LOS ANGELES -- "American Idol" knows that bad can be good, but not always.
Untalented singers who fail spectacularly in the early auditions are so bad they make for good television. Forcing talented finalists to perform such forgettable tunes as "Do I Make You Proud"? That's just plain awful.
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To remedy this flaw in Fox's hit TV show, which begins its sixth season Tuesday and Wednesday, a song-writing competition to be decided by viewers is in the works.
"At the end of it, the country will not only have the singer they want, they'll have the song they want," said Ken Warwick, a series executive producer.
Details of the song contest are in flux but the intent is to make it happen, said Warwick and others connected with the show. The newest "American Idol" will be crowned in May.
Given the well-oiled machine that TV's No. 1 series has become, is it odd that the contest and its mechanics haven't been locked in place by now? No, said Warwick.
Attention has gone to completing the early episodes, he said, while "what we're talking about here is something that won't happen until slightly later on."
It may also be a matter of discretion.
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"We are very close to putting it (the song contest) in place," Martha Brass, executive vice president for series producer 19 Entertainment, said from London.
"It's just a question of not wanting to get it out there too soon so that we lose enthusiasm and momentum," Brass said. "Given there are five months left, we want to make sure that we introduce it at the right time."
But it needs to happen, said Paula Abdul, part of the three-judge panel that narrows the initial field of singing contestants. The trio doesn't weigh in on the tune that serves as the winner's first single, and until now the audience that picks the new idol hasn't either.
"I just want the poor contestant who wins to be happy to sing a song that radio's going to play," Abdul said. "It automatically goes to No. 1 because of sales ... but radio has decided `ixnay' on the finale song."
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Warwick agrees that the tunes written for the finalists have been wanting. They've been chosen by 19 Entertainment, which produces "American Idol" with FremantleMedia North America, and Sony BMG. The winner's record contract, signed with 19 Entertainment's 19 Recordings, is licensed to Sony BMG.
"Kelly Clarkson's `A Moment Like This' (in season one) knocked us out, but since then it's been a bit blank," Warwick said.
The planned contest gives those who believe they can put music and lyrics together the chance at an instant hit.
As Brass tentatively sketched it, submissions could be uploaded on a site reached through americanidol.com and reviewed by series executive producer (and original "Pop Idol" creator) Simon Fuller and music industry experts.
A "manageable" number of songs could be posted on the site for the public to hear and vote on, she said. The finalists -- Warwick said they might number a dozen songs -- may be performed on "American Idol" or on a Fox special by contestants from past seasons, Brass said.
Other elements of the new season will be familiar to viewers, including returning host Ryan Seacrest and the sparring among judges Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. It got an early start: After Cowell was quoted questioning the need for guest judges (Jewel is among this season's), Abdul told the AP that the acerbic Brit "doesn't like sharing the spotlight."
Warwick described the panel as a "dysfunctional family," one that sometimes distresses him with its behavior but which others seem to find consistently entertaining.
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Abdul will "say something so damn ridiculous it affects our credibility and I go, `Oh, my God, I'm embarrassed to hell.' But the next day I'll be talking to someone in the industry and they'll say, `I loved it!'"
American Idol Icon Paula Abdul Acts Weird In TV Interview
American Idol judge Paula Abdul looked confused and slurred some words while promoting the show's new season during a bizarre rambling interview Thursday with a Seattle TV station.
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The clip of Abdul behaving weirdly during a TV interview has burned up the Internet and YouTube.com. In the interview, the hosts seek Abdul's thoughts on the coming season, which starts Tuesday at 8 p.m.
"How about a lot of you coming in," said Abdul, 44. "It's a wild party where you are."
The clip had been viewed here and had been viewed more than 21,800 times by mid-day yesterday.
'American Idol' flexes music cred
NEW YORK -- When "American Idol" made its debut five years ago, it was decried by some as another vapid reality show attempting to create another vapid pop star -- and at first glance, the critics seemed to be right.
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There were geeky contestants warbling cheesy ballads, dramatic divas oversinging their way through a song, and the show's panel for judging talent included Paula Abdul.
Enough said.
"Season One, you couldn't take the show seriously," says Jessica Shaw, an Entertainment Weekly senior writer who wrote this month's cover story on the show. "Someone like (runner-up) Justin Guarini, you knew this was never going to be someone who was destined for music superstardom."
But as America's most popular show prepares to kick off its sixth season Tuesday, it's getting harder and harder for music snobs to deny its cultural import. "American Idol" has consistently churned out multiplatinum stars, Grammy-nominated artists and engaging celebrities (and, just maybe, an Oscar nominee in "Dreamgirls" star and "Idol" alum Jennifer Hudson).
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"There were a lot of naysayers," says Randy Jackson, who along with Abdul and Simon Cowell are the judging trifecta of "Idol." "(But) it validates itself every season because somebody great comes out of it every season and does really well."
"At a certain point, whether it's respectable or not it just becomes undeniable," says music journalist Alan Light, who has written for publications including The New York Times. "For a few years, there was a sense of novelty, but after a while, there's more of a sense of institution."
Last year certainly seemed to put the exclamation point on how venerable "Idol" has become -- not only as a television phenomenon, but a music industry beacon. Its fifth season was its most popular, as established stars such as Shakira and Rod Stewart vied for the attention of "Idol" fans with guest appearances and saw their album sales boom; even highly respected stars such as Mary J. Blige and Prince made an appearance on the show's finale.
And while that season's contestants were battling to become the next "Idol," the show's veterans were showing why the title was so coveted. Kelly Clarkson won two Grammy Awards for her breakthrough, multiplatinum second disc, "Breakaway," while Grammy-nominated Carrie Underwood became one of country music's biggest stars with her debut album, which has sold more than 4 million copies; she even beat out established veterans for awards (much to Faith Hill's apparent televised dismay).
Fantasia, another multiplatinum former winner, had her own TV biopic and released another critically acclaimed disc in the fall. Season five "Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry put together the band Daughtry and released a smash album, and Kellie Pickler had success with her country debut.
And Hudson, a season three contestant, is now nominated for a slew of awards -- including a Golden Globe for best supporting actress -- for her dazzling turn in the film "Dreamgirls."
"The show has proven it has a valid way to pick talent and a proven way to sell records," says Harvey Mason of the production team The Underdogs, which has worked with Clarkson, Guarini, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard and other "Idol" alumni.
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"There are still some people who feel it's not the exact road to a long career, but some people have already realized that this is a very important way to market artists and I think the artists who have come off the show have proven that they are long-standing artists."
The turning point for "Idol's" credibility may have been the success of Clarkson's sophomore album, released in 2004. While her first album, released soon after her win on "Idol," was a platinum success, it generated only two hit singles and her success seemed tied into her newfound fame. But her hard-rocking second disc, which contained smashes like "Since U Been Gone" and the ballad "Because of You," garnered her critical acclaim and made her a bona fide success apart from "Idol."
"At that point, the show was not just finding a one-hit wonder. It wasn't just finding someone who could win a TV reality show and have a huge No. 1 single," says Shaw. "It was finding someone who would have a career with longevity."
In "Idol's" early days -- and to some extent, even now -- the show was criticized for looking for a generic-kind of talent that would be palatable to mass audiences, sacrificing individuality or uniqueness.
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But as "Idols" like Clarkson, Underwood and Fantasia continue to carve out their own niche in the music world, those arguments may be fading.
"(Clarkson's success) was a time when one of the winners was able to establish a persona away from the show ... and stand on her own two feet, and got recognition from the Grammys and from critics, and there was a sense that this was somebody who had been cultivated to be a pop star outside of what she was within the 'Idol' boundaries," Light says.
When legendary mogul Clive Davis, who oversees the albums of the winners and many contestants, first reached out to Mason to produce records for the show's contestants, Mason was skeptical.
"Everyone thought it was just a TV show, another reality show, but I remember specifically meeting with Clive Davis ... and him telling us that this TV show was going to change the way the industry works," Mason recalls.
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"This is just the evolution of how we find our talent, that's just a fact. Before you used to have to go into somebody's office and sing to a guy playing piano to get a record deal. Now you can go on a TV show," Mason adds. "It's the same exact thing."
And that talent continues to captivate American audiences -- even more so than established pop acts.
"What it really is is the kids getting exposure on TV and the public falling in love with them, during weeks and months ... so by the time they put the record out, the public knows who they are," says Jackson. "The public might know better who these kids are than they might know the artist from any record company."
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t year's Grammy Awards, which went head-to-head with an episode of "American Idol" and got crushed in the ratings, might be the best example of that.
"If that many more people want to watch an episode of 'American Idol' than the biggest awards show in the music business, I think it tells you what kind of power they have," Light says.
American Idol's popularity seems limitless
LOS ANGELES — Last year, Prince. This year, Paul McCartney and Mariah Carey?
As "American Idol" starts singing again Tuesday, those connected with the Fox blockbuster acknowledge few limits when it comes to guest stars or ratings or product spinoffs. Or even rampant enthusiasm.
"This is the greatest music talent show ever," judge Randy Jackson asserted in a telephone news conference last week.
Fellow jurist Paula Abdul calls the show a "cultural phenomenon": "I get a kick out of the fact that there's not a day, not an hour, that goes by without someone talking about it, asking about it," she told the Associated Press.
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Cecile Frot-Coutaz, who oversees "American Idol" as chief executive officer of producer FremantleMedia North America Inc., is more measured but no less upbeat about the upcoming season six, and beyond.
"I don't see anything that tells me that it's about to fall off the air," she said. "We won't be there for quite some time."
It's a defensible position regarding the No. 1 TV series.
Against expectations for an established series, "American Idol" has gained in the ratings, up 14 percent from 2005 (26.8 million average viewers) to 2006 (30.6 million). The finale with winner Taylor Hicks drew more than 36 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.
That topped the 2005 season-ender, in which Carrie Underwood claimed the title, and made it the third most-watched event of Õ06 after the Super Bowl and Academy Awards.
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The most impressive number has a dollar sign in front of it - "American Idol" reportedly brings in $500 million a year in TV ad dollars. (Fox, a unit of News Corp., declined comment on the figure.)
Even impartial observers see blue skies directly ahead.
"There seems to be the same degree of fascination going into this season as there was last season," said analyst Bill Carroll of ad-buyer Katz Television. "It's sort of become the event of the year for viewers."
The series begins with a pair of two-hour episodes Tuesday and Wednesday and features auditions in Minneapolis and Seattle. Details of a previously announced song-writing contest for the eventual winner's first single are pending, Frot-Coutaz said.
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"American Idol," produced by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, returns with a richer gloss than ever. Last year's finale included a surprise appearance by Prince, among the highest-profile guest stars and far removed from such golden oldie visitors as Rod Stewart.
"Prince blew the doors off. He is one of the quintessential ones of our time," Jackson said.
McCartney, an iconic figure who's an impressive "get" for any venture, is being courted and is rumored to be part of the new season. Carey may also end up on the guest list.
In Carey's case, record producer-cum-judge Jackson may be the key: He and the singer are friends and have a long professional association.
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More evidence of the power of "American Idol" is the stunning "Dreamgirls" film debut of Jennifer Hudson, a 2004 also-ran (to winner Fantasia Barrino) who's up for a Golden Globe and considered a potential Oscar nominee.
That's alongside the best-selling CDs and singles churned out by past winners including Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, and the awards they've collected that include Grammy and Country Music Association trophies.
All this from a show that the American division of FremantleMedia (the production arm of media conglomerate Bertelsmann AG's RTL Group) went into "quietly and cautiously optimistic" despite the format's success in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, Frot-Coutaz said.
"Music hadn't worked on American TV for a while, so I think we filled a gap," she said.
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And connected with the future. In an interactive, consumer-driven age that prompted Time magazine to declare "You" its person of the year 2006, "American Idol" can claim it had the zeitgeist down cold when it debuted in 2002.
"America's choosing the idol," said analyst Shari Anne Brill of ad-buying firm Carat USA. Viewers "have a real way of participating, as opposed to being armchair athletes."
Frot-Coutaz cites a number of other factors in the show's popularity, including the chemistry of judges Jackson, Abdul and the acerbic Simon Cowell and the once-yearly run that keeps the program eagerly awaited.
Then there's the mission.
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"You're really impacting somebody's life," said the executive. "The show's genuinely looking for superstar contestants who really want to be pop stars. It's not a fake-ish competition just for TV. The show delivers entertainment, but there is a very serious aim to it."
The "Idol" franchise, which originated with Britain's "Pop Idol," represents more than a hit TV series seen worldwide and reproduced in more than 30 international versions. It's also part of a merchandising empire that may be poised for a leap.
According to Advertising Age magazine, FremantleMedia has deals set or is in negotiations for new products including a theme-park attraction and cell-phone downloads of show performances. Items already sold include clothing, books, toys and an "Idol"-themed Barbie doll, with a Monopoly game coming this season.
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The magazine report is a "bit premature" in what it outlined, "but there's a lot of things in the works," said Frot-Coutaz. "Some happen, some don't; it just depends."
As the sixth season begins, she said, "we're feeling more confident about our ability to go out and really turn this into a bigger brand than just a TV show. It takes a few years before you can get to" that point.
Abdul - strongly identified with the show, along the other judges who whittle down the initial field of contestants, and host Ryan Seacrest - gives the reported plans a qualified endorsement.
"As long as the taste level and structure is classy, edgy and exemplifies what we do, I'm all for it. You can't deny the magnitude of this show. But just for them to make money and not care about integrity is ridiculous," she said.
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As for the bulwark of it all, "American Idol" itself, the horizon is limitless if the program does its job right, according to Jackson.
"I think there's an abundance of talent in America. . . . I think the show can continue to be successful as long as we go out and find great talent," he said.
‘American Idol’ back on ETV
opular programme 'American Idol' ( Season Six) will be back on ETV on Wednesdays at 8.00pm. Across USA, in seven cities both large and small, thousands and thousands of great (and not-so-great) singers are lining up to be the 'American Idol' fame.
This was rated as the top television programme in 2006 and it catches the eyes of young ones in Sri Lanka too.
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From the 17th of January till end of May every Wednesday and Thursday 8pm (second airing every Thursday and Friday 2pm)
Beer And Darvocets Rumor Plauge Pie-Eyed American Idol Judge Paula Abdul
A recent persistent rumor has plagued the sometimes glassy eyed, verbally stumbling American Idol judge Paula Abdul, according to shut-in Kankakee, Illinois housewife Lee Anne Mcmillan. Lee Anne describes:
"My God! She is so high! I can tell it from a mile away! Every time someone takes Darvocets and drinks beer, they act just like that...all goofy and stuttering. I'm 100 percent sure. I mean, I take Darvocets too, but I would never drink beer with them. I'm not that stupid! OMG!"
Embattled, Marquette, Michigan single mom Kathy Blancos strongly disagreed.
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"Nope, she's on Paxil! I'll bet they put her on Paxil, because all of those Hollywood people are depressed because fame and fortune has eventually burned them out, and ruined their souls. She probably hates herself, and wishes for a simple life again. Yep, I know Paula and Paxil, and Paulas on Paxil!"
Other theories coming in from across the globe included diabetic hyperglycemia from a Florida Weight Watchers dormitory, Lou Gehrig disease from a Chicago Medical clinic intern study room, and dehydration and subsequent chronic fatigue from an Ethiopian Olympic Marathon runners club.
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An insider, perhaps most revealing, analysis of the pie-eyed Paula came from Simon Cowell himself, who described Paula's lugubrious use of clumsy verbiage and flaky behavior as simply a result of "mild innate musical star bubble-headed stupidity and more than several pre-show Strawberry Margaritas, not always in that order."
Be a virtual contestant on 'American Idol'
Aspiring singers tired of watching others soak up the spotlight on the wildly popular "American Idol" television show now can have their 15 minutes of fame (and longer) with Konami's "Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol" for PlayStation 2.
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With the aid of a supported USB microphone/headset (purchased separately or bundled with the game for $20 more), you can play as a contestant who must sing along with more than 40 pop and R&B hits from the past four decades, including "Can't Help Falling In Love," "Do I Make You Proud?" "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Piano Man" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
You can create your own contestant by tweaking a male or female singer's looks or go with one of the pre-made characters, such as the scruffy blond Jake, who resembles the late Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, or the diva Vanessa.
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As you work your way to become the next "American Idol," you must sing along with the onscreen lyrics, while the game's voice-recognition technology will determine if you're singing in the proper key.
Rhythm also is measured, so fast lyrics such as those found in "She Bangs" might be quite difficult to keep up with.
But it wouldn't be an "American Idol" game if you weren't evaluated on your performances.
The judges, including the outspoken Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, will make positive, negative or neutral comments about your pitch, consistency and song difficulty.
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For example, if you butcher Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," Jackson will say, "Yo dog, I love that song. I wish I could say you did a good job, but, well, I can't."
Cowell adds, "Um, this is the point in the show where people at home turn down the volume."
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If you sing well, expect to hear praise: "Great song choice — you looked great" or "I kind of felt tingly all over — really great."
Cowell might reluctantly concur with the other judges: "Yes, I think there's an element of truth there. You did well in the middle of the song. But I don't know if I'll remember you two hours from now."
A tip to impress the judges and crowd (who also clap or boo your performance): If the song is out of your vocal range, you can sing an octave higher or lower.
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Speaking of judges, Paula Abdul is curiously missing. Similarly, you will hear host Ryan Seacrest but will not see him.
The game faithfully re-creates a virtual season, so you first audition in front of the judges. If Cowell and Co. like what they hear, you're flown to Hollywood to compete through the semifinals and then the finals.
For added authenticity, this video game features the same graphics and music as the TV show.
You can tackle the game solo or play against up to seven other contestants (who can each create and name their own character) and then take turns belting out the songs for the judges.
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Other than the main competition mode, players also can choose to play a Quick Play game, One Mic Party, Two Mic Party and straight Karaoke mode (no score keeping).
Wannabe rock stars will love playing this family-friendly game — but only if you're willing to risk Cowell's snooty put-downs.
Santa Cruzan and 'American Idol' vet Katie Webber finds a new life on the stages of Broadway.
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It's a cool winter morning, but the lines outside the Manhattan theater are long and the lobby is filled with ticket holders, mostly women and children, eagerly awaiting the matinee performance of "Wicked" The musical, which tells the back story of the witches of Oz, has been selling out daily for years.
I have no ticket, but am not worried. I may not get to see the afternoon performance, but I will get a peek at the Land of Oz thanks to a talented young Santa Cruz woman, Katie Webber, who has left the coast of California to carve out a life for herself in the Big Apple. In the one year she has been a resident of New York City, she has taken quite a chunk out of the forbidden fruit and found it to be delicious.
Katie has loved dancing and singing for as long as she can remember. The Harbor High graduate made an impressive showing on the third season of Fox's "American Idol" and when she heard auditions were being held in Los Angeles for the New York City cast of "Wicked," she decided to throw caution to the wind and give it a go.
"It was my mother's idea," said Katie, laughing. Mother and daughter made it a girls' weekend adventure and headed south for the audition. She gave it her best shot and was rewarded with a callback. Every actor's dream. But then, all was silent. It was summer 2006. Months later in December, Katie's cell phone rang. She was asked if she could, and would, be in New York as soon as possible.
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The Broadway show needed her. Off she went in a tornado of emotion. She left friends, family and her hometown for a chance at making it in a place some think is as exciting as the Emerald City.
For more than a year now, the 25-year-old has been singing and dancing eight times a week in one of the most popular long-running musicals on Broadway, playing the mother of all witches. Or at least the witches of Oz.
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While the crowds chatter outside the theater, their excitement palpable, Katie and I slip through a side door and into the building. First stop, the stage.
"I'll show you something," Katie said, leading me off to the side. And there, behind a curtain, is a makeshift dressing room where she and her castmates do quick changes of costumes when there is no time to go backstage. The mirrors are not unlike what you would find in a fun house. One costume check may convince you that you actually are a munchkin.
And on the stage is the yellow brick road, too tempting to avoid. Giant, brightly colored flowers are off to one side and overhead hangs a giant ring, perfect for a witch's perch. And out front, rows and rows of empty seats wait to be filled.
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In a little more than an hour, magic will happen here.
Backstage the dressing room is filled with beautifully made costumes in a rainbow of colors: Tight-fitted jackets with braid and trim; full, puffy skirts that billow like clouds; leather shoes and boots perfect for dancing down the yellow brick road; and hats and wigs to complete each outfit.
"I don't know if we get to keep the boots," said Katie, grinning. But she's hoping to. Although, as she is quick to admit, she may not need the custom-made footwear.
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"I spend all my money on shoes," she says, her eyes sparkling. In fact, the pair she is wearing is new to the collection. They are far, however, from looking anything like ruby red slippers. They are cute little sneakers. Much more appropriate for exploring city sidewalks.
The Guide: What do you enjoy most about living in the city?
KW: I'm able to do what I love to do. There's only one "Broadway" in the world, and it's great to be a part of it.
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The Guide: What has surprised you about your new home?
KW: How hard it was to find a place to live. And I was surprised at how really nice and accepting everyone in the theater community is.
The Guide: Most memorable moment on stage?
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KW: I came out on stage and fell down. Hard. Then just laughed.
The Guide: You play a mother on stage eight performances a week. Any thoughts of becoming one someday?
KW: I do see myself as a mother some day. Not for a while, but some day.
The Guide: What's next on your dream to-do list?
KW: My next career goal is to move on to another Broadway show. I hope to do many shows and hopefully move up the ladder every time.
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The Guide: If you could choose any song to belt out on stage, what would it be?
KW: Wow, I don't know if I can pick my favorite song to belt. I love so many songs. One of my favorites is a song called "Life of the Party" from a Broadway show called "The Wild Party"
The Guide: Who do you like to listen to?
KW: These days I am loving Gwen Stefani and Beyoncé. However, no one can touch Justin Timberlake. He is the best.
The Guide: So, just how many pairs of shoes have you bought since moving to Manhattan?
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KW: Since I've been here, I've bought at least 15 pairs of shoes. Don't tell my mom!
The Guide: What do you miss about Santa Cruz?
KW: My family. Friends. Taqueria Vallarta. Actually, everything. It's the most beautiful place in the world.
Bravo TV to Follow Abdul Through 'Idol,' 'Bratz' Film
"Hey Paula," set to debut sometime later this year, will follow Abdul, 44, as she films a new season of Fox's "American Idol," works on "Bratz: The Movie" and develops her own perfume and cosmetics line.
"It fits the Bravo mandate to show what's going on in the culture of the moment," said Bravo President Lauren Zalaznick.
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Bravo hasn't decided whether that will include mention of Corey Clark, the 2003 "American Idol" contestant who accused Abdul of coaching him and initiating an affair. Fox, a unit of News Corp., cleared Abdul of any wrongdoing.
Paula's 'Idol' Peek!
The competition for the next "American Idol" begins next week as Simon, Paula and Randy return to judge the new auditions.
The search for the next singing sensation begins anew when "American Idol" returns for its sixth season on Tuesday, Jan. 16, with a two-hour airing of auditions from Minneapolis, MN at 8 p.m. on FOX, followed by the best and worst from Seattle, WA, on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Then it will be up to America to decide who moves forward in the competition. The first performance show featuring the Top 12 male singers will air Tuesday, Feb. 20.
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ET was with PAULA ABDUL in New York City on Wednesday night when the "American Idol" judge was honored at the fashion industry's annual AMY Awards, where she was presented with an AMY for her support of young people seeking a higher education.
"This is cool," she told ET. "I must be doing something right."
Paula reveals something else she did right. "COJO would be proud of me tonight because as you can see, simple and chic -- not much to rip apart," she said of her black, one-shouldered frock.
That isn't all that Paula is up to. She has also joined the creative team of 'Bratz: The Movie,' on which she will collaborate in key creative areas and executive produce the first live-action feature based on the popular fashion dolls.
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ET also caught up with "Idol" host RYAN SEACREST to get his take on the contestants for the new season.
"You will see some of the most aggressive contestants," Ryan says. "You will see certainly an individual sport when you see the contestants auditioning for 'American Idol.' The contestants that came out to audition came out to win, and they will let nothing stand in their way."
Also returning for season six of the talent competition are judges SIMON COWELL and RANDY JACKSON.
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Net contest hopes to be 'American Idol' of books
A major U.S. book publisher is hoping its new Web-based writing contest can tap into the popularity of interactive competitions like hit television show American Idol.
As part of the "First Chapters" contest, aspiring first-time authors and members of Gather.com can post manuscripts on that social-networking Web site, organizers from publisher Touchstone Fireside and Gather.com said Thursday.
Touchstone Fireside is an imprint of Simon & Schuster, a division of Viacom.
If online readers like the manuscript's first chapter, the author is voted through to the next round. Two more chapters are posted and the public narrows the field in the same fashion.
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After three rounds of judging, a winning manuscript will be picked from among five finalists in May. The winner will be chosen by representatives from Simon & Schuster, Borders bookstores and Gather.com, Touchstone Fireside Vice President Mark Gompertz said.
The winner will receive $5,000, a book contract with Touchstone Fireside and distribution by Borders.
In an industry struggling to sell fiction books, this is the latest effort to find a top-selling author. It follows other competitions including the Sobol Award, a literary competition launched in September that folded this week.
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"We keep laughing about it, but this is the American Idol of book publishing," Gompertz said. "We hope that we will find a talented writer who might not in the traditional way get themselves noticed."
Would-be authors without an agent have traditionally submitted manuscripts to a publishing house hoping to be picked out of a "slush pile," Gompertz said.
"This is an experiment on a sort of needle-in-the-haystack approach," said Gompertz, noting the voting public could outdo publishers who have picked "a lot of great stuff and a lot of dreck."
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Briefly: Nine Inch Nails, American Idol, Chevelle, Three 6 Mafia
The follow-up to Nine Inch Nails (music)' 2005 album, "With Teeth," will land in stores in April, according to a message posted at the industrial-rock outfit's website.
The site, which did not specify an album title or a more specific release date, also features a picture of group mastermind Trent Reznor in the studio, mixing the new set with collaborators Alan Moulder and Atticus Ross. The rapid turnaround on the forthcoming collection marks a departure for Reznor, who historically has logged five or six years between full-length studio sets.
As previously reported, next month will see the release of "Nine Inch Nails Live: Beside You in Time," a concert DVD that was filmed during the group's late-2006 North American tour.
* * *
The sixth season of FOX-TV's juggernaut reality series "American Idol" will debut with back-to-back, two-hour shows on Jan. 16-17, according to a press release. The new episodes will document the sixth-season tryouts, which took place in Seattle last September, and attracted nearly 10,000 hopefuls.
Previous editions of "American Idol" have spawned recording artists such as Kelly Clarkson (music), Clay Aiken (music), Carrie Underwood and, most recently, Taylor Hicks.
* * *
Platinum-selling trio Chevelle (music) have locked in an April 3 release date for their next album, "Vena Sera." The new disc, which the group recorded with longtime producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, will include the lead-off single "Well Enough Alone."
* * *
Hip-hop act Three 6 Mafia (music) is the focus of a forthcoming MTV series, according to a press release from the cable-television network. Titled "Adventures in Hollywood, the show will document the Memphis, TN-based group's relocation to Los Angeles.
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Described as a "comedic-reality series," the program is scheduled to debut March 14.
American Idol extends talent search to songwriters
It's hard to imagine that the producers of "American Idol" would want to tinker with the show's formula following last season. After all, the hit reality program -- a talent search for music's Next Big Thing -- was 2006's top-rated TV series by a wide margin. But when the "A.I." juggernaut returns for its sixth season January 16, that's just what they'll be doing.
Review: Virtual 'American Idol' hits right notes
Aspiring singers tired of watching others soak up the spotlight on the wildly popular "American Idol" television show can now have their 15 minutes of fame (and longer) with "Konami's Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol" for the Sony PlayStation 2.
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With the aid of a supported USB microphone/headset (purchased separately or bundled with the game for $20 more), you can play as a contestant who must sing along with more than 40 pop and R&B hits from the past four decades, such as "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Do I Make You Proud?" "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Piano Man" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
You can create your own contestant by tweaking a male or female singer's looks, or go with one of the pre-made characters such as the scruffy blond Jake, who resembles the late Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, or the diva Vanessa.
As you work your way to become the next American Idol, you must sing along with the on-screen lyrics, while the game's voice-recognition technology will determine if you're singing in the proper key.
Rhythm is also measured, so fast lyrics such as those found in "She Bangs" may be quite difficult to keep up with for some.
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But it wouldn't be an "American Idol" game if you weren't evaluated on your performances.
The judges, including the outspoken Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, will make positive, negative or neutral comments about your pitch, consistency and song difficulty.
For example, if you butcher Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," Jackson will say, "Yo dog, I love that song. I wish I could say you did a good job, but, well, I can't."
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Cowell adds: "Um, this is the point in the show where people at home turn down the volume."
If you sing well, expect to hear praise, such as "Great song choice -- you looked great" or "I kind of felt tingly all over -- really great."
Cowell may reluctantly concur with the other judges: "Yes, I think there's an element of truth there -- you did well in the middle of the song -- but I don't know if I'll remember you two hours from now."
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A tip to impress the judges and crowd (who also clap or boo your performance): If the song is out of your vocal range, you can sing an octave higher or lower.
Speaking of judges, Paula Abdul is curiously missing. Similarly, you will hear host Ryan Seacrest but will not see him.
The game faithfully re-creates a virtual season, so you first audition in front of the judges. If Cowell and company like what they hear, you're flown to Hollywood to compete through the semifinals and then the finals.
For added authenticity, this video game features the same graphics and music as the TV show.
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You can tackle the game solo or play against up to seven other contestants (who can each create and name his or her own character) and then take turns belting out the songs for the judges.
Other than the main competition mode, players also can choose to play a Quick Play game, One Mic Party, Two Mic Party and straight Karaoke mode (no score keeping).
Wannabe rock stars will love playing this family-friendly game -- but only if you're willing to risk Cowell's snooty put-downs.
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Grammys “Look a Like” American Idol Duet Contest with Timberlake
In attempt to grab more ratings, the Grammys are launching a nock-off of reality smash hit, American Idol. The contest will be to choose a singer to duet with Justin Timberlake on the Feb. 11, 2007 awards telecast. The public will vote on a list of excited singers in the weeks before the show and choose the winner of the “My Grammy Moment” contest during the live program. Man J.T. is hot these days!
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It’s no wonder this decided to choose a contest that mimics American Idol; it blasts through any of it’s competition, with ratings higher than the Olympics! “With television, we’re seeing a level of interactivity we’ve never seen before, whether it’s the reality shows like Survivor, American Idol … and that’s something the consumer or music fan finds important,” said Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which hands out the Grammys. He also makes it clear that they don’t feel the contest was inspired by American Idol. “What we’re doing is quite different in many elements than what American Idol does,” he said. “We don’t film the goofy or even the pathetic. Our standards are a little different. It’s not about celebrities judging. Our contestants are judged by music experts, like producers, engineers, songwriters and executives.”
Meh, could be interesting to see. Especially if the winner bombs. Better yet if Timberlake bombed, now that’s entertainment!
Video games: 'American Idol' in the family
"Karaoke Revolution" joins with the top TV show to provide singing fun, with comments by Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.
Ladies and gentlemen, your next American Idol hails from the Salas household.
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OK, maybe that's true only in the world of the new PlayStation 2 game "Karaoke Revolution Presents 'American Idol,' " but let's not quibble.
My wife, daughters and I are big fans of the TV singing contest "American Idol," which begins its sixth season Tuesday night on Fox with auditions taped last year in Minneapolis. It's one of the few prime-time shows that's appropriate and entertaining for all ages, which probably helps explain its huge success.
Because the girls -- Annabelle, 14, and Maddie, 11 -- are too young to be on the show and Laura and I are too old, the latest incarnation of the bestselling "Karaoke Revolution" video game series lets us live our dreams of competing to be the next Kelly Clarkson or Taylor Hicks. (For the purposes of this review, we'll ignore the notion of actually having talent.) So we gathered together on a recent night to give it a go.
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Set-up can take some time because you can create characters that look like you, even using the PS2's EyeToy camera accessory to add your face to the game-drawn body. If you don't want to bother, there's a quick-play option to jump right in.
There are many ways for one to eight people to play the game, including head-to-head competition, duets and alternating-line sing-offs. We chose the four-round multiplayer version that mirrors the "American Idol" experience, taking gamers from auditions to Hollywood to semifinals to finals -- minus end-of-round eliminations, which are yet another option.
Each player begins by choosing a song, or having one randomly picked. Most of the songs were repopularized by the TV show, such as Heart's "Alone," which Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood nailed in one memorable performance. There are a few recent hits, such as the Pussycat Dolls' "Stickwitu" and Nickelback's "Photograph." But unlike the TV show, there isn't a preponderance of Stevie Wonder and Motown songs.
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As in all "Karaoke Revolution" games, players sing along with the song and are scored on their pitch, timing and rhythm -- all represented graphically on the screen. String together some well-sung phrases, and you'll earn combos to boost your score.
In this version of the game, virtual versions of "American Idol" judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson visually react during your performance and then offer their comments -- just like on the show.
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"The vocals were average, nothing extraordinary at all," Cowell said curtly after Maddie gave all in her first song, Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten."I'll buy that record right now today!" Jackson said after Annabelle smoked everyone with a diamond (perfect score) debut on Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, We're Going Down."Whatever else happens in this competition, you're a star," Cowell told my wife, Laura, after she offered a strong rendition of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."
After struggling with Naked Eyes' "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me," I got Jackson's tried-and-true critique: "It was a little pitchy in spots."
Where's Paula?
The video-game likenesses of Cowell and Jackson, including their actual voices, are spot-on, although the hefty Jackson seems to have shed a few pixelated pounds. They are a key attraction, even if their tongues and mouths do weird things while they talk and they repeat comments. Cowell drones on too long, too.
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But what's this? No Paula Abdul? The flighty "Idol" judge is missing from the game, although her hit "Straight Up" is one of the song selections and she appears in some video clips from the TV show, which are among nearly 100 hidden extras that can be unlocked with good performances. In her place is someone named Laura (voice by Kenna Kelly), who has big man-hands and delivers wispy platitudes, just like Abdul.
After two rounds, Maddie pulled a Mario Vazquez (the Season 4 dropout) and decided to leave the show. (She was tired and it was past her bedtime on a school night.) I protested before realizing that I would move into third place. Good night, Maddie.
My ploy was for naught, however. I wasn't even close to winning. Although Laura -- my wife, not the fake judge -- made a Bo Bice-like effort to take the sure winner in the last two rounds, Annabelle easily claimed the virtual "American Idol" crown. Third place was merely an acknowledgement that I had participated in the faux show, nothing more.
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The game invited Annabelle to perform an unscored encore of her final-round song, "Photograph," a kind of vocal victory lap. Asked by me for a comment on her win, she replied emphatically, "I rock!"
American Idol Launches New Season January 16
American Idol launches its 6th season next week on Q13 FOX with a 2-day, 4-hour season premiere on Tuesday and Wednesday, from 8:00-10:00 p.m. On Wednesday, January 17, the Seattle auditions held here last September will be featured.
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Last September, nearly 10,000 Idol hopefuls fought bad weather and long lines at the Seattle Center, waiting for their turn to face Idol judges and make it through to the auditions. While there are apparently mixed reviews regarding how Seattleites did in the auditions, the highlights can be seen on Wednesday, January 17 for the entire 2-hour Idol show.
In the summer of 2002, a British hit called Pop Idol landed on our shores and became not only an instant success, but one of the biggest shows in American television history. The grueling competition has crowned Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks successively, and has grown bigger and bigger each season. Last year, over a billion votes were received throughout the contest, and millions of viewers tuned in to see whether Taylor or Katharine would win, making American Idol the #1 show in America. This year, over a hundred thousand hopeful singers auditioned in seven cities. The show will run through May 23, when the next American Idol will be crowned during a 2-hour special.
Former American Idol Contestant Paris Bennett On the Move
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- It's full speed ahead for one Minnesota native in her quest to become the next big pop star. Look out world, Paris Bennett is on the move. "Princess P" as she's known to her fans is shooting her very first music video right here in Minneapolis.
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"I sense Paris is hungry and she's going to really go for it today," the director of the video told us. Danny Kimura from Push Studios was part of a team of local talent involved in shooting the high tech production in Minneapolis.
Paris Bennett's star has been continually rising since she was booted off of "American Idol" last season.
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"It's been a really great year for me, ever since I got eliminated I've been moving non-stop, so it's been crazy for me," the effervescent performer remarked while getting made up for the shoot.
She comes from a long line of talented performers. Her mom's a former member of the legendary "Sounds Of Blackness."
Loyalties run deep and strong not just in her personal life, but with her career. Paul Jones, Paris uncle, is also her record producer. "Sometimes when people get a little success they sometimes forget and really what it has done is give me an extreme passion to make sure that she succeeds," he says.
Besides family, Paris also has a special place for her friends. Several former high school chums have parts in the new video. Cally Eastman is one of those friends. "She always told me, you're my best friend and you're going to be with me."
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You'll see Cally and Paris in the "Ordinary Love" video when it debuts on MTV and other shows in mid-February. The song is being released to radio stations next week.
Trills and thrills American Idol-style
Smell like I sound, I'm mumble-mumble hum. And I'm hungry like the wolf. Mumble-hum-mumble, in discord and rhyme. I'm on the hunt, I'm after mumble."
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Yes, once again be thankful these are print reviews and not a multimedia form that would allow you to hear me play Karaoke Revolution: American Idol (PlayStation 2; rated Everyone).
I slaughtered Hungry Like the Wolf, the Duran Duran classic, and many other fine tunes on my way to becoming the next American Idol. The game didn't say anything about a record deal, but start looking for my album debut, Imperfect Pitch, in the fall.
The insanely popular TV talent show, which begins a new season of humiliation and trilling on Tuesday, has been cannily married to a game franchise with a solid background.
HIGHLIGHT: AMERICAN IDOL
Love it or hate it, the Idol series makes great family television. American or Canadian (even -- remember this? -- World Idol), the hopeless talent makes us wince, and then laugh, and the good singers keep us glued to the screen -- as a group. Not a lot of family-style shows can do that, or can keep doing that year after year. It's no small feat to gather teenagers, grade-schoolers and adults willingly in the same room for any length of time. That alone makes the series a winner with parents and must contribute to its No. 1 status on both sides of the border. Even if you can't stand pop music, the fact that you can share the Idol experience -- and the living room -- with your mercurial kids counts for something.
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American Idol starts its sixth season on Tuesday and Wednesday, while Canadian Idol launches its fifth-season audition tour later this month. (The completed series airs in the summer.) For many, the best Idol shows are these early audition episodes. This is where the best and the worst performers are revealed, and keen fans try to pick out the dark-horse contenders.Tuesday, Wednesday, Fox, CTV, 8 p.m.
Jennifer Hudson to be honored at special gala tonight
Here's a guide to the Dreamgirl
"A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Jennifer Hudson has been scalded and has come out quite fine, going from "American Idol" evictee to Golden Globe nominee.
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This 25-year-old "Dreamgirls" star will be in the desert today at the Palm Springs International Film Festival to receive the Breakthrough Performance Award for her portrayal of Effie White in the musical drama.
Hudson will accept the award at a party at the estate of festival board members Jim and Jackie Lee Houston, where she will also perform.
The Supreme parallel
Hudson, who is said to possess a four-octave singing range, was one of the "three divas" of American Idol's third season. She was overshadowed by Fantasia Barrino and LaToya London, in much the same way as her "Dreamgirls" character Effie, whose story is loosely based on the late ousted Supreme, Florence Ballard.
Labeled one of "rock's greatest tragedies," Ballard was the original lead singer of the Supremes before she was replaced by Diana Ross, who was coincidentally having an affair with Motown founder Berry Gordy at the time.
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Unlike Effie's Cinderella story in "Dreamgirls," Ballard suffered from chronic depression and alcohol abuse, and was dropped from the Supremes in July 1967. She spent the remainder of her life in poverty and died in 1976 at age 32, of coronary thrombosis.
Jennifer vs. Jennifer
Singer/actress Jennifer Holliday played Effie White in the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls" 25 years ago. Hudson plays the role in the 2006 movie. Here's how they stack up:
Holliday was teased about her weight on stage and off.
Hudson was accused of not meeting the "American Idol image" because of her weight by judge Simon Cowell.
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Holliday won Broadway's 1982 Tony Award as best actress in a musical for "Dreamgirls."
Hudson is nominated for a Golden Globe as supporting actress for "Dreamgirls." The awards ceremony airs Monday night on NBC.
Holliday's version of the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" made her a star on Broadway. The song was liked by fans so much that Holliday made it into a hit on Billboard charts.
Hudson's version of the song in the film has received rave reviews, and she recently signed with record producer Clive Davis.
Idol to Dreamgirl
Hudson sang for a small church in her native Chicago and often brought the congregation to its feet with soul-stirring solo performances week after week. She attributes her vocal ability to her late grandmother, Julia Kate Hudson, a longtime choir member.
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Age 19 - Hudson worked on the Disney Wonder cruise ship
Age 22 - "American Idol" contestant
Age 24 - Beat out 781 actresses for her role in "Dreamgirls," including "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino.
Age 25 - Will receive Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs film festival before heading to the Golden Globes.
American Idol, entering Season 6, earns R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Music snobs can't deny its impact. Talent show turns out successful singers
When American Idol made its debut five years ago, it was decried by some as another vapid reality show attempting to create another vapid pop star - and at first glance, the critics seemed to be right.
The man with stars in his eyes
The Pop Idol creator is taking David Beckham to the States
In recent months, we have been witnessing David Beckham's career tailing off - or so we thought. Then, last Thursday, he completed what those involved are billing as the biggest deal in sporting history, signing for the American football side Los Angeles Galaxy, a deal which, it is claimed, will make him some £128m over the next five years, much of it from merchandising and endorsement deals on top of his club salary.
So how did this happen? How does a player in decline manage to provoke such a spectacular package? While Beckham will be wearing the boots, not to mention the heavily marketed beauty products, the deal is largely down to Simon Fuller, Beckham's manager, who has been working on the details of the transfer since before Christmas.
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To many people, this 46-year-old from Hastings remains best known as the former manager of the Spice Girls, the man behind the 'girl power' phenomenon which propelled them to the top of the charts. A witness to his recording sessions remembers: 'He told them exactly what to do and they acted out their parts to the letter, like robots.'
But Fuller's real skill lay outside the studio. It was Fuller who put plastic dolls of the group on toyshop shelves and who arranged for his brother, Kim, to write a screenplay for Spiceworld: The Movie. It was, indeed, a veritable Spice World he was creating.
Fuller, who does not appear to seek celebrity for himself - he wants to be 'like Egon Ronay,' he said, a name without a face, was becoming a pioneer in what we've now become accustomed to describing as brand development. When the Spice Girls sacked him in 1997, the group went into terminal decline and it is perhaps no coincidence that the only member of the group still able to hit the front pages of newspapers and sell magazines with any regularity, not to mention the only one still commanding millions of pounds in sponsorship deals, is Victoria Beckham who, like her husband, is back on the books of Fuller's company, 19 Management.
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Reshaping the modus operandi of the entertainment industry, which now very clearly takes in sport, has become Fuller's business. However, he began his career, after a brief period in publishing, at the heart of the conventional pop music business, as a talent scout for Chrysalis Records.
When he left in 1985, he set himself up as a manager and named his company after the major hit of his first artist, Paul Hardcastle, whose song '19' was an anti-Vietnam rabblerouser. He next managed Annie Lennox, which kept business ticking over. But he was always less interested in creating great records than in commercial possibilities and says he found the traditional methods employed by the music industry limiting.
Having pushed his pop acts (S Club 7, launched as characters in a teen TV series before they released their first single, followed the Spice Girls) as far as possible into other areas of the media, he turned the tables on his old industry by developing the Pop Idol reality television format. 'Pop Idol wasn't primarily created as a TV show; it was created as a mechanism for me as a manager to find new artists who could become stars while forgoing conventional routes of promotion,' he explained.
It has gone global and much of Fuller's fortune today derives from it. Advertising slots around American Idol, for which he is also responsible, are the most expensive on US television after the Super Bowl. It has made an international star of its presenter, Fuller's sometime friend and occasional sparring partner, Simon Cowell. The two have more than once found themselves locked in legal disputes over TV copyright or recording royalty issues. It is typical of Fuller, however, that these arguments should be resolved in favour of good business sense.
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In addition to controlling Pop Idol in 42 countries, Fuller has expanded his other business interests. 19 long ceased to be dedicated solely to managing pop stars. The umbrella group (19 Entertainment) encompasses a television production company, record label, music tour operator and a merchandising firm, co-ordinating deals for 19 clients and brands with many of the world's biggest multinationals, including Nestle, Gillette, Adidas and Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Fuller sold 19 Entertainment in 2005 to American Robert Sillerman's CKX for £103m, with Fuller remaining as president.
His latest area of interest, which will be further encouraged no doubt by the success of Beckham's deal, is in sports management. Last August, Fuller took control of the England football team's commercial and merchandising operations. Insiders recount how he approached a core group of players and explained the financial opportunities they were missing out on. There was no fancy presentation, just talking them through what he could deliver. This is typical, it seems: he may be a pop culture mogul, but he operates in a low-key manner and eschews flamboyance.
At least in business. In private, he loves extravagant holidays, and is presently in Brazil celebrating the Beckham deal with a bunch of friends. He has a handful of houses around the world - the south of France is a favourite - private jets, appreciates a good bottle of wine and has had a succession of low-profile girlfriends.
As the son of an itinerant teacher, he lived both in Cyprus and in Ghana as a child before the family settled in Hastings. His father became headmaster of the grammar school Fuller attended. Friends talk of a warmth and level of self-deprecation at odds with his business success. But nobody disputes that he can drive as hard a bargain for himself as for any of his clients.
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His business now ranges far and wide - he takes care of the commercial interests of Honda Formula 1, and recently signed a deal with fashion designer Roland Mouret.
'Simon Fuller's great skill is to turn people into brands. And for that, it doesn't really matter who the people are, as long as they're willing and there's a platform around,' explains one market analyst.
While the business community has embraced him, the music industry, more committed to the rhetoric of the authentic, 'pure' performer, contains a fair number of detractors. One music journalist describes him as 'the most artistically and commercially destructive force to have struck British popular music in the past decade'. Fuller counters that he loves music and it is said he tried to persuade Chrysalis to sign Madonna on hearing 'Holiday', but it declined.
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Either way, he has undoubtedly been responsible for a shift in values in the industry. When Fuller began to push his musicians as brands and negotiate far-ranging marketing deals for them, people were shocked. These days, we are surprised if we find a band which doesn't get tied up with big business.
Not everything has gone to plan and when, in the course of his career, his Midas touch has deserted him, it is perhaps because he has ventured away from the mainstream. First in 1999 came the 21st Century Girls, whom he hoped to market as anti-Spice Girls, describing them as 'pure and unadulterated'. The group failed to fly. 'He forgot that you can't manufacture punk,' one industry insider said.
Another hamstrung project was the web-based music community I Love Music. But throughout, he has stuck closely to what he evidently views as his key insight. 'The fate of the music industry,' he explained, 'is not in the hands of record labels or TV companies or radio stations, but in the hands of global corporations, which have vast advertising revenues and are interested in capturing a demographic.'
And that's what David Beckham can do - deliver a demographic.
In 2003, when Victoria Beckham was going through a particularly low patch in her musical career, she flew to his villa in the south of France and asked the man who had made her famous as a Spice Girl to take her back as a client. Never one to play for halves, he suggested that he could look after her husband's affairs at the same time. Brand Beckham was born.
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Yesterday, Gillette was discussing how it could expect to change its entire US marketing strategy on the back of Beckham's move to Galaxy.
The trio of the Beckhams and Simon Fuller is perfectly suited, even if there might be some scepticism about the huge numbers involved in the Galaxy deal. One American sports analyst questions the £128m figure, wondering whether Beckham could really earn more in the US than homegrown celebrities such as basketball star Kobe Bryant.
But Simon Fuller knows the promotional worth of a big, round figure, and while even Beckham may no longer be able to bend it like Beckham, his manager can juggle all his many balls beautifully.
The Fuller Breakdown
Born Simon Fuller, 17 May 1960, in Hastings. His father was a teacher in Cyprus and Ghana and eventually headmaster of a grammar school back in Hastings. He has a brother, Kim, a BBC scriptwriter.
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Best of times He created the Pop Idol format in 2001 and sold his company, 19 Entertainment, to American conglomerate CKX for £103m in 2005. He brokered David Beckham's multi-million pound move to the USA's Major League Soccer last week.
Worst of times He was sacked by the Spice Girls in 1997 by telephone, before the release of their feature film, Spiceworld: The Movie
What he says To an interviewer: 'Americans know how to celebrate success. People in the UK think I'm too commercial, too this or too that. But who cares? Why waste energy in such a negative way?' To S Club 7: 'I could put cardboard cut-outs of you on stage and it wouldn't make any difference.'
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What others say 'Simon's very intuitive, very bright. He doesn't go around shouting his head off. He's no pushover in negotiations and he knows what he wants. But he's very charming, very polite.' Simon Jones, the executive with whom he developed Pop Idol.
'American Idol' returns on Tuesday for a sixth season
For the TV world, the second season starts Tuesday.
That's when "American Idol" returns. Many habits will change; some shows will crumble.
"'American Idol' is the only show that people watch with their kids," said Michael Orland, the show's pianist and associate music director.
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Others agree. As Variety, the show-business trade paper, put it: "'Idol' is that rare TV beast that appeals to viewers from 8 months to 80. ... So far, the show has defied the laws of Nielsen gravity, maintaining its jaw-dropping popularity."
This year, Fox is expected to take over with one sweep — "24" on Sunday and Monday and then "Idol" on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Fox often will throw in two-hour episodes before trimming back (sometimes) to an hour on Tuesdays and half-hour on Wednesdays. By the end of May, it will have aired about 45 hours — most of them at or near the top of the ratings.
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Along the way, the show keeps expanding. "After Carrie Underwood, we had a lot more country singers trying out," Orland said. "After Bo (Bice) and Constantine (Maroulis), we had more rock singers."
Last year's auditions brought a few clear-cut leaders, Orland said. "When Mandisa sang, I remember being blown away."
And it brought some long shots. "I thought, 'Who is that gray-haired guy with the funny way of moving around?'"
The gray-haired guy, Taylor Hicks, won; Mandisa was bounced early in the finals.
Even that wasn't as big a surprise as the moment Chris Daughtry was dumped at No. 4. "I definitely was shocked and upset," Orland said.
Such surprises keep people watching — and keep people arguing about the intangibles. "Someone doesn't like your outfit that week and you're in trouble," Orland said.
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The music people do their part on the singing aspect but don't have total control, Orland said. "We are not allowed to help them pick their songs. ... What we do is give them a huge list of possibilities."
Well, maybe semi-huge; each song must still be cleared with the rights-holder. "It was really hard to get songs cleared," recalls Ace Young, one of last year's finalists.
Some contestants know exactly what they want to sing, Orland said. Last season, Hicks and Daughtry were both like that.
Others make shaky choices. One example was when Kellie Pickler chose "Suds in the Bucket," a country song that doesn't really show off the singer.
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"We just bite our teeth and see what happens," he said. "She made it through that week."
And it was part of the ongoing surprises from the show.
Fame fits Hudson like Cinderella's slipper. Former 'Idol' finalist puts her best foot forward with 'Dreamgirls'
Splashy photos of a glamorous Jennifer Hudson have been appearing lately in celebrity gossip magazines such as Star, Us and In Touch Weekly.
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Hudson, a dazzling phenom in the movie "Dreamgirls," deserves the attention, after laboring in obscurity since her 2004 ouster from "American Idol."
That year, her husky voice and petulant attitude didn't win over voters for the Fox TV reality series, many of whom preferred spunky R&B singer Fantasia Barrino.
Barrino was thinner, more versatile and more magnetic on camera than Hudson. She also managed to hide her feelings better when faced with negative comments from judges Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell.
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Hudson, who finished seventh among the top 12, let her anger and frustration seep through when slapped with evaluations she considered unfair or incorrect. She never said much, but her face, eyes and body language told the tale.
The Chicago resident, then 22, did receive some praise on the show -- most notably when she belted "Circle of Life," an Elton John-Tim Rice ballad from "The Lion King." John, who coached the contestants, became a Hudson supporter and called her performance the finest of the evening.
Yet just when she appeared to be earning respect as one of the season's "three divas" (along with Barrino and LaToya London), Hudson was booted off the show.
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Some blamed a blackout in her hometown, saying thousands of supporters were unable to use their land lines to vote. Others suggested the three divas were too similar, splitting the vote and preventing Hudson from challenging the obvious front-runner, Barrino.
But I believe Hudson's lack of visual diplomacy caused her demise. Viewers might enjoy watching wannabe singers butt heads with the judges -- third-place finisher Kimberley Locke tossed barbed retorts at Cowell in season two, for example -- but such contestants never receive the "Idol" crown.
Frankly, I always had a soft spot for Hudson's talent and admired her grumpy gumption. Her inability to stay impassive pleased me, as it lent a note of actual realism to "Idol's" often artificial proceedings.
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Like others who've been ousted from the program, Hudson disappeared from public view when she left the TV screen. She didn't sign a record deal, the next logical step for finalists. Nor did she make other news in the entertainment industry.
When next I saw her, Hudson was standing at the edge of a crowd near the Kodak Theatre, during the 2005 finals of "American Idol" in Hollywood. It was the year of Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice; fans pretty much ignored her.
Hudson -- as usual, displaying her emotions -- looked lost and disgruntled as she waited for attention from Fox reporters, several of whom were filming interviews with "Idol" alums on a makeshift stage.
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So I hustled over. I introduced myself, paid her a compliment, pulled out a notebook and pointed to her feet.
"Hey, Jennifer, what's with the bedroom slippers?"
The payoff: a radiant smile. Hudson, it turned out, had a sense of humor.
She shuffled her fuzzy footwear and confided that she had forgotten her dress shoes in the rush to the airport. Buying expensive pumps in the mall next to the Kodak wasn't an option -- and anyway, she said, her feet wouldn't show on camera.
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We chatted a bit, talked about the "Idol" machine and speculated on the prospects of a win by Underwood or Bice. Hudson wasn't shy about expressing a preference for the long-haired rocker from Alabama, which further endeared her to me.
When asked about her career plans, she was uncharacteristically reticent. Not much to tell, Hudson said; she was performing when she could and hoping for another break.
Fast forward to 2006. Another "Idol" finale in Hollywood, this time featuring Taylor Hicks, a Birmingham native, and Katharine McPhee. Another encounter with Hudson. Another brilliant smile.
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On this occasion, however, Hudson had ample reason to grin and glow. She had just completed the filming of "Dreamgirls" with a cast that included Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy.
The movie hadn't been released yet, but buzz was building and Hudson had snagged a starring role.
"It was a fantastic experience," she said. "I feel very blessed."
Naturally, I looked down at her shoes, which were perfectly nice, and told Hudson that I missed her ratty bedroom slippers. She got the joke, laughed and promised that she'd be styling from now on, head to toe.
And so she is.
When I spot Hudson in the supermarket tabloids these days, she's all decked out in designer dresses, fabulous gowns and shiny stilettos. She wears them well.
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If bedroom slippers ever enter the picture again, you can bet they'll be present on purpose and toted by a personal assistant. I only hope he or she can juggle them along with Hudson's award stash, which likely will include an Oscar, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe.
Abdul Says Cowell Prevented Her Firing
'Idol' Judge Was In Hot Seat After Clark Sex Claims
NEW YORK -- Paula Abdul may have been fired from "American Idol" if not for Simon Cowell.
Abdul told the New York Post that when contestant Corey Clark claimed they had sex and producers were thinking of kicking her off the show, Cowell is the one who stepped up for her.
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Fox later cleared Abdul of doing anything inappropriate.
Abdul said Cowell is like "a big brother or a lover" sometimes, but when he's "annoyed" about something, she gets "the brunt of it."
Meanwhile, TMZ.com is reporting on Abdul's strange behavior during a satellite interview about "American Idol" with the Fox television affiliate in Seattle.
The site said Abdul "slurred and giggled her way through the interview."
Abdul's representative told TMZ that the appearance was "much ado about nothing" "much ado about nothing" and blamed "technical problems with the satellite" transmission that left Abdul "distracted and confused."
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Saturday, January 13, 2007
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