April 2007 News Archive (Page 4)

Martina McBride is in the house tonight. Let's see what else American Idol country music night can deliver ...

- The difficult task of going first falls to Phil Stacey. McBride calls the initial part of the practice session "stiff." Hey, she's a great judge already! We have to say, though, this genre does sort of fit Phil. He sounded really good and almost entertained us even.

- That's almost a tough act for Jordin Sparks to follow. But, wow, she certainly does the job. We can't say it any better than Simon just did: Of course she can win this thing.

- Sanjaya Malakar is singing "Something to Talk About." Which might as well be his hair and presence on this show, as opposed to whatever Bonnie Raitt intended it to mean (love or something). Simon tells it like it is ("utterly horrendous") and Ryan yells at him for some reason. What else can a judge say about that performance?

- Lakisha Jones is up next. She wants Jesus to take the wheel. And probably wants the judges to stop talking about they all criticize this rendition. Might she be in trouble tomorrow night?

- We don't have time to ponder that because Chris Richardson is on stage. The judges all agree that there was no emotion in the song - and we agree. It's like C-Rich just wanted to get off the stage. Maybe he had a date with Lauren Conrad.

- Melinda Doolittle plays up the humble card in the pre-performance interview. She may need to ditch that after she keeps impressing the judges and viewers like this, though.

- And Blake Lewis closes the show with a decent enough rendition of a Tim McGraw song. Nothing too fantastic, but he's certainly not going anywhere.

Before the final seven battle it out on American Idol tonight, let's hear from TV Guide's experts once more ...

TVGuide.com: First, a moment of silence for my Haley Scarnato....
Rosanna Tavarez: Are you kidding?

TVGuide.com: Well, c'mon, she was fun to watch....
Rosanna: No, she was fantastic! But a moment of silence is a little much. [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate Latino-music week? I found it a bit disappointing, considering the promise.
Rosanna: I just wish there were more Spanish songs, for which I commend our little Sanjaya. I was glad to see that he did a bilingual version of "Besame Mucho." But all in all, I thought they did well; the judges were just very harsh this week, especially Simon.
Kimberly: I really enjoyed it! I heart J.Lo! I thought everybody spiced it up. I loved Jordin Sparks, but the judges didn't give her rave reviews. I was confused because I thought her vocals were rockin'. And personally I really enjoyed seeing LaKisha letting loose and shaking her groove thang. Sanjaya really stepped up and proved he deserved to be there, so good for him! I give this week a 7.5 or 8!

TVGuide.com: I guess one factor was that the songs a few of them chose weren't really singer's songs....
Rosanna: Both of the Miami Sound Machine songs are extremely percussive in terms of how they're sung. The focus is more about the rhythm and syncopation, and not singing all diva or wailing.

TVGuide.com: That said, who most wowed you out of the gang?
Rosanna: I really liked Blake Lewis and I liked Chris.
Kimberly: Jordin is always on her A-game, and Blake was, as usual, very entertaining! Love those saucy moves!

TVGuide.com: And who aside from Haley do you think suffered the biggest setback?
Rosanna: Phil Stacey. I feel like he's a really good singer. If you didn't watch him perform and just listened to him, I thought his vocal performance was great. You could argue that he's just thinking too much while he's singing, but vocally he did a fantastic job.
Kimberly: Phil took a hard hit this week, but I think it was the wrong song for him. He's naturally talented and you can't take that away from him! Also, I'm not getting how Chris R. is in the bottom three all the time. He's such a sexy little thang and that boy can sing. I guess somebody's gotta be standing there!

TVGuide.com: Simon made headlines a few days ago by saying that this year's crop is by no means the best Idol has ever had. In your opinion, what have been the strongest and weakest seasons of Idol?
Kimberly: Well, obviously my favorite was Season 2 because those are my people! I was so lucky to be put in a group with real artists. There hasn't ever really been that weak of a season because the show became and stayed No. 1.
Rosanna: I haven't seen all the seasons, so I can't answer the question accurately. But I've spoken to other people and they've also said that this season is not exciting them as much as other seasons.

TVGuide.com: I just don't see the finals coming down to two sensational and Idol-worthy singers. I think it will be two very different types, and people will just choose which type they like better.
Rosanna: I don't think that it's because they're not Idol-worthy - there are three very, very strong vocalists [in the mix]. The issue is that this year lacks variety. There's not a distinctly country person, there's not a rock person.... They're all pop in different guises.

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It's all about faith for Flint American Idol hopeful LaKisha Jones.

In an April 20 Entertaiment Weekly cover story on this year's show Jones spoke of the strength she draws from her creator.

"I just figure that God has not brought me this far to leave me," she told EW in three-paragraph profile its April 20 issue, out now.

"This whole year and a half, the stuff that I've been through, with being laid off my job, single mom - I don't think He brought me here to say, 'Here's a little taste of what it might be like, but I ain't going to let you go all the way."

The Flint Central grad gets to see her daughter, Brionne, 4, about once a month (Brionne's staying with Jones' mother, Beverly Jefferson, back in Flint), and tries to get a little distance from the other contestants.

"It's harder because it's a competition and I never looked at singing as a competition," she said, though she has participated in several of them, including Flint's now-defunct "Super-Show" (which she won in 1997) and Houston's "Gimme the Mike! (she was runner-up in 2005).

The magazine examines the current season (which it dubbed "the weirdest season ever"), rates the guest judges and offers short profiles of the Top 8 finalists, including Haley Scarnato, who was eliminated last week.

Jones and the six other remaining contestants go country on tonight's show with guest coach Martina McBride.

Consider 19-year-old Shyamali Malakar as one of the people who is surprised her brother Sanjaya has made it this far in American Idol's sixth season.

"I did not expect him to get as far as he did, and I did not expect him to be such a phenomenon, but he could get as far as [the top] four or five," Shyamali recently told TV Guide. "I did not think Stephanie [Edwards] or Sabrina [Sloan] would get cut out so early, and I did not see Gina [Glocksen] going before Haley [Scarnato]. It is hard to predict."

Shyamali can be frequently seen during in the audience of Idol 6's live performance and results shows, and if she appears familiar it's because she also auditioned for the reality competition series. However unlike her 17-year-old brother, she was unable to crack the Top 24.

"I thought from the beginning that [Sanjaya] would make it through, but I was definitely surprised [that I didn't], since on a professional level I have more experience and am much more able to deal with the pressure," she said. "I was not angry but disappointed in the process. I am not resentful. It is definitely a high-pressure thing. The closer I am to it, the happier I am [not to be] the one [enduring it]."

Other than their blood relation and vocal abilities, Sanjaya and Shyamali share something else in common: criticism from Simon Cowell.

"I believed Simon more [when he was criticizing me] than Sanjaya believes him [now]," Shyamali said. "I admire Simon for being honest, but I do not know that he is right in everything he says. He tries too hard to be mean, and I tried to change [his opinion of me]. If you can't sell yourself, it is hard for other people to accept you in the end."

While Sanjaya might be none-the-wiser of what critics are saying about him because he's living in the Idol bubble, Shyamali said she knows how he would handle it.

"He is thin-skinned as far as being empathetic and having concern for friends and family, but he does not worry about criticism. He has no trouble changing his style and crazy hairdo, he does not care what people say. He says, 'I am confident,'" Shyamali said. "I am proud of Sanjaya and how he handles the controversy. He doesn't read the blogs and doesn't watch TV - he's isolated in the environment - so he doesn't have to be as exposed to it as I am. But it doesn't seem to be getting him down."

She added her family is also dealing with Sanjaya competing all the attention that comes with it.

"It has been both a learning experience and a dream come true. I never would have expected to get the exposure and recognition and popularity that Sanjaya has gotten, because there is no other way to achieve it," she said. "It is a whirlwind of craziness, random people prying into your personal life. It is hard to prepare for, it all happens so fast. It has definitely changed everybody's lives, for all of my family."

Shyamali said she was studying at Evergreen St. College but is currently preparing to move to Los Angeles and pursue a music career. While she didn't expect her baby brother to make it as far as he has, she hinted it wouldn't surprise her if he made it farther.

"I could see Sanjaya and Melinda Doolittle in the end, which would be crazy. It all depends on who is more popular," Shyamali surmised.

The following review is courtesy of Entertainment Weekly ...

Not that I harbor any ill will toward Kelly Clarkson, but I've got to say, heartbreak and resentment sound awfully good on her. Indeed, the original American Idol is back in the role of woman scorned on "Never Again," the new single from her upcoming CD, My December, and the track packs an even more stinging punch than her ubiquitous "Since U Been Gone."

Lyrically, Kelly aims most of her rage at her cheating lover, but midway through the second verse, as she turns her attention to the other woman, she manages to simultaneously deliver a warning and a bitchslap with the lines: "When your day comes and he's through with you/ And he'll be through with you/ You'll die together, but alone." Ice cold — but refreshing!

I believe the first contender for Song of Summer 2007 has arrived.

Tonight is country night on American Idol.

So it's fitting that country music sweetheart Carrie Underwood took home two big buckles at Monday’s 2007 Country Music Television Awards last night.

The singer picked up wins in the coveted "CMT Music Awards Video of the Year" and "Female Video of the Year" for her anger-fuel hit single “Before He Cheats.” Underwood’s song also brought home the “Video Director of the Year” award for Roman White.

The wins on Monday further cemented Underwood’s credibility in country music. The singer won the Female Vocalist of the Year award and the Horizon award at the Country Music Association show in 2006.

Ever wanna be a contestant on American Idol?

Just be warned: it's not all standing ovations and exciting meetings with celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez. TMZ.com has obtained the following schedule that finalists such as Jordin Sparks has to follow ...

A new Idol week starts after the departure of Wednesday night's eliminated contestant.

On Thursday, contestants mull over song choices and begin to work out their particular look for their next performance. This is where Sanjaya's hair-tastrophes are born! On Fridays, after song choices are nailed down, contestants hit the town to purchase any last-minute wardrobe.

On Saturdays, the wannabes meet with that week's celebrity mentor to pick up tips on their renditions and to make any needed tweaks to their song's arrangement. The meetings are filmed rehearsals, with J.Lo, Gwen Stefani, or, as was the case this weekend, Martina McBride.

Sunday is a busy production day, as the kids tape those goofy Ford-sponsored music videos. TMZ has learned that if production wraps early, they usually get some much-needed free time on Sunday nights. You hear that, Lauren Conrad? This is where you can hit on your possible new man, Chris Richardson.

Monday is all about rehearsals, rehearsals and more rehearsals. Yes, Sanjaya actually rehearses.

Tuesday is live performance night, which finds everyone (contestants and production staff alike) scrambling to iron out all last minute details. A dress rehearsal run-thru happens just prior to the live taping at 5 PM PT. Afterwards, we're told, many of the contestants gather at their Hollywood apartment complex to watch the show together.

Now that Wednesday's elimination show is one hour, the contestants may be required to perform (as they did last week with Enrique Iglesias' "Bailamos.") After running through their performance, the singers prepare for the possibility of being sent home.

After the eliminee is revealed, tears are shed and the entire group heads over to a local restaurant (usually Italian) for the weekly goodbye dinner. After their last supper, the Idols retire to their home and the entire process begins all over again.

On American Idol, Mandisa sang her way into the hearts of millions. Although she didn't win, the experience helped propel the gospel singer's career to a higher level.

Later this month, she will perform with Kirk Franklin and Toby Mac at the 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards. She's also currently recording her debut album, which will be released on EMI-CMG.

But music is not the only way Mandisa plans to share her Christian beliefs with the world.

The former American Idol hopeful has signed on to be a spokesmodel for Ashley Stewart stores and in June 2007, she will release Idoleyes: My New Perspective on Faith, Fat & Fame.

In the book, Mandisa candidly talks about various times in her life, such as how her faith was challenged and deepened as a result of Idol. She also talks about her longtime battle with food addiction.

The Christian publisher, Tyndale, will release the book.

The war in Iraq. Sanjaya Malakar.

These appear to be the two biggest areas of debate in the country at the moment. Let's see where last season's runner-up, Katharine McPhee, falls on the latter question.

“First of all, I think Sanjaya is an absolute phenomenon,” she said in an interview with Jam! Showbiz. ”Every year, there’s something that makes the show even bigger than it was the year before. I’m on the Sanjaya train! I’m like, ‘Go Sanjaya!’”

If not for the show, McPhee also acknowledges shemight not be with us today.

“I do believe American Idol saved my life,” she confessed. “Finally, it felt like doors were opening for me and the dark clouds were separating. Making it to the finals really saved me. I was able to find what I was passionate about, which was important because the things you love in life will eventually overcome the demons.”

And she’s perfectly okay with having to prove herself to a few skeptics.

“There are certain challenges being from American Idol, like the (proving your) legitimacy thing, but there’s much less of that now. Look at Kelly Clarkson and Reuben (Studdard) and Jennifer Hudson — they’ve all sold records and it’s proving that real artists do come out of Idol. I’m grateful for that,” McPhee said.

... or will she?

Hillary Clinton was asked during a recent radio call-in show what Americans should do about the Sanjaya Malakar situation on American Idol and she refused to take a stance.

Instead, the Democratic senator from New York answered like a true politician.

"That's the best question I've been asked in a long time," quipped Clinton. "Well, you know, people can vote for whomever they want. That's true in my election, and it's true on American Idol," she said.

How diplomatic and profound, Mrs. Clinton. But, come on, step up like Carson Daly and tell us whether or not Sanjaya has your vote!