American Idol 6 News (Page 7)

Are you happy with American Idol so far this year? Auditions such as Sundance Head, Sarah Krueger and Melinda Doolittle have you excited for future rounds?

Us, too.

Nevertheless, there's always room for improvement. Courtesy of a Philadelphia American Idol blogger, here are ways one fan would enhance the show:

Let the Dawg be the Dawg. I love the grouchy, self-aggrandizing Randy Jackson who’s worked with every artist in the known world and who so shuns actual musical theory that he has devised his own music vocabulary for the show. He shouldn’t try to “impress” us with things like “proper grammar” or “actual words” or “lines of thought.” We want the “dudes.” We want the “dawgs.” We want the “dope.”

Let Paula be Paula. No one likes a sober, coherent Paula Abdul. When it’s week four of the finals and all the contestants are butchering Randy Newman song after Randy Newman song, the prospect of a quote from Paula like, “Sometimes when I’m a princess in…where…smoky banjo,” is all we have to keep us tuned in.

Let loose the Seacrest. It’s been said that it seems like Seacrest is auditioning for a spot on The Office with all of his pregnant pauses and eye rolls. I miss the talky spin doctor who is the glue that holds the whole darn mess together. And I’m sick of the T-shirts. You’re Ryan Seacrest. Suit up, for Pete’s sake.

Let the contestants sing duets (at least one week). That’s the exact sort of thing that makes for great drama on Nigel Lythgoe’s other, far superior brain trust, So You Think You Can Dance. It would also open up our American Idol world to a whole wealth of new songs and it would be a great way to mix things up during the top 24 round.

Tell Simon to quit phoning it in. His quips have gotten stale. We should all play a drinking game for whenever Simon says “cabaret” or “Broadway” or “old-fashioned” or “Portuguese dinner theater.” Hopefully he’ll come back all fresh and sparkly when the show is live again with fresh, new phrases like “Bolivian dinner theater."

TV Guide Channel wants to make sure American Idol fans who just can't get enough of the show are satisfied.

The network will launch a second season of Idol Tonight, the live preshow for Fox's Idol, in March, at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, after the contestants have been whittled down to 12 finalists.

Idol Tonight features interviews with former finalists, industry insiders, fashion stylists and vocal coaches, among others.

Justin Guarini (pictured), runner-up on the first season of American Idol, will co-host with Season 3 finalist Kimberly Caldwell and Rosanna Tavarez, one of the winners of WB Network's "Popstars."

TV Guide Channel president Ryan O'Hara said Idol Tonight is one of the network's highest-rated regular series.

"American Idol is like the Super Bowl week in and week out, and our fans can't get enough of it," he said. "We're positioning ourselves as a destination for all things American Idol."

O'Hara added that because Idol Tonight airs from the CBS Television City studios in Los Angeles - from where American Idol six is also broadcast - "there's all the energy and excitement from the fans and contestants. It's the ultimate pregame show."

Was there big talent in The Big Apple? Did anyone step up to knock Sundance Head off the headlines? Let's sum up American Idol's New York auditions and find out ...

Most tiresome reality TV wannabe: Ian Benardo. You didn't make it on So You Think You Can Dance and you didn't make it here. Time for a new career path.

Top tear contestant: Sarah Burgess. Her sob story of no daddy support won over the judges. But she'll have to actually perform well, not just cry well, in order to make it in Hollywood.

Best audition: Kia Thorton. Great name. That always helps. Sort of reminds us of a smaller Mandisa, which is meant as a compliment. This gal has potential.

Best BFF: Amanda Coluccio and Antonella Barba. They looked a bit like they got lost on their way to a Pussycat Dolls tryout, instead of American Idol. Nevertheless, looks are part of making it big, too. Can't blame them for hotness.

Most harmful to Paula's sanity: Jenry Bejarano. We don't think Paula Abdul was drunk during this audition, just a fan of a guy who can definitely carry a tune. Still, he is a minor, Paula. Be careful.

Second weirdest name: Jory Steinberg. Sorry, Jenry has you beat by a tad, Jory. But you can get him back in Hollywood when that whole singing competition really takes off.

Slammingest Body: Porcelana Patino. She wasn't a terrible singer. But the look and attitude is what will give this gal a chance on the big stage.

It's time for Memphis hopeful to show us their American Idol chops. Let's hope they can top last week's Seattle auditions. Shouldn't be that tough ...

Most enthusiastic of the night: Frank Byers. Or, sorry, "Frank and Beans." He didn't get through, but maybe Simon would've changed his mind if those cheerleaders had actually dropped Ryan.

Most similar to a film festival: Jason "Sundance" Head (pictured). With a father named Roy Head - he of the former number-one hit in the 1960s - this uniquely named fellow expected to make it big a long time ago. At 27, his time may have finally come.

Most sentimental: Travis McKinney. Apparently, crazy dancing equates to emtotion for some. We're sorry. We can't go on right now. Too many tears flowing ...

Best American Idol name: Danielle McCulloch. Just sounds right, doesn't it? Scared us a bit when she hit a high note, but brilliant compared to other singers so far. Glad she got through to Hollywood.

Best use of third person: Randy Jackson. He just referred to himself as a "dawg." American Idol Worship liked it.

Saddest story: Topher McCain. His wife left him. He watches Dr. Phil. He has a giant crush on Paula Abdul.

Best impression of a dictator: Sean Michel. Castro, bin Laden, Jesus Christ. Whatever. The guy can kind of sing.

Proudest father: Phil Stacey. We think the judges just wanted to do right by the new father. Guess we can't blame them for that.

Every week, TV Guide's Kimberly Caldwell and Rosanna Tavarez, the hosts of TV Guide Channel's Idol Chat and Reality Chat (both pictured here) will discuss the latest happenings and outlook for American Idol.

Kimberly, of course, was a Season Two contender. Below, her and Rosanna weigh in on the "too mean" controversy, the importance of first impressions, and the first clue that a contestant might be just a bit unbalanced.

TVGuide.com: Rosie O'Donnell, for one, last week slammed Idol's new season as "too mean." Many have countered that the singers know what they are getting into. What's your qualified point of view on the current level of meanness?
Rosanna: In so far as the kids who walk in with the extravagant and insane costumes, they know what they're getting into. They knowing they're being shticky. You can't walk in with a costume and not be laughed at. Now, the kids who genuinely feel that they are talented but sing off-key or have no stage presence, do they deserve to be criticized as harshly? No. But I could see how by the 200th contestant who walks in not singing well, the judges' patience is just wearing thin!
Kimberly: I feel like Paula is definitely more up front and more real about it, probably because it's been six years of thousands and thousands of people coming in thinking that they're the one, that they really have a shot. At the same time, Simon's probably enjoying it, because it's good TV and it's his show.

TVGuide.com: The day that Paula, Simon and Randy all become Pollyannas is the day that American Idol draws "just" 10 million viewers.
Kimberly: Exactly.

TVGuide.com: As I watch these first rounds, especially the singers with more promise, I have to remind myself, "One of these people could end up being the next American Idol." What do you remember of, say, Taylor Hicks' early auditions?
Kimberly: I remember going, "That guy's not going to win." [Laughs]
Rosanna: I thought the same thing, but for some reason my mother, who's a big fan of Michael McDonald's, was like, "You'll see. He's going to win." And after every performance she'd call me and say, "He's going to win." I was like, "Mom, sorry, but you're, like, in your fifties and... I don't think so." But he won, and I had to eat my words.

TVGuide.com: So, who are your favorites from Season 6, Week 1?
Kimberly: "Crack Baby."
Rosanna: I like Crack Baby, too.
Kimberly: I hate calling her that, but what else do you say?
Rosanna: She called herself a crack baby. [Editor's note: Crack Baby's real name is Denise Jackson.]
Kimberly: She was like wow. She was absolutely amazing, absolutely beautiful, and she's going to look awesome when they give her a makeover and "Hollywood" her up.

TVGuide.com: Was there anyone who has the look but the singing isn't quite there, yet has potential?
Rosanna: I like the girl from Barranquilla, Colombia. She definitely has the look.

TVGuide.com: Perla Meneses, the one who sang Shakira?
Rosanna: Yeah. I liked her voice, too. She wasn't phenomenal, but she had great stage presence, and she seemed really playful.
Kimberly: I think she definitely has an advantage because Simon was like, "She's great fun! Isn't she great fun?" I'm like, "You're just looking at her bottom," but that's cool.
Rosanna: I think that's what Paula told him!
Kimberly: But she is absolutely stunning, and I think in the right genre she'll be very good.

The Boston Herald has a simple message for fans: Don’t feel so sad for the dissed on American Idol.

For some, it’s the best thing that ever happened to them.

Last week, judge Simon Cowell said Kenneth Briggs looked like a “bush baby” and mocked Jonathan Jayne’s weight.

After five seasons of the show, it’s obvious that the producers only send through two kinds of contestants: the talented and those who would be better off speaking in sign language.

Since their American Idol Six spanking, Briggs - who says he wants to go by the name Michael Swale - and Jayne have been working the talk show circuit. They appeared last week on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel.”

Yesterday, the two sat down for a chat with Today’s Meredith Vieira that seemed to run twice as long as the show’s segment on Hillary Clinton’s decision to run for president.

Jayne confessed to Vieira that he’d next like to hit her old stomping ground, The View.

Surprise: They both have managers. If they can keep their chokehold on the spotlight, they may have careers worthy of William Hung. Remember him?

Yes, the judges on Fox’s American Idol are mean.

Next in news: war is bad, puppies are cute and apple pie tastes mighty fine.

It’s not until the live rounds - when viewers take control and decide who goes on to the next round - that American Idol transforms itself from the ugly stepsister of reality shows to the Cinderella story we all love.

What’s irksome is how much the judges moan about their long days and how they can’t put up with listening to one more bad singer.

Please. They are paid millions - millions - for what is a part-time gig in which they get to act like Hollywood fairy godmothers and set someone on a path to wealth and fame. And they act like it’s an imposition for them to be there, that they’re doing the world a favor.

But it’s too much to expect a little class from American Idol. After five seasons, however, we need to stop being surprised by the off-note dramatics.

Who says American Idol is too mean?

Producers of the show recently came up with a way to help an Oklahoma Navy officer who faced a missed tryout because his wife gave birth to their second child.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Phil Stacey of Shawnee persuaded producers in Memphis to let him audition early so he could return to Jacksonville and be with his wife, Kendra, and their new daughter.

In return, American Idol did ask for Stacey had to arrange to videotape their reunion.

Stacey's father-in-law - Mark McIntosh of Shawnee - says the producers like the taped reunion enough that they plan to use it on the show. Look for it this evening.

He's a shy 17-year old already being hailed as the next American Idol.

For those that missed the initial audition of Sanjaya Malakar, here's a chance to hear his beautiful voice for yourself. And an opportunity to enjoy it again for fans that were tuning in last week:

After the first week of American Idol auditions, no way it's too early to rank the favorites. We thank Entertainment Weekly for the list below and would love to hear your take on the hopefuls so far ...

1) Sarah Krueger (pictured)
She's beautiful, she's unassuming, and she gave a tremendous rendition of ''Somewhere Over the Rainbow.'' Only concern: Did her song choice (and delivery) make her look like a copycat of season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee?

2) Sanjaya Malakar
Younger half of a potent brother-sister combo tackled Stevie Wonder - and unlike so many Idol wannabes, didn't sacrifice melody for charisma. Give the kid a buzz cut, combine with his megawatt smile, and you've got a contender.

3) Rudy Cardenas
Watching Paula Abdul drool (and Ryan Seacrest go in for a half-hug) over the 28-year-old Venezuelan-born hunk was high comedy, but the guy's mighty fine rendition of Journey's ''Open Arms'' proves his American Idol aspirations are no laughing matter.

4) Shyamali Malakar
Granted, her jazzy take on ''Summertime'' wasn't at Fantasia levels, but at least she did it her way. Not only that, Sanjaya's sister is sassy without being mouthy, and her success would leave Simon Cowell regretting that ''nothing unique'' critique.

5) Matt Sato
This 16-year-old's tearful phone call to mom was the emotional highlight of Idol's first week, but if we're being honest, his compelling backstory upstaged a good, but somewhat oversung, rendition of ''California Dreamin'.''

6) Blake Lewis
Human beatbox with insanely spiky hair scored a ticket to Hollywood - bringing his dad to tears - with a crazy-skillful rendition of Seal's ''Crazy,'' but Simon had a point that the guy may not be quite as good as he thinks he is.

7) Denise Jackson
Her ''And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going'' had power but lacked subtlety - much like her hooched-out red minidress and black crocheted sweater. One also has to wonder, was that ''crack baby'' revelation too much too soon?

8. Jordin Sparks
Clearly has The Voice, but not sure this 16-year-old daughter of an NFL star has the emotional depth to go with it. Seriously, choosing a Celine Dion power ballad as audition material? Yikes. Could be this year's answer to Lisa Tucker.

9) Michelle Steingas
Musically, it's hard to fault this 19-year-old's charming take on Deana Carter's ''If This Is Love,'' but riddle us this: If you had to pick her out of a lineup right now, could you do it?

10) Jarrod Fowler
Charming Navy officer already triumphed in the USS Reagan's internal Idol challenge, but his rendition of ''Bless the Broken Road'' drew the dreaded cry of ''pitchiness'' from guest judge Jewel - and justifiably so.

11) Thomas Daniels
Chihuahua-carrying vocalist delivered a soulful, straightforward take on Amos Lee's ''Arms of a Woman,'' but teenage drunk-driving mug shot is already circulating the Internet.

12) Anna Kearns
The likable diva's eye-popping 6-foot-4 frame and flawless sense of rhythm could make her a future favorite with the drag-queen set, but her ''R-e-s-p-e-c-t'' was only ''d-e-c-e-n-t.''

13) Perla Meneses
Not even the judges enjoyed her wobbly take on ''Call Me,'' but a last-minute Shakira imitation, complete with come-hither jiggle, stamped a ticket to Hollywood. We'll be shocked if her ''hips'' carry her to the top 24.

14) Rachel Jenkins
Simon noted the sweet Army reservist's ''His Eye Is on the Sparrow'' started well, then ''fell apart'' - and he was putting it nicely. Which leaves us wondering: Why exactly is she going to Hollywood?

The Fox TV network chief on Saturday dismissed talk of unusual cruelty by the judges on American Idol this year, saying he's heard from people who think the show has actually been toned down.

"The judges and their scrutiny, I think, are a big part of what makes American Idol American Idol,'" Peter Liguori, Fox entertainment president, told reporters after coming under scrutiny.

The talent show and cultural phenomenon returned with a vengeance this past week, with episodes on Tuesday and Wednesday attracting around 37 million viewers. The episodes featured auditions by the good, the bad and the awful from Minneapolis and Seattle.

But some questioned whether the judges have been over the top this season in their sometimes harsh critiques of prospective Idols.

Simon Cowell, whose reputation for blunt, nasty put-downs was established at the series' beginning, was in peak form, telling one contestant that his singing was horrendous and he looked like a "bush baby."

Cowell's counterpart, Randy Jackson, told one contestant his audition was awful and perhaps ruined his business.

"You shouldn't be a vocal teacher. I wouldn't take vocal lessons from you, I wouldn't tell anybody to take vocal lessons from you," Jackson said.

On ABC's The View this past week, Rosie O'Donnell - always looking to stir things up, be it with Donald Trump or pretty much anyone else - lashed out at the way contestants were treated by the judges, who she termed "three millionaires, one probably intoxicated."

"If you keep serving people crap and telling them it's a meal, they're eventually going to think it is a meal," O'Donnell jabbed.

Fox's Liguori said the judges know what makes American Idol and that this is just the continuation of a successful formula.

"Let's face it, the show has been on the air six years, the judges have been critical for six years," he said.

The judges' harsh assessments also were defended by Geffen Records chairman Ron Fair, who is about to take on a Simon Cowell-like role on an upcoming Pussycat Dolls reality show for the CW network, "Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll."

"In order to have a reputation and continue in a healthy manner in this business, you have to tell people 'no' all day long," he said.

"I'm telling people 'I'm not going to sign you, that song is not a hit' ... And there's no gracious or wonderful way to tell somebody, whose hopes and dreams are on the line: 'no.'"