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May 25, 2007

They're best buds

Michael Becker/Fox

There's not two more tired folks on the planet than "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis (shown here from Wednesday night's finale).

Except maybe me -- after covering the show for more than four months!

Everybody -- and I mean everybody -- wants to talk to Jordin and Blake. Talk shows (Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres), entertainment shows ("Entertainment Tonight," "Access Hollywood"), Fox affiliates, magazines and, of course, newspapers, including The Bee.

Today, they hung in there and shared their thoughts on the season that just ended and what's in their futures. And, yes, they really do like each other.

We start with Jordin.

Q: What's one thing you've learned from the other "Idol" winners, especially Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino and Carrie Underwood?
Jordin: Oh, my gosh, I look up to all of them. I've been watching the show the past couple of years, and I have all their records. I definitely would model my career after theirs.

Q: What did you think when you heard the winning song that you would be singing on the final night of competition?
Jordin:"This Is My Now" was so perfect. When we got it, I couldn't believe how perfect it was for this whole process. It reflects what I've been dreaming of. It spoke to me that way.

Q: You and Blake got really nice Mustangs. Which one did you get, the blue one or the red one, and do you even have a driver's license?
Jordin: I have my driver's license. I got it in July last year, before I auditioned. And no tickets yet! I wanted the red one, and Blake wanted the blue, so it worked out. I haven't seen it yet.

Q: How well do you think you handled the pressure on the show?
Jordin: I'm a minor, so I had to have a guardian with me. It was always either my Mom or my Nana (grandmother). I had them to lean on, and the other contestants, too.

Q: Was there a particular point when you thought you actually could win "American Idol?"
Jordin: When I made the Top 12. I thought, "I have a 1-in-12 chance of winning this." And you improve as you go along.

Q: Speaking of the Top 12, most of the contestants got attention for different reasons. What do you think put you over the top?
Jordin: I don't know. It came down to what America liked. Each one of us is so different, and there were different storylines each week.

Q: Did Blake try to teach you beat-boxing?
Jordin: He tried, but I'm really horrible at it!

Q: What did he say to you right after you won?
Jordin: He said, "Congratulations, honey." He's been one of my biggest supporters from the beginning. It was an honor being on the same stage with him.

Q: With all this sudden attention, how will you keep yourself grounded and avoid all the hype about getting thin and going out all the time?
Jordin: That super-thin stuff, Hollywood needs to get over it. I love my family and the people and friends who are around me. They've already told me not to let it go to my head.

Q: Are there any female pop stars you would like to collaborate with? And what type of album would you like to make?
Jordin: There are so many. I have such broad musical tastes. I love Christina Aguilera and Martina McBride. They're the first two that pop into my head. As for the album, again I love so many different genres of music. I'd like to infuse a little of everything -- pop, country, rock, R&B -- with my little Jordin flair to it.

Q: The Final 3 included you, Blake and Melinda Doolittle. Would you have been more nervous competing against her?
Jordin: I actually thought it was going to be Blake and Melinda in the finals. She's one of my best friends ever. If I had been up against her I would have been so happy if she had won. But it would have been anybody's game because we reach out to different people.

Q: Other than winning on Wednesday, what was special about that night?
Jordin: Singing with Gladys Knight was so amazing. When she walked out during rehearsals, I couldn't believe I was going to sing with her. Melinda and I looked at each other and said, "Wow!"

Q: This victory was a huge pinnacle in your life. Before this, what was important to you?
Jordin: You'll laugh. It was getting my braces off. That was awesome.

We end with Blake.

Q: Looking back, do you have any regrets?
Blake: Never. I had too much fun on this experience and journey. I ended it with a bang with Doug E. Fresh. The most calm I've been (on the show) were the two nights in the Kodak Theatre.

Q: How was it performing with Doug E. Fresh?
Blake: I met him about a month and a half before when Gwen Stefani and (Clay) Akon were here. After the show, we talked and beat-boxed. I asked him if there was any chance he would perform on the show. Flash forward to the finale, which was a magical moment. I was more excited than anything to end my run on "American Idol" with Doug E. Fresh.

Q: Which song(s) that you performed best sum up your "Idol" experience?
Blake: The most work I put into any song was Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name." That performance represents me. "You Keep Me Hangin' On" and "This Is Where I Came In" were arrangements I also put a lot of work into.

Q: How did you feel about the judges' comments during the final competition?
Blake: Well, from the beginning it was always hard to actually hear what they were saying. I bite my tongue and said, "Thank you." It's just three peoples' opinions. I myself don't like criticism right after you sing a song. That doesn't happen anywhere else. I took it for what it was and moved on to the next song.

Q: What was your smartest song choice and why?
Blake: It really depends on the week. I was scared of Country Week. I was lucky to sing "When the Stars Go Blue." I think I made a smart choice every week. Beat-boxing was my "strateegery," as George Bush would say.

Q: Speaking of song choice, would you rather have had a finale song that better suited you than "This Is My Now"?
Blake: I would definitely say yes. It wasn't my style. It's a song I wouldn't have sung if I didn't have to. It fit Jordin perfectly. I think they should have had two songs tailored to both of us. I could have done something groovy and jazzy that would have been just as uplifting. The song was not very melodic.

Q: Up in Seattle, you're like the crown prince of pop karaoke. Did you sell out going on "American Idol"?
Blake: I've stayed true to myself throughout this process. I love that term, selling out. You can't sell out until you have a fan base, and I don't think I have that yet. I've never sacrificed my integrity. If you hear me singing songs like "This Is My Now," I will have sold out.

Q: Besides your beat-boxing, you had a hip fashion style. You're into vintage clothes, so did you shop much for your outfits?
Blake: The show has stylists for us, and they told me they loved my style. They also helped with what would look good on camera. I met (L.A. designer) Ashton Michaels on one of the Ford commercial shoots. We hit it off. I went to his boutique, and he started making clothes for me for the last couple of shows.

Q: Are you planning to move to Los Angeles?
Blake: I think I'm going to move to L.A. for a while so I can be around the (record) label and my management. I've made good friends here. It would be a new environment, a new experience. But I probably would only live here for a year or two. Seattle is my home. I can't be away from the musicians I play with and my family.

Q: What's the best thing about not winning "American Idol"?
Blake: You know, I never thought I'd get to this moment -- ever. I picked Jordin to win from the Top 24. I'm so completely satisfied coming in second. I would have been happy at fourth, fifth, sixth ... . My art is not as mainstream as most people. I'm more of an eclectic, independent artist. Now, I can't wait to go on tour and show people what I can do.

Q: Do you think "American Idol" will become more hip because of you?
Blake: "I can only hope that it keeps a contemporary edge. It's getting more contemporary. There was a lot of classic stuff going on this year. I think they need to play more to what's current, what's out there."

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 08:48 AM | Comments

May 24, 2007

Ratings hit a sour note

The ratings numbers for last night's "American Idol" finale are crashing in, and the show's producers are probably scowling and growling right about now.

That's because Nielsen Media Research's figures support a somewhat troubling trend for Season 6 of TV's most-watched show.

Fans just didn't seem as enamoured of this year's singing competition.

Check it out: Nielsen says 30.7 million Americans tuned in for the final show, compared to 36.4 million last year. The Associated Press quoted TV industry observers saying "chances are that the 2006 season will stand as the peak for audience interest."

And, that was with last year's winner Taylor Hicks "soul-patrolling" on the Season 6 finale! (Since the show debuted in 2002, Season 5 is the most successful in terms of viewership and voting.)

That's still a boatload of viewers. However, producers have blamed the malaise on everything from an earlier switch to Daylight Saving Time to college basketball - to people taking late-night walks (just kidding on the last one).

But last night also posed a problem for folks with digital video recorders. That's because the live broadcast - scheduled for 8 to 10 p.m. - ran nine minutes over. So, unless you had amazing psychic powers, you wouldn't have known to program your DVR to pack on some extra minutes.

In fact, postings from irritated viewers were popping up all over the place today, including this one at www.televisionwithoutpity.com: “I was smart enough to program my DVR to go over by five minutes, but not smart enough to go for 10 minutes.”

By late today, the L.A. Times reported that Fox had issued a statement apologizing to viewers who missed the end of “Idol.”

It read, in part:

“We’re sorry that DVR users may have missed the conclusion. It was always our intention to bring the show in on time, but just as with any live sports, variety, awards or entertainment event, there is no way to absolutely guarantee that the show will end exactly on the hour. Fox and the producers apologize to those viewers who were inconvenienced.”

OK, so the Academy Awards almost always run over. So get over it.

A look back at last night's network line-ups indicate there shouldn't have been problems from either NBC or CBS. However, ABC was fearless, putting up back-to-back "Lost" episodes (from 8 to 10 p.m.), including the show's season finale, which aired opposite "Idol's" last hour.

No question, "American Idol" still ruled the ratings this season, and there's no need to start wringing hands and watching "National Bingo Night," but ... the numbers this year are getting dangerously close to the figures for Season 4.

What does this mean? It could possibly give hope to other networks to come up with something to knock "Idol" off its ratings pedestal, or they'll wait to see what happens during Season 7.

No matter, "Idol" is scheduled to air through 2011 - or until Simon Cowell runs out of T-shirts.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 04:42 PM | Comments

Hear 'This Is My Now' now

Associated Press/Kevork Djansezian

So, "American Idol" is over, but that song is still stuck in my head! You know, that ooey-gooey "This Is My Now." Well, it wasn't exactly one of my favorites, but you know "Idol." They love a song that takes us on a "journey."

Anyway, check out AOL Music's Web site (music.aol.com) where you can hear winner Jordin Sparks' single for free. There's also an "American Idol" hub page that contains performances, interviews and photos of past winners and contestants.

Over at the official "Idol" Web site, you can download the song and see video of Jordin performing it from last night's two-hour finale.

Just click here.

And what a finale it was. My favorite performance was right at the start when finalists Jordin and Blake Lewis sang "When I Saw Her Standing There." I mean, could the lyrics have been more appropriate, given Jordin's age was such a huge part of the season:

"Well, she was just 17. You know what I mean. And the way she looked
was way beyond compare."

Other best-bet moments:
* Carrie Underwood (shown above) singing "I'll Stand By You"
* Margaret Fowler, aka "The Chicken Lady," planting a big one on Ryan Seacrest
* Sanjaya Malakar with his hair literally being blown off his head, all the while rocking with Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry
* Gladys Knight's soulful "Midnight Train To Georgia," especially her pairing with Lakisha Jones and Melinda Doolittle
* And, of course, Bette Midler's weepy, gut-wrenching "Wind Beneath My Wings."

Where's Barbara Hershey when you need her?

And just what was it Blake whispered in Jordin’s ear as Ryan was breaking open the envelope?

According to Americanidolworhsip.com, he said: “I told her two things. I said, ‘I love you, Jordin Sparks.’ And I said, ‘If it comes down to me singing this last song, will you do a duet with me?’ ”

Now there's a concept. Next season, make the Top 24 contestants sing duets and the losers both go home. That's one way to narrow the singing field fast.

Check back here tomorrow afternoon for my interview with both Jordin and Blake.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 02:02 PM | Comments

May 23, 2007

The final notes

Michael Becker/Fox

First things first: Did Paula Abdul really break her nose tripping over her dog, or did she get a nose job? And how chubby could a chihuahua get?

OK, back to the final competition on Season 6 of "American Idol." Things shifted to the cavernous Kodak Theatre, with host Ryan Seacrest donning another of what I call his little-boy suits. Judge Randy Jackson was decked out in some sort of weird Gen. Patton/Michael Jackson military jacket, Paula was dolled up and maybe medicated, and Simon "Cleavage" Cowell wore the traditional unbuttoned shirt and jacket.

And then there were the two finalists: Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis (shown above) in yet another battle of the singing sexes - the fourth pitting a girl and a guy in the six seasons of "Idol."

A coin toss last Wednesday night determined who would sing first. Blake won and deferred to Jordin, who shook her head "No." They each sang three songs: one they already had performed this season, one of their personal favorites and the winning song from the "Idol" songwriting competition. That song was "This Is My Now," written by Scott Krippayne and Jeff Peabody from Seattle.

Ironically, that was the audition city for both finalists.

Before the singing got under way, Ryan asked Paula how she was doing after tripping over her pooch over the weekend.

"I'm OK. I'm all right," she said. "Simon says it (my nose) looks better."

We got treated to a trip back to last September's audition in a very cold, very rainy Seattle, where Blake admitted he went to the contest on a "whim. I didn't know then how bad I really wanted it." Jordin, who was predicted to do well from the beginning (great smile, consistent performances), said she was "just happy to be here."

That said, here are the high - and no more low - notes from Tuesday's final competition. (Well, maybe just one low note.)

* Blake: His first song was "You Give Love a Bad Name" from Bon Jovi Week. Great, great choice. It was one of his best performances - then and last night.
Randy: "I can't hear myself talk (over the thunderous applause). I give you a 10 out of 10 on the beat-boxing. I liked the triplets on the drumming, but the singing was just all right."

Paula: "He (Randy) needs to clean his ears out. You outdid yourself. I wish I could give you more than a 10."

Simon: "You're not the best singer in the competition, but you are the best performer. You're amazing on stage. The singing fell flat in the middle, and you were shouting. But it was a better performance than four weeks ago."

* Jordin: Her first song was Christina Aguilera's "Fighter." She has done Christina before, so this was no surprise. I'm still not sure about the rocker style for Jordin.

Randy: "You know what: This is a very interesting show tonight. The fans are ruling. We've got a great singer vs. a great entertainer. Your voice was amazing. I'm going to give the edge in performance to Blake and vocals to Jordin."

Paula: "I knew this would be that kind of battle and one of the best finales ever. It's stellar, and you two proved it."

Simon: "On a positive note, you chose a younger song. Only the vocals were a bit shrieky in the middle. I'm going to call round one to Blake."

* Blake: His second song was Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved." If you recall, the producers picked another Maroon 5 song for Blake. Again, another good, uh, great song choice.

Randy: "Great song. Very nice vocal. I love it when you sing natural and pure."

Paula: "You really got into the ease of the song. You got past the first number. You're a great singer."

Simon: "It was good. It was safe. Not as good as the first performance. I wouldn't have chosen that song because it doesn't make much of an impact."

* Jordin: Her second song was "A Broken Wing" by Martina McBride. Jordin sang this song during Country Week, and I predicted she would sing it again. Smart move.

Randy: "I've loved you since day one. You're the most talented 17-year-old I've ever seen. That was flawless. I think it was better than the original."

Paula: "You are in great, great vocal voice tonight. You're soaring."

Simon: "Now, that was good."

For the third song, Blake and Jordin offered completely different versions of the winning song, "This Is My Now." I have to say upfront that, while I'm sure there are throngs of you who loved that song, I thought it sounded like something you would hear at a junior high, high school or college graduation. The one saving grace is there weren't lots of backup singers in choir robes. The song definitely played more to Jordin's singing strengths than Blake's.

Of Blake's performance:

Randy: "It's not the type of song that suits your voice. Not great. But you did a pretty good job."

Paula: "It's not the genre of music you traditionally enjoy, but you did a great job."

Simon: "It was a little odd, to be honest, all the jumping around. In the middle, you looked frustrated. It's not a bad song, but not the song you normally would sing. People will judge you on the first two songs. I said there was talent in Seattle, and I was right."

Of Jordin's performance:

Randy: "What's great about this (show) is that it's the search for the next superstar. It's a singing competition, bar none. And you were the best singer tonight!"

Paula: "I saw your parents singing along. You have a lot to be proud of. It was a great night for you."

Simon: "Last week, I didn't think you were good enough to make the finals. I want to say publicly tonight, I was wrong. This is a singing competition, and you just wiped the floor with Blake on this song."

After the last note was hit, the judges offered their final assessments:

Randy: "It's a singing competition. Jordin wins the night."
Paula: "They all end up winners. The next thing tells you why." (You had to stick around to get this.)
Simon: "I would say the best individual performance of the night was Blake. The best overall singing was Jordin."

FYI: I'm sure you caught glimpses of some of the Top 12 contestants in the audience. I saw Stephanie Edwards and Brandon Rogers, and there was Chris Richardson sitting next to Phil Stacey in his Navy uniform. I blogged yesterday that Phil got the high sign from his commanding officer to shove off on the "Idol" summer tour.

On a fashion note, the contestants stuck to their traditional garb. Blake wore what he calls his "Grandpa pants," with a variety of tops, including a jacket and argyle vest. Jordin opted for long tops over pants and jeans, and a really beautiful black dress for her last song.

Back to what Paula was saying about the "next thing": I hope viewers weren't too quick to switch to the finale of "Dancing With the Stars" over on Channel 10. That's because you would have missed Season 5 finalist Chris Daughtry and his band performing this season's farewell song, "I'm Going Home." If nothing else, his amazing performance proves you can be a star and not wear the "Idol" crown.

I'm going to take it easy today to gear up for the big finale tonight. Can't wait for the Top 12 group sing-along, the dubious guests, the celebs who need face time to promote something and, of course, one more evening with Simon Cowell.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 10:35 AM | Comments

May 22, 2007

Phone home!

Even "American Idol" has its season finale "goody bags." And guess what one of the treats is?

A limited-edition BlackJack (shown at left), which Samsung and AT&T have partnered on, has been redesigned with the silhouette of a singing "Idol" in blue and orange motif. The "Idol" logo has been festooned with rhinestones. Can you hear me say, "Gawdy!"

Only 50 phones have been made for the 2007 season. Here's who gets them: the Top 12 contestants, the three judges and host Ryan Seacrest. Actually, I kind of like the phone. But I'm sure I fit more in the price range for the "Idol" Happy Meal toys.

In other last-minute "Idol" news:
* The TV Guide Channel is gearing up for three nights of red-carpet hoopla in front of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Your hosts for "Idol Tonight"? Season 2 finalist Kimberly Caldwell, Season 1 runner-up Justin Guarini and former "Popstars" star Rosanna Tavarez. The network is blanketing the finale with shows at 6 and 10 tonight (before and right after the competition), 2 and 4 p.m. Wednesday (before the finale), the "Live at the Finale" show at 6 p.m., right before the show airs at 8 on Channel 40, and a wrap-up show Thursday at 4 p.m. Whew! There's always good stuff on this show, including never-before-seen footage of this year's contestants, including auditions and post-performance confessionals and dishing. The hosts will catch up with finalists such as Sanjaya Malakar (in whatever coif he arrives with) and Alaina Alexander. Ashley Ferl, the little girl who cried for Sanjaya, is supposed to show up with a box of Kleenex. And, of course, there will be the bevy of past "Idol" contestants such as Mandisa, Lisa Tucker, Kimberly Locke, Scott Savol and Jasmine Trias. Over the phone, Kimberly Caldwell, who was just finishing getting hair extensions for the show, said viewers can anticipate "a lot more celebrities this year. Each year it keeps getting crazier."

* No Southern charm: Well, one thing's for sure this season. No one from the South will win "American Idol." Blake Lewis (from Bothell, Wash.) and Jordin Sparks (from Glendale, Ariz.) are about as far removed from grits and gravy as you can get. However, while Blake has snagged the preteen vote, Jordin has basically captured the nation. According to Yahoo! Buzz, more states search for her, thus making Jordin the "geographical" favorite. She's also the predicted favorite of the core audience that performs "Idol" searches. That would be women ages 30 to 54. Hawaii is still the state front-runner in terms of searches, and the Aloha State fans love their beat-boxer!

* Right after Phil Stacey was eliminated following "Idol Gives Back," he was asked if he would be able to make the Top 10 summer tour despite of his commitments to the Navy. Word just in: The Navy high command has given Phil the salute to ship out this summer with his nine "Idol" mates. Ahoy, he's headed to Sacramento on July 25!

* The next-to-last Nielsen ratings that feature "American Idol" are in and -- once again -- the show held the top two spots, but not by much because of the much-anticipated season finale of "Grey's Anatomy." "Idol" finished first with last Wednesday's results show (28.05 million viewers) and second with Tuesday's competition (24.23 million viewers). Look folks, we've only got two more nights. Don't stop watching now! And forget about that Tom Selleck made-for-TV movie at 8 tonight. Something about "Sea Change." You want to see change? Eat fish sticks!

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 02:22 PM | Comments

May 21, 2007

Cover girl or guy?

Entertainment Weekly magazine is throwing yet another "American Idol" contest at us - with little time to spare!

For the first time ever, the magazine and its online buddy - EW.com - are posting four images to "audition" for the cover of the next issue, which hits newsstands May 28.

Here's how it works: Click here, and look for the cover contest. You'll find two shots of each of the finalists - Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis. (Two of them are shown above.) Click on the one you think should make the cover. Entertainment Weekly will put the reader's choice image of the "Idol" winner on the special issue.

What the votes also will show Entertainment Weekly is a look into the future, i.e., who might just win the Season 6 singing competition.

Personally, I like the beat-boxing Blake pic, above, and Jordin in her leopard print dress.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 02:23 PM | Comments

May 18, 2007

Keep on giving

Photograph/Ron Davis

"American Idols" past and present continue to be in a charitable mood. And starting Monday, Season 2 finalist Kimberley Locke (shown above) is partnering with the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation for an auction of clothing and accessories worn by some of our fave "Idol" contestants and participants. Proceeds will benefit Camp Heartland and other children's charities.

The auction is called "Kimberley Locke & Idol Friends." Whose stuff specifically can you bid on? Well, all the Top 12 from this season have pitched in something. That means rocker-esque apparel from Gina Glocksen, something slinky from Haley Scarnato, maybe one of Phil Stacey's hats or Chris Richardson's hoodies.

Past "Idols" - plus, er, current judges - also are involved: shirts from Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken, one of Ruben Studdard's 205 jerseys, a suit from Paula Abdul and, my favorite, one of Simon Cowell's T-shirts, which probably would be too tight on me!

Bidding starts at 6 a.m. PDT here. FYI: Kimberley just happens to have a relatively new CD out; her second album, "Based on a True Story," dropped May 1.

In other "Idol" news:

* On this week's "American Idol Extra" show, it was a reunion of sorts as Top 12 contestants began to filter back to L.A. for next week's big finale. Haley (No. 8), Brandon Rogers (No. 12) and Lakisha Jones (No. 4) showed up in the studio to talk about the season. Here's a snippet of what they had to say:

Haley: "I loved Melinda (Doolittle), and it was shocking she was eliminated. I think (the show was) hyping the two power vocals (the other being Lakisha). Now they're both gone, and it's so surreal. As for me, it was a privilege to be on the show. I think it will help all of us."

Brandon: "I was shocked, too. But Blake (Lewis) is my boy. I'm glad he's there (in the finals). The last three contestants have three different styles. It's a tough part of the season."

Lakisha: "I saw it coming (Melinda's departure). Some people liked Melinda, some liked Jordin (Sparks). The younger people like Blake and Jordin. If I were singing in the finale, it would be 'I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston."

* There have been mixed reviews of the Death Cheaters dress Melinda wore on Wednesday night's results show. Personally, I thought it was a great choice for her. Melinda said, "It was the only dress I hadn't worn! When I saw it, I bought it because I loved it."

* Remember: Tickets for this summer's "American Idols Live!" tour - which stops on July 25 at our very own Arco Arena - go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday via Ticketmaster. Prices range from $37.75 to $70.75.

Note to you: Enter The Bee's contest to win two tickets to see the show with yours truly. Click on the link above.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 01:47 PM | Comments

May 17, 2007

Don't cry for 'Me'-linda

I've been reading a ton of comments on Idol Chatter and other "American Idol" blogs, and the fans are fuming today after Wednesday night's elimination of Melinda Doolittle.

There are accusations of vote-fixing, that the show's now a popularity contest (not a singing competition), that the judges should pick the winner and not let America have a say, that it's all about youth and being cute ... and on and on.

Well, I talked with one person who is just fine with the results. And that would be Melinda herself.

She spoke during a teleconference earlier today with "Idol" reporters and, basically, said, "Hey, I'm fine with this. You guys be fine, too."

And, unlike the fans who say they don't like either Blake Lewis or Jordin Sparks, Melinda had great praise for the two finalists who beat her out.

As gracious as she was in her departure on Wednesday, Melinda was even more warm and humble during her interview today.

Here's some of what she had to say:

Q: We hear the words "shocking, absurd, a total fiasco" being tossed around today. There's talk that Jordin slipped a little, and her fans came out in force this week. And that maybe the girls split the vote. Why do you think you were sent home?

A: You know what? I was up against two amazing contestants. They did a fabulous job Tuesday night. I was probably getting a little bit more of the older vote. I know that because I had folks coming up to me, saying, 'Hey, I voted for you five times!' They weren't spending a full two hours voting. Personally, I think I've won as far as where I ended up in the competition.

Q: How did you feel when Jordin was called forward and told she was safe, and then Ryan (Seacrest) asked you to step up?

A: I kind of had an idea it would be me (going home). I was taking deep breaths. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. ... Actually, it was a happy occasion I made it this far.

Q: Simon (Cowell) gave you a hard time about being visibly shocked by positive critiques. He was pretty shocked last night. What did he and the other judges say to you afterward?

A: He was ultra-supportive last night. He was explaining to me that he believed in me and wanted me to succeed. All of the judges were so sweet and encouraging about my future.

Q: How did your mother and the rest of your family react?

A: My mom was back at home. She called me to see if I was OK. I said I was and she said we'll just take this and run with it. She's been my biggest supporter out here.

Q: It sounds like you're pretty fond of Jordin and Blake. What's particularly interesting about them?

A: Jordin is only 17 years old! It doesn't make any sense for someone her age to sing that well. I'm in awe of her. She has one of the most mature voices I've ever heard. And a pure heart. It comes through when she sings.

Blake may quite be one of the most original performers "American Idol" has ever had. He takes songs and makes them his own. He gets into his own groove. He takes risks. I'm so proud of him for doing that. For stepping out and making people listen to a different style of music.

Q: You're friends with Season 5 contestant (and former Sacramentan) Mandisa. What advice did she give you?

A: Mandisa has been great for me. She's been the kind of person who knows what I'm going through. She didn't necessarily give me advice. She told me to love it and live in the moment. She's been a great rock.

Q: Which live performance turned out better than you expected, and which performance did you feel you let loose on?

A: Goodness. I think maybe "Have a Nice Day" (for the first question). I was most afraid of doing rock because I had never attempted it before. It was way out of my comfort zone. I'm still dumbfounded people really liked it.

Sadly, the first time I let loose was after I got eliminated last night. So much goes through your head when you're being judged and voted on. I don't know if I've completely achieved letting loose on the show.

Q: As a previous backup singer, you brought the "Idol" backup singers on stage when you performed "I'm A Woman." Was that planned?

A: I remembered doing the song before and I went back to sing with them. They've been my rock, my support. They can hold their own out front, and I'm so grateful for them. And I think it's great for fans to see them in their element.

Q: As the show progressed, you started looking more confident, more sexy and really dressing great on that $400 budget. Any thoughts on that and your evolving hairstyles?

A: You know what? I'm trying to pack my suitcase now. I've got great new clothes. The show has great stylists who have been very helpful to me. I'm also privileged to have a best friend who was a stylist. She instilled something in me, so hopefully I will shop better. I'm gonna blame the sexy part on the new wig! I now have more than one, and I love them. I even started to name them. One of my favorites is the "Whitney."

Q: Back to the age issue. You're 29. How did that factor in your relationships with the other contestants, and do you really think it influenced the voting?

A: Everybody is hiliarous on this show. Because I'm the oldest, I'm the mama of the bunch. They're my babies. We love to hang out. We're definitely one big happy family, and Blake is definitely the class clown. As for my age, it may or may not have figured in the voting. It's just speculation. Hey, it could be that more people like Jordin and Blake, and I'm OK with that.

Q: Most of the Top 12 contestants are back in L.A. Are you looking forward to reuniting with them (for the show finale on Wednesday)?

A: I didn't get to see anybody last night because of all the interviews. But I know we're starting rehearsals for the finale today, so I'll see all of them.

Q: You said at one point you were really afraid going in to this whole thing. Was there a time when you shed that fear, and when did you first decide to audition?

A: I was driving to Memphis (audition site) with a friend of mine to support him. He wanted me to see the funny auditions in person. But you had to actually audition to get inside. I was the only one out of that group to make it through. I thought to myself, "I'm still here!"

The growth in me has been amazing. There is a lady minister, and I heard something she said about being afraid. She said the key is not losing the fear. Go ahead and do it afraid. The fear will go. It's been a gradual thing for me. I got past it more and more as the weeks went by.

Q: What type of album would you like to record?

A: The only way to describe it would be soul music. Anything from the heart, but with a groove. Anything where I can tell a story.

Q: What will you take away from your experiences on "American Idol?"

A: The biggest thing is that I know I was really scared to do this at the beginning. I had to step out, even in the midst of fear. It gave me an outlook on how strong God has made me. I found my own voice instead of blending my voice with others.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 12:34 PM | Comments

'Idol' shocker

Fox/Frank Micelotta

Judge Simon Cowell didn't take his own advice Wednesday night.

Week after week, he has reminded front-running "American Idol" contestant Melinda Doolittle to accept all her accolades without looking "shocked and surprised."

However, when she was eliminated at Wednesday's results show, after more than 60 million votes were cast, even Simon was stunned. As for Melinda, she maintained her composure, smiling and hugging finalist Blake Lewis (shown above) and getting through her farewell song, "I'm a Woman."

The "Idol" audience - and I'm guessing pretty much anyone else nationwide who was watching - was "shocked and surprised." That's because Melinda's offing was as stunning - maybe even more so - than rocker Chris Daughtry going home last season at No. 4. Ironically, Wednesday night's show featured a performance by Elliott Yamin, who left in 2006 at No. 3. And, with a new album out and a tour about to start, Melinda got a glimpse at what her future could hold.

Let's face it, she'll still do great.

That said, it will be Jordin Sparks and Blake in a sing-off on Tuesday. For their part, both contestants absorbed the Simon shock factor. Blake even gave Melinda his bouquet of flowers.

After the show, Simon voiced his frustration, saying "I backed Melinda because I thought she was the best singer. It's just frustrating."

No question, Jordin, 17, will assume the front-runner's spot. She'll likely pull in many or most of Melinda's votes. Blake, 25, certainly will hold his own, though his quirkiness might not be as appealing as Jordin's cuteness.

Wednesday night's show was opened not by host Ryan Seacrest but by none other than Homer Simpson, who quipped, "Is it too late to vote for Fantasia?" ("The Simpsons' " season finale is this Sunday.)

I caught a glimpse of contestant Lakisha Jones, who was eliminated last week, and No. 12 contestant Brandon Rogers in the audience. Both are back in L.A. to prep for next week's big showdown.

Believe it or not, there wasn't a ton of goofy filler. There was no visit to the farmers market, and the Ford commercial happened so fast I can barely remember it. What viewers did get was how the Final 3 spent their one day back in their hometowns.

Jordin went to Glendale, Ariz., where she visited her high school, made radio and TV appearances, and reunited with her best friend of 15 years, Bailey.

Blake, back in Bothell, Wash., sang with Sir Mix-A-Lot, went to his parents' home and performed the National Anthem at a Seattle Mariners game.

Melinda headed to Nashville, Tenn., where she drank a lot of "sweet tea." She also made an appearance at her church.

Elliott's performance was fun because it was the first time he had returned to the "Idol" stage. Afterward, the judges gave their thoughts (which Elliott really didn't want to hear).

Randy Jackson: "That was hot. I'm happy you came home."

Paula Abdul: "I'm speechless and so proud of you."

Simon: "It was great to have you back."

Elliott's advice for the contestants? "Just exude a great sense of pride. Be proud of yourself. It's only the beginning of great things to come. Good luck to all of you."

There also was a performance by Maroon 5. On Tuesday, Blake sang one of the group's songs. Wednesday night, I thought he could easily have jumped into the lead singer's shoes.

Meanwhile, back to Melinda's departure and the judges' reactions. Randy told her she has "nothing to be ashamed of." Paula said, "Do your career. It will be huge."

Simon, well, he's still in shock.

Check back to this space later today for a Q&A with Melinda.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 08:35 AM | Comments

May 16, 2007

Finale fate

Fox/Michael Becker

The great thing about each of the Final 3 (shown above) singing three songs Tuesday night was that it left little - if any - time for "filler."

There were a couple of silly (read: planned) arguments staged between host Ryan Seacrest and judge Simon Cowell but, other than that, the night focused on the contestants.

As in seasons past, the Final 3 returned to their hometowns, where the mayors in the respective cities received an "urgent" fax from one of the three judges letting a particular contestant know what song that judge had selected for them to sing first.

Also: In Glendale, Ariz., Jordin Sparks got a star on the floor of the mall where she once worked. In Bothell, Wash., Blake Lewis got to beatbox with some celebrities. And in Nashville, Tenn., Melinda Doolittle got a street named after her - Melinda Doolittle Way.

So, here are the high - and in the judges' opinions, low - notes from Tuesday night's competition:

First, the judges' song choices:

* Jordin: Simon picked "Wishing on a Star" by Rose Royce. I thought it was a little odd and Jordin, because of her youth (age 17), had never even heard it before.

Randy Jackson: "This is the point in the season where I'm looking to see who's in it to win it. Who will bring the heat. You harken to a little Beyonce. The run at the end was hot."

Paula Abdul: "Simon picked a good song for you. It's a great way to start the show."

Simon: "You sang it brilliantly. I wish we hadn't done the wicked jazz arrangement with it - I like the original arrangement. It wasn't your best performance."

* Blake: Paula picked "Roxanne" by the Police. I thought it was a perfect choice for Blake, who obviously knew this song by heart.

Randy: "Great, great performance. It was a pretty good vocal. I liked the one hand on the mike. I give you an 'A.' That was hot!"

Paula: "You did me proud. You were fantastic. You changed the phrasing. It was fresh."

Simon: "I would not call it earth-shattering. (With that song) you're always forced to do an impersonation of Sting. That wasn't as good as the original. I can't say it was fantastic."

Hair-styling note: Blake is ever so slowly easing back toward his former pale hair. But will there be enough time for the bleach to take effect?

* Melinda: Randy picked "I Believe in You and Me" by Whitney Houston. What the ...?! My "Idol" cohorts chortled and questioned why Randy is always telling the contestants not to sing Whitney songs, yet he picked one for her. Explanation TK.

Randy: "I wanted to throw some difficulty at you. You gotta be able to pull it off. It's rangy. I thought, 'If she can do this ....' That was hot. I loved the falsetto thing. You blew it out of the box."

Paula: "You were fantastic, amazing. I think it's one of your best performances this season."

Simon: "A very, very difficult song to sing, but it was your best performance in the last four weeks. Round 1 goes to Melinda."

Program note: It was here that Ryan and Simon had some odd exchange about someone being drunk and the need for a break to get a cocktail. That's all well and good, but this banter (or whatever you want to call it) almost always occurs while one of the contestants is awkwardly standing next to Ryan, desperate to get off the stage. Also, when Melinda received her song choice from the mayor of Nashville, she thanked "Randy Johnson." Just a slip. Just the nerves. No harm, no foul. Next batter.

Second, the producers' choices:

* Jordin: The producers picked "She Works Hard for the Money" by Donna Summer. I was pleasantly surprised because we didn't have a "Disco Week" this season. And I didn't think the judges would blast these performances because at least one of the producers - Nigel Lythgowe - was sitting right behind them, but not entirely....

Randy: "Nicely done. It doesn't really matter what song you do, you work it out. That was hot, too."

Paula: "You worked hard for the money tonight! That was fantastic."

Simon: "That (Paula's comment) was hilarious! It was a good performance. I thought the arrangement was a little old-fashioned. The end was very good."

* Blake: The producers picked "This Love" by Maroon 5. Again, I thought it was a perfect song choice. And Blake definitely can work the stage. In other words, he moves.

Randy: "You know what - when you make a record, this is the kind of song you should really include. It's a good vibe for you. Nicely done."

Paula: "I was hoping you would do that song. You were totally in your element. A good night for you."

Simon: "I preferred that to the first song. That sounded confident, not a copycat performance. It was good."

* Melinda: The producers picked "Nut Bush City Limits" by Ike and Tina Turner. An interesting choice and one that definitely would force Melinda to move around. Nothing slow about this song.

Randy: "Another stellar performance. When you make your record, add that to your repertoire."

Paula: "We love you, we love you, we love you! What else can we say?"

Simon: "That's why we hired you for this show, Paula. (As for Melinda), I loved that side of you. Actually, it was another brilliant performance."

Round note: Randy thought Melinda took Round 2; Simon called it a tie, but didn't say who the tie was between.

Third, the contestants' own choices:

* Jordin: She picked "I (Who Have Nothing)," which she performed earlier in the season, i.e. the Shirley Bassey version. Personally, I didn't like it then and I didn't like it Tuesday night. See Simon's comments below.

Randy: "Do you feel good? Another great performance, your best of the night. Way to close it out."

Paula: "It set well in your voice, how it built."

Simon: "There's no disputing the fact you sang it very well. But part of me hated the fact that a 17-year-old is singing a 60-year-old song. I wished you'd chosen a different song."

Critical note: I haven't missed a show this season, and Simon said the exact same thing when Jordin previously sang this song. And, keep in mind, the contestants don't have to choose a song they already had performed. See Blake below.

* Blake: He picked "When I Get You Alone" by Robin Thicke. Dude threw some "Saturday Night Fever" background music into the arrangement. If the singing thing doesn't work out (and it should), Blake could definitely be a producer.

Randy: "I see why you chose that Robin Thicke song. It was all right. I liked the Maroon 5 song better."

Paula: "It exemplifies who you are as an artist. You have three great performances tonight."

Simon: "I actually really like that. Throughout the competition you have taken risks. You don't play it safe. It always looks like you're having fun. Good for you."

* Melinda: She picked "I'm a Woman" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. What none of the judges picked up on - or at least didn't mention - was that Melinda had the backup singers join her on stage. Remember, she herself was a backup singer? Nice touch.

Randy: "Cool tonight. We're seeing a range of Melinda Doolittle. You can sing anything. Whatever, whatever."

Paula: "You're stepping out into the spotlight. No regrets, no looking back."

Simon: "Melinda, Melinda, I loved the little striptease at the top. (She threw her suit jacket on the ground.) We've known each other 11 weeks. If I'm going to award a place in the finals to the person who has consistently delivered week after week, it would be you."

Afterward, Ryan asked the three judges who they thought should make it to next week's finale. Randy said, "the two girls." Simon said, "I want to see my girl Melinda." Paula, of course, was wishy-washy and wouldn't commit. "I loved all three."

Over at Dialidol.com, it's tight, tight. None of the three contestants appears totally safe. Here are the rankings: Melinda (29.87), Jordin (27.74) and Blake (27.15).

My prediction? I love Blake's creativity and originality, but I don't think it's enough to get him to the finale. So, Ryan probably will be saying "beat it" to him on tonight's results show. OK, that was mean. If he does indeed leave, where will his votes go? It would be interesting because "Idol" would be left with the competition's youngest and oldest contestants.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 09:06 AM | Comments

May 15, 2007

He's 'Bold and Beautiful'

Fox

I've never been as excited about an episode of daytime drama as I was today. That's because Season 4's Constantine Maroulis (shown above) - he of the original follow-the-camera-with-your-eyes MO - made his first appearance on my favorite soap, CBS' "The Bold and the Beautiful."

Constantine is now "Constantine Paris" (though we didn't hear his last name on today's show). We first see him in his cool L.A. loft, surrounded by musical equipment (he's a record producer) and surfing the Internet. What draws him into the current storyline is a video of (the characters of) Phoebe and Rick Forrester (not married, not really related) doing karaoke at the Insomnia Cafe. Constantine, smitten with Phoebe's beauty - not necessarily her vocal stylings - Googles her and decides to see if she's actually at the cafe.

She is! Cell phones are dropped, there are several "bro" and "man" exchanges and the two hook up at the end of the show, with Constantine spewing, "I've been waiting for a girl like you."

It's times (and dialogue) like this when I wish "B&B" was an hourlong soap instead of only 30 minutes. Constantine looks the same as he did on "Idol." Still a little rough around the edges, but definitely a music-industry type. I'll be tuning in again at 12:30 Wednesday on Channel 13. You should check it out, too - or better yet, TiVo!

In other "Idol" news:

* The Final 3 - Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks - are probably either rehearsing their three - count 'em three - songs for tonight's semifinal showdown or getting ready for hair and makeup.

Being the runner-up in the competition can be a good thing, depending on how you handle your life apres "Idol." Being third is not so bad either. Remember: Elliott Yamin finished No. 3 last year and has done quite well for himself. The same goes for Jasmine Trias (Season 3) and Kimberley Locke (Season 2), who both are still crooning.

Not so good? Season 1's Nikki McKibbin is working as a vocal coach and planning a wedding. Season 4's Vonzell Solomon entertains at parties and Florida malls.

* More from Elliott: He's scheduled to perform on Wednesday night's results show, along with Maroon 5. Elliott's self-titled CD is doing great, and, like I've said before, he looks like a whole new Elliott - very Bob Dylanish, but much younger, of course. He's also coming to the Bay Area - San Francisco's Slims - for a show on June 12.

* It took them a while to make a decision, but Votefortheworst.com has chosen Blake as its contestant, replacing Lakisha Jones. I just don't think the snarks over there care for the beatboxing - or could it be the darker hair?

* No surprises here: The current Nielsens once again were topped by "American Idol." Last Wednesday's results show finished No. 1, with 28.2 million viewers. At No. 2 was last Tuesday's competition show, with 25.47 million viewers.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 01:12 PM | Comments

May 14, 2007

In the stars

Fox/Frank Micelotta

If you look to the stars for answers (or if you're just a horoscope junkie), it's no surprise that someone is predicting an "American Idol" winner based on astrological signposts.

Astrology expert/author Jeff Jawer gave his starry thoughts on the Final 3 contestants (shown above) to AOL Horoscopes. A couple of surprises, but no real shockers. One thing's for sure: Apparently Scorpios (that would be me) have no singing abilities.

* Melinda Doolittle: Jeff got a jolt when he found out Melinda has two different published birth dates - Oct. 6 and Dec. 1, 1977. The first makes her a people-pleasing Libra with a moon in cautious but caring Cancer. The second gives her a Sagittarius sun with a Leo moon. Now I don't know dittle except that Leo is a lion, and I'm married to a Sagittarius. But the latter two are outgoing fire signs, according to Jeff, and that really doesn't suit our oft-reserved Melinda. Jeff says that, while there are quiet Sagittarians, the Libra influence would serve her better.

* Blake Lewis: It might not be star power, but his darker hair could be a bad sign for Blake. Apparently, his fans prefer the blond, spikey hair over his current black, moody look - even with highlighted bangs. But at least he only has one birth date - July 21, 1981. His sun is in Cancer, his moon is in Pisces - both "sensitive water signs." Alas, Jeff says the stars aren't lining up nicely for next week's finale, so he's predicting our beatboxer will finish third. (That would be Wednesday!)

* Jordin Sparks: She was born on Dec. 22, 1989, and is very mature for her 17 years. Her sun is in "ambitious and practical" Capricorn. And, like a racehorse that prefers to hold back, Jeff thinks Jordin doesn't have to be a fast starter to win the race. He adds her astrological patterns are lining up for the big finish and, that if planetary forces are the key, she should be the favorite. But what the heck? This still is a singing competition, right? It's not "Singing With the Stars." Jeff adds that Jordin might not be the hitmaker of the remaining contestants, but that didn't hinder Ruben Studdard (Season 2) and last year's winner Taylor Hicks. Or did it?

OK, so blah, blah, blah, who does Jeff believe will win? (Don't read on if you don't want to know.)

"The winner will probably be Melinda barely ahead of Jordin, with Blake coming in third."

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 01:36 PM | Comments

May 11, 2007

'Idol' thoughts

Photograph/Howard Rosenberg

I mentioned earlier this week that I thought maybe, just maybe, "American Idol" would ask Sherman Pore (above) to appear on the May 23 finale. (See my posting here.)

Sherman is the one who auditioned for Season 6 but who, for age reasons (he's 64), didn't make the show's cut-off of 28.

Anyway, word out of Hollywood today is that it's almost a done deal. That would be cool because the day before the finale - on May 22 - Sherman's CD, "For My Lady Love," will be released in Wal-Mart stores and on iTunes. As you may recall, Sherman sang "You Belong To Me" for his audition as the three "Idol" judges' began to melt. This, just a couple of days after the love of his life (20 years) died from ovarian cancer.

Afterward, Sherman appeared on Larry King's show, where it was suggested he make an album. Well, wouldn't you know? Steven Zap, who owns Z Entertainment company in L.A., became his manager and his record label.

I talked to Steven recently about Sherman's upcoming CD, and he had this tale to tell:

"I was in the hospital with my wife, who was getting ready to give birth to our twins, and she's watching 'American Idol' and crying because she's so moved by Sherman's performance. Then my mother calls, crying. It wasn't hard to see the tremendous emotional impact Sherman has on people...Once I saw him, I knew I'd found the record I needed to make."

In addition to "You Belong To Me," Sherman sings nine other songs, accompanied by a 45-piece orchestra. They include "The Very Thought of You," "Sway" and "When I Fall in Love." The CD sells for $9.97, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the City of Hope's cancer-research programs.

Can't wait? Hear a sample of "You Belong To Me" here. I think you'll love this. Tears will be shed.

As for next week's competition, the Final 3 - Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks - will each sing three songs on Tuesday night. If the show follows past protocol, the songs will be picked thusly: the judges will pick a song for each of the three; the contestants will sing a song of their own choice, and they will perform one from a celebrity recorder producer. Last year, it was Clive Davis.

In other "Idol" news:

* Once again, I caught this week's "American Idol Extra," which films right after the results show. There was some good stuff, including more comments from eliminated contestant Lakisha Jones. She said her favorite song this season was "And I'm Telling You," for which she got compared favorably to "Dreamgirls' " Jennifer Hudson. And as she told me and other "Idol" reporters on Thursday (see my posting here), she thought her song choice during Bee Gees Week was pretty much a disaster.

"At one point I said to myself, 'I can't pick a song. I quit,' " Lakisha recalled. "I don't like picking a song just because I have to. I have to feel it."

As for her future, Lakisha said, "I don't think I'm a celebrity. I just love to sing. I like being me. God blessed me with a gift, not a talent."

And as for monetary rewards, she quipped that her savings account now has more than the required minimum amount of $5.25. She thanked her bank employer for giving her gas and toll money to drive from Maryland to New York for the audition and time off for performing.

"But I'm not going back (to the bank), expect to make a deposit," she said.

* We saw that Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice was back in Nashville, noshing on an oversized BBQ sandwich and soul food, including some really ginormous fried pork chops. Is he just eating or he still singing these days?

* Bill Maher, who attended the shows this week, was shown saying, "These kids can sing." As for the title of his yet-to-be-album, Maher said: " 'Bill Maher Sings the Best of the Notes He Can Hit."

* Jon Peter Lewis, a Season 3 finalist, performed a single off his new album, "Stories From Hollywood." Kinda boring if you ask me.

* And, my favorite moment of the show, Season 4's Constantine Maroulis, who showed up with tremendous news - especially for these ears:

This coming Tuesday, Constantine joines the cast of "The Bold and the Beautiful" as the character Constantine Paris, an internationally known rock star who arrives in Los Angeles as a hotshot record producer.

OK, I admit - without shame - that besides "American Idol," I am a huge fan of "B&B." It's love, hate, murder, romance - great clothes. What more could you ask? Does it get any better? I ask you.

Now, finally some thoughts on Wednesday night's results show:

* A couple of "Idol" watchers were suspicious of Pink's performance, saying it didn't look like she was actually on the show. Host Ryan Seacrest introduced her from the side and never interacted with her. Well, TMZ.com reports that it was, indeed, a pre-taped performance of her song "Who Knew," which was bumped from the "Idol Gives Back" charity show a couple of weeks ago because of time constraints. And, in another twist, Pink originally had planned to sing "U + Ur Hand," a song whose lyrics the "Idol" producers deemed inappropriate for the show's audience. TMZ says they asked her to alter the words, but she refused and ended up with the "Who Knew" song instead.

* "Idol" viewer Julie Ridgeway e-mails: "OK, if I was shocked at a man-of-a-certain-age (Barry Gibb) wearing a transparent shirt on stage, I thought you would be, for sure! I respect the guy and all, but someone should have just said 'no.' ... Just one gal’s opinion. Thanks for your blog. I’m a 37-year-old mom of two who came to the 'Idol' game late (last season was my first), and I’m hooked."

Julie's right. (And thanks for the kind words.) Barry's shirt was a fashion don't. Interestingly, he was seen after the show wearing a jacket. Someone must have gotten to him. Meanwhile, I think I'm still in shock over his hair!

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 03:01 PM | Comments

May 10, 2007

She's coming home

I spoke with Mandisa (shown left) on Wednesday, and she was soooo excited about coming back to her hometown of Sacramento (she gets in tonight) that she was actually gushing over the phone.

Mandisa, an "American Idol" Season 5 finalist, has been here, there - and everywhere. She's singing, modeling, promoting all her upcoming stuff, i.e., a new book and her debut CD, "True Beauty," set to hit stores July 31. Still, she's just as nice and down to earth as ever.

"It's been a whirlwind," Mandisa acknowledges. "I've been up at the crack of dawn, flying to different cities, getting home at midnight."

Locally, she'll be live on the air from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday on The Fish (103.9 FM). And, of course, she'll be having dinner with her mother and brother before heading back to Nashville, where she now lives.

Here's some more of what she had to say:

Q: I heard you perform "True Beauty" on the "American Idol Extra" show. What was your inspiration for that song, and how did the album come together for you?

A: The song has a strong message for me. It's about not having to fit into a cookie-cutter mold when it comes to your appearance and who you are. It's about my struggle with weight. How our bodies are our temples. I want the world to know beauty doesn't come from the outside.

I wrote some of the album's material along with other contemporary Christian artists. In fact, Matthew West wrote a third of the songs. We would have songwriters' meetings, and I talked about the issues I was passionate about. The album sounds like it came straight from me.

Q: Do people tell you you're beautiful?

A: It's funny because when people tell me that, it's like the Lord shining out. I've been blessed with certain physical attributes. Every girl likes to be told they're beautiful.

Q: Your book, "Idoleyes," is already on Amazon.com. What's it about, and was it hard to write?

A: It's a memoir of my experiences on the show. The subtitle is "My New Perspective on Faith, Fat and Fame." Everybody knows I'm vocal about my faith. And about being who you are. I caused a lot of controversy (while on the show), but it worked out. My weight was in the forefront from the audition process. There are details about what happens behind the scenes. People see what happens on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. So much else is going on.

Q: Are you still a spokesmodel for Ashley Stewart clothing?

A: Yes, and I love it - and the clothes. Here's something interesting. The wardrobe guy at "American Idol" told me more clothes were sent for me than anyone else on the show. I love it because there are great companies doing plus-size clothing.

Q: I know last year you said it would be hard to top the Season 5 finalists. What do you think of this year's contestants?

A: I already knew Melinda (Doolittle). She and I used to sing backup together. We were part of a small group of people you would see over and over. When I went to one of the shows, she was excited to see me. She had called me on her way to the audition in Memphis and asked, "Is this something I should do? If you don't think so, I will turn the car around.

She's such a great performer...Melinda even texted me her numbers (No. 1 and No. 5) from Tuesday night's show. I voted for her on my layovers. As for the others, they're all excellent. I knew about Jordin (Sparks) before the show because we both know (Christian singer) Michael W. Smith. She is just a sweetheart.

Q: Do you stay in touch with your Season 5 buds?

A: Yes, I try to stay in touch. Everybody is so busy. I've kept in touch with all the girls. I'll see Lisa (Tucker) and Paris (Bennett) in June - Lisa turns 18. I see Ace (Young) a lot in L.A. Paula Abdul and I have seen each other.

Our season was so rare. Nine out of 10 of us have record deals, and every CD has done well. I have all of them. I was listening to Katharine (McPhee) and Paris while traveling.

Q: So that proves winning "American Idol" isn't everything. Right?

A: I always say this. It's about your individuality coming out. How you carry yourself on the show. There's a life you want to have afterward. If America knows the music you'll make, they'll wait for you.

Q: Now that you're so famous, are you constantly being coifed and made up?

A: My hair changes every day! They wanted to talk about my clothing options for the Dove Awards, and I said, "We don't need to have a meeting about what I'm going to wear!"

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 04:18 PM | Comments

Lakisha speaks softly

I felt really bad for Lakisha Jones. During her 30-minute phone interview with "American Idol" reporters earlier today, she could barely speak. If you recall, Lakisha's second song Tuesday, "Run To Me," ended on a hoarse note.

And things weren't much better two days later. I wanted to reach through my headset and give her a lozenge.

But, Lakisha is a trooper. Which is good, because her schedule isn't going to ease up: Interviews all day today and tonight. Appearances on talk shows. Flying to New York for "Today," "Late Night," "Live With Regis and Kelly." You name it, she'll be on it. And, instead of getting to go home for some well-deserved rest before the show's finale on May 23, Lakisha will be going back to L.A. to get ready for the big night.

She pulled no punches about being eliminated and demonstrated why she was one of the most popular contestants this season.

Q: You started out so strong. Did the pressure prove to be a difficult cross to bear?

A: Yes, it did. Especially singing all the different genres of music. Some of those styles don't have those big songs everyone is expecting me to sing each week. But I gave it my all.

Q: Were you bracing yourself to go home?

A: I knew on Tuesday when I was hoarse. I tried to sing past it because I couldn't say, 'My voice is jacked up and I can't sing this week.' You gotta do what you gotta do, and I did the best with what I was given. During dress rehearsals before the show, I had sung both songs four times that day. It was a strain on my voice.

Q: Was there any frustration the last couple of weeks with the particular musical genres, i.e., Bon Jovi and the Bee Gees?

A: (It is) out of my comfort zone. They were difficult genres of music for me to sing, especially the Bee Gees. If I had to do anything over again, it would be Tuesday's performance. Both songs. I wouldn't have sung either of them.

Q: And did you question your decisions to sing back-to-back past winners' songs, i.e., Carrie Underwood and Fantasia?

A: I was thinking that they were two winners and also about the message within the songs. I was going through some things (during Country Week), so "Jesus Take the Wheel" made sense because I was saying, "Lord, you'll have to help me get through this."

Q: What's your relationship with Simon Cowell and what were your favorite and least favorite comments from him? Also, is he that good a kisser?

A: My favorite comment was, "She's in a league all of her own." My least favorite was, "You're shouting." And yes, he's a good kisser and I would do it again. He told me last night after the show that he was proud of me and that he knows I'll have a successful career.

Q: Are you excited about being reunited with your 4-year-old daughter? And will she be going on the tour with you?

A: She was here last night. She's happy. I was crying and she said, "Mommy, I'm not mad." It was really cute. It was as though she was telling me she was proud of me. It's been really, really hard being away from her, but I've got a good support system. My mom takes care of her. We're trying to make preparations now for the tour. It's this summer, and my mom is a schoolteacher.

Q: Who among this season's contestants will you look forward to reuniting with?

A: Sanjaya (Malakar). I miss him jumping all over the place. He was like a little brother who got on your nerves. I kept having to tell him to sit down somewhere. I appreciate the fact that he trusted my judgment and advice. And he was there when I needed him.

Q: What are your thoughts on the remaining three finalists? Any ideas on who will win?

A: Jordin (Sparks) is so doggone cute. She has a wonderful spirit about her. Blake, I love him. He keeps me going. I'd get down and he'd say come here, and start beatboxing. He makes me smile. He's got originality and personality. Melinda, that girl has so much soul and power. They're all talented. Whoever is supposed to be the American Idol will be the American Idol. It's their game at this point.

Q: Have you thought at all about what type of album you'll release?

A: I'm not sure yet. I know I want it to be sassy and soulful, with some inspiration. I don't have any songs written, but that will give me something to think about on the tour.

Q: When you make it big, what's the first thing you'll buy?

A: A new home for me and my daughter - I don't ever want to rent again - even if it doesn't have anything in it. I just want to get the keys, open the door and let my baby run through it.

Q: How do you feel about finishing fourth in the competition?

A: All I can say is: Chris Daughtry.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 03:02 PM | Comments

And then there were 3

Fox/Frank Micelotta

Wednesday night's results show proved two things:

* I'm getting better at predicting who will go home and ...
* Filling an hour of TV is not as easy as it looks.

The competition now reaches a critical stage, as the three remaining contestants not only compete for a shot at the finale in two weeks, but they get a free trip back to their respective hometowns, where they likely will be feted with parades, keys to the cities and rides in black SUVs with tinted windows.

When all was sang and done, Lakisha Jones will have a longer stint in her hometown because she was eliminated on Wednesday.

More than 45 million votes were cast after Tuesday night's lackluster Bee Gees performances. The remaining three - Jordin Sparks, Melinda Doolittle and Blake Lewis - will have to find their musical mojo after that vocal train wreck.

The three judges, who, oddly, swapped seats at the beginning of the show, agreed it had been a difficult competition.

Meanwhile, Wednesday night's filler folly was a mix of the weird and, uh, the even more weird.

For example:

* Host Ryan Seacrest continues his vigil at the Hollywood farmers market, where, at one point, he was called "Brian." And If I hear how "fresh and young" Jordin is one more time, I'm going to hit someone with a squash!

* A plug for the "Idol" summer tour acknowledged there would be more than 50 shows, all featuring Sanjaya Malakar, to which Ryan retorted, "Lock up your daughters."

* Pink, who didn't get to perform on "Idol Gives Back" because they ran out of time (natch), performed. Her dress was so tight I was afraid she was going to implode.

* The weekly Ford commercial was sung to the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" and featured the Final 4 running and jumping into Ford cars to avoid a gaggle of crazed fans.

* The Final 4 did a medley of Bee Gees songs, which, after Tuesday night's solo performances, showed they would have fared better singing as a group. And, yes, they sang "Emotion," a song one of them should have attempted during the competition.

Ironically, Ryan asked Lakisha what she would do if she were eliminated: "I want to remember the words to my song and not cry. I was hoping Simon would kiss me again," she replied.

* There was a preview of a movie starring Jessica Alba, with really blond hair.

* There was a montage of photos and home movies of "The Final 4: The Early Years."

* Bill Maher was shown to be in the house.

* The judges returned to their assigned seats.

When it was mercifully time for the results, the contestants gathered themselves in a group hug and said they weren't ready to hear the bad news. Well, it was good news for Jordin, who was the first to be seated safely.

Then there was an announcement about yet another talent contest. This time, it's to find the best undiscovered band in America. I'll reserve judgment on this venture, but watch for Ian Benardo to somehow find his way on to this reality nightmare.

This week's guest mentor, Barry Gibb, who was unable to find someone to take care of his gray hair, performed "To Love Somebody."

Afterward, Melinda was safe, leaving Blake and Lakisha (shown above) as the bottom two.

When polled, the judges offered their thoughts:

Randy Jackson: "It's tough for both of them."

Paula Abdul: "They're tremendous talents. I enjoyed all your performances. You all deserve big careers."

Simon Cowell: "I don't know. If I could make a guess, it's going to be Lakisha."

Dude is always right.

Lakisha said she was "proud of myself." And after her farewell video, which brought quite a few tears, Lakisha launched into her farewell song, "Stayin' Alive."

Stay tuned to this space later today for a Q&A with Lakisha.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 08:29 AM | Comments

May 09, 2007

How deep is your love?

Fox/Frank Micelotta

Seriously.

After Tuesday night's abysmal "American Idol" competition, I can't imagine why anyone would show their love and cast a vote. It would be like deciding between the Final 4 contestants and having an unpleasant dental procedure.

Painful.

I don't know what was up with mentor Barry Gibb. He was, well, for lack of a better word, "clacking." One "Idol' watcher said he thought he had new teeth and wasn't used to them yet.

I know a lot - a lot - of time has passed, but Barry was a shell of his former Bee Gees self. He offered little, if any, help to the remaining three girls and one guy. And it quickly became evident, as they began to perform the first of two songs each, that their song selections and the arrangements were off - waaay off.

Barry kept saying the female contestants were perfect for his songs because "I've made a lot of records with ladies." Then, he would turn around and say he couldn't imagine one of them singing a particular Bee Gees song because it was written for a man. In Barryspeak, I think that means "falsetto."

Judge Judy, who was in the audience, should have put the gavel down on this night instead of saying something odd about being separated at birth from Simon Cowell.

But, in fairness to the Final 4, I believe the music of the Bee Gees should be sung by the Brothers Gibb or by Barry with a female performer, like he did with Barbra Streisand. Solo, the songs just didn't work for me.

Here's what Barry had to say after meeting the Final 4: "They've grown immensely. They actually sound great together."

He even asked them if they wanted to be a group. Not a bad idea. Maybe if they had performed together, it wouldn't have been such a disaster.

That said, here are the low - and very few high - notes from Tuesday night:

* Melinda Doolittle: Her first song was "Love You Inside and Out." Barry said it was an unusual choice and confusing for him. But Melinda said she thought she could take a group song and make it work as a solo.

Randy Jackson: "This is going to be interesting. It was another solid performance. I'm not jumping out of my seat. It was just good."

Paula Abdul: "It's hard to critique you. Your vocals are always spot on. But where's the 'Whoa!, Whoa!, Whoa!?' "

Simon Cowell: "What Paula was attempting to say is, I want to see better than that. I was not that impressed. With four people left, I expect you to be incredible tonight. That was more of a backing vocalist performance. It's lucky you have two songs tonight."

* Blake Lewis: His first song was "You Should Be Dancing." Barry said that "to me, it's the dance anthem of the late 1970s." Blake, however, decided to test his beatboxing success from last week's Bon Jovi competition. Barry said there was indeed a breakdown area in the song (that would have been when John Travolta was dancing solo in "Saturday Night Fever"), "where Blake will get a chance to show off."

Randy: "What's really interesting, man, is sometimes it (beatboxing) works. Tonight, for me, it didn't work. It made it corny. It was like being in a weird discotheque in a foreign country."

Paula: "It was a little shaky, and the pitch was off. Nobody can do what you do. It's not your best night, but it's why you're unique and on that stage."

Simon: "I will give you unique. As a matter of personal taste, I thought it was absolutely terrible."

* Lakisha Jones: Her first song was "Stayin' Alive." Barry said, "The original high falsetto (done by him and his brothers) presents challenges for a girl, but I like the slower version Lakisha is doing."

Randy: "It was weird for me. These songs have great melodies. They don't need to be changed that much. That just wasn't working for me. There was too much going on."

Paula: "Everyone in the audience is on their feet (ready to dance). You took the tempo down, and it brought the mood down."

Simon: "No kiss for you tonight, baby. We're back to the shouting again. That performance was verging on scary in parts. It's not great tonight so far."

* Jordin Sparks: Her first song was "To Love Somebody." Barry said, "It was hard to imagine a girl singing it (natch), but this is new and fantastic. A couple hundred people have sung it, but I haven't heard a greater version than Jordin's."

Randy: "Wow! It's been kind of a rough night. Probably that was the best vocal so far. You gave it a little Mariah/Aretha throwback vibe. So far, you're winning."

Paula: "You look very beautiful. And it is the best vocal tonight, not sorta, kinda."

Simon: "It was the best song choice and the best performance so far. We're back in the competition tonight."

In round two, the Final 4 didn't take as many punches. At least not all four of them.

* Melinda: Her second song was "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" Barry said the chords are different. "My only criticism is, why not sing the whole song?" Interestingly, Melinda chose to omit the lyrics, "How can a loser ever win?" "I can't sing those words on 'American Idol,' " she said. And Tuesday night, that was a smart decision.

Randy: "Your second song was a great song. A great vocal, a great ending. You're our resident professional."

Paula: "The best vocal. It was a throwback to Stephanie Mills. You threw all the technique away and surprised us. You jumped out."

Simon: "You didn't understand any of that, did you (what Paula said)?
The second half of that song has put you into the semi-finals."

* Blake: His second song was "This is Where I Came In." Barry said the song choice was a "bit of a shock. But maybe it (the song) has been waiting for its time. It gives Blake a chance to explore the extra gifts he has." Blake said his version was not the Barry Gibb's everyone is familiar with. "It's more contemporary." Now I'm a huge Bee Gees fan, and I had never heard this song before. Even Barry admitted the group thought it could have been a hit. "But we were wrong. Maybe Blake can do it."

Randy: "It was definitely better than the last one. But, dude, you don't have to beatbox everything in the joint. I liked the reggae spin you put on it."

Paula: "There's nothing old about Blake. You continue to be the rebel in this competition. I don't know that song, but I enjoyed you singing it."

Simon: "I don't know what that song was either, but it was absolutely tuneless. I don't know why you chose it. You did not have a good night. You'll get the young support. I can't say they've been good performances."

* Lakisha: Her second song was "Run To Me." Barry said that, in working with her on this song, he had the challenge of changing the keys twice. "It's an interesting choice, and I think she'll rise to it."

Randy: "You got hoarse at the end. Much better, though. It was good."

Paula: "You're still a champ. Don't beat yourself up. Not at all, my dear."

Simon: "It was better than the first song, but it still wasn't great. You and Blake are vulnerable tonight."

* Jordin (shown above): Her second song was "Woman in Love." Barry said her version was a little different from Streisand's. "This kind of song is subject to interpretation. There are a lot of great singers, and Jordin is going to get there. She'll be a great female recording artist."

Randy: "It was pitchy all the way through. That's a tough song. But props to Barry Gibb for all his hot songs."

Paula: "You're absolutely beautiful, but it was not your best performance. I love you anyway."

Simon: "I love the song, but it was too old-fashioned. It was very pageantry, from your dress ... You're 17!"

On a program note: As you can probably tell from this blog, the judges' comments were really rushed at the end because of time constraints and fillers. That would include Lakisha talking about her first album purchase, Michael Jackson's "Bad." Her mom chose to mark out "Bad" and substitute it with "Good." And then there was Jordin crowing about getting A's and B's while still taking classes during the competition.

But, what more could the judges have said? This was just not a good performance night.

Predictions? Dialidol.com has Blake and Jordin being safe, and Melinda and Lakisha in trouble. I see Lakisha blowing her last kiss and saying "Thank you" for the last time.

Tonight's results show (at 9 on Channel 40) will feature a Barry Gibb performance. Perhaps, with all their technical skills, the "Idol" producers can computer-generate a younger version of him to accompany the older one.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 09:42 AM | Comments

May 08, 2007

Disco - minus the hair

Fox/Ray Mickshaw

I was very much into the whole disco thing. And I'm looking forward to Barry Gibb and his Bee Gees song offerings when the Final 4 compete on "American Idol" tonight.

Barry, shown above with Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Lakisha Jones and Blake Lewis, doesn't have nearly as much hair as he used to. But you've gotta love that falsetto!

What? Do I detect that we're getting a little bored with America's No. 1-rated show (see the Nielsen ratings below)?

Well, what else are you going to watch tonight? "Dancing With the Stars" can give the boot (both boots, I might add) to Billy Ray Cyrus at 9, after "Idol."

I know a lot of "Idol" watchers have been lamenting that this is the worst season ever. But the Final 4 we have are the final four we have. Stay tuned: Either the three girls are all going to survive, or one of them will be beat out by beatboxer Blake - no matter what color his hair is.

Over at Votefortheworst.com, Lakisha has replaced Phil Stacey, who replaced Sanjaya Malakar, as the contestant that the site is encouraging fans to save. We've got tonight, next week and then the finale week (culminating on May 23) left to go.

And, just so you can say you read it here first, here are my two predictions for acts - weird and/or wonderful - that might appear on the last night. (The show routinely invites some contestants back.)

* Sherman Pore: Even though Sherman was 36 years over the "Idol" cut-off age of 28, the three judges allowed him to complete his audition, singing "You Belong to Me" - a tribute to his wife, who had recently passed away from cancer. Heck, had it not been for the age thing, I think Sherman could have made it to Hollywood. The guy can sing! (And there's a petition floating around cyberspace trying to get him on the show's finale.)

*Ian Benardo (shown right): Do you remember crazy, zany Ian, who auditioned in New York by squawking a bizarro version of "Gloria"? And then went into a rant over Simon Cowell's citizenship? He's making the rounds on Fox, touting an actual release of the "song" as well as his participation in a D-minus horror flick, "Terror Talk," which cost, according to Ian, "two recyclables to make." Just ripe for the "Idol" brain trust to re-release on an unsuspecting audience.

In other "Idol" news:

* The debut CD of Paris Bennett (a Season 5 Top 10 contestant), titled "Princess P," hit stores today.

* Ratings romp: Last week's Nielsens just arrived and, no surprise here, Fox's "American Idol" took the top two spots - again. At No. 1 was Wednesday's results show, with 28.75 million viewers; Tuesday's competition show came in at No. 2, with 26.73 million viewers.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 02:54 PM | Comments

May 07, 2007

Dancing with the prez

President George W. Bush may be getting mixed reviews for his political prowess, but, according to Yahoo! Buzz, folks were busy checking out his dancing skills.

After the president and first lady Laura Bush appeared on "American Idol" to thank everyone for contributing to "Idol Gives Back," searches for the leader of the free world spiked 414 percent! Yahoo! Buzz says the look-ups were for "dancing bush." All that after Laura Bush's response on the show to her husband when he asked if he should sing:

"I don't know, darling. They've already seen you dance."

I didn't look him up, but if anyone else searched, I guess I'd be curious - especially if Bush dances like Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks.

In a roundup of other "Idol" news:

* We hear that Sacramento's own Mandisa (shown left), a Top 10 contestant last season, is scheduled to return to our fair city this Friday to promote her upcoming ventures, which include a book, "Idoleyes," scheduled to come out in June, and her debut CD, "True Beauty," set to hit stores July 31. And on Tuesday, you can catch, er, hear the premiere of "Only The World," a single off the Christian/soul compilation. Just go here. More on Mandisa's visit later this week.

* Melinda Doolittle is the only contestant with Southern roots (Tennessee) left in the competition. Keep in mind, a non-Southerner has never won "American Idol." Blake Lewis is from Bothell, Wash.; Jordin Sparks is from Glendale, Ariz.; and Lakisha Jones is from Fort Meade, Md.

* Blake still leads the pack in overall searches, especially among females (natch) and in Hawaii. I still can't figure this one out, but the Aloha State continues to lead the nation in "Idol" searches on Yahoo!

* And...Blake as a brunet? You bet! "Idol's" resident beatboxer scored big nationwide with his switch from spikey blond to dark do last week. According to Yahoo!, he has more states (41) looking him up than any other contestant, with Washington (his home state), Pennsylvania and Virginia the most passionate. Interestingly, Virginia also is the home state of his best bud Chris Richardson, who went home last week with Phil Stacey.

* As for the three girls left, Jordin's home state of Arizona seems to care less, but the cheeseheads in Wisconsin and fans in Mizzou love her. Melinda is sparking interest east of the mighty Mississippi. And, because Alabama doesn't have a hometown favorite in the mix (unlike Taylor, Bo Bice and Ruben Studdard in past years), the Cotton State might throw its support to her. As for Lakisha, her Bon Jovi song last week revived interest in her; Michigan Wolverines are her biggest fans. She just needs to pull in Chris' votes from New Jersey and Texas.

* Over the weekend, there was an Elliott Yamin sighting at Richmond International Raceway. Virginia, of course, is Elliott's home state, the capital city his hometown. He was at RIR to sing the National Anthem on Friday night for the Busch Series race.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 11:11 AM | Comments

May 04, 2007

Why I didn't, either

I couldn't pass up the chance to respond to Joel Davis' essay titled "Idol Chatter" (clever, huh?) in this week's issue of Sacramento News & Review.

For those of you who missed it: Joel, with his razor-sharp wit, has written an entire tome on all things he hates - yet has never sampled, read, visited or seen. For example, foie gras, Sidney Sheldon books, the state of Florida and NASCAR.

But the central focus of his vitriol is itty-bitty "American Idol," the show he most hates - but has never watched. He prattles on, something about "Simon sez," and then goes after The Bee's resident "Idol" reporter. That would be me. To wit: "...the local daily even has a reporter covering the show itself. (No wonder circulation is down; get off your Idol ass and find a local story ...)."

Here's the thing. Yes, I do love the show and I do watch it - on my derriere, no less. And Joel, while I didn't read your essay - someone e-mailed a snippet to me - I hate it anyway.

Thanks, though, for the free plug to my blog.

Now, don't we all feel better? I know I do!

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 03:15 PM | Comments

'Idol' thoughts

Did I forget to mention that the term "tonsil golf" was uttered on Wednesday night's "American Idol"?

Host Ryan Seacrest used it to describe contestant Lakisha Jones' smooch with judge Simon Cowell on Tuesday night. Lakisha said, "He's a good kisser. I'd do it again."

OK, so lip-locks are officially banned. Apparently, though, the nasty exchange between Ryan and Simon over the whole puppet/girlfriend thing was all for show. Those crazy guys. When are they actually going to scratch each other's eyes out for real?

I caught a TiVoed version of Fox's "Reality Remix" show, and there was some good stuff. For example:

* Simon was interviewed by obnoxious former Season 5 "Idol" contestant-turned-"TV journalist" Mikalah Gordon about Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson, the last two to be eliminated.

"They weren't gonna win, were they? It was the right decision," Simon said. "They're nice guys, OK. But last night it was preordained. They had a good run and have nothing to complain about."

On the other hand, Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan, who participated in last weekend's rehearsals, said he was surprised that Phil went home; Chris, too. "Phil killed it with 'Blaze of Glory.' He did it, like, killer."

And then there was this season's ousted contestant, rocker Gina Glocksen, who said she thought the eliminations had mostly to do with combining last week's votes with this week's. Oh, and by the way, Gina is sporting a shorter, spikier coif - red streaks and all.

* "Remix" host J.D. Roberto let us in on a little secret (like we didn't already know this): The contestants - and anyone else connected with "American Idol" - are allowed to vote. No restrictions.

* We got to see ousted contestant Haley Scarnato trying on wedding veils and sharing laughs with one of her bridesmaids back in her hometown of San Antonio. Then she attends a big welcome-home gathering - in short shorts, of course.

* Ace Young, the Season 5 hunk who was in Sacramento last month on his Dreyer's ice cream junket, showed up in the "Remix" mini studio to perform his self-written single, "Shattered." It was kind of cool to see him, along with guitarist Paul Trudeau, who, strangely enough, looked to be wearing the exact same jeans and T-shirt he wore to the Citrus Heights backyard concert on March 21.

* We saw how "Idol" produced this week's Ford commercial. And, no, Jordin Sparks didn't actually fall into that circus dunk tank.

* The Navy Band Southeast saluted Phil with a rousing rendition of "Anchors Aweigh!"

* And, Rascal Flats gave a shout out to Chris for singing their song, "Mayberry," during Country Music Week. "There are three guys (RF) who will buy your album when it comes out."

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 11:59 AM | Comments

May 03, 2007

A chat with Phil, Chris

Fox/Frank Micelotta

"American Idol's" latest eliminated contestants - Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson - have been up since 3 this morning, gearing up for talk-show appearances and speaking with all us "Idol" media types, eager to pick their brains about their experiences on the show. But you'd never guess that they were bordering on exhaustion, which they were.

Phil and Chris fielded questions on everything from Phil's commitment to the Navy to Chris' friendship with Final 4 contestant Blake Lewis (shown above on Wednesday night's results show).

Interestingly, at one point during the teleconference, Phil had to leave to take an emergency call from his commander. When he returned, he informed reporters that the Navy had called giving him legal clearance to participate in media events. Gotta love the goverment.

So, here's some of what they had to say:

Q: (to Chris): Do you think your run-in with Simon (Cowell) two weeks ago about the nasally voice thing turned off "Idol" viewers?

A: Who knows? I got to say what I wanted to say about the whole Virginia Tech thing because I was thinking about those people. It was just odd timing. It might have, might not have had an impact.

Q: (to Phil): What results or judges' comments surprised you the most?

A: The biggest surprise for me came during Country Week. I was in my comfort zone, but I also was accustomed to getting criticized. When Randy (Jackson) said, 'Dude, you were good,' I thought, this is sweet."

Q: (to Chris): Your fans found you to be charming and good looking, and there have been rumors about relationships. Do you have a girlfriend?

A: You know what? I just got out of a three-and-a-half-year relationship back home (in Virginia). All those rumors are just rumors. They're just friends and acquaintances. I'm pretty much single right now and respecting the fact that I just got out of this other relationship.

Q: (to Phil): As a member of the Top 10, will you still be able to go on the "Idol" summer tour, what with your commitments to the Navy?

A: My primary responsibility is to the U.S. Navy. If they need me on a mission, I will follow through with my commitment. They've been gems and a huge support base for me. The last time I spoke with my commanding officer, it looked promising. I'm not worried about it at this point. But yes, it would break my heart if I couldn't go. But I've got a duty. My hitch is up October 2008.

Q: (to Chris): How did you feel about the producers pitting you against Blake Lewis? And when did you guys become such good friends? Did you collaborate during the competition?

A: They've got to make a good television show. They're smart producers. They know what will shock people and get them interested. Our friendship started during Hollywood Week. We just clicked. We had a lot in common - our musical tastes and styles. We just bonded. Blake did a lot of stuff (with his music) on his own. We would go over song choices together, but Blake did his thing. He'd ask my opinion. Last night, when we were waiting (for the results), we were singing a song that we had written. I told him to go ahead and sit down. I knew I was going home.

Q: (to both): What three things will you pack for the tour?

Phil: A toothbrush, underwear and a comb for my hair.

Chris: A guitar, toothbrush and my computer.

Q: (to Phil): How meaningful was it to have a lot of folks in Oklahoma pulling for you, especially after singing the Garth Brooks song on "Idol Gives Back?

A: Last night, as I began to sing my (farewell) song, I realized all the support I've received and a lot of that has come from Oklahoma. My wife and I have a lot of family who live there, so I can't wait to hug as many necks as possible.

Q: (to Chris): You often were compared to Justin Timberlake with regards to your look. How did you put your styles together each week?

A: It was all me, all my look. It's what I wanted to wear, and I just rolled with it. We went shopping in different places. If I saw something and liked it, I bought it. The outfits had to fit the mood, and I had to make sure the style fitted the theme of the week.

Q: (to both): How does the "Idol" experience wear on your voices?

Phil: I completely ignored the advice. Limiting your speaking, eating a healthy diet with plenty of vitamin C. That would have been very beneficial. But I like to talk a lot, so I cracked some on the show.

Chris: Honestly, it wasn't that bad on my voice. We weren't singing full out every day, so you could control the amount. During Rock Week, I actually wanted more of a raspy tone and purposefully got hoarse.

Q: (to Phil): Will you stick with country music or some other genre on tour and then later on?

A: "Idol Gives Back" was such an inspiration for me. I'd probably pick something for the tour that would be a positive influence on people. As a Navy guy, I might do something patriotic, like "God Bless the USA." As for my future, I'm grateful you can ask that question. The music that I write is country and gospel, but I don't know which path God will put me on. I love them both.

Q: (to Chris): Do you feel you got good feedback from the judges?

A: I would have to say, in two different senses, Randy (Jackson) was very supportive; even on bad nights, he said something positive. And Paula (Abdul) always had something uplifting to say.

Q: (to Phil): With four contestants left, who do you think is the front-runner?
Phil: All four have individual strengths. Blake is the most original contestant on the show. Melinda (Doolittle) is possibly the greatest singer I've seen on the show. Lakisha, I get chills listening to her sing. And Jordin has an amazing range. I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 12:55 PM | Comments

And then there were 4

Fox/Frank Micelotta

The charity stops here.

Still, Wednesday night's hourlong "American Idol" results show was one of the more emotional, with two contestants - Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson - eliminated.

And what's amazing? That, in addition to the 70 million votes cast last week during "Idol Gives Back," another 65 million were added to that to determine the bottom two.

Host Ryan Seacrest said it would be "double the news, double the tension." But,
I didn't think so. The way the Final 6 were seated (Melinda Doolittle, Phil and Lakisha Jones in front; Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis and Chris in back), I knew what was going to shake down.

So, apparently, did they.

That leaves us with three girls - and a guy. And one intriguing question: Who will Blake room with?

Of course, three of these finalists will be disappointed at some point over the next three weeks, so I hope all of them were paying attention to the class exit acts of Phil and Chris - in particular Phil (shown above), who, during his farewell performance of "Blaze of Glory," hugged the three judges, shook hands with several fellow Navy officers in the audience and kissed his wife.

And could that song have been more appropriate?

"You are a good man. We'll miss you," Seacrest said. It got a little - make that a lot teary - when the show played Carrie Underwood singing "I'll Stand By You" (from last week's show) during Phil's video tribute.

Jordin wasn't even asked to come down on the stage with Blake and Chris. Ryan told her: "I messed with you so much last week - you're safe, sit down. I'm not going there this week."

Say what you will about how close Blake and Chris have become (and there has been some, shall we say, inappropriate speculation), but you could tell it was going to be a tough parting. Chris even said, "I'd go home for him (Blake) tonight."

And so he did.

He sang "Dead or Alive," even as the remaining four contestants had him completely surrounded on the stage.

As for the rest of the show, Ryan promised "no filler." Right.

His opening exchange with the three judges got a little weird. He asked them how they thought the finalists did with Bon Jovi Rock Night:

* Randy Jackson: "I didn't think it would work. But they brought it."

* Paula Abdul: "This is what it's all about, really taking a risk. These were career-defining moments."

Initially, Simon Cowell wasn't going to comment because, while Paula was talking, he was fumbling around with the back of her neck, her top - something silly. She told him she wasn't his puppet, to which Ryan retorted, "You're a lot prettier than his real puppet," a veiled reference to Simon's girlfriend/fiance. Ouch!

Simon said that was rude and that he wouldn't comment until Ryan apologized. Oh, how I luvvv this witty repartee as the world watches. When Simon finally got around to his thoughts, he said, "Not everyone was great. They took a risk, but I'm going to say Blake was at the top."

As for the other filler, and it was filling:

* Ryan at the farmers market, polling badly dressed vegetable shoppers. I wasn't listening to their comments because of all the fashion "don'ts," i.e., hoodies that say "Hollywood," high-waisted shorts and, worst of all, one dude in black socks and bright red Crocs!

* There were taped messages from Reuben Studdard (Season 2), Fantasia Barrino (Season 3) and Taylor Hicks (Season 5) saying that the charity campaign is still underway, so keep on giving. If you were wondering why more past "Idol" winners weren't part of the "Idol Gives Back" campaign, I don't have a ready answer for you. Carrie (Season 4) and Kelly Clarkson (Season 1) participated. No word yet on when it all officially ends.

* The oddball filler of the night was an R&B - and that's being generous with the musical genre - performance by Robin Thicke (son of Alan Thicke, as in "Growing Pains"). It was bizarro and had nothing to do with anything. The "Idol" brain trust must owe this guy a favor or he has possession of some questionable photos.

* The weekly Ford commercial, featuring the Final 6 doing a circus act to "Paint It Black."

* Was that a Gina Glocksen sighting again Wednesday night? She definitely was there for Tuesday night's competition. I thought I spotted her again, though, but with a much shorter hairstyle.

* It was announced that judging for the "Idol" songwriting contest is underway. The 25,000 entries were whittled down to 20 songs. The winning tune will be performed on the May 23 finale and released as a single by the winner.

OK, so for me, the highlight of the evening was Bon Jovi's performance of “(You Want To) Make A Memory," the first single off the band's upcoming album, "Lost Highway," which will be released June 19.

Jon said he really enjoyed working with the contestants. "They did a fantastic job. They really stepped up. Thanks for asking me to be a part of it."

When asked by Ryan if he wanted to call the final results, Jon replied: "Not on your life, buddy."

I read some other postings that said Jon was a bit of a jerk during rehearsals, but I think that's just anti-Bon Jovi rantings. And, for anyone out there who thinks this guy is "cheesy," come see me.

Check back in to this space later today for a Q&A with both Phil and Chris.

Next week: The Bee Gees' Barry Gibb shows up for what I'm calling "Boogie Week."

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 08:50 AM | Comments

May 02, 2007

Ticket takers

What's the good word? Tickets.

On sale. Soon.

Because even though we don't have a local rep among "American Idol's" Top 10 (Mandisa was our gal last year), their summer tour will indeed be stopping in Sactown on Wednesday, July 25, at Arco Arena.

That means area fans can get up close and personal, well, relatively, with (in no particular order): Chris Sligh, Gina Glocksen, Haley Scarnato, Sanjaya Malakar, Chris Richardson, Lakisha Jones, Phil Stacey, Jordin Sparks, Melinda Doolittle and Blake Lewis.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. May 19; they'll set you back $39.50, $52.50 and $72.50, and be sold at the arena box office and via Ticketmaster. You can also charge by phone at (916) 649-8497.

I attended the sold-out Season 5 event. I got a dorky button, an expensive hot dog and an up-close and personal look at Ace Young. I even had a picture taken with last year's winner, Taylor Hicks.

Priceless.

Posted by Leigh Grogan at 04:20 PM | Comments

Watch for falling rocks

Fox/Frank Micelotta

Well, I did it again. I made assumptions about which of the Final 6 would nail Bon Jovi Night and which of them wouldn't.

Again - totally off the mark. Sort of. Maybe.

There was a lot on the line Tuesday night as rocker-hunk Jon Bon Jovi mentored the six remaining contestants in the ways of his band's music. (Unlike Country Music Week, when the singers could stretch among a variety of artists, these guys and girls had to sing a Bon Jovi song.)

And, from my ears t