Archive for the ‘American Idol’ Category
September 5th, 2010 | 
Author: Kara DioGuardi departs ‘American Idol’
Kara DioGuardi is following Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell out the door at “American Idol.”
Her departure leaves Randy Jackson, who’s been with the singing contest from the start, the last judge standing, for now. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are the reported front-runners for the panel.
Entertainment mogul Simon Fuller, creator of the British show “Pop Idol” that was the template for the U.S. series he produces, called DioGuardi a standout songwriter whom he planned to work with in music “for many years to come.”
DioGuardi, whose exit had been rumored, is a hit machine whose songs have been recorded by Gwen Stefani, Faith Hill, Marc Anthony and others, including past “Idol” winners.
“I felt like I won the lottery when I joined `American Idol’ two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave `Idol,’” DioGuardi said in a statement Friday, calling her experience as a judge on the show “amazing.”
Her statement, issued by Fox, didn’t elaborate on her reasons for leaving. Her contract reportedly had a one-year option remaining that the network could have exercised.
Although she offered informed critiques on “Idol,” observers faulted her for lacking the pizazz — and unpredictability — that ex-judge Paula Abdul had provided.
DioGuardi’s departure comes as the top-rated show continues auditions for its 10th season, which starts airing in January. Tryouts have been held in six cities, with a seventh announced this week for Los Angeles on Sept. 22.
The final decision on which would-be pop stars make it on the show rests with the judges, who are likely to begin filming their audition segments this month.
Cowell started the exodus from “American Idol” earlier this year, when he announced he was leaving to launch another talent show for Fox, “The X Factor,” based on the hit British program he created.
In July, DeGeneres, who was brought in to replace Abdul, said she was leaving after a single season. The talk show host said she felt uncomfortable criticizing young talent.
Some critics had complained DeGeneres was more of a cheerleader than an incisive critic in the fashion of Cowell, who was consistently blunt in his remarks.
The judges’ turnover gives “American Idol” a chance to recapture the Cowell-Abdul chemistry that helped make the show a hit, along with, crucially, its ability to launch such top-selling artists as Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.
While the show has long been No. 1 in the ratings, it has to stem a slide in viewership to remain there.
A total of 24.2 million viewers watched the ninth season’s final duel between Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, compared to the nearly 29 million viewers who saw Kris Allen win over Adam Lambert last year.
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American Idol’ Music Rights Move From Sony To Universal; ‘Idol’ artists’ albums will now come out on Interscope Geffen A&M
Sony, you’re out. 19 Entertainment and Simon Fuller, the creator behind “American Idol,” have lined up a multiyear deal with Universal Music Group for its Interscope Geffen A&M division to market, promote and distribute “Idol” artists’ albums.
The deal with Sony produced hits for Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, but Billboard.com reports that the chart-topping success for those two acts hasn’t been matched. Reuters reports that the deal is for a minimum of three years.
“With ‘Idol’ celebrating our 10th season, I wanted to inject some new power and weight behind our brand,” Fuller said in a statement. “We have been quietly delivering hits relentlessly for nine seasons, and Lucian Grainge and [Interscope Geffen A&M chairman] Jimmy Iovine’s ambition, commitment and determination to push the boundaries and go even further with ‘Idol’ was very compelling. It is exciting to have the world’s biggest show partnered with the world’s biggest music company.”
Since the show’s inception in 2001, “American Idol” has sold more music than any other TV show and has moved more than 100 million units in North America and more than 120 million songs on iTunes.
“We like delivering hits and new artists,” Grainge said in a statement. “UMG and ‘American Idol’ is the right combination at the right time. Pairing the renowned expertise of Simon [Fuller] and Jimmy in developing and marketing musical talent creates a truly winning combination that will allow ‘Idol’s’ artists to realize their fullest potential.”
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Simon Cowell orders “X-Factor” overhaul
Simon Cowell has ordered an overhaul of his British “X-Factor” TV talent show, ruling that Auto-Tune technology can no longer be used to correct singer’s pitch and pledging to put viewer trust at the top of the priorities.
The new focus comes after the show was accused of using technical wizardry to mask poor performances by contestants.
Producers of the British show — which began airing last Saturday to record audiences — will now re-edit the upcoming audition shows, removing all voice modulation technology so that viewers hear the authentic sound of contestants.
“People have got to be able to trust ‘The X-Factor’ — we are not faking anything,” Cowell told the British press.
“People love this show, millions watch it every week and we absolutely respect that. We never take it for granted.”
Cowell’s comments come as the producers of “American Idol” said they would never use the technology.
Hundreds of fans flooded message boards after the British show aired last Saturday, complaining that contestants’ voices had been altered.
But the furor has not affected ratings: the seventh series of the ITV juggernaut debut peaked at almost 12 million viewers, a million more than last year.
Daniel Tosh Rants About “American Idol”
Daniel does his best Simon impression by giving a brutally honest review of “American Idol”.
No autotuning here, ‘American Idol’ says
Simon Cowell has gone from “American Idol” judge to a potential headache for the show.
A furor over whether Cowell’s British talent show “The X Factor” electronically altered contestant voices has prompted “American Idol” to make a pre-emptive strike.
“We have never, nor would we ever, use Auto-Tuning during the `American Idol’ competition,” producers of the Fox show said in a statement Thursday, referring to pitch-correcting technology.
“American Idol” viewers can attest that contestants have been regularly scolded for “pitchiness.”
Cowell left the judge’s panel on the top-rated Fox series at the end of last season and is bringing “The X Factor,” which he created in Britain and is hugely popular there, to Fox in 2011.
FOX Press Release On Ellen DeGeneres Leaving American Idol
Here’s the official press release from FOX about Ellen DeGeneres leaving American Idol. But if the rumor is true, Jennifer Lopez will be replacing her while we still sit here, wait to see, and throw around more names who will replace Simon Cowell on the show.
Ellen DeGeneres has decided to bow out from her role as a judge on AMERICAN IDOL next season. DeGeneres served as a judge during the ninth season of IDOL, the No. 1 hit series on television.
“A couple months ago, I let FOX and the AMERICAN IDOL producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” said DeGeneres. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on IDOL and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”
“We love Ellen and understand and support her decision to bow out of IDOL,” said Peter Rice, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Networks Group. “We were fortunate to receive the humor, energy and love for talent that she brought to the show.”
“It was a joy to work with Ellen,” added Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “She brought an incredible spirit to IDOL and was a great new addition to the team. While we’re saddened by her decision, we are very appreciative that she gave us ample notice so that we could work through it together.”
“I loved Ellen’s passion for the artists and her nurturing skills,” said IDOL creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “She brought honesty and optimism to our judging panel and I will miss her greatly.”
“We will miss Ellen, she has been the consummate professional throughout her time on the show, and she’ll always be part of the AMERICAN IDOL family,” added Cecile Frot-Coutaz, IDOL executive producer.
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American Idol Reject Ian Bernardo Suing Talent Show For $300 Million
An openly gay American Idol reject who “pulled a Kanye” on comedian Dane Cook during the show’s live TV finale in May is preparing to file a $300 million lawsuit against show producers, accusing them of “exploiting” his sexuality.
The boaed and bedazzled Ian Benardo became a viral sensation when he did the verbal Marcerena all over “Gloria” during an audition for Idol in New York City in the Summer of 2006.
But the web world hadn’t seen the last of Ian.
Fast forward three years. The cocky man then stormed the stage at the program’s live finale in May and began verbally abusing judge Simon Cowell, saying: “I’m more entertaining than you.”
It was all one big act…and one of the gravest mistakes he’s ever made Ian now says.
According to legal documents filed with the New York State Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Monday, Bernardo was put up to the stunt by Idol producers, who invited him back this year to be “outrageous” and “gay.”
After all, the Brooklyn native’s onscreen antics are well-documented in the reality world. It was only a few years ago that Ian threw a tantrum after the dry-humping he tried to pass off as dancing earned him a screw face from the judges’ panel of So You Think You Can Dance.
“I became a paid employee when they asked me back. Only after that did I start hearing, ‘Why don’t you act more faggy?’ They encouraged me to be totally outlandish, they wanted me to dress in drag and kept using anti-gay slurs to tell me how to behave.”
Benardo is seeking damages for emotional injuries and for loss of employment opportunities.
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American Idol Season 7 Jason Castro on Bold and Beautiful
Jason Castro appears on The Bold and the Beautiful – July 29th and July 30th. Oliver brings Jason to town to try and patch things up with Hope. Jason will be singing “Love Uncompromised.”
David Archuleta “The Other Side of Down” Official Promo Album Cover
The Other Side Of Down in stores September 14th
Shania Twain is ‘American Idol’ frontrunner if Jennifer Lopez passes?
Singer and superstar Shania Twain was previously a guest mentor and judge on American Idol, and she did a fantastic job as such. Speculation has been running rampant as to who exactly will be filling the vacant judges seats. Jennifer Lopez is constantly being named as one of the top choices. However, according to a new report, Twain may be the next choice if the sources’ allegation is true.
The new report by TMZ claims a source saying that Twain is definitely the next choice if an alleged deal with Lopez falls through.
With so many reports stating different things about where the future of the show is heading, one can only hope that some details are revealed soon. The show has definitely earned a hardcore fan base that would like to know who will be taking that place of DeGeneres and Cowell.
Who do you think should fill the position. Would you rather see Lopez or Twain as one of the new judges?
