When was your first kiss?
I haven’t had a first kiss.
-17-year-old American Idol runner-up David Archuleta, in a new interview with Seventeen magazine
If you are among the last contestants to survive American Idol, one of two things will happen to you after the show wraps: You will make the morning show press rounds, announce a record deal with a major label, put out an album, win the Grammy for Best New Artist, and go on to a lifetime of fame and money; or you will make the morning show press rounds, announce a record deal with a major label, put out an album, watch sales stall at 200, and get dropped from your label. Guess which category Blake Lewis — who lost to Jordin Sparks — falls into?
POOR PAULA "Paula Abdul has split from boyfriend, restaurateur J.T. Torregiani, her rep confirms to Usmagazine.com. The pair parted ways more than two months ago. Torregiani, 33 — a partner in the Dolce Group — has moved out of the American Idol judge's Los Angeles home. "
We love David Cook for many reasons. He was consistently awesome on American Idol, he beat out pipsqueak/stage robot David Archuleta, and he makes a song about rainbows and butterflies tolerable. Here he is performing his new single, "Kittens Spew Sunshine Miracles," on The Tonight Show. If you want to really enjoy the performance, take a drink every time you hear an inspirational word. CONTINUED »
I figured it was time for a Jason Castro update, so I went digging and found some adorable pictures posted by his younger sister and a new MySpace blog entry, written by Dreads himself. The spelling and grammar make me cringe, but I expect nothing less from my favorite Idol contestant ever.
The blog entry and more adorable pictures, after the jump. CONTINUED »
We were waiting for this to post on YouTube after witnessing the event live on television. Chris Brown performed that annoying song that was ruined by American Idol robot David Archuleta, "With You," on the Today show yesterday morning, and — geeze, where to begin? He sings approximately 50 percent of the song; he gets mauled by fans while his security and the show producers panic in the background; the anchors awkwardly dance … it's just the most uncomfortable performance we've ever seen on a morning program. And that's including Fergie's crotch show.
Here’s a little trivia: Ne-Yo used to be in a singing group with Corey Clark, the American Idol contestant/criminal who threw Paula Abdul under the bus when his career didn’t take off. They once appeared on Amateur Night at the Apollo. And they were bad. Ne-Yo’s lucky he got off that train before it crashed.
Former boybander Justin Timberlake seems to be getting a little too big for his britches.
His handlers at Spyglass Entertainment had journalists at the Love Guru junket signing one of those Tom Cruise-ian ('do not stare at the star') contracts that demands, among other things, that the journalist not mention anything personal or private, destroy all materials not approved in advance, and make the freelancers personally liable for anything they might write about the guy.
Or here's a better idea: Keep all press away from the Love Guru junket, period. That terrible movie had enough publicity during the American Idol finale, and those 10 minutes were agonizing.
[Source]
American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, explaining why he originally didn't want George W. Bush to appear on the show's charity episode:
We didn't ask the President this year to say anything because we are all a bit embarrassed about him, and the office insisted that, because the [primary] candidates were on it, the President would like to come on and say ‘thank you.’
[Source]
American Idol runner-up David Archuleta wasn't born into the best parenting situation in the world — his father, Jeff, was apparently so controlling he was asked to never step foot behind the Idol stage again. And, naturally, his mother, Lupe, is the latest to drum up negative publicity for her son:
'She was very resentful that David Cook took home the title and she wasn’t shy about letting people know how she felt about it,' a backstage spy told the National Enquirer. 'She said her son was the clear favorite, and it was obvious that the voting was fixed so that David Cook could win.'
Lupe also allegedly complained about the second prize Ford Escape Hybrid SUV David won. She claimed that if he drove it, everyone in Salt Lake City would recognize him.
You know what else would make people recognize you? Being on the most popular show on television.
[Source]
Yesterday was Jason Castro Day in his hometown of Rockwall, Texas. One of the former American Idol contestant's fans gave an eyewitness account of the day's shenanigans, including this lovely sentence that sums up Jason's entire life from here on out: "There were literally THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of screaming, hysterical fans. It was insanity. I saw a girl burst into tears because she brushed his arm. … Jason looked mortified."
The best story from the day came at the end, when the Dread Heads were at their bravest: "[Jason] opens the [SUV] window to wave goodbye, at which point a woman tries to shove her puppy into his car (I dont know if she wanted him to have it?) which she has dressed in dreadlocks and a cap. Jason closes his window."
I can't believe some lady was crazy enough to put dreadlocks on her poor innocent puppy. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go remove the Rastafarian hat from my cat's head.
American Idol Top 24 finalist Luke Menard, who was recently diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, had a special visitor prior to last week's Idol finale: winner David Cook.
David said the two became close during the show's Hollywood week and wanted to stop by in between rehearsals to "make sure that [Luke] understood that I love him and know that if there's anything I can do for him and his wife, sign me up, you know?" David's older brother Adam has battled brain cancer for 10 years, so the newest Idol said he is glad to be in the spotlight so he can bring attention to the issue and help others: "Any time one of your own is going through something as horrible as that, it makes everything else seem a little bit insignificant."
We really can't say anything bad about this guy.
[Source]
Every week, a bunch of “real” people say really stupid things on reality TV. These are their stories.
10. "The sun is never gonna go down on you, because you bring out so much sunshine, and everyone throughout the whole world through your singing." — Paula Abdul, American Idol
NOT A HAPPY DAY FOR ALL IDOLS "American Idol contestant Luke Menard has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a relative of the singer confirms. … Menard, 29, thought he had walking pneumonia when he first sought medical treatment for a persistent cough. After doctors ran several tests, they found a mass behind his heart and removed a node from under his left collarbone."
Forget the crowning moment last night on American Idol — the real magic happened a little after 9 p.m. when the producers decided it would be a great idea to bring back Renaldo Lapuz, the guy from the first round of auditions who made up a song for Simon about being brothers forever. Actually, the lyrics go, "I am your brother, your best friend forever." Deep. Naturally, Renaldo was given the Idol treatment, which included a USC marching band. Making a mockery of people: It's the American way.
It's that time again: The months of hard work and dedication have come to an end for both American Idol contestants and viewers around the nation. Every year, the season finale is littered with inane sketches, awards and group medleys, usually leaving five minutes of noteworthy television. But Whitney is dedicated, and she will be taking the bullet for you tonight as she liveblogs the entire two-hour event. Feel free to join her on the journey — or if you refuse to watch these shenanigans, you may catch up on the happenings without having to turn on your television. You're welcome.
Tonight ends my months-long relationship with American Idol, and for the grand 2-hour finale, I will be liveblogging the entire event from my couch. The finales are usually littered with filler, but occasionally there is an awesome moment, like this one from season five in which Clay Aiken surprises his biggest train wreck of a fan. Enjoy, and I'll see you tonight.
Simon Cowell spoke to Ellen today about the upcoming American Idol finale (he predicts David Cook will win), his harshness and, of course, FantasiaGate. The former Idol's performance on last week's results show "just sort of exploded," according to Cowell, whose commentary always perfectly sums up everything we were feeling as well.
Click through for the clip. CONTINUED »
Editor
