Between the rock 'n roll theme and Jason Castro's departure, this was one week of American Idol that is definitely worth taking another look at. The most entertaining way to do this is through our creative and funny photo recaps. And, if for some reason, you didn't manage to catch the Top 4 this week, we've also compiled video recaps and photo galleries you'll definitely want to check out.
As we head into the finale, your vote will help shape Idol history, so be sure to stay up-to-date with all your favorites' latest performances!
Jason Castro, a dreadlocked twenty year old with bright blue eyes, from Rockwall, Texas, will probably go down in American Idol history as being the most low-key, laid-back, contestants the show has ever seen. From the time he sauntered into his first audition, ever-present guitar slung over his shoulder, and beaming from ear to ear, he made his way into the fickle hearts of the American public.
There were no tears from Jason after his elimination the other night, but there was probably not a dry eye in many homes all across America, where people had reacted to his self-effacing charm and mellow personality.
In a phone interview after his departure Jason answered questions regarding many topics.
When asked how he felt when Simon said last week that he wasn’t the Jason they had brought into the competition, he responded, “Well, I was feeling the same thing, and I was just feeling me losing that power just because I couldn’t connect with the songs with, like, the given time. And, I really had a hard time when we picked it up to two songs. I just – like, I wasn’t committing to either one, and I couldn’t – I just couldn’t connect with them. I couldn’t fall in love with it. You need time for that”.
From the very beginning of the competition, Jason took everything in his stride, not really talking back to the judges, and even agreeing with them on many occasions. The week of his elimination, he had a particularly tough time with the judges, especially after he forgot the lyrics to his second song, Bob Dylan’s, “Mr. Tambourine Man”
Jason actually addressed the forgotten lyrics -- every singer’s worst nightmare. Here’s what he had to say: “Yes. I knew them. I just – I know – like when I got up on stage that day, it was really rushed, and like I had barely sat in my seat, and they told me to go. And so my mind was just kind of in a blur, and I just sang and got to that part, and I kind of – I think I kind of forgot where in the chorus I was, so I didn’t know which ending I was supposed to be doing.”
Jason continues to look on the bright side. He is extremely excited about the upcoming American Idol tour which kicks of in Glendale, Arizona, the home of last years winner, Jordin Sparks, on July 1st.
Always the philosopher, Jason remarked on his Idol experience, “Well, I’ve learned that I can do a lot more than I thought. Before I did this, I wasn’t really confident as a performer, and I wasn’t doing it a whole lot. And well, now, I did it for a few months straight on TV. And so I just gained a lot of confidence and learned that I can do it, and it’s cool”.
Watch our Exit Interview with Jason.
Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice is back on the American Idol stage tonight and will be performing his new single, "Witness", off his latest album, See the Light.
Find out more about what Bo's been up to by visiting his official site, bobice.com, where you can see recent photos, videos, tour info and more.
And, don't forget to check out this series of photos of Bo from season 4!
There's still time to donate to the Idol Gives Back Foundation through iTunes. It's easy, but time is limited. Here's how.
Supporters can donate by purchasing and downloading performances by artists such as Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, and of course, the American Idol finalists. Idol Gives Back content will only be available until this Saturday, May 10.
So, download those amazing performances from Idol Gives Back and help children in the U.S. and across the world!
The Idols literally rocked the house this week as they performed the music of their heroes commemorated at the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame. The variety of Rock song selected by our Top 4 ran the gamut as you can see in the song choices below:
David Archuleta"Stand By Me" - Ben E. KingDavid Archuleta"Love Me Tender" - Elvis PresleyDavid Cook"Hungry Like The Wolf" - Duran Duran
David Cook"Baba O'Riley" - The Who Jason Castro"I Shot The Sheriff" - Bob Marley & The Wailers Jason Castro"Mr. Tambourine Man" - Bob Dylan
Syesha Mercado"Proud Mary" - Ike & Tina Turner
Syesha Mercado"Change Is Gonna Come" - Sam Cooke
Each Thursday, Fox Reality Channel broadcasts a new episode of Idol Extra at 7p and 10p ET/PT and often they grab some great exclusives. In just the past couple of weeks, Idol Extra has featured the following:
Season 6 finalist LaKisha performs "Just As I Am".
Brooke White speaks emotionally after being eliminated.
Kristy Lee Cook's husband reenacts his marriage proposal.
Remember, Idol Extra is all-new each Thursday on the Fox Reality Channel at 7p and 10p ET/PT.
The Sarcoma Foundation of America will be hosting their annual fundraising gala on Monday, May 5, 2008 at 583 Park in NY from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and Anthony Federov will be performing. Anthony's brother died from sarcoma two years ago, so this is a cause that is near and dear to his heart. Monies raised from the gala will go toward research to find a cure for sarcoma, a rare cancer of the connective tissue which accounts for 20% of all childhood cancers diagnosed each year. On Sunday, May 4th, the foundation’s Annual Educational Conference, New Frontiers in Sarcoma, will be held at the New York Marriott East Side.
The mission of SFA is to act as an advocate for increased research to find new and better therapies with which to treat patients with sarcoma. The SFA also interacts with public, private for-profit, and private non-profit organizations to raise awareness of the treatment needs of sarcoma patients.
In addition to Anthony performing, Kris Carr, a sarcoma survivor, filmmaker and star of Crazy Sexy Cancer, will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Bob Woodruff, ABC News Anchor, will present Nancy Levin, PhD and Jon Levin, on behalf of Miles Levin, with the Leadership in Courage Award. The gala will also honor Roger Altman, CEO of Evercore, with the Vision of Hope Award; and Bob Benjamin, MD, of M.D. Andersen Cancer Center, with the Nobility in Science Award. Courage Awards will be presented to Anne Belk, Leslie Heyison, and Patrick Mortimer, who have bravely fought or are currently fighting sarcoma. The gala will also feature an exciting “Deal or No Deal” style live auction with "Deal or No Deal" actress Marisa Petroro, who is the 2008 SFA spokesperson and a sarcoma survivor.
To purchase tickets, please visit the Cure Sarcoma website.
There has rarely, if ever, been an Idol that has worn her heart on her sleeve as much as Brooke White, and her authentic presence on the show earned her a huge fan base. In our phone exit interview with Brooke, she addressed how she was able to push through the intense emotions she felt while on the show. "I don’t know if you really have a choice. You get there, and I think there has just been something within me, when I thought I wasn’t able to keep going, and you totally feel like you’re sinking and it’s like, okay, swim. You have to, you realize you’re here; you have to make the best of it. The pressure is so incredibly difficult, but you know what, I was here to do my absolute best, and be as true to myself as possible, and I can say in my heart, even with the challenges I faced, I think I was able to do that." However, she didn't feel guilty for staying on the show despite her misstep a few weeks ago. Instead, she said she felt grateful that her fans were able to overlook that. While some might think she was relieved to be voted off after her emotional run on the show, that's not exactly the case. As she said, "I think after Tuesday night, I was ready, I was re-energized, my spirits were up, I wanted to keep going, and then I woke up Wednesday morning, and I knew, it was in my gut, Brooke, you’re going home; weird. Part of me wanted to keep going, and the other part of me was thinking this has been amazing, and it is kind of a relief." Although she calls the whole AI experience a "roller coaster ride," she also said that she felt a "resurge of confidence" toward the end, which she has admitted has been a struggle for her from the beginning.
Brooke admitted she'd been packed for weeks, not knowing what the outcome would be. After Michael Johns' departure, she said she, along with the others, realized no one was safe. However, it was the "finality" of the ending that caused the surge of emotions on the night that she was eliminated. "Yes, it was emotional, and I’d hoped so much that I could have been stronger, but I guess I’m just an emotional girl, I’m passionate, and that really came across on the stage, because I felt very vulnerable every time." She was really hoping to make it to next week, as she was hoping to perform the Joni Mitchell song "Help Me." When asked what she thought her strongest performance on the show was, she said it was definitely "Let It Be."
As far as the tough critiques she received at times, Brooke said she took some of it to heart, and then had to let other things go. Although she said Simon had some valid points, other times she called his delivery "just plain mean!" But she understands that, many times, his harsh words come from a place of him wanting the Idols to do their best, while Paula is more of the cheerleader. Brooke's also proud that she never went to the dark side, as Simon had jokingly promised she'd do at the onset of the season. Instead, she says she had an incredible support system that kept her grounded the entire time.
Brooke got a huge treat the day she was voted off when she heard from one of her own Idols, Carly Simon! Carly apparently gave her some motivational words and told her to keep going in the direction she's heading with her music. "I do relate to her, and those singer/songwriter’s of the ‘70’s, I connect with what they do, and I hope I can make that happen in 2008, in a more modern, somehow incorporate both those sounds." As far as what direction that is, Brooke said she definitely wants to go the singer/songwriter route. "I would love to write, or at least co-write, and build an album around that organic sound, keep it real, keep it raw, and keep it fresh. I know it is 2008, so you have to make it current, but I definitely think that’s my avenue. I want to play the piano, I want to play the guitar, and I want to be very involved with the music, and connect with people on a very honest level."
As with most of the other fallen Idols this season, Brooke said that there really wasn't a whole lot of competition amongst this group. Again, like the others, she says that it was most likely due to the fact that they all had such distinct styles. She also said that strong bonds were formed because they really were the only ones who could relate to the intense experience of being on the show.
As far as any regrets, Brooke said that the only thing she wishes she'd done is allowed herself to have more fun despite the pressure. But she would do it again in a heartbeat. "I don’t really know how to put it into words, but it all has become this incredible roller coaster ride filled with a lot of emotions, and a lot of experiences that I don’t think I could ever have gotten in any other way."
Watch Brooke's emotional exit interview now!
FOX's hit show "Bones" is going to have a very familiar feel to all of us AI fans on May 12th, as this very special episode will feature two former Idols! Season six's Brandon Rogers co-stars with season five's Ace Young to make this a show you absolutely cannot miss. Make sure to tune in that Monday at 8/7c--in the meantime, catch the sneak previews right here on americanidol.com:
Brandon Rogers on "Bones"Ace Young on "Bones"
Our Style section has just been updated to include the scoop on what the team of AI stylists did to get the Top 6 Idols ready for a week of dramatic Andrew Lloyd Webber songs. Visit Style now for more on the ways that Carly Smithson pushed the fashion envelope from week to week. The stylists also reveal every last detail of what went into getting the Idols to make a huge impression on camera. While you're there, find out what lucky girls got a Carrie Underwood makeover!
The Idols had a blast this week as they took on the music of 70s icon and music legend Neil Diamond. Many viewers were undoubtedly hit with a sense of nostalgia as the Top 5 tackled some of Neil's biggest classics. Check out the song choices below:
David Archuleta"Sweet Caroline" - Neil DiamondDavid Archuleta"America" - Neil DiamondDavid Cook"I'm Alive" - Neil DiamondDavid Cook"All I Really Need Is You" - Neil Diamond Jason Castro"Forever In Blue Jeans" - Neil Diamond Jason Castro"'September Morn'" - Neil DiamondBrooke White"I'm A Believer"- Neil Diamond Brooke White"I Am…I Said" - Neil DiamondSyesha Mercado"Hello Again" - Neil Diamond
Syesha Mercado"Thank The Lord For The Night Time" - Neil Diamond
We've been bringing you Garnier Fructis style videos all season long, and they've explored the ins and outs of AI style, and what these Idols really think about the images they've presented during the season. Check out our latest Garnier Idol Extra video as host J.D. Roberto talks to Carly Smithson about her controversial style, what she thought of Simon's harsh criticism, and her very unusual allergy that affected how she accessorized! Also, do not miss the Garnier Idol Tonight clip in which two lucky girls get a makeover to look like one of their favorite Idols from season five--watch to find out what beautiful Idol it is, and for a quick glimpse of Danny Noriega!
Nikko Smith might have originally been known as Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith's son during the fourth season of American Idol, but he earned his own reputation and nickname as "The Comeback Kid." After originally being eliminated on that season, producers called him and asked him to return to take the place of Mario Vazquez. It was then that Paula dubbed him "The Comeback Kid" for his stellar rendition of "One Hand, One Heart."
In October of that same year, Nikko performed the national anthem prior to Game 4 of the World Series, a game that took place at the home field of the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom his father played 15 seasons.
Since being on "Idol," Nikko has formed his own record label, the N Music Group. He has signed some up and coming rappers to the label, including D-Miles, singer/songwriter Kane, and R & B artist Alanna. He's also working on a debut album of his own, and he's even reportedly reached out to AI alums Anwar Robinson and Scott Savol for some collaborations.
Happy Birthday, Nikko!
While some skeptics might claim that Carly Smithson was just keeping a stiff upper lip after her elimination the other night, Carly begs to differ with that theory. In a phone interview with her after her departure, she explains that she reacted so well to her departure because she truly wasn't sad. As she put it, "I know I feel like American Idol has given me such a gift, such a platform to be able to launch myself off of and no more theme songs. I’m actually, I’m not that sad to be leaving. I enjoyed every minute thoroughly, but you know we’re back in two weeks to start preparing for the tour and the finale. So it’s like a small break and I’m going to be back." She's thrilled to have gained a loyal fan base, and to have the opportunity to make a "cool record."
There have been quite a few theories on why Carly was voted off, and she tends to agree with some of them. For example, there was some bad press about her being too experienced at the beginning of the show due to having a previous contract, and that's when Carly says a lot of the really strong fan bases were formed. That doesn't mean, however, that she let it get to her. Instead, she says she had the most fun she could have possibly had with each performance.
Although Carly doesn't deny that she has a strong background in singing, she revealed in the interview that she took a break from singing all together at one point because of how difficult her pursuit of a music career had been. She became a waitress in Atlanta in about 2003, and picked up with that when she moved to San Diego as well. What's funny is she never even mentioned that she could sing when she worked at Fado in Atlanta, and, ironically, the singer there right around time was Michael Johns! It wasn't until she began performing at the bar in San Diego in 2005 that she realized she really wanted to get back into music again. Carly doesn't like to think of her time on "Idol" as a second chance, however. She released her first CD when she was only 15, and she said it wasn't promoted at all, so it "imploded." "I like to not dwell on things that had happened before, and I just like to see this as the first real experience that I’ve really had. You know I learned so much more with this and had such more of a positive experience than I had ever had in the past."
As many viewers probably noticed, Simon Cowell was particularly hard on Carly from the start of the season. Carly thinks it might have been because he didn't see her as the pop rock singer that she envisions. But she doesn't think his criticism was all bad. She even said that he told her directly that he has very high hopes for her career, and she thinks a lot of his comments were given because he wanted her to do the best she could.
Of course, there were some viewers who had a hard time getting past Carly's extensive tattoos. But Carly wants everyone to know that the one on her arm is not an Amy Winehouse tattoo, but rather an image of a Geisha that she hasn't had time to get filled in!
One aspect Carly will definitely miss is the friends she made while on the show, and she even noted the interesting roles they all seemed to play. As she said, she became a sort of "camp counselor," wiping everyone's eyes and making sure they kept it together. She tends to see the positives in everyone, and says that each of the remaining Idols has a certain strength. They're also very distinct, unlike some other seasons, so it's hard to really compare them. She did admit, however, that her favorite left a while back, and that was Amanda Overmyer, who Carly thought was "fantastic."
The only real regret Carly has about her experience is learning too late the importance of having more fun with the song choices instead of just going for the song that showcases her vocals. As she explained, "I had fun, and I think maybe it was too late, but I realized not to take everything so seriously. You know early on in the show they had set the standard so high for me, and they were a lot harder on me than other contestants and I think it kind of got to me for a maybe a few weeks, and I think by the time I met Mariah Carey I had kind of changed my mind. She was just so cool and so normal and so nice." Oh, and she does have one other small regret...not being able to take advantage of Neil Diamond's extensive song library! In fact, she was planning on doing a "balladish" version of "Sweet Caroline" with a piano and the cello.
Watch Carly's in-person exit interview now!
Carrie Underwood graces the cover of In Style this May, and she opens up about everything from tough break-ups to body image to being a fashion icon! Catch a glimpse of the article below:
o Advice for the cheated-on: "I’ve been cheated on a time or two. It’s tough. I wouldn’t recommend doing any property damage, though [laughs]. Now I’m to the point where you get one shot. Life’s too short."
o How she gets over a breakup: "I’m a ‘let it go, move on’ kind of person. And ice cream is my friend. If anybody seems me eating a sundae and I look unhappy, something bad has happened. I am drowning my sorrows in fudge and caramel and whipped cream. But then I’m like, 'New day.'"
o What she would change about her body: "I think about what I look like probably more than I should. But I think everybody is her own worst critic..."
o Not splurging: “I don’t buy expensive jewelry and fur coats and Escalades. I’ve never bought a car in my life. The car I have, a Ford Mustang convertible, is the one I won on Idol—I guess I need to go buy a new car after all!”
o Which features she likes about herself: "I’m content with 90 percent of me, but there’s not one thing I love. I like my teeth. Sometimes I wonder if my orthodontist realizes who important he was."
o Being a fashion icon: "Girls have it harder in country music. Guys can be balding and overweight. But look at the women: Faith Hill? Beautiful. Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride? Beautiful. Kellie Pickler, Miranda Lambert? Everybody has to be beautiful, I don’t think it’s fair. When you dream of becoming a singer, you don’t say to yourself,’But I don’t have the look for it.’ I hire people to make me beautiful so I can keep up with everybody else."
o If she could do one thing: "If I could do one thing, I’d make the day longer and refuse to work the extra hours."
For exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of In Style's May cover shoot with Carrie, go to InStyle.com. Pick up the May issue of In Style on newsstands everywhere, starting today!
Sure, you've formed your opinions on which Idols sing their way into your hearts, but do you really know what makes them tick? americanidol.com had the opportunity to sit down with the Top 5 Idols and chat. Brooke White opens about her emotional journey, David Archuleta explains what his experience is like as the youngest Idol of the season, David Cook talks about his theory on the key to success, Jason Castro explains how he just tries to be himself, and Syesha Mercado gives us the scoop on what she really thinks of Simon!
Make sure to check out each interview below:
Brooke WhiteDavid ArchuletaDavid CookJason CastroSyesha Mercado
On Tuesday, April 29 (8:00-9:02 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 5 finalists (Brooke White, David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado) will return to the Idol stage to perform the music of Neil Diamond.
Tune in the following night to see a live performance of "Amazing Grace" by superstar Neil Diamond, as well as Natasha Bedingfield perform her hit "Pocket Full of Sunshine." Find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on the results show Wednesday, April 30 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.
Neil Diamond is one of the most successful pop music performers in the history of music with more than 125 million records sold worldwide, 15 Top Ten albums and 37 Top Ten singles. His work has been celebrated over the past four decades with 12 Grammy nominations and four Golden Globes. He has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Columbia Records recently announced a May 6 release date for Diamond’s "Home Before Dark," the highly anticipated new album from the legendary singer-songwriter. A compelling collection of honest, passionate songs, "Home Before Dark" finds the iconic artist reuniting with acclaimed producer Rick Rubin. The album follows the Rubin-produced "12 Songs," which entered the Billboard Top 200 at No. 4, Diamond’s highest-charting debut yet. The disc was hailed by Newsweek as "the best work Diamond has done in 30 years." The Grammy-winning, record-breaking performer will kick off a world tour this summer, performing to audiences of all ages and selling-out performances across the globe.
With over 6 million units shifted worldwide, Natasha Bedingfield is the U.K.’s biggest female pop star. Bedingfield became somewhat of an overnight success in Europe and the U.K. in 2004 with the release of her debut, "Single." Her sophomore album, "Unwritten," and the smash hit "These Words" both topped the charts. With nearly 2 million downloads of her single "Unwritten," Bedingfield became the first British female to score a No. 1 on the U.S. billboard pop chart in 19 years since Kim Wilde and "You Keep Me Hangin’ On." "Love Like This," which features Sean Kingston, is the first single from Natasha’s forthcoming album, "Pocketful of Sunshine."
If any longstanding "Idol" fan was asked to name the most memorable moment in history, undoubtedly many would recall that emotional moment when Kelly Clarkson sang "A Moment Like This" after she won way back in season one. Little did she know that that moment would be just the beginning of a very successful career.
She was originally marketed to the public as a pop singer with her debut album Thankful back in 2003. In fact, "A Moment Like This" was released on this album, and it set a record at the time on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart when it rose from #52 to #1! The music video was filmed at Pantages Theater in Hollywood, and even included some short scenes of Kelly from when she was on AI. Kelly let a great deal more of her rock side show with her multi-platinum sophomore effort, Breakaway, in 2004. This second album yielded five U.S. top ten singles and two Grammy awards. It surprisingly had a less impressive opening than Thankful, but the single releases proved extremely successful, and it became only the fourth CD in history to stay in the Billboard 200 Top 20 for a year consecutively, in addition to being certified six times platinum in the U.S.
Having had such success with her first two albums, Kelly decided to go out on a limb and make the kind of album that she wanted to make with her third CD, My December. As she stated on her fan club website, "The biggest difference is how intimate it is." Kelly either wrote or co-wrote every single song on the album.
The original Idol thrilled fans by returning to the AI stage during the season six finale last May, performing "Never Again" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry during a Beatles medley. In recent years, Kelly has also proved she has the talent to be a successful crossover artist with her venture into country music. Kelly performed "What Hurts the Most" with Rascal Flatts at the ACM Awards in '06, and returned once again to sing a duet with Reba McEntire in '07. Using this momentum, Kelly and Reba recorded an hour-long CMT Crossroads special, which has aired on numerous networks. At the Academy of Country Music Awards in May of last year, Kelly and Reba teamed up once again to sing a duet of Kelly's own '05 single, "Because of You," which also became a lead single from Reba's album of all-star duets. This collaboration earned Kelly a CMA award nomination for "Musical Event of the Year" in '07, and a Grammy nomination for "Best Country Collaboration With Vocal" in '08.
Kelly has sold over 19 million albums worldwide. Her fans have got to be thrilled to know that she is working on a new album which is due out later this year, and is collaborating on the new material with OneRepublic frontman and producer Ryan Tedder. Wikipedia reports via Digital Spy that fans can expect "big choruses" and "heavy drum programming" on the album, which is said to be heavily influenced by nineties electro-rockers Garbage, with one song even featuring an experimental bridge that was inspired by Mozart.
Happy Birthday, Kelly!
We caught up with Kelly after her appearance on "Australian Idol" this year--watch the video now!
Phil Stacey will release his self-titled debut CD on April 29th and will kick off his CD release week with a live appearance on The Today Show on Monday, April 28th. Phil will then spend the remainder of the day doing a satellite radio tour. On Tuesday, April 29th, the day his album releases, he will spend the day in the Big Apple doing numerous television and radio appearances via satellite interview tours. Later in the week, Phil will appear on Fox Business, and Good Day New York, and will do interviews with many entertainment outlets before flying to Florida on Thursday night for a weekend of tour dates.
Phil, about whom AI Judge Randy Jackson raved, "You are going to have a career in country music!" and whom Tony Bennett called "One of the better singers I’ve heard, not just today, but in a long time," is already getting overwhelmingly positive critical response to his debut CD:
"Happy to report that Phil Stacey is a good, solid record. Phil's voice is in fine form throughout, and [the album] features some terrific picking. A consistent album….nice start."– Ken Barnes, USA Today"Got ahold of Phil Stacey’s coming debut album…happy with a lot of it. There's a timeless quality to the best material here and Phil carries it off well vocally."– Howard Cohen, the Miami Herald
The CD was produced by Grammy-award winner Wayne Kirkpatrick (Eric Clapton’s "Change The World"), and Phil’s debut single, "If You Didn’t Love Me" was co-written by labelmate Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts. The single is rapidly climbing the country radio charts, and the song’s video is getting substantial airplay on both the CMT and GAC networks.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Phil to chat about his already-successful post-Idol career--watch the video now!
Fox Broadcasting Company has secured two renewable energy resources for the highly anticipated two-night AMERICAN IDOL finale at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE Tuesday, May 20 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) and Wednesday, May 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. These eco-friendly initiatives will reduce the carbon footprint of the AMERICAN IDOL finale, as part of FOX’s ongoing effort to reduce its impact on the world’s climate and become carbon-neutral by 2010.
In partnership with the LADWP, FOX secured renewable energy for the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE for the duration of the AMERICAN IDOL production. The power will be provided by LADWP’s “Green Power for a Green LA Program,” and sources will include a combination of solar energy, wind energy and hydropower. Find out more about these low-carbon energy sources on LADWP's website.
In addition, FOX will install a solar panel system provided by E-Village, Inc. in the AMERICAN IDOL media arrivals area. This high-performance photovoltaic system will be integrated into the LADWP utility grid and will substantially contribute to the renewable energy mix. After the finale, the solar electric system will be donated to a school in California through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s Solar 4 R Schools program.
The AMERICAN IDOL season finale will air live for two nights from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. On Tuesday, May 20 the Top 2 finalists will compete for the title before thousands of fans and millions of television viewers. On Wednesday, May 21 special guests and surprise performers will join Ryan Seacrest as he crowns the next American Idol.
After months of hush-hush planning, the wedding of first daughter Jenna Bush will finally be celebrated this weekend at her family's ranch in Crawford, Texas.
It's taking forever for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes to release photos of their baby Suri. We're sick of waiting for them, and we're guessing you are, too.
It was paparazzi mayhem outside the home of rap mogul Jay-Z Friday night after rumors spread that he and singer Beyonce Knowles would be tying the knot in a lavish, but intimate, wedding.
In celebration of Mother's Day, May 13, The ShowBuzz dug deep in our video archives to see what some celebrity moms have said about motherhood. Click on the photos to view the videos.
"You get the best of both worlds," Miley Cyrus sings in the theme song of her hugely popular Disney Channel show, "Hannah Montana." It's a reference to her character's secret double life as both a rock star AND a normal schoolgirl.
Nick Cannon is cast as Mariah Carey's lover in her new video _ but has the superstar diva given the young actor a considerably bigger role in real life?
Actress Jennie Garth, who portrayed Kelly Taylor in almost 300 episodes of the hit series Beverly Hills, 90210, will appear on the series' spin-off set to premiere this coming fall season on The CW. The actress, who will appear in a recurring capacity on the spin-off, will reprise the same role that helped put her on the map in the 1990s.
It's not unusual to see original cast members make their way in spin-offs. And when said spin-offs have teens attending school, it's a regular occurrence to see the original cast member be part of the school's staff. Kelly Taylor is no exception here. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Kelly Taylor will become a guidance counselor at West Beverly Hills High. Nothing more is known at this point about the character and if other 90210 original cast members will join her on the show.
Jennie Garth was also part of the cast of What I Like About You and of Season 5 of Dancing with the Stars.
He's an actor, a pin-up hunk, he's tried Dancing With the Stars, and now he'll see what it's like to be a Jim Lange or Wink Martindale. Cameron Mathison has been tapped to host TLC's new game show Your Place or Mine? Looking at those eyes, I'd let him redecorate my abode!
"I'm thrilled to be a part of TLC's first game show, and extremely excited about the fun concept," said Mathison. "I think both men and women, of all ages, are really going to enjoy the show because there's a little something in it for everyone." Yeah, TLC is pitching this as a family show. Hmm...we'll see. If it can capture the Trading Spaces vibe, they may be on the right track.
(S06E16) It was a big night down at DWTS HQ. Not only would the field be set for the big semi-final showdown next week, it was also the show's 100th episode. That milestone meant that many of our favorites from seasons gone by were making their return to the ballroom. In addition, ABC recognized that nothing else they were going to put on tonight was going to measure up to DWTS numbers, so they kicked the whole thing off with a clip-show counting down the judge's ten favorite performances from the first five seasons. That list, and the rest of the results show goings on, after the jump.
Week 8 brings us another chat with our favorite pro. This week Jonathan weighs in with his thoughts on all of the couple's performances and picks his favorite dance of the night. It was a better week for the judges, but there is still one dance that he didn't agree with them about...at all.
Along the way he talks about the difficulties the pros face choreographing the performances as they move further into the competition. We also get to some reader questions. Read on to hear about his trip to the White House, the most, and least, memorable moments from his years on the show, and a sneak peek at just what they have planned for Tuesday's big results show.
(S06E15) Last week things were turned upside down as Jason took the points lead from Kristi and Shannon left in a surprising elimination. No time to worry about that for our couples though, as week eight brings with it two more dances. If that wasn't enough, the lift ban is out the window. Each couple is allowed to do a lift in each of their performances, as long as it is performed in the character of the routine, whatever that means. Now they must weigh the prospects of it all going terribly wrong against the possible gain to be had in points and votes. Would Kristi reclaim the top spot? Or would there be a new leader? All that, and a rundown of all the week eight performances, after the jump.
Holy frik! We've only just started to embrace the return of our shows after a shortened strike season. Now, they are almost over. In the next few weeks all of our network favorites will say good-bye for the summer to be replaced with reality shows, reality game shows, reality soap operas, and Regis on primetime (again).
Needless to say, I'm a bit depressed. As I am sure you are as well. But, we will do our duty and press on. Thusly, we here at the sprawling lakefront offices of TV Squad (you choose the lakefront) have compiled list of when your favorite, and not so favorite, shows will be saying good-bye for their summer vacation. As usual, taking the fickleness of the networks, these times and days can change at a moment's notices. We will try to update you of those changes as quickly as our little fingers can type it out.
So, with a leaden heart, here are your season and series finales.
The new Beverly Hills 90210 is busy casting and coming together, but it doesn't seem like any of the stars from the original Fox hit will be involved. Don't look for Brandon Walsh among the characters, at least not with the man who created him. Jason Priestley admits that nobody from the new 90210 has even contacted him about an appearance. In a brief interview with momlogic.com, Jason said, "I'm certainly open to it. I loved working on that show. I loved everything I did on that show. I had so many jobs on that show, I loved it so."
On the other hand, Priestley makes it abundantly clear that he has no interest in following in the dancing footsteps of two of his 90210 castmates, Ian Ziering and Jennie Garth, by joining Dancing With the Stars. He just can't dance and he makes no bones about his inability to do a Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly turn. His hobby is on the race track, not the dance floor.
Gossip Girl is getting a lot of exposure these days. A week after the OMFG scandal, the cast of Gossip Girl has made People magazine's list of the most beautiful people of 2008. No argument here. Eye candy is one of the main reasons why I love the show. My only complaint is that Matthew Settle and Kelly Rutherford were left out. Rufus Humphrey and Lily van der Woodsen are currently two of the hottest parents on TV.
Other familiar TV faces made the list, including: Desperate Housewives' Eva Longoria Parker and Marcia Cross, Sarah Silverman, Ugly Betty executive producer Salma Hayek, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Dancing With The Stars' Carrie Ann Inaba and Jason Taylor, Vanessa Hudgens, Mad Men's Christina Hendricks, and Minka Kelly from Friday Night Lights.
(S06E14) Going into tonight's Dancing With The Stars results show, fans had one question on their minds. Would Cristián continue to dance after his injury, or would he withdraw from the competition? Naturally we had to wait until the very end of the show to have that question answered. The ballroom kids were replaced by Kenny Mayne and Def Leppard--definitely an adults' night.
The rumor that Paula Abdul will be a contestant on Dancing With The Stars has been floating around for a while now, and gained a little more steam with Paula's recent appearance on the show. Now, along with all the fan chatter, we are getting reactions from some of the people involved with the show. Our pals over at TV Guide sent along a press release for their upcoming issue, which you can find in its entirety after the jump, with quotes from Carrie Ann and Bruno.
In a nutshell, Bruno thinks she would win. Carrie Ann says that Paula is fragile and won't realize how much pressure is on her until she's signed up and can't get out. I asked DWTS pro Jonathan Roberts about it Monday night and his take was that he would be surprised to see Paula compete on the show because of her extensive dance background. He added that he thinks Paula has been around reality TV enough that she would know what she is getting into. I say, good or bad, it's a spectacle waiting to happen. What do you think? Click on through for a poll, and to sound off in the comments.
The pressure was turned up a notch this week as each of the couples had to do two complete numbers for the first time. The results of all their hard work left the judges scores landing all over the map, from 21 to 29. Jonathan is back this week with his take on all of the performances, and some thoughts on those confusing scores.
We also got to a number of reader questions. So, read on past the jump to find out which celebrity is on Jonathan's partner wish list, how he got involved with the show, what some of his favorite musical numbers were, just what makes the foxtrot so hard, and what Jonathan thinks of the possibility that Paula Abdul would be on the show. Oh, and there is also a bit of a teaser about what the future might hold for our favorite pro.
(S06E13) This is traditionally the herd-thinning week on Dancing With The Stars. Half of the contestants have been eliminated, and the remaining contestants are tasked with two dance routines. That's a lot of work for one week. Who rose to the challenge? Who fell short of greatness? Read on to find out.
Dating rumors are a major part of the hype surrounding Dancing With The Stars. Every season, a different pair is suspected of being a couple behind-the-scenes as well. Some of the rumors turn out to be true, and some do not. Partners Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff started dating after they were paired up on the show.
This season, fans have been speculating about the chemistry between Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough. Rumors have been circulating all week after People caught them kissing on the beach. Hough and Elizabeth even poked fun at the rumors after this week's romantic rumba. Is their relationship the real deal, or is it all for the fans' benefit?
Just when you thought awards shows couldn't get any longer, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that reality show hosts are eligible to receive Emmys. This year's 60th Annual Emmy Awards will include a category called Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program.
The academy named popular hosts like Ryan Seacrest, Tom Bergeron, Samantha Harris, and Howie Mandel as possible nominees. Ty Pennington, Tyra Banks, and Jeff Foxworthy are also eligible. I'm not surprised that reality hosts are getting this opportunity. The Emmys have had categories for Outstanding Reality Program and Reality-Competition Program since 2001 and 2003, respectively.
(S06E12) Coming off of performance night, conventional wisdom said that Marlee & Fabian would find themselves in the bottom two. The big question... Who would be joining them? We are now far enough into the competition that there are no more easy eliminations. And, as we saw, that other couple in the bottom two was somewhat of a surprise. Leading up to the elimination though, the bigger story might have been Shannon & Derek reacting to the judge's comments. All that, and a rundown of the entire results show, after the jump.
With another week of dances in the books, it's time to check in with our favorite professional dancer. This week Jonathan once again gives us his perspective on all of the couple's performances. Then we make our way through some of the reader questions.
Along the way we learn about his past with Cheryl, Edyta, and Alec. He also touches on the difficulty of balancing what the judges want in a dance with what the viewers want. It probably won't mean the end of the questions, but Jonathan does his best to try and answer the age old DWTS puzzler, how the heck does the lift rule work anyway? And... Jonathan on waxing. All that, and more, after the jump.
(S06E11) As if the pressure on the stars wasn't enough, this week it was ratcheted up another notch. Not only did we have each couple doing a dance they hadn't done before, they also had to learn a second number. All the teams got together to perform as one in the big country showdown. It wasn't scored, but served as a pre-cursor to next week, where all the remaining couples will do two full dances. Would Kristi continue her reign atop the leader board? Would Jason or Mario knock her off? Those answers, and a rundown of all the performances, after the break.
Marissa J, who's currently spinning, twirling and trying to look graceful on Dancing With the Stars, will be developing a syndicated yakker (industry talk for talk show) for Sony Pictures Television. The fact that another company is also doing the same thing for Marie Osmond means one thing: producers think that if you can dance, you can talk. That's a show business axiom, isn't it? Her show, if it flies, will be for fall 2009.
Sony has dipped in syndication before with the Wayne Brady Show, which failed to click but did win the star a Daytime Emmy. Marissa is already an award winner, grabbing the 2003 Tony as Best Actress in a musical for playing Tracy in the Broadway version of Hairspray opposite Harvey Fierstein.
(S06E10) There wasn't much room for mistakes in last night's performances, and several of the stars needed fan votes to make up for lackluster scores. I panicked after realizing that I forgot to vote on Monday, and wouldn't you know it? One of my early favorites landed in the bottom two. This week's results show brought us performances by James Blunt, Ozomatli, and more of the aspiring Dancing With The Stars Junior Champions.
We're back for what ended up being something of a strange week five. After the highlights and big scores of week four, things were a little rougher this week. I talked with Jonathan about that and a number of other things.
After the jump, find out how the difficulty of the samba and the rumba might have contributed to those scores. Jonathan also gives a little more background about what happened with Shannon & Derek and what his role as potential stand in was. We also touch on what might be the cause for the string of male winners on the show. And there was just enough time to sneak in some viewer mail.
Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice is back on the American Idol stage tonight and will be performing his new single, "Witness", off his latest album, See the Light.
Find out more about what Bo's been up to by visiting his 
There has rarely, if ever, been an Idol that has worn her heart on her sleeve as much as 
The Idols had a blast this week as they took on the music of 70s icon and music legend Neil Diamond. Many viewers were undoubtedly hit with a sense of nostalgia as the Top 5 tackled some of Neil's biggest classics. Check out the song choices below:
We've been bringing you Garnier Fructis style videos all season long, and they've explored the ins and outs of AI style, and what these Idols really think about the images they've presented during the season. Check out our 
While some skeptics might claim that 
Carrie Underwood
If any longstanding "Idol" fan was asked to name the most memorable moment in history, undoubtedly many would recall that emotional moment when
Phil Stacey
Actress Jennie Garth, who portrayed Kelly Taylor in almost 300 episodes of the hit series Beverly Hills, 90210, will appear on the series' spin-off set to premiere this coming fall season on The CW. The actress, who will appear in a recurring capacity on the spin-off, will reprise the same role that helped put her on the map in the 1990s.
He's an actor, a pin-up hunk, he's tried Dancing With the Stars, and now he'll see what it's like to be a Jim Lange or Wink Martindale. Cameron Mathison has been tapped to host TLC's new game show Your Place or Mine? Looking at those eyes, I'd let him redecorate my abode!
Week 8 brings us another chat with our favorite pro. This week Jonathan weighs in with his thoughts on all of the couple's performances and picks his favorite dance of the night. It was a better week for the judges, but there is still one dance that he didn't agree with them about...at all. 
Holy frik! We've only just started to embrace the return of our shows after a shortened strike season. Now, they are almost over. In the next few weeks all of our network favorites will say good-bye for the summer to be replaced with reality shows, reality game shows, reality soap operas, and Regis on primetime (again). 
The new 
The rumor that Paula Abdul will be a contestant on Dancing With The Stars has been floating around for a while now, and gained a little more steam with Paula's recent appearance on the show. Now, along with all the fan chatter, we are getting reactions from some of the people involved with the show. Our pals over at TV Guide sent along a press release for their upcoming issue, which you can find in its entirety after the jump, with quotes from Carrie Ann and Bruno.
The pressure was turned up a notch this week as each of the couples had to do two complete numbers for the first time. The results of all their hard work left the judges scores landing all over the map, from 21 to 29. Jonathan is back this week with his take on all of the performances, and some thoughts on those confusing scores.
Dating rumors are a major part of the hype surrounding 
Just when you thought awards shows couldn't get any longer, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that 
(S06E11) As if the pressure on the stars wasn't enough, this week it was ratcheted up another notch. Not only did we have each couple doing a dance they hadn't done before, they also had to learn a second number. All the teams got together to perform as one in the big country showdown. It wasn't scored, but served as a pre-cursor to next week, where all the remaining couples will do two full dances. Would Kristi continue her reign atop the leader board? Would Jason or Mario knock her off? Those answers, and a rundown of all the performances, after the break. 
On the theory that it worked for another actress who play Tracy Turnblad, 
