American Idol

American Idol News!

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:36:34 +0800

Garrett Haley, Amy Davis, Joanne Borgella and Colton Berry were eliminated by viewers.

American Idol News!

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:48:44 +0800

American Idol cuts 4 more contestants! The voting public cut loose Alaina Whitaker, Jason Yeager, Robbie Carrico and Alexandrea Lushington, trimming the number of contestants to 16 Thursday night.

American Idol News!

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:15:37 +0800

LOS ANGELES - David Hernandez's stripper past didn't come back to haunt him on Tuesday night's "American Idol." Hernandez's three-year stint as a male stripper wasn't even mentioned during the live telecast, which featured the 24-year-old from Glendale, Ariz., performing a rendition of Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now." However, acerbic judge Simon Cowell did mutter something about stripping, off camera, immediately after the song ended.

Randy Jackson called Hernandez's singing "pitchy" but said he had a "big ol' voice." Paula Abdul raved that Hernandez had some of the "best vocals." And Simon Cowell said it wasn't as good as last week, but Hernandez had secured himself a place in the finals.

On Thursday, 16 semifinalists will be narrowed down to the final 12 contestants.

Other than Cowell, no one alluded to Monday's news that Hernandez worked for three years in Phoenix at Dick's Cabaret. There, he would appear fully nude and perform lap dances for the club's "mostly male" clientele, club manager Gordy Bryan told The Associated Press on Monday.

American Idol News!

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:52:59 +0800

Idol cuts 4 more!

Kady Malloy,Luke Menard,Asia'h Epperson and Danny Noriega were sent home Thursday.

The top 12 "American Idol" finalists:

• David Archuleta, 17

• Jason Castro, 20

• David Cook, 25

• Kristy Lee Cook, 24

• Chikezie Eze, 22

• David Hernandez, 24

• Michael Johns, 29

• Ramiele Malubay, 20

• Syesha Mercado, 21

• Amanda Overmyer, 23

• Carly Smithson, 24

• Brooke White, 24

American Idol News!

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:17:31 +0800

NEW YORK - A juicy backstory wasn't enough to keep David Hernandez on "American Idol." The 24-year-old ex-stripper from Glendale, Ariz., was dismissed Wednesday, leaving 11 aspiring singers to vie for the "Idol" title and a record contract.

"Honestly, things happen for a reason," Hernandez said before leaving the stage. "I think we all have a plan. ... This isn't it for me."

Hernandez, who sang the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There," made headlines last week after it was revealed to The Associated Press that he worked as a stripper at a Phoenix club with a "mostly male" clientele.

Kristy Lee Cook, a 24-year-old from Selma, Ore., and Syesha Mercado, a 21-year-old from Sarasota, Fla., rounded out the bottom three vote-getters.

Finalists had the opportunity to perform classics from the John Lennon-Paul McCartney songbook this week. The show's producers recently got permission to use songs belonging to Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a company formed by Sony and Michael Jackson.

American Idol News!

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:41:00 +0800

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Well, Amanda Overmyer's hair is about as big as Sanjaya's...

The comparison between the hard-rocking nurse and the most infamous American Idol contestant ever would end there, except for one other thing: Like Sanjaya, Overmyer has won the endorsement of Vote for the Worst.

"She mumbles through her song, does crazy dancing and basically makes a mockery of the competition by singing every song the same way," the Idol-subverting site declared. "This is why we love her."

To Idol blogger Rickey Yaneza of Rickey.org, Vote for the Worst's selection only proves producers' contentions that this year's batch of contestants are, on the whole, "good to go."

"She has a limited vocal range. But she's not a total trainwreck," Yaneza said Monday of Overmyer. "She's not the ideal Worster. But the pickings are slim this year."

Vote for the Worst originally threw its lot behind the love-him, hate-him Danny Noriega and the model Amy Davis. Davis' elimination in the first semifinals round left the site looking for a new female champion, which it found the following week in Overmyer.

American Idol News!

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:11:51 +0800

NEW YORK - Amanda Overmyer sang "Back in the U.S.S.R." — and now, she's going back home.

he 23-year-old nurse from Mulberry, Ind., was voted off "American Idol" Wednesday, leaving 10 hopefuls to vie for the title and record contract.

Overmyer — a crowd-pleasing performer with streaked hair and a flair for southern rock — seemed to take her departure from the Fox show in stride.

"It's been a run. ... No. 11 out of all them people is more than I could expect," she told host Ryan Seacrest.

Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook were the other lowest vote-getters.

Cook, a 24-year-old from Selma, Ore., has been a bottom-three fixture in the past weeks and the finalist that judge Simon Cowell picks on the most.

American Idol News!

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:01:02 +0800

NEW YORK - Uneasy lies Chikezie, who won't wear the crown. The one-name singer — who previously worked security at Los Angeles International Airport — was eliminated from "American Idol" as the show narrowed the competition to nine finalists.

Chikezie, 22, of Inglewood, Calif., injected the singing contest with enthusiasm and soul. His performances could be risky and kinetic, as when he sang the Beatles' "She's A Woman," or safe and retro, as seen in his earlier rendition of "More Today than Yesterday."

Simon Cowell criticized Chikezie for singing the ballad "If Only for One Night" on Tuesday's performance show: "You chose the wrong song last night. ... It wasn't original."

The other lowest vote-getters were Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado.

Tattooed finalist Carly Smithson took a moment to address speculation she's expecting a child with her husband. She told host Ryan Seacrest: "Apparently I'm pregnant — but I'm not."

American Idol News!

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:21:34 +0800

More Stars Align for Idol Special!

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Idol hands-on-deck are Fox's playthings.

The network has unveiled a second impressive batch of stars who have signed on to appear in American Idol's second annual "Idol Gives Back" charity special next month, which will once again raise funds for U.S. and international causes.

Forest Whitaker, who appeared last year as well, will be back to make a plea for viewer donations, to be joined by Jennifer Connolly, Amy Adams and the network's own Kiefer Sutherland.

Robin Williams and Billy Crystal will also make guest spots on the one-night, two-hour special, along with fellow funnyman Dane Cook.

As Simon Cowell is so keen to remind contestants, American Idol is, above all else, a singing competition, and as such some impressive musically inclined stars have also joined the guest spot ranks. Friend of the show Celine Dion will appear, as will High School Musical stars Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale.

American Idol News!

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:39:43 +0800

Idol Rocker Cook "Fine" after Health Scare

Los Angeles (E! Online) - For the first time, David Cook wasn't able to rock steady.

The American Idol contestant was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital following Tuesday night's performance show after experiencing what were likely stress-related heart palpitations.

"He was feeling light-headed," a source on set told E! News, adding that paramedics were called to check the singer's blood pressure during a commercial break just prior to his performance.

Despite his palpitations, Cook insisted he go on with his performance and only after his minute-and-a-half in the spotlight did he get proper treatment.

"He went on and afterwards he went to the hospital to be checked out for high blood pressure and high anxiety."

After examining the young singer, who was suffering from an accelerated heart rate and a spike in blood pressure, a doctor gave him medication to bring his blood pressure down and Cook was discharged.

He's currently back at the L.A.-area hotel where he and his fellow contestants are staying this season. "He is fine and not at the hospital," another source told E! News.

While the timeframe surrounding Cook's ailments is currently unclear, TMZ reports that producers wanted the 25-year-old Missouri bartender to head to the emergency room before the show, which starts taping at 5 p.m. PT, was over, but that Cook wanted to stay until the end.

American Idol News!

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:59:00 +0800

Bye bye to Ramiele Malubay!

LOS ANGELES - Say goodbye, Malubay. Ramiele Malubay — the diminutive singer with the big voice — was booted from "American Idol" as the show trimmed the competition to eight hopefuls.

Malubay, 20, of Miramar, Fla., crooned Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" on Tuesday night's show. Paula Abdul enjoyed the performance. Randy Jackson thought it was OK. But Simon Cowell — not so much.

"Overall I thought it was forgettable, and I think it was very reminiscent of something you would see and hear on a cruise ship," the acerbic judge told Malubay.

Brooke White and Kristy Lee Cook were the other lowest vote-getters.

American Idol News!

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:41:53 +0800

Ramiele Says Idol Played Fair

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Ramiele Malubay's fellow American Idol finalists stood head and shoulders above her, but she says she never felt overmatched.

"I feel it was all an even playing field. We all had our weaknesses and strengths," she told reporters on the morning after her elimination from the competition. "We were picked for a reason."

At 4 feet, 11 inches, Malubay was the shortest Idol. And compared to the likes of former Star Search champ David Archuleta and former MCA recording artist Carly Smithson, she was one of the least-seasoned singers.

"I knew they all had experience. [But] I had as much experience as I thought I was going to need," Malubay said. "We're all learning what I'm learning."

Malubay finished ninth, her run coming to an end after her Dolly Parton week performance of "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind."

And, yes, it totally crossed Malubay's mind that she was the doomed one on Wednesday's results show.

Billie Jean

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:06:49 +0800

These past few weeks, I've been catching up on the American Idol summer concert tour (thanks to YouTube and modern technology!!). I ain't too sure if I had said it before, but I'll say it anyway: I wish I could be there!!

Of the 10 Idols finalists who performed, the one performance I always look forward to, is David Cook's. He is someone who goes side-by-side with the phrase "Save the best for last". For each and every stop in every state, he seems to have something new to offer, one of which was something I've not seen for a very very long time. If you're wondering what that is, it's the backbend move which he did some time back, in which he kneeled down, bent on his back and played his electric guitar. Woosh~!! No words can describe the euphoria he was emitting. He certainly rocked it like a rockstar!!

However, that move had its repercussion. While doing that same move in Salt Lake City, Utah, he sprained his knee. Apparently, it was an old wound which was inflicted on him a long long time ago, and it got kinda ruptured. Although he has fully recovered from that sprain, we won't be seeing him do that again. At least, not for a while. But fret not, there will be more surprises awaiting his fans, and that includes me. We will just have to wait and see. If you wanna find out more for yourself, the videos taken by fans are available in YouTube.

On the other hand, right here, I'm currently coordinating an event called Sport Your Support for David Cook. No date has been confirmed at the moment. But if you're a huge fan of David Cook and you want to show support (and in the hope that he will come to Singapore to perform one day), please feel free to drop a comment right here. I'll then try to get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks in advance!!