American Idol Top 10 Spoilers

UPDATE: The source we trusted for the spoiler information now reports that most of it was incorrect. Instead of putting any more incorrect material out there, we'll just wait until after the show airs to update you again. Later ...

Here's an advance look at the order of the lineup for tonight's show, as well as what is going to be sung and worn by the contestants. If you don't want to know in advance STOP READING NOW!

Before we give you the rundown, here's the biggest surprise of the evening and a change in the current rules, according to idolforums.com:

The entire 10 performances fit into the full hour of the show. The extra seven minutes are actually for the return of a pretaped segment of recordings by Antonella Barba, Sundance Head, Sabrina Sloan, Jared Cotter, Stephanie Edwards and Brandon Rogers (a capella). Viewers will be able to vote on an 11th phone line for one of these people to join the tour (not return to the show)!!

And although Fox originally released the theme as pop songs, in an interview with ET online, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said that tonight's theme is songs that have inspired Gwen Stefani:

ET: What theme nights produce better shows? A restrictive theme, such as songs of Diana Ross, or this week's pop-music theme, when the Top 10 could sing just about anything?

Nigel Lythgoe: This week, it couldn't really be anything, because it is artists that inspire Gwen Stefani. Gwen has given us a list of artists, so it is pinned down a little bit. I think for the contestants, it is much better when the genre is open. "British Invasion" turned out much better than we all dreamed, because a good song has the ability of changing and coming up to date. I love the older songs more because there is more melody there and a proper written song. So it has a verse, chorus and a bridge. It just makes it a little more interesting.

On the rating drop this season, Nigel said: Even if we lost 50 percent of our audience, we would still be in the top three shows in the country. I am not that worried. Everybody keeps telling me it has to do with daylight savings. Also, it affects the programs with [the highest ratings the most], obviously. To be honest about it, people are saying that this is not our greatest year for talent. I don't necessarily agree with them. I think we have five or six of the best singers we have ever had. If it is a bad year for talent, we will find out over the next few weeks.

On the advice from the judges: The great thing about this show is it is so subjective. The fun is in disagreeing with what people say. If I was a contestant and listening to everything that has been said over the past six seasons, I wouldn't know what to do from one week to the next. Because they tell you one week, "You're playing it safe." Then the next week, they say, "It is dangerous to do this." Then, "You have chosen the wrong song." It is a tough one. You just have to get out there and sing people's socks off. End of story.

On which contestant has surprised him this year: Jordin continues to surprise me. I am watching her grow week-on-week from this 17-year-old that I saw a number of years ago when she auditioned for "American Juniors." I am watching a young lady come to fruition.

On genres not yet done he'd like to see: I would love to do The Eagles, the music of The Beatles, and there are a number of songwriters -- the lyrics of Hal David, Carole King -- anything that gives the contestants really good melodic songs to sing and a wide choice. I hate pinning them down too much.

On whether he laughed at the "Saturday Night Live" Sanjaya bit: I don't need the thick skin. Sanjaya needs the thick skin. I am old school, so anytime my shows are talked about I am happy in whatever way it is discussed. I will always defend anything on my shows if I feel it is defensible. "SNL" has often had pot shots at us and we have always enjoyed it. Part of our humor here is making fun of ourselves, so it really doesn't worry me that anybody else makes fun of us. (Watch the hilarious SNL bit below. Here are links to SNL videos of Carrie Underwood on the same show singing "Before He Cheats" and "Wasted.")



On whether Taylor Hicks will be on the show this season and what Lythgoe thought of Hicks' CD: Of course [he'll be on the show]. Taylor Hicks is our "Idol" this season. I haven't heard [his CD] it, to be honest.

Is it unusual that he hasn't heard Hicks' CD: No. Kelly Clarkson's I heard. Carrie Underwood's. I haven't heard Fantasia's, Ruben's or Taylor's. I haven't heard an awful lot of the other releases. It is not my type of music, to be frank with you. I like more middle-of-the-road stuff. When they leave us, they go to different genres. I like country, which is why I played Carrie. I wanted to see where Kelly was going because she was our first Idol. I have very little time to listen to outside music. I am constantly listening to the music that we are doing that week, and trying to get everything downloaded to give the kids as wide a choice as I can.

Tonight's performance order, songs, clothing and YouTube.com links (when available):

1. LaKisha Jones - "Love Has a Mind of Its Own" by Donna Summer (very long blue dress, jewlery all over)




2. Blake Lewis - "Love Song" by The Cure (black pants, white dress shirt)



3. Jordin Sparks - "Hey Baby" by No Doubt (pink dress that splits down the legs)



4. Chris Richardson - "Don't Speak" by No Doubt (black shirt, black shorts, bandana)




5. Gina Glocksen - "Just Like a Pill" by Pink (black tank top, white skirt)




6. Phil Stacey - "Every Breath You Take" by The Police (blue shirt, black pants)




7. Haley Scarnato - "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper (long pink dress)




8. Sanjaya Malakar - "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5 (tight black pants, puffy blue shirt)



9. Melinda Doolittle - “Sunset People” by Donna Summer (huge gown, bigger then Lakisha’s, red)



10. Chris Sligh - "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police (brown shirt, black pants)



The Ford Video: "Push" by Matchbox 20, which breaks into "Love Will Save the Day."

We're puzzled as to why Melinda and LaKisha have chosen obscure Donna Summer songs. Although they'll no doubt (ahem) sing the heck out of them, in the case of Idol familiarity seldom breeds contempt -- it usually garners votes. So we think these choices could hurt the two divas.

Listening again to the selections the other contestants have chosen, they all seem voice-appropriate and we are forecasting another good night of music for Idol. We do worry about Haley's pick of "True Colors." Although we love the Cyndi Lauper song, we seem to recall Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" as the Idol Kiss of Death for Nadia in Season 4 (or maybe it was her Mohawk that did it).

We're thrilled to see Sligh in the pimp spot and hope he finally proves to viewers what a great voice he has. We've known it for months, but he didn't really start demonstrating it until he sang "She's Not There" by The Zombies last Tuesday. We also hope the pimp spot means that he's been forgiven by the show's executive producers for his "Hi Dave" Vote for the Worst shout-out last week. It would be horrible if they were to set him up in the pimp spot and then eliminate him the next night (but keep in mind that Idol does love to shock viewers and nothing would be beyond belief at this point -- especially with the change in rules for the tour being initiated tonight). All we can say is "Go Sligh!"

e-mail Idol Addict
© 2007

Bits and Pieces

It's time to bone up on your Brits to get ready for Tuesday's British Invasion. So here's a homework list for those too young to remember and extra credit for those who have fond memories of these songs.

BTW, here are song suggestions for the contestants:
LaKisha Jones - "Goldfinger" (Shirley Bassey)
Chris Sligh - "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" (Gerry & The Pacemakers")
Blake Lewis - "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" (The Animals)
Sanjaya Malakar - "Lola" (The Kinks)
Gina Glocksen - "Wild Thing" (The Troggs)
Phil Stacey - "Go Now" (The Moody Blues)
Melinda Doolittle - "The Man Who Sold the World" (Lulu)
Chris Richardson - "Friday on My Mind" (The Easybeats)
Haley Scarnato - "A Sign of the Times" (Petula Clark)
Stephanie Edwards - "All Cried Out" (Dusty Springfield)
Jordin Sparks - "Georgy Girl" (The Seekers)

What are your song suggestions for the remaining 11? Please let us know by commenting!

Listen and watch:
Dave Clark 5 - "Because"
Dave Clark 5 - "Bits and Pieces"
Dave Clark 5 - "Glad All Over"
Dave Clark 5 - "Over and Over"
Dave Clark 5 -"You Got What It Takes"
Dusty Springfield - "All Cried Out"
Dusty Springfield - "I Only Want to Be With You"
Dusty Springfield - "Son of a Preacher Man"
Dusty Springfield - "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"
Gerry & The Pacemakers - "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"
Gerry & The Pacemakers - "Ferry Across the Mersey"
Gerry & The Pacemakers - "I Like It"
Herman's Hermits - "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat"
Herman's Hermits - "I'm Into Something Good"
Herman's Hermits - "Silhouettes"
Herman's Hermits - "There's a Kind of Hush"
Los Bravos - "Black Is Black"
Lulu - "The Man Who Sold the World"
Marianne Faithfull - "As Tears Go By"
Petula Clark - "A Sign of the Times"
Petula Clark - "Downtown"
Shirley Bassey - "Goldfinger"
Spencer Davis Group - "Gimme Some Lovin' "
Spencer Davis Group - "Keep on Running"
The Animals - "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
The Animals - "It's My Life"
The Animals - "We Gotta Get Out of This Place"
The Easybeats - "Friday on My Mind"
The Hollies - "Carrie Anne"
The Hollies - "Dear Eloise"
The Hollies - "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
The Hollies - "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)"
The Hollies - "On a Carousel"
The Kinks - "A Well Respected Man"
The Kinks - "All Day and All of the Night"
The Kinks - "Lola"
The Kinks - "Tired of Waiting"
The Kinks - "You Really Got Me"
The Moody Blues - "Go Now"
The Seekers - "Georgy Girl"
The Seekers - "I'll Never Find Another You"
The Troggs - "Love Is All Around"
The Troggs - "Wild Thing"
The Yardbirds - "For You Love"
The Zombies - "She's Not There"
The Zombies - "Tell Her No"
The Zombies - "Time of the Season"
Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders - "Game of Love"
Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders - "Groovy Kind of Love"

... Jennifer Lopez appeared on Extra recently and said she is counting the days until her April 11 appearance on Idol. The mentor for Latin Week, Lopez will perform a Spanish song from her latest release, "Como Ama una Mujer," on the Wednesday results show.

... According to TV Guide, Paula Abdul insists she is "great friends" with Simon Cowell in spite of their controversial onscreen relationship.

But the 44-year-old singer-turned-"Idol" judge admits she tries to avoid the star when he's being overly facetious. She said, "Simon and I actually get along great. We have cultivated a fun relationship. He's actually become a really good friend."

And Abdul is adamant any rumors of a romance between the pair is way off the mark. She explains, "He makes this stuff up. He said, 'Paula, people want us to hook up so bad.' I said, 'That's disgusting.' He goes, 'Paula, I know you want me,' and I go, 'Like a cold sore.' "

We have fun playing up the chemistry, but there's also times when I would cross the other side of the street so I wouldn't have to look at him."

... People magazine reports that six-foot-one-inch Taylor Hicks has shed nearly 22 lbs., going from 215 to 193, since his "American Idol" win last May. How'd he do it? By ditching fast food and such southern comforts as fried chicken. In their place: Salads, brown rice, fish and chicken noodle soup. "It's good for your throat," he says. "It's also comforting, but it's light." Not that the 30-year-old Alabaman – who's currently on a 53-city tour to promote his self-titled album – is completely denying himself. He calls his day off from the tour "kind of like my one sin day. I look for chocolate cake. If you're gonna do it, you might as well do it that way!"

Now the same weight as when he played high-school basketball, Hicks follows a serious exercise regimen, running for 45 minutes every other day, no matter where he is. "I just take off running, with a hat on," he says. And when covering up his distinctive gray mop, "I've walked through a thousand fans and nobody notices." Aside from the running, "I use a lot of the stage as exercise," says the singer, who calls his dance style "signature me ... it's original and it's authentic." Plus, it's more cardio: "I wear jackets, and with those lights, I'm sweating off, like, two pounds a night!"

... People magazine also revealed these things you didn't see on last week's show: Diana Ross' daughter, "Girlfriends" actress Tracee Ellis Ross, jumping out of her seat in the audience to watch her mom do her thing ... Melinda Doolittle star-struck when the original Dreamgirl put her arm around her during her performance of "More Today Than Yesterday." Jordin Sparks was seen mock-fanning a flushed Melinda ... the back story behind Ryan Seacrest introducing Simon Cowell as "all of Simon Cowell"? Simon's white button-down shirt was unbuttoned down to depths that no man should venture unless he's posing for a Harlequin romance book cover. Naturally, Ryan took the opportunity to point out the judge's revealing fashion choice to the world ... Season 5 finalists Paris Bennett and Lisa Tucker and Season 4 finalist Anthony Fedorov hung out in the audience and greeted members of the production crew with hugs before the live show began ... Chris Sligh's wife, Sarah, mounted a cutout of Chris' upper body on a popsicle stick and waved it in the air. Chris spotted his cutout bopping in the air and pointed it out to Blake Lewis, who laughed along with him. When it was announced that Chris was safe from being voted off, Sarah's mom – who flew into town with Sarah's father from South Carolina – pumped her fist in the air ... Blake Lewis and Gina Glocksen have become chummy and their families have gotten close: Blake's mom loaned Gina's mom and two sisters her "Mom loves you Blake! Vote for Blake!" sign, which they used the back of to design their own "Party Like a Glockstar" sign to wield during elimination night ... Brandon Rogers' mother wiping away tears as her son gave his final performance. At the end of the show, Blake was overwhelmed and started tearing up, hugging Brandon on stage for a long time and then hugging Jordin who was also a little weepy to see Brandon leave the group.

e-mail Idol Addict
© 2007

It Pays to Be a Finalist

Yes it pays to be a finalist ... literally. According to a story in USA Today, contestants who make the cut to the Top 12 went from mere amateurs, the equivalent of game show contestants, to professional TV performers. They became union members covered under contracts negotiated by the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

An agreement with Idol's producers, FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment, when Idol began in 2002 recognized that "the nature of what they're doing in the show changes from the final 12 on," says AFTRA spokesman John Hinrichs. "Prior to that time, they're just singing in a singing format," he says. "After that, they're doing more interactions and set bits," such as the video ads for Ford.

It's an important change in status for most of the singers. In the personal release that Idol requires when they audition, they must declare that they don't belong to AFTRA or another performing arts guild or, if they do, agree that their Idol performances are not professional appearances covered by a labor agreement. That completely changes when they become one of the final 12: Then they must join AFTRA, which requires a one-time initiation fee of $1,300. Dues are based on annual AFTRA earnings: If they make less than $2,000, they pay a minimum of $63.90.

Starting this past week, AFTRA's industrywide contracts required the producers to start paying the performers at least the minimum $921 each time they appear on a one-hour show. In addition, they receive residual payments when a show they're in as a finalist is aired again or is sold via DVDs or other media. The producers must contribute to union-sponsored health care and retirement accounts.

It's tough for shows to avoid paying the singers. "If they're not getting paid, they usually tell us, and we would be in contact with the show," Hinrichs says. "We have representatives who visit the show set on a weekly basis and talk to the members and make sure things are going OK."

Idol is mum about the subject. "We comply with the terms of our agreement with AFTRA," says FremantleMedia North America spokesman Manfred Westphal. "It is our policy to not discuss the financial or contractual arrangements we have with our performers."

BURGERS OR CLAM CHOWDER?

Brandon Rogers said it was most likely his choice of the latter that led to him being booted off of Idol last Wednesday. Huh? Well, those weren't his words exactly, but it was the analogy that Rogers and Ryan Seacrest came up with when the Idol host interviewed him on his KIIS radio show post-elimination.

On why he thought he lost, Rogers said, "It had more to do with my song selection throughout the competition. I never really picked songs that got to showcase my voice and really show me off the way that I think the judges and some of the people wanted me to."

"It's all about being the audience, I guess, when you're picking the songs," Rogers continued "I honestly picked songs that I liked, that I loved even, but not necessarily songs that showcased my voice."

"Well is it kind of like being a chef at a restaurant?" Ryan asked. "If I only prepare the food that I like to eat, odd are the entire list of customers may not agree with me. So I've got to cook meals that they'll actually buy."

"Exactly. Everyone like burgers," Brandon said.

"Right, so you've gotta go with burgers?" asked Seacrest.

"You've gotta go with burgers, even if you only like doing, you know ..." Rogers hesitated.

"Clam Chowder," Seacrest said.

Rogers also said he felt that Simon Cowell supported him, and that even though his criticism was harsh, Brandon agreed with it. Rogers also charmingly evaded Seacrest's questions on whether he felt Sanjaya Malakar should have been eliminated instead of him and who Sundance Head was referring to when he said one contestant felt he had the competition in the bag. You can hear the entire interview here.

KEEPING BUSY

Ace Young will be the spokesman for the next two months for the Dreyers Ice Cream American Idol campaign. He’ll be doing radio spots, TV ads and personal appearances promoting Dreyer’s American Idol Ice Cream Flavors.

Cast your vote for your favorite flavor and then register to win one of 1000's of prizes - including backstage passes to the American Idol Finale!! If your ZIP code is affiliated with one of the 10 promotional cities, you will also get invited to enter the regional contest. A lucky winner from each city will be picked for a visit from Ace and his guitarist. They will come to your house, hang out and sing three songs for you and 20 of your friends and neighbors.

Here is the list of cities Ace has and will be dropping in on:
3/6 Phoenix
3/13 San Diego
3/20 Sacramento
3/27 Tampa
4/3 Baltimore
4/5 Richmond
4/10 Atlanta
4/12 Birmingham
4/17 Chicago
4/19 Cincinnati

Check out this video of Ace performing the first private gig at the home of the lucky winner in Phoenix.

Young and his brothers donate time and money to The Children's Hospital in Denver.
Their involvement is the result of an accident Ace's brother Ryan suffered in 1996. After his recovery, Ace, Ryan and their brother Marc began visiting and performing at Children's Hospital on a regular basis. Ace was amazed by the courage he saw in the young patients and immediately found that he had a natural ability to connect with them. They loved his music and hugs and he loved being with them. Thus began an 8 year love affair between Ace and The Children's Hospital. He and his brothers still spend Christmas Day at the hospital, where they sing carols and visit each room.

"The only cameras we allow are those of the families visiting. It's all for the kids," said Ace, who added that his time at Children's provides him with a "reality check." "If you want to know how Superman feels, just get a hug from one of these little kids."

... Elliott Yamin is on a roll. His debut CD drops on March 20. He debuted his single “Wait For You” on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show. Check out a clip from his upcoming video here. You can listen to “Wait For You” at Elliott’s My Space.

e-mail Idol Addict
© 2007

The British Are Coming!

Fox has announced that the theme of next week's show is British Invasion Week, with the contestants being mentored by Lulu and Peter Noone (lead singer of Herman's Hermits) on hit songs picks from the 1960s.

To those of you reading this who are too young to remember the '60s, or think that the only British group that came out of that era was The Beatles ... well, they weren't. Musically, it was a great time to be a teen, with music from not only the Fab Four pouring out of your transistor radio, but also the Rolling Stones, Dave Clark 5, The Troggs, The Zombies, The Hollies, the Kinks, The Blues Magoos, Dusty Springfield, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Procol Harum, Petula Clark, Chad & Jeremy, The Seekers, Peter & Gordon, The Byrds, Badfinger, Marianne Faithful, Donovan, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, The Animals, Manfred Mann, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Turtles, Jonathan King, Traffic, The Yardbirds, The Spencer Davis Group, Them, Van Morrison, The Easybeats, Sopwith "Camel," The Tremeloes, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Freddie & The Dreamers, Small Faces, Oliver, plus a ton more. So the song selection should be really great!

For the uninitiated, Scottish singer Lulu, born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Laurie on Nov. 3, 1948, is probably best known for singing the theme song for "To Sir With Love," a million-selling No. 1 hit in the U.S. She also did a turn as Barbara "Babs" Pegg in the beloved 1967 film starring Sidney Poitier. Lulu will perform the song on Idol, as well.

Other "fun" Lulu facts:

• At the age of 15, Lulu and her backing band, The Luvvers, reached No. 7 on the UK charts with their version of The Isley Brothers' "Shout."
• She had her own TV series in the UK.
• She was married to Maurice Gibb (of the Bee Gees) from 1969-1973.
• David Bowie produced and arranged her hit version of "The Man Who Sold The World."
• In 1974, she sang the title song for the James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun."
• In 1993, the title track of her release "Independence," co-produced by Bobby Womack and London Beat, registered strongly on the UK and US charts.
• Tina Turner's hit "I Don't Wanna Fight" was written by Lulu and her brother Billy Laurie
• She was awarded the OBE in June 2000 for her contribution to the entertainment industry.
• Her 2002 duets album featured collaborations with Elton John, Paul McCartney, Sting and newer artists Atomic Kitten and Westlife.

Peter Noone, was born Peter Blair Denis Bernard in Manchester, England, where he studied voice and acting at St. Bede’s College and the Manchester School of Music and Drama. As a child, he played Stanley Fairclough in the long-running British soap opera "Coronation Street." He was also featured on other TV series. At 15, he achieved international fame as the lead singer of the '60s pop band Herman’s Hermits. Their hits include: "I'm Into Something Good," "Silhouettes," "I'm Henry VIII, I Am," "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat," "Just a Little Bit Better," "Wonderful World," "There's a Kind of Hush," "Listen People," "The End of the World," "Dandy" and "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter." Noone will perform "There's a Kind of Hush" on the results show.

Other "fun" Herman's Hermits facts:

• The band ultimately sold over 65 million recordings.
• In all, 14 singles and seven albums went gold.
• The Hermits were twice named Cashbox’s "Entertainer of the Year."
• Noone graced the cover of nearly every international publication, including Time Magazine.
• He performed on hundreds of top-rated TV shows, and appeared with such luminaries as Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason, Dean Martin and Danny Kaye.
• He starred in ABC’s musical version of "The Canterville Ghost," the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of "Pinocchio" (in which he played the title role) and the feature films "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," "Hold On!" and "When the Boys Meet the Girls."
• Throughout the '70s, Noone performed, composed and produced recordings with such artists as David Bowie and Debby Boone.
• In the '80s he starred on Broadway as Frederic in the New York Shakespeare Festival’s production of "The Pirates of Penzance."
• He later guest-starred on the TV series "Married With Children," "My Two Dads," "Quantum Leap," "Dave’s World," "Easy Street," "Too Close for Comfort" and "Laverne and Shirley."
• For four years, Noone hosted VH1’s "My Generation," a retrospective of popular music.
• His fans are known as “Noonatics.”
• In 2001, VH1 selected Noone as their viewer's choice for the "Sexiest Artist of the Year."
• Noone starred in the recurring role of Paddington on "As the World Turns."
• He still performs approximately 150 live concerts a year.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH PAULA ABDUL

"Extra's" Terri Seymour sat down with Paula Abdul for a candid one-on-one about love. This is what Paula had to say:

On finding Mr. Right: "Mr. Right is the complete opposite of Simon! The truth of the matter is he [Simon] does make me laugh at times and humor to me is everything. I find that attractive."

On Seymour dating Cowell: "You [Seymour] are the perfect complement to him … you are the bright light and he is the king of darkness."

On whether she is ready for love: "I am definitely ready for love. I've been ready. Just because I'm a famous person, it doesn't make me exempt from love."

WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE SUNG

Vocally, Diana Ross Week was not a great success. Would it have been any better had some of the semi-finalists booted the week before still been competing? MTV asked a couple of them what they had planned to sing on the show.

Sundance Head: I was going to sing "Reflections" and I was going to do a slight punk rock version of it.

Sabrina Sloan: "You Can't Hurry Love." I was already planning it out in my head how I wanted the band to do it.

GIVING BACK

The American Red Cross unveils it's sixth annual National Celebrity Cabinet with 20 new members, including "American Idol" alum Kellie Pickler. The 2007 American National Celebrity Cabinet will work to promote awareness of Red Cross services in a variety of ways, such as taping public service announcements; donating their time, money and blood; feeding victims of disaster; and generally lending a hand or a hug to those in need.

Other members of the 2007 American National Celebrity Cabinet include Forest Whitaker, Bradley Whitford, Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Marcia Gay Harden, Heidi Klum, Tim McGraw, Julianne Moore, Elisabeth Rohm and Rascal Flatts.

AMERICAN IDOL EXTRA

MJsBigBlog reports on the premiere of "American Idol Extra" on the Fox Reality cable channel, hosted by JD Roberto, and co-hosted by former Idol finalists Mikalah Gordon (Season 4) and Matthew Rogers (Season 3). Here are the highlights of the first show:

Ryan Seacrest said that the worst singer did not go on Wednesday night ... Carrie Underwood said her favorite Idol performance was Heart's "Alone" ... Lisa Tucker, turning 18 soon, is working on Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101" and recording original music. She does not have a label yet ... Simon Cowell said it's better to be really, really bad than forgettable – that's why the worst singer did not leave Wednesday night.

In an interview with Brandon Rogers, the first Season 6 finalist to get the boot said:

• He was prepared to go home Wednesday because when he forgot his words on stage, he knew he was going home.
• There is no infighting or backstabbing on the show. Everyone was nice, and genuinely enjoyed hanging out together.
• He's going home because he never picked the right songs to showcase his voice. He picked songs that he liked, and now realizes that wasn't a good strategy.
• He would love to cover Donny Hathaway's "A Song for You."
• When Ryan told him that he was going home, he thought, "I want a [alcoholic beverage] with a squeeze of lime."
• He was not nervous performing Tuesday night, but was thrown off by the crowd response – he lost his focus.
• No one should feel sorry for him – it was a great ride.
• The most emotional moment Wednesday night was Blake Lewis crying after Brandon's elimination.
• Brandon cried every week when somebody left.
• He thought he earned the judges' criticisms.
• He will continue to write and make music.

The show ended with Brandon’s sing-out, which was cut from Wednesday’s show - he remembered his words.

e-mail Idol Addict
© 2007

Bad Night for the Boys

So in the first week of finals' elimination the Bottom 3 were all boys: Brandon Rogers, Phil Stacey and Sanjaya Malakar. We shouldn't have been surprised with the boys so much weaker than the girls this season, but we wouldn't have been shocked by the early elimination of Stephanie Edwards or Haley Scarnato. Possibly growth of Stephanie's fan base and both Haley's crying and knock of her own performance saved the two women this week.

We were a bit nonplussed to see Phil in the Bottom 3. His performance was no less than middle of a very mediocre pack. But the more we talk to people, the more we think the "eeew" factor is hurting Phil (hey, if the "yo" factor can help, the "eeew" factor can hurt). Everyone always knew that Phil wasn't easy on the eyes, as Paula Abdul would say, but after Simon Cowell specifically pointed the fact out a couple of weeks ago, it's almost as if he brought it to the top of everyone's consciousness. Now, you can't help but see the pointy bald head, taxi-door ears and piercing blue eyes. And it makes it hard to focus on his usually pleasing voice. In fact, a few friends have said that Phil's voice really isn't bad if you close your eyes and listen, but unless the Idol-wannabe is going for the Braille audience, that's not the optimum remark an aspiring star can receive. So if Phil doesn't grow some hair, don a toup or better hats, have his ears pinned back or start wearing designer sunglasses, he could be bidding us farewell in the near future.

That Sanjaya didn't get eliminated wasn't the surprise ... that he fell into the Bottom 3 was. Not that he didn't deserve the boot, but a cadre of squealing 10-year-old girls are weekly text-messaging their fingerprints off to keep the 17-year-old train wreck on Idol. We also imagine Malakar might be garnering a strong gay vote, Indian vote and Hawaiian vote (hula, anyone?). And don't underestimate the latter. All you have to do is remember Season 3 and the huge and disproportionate effect that the tiny 50th state had on the voting, keeping the horrible Camile Velasco and the cute-but-barely-mediocre Jasmine Trias in the running long after they should have been eliminated.

We were sorry to see Brandon leave before Sanjaya, but we knew it would be a miracle if he made the Top 10 tour. He simply never lived up to his potential. Great tone, great looks, but the voice just never emerged fully. Sadly, Brandon sounded better during the group medley of Diana Ross hits last night than he did in any of his official performances. We know there is a voice there worth hearing, but Brandon will have to work harder to ever have a shot at being a soloist. Guess the good news is that he can still work as a backup artist, but after living the dream for a couple of months, it's a tough fall.

Other "highlights" of the results show included the incredibly lame Idol challenge, another opportunity for the producers to make a bundle off of Cingular text messaging (and anybody who doesn't believe that the Idol owners aren't getting a percentage cut from Cingular has to be an idiot), packaged to look as if the audience is the only one profiting from the contest. Then it was payback time (again, bundled to look like an advantage to viewers) when Diana Ross got to promote her new CD, "I Love You," in return for mentoring the 12 disciples. Her entrance was true Supremes style, voguing arms aloft, as the curtain opened, in a magnificent low-cut red-orange gown with matching feather boa. The Lady still has it going on style-wise. She sang "More Today Than Yesterday," and although we have great admiration for the job she did on Idol, as well as her performing history, it was clear that her voice isn't what it once was. But her moves and stage presence were, so kudos to the supreme one. After her performance, when Ryan coyly asked her who was going home, her smart response was, "Me." You can see her here .

And for those of you who love, but missed, those usually horrendous Ford commercials, here is the Top 12 Ford video, "Float On."

SIMON SEZ

Set your TiVos, DVRs or VCRs for "60 Minutes" this Sunday night (don't forget to add extra time, as "60 Minutes" is preceded by an NCAA Basketball Tournament second-round game that could run into OT), when Anderson Cooper profiles and interviews Simon Cowell, as the star judge of the "American Idol," who has been accused of being cruel with his caustic critiques of hapless contestants, discusses the criticism he's received from the music industry, his wealth and value to Sony/BMG, the recording company he works for, and the appeal of "American Idol." Cowell also has the tables turned on him when agroup of judges critique him doing something he is passionate about. Click here to watch a clip of Cowell telling Cooper that everything should be shown on TV, jokingly adding that public executions would have no ads but sponsorship.

RYAN'S STRAIGHTEST MOMENTS

Well, that's what this hilarious video montage is called on Gawker.com. The tongue-in-cheek description reads, "Nothing we have seen over the years has ever suggested that Ryan Seacrest is anything less than a full-blooded heterosexual American male. For proof, Gawker videographer Richard Blakeley has assembled a montage of straight-acting moments. We think the results speak for themselves." Hey, why should TMZ.com have all the fun picking on Idol. There's so much to go around.

LYTHGOE ON THE TOP 12 PERFORMANCES

Once again, Nigel Lythgoe was interviewed by TVWeek's Chuck Ross. Here are some excerpts. You can listen to, or read, the entire interview here.

On Diana Ross songs being more favorable to the women: I think that's a fair comment. At the same time, when you look at some of the people that have recorded Diana Ross-Supremes songs, like Phil Collins, he's certainly not a woman and did a great job. There are a lot of good songs there ... and there are a lot that they left out, but they didn't know the songs in the best of times. But there were a lot of good songs that could've easily been turned around to be sung by a guy.
On Brandon: Well, he was a bit shocked. Don't forget that he was the first one up on that stage. It's the first time they've performed in front of over 600 people, and he wiggled his hips at one point, and the audience responded and that took him by surprise, so he forgot his lyrics. I think that threw him.
On Melinda: I think Simon said on occasions it ["Home" from "The Wiz"] can be a bit of a boring song, and she certainly changed that and made it very special.
On Chris Sligh without glasses: Yeah, he asked me at the end of the show what I thought, and to be frank, I wasn't sure; I quite like him with glasses. I absolutely disliked the arrangement that he did [of "Endless Love"]. For me it was sort of that flamenco-type rhythm; it was a bit like Lionel Richie sings "Man of La Mancha," and I didn't like it.
On Blake doing an electronic arrangement of "You Keep Me Hangin' On": I think Tamla/Motown has got such an incredible sound; it's not like doing the '60s or the '70s or the '80s, where they're all different things. Tamla/Motown has a specific sound, and if it was good enough for Phil Collins when Phil Collins recorded it, it's certainly good enough for anybody else that might appear on this show. Phil Collins has got a lot of technical things behind him, he can do anything he likes and he decided to stay with the sound, as did Billy Joel when he went down that route. It's an incredible sound; it's bright; it's energetic, and when you start messing it around, you lose something. And if you start changing the melody and the tune of it, you lose a great deal.
On Gina: Well, I thought it ["Love Child"] was good for Gina. I think the sound was great. I must say that having that big band last night was terrific; the orchestra was sensational. And I think she slotted right into that feel. It's still not an easy song to sing.
On Sanjaya: Well, he sang "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and I think it's fair to say, "There is." ... I think there's a certain immunity you get with the way that you look and the way you are. Diana Ross absolutely adored him; she turned around and said he was love. Howard Stern, I believe, adores him -- not, and asked everybody to vote for him just so he could look at Simon's face in the finale when Simon is asked, "How did Sanjaya get to the finale?" It's one of those characters that stands out this year, a bit like Kevin Covais' Chicken Little; he's just a great character and people love him. There's nothing wrong with personality winning. At the end of the day, it is a singing competition and that needs to be thought about by the voters.
On Haley singing "Missing You": I think that Simon was particularly cruel to Haley the week before, and I think somehow that's been probably plaguing him a little bit, it's been playing on his mind, you know? And she wasn't bad last night. I think she sings in tune. ... the relief when Simon said to her, "I thought you were good." The relief, her whole body shuddered and she collapsed in emotion almost. It just shows you the power that the judges have over the contestants, not necessarily over the vote, but over the contestants. And it only takes Randy to turn around and say, "That was terrible, dude," and that shudder goes all the way through backstage, and it affects the entire show.
On Phil Stacey: It ["I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"] performed a little too slow for me. It's a great song and he sang it well, but it was just a little dragged down for me.
On LaKisha Jones: Well, I think the judges nailed it last night when they gave her props [for "God Bless the Child"] basically because she contained herself. I mean, she is somebody that could've outsung the song, and she remained within the song and she did it brilliantly last night.
On Stephanie Edwards: ... they were disappointed that she didn't go into the disco version [of "Love Hangover"]. Just to go back, if I may, on something you just said though, which is moving out of her comfort zone. The one great thing about this show is that you are always in your comfort zone when you are a great singer, and I think we'll find that people like Melinda and LaKisha will never, ever move out of their comfort zones because they have just got such fantastic voices and will be able to sing anything.
On Chris Richardson: I think it ["The Boss"] was a great one for a guy to sing. I felt as though he was sort of singing on helium a little bit last night; it just got this little tremor, this little wobble in his voice. ... He needs to be careful of it, because it sort of takes away the strength.
On Jordin Sparks singing "If We Hold On Together": I think she's going to be a huge star, this girl. I remember that she auditioned for "American Juniors" about three or four years ago when we did the junior version, and she didn't get in. And now they're sort of coming through and actually starting with "American Idol." This girl is a huge talent and I think somebody that we're going to see grow throughout the series now.

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