Idol Style

The Detroit Free Press interviewed "American Idol" wardrobe stylist Miles Siggins about his unique perspective on this season's contestants. He's the man who helps the budding idols through the tricky process of selecting their outfits and polishing their personal style. Put another way, it's his job to make sure the kids won't be cut down by Simon Cowell for their clothing. "A lot of these contestants, they haven't had massive exposure to fashion," says Siggins, who's been with the show since the second season. In his opinion, the clothing ranks right up there in importance with the singing. "The first thing people see when (the finalists) step out onstage, they don't hear their voices, they see what they're wearing," he notes in his clipped British accent.

Sometimes, Siggins can't prevent a major fashion faux pas, like Season 3 runner-up Diana DeGarmo's tendency to favor the sparkly Miss America look. In most cases, Siggins is able to coax "Idol" hopefuls out of their comfort zones and into something with star quality, like the hot pants and halter top that gave Haley Scarnato a boost of sex appeal on the March 20 episode. "My push was to get her out of the kind of little pageantry tops she's been wearing," Siggins says. "That's what she's worn for years and years, but to me, you can see any girl in America wearing that on a Saturday night."

What about the other contestants? He's worked to get Melinda Doolittle away from suits and collars that emphasize her short neck and her tendency to shyly hunch her shoulders. "I've kind of deliberately gotten her into dresses and things with no collar, really," he says.

Beat-boxer Blake Lewis is one of the easier guys to shop with because he's confident about what he likes, according to Siggins. "It's weird. This year, the guys have been more picky than the girls, as far as clothes." The pickiest of them all is Chris Richardson. "He wants to see every single thing out there, and then he'll go back to the first thing he saw," says an amused Siggins.

Sanjaya Malakar, who's constantly picked on by critics, is having fun with his style choices. "We're trying to keep him a bit age-appropriate because he's a young guy," says Siggins. "So I don't think we're going to be seeing him in suits." And Phil Stacey, who's used to military uniforms, is slowly learning to care more about clothes. Where does Siggins stand on the hat-or-no-hat issue regarding the bald Stacey? "He's got no hair, so embrace it," he says. "I'm a big fan of embracing your traits. Enjoy what you are and enjoy the moment."

Siggins heaves a sigh when asked about Cowell's tendency to be a fashion critic. During British invasion week, Cowell even said LaKisha Jones' diamonds weren't real. They certainly were, Siggins assures. "To be honest, Simon just says things to rile people up, to try and get an argument," he explains. "He's like a spoiled little British schoolboy sometimes. "Being British, I know exactly what they're like."

FORMER IDOLS REPORT

... Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice sings the theme song to the new Will Ferrell movie "Blades of Glory." Producer Ben Stiller has been a fan of Bo’s since his Idol run and invited him to work on the song. You can listen to the tune at the official Blades of Glory Blades of Glory MySpace.com Site.

... Good news for Season 3 finalist George Huff. His single, “You Know Me,” has been nominated for a Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. The awards will be presented on April 25, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, and will be hosted by Brian Littrell, Natalie Grant and Donnie McClurkin. The show will be broadcast in national syndication during May.

... TV Guide reports that Constantine Maroulis has been cast on the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful." Maroulis, who in the past year has been featured in the Broadway musical "The Wedding Singer" and the Off-Broadway revue "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well," will play a partly fictionalized version of himself on the show.

"We're going to blur reality à la 'Entourage' and have Constantine play a fictional version of himself," "B&B" Executive Producer Brad Bell told the magazine. Look for Maroulis to be involved in the Phoebe/Rick storyline -- he will initially join the soap as a possible music producer for Phoebe. He is shceduled to begin his appearances on the show this summer. Bell also teases that there may be other former Idols appearing on Bold and the Beautiful this summer.

... The Orlando Sentinel says that Jennifer Hudson might star in Aussie director Rowan Woods' film "Winged Creatures," playing the daughter of fellow-Oscar winner Forest Whitaker. The cast list is already star-packed, with Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley, Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Embeth Davidtz, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Josh Hutcherson. The story revolves around the witnesses to a murder-suicide in a fast-food restaurant as they cope with the aftermath of the incident and how they affect the people who help them along the way. Apparently, Hudson is busy recording her debut album (set for release on Arista in the fall) but still wants to join the cast.

SIMON TAKES SOME SHORT SHOTS

Simon Cowell is too short to flirt, or so says Britain's
"Got Talent" co-presenter Amanda Holden to the UK Web site What's on TV. Holden told the Sun that the 47-year-old falls a little short of her lofty standards. "I trust Simon's opinions but he wouldn't get anywhere flirting with me," the "Wild at Heart" star laughed. "He's only 4 feet! How can he flirt with me and be serious?"

The 35-year-old then stuck the boot in: "He wouldn't dream of being seriously flirty. Have you seen his built up shoes?" Holden, who is engaged to record executive Chris Hughes, also said she wouldn't take her daughter to work with her because of Simon's attitude to children. "I had a photo of her on my phone and Simon just said, 'You've got dogs too, haven't you? Have you got a picture of a dog?'," she revealed, adding that she had nicknamed him The Child Catcher after the villain in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Expect sparks to fly in the ITV1 show which kicks off in June.

HOLD THE CHEESE, SAYS STONE

According to Star Pulse, soul singer Joss Stone thinks "American Idol'" keeps getting more and more cheesy and is past its prime. The Brit, who was discovered on U.K. talent show "Star for a Night," admits she was a big fan of the first season of Idol, but the program no longer appeals to her.

"I think if you keep going with it, it's gonna get more and more cheesy... and that's a shame for the artists, because they just want any break." Stone also questions the credentials of the show's judges and believes they're too mean, "There's some great people there, like Randy [Jackson] ... He has every right to judge them. But the rest of them ... why are you judging these people?"

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© 2007

Leader of the Band

The Washington Post did a profile of Idol musical director Rickey Minor, who also was in charge of the music at this year's Grammy Awards, produced the pregame music for the last seven Super Bowls and is slated to oversee the tunes at this year's Emmy Awards.

"I have a clear respect for all genres of music," says Minor, a Louisiana native, who has served as the show's musical director for the last three seasons. "I'm fortunate in that my background is very diverse. I came up at a time where you had to learn how to read music and write and arrange."

Minor played bass on the road with Gladys Knight & the Pips when he was 19. By 22, he was working with an 18-year-old Whitney Houston, and by 1989 he was her musical director. He left that post to pursue television in 1999 and turned down the initial offer to be "Idol's" first music director -- they couldn't afford him.

"They decided, with it still being a new show, they didn't want the cost of having me do the show," Minor says of his first meeting with show creator Simon Fuller and the other "Idol" executive producers. "They didn't think the kids deserved to have A-class music." But by the time "Idol's" 2004 Christmas special rolled around, the show had become a major success -- and he was hired for Season 4. After his first episode, Minor decided to change the prerecorded "karaoke-like" nature of the music on the show and bring in a live band.

"I told the producers, 'Live music is gonna help foster a whole new type of contestant that does rock or country or any of those things. This is what they'll be faced with if they make it. This gives them an edge,"' he recalls. After a day of negotiations, the producers relented. Now, as Minor says, "Basically, I have full autonomy to run the music department the way I see it needs to run."

Working with 22 musicians and 15 arrangers, Minor oversees the rehearsals, arrangements and performances for each of the contestants. He calls it a "tedious and time-consuming process," but he still finds time to have a one-on-one conversation with each contestant after the day's rehearsals. Whether it's making sure they get their "vocal rest," keeping their egos in check or keeping their audience in mind, Minor tries to instill "life lessons" from his nearly 30 years in the business.

"We're here to help them grow," Minor says. "It's bigger than the competition, and I tell them, 'The fact that you made it this far means that you're on the road to your own destiny. In doing so, know that there will be bumps on the road.' "

SANJAYA AND THE SOUR PATCH KIDS

A new video starring Idol's very own King of Weird Sanjaya Malakar, who seems to be regressing instead of maturing. Take a peek:



Can't get enough Sanjaya? Here's a pre-Idol video of him singing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." He apparently did his impersonation of the swinging chariot with his body. Watch it long enough and you may get seasick, as we did.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH FEDOROV

The U.S. Air Force reports that Season 4 Finalist Anthony Fedorov will tour U.S. Air Forces bases in Europe this month to kickoff of the annual USAFE Services Extreme Summer program. Fedorov will also judge and perform at both the USAFE Youth and Teen Talent Contest April 13 and at the USAFE Idol Contest on April 14, both at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Fedorov will visit the following USAFE bases during his tour:
April 12 -14 Kaiserslautern Military Community, Germany
April 15 Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
April 16 Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England
April 17 RAF Fairford, England
April 19 Lajes Field, Azores
April 21 Moron AB, Spain

For more information, visit the Extreme Summer 07 Web site.

ELLIOTT YAMIN RIDING HIGH

Donna Reynolds' ChartWatch reports that Elliott Yamin's new CD has made an impressive debut on the Billboard charts. Yamin entered the Billboard album charts at No. 3, selling about 96,000 copies. The CD entered at No. 1 on the Independent Album chart, making it the highest new artist debut on an independent label in SoundScan history. Not only that, Yamin's CD debuted at No. 11 on the R&B Chart and No. 3 on both the Internet Album Sales and Digital charts!

Daughtry, in its 18th week, continues its impressive run. The album remained at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, and was No. 7 on the Internet Album Sales chart, No. 6 on the Digital chart, and No. 2 on the Rock chart.

Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts dropped five spots to No. 15 on the Billboard 200, and was No. 2 on the Country chart. Kellie Pickler's Small Town Girl was No. 131 on the Billboard 200 and No. 19 on the Country listing.

Dreamgirls, featuring Jennifer Hudson, has been certified platinum. The album was No. 60 on the Billboard 200, No. 3 on the Soundtracks chart, and No. 22 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Katharine McPhee was No. 74 on the Billboard 200

Fantasia was No. 139 on the Billboard 200 and No. 26 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Ruben Studdard's The Return was No. 85 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

This Week’s Idols' Singles' Charts:

Elliott Yamin's "Wait for You" moved up 36 points on the Pop 100 to No. 56 and debuted on the Hot 100 at No. 67. It showed up Hot Digital Tracks (45) and Hot Digital Songs (51).

Fantasia's "When I See You" was No. 27 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart, No. 27 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart, and No. 16 on the R&B Adult airplay list.

Chris Daughtry's "Home" remained at No. 48 on the Hot 100, and was No. 41 on the Pop 100, No. 50 on Pop 100 Airplay, No. 29 on the Hot Digital Tracks chart, and No. 28 on the Hot Digital Songs chart; "It's Not Over" was No. 7 on the Hot 100, No. 8 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, No. 8 on the Pop 100, No. 3 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, No. 11 on Hot Digital Tracks, No. 11 on Hot Digital Sales, No. 1 on the Adult Top 40 listing, and No. 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Ruben Studdard's "Make Ya Feel Beautiful," was No. 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and No. 12 on the R&B Adult airplay list; "Change Me" wasNo. 44 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles, No. 43 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart, and No. 8 on the R&B Adult airplay list.

Taylor Hicks' "Just to Feel That Way" moved up to No. 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" was No. 30 on the Hot 100, No. 30 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, No. 24 on the Pop 100, No. 26 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, No. 22 on Hot Digital Tracks, No. 24 on Hot Digital Songs, and No. 18 on the Adult Top 40; "Wasted," was No. 41 on the Hot 100, No. 34 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, No. 58 on the Pop 100, No. 41 on Hot Digital Tracks, No. 47 on Hot Digital Sales, and No. 3 on the Country chart.

Katharine McPhee's "Over It" remained at No. 49 on the Hot 100, No. 21 on the Pop 100, No. 27 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart , No. 37 on the Adult Top 40, No. 18 on the Hot Digital Tracks chart, and No. 18 on the Hot Digital Songs list.

Kellie Pickler's "I Wonder" was No. 30 on the Country chart.

Bucky Covington's "A Different World" was No. 28 on the Country chart.

Kimberley Locke's "Change" was No. 13 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Jennifer Hudson's "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" was No. 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart, No. 19 on the R&B Airplay chart, and No. 3 on the R&B Adult airplay list.

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© 2007