal as an opening act scheduled to perform at the fair on another day. Per an article from SturgisJournal.com:
“Next year we wouldn’t be able to touch Kelly Pickler or Chris Young … they’ll be priced way out of our league,” Johnson said. “If they honor the rate we were giving (for the September shows), it’d be a bargain.”
Ironically, Johnson noted, Rascal Flatts was an opening act at the fair several years ago.
Johnson did not indicate what the fair was to pay Pickler, saying only that it was a five-figure amount. Through Wednesday, about 950 tickets to Pickler’s show had been sold. Ticket prices ranged between $25 and $35 each.
All in all, not a good situation for the organizers of the fair.
>Jordin Sparks sat down with Oliver Trevena of YoungHollywood.com this week to chat about her Battlefield tour and other things on her mind. Watch the segment below:
Jordin recounted a memorable moment on the tour where a pregnant woman was waiting by her bus and she said "the baby's coming," Jordin was asked to sign her shirt and was freaking out because the baby needed to be delivered. She said she had never encountered that before (not many have, Jordin).
She also talked about her upcoming 3-month stint on Broadway in In the Heights, which kicks off on Thurs. Aug. 19.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Flashback: Amy Adams' "The Power of Love"
Before an actress of the same namesake burst onto the scene, Season 3's 10th-place finalist, Amy Adams, was the most well known celebrity with the name. The popular pink-haired makeup artist used her spunky appeal to sail into the finals thanks to her showing on Celine Dion's "The Power of Love" during Group 3's performance episode of the semifinals. Watch the performance below:
Amy's theatrical take on the song was enough to catapult her into the finals, but she didn't last long. Simon Cowell's criticism that Amy was more "'Cabaret Idol' than 'American Idol'" most likely was true, as she had a winning personality but her vocals were never able to compete with those of some of her powerhouse peers on the show that season.
Friday, July 2, 2010
'Idol' odds 'n ends: David Archuleta premieres single "Something 'Bout Love"
The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:
>David Archuleta threw his hat into the ring of new summer music releases yesterday when he premiered his new single "Something 'Bout Love" on his official website, DavidArchuleta.com. Listen to the single below:
The single will be available to purchase on DavidArchuleta.com on July 13 and will be available everywhere else, including iTunes, on July 20.
>Jennifer Hudson saw her "Behind the Music" special air on VH1 on Monday, which documents her humble beginnings in Chicago to her early rise to stardom on Idol to her role in Dreamgirls and the family tragedy that gripped her in the fall of 2008. Below is a snippet from the special that covers some of her time on Idol:
An all-star roster of contributors were interviewed for the special, including Jamie Foxx, Randy Jackson and Queen Latifah. The special will most likely repeat throughout the month on the music-themed cable network. More clips are available to watch in addition to the full episode at VH1.com.
>Rumors this week strengthened of Simon Cowell's successor, and Bret Michaels, who was once considered to have less than an outside shot at the seat at the judges' table, now seems to be gaining steam. Following an interview with PARADE magazine that was published on Monday, Michaels was asked to interview with the people over at FOX. In the PARADE piece, Michaels says the following of why he'd like to be a judge:
"I'm not built exactly like Simon Cowell, but, at the same time, I respect what he did. But I would have to bring my own personality. I think if they have someone in there to try to imitate Simon, it would be a mistake; he's an original. Bring Bret Michaels in to be original to who and what I am. Bring someone who can bring a little grit, true grit back to the show."
Michaels went on to say "Helly yeah" he would've tried out for Idol had he been a rocker looking got make it into the business nowadays because "you get instant exposure to millions of people" even though you run the risk of being considered "disposable." Stay tuned for more developments in the quest to fill the shoes of the British one.
>It's been one week since Fantasia release her music video for her current single "Bittersweet." Watch the video below:
"Bittersweet" is available to purchase on iTunes and is of course off Fantasia's forthcoming album Back to Me, which is due out July and is available to pre-order at Amazon.com
Monday, June 28, 2010
Flashback: Tamyra Gray's "A House Is Not a Home"
Tamyra Gray was the favorite to take the crown running up to the close of Idol's first season, but her premature ouster will remain one of the biggest disappointments in the show's entire history. Despite giving memorable showings on a weekly basis over the course of the Summer of 2002, they weren't enough to propel her to the win. One of her most spectacular performances happened during Top 5 week when she sang Luther Vandross' "A House Is Not a Home" on Burt Bacharach night. Watch it below:
Since this performance, Simon Cowell has seen many, many performances on TV, and so even though he has most likely seen superior performances to this one, he probably would still agree this is "on-par with Whitney and Christina."
Monday, June 14, 2010
Flashback: Trenyce's "The Power of Love"
Back on Idol's second season, Trenyce was a serious contender for the title but was upstaged by more personable finalists like Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. Still, she was able to put together some strong showings, including her performance of Celine Dion's "The Power of Love" during Top 8 (Billboard No. 1s) week. Watch the performance below:
Simon might have called it "cabaret," but fans liked it enough to keep Trenyce around for a few more weeks.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Poll of the week: Harry Connick, Jr. should replace Simon
In the latest poll of the week IDOL LIVE readers selected Harry Connick, Jr. as their replacement of choice for the newly departed Simon Cowell.
Connick, Jr. roped in 13 votes, good for 41% of all votes cast in the sparsely-voted-in poll. Tying for second place were Shania Twain and Bret Michaels, each netting five votes (16%). No other potential candidate seemed to excite voters, not even Piers Morgan, as he only managed four votes (12%).
We will now embark on our annual poll of the week champion series, as readers will be asked which 12th(or 13th)-place finalist is their favorite of all nine seasons. Voting will be open for exactly one week.
Bret Michaels 5 (16%)
Clive Davis 2 (6%)
Diddy 0 (0%)
Elton John 1 (3%)
Harry Connick, Jr. 13 (41%)
Howard Stern 0 (0%)
Piers Morgan 4 (12%)
Russell Simmons 0 (0%)
Ryan Seacrest 1 (3%)
Shania Twain 5 (16%)
Whitney Houston 0 (0%)
Total votes: 31
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Poll of the week: "The Time of My Life" is coronation song of choice
Cook, who has been able to shed the embarrassing lyrics despite having an actual radio hit with "Life," would probably appreciate the 31 votes cast in favor of the track, which enabled him to take 44% of all 69 votes cast over the past week.
Not surprisingly, "A Moment Like This" was runner-up in this competition, as the original coronation single by Kelly Clarkson nabbed 14 votes (20%), while Carrie Underwood's "Inside Your Heaven" was right behind with 11 votes (15%).
The only real surprise was that "No Boundaries" didn't finish last. Kara DioGuardi must have worked pretty hard to vote five times, giving the track she wrote 7% of all votes cast. Less surprising was how badly Lee DeWyze's "Beautiful Day" performed, as it could only manage four votes (5%). The other four tracks were basically negligible.
In the latest edition of the poll of the week series, readers are asked who their choice to replace Simon Cowell as judge would be. You will have exactly six days to vote.
A Moment Like This 14 (20%)
Flying Without Wings 0 (0%)
I Believe 2 (2%)
Inside Your Heaven 11 (15%)
Do I Make You Proud 0 (0%)
This Is My Now 2 (2%)
The Time of My Life 31 (44%)
No Boundaries 5 (7%)
Beautiful Day 4 (5%)
Total votes: 69
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Blake Lewis goofs off with his "Idol peeps" backstage
Prior to that huge Idol extended family of former finalists taking the stage during the tribute to Simon Cowell of "Together We Are One" in conjunction with seven of the show's former winners, it seems the dozens of alums had some fun backstage thanks to Blake Lewis. Watch his mini documentary below:
The video was accompanied by this caption on TwitVid:
Before we were on stage we partied!! Boooyakasha. Love my idol peeps!Yep, that's Blake alright.
American Idol: 2002-2010
The title pretty much says it all. Tonight is the night that American Idol died.
I was thinking about how I would recap Idol's ninth season, and I decided instead of duplicating last season's marathon rant about how horrible the season was, I will keep it short and sweet.
Following last season's finale I was on the verge of not coming back to continue this blog for Season 9. I wanted to quit so many times, but my enjoyment of following the careers of alums from seasons past kept me motivated to continue blogging. By the time January rolled around, I was about to announce I would not be live blogging the season, but something made me decide to give it another try in case the season ended up being good. Sadly, that did not come to be.
Season 9 is the black sheep/ugly duckling/bastard child of the Idol franchise, not only for its lack of talent (save for a few contestants), horrible production, self-absorbed judges, addition of Ellen DeGeneres as a judge, focus on guest performers rather than contestants, awkward Ryan Seacrest drunk hosting performances, appallingly bad 'Idol Gives Back' special, poor auditions, horrible mentors (Miley Cyrus? Adam Lambert?), pants on the ground (okay, that was actually pretty good...at first...before Brett Favre killed it with his "spoof"), boring Ford commercials, boring themes, old themes, tired themes, messy camera angles, dazed and confused audiences, more Ryan being drunk or stoned or just flirting with Simon, Randy's "dudes," Kara's nonsense, Simon's departure, lack of Paula's antics, Miley Cyrus's results show "performance," rejection of Angela Martin, Joe Jonas as a guest judge, basically all the guest judges, lack of a cheesy coronation single, the judges' save, Dane Cook at the finale, or its result, but for the sheer fact that it took up a minimum of two hours of FOX's prime time each week for five-and-a-half months.
In short, Season 9 basically killed what little love I had for this show after Season 8 left it dangling by a thread. I will still always have the memories of actual good seasons and their finalists. But as for the show in its current form, it's finished as far as I'm concerned.
(p.s. I realize how many times I used the words "I" and "me" in this post and would like to apologize. I'm not as self-centered as I might sound...oops there are two more "I"s!)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
IDOL LIVE Blog - Season 9 Finale (5/26/10)
We've finally arrived. Yes, we've all survived Idol's ninth season and tonight we will celebrate the last woman (or man, just to have my bases covered) standing. But more importantly, we will celebrate the fact that everything is over! Yes it's been great chatting with everyone during these long five-and-a-half months, but I think it's safe to say we all deserve a break.
Tonight's two hour extravaganza will feature plenty of guest performers like Carrie Underwood, Kris Allen, Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias in addition to an all-star send-off for Simon Cowell featuring Paula Abdul. I wouldn't be surprised if they reprise their stupid "Golden Idols" or whatever they're called, which would all but guarantee a performance of "Pants On the Ground" by General Larry Platt. Awesome.
And of course, the rest of the Top 12 will return to perform a few medleys in an effort to eat up time before news of the winner is revealed in the last five minutes of the show.
To see who I predict will win tonight, click here. And as usual, please feel free to add your two cents throughout the two-hour blogcast. Coverage starts just prior to 8 p.m. ET.
Once again, tonight's blogcast will feature music from Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze.
IDOL LIVE predix: Season 9 winner
Before I justify my prediction for who will win the title of American Idol's ninth champion tonight, let me just say that even though last night was one of the most lopsided (if not the most lopsided) finales in the series' history, it was still pretty amazing just to think about how this was the last time Simon would be giving his signature critiques on this show. Granted, the finale was the most boring one in the show's entire history, and the season as a whole was without a doubt its worst, but right now it is not important to nitpick the season's problems. Instead, it's time to show some respect to its finalists (or at least one of them).
With that said, Crystal Bowersox should in no way, shape or form lose this competition after her showing last night. Although she wasn't pitch perfect during her three performance, Crystal easily won each round and absolutely nailed it on "Up to the Mountain," which ended up being the best performance of the season. True, that wasn't a very high bar for her to pass to earn that distinction but on a season filled with disappointing vocalists and total bores, Crystal is the one contestant who deserved better. Even though I was not a fan of her's over the course of the season, there was no denying she was the best of the worst and she showcased herself as a classy, veteran performer.
Lee DeWyze, on the other hand, was flat, pitchy, whiny and dull. So in other words, he would be the perfect match for this season as a whole. But even though it would make sense for him to win based on the fact that he has a Y chromosome (you basically need one nowadays to win this thing), Lee's mediocre vocal showings were not even on par with Blake Lewis's lazy performances. He probably gulped the majority of Casey's fans, though, which as we saw last season with Danny Gokey, really helped out Kris Allen.
By the way, I'm fully aware DialIdol has Lee winning (with a clearcut "green" bar to Crystal's "red" bar) and it has never been wrong on a predicting a winner, but at the same time neither have I. Although I was the most nervous during Season 4's finale, I always knew Carrie Underwood would win, and when everyone thought David Archuleta had it in the bag I stuck with David Cook.
So I don't really care if Lee does win because nothing could save this season from its own self-destruction. In fact, this show truly does deserve Lee as its winner because it would be the most ironic thing to send Simon off at the conclusion of the biggest joke of a season. If there's any ounce of dignity left in this show, however, Crystal will win (I know that's asking too much, though).
In my original predictions I had Siobhan winning, and considering the Top 2 we actually ended up with I don't think that would have been a bad thing to have her win it all.
Since the Top 24 I have correctly predicted 7-22 eliminations and since the Top 12 I have correctly predicted 3-10 eliminations.
Top 10 most memorable Simon Cowell moments - Pt. 2
After yesterday's bottom half of the Top 10 most memorable Simon moments, it only makes sense to finish off the list with the top half o the list.
No. 5: Kira Scott calls Simon "gay"
By Idol's third season, America was finally starting to warm up to mean old Simon. Then some loudmouth Hollywood contestant Kira Scott had to turn into a sourpuss because the judges weren't digging her style:
I remember this one exchange being used during this episode on every commercial break to keep people tuned in (not like the show had to work to do that back then). The way Simon handled this girl was first class and showed that he's not the high maintenance stuck up British guy.
No. 4: Chris Sligh plays the Teletubbies card on Simon
Simon isn't one to shy away from his past work, but there are some projects he'd rather not discuss if he can help it. On Season 6, Simon became visibly uncomfortable when Chris Sligh went for a low blow after Simon admitted he wasn't totally feeling his performance of dc Talk's "Wanna Be Loved" during Top 16 week. What added to the awkwardness was Ryan's reaction to Simon calling him "sweetheart":
Yikes, it's just as uncomfortable watching it back now all these years later as it was when it originally aired. C'mon Simon, you should be proud of you S Club 7, Il Divo, Susan Boyle, Teletubbies and any other concoctions you came up with.
No. 3: Simon correctly predicts Carrie's future
Carrie Underwood's Top 11 performance of Heart's "Alone" stands out as one of the single best performances ever delivered on the Idol stage across all nine seasons, but there was something that put the performance in a league of its own that night. Simon's gutsy call that not only would Carrie win the season, she'd sell more records than any other winner was really a stretch, but the fact that it proved to be true was even more impressive:
Although it can be argued Kelly Clarkson has sold more albums worldwide than Carrie has, Carrie holds the domestic record and will most likely pass Kelly in worldwide totals in the near future. This call will always remain as Simon's most impressive prediction as judge.
No. 2: Saula's affair (a.k.a. "the kiss")
It might not seem like that big of a deal looking back on it now, but the "Saula affair" spoof on the Season 2 finale was huge at the time because it was so unexpected.
Forget about the whipped cream, the strawberries and the lip-licking, that kiss was what sealed the deal. After all the drama Simon and Paula went through during their first two seasons on the show, it was one of those unforgettable moments that will live in television infamy.
No. 1: The eyeroll
You knew it was coming. The most memorable moment of all Simon's duration on the show came in Season 7 when Fantasia took to the stage and put America under a spell with her performance of "Bore Me" during the Top 3 results show, including Simon. It's funny to think a split second of confused expression could say so much about a situation:
There, doesn't that just cheer you up?
And that concludes the Top 10 most memorable Simon moments throughout his history on the show. There's always a chance that something he does tonight could earn a spot on this list, but one would be hard pressed to find a more memorable moment than the #1 entry above.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Top 10 most memorable Simon Cowell moments - Pt. 1
As Simon's run on Idol comes to an end tomorrow, let us look back on some of his most memorable moments over the past nine seasons. If you don't agree with some of them , feel free to offer your own lists.
No. 10: Simon calls a re-vote for no reason
Although the following clip is nothing special, it is emblematic of all the many mean spirited moves Simon pulled over the course of his auditions-judging sessions. In the clip below, Simon rejects the two Molfetta twins - twice, all "for sport" according to Paula:
Although sometimes Simon's comments went over the line, they were usually all in good fun. Hey, a judge has to have fun on this show or else it would be unbearable.
No. 9: Simon gets his way and still gets a hug from Paula
Simon and Paula had a long history over the course of the first eight seasons on Idol, with many of their encounters ending in sarcastic comments and witty comebacks. Back on Season 2, the two judges got into one of their most heated debates, eventually requiring the assistance of producer Nigel Lythgoe:
What made Simon the king of these arguments was his ability to come out victorious without looking completely undignified. As much as they both enjoyed each other's company, they especially enjoyed these opportunities to release a bit of steam.
No. 8: Simon doesn't roll his eyes at "Virginia Tech" mention
This one might be harder to remember, but back during Season 6 the tragic school shooting at Virginia Tech touched all Americans for a time. But when the story came up during Chris Richardson's post-performance bit, Simon's facial expression was taken the wrong way due to an unfortunate camera switch:
Immediately following the "eyeroll," fans were accusing Simon of rolling his eyes at Chris bringing up the tragedy because he thought Chris was clamoring for votes. That was, however, obviously not true, instead Simon was still reacting to Chris's "nasally singing" justification. A simple misunderstanding, no doubt.
No. 7: Simon apologizes for being hard on Katharine McPhee
There have been very few times over the course of Simon's tenure on the show when he's had to retract his critique after watching it back on TV. During Season 5's Top 7 results show, Simon apologized to Katharine McPhee for being a little harsh in his comments the previous night:
There have been other instances when he's backed off from his tongue lashings, just as he's come back with harsher critiques on some occasions after watching the performances back. But this one in particular was memorable.
No. 6: "Do we have a bigger stage this year?"
Simon is obviously known for his off the cuff quips at others' expense, and these usually come out during the audition rounds. But perhaps the most memorable instance of this happening was back in Season 5 when he joked about Mandisa's weight, asking after she received her golden ticket "Do we have a bigger stage this year?" Watch the moment below:
Later in the season when Mandisa came before the panel to hear her fate as to whether she made the Top 24, she confronted Simon on his comment, resulting in an honest apology from the Brit.
Stay tuned for the Top 5 most memorable Simon moments, as they will be posted tomorrow.
Friday, May 21, 2010
'Idol' odds 'n ends: Simon Cowell opens up to Oprah before leaving 'Idol'
The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:
>Simon Cowell's big sit-down on Oprah's couch (out of studio, far away from a studio audience) aired on her eponymous show yesterday, and he didn't hold back on any topic, addressing things ranging from his brushes with depression to "horrific mistakes" that led to him living out of his car when he was younger. Watch a clip below courtesy of The Insider:
Simon said he thinks this season has been too much about the judges, but what does he expect when a) the contestants are horrible and b) it's his last season. The judges are the most interesting part of this season.
>Casey James talked with the press today following his ouster Wednesday night. Casey was asked about "losing his shirt" during his audition in Denver and whether or not he would have done it again if he had the chance to go back to that point. Casey said:
"There's a possibility (that) had I not done that I might not have made it past that first round. It definitely wasn't something that I thought of, or even realized was going to happen. (But) it obviously worked out," he added.
Casey also appeared on Ellen this morning to talk about his time on the show. Watch a clip of his segment below:
Ellen was sure to say she thought he was a "great singer" and Casey mentioned how he hadn't seen Idol before he was on it because he didn't own a TV (something we all already knew), but he added that he finally bought one as well as a PS3. Good choice, Casey.
>Forbes.com released a list of the Top 10 earning Idol alums for the May 2009-April 2010 year, and it is less than spectacular. Even though the top earners are still raking in millions, the totals are far less than they were just years ago. Below is an abbreviated list of the Top 10 earners:
01) Kelly Clarkson ($8 million)
02) Carrie Underwood ($7 million)
03) Chris Daughtry ($5.4 million)
04) Kellie Pickler ($4.3 million)
05) David Cook ($2.3 million)
06) Jennifer Hudson ($2 million)
07) Jordin Sparks ($1.8 million)
08) David Archuleta ($1.4 million)
09) Clay Aiken ($800,000)
10) Kris Allen ($672,000)
When last season's winner is making less money in a year than a runner-up from seven seasons ago, that tells you something about the trajectory of this show and its contestants.
>Tomorrow's big KISS Concert sponsored by the Boston Top 40 radio station KISS 108 FM will feature three Idol alums, as it was announced yesterday that Ayla Brown will join a roster of 17 other acts including Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. Per a press release:
Brown, who will graduate from Boston College on Monday and is now a special contributor for CBS’ The Early Show, joins an impressive lineup of 17 fellow artists and bands including Ke$ha, Jason Derulo and Kevin Rudolf. Fellow American Idol alums Kris Allen and Adam Lambert are also scheduled to perform.
Upon receiving word that she was invited to take part in KISS Concert, Brown said she was ecstatic.
"I’m so excited that KISS asked me to perform at KISS Concert because they always put on a first-rate show," Brown said. "Just to share the stage with some of the biggest names in music is a great honor.”
Ayla will perform at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Mass., at 2:15 p.m, while Kris will take the stage at 8 p.m. and Kris will close out the show at 9 p.m. A live webcast of the concert will be available at KISS108.com beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
>Bo Bice was out promoting his brand new album 3 this week, which included a stop at FOX & Friends on FOX News Channel. Watch him perform "You Take Yourself With You" below:
Bo explained the significance of the album's title, including the fact that he and his wife have three kids and this is his third studio album since finishing as runner-up on Season 4. The album is available in stores nationwide and at digital retailers including iTunes and Amazon.com
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
IDOL LIVE predix: Top 3 Results
As pimped as Lee was with all the bells and whistles (spotlights and backup singers) during his take on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," his vocals were primarily on the mark, and so the judges can't be completely called out for their over the top praise. To add to this, his only other performance was helped by a great song choice (Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man"), and if this was even up to debate, Simon's surefire declaration that Lee "crushed" his peers in the first round should be evidence that the judges felt he decisively outshone everyone else.
Crystal Bowersox did the best she could given the circumstances, and her two showings were a mixed bag. While she fumbled on a generic rendition of Melissa Etheridge's "Come to My Window," she thrilled audiences with a gender-incorrect (or gender-correct, depending on how you look at it) version of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" (much to the pleasure of Ellen, who gave her a standing ovation as Crystal finished the song), and as Simon said, this was probably enough to drag her across the Top 2 marker in the race for the title.
And so it comes as no surprise that I'm pegging Casey James to leave in third place tonight. Nothing out of the ordinary, and I think virtually everyone else is calling for the same result. Casey had a good thing going for a while but he tripped up last night with an obsure song choice, stiff stage presence and shaky vocals, and the fact that he was thrown under the bus by every judge and their mother just cemented his fate.
Oh well, maybe Justin Bieber's performance tonight will lighten the mood and provide some excitement. On second thought...
In my original predictions I had Crystal finishing 3rd, so although it's possible this scenario could come to fruition, I just don't see it happening. At all.
Since the Top 24 I have correctly predicted 6-21 eliminations and since the Top 12 I have correctly predicted 2-9 eliminations. Go me!
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