June 2007 News Archive (Page 4)

 Ryan Seacrest says he knows why American Idol took a ratings hit this season.

It's the fault of the show's most visible presence: Simon Cowell.

When asked about the decline, reports Canada’s Globe and Mail, Seacrest replied, “Well, the knee-jerk reaction would be Simon.”

Seacrest says there’s just too much of the acid-tongued judge: “Clearly there’s an over saturation of his character.”

The host then pointed out that the ratings are still high, and addressed buzz that bosses want to change some of the judges (such as replacing Randy and Paula with Britney Spears).

“That’s clearly rumor,” he said. “I’m positive you can’t recreate the chemistry that we have with the group on American Idol."

 Katharine McPhee fans are outraged that the former contestant was treated rudely on a Washington D.C. radio station. Now the show’s DJ, Kane, is hitting back.

McPhee was interviewed by an intern named Ally on Hot 99.5’s The Kane Morning Show. The interview was supposed to be in the studio and the station had agreed that McPhee wouldn’t be asked any personal questions.

But McPhee didn’t show up at the studio — handlers explained that her flight had been delayed — and one of the first questions the intern asked the 23-year-old singer was about her 42-year-old boyfriend. The intern asked if having a boyfriend who was so much older hurt or helped the relationship.

An obviously irritated McPhee said she didn’t want to discuss her private life and the interview went downhill from there.

Angry fans deluged Kane with hate mail. “Maybe she should have been nicer and been live as she promised,” Kane replied to some of them.

The angry calls and e-mails kept coming, and Kane shot back a lengthy response at those backing this finalist from season five of American Idol.

“I’m getting increasingly frustrated by e-mails from McPhee fans that don’t know the whole story and are writing me angry e-mails,” Kane wrote to them, scolding, “It makes Kat look bad when ever other word in your e-mail about how you thought we didn’t handle the interview professionally starts with an f---.”

He went on to describe in detail a scenario in which he said McPhee was pitched to the radio show on the condition that she appear live, that the appearance be pre-promoted, and that there would be no personal questions. He also challenged the excuses he was given for her failing to appear live — pointing out, for example, that the flights from L.A. to Washington weren’t delayed that morning.

“Slam us, go-head,” Kane wrote. “We agreed to have her on; we followed the rules. They didn’t tell the truth. Kat could have had a little more fun with Ally. She could have said, ‘You guys know you’re not supposed to ask me personal questions. What’s wrong with you?’ Rather, she just got mad.”

LaKisha Jones got to feel the love from about 1,500 excited fans at her long-awaited homecoming rally Saturday at Atwood Stadium.

"Kisha! Kisha!" the crowd chanted on their feet, waving posters, clapping and yelling as Jones, sporting a new bob, walked out onto the 50-yard line, near the word "Flint" in large letters, and grabbed a microphone.

"It's so good to be back here," she said. "Thank you so much for your support and your prayers and the love. My dream has come true."

The American Idol finalist signed autographs, posed for photographs and sang two songs: "God Bless the Child" and her signature Idol number, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."

But it was the city of Flint who owed Jones thanks, said Trey Michaels, rally master of ceremonies and program director at WDZZ-FM (92.7).

"You carried us on your back," he said. "You inspired us. You gave us a reason to believe."

After months of rooting for her, supporters finally got the chance to show Jones their love. It started under a warm sun around noon Saturday at Patsy Lou Buick GMC on Corunna Road in Flint Township, as a smaller band of about 100 screaming, starstruck fans caught first sight of their local sweetheart up close.

"We love you!" "We're so proud of you!" "You are so beautiful!" people hollered out to a beaming Jones, in shiny black heels and a gray blazer.

"Kiki! Kiki! Kiki!" the chants of Jones' nickname began, as cameras and picture phones flashed from all directions during a brief ceremony with Mayor Don Williamson and his wife, Patsy Lou, at the dealership.

Fans jostled to present Jones with gifts of flowers, pictures and even a black Jesus statue.

Later, at Atwood, the mayor presented Jones with a key to the city and proclamation. Patsy Lou Williamson gave her a $6,000 check and six-month free lease on a new Buick LaCrosse. The singer also received a Flint watch, personalized tree ornaments from Bronner's and an oversized card signed by 300 fans.

"(I'll use the money) as a down payment for my new home in Houston," Jones told a TV reporter.

Plenty of fans scored, too. Sharon Wilson, 49, of Davison snagged an autograph and a photograph of herself with Jones, who worked her pen and smile at two meet-and-greet sessions for well over an hour.

"I was successful! (The autograph) is going to hang in my office at work," said Wilson, a manager at Genesys Regional Medical Center. "How often do we have a star like this in Flint?"

In a special American Idol bonus edition of Entertainment Weekly (issue #937), Raleigh native Clay Aiken was listed as having one of the top song performances ever on the amazingly successful show.

In an article entitled "Best (and Worst) Idol Performances Ever", Aiken was listed at number three in the "Best" category with his performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" on May 20, 2003 during the show's second season.

In a pull-out quote with a picture of Aiken, the magazine spoke about that special performance where "backed by a gospel choir, Clay Aiken delivered a version of Simon & Garfunkel's number one hit that managed to be both over the top and expertly scaled."

In the special issue, Aiken was also named as having the biggest change in appearance since beginning on American Idol.

In a full page photo story, the magazine says that out of all the contestants, Aiken had the "ultimate Idol evolution" and went from "totally geek to totally chic" with his current look that includes longer hair, tailored suits, and contact lenses instead of glasses.

We know she can sing. But looks like Carrie Underwood can play a little ball, as well.

Joining fellow country superstars Vince Gill and Alan Jackson, the American Idol champ proves herself to be an adept athlete, covering all the bases at the 17th annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge at Greer Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

We know Kelly Clarkson is sexy.

But how does she stack up against another famous beauty in the same outfit?

Decide for yourself as the original American Idol and Private Practice star Kate Walsh wore the same Monique Lhuillier bubble dress on different occasions recently.

They both look good. Who looks better, readers?

Katharine McPhee may be starring in a movie.

But Taylor Hicks is coming out with a book! Take that, Kat!

The biography, entitled “Heart Full of Soul: An Inspirational Memoir About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way,” will be available in stores on July 10.

Will you be picking up a copy?

With the American Idol tour getting underway shortly, The Houston Chronicle asked Sanjaya Malakar the following funny questions:

Q: How do you feel about touring 57 cities in 76 days?
A: It's crazy. I'm really excited about it. It'll be a lot of fun.

Q: What's the worst pronunciation of your name you ever heard?
A: Sonia Mowlicker. Freshman year in high school they announced names on your birthday, and that's how they announced mine. My birthday is Sept. 10, so for the rest of the year my friends called me Sonia.

Q: If they made a movie about your life, what would the title be?
A: "Back When I Was Rich and Jewish."

Q: Gel or mousse?
A: On normal occasions, I don't put anything on my hair.

Q: If you were stuck on a desert island, would you rather be with (fellow contestants) Jordin Sparks or Blake Lewis?
A: Jordin Sparks, not because I like her more but because Blake Lewis is kind of loud and sometimes obnoxious. On a desert island I would end up not liking him. But I do like him, so . . . yeah.

Navy personnel from the U.S.S. Boxer will be greeted by a friendly face when they return to their North Island Navy Base in San Diego on June 15: that of Elliott Yamin.

The American Idol finalist is scheduled to greet and lunch with the troops, who served a double-extended deployment in Iraq.

"Visiting the North Island Naval base will be a unique and wonderful opportunity," Yamin said in a statement released on Wednesday. "I have so much admiration for men and women that service this country and the courage and strength that they possess. I look forward to being able to spend some time with them all and hear some of their stories while I visit the base."

Jordin Sparks may have won American Idol, but Blake Lewis is definitely coming out on top in the U.S. singles charts.

His cover of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love A Bad Name" just cracked the top ten this week, coming in at #9.

Meanwhile, Sparks' "This Is My Now" lingers at #14.