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IDOL Switcheroo: Adios, Enrique! Welcome Back, Randy!
So an “American Idol” “source” tells The Hollywood Reporter that Enrique Iglesias is no longer in contention for a spot as a judge on Idol and that Randy Jackson is back at the judges’ table. Hmmmm. And this “news” comes out on the same night that NBC premieres “The Voice.” If I were doing finger quotes in the air right now, my pointers would be exhausted. Whew.
Anyway! Coincidence? I say not. Sounds like a well-placed story from a P.R. flack to get some buzz on “Idol” to hopefully over shadow “The Voice.” And I guess it’s working b/c I am writing about this and “The Voice.”
In any case, I knew Randy Jackson was not going too far away from Idol. He’s Mariah Carey’s manager. He got her on the show and there is no way she is going to let him go anywhere. Somebody has to keep her from slapping the you know what out of Nicki Minaj.
We should know soon enough who the judges will be on Idol since auditions should be happening with the celeb judges fairly soon. Stay tuned, ya’ll…
LISTEN TO THIS: GLEE Mashes & Rocks ADELE
Sometimes I think GLEE gets it right and sometimes I think it gets it wrong. Tuesday night, the ladies of GLEE mashed up Adele’s beautiful “Someone Like You” and the yet-to-be released “Rumour Has It.” And Tuesday night, GLEE got it oh so right!!! Damn, that mashup is incredible! Amber Riley who plays Mercedes and Naya Rivera who plays Santana blended exceptionally well. And that choreography…electrifying. The best part of all is that you can download it from iTunes. This is definitely one that you want on your iPod…or so rumour has it! Check out the performance below.
“GLEE” Stars Not Leaving After All…
Just weeks ago, GLEE creator Ryan Murphy said three major cast members were graduating and moving on after this season. This was quite a shock not only to fans of actors Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith (pictured left), but also to the actors themselves. The TV world was in an uproar, as as much of an uproar as one can get when they have no personal investment whatsoever. Now, we hear…those seniors aren’t going anywhere? HUH?
At the Comic-Con convention in San Diego, GLEE executive producer Brad Falchuck said Ryan Murphy’s remarks needed to be clarified. “Here’s the exact thing: They’re seniors. They’re graduating. But that doesn’t mean they’re leaving the show,” Falchuk said. “It was never our intention or plan to let these people go… They are not done with the show after this season.”
Hmmm. Maybe Mr. Falchuck and Mr. Murphy need to have a conversation, possibly in between rehearsal for yet another Lady Gaga number. In any case, I think the backlash was bigger than Fox expected and so a sudden change of heart was made. They are the most popular characters. How do you get rid of the most popular characters on a hit show? {tap, tap, tap} I’m talking to you, Mr. Murphy. Maybe they get caught in a sex scandal and fail their senior year? And now you know why I don’t write for prime time TV.
Shonda, Oh, Shonda, What DID You Do???
I will be the first to tell you that I worship in the church of Shonda Rhimes, Exec Producer and creator of “Grey’s Anatomy.” I sing the praises of this woman. She is brilliant and the show she creates weekly continues to draw me in. Last year’s season finale featuring a gunman on the loose in the hospital should go down in television history as one of the best finales ever. BUT…
Last night’s “Grey’s” musical episode didn’t just jump the shark, it jumped a whale! Shonda, what the heck were you thinking? Didn’t you ever hear of a show called “Cop Rock?” We didn’t like singing cops and we don’t like singing doctors. Why? It’s not natural to the storyline. In “Glee,” the students are in the glee club and Mr. Sheu teaches them. They are supposed to sing, but doctors do not sing. EVER. I have never once heard my doctor sing my diagnosis (and I know for sure I would walk out if he did).
Shonda, we have come to love the characters of Seattle Grace for various reasons and we have come to truly know them, thanks in great part to you, but seeing them sing while trying to save Cali’s life was just…odd. More than odd…bizarre. It felt so out of character for these characters. I just couldn’t embrace it. I know you have said this is something you really wanted to do for a long time now, but some ideas are just better left on the writing room wall.
In short, keep up the drama, the love, the angst, the life or death save… and leave the singing to “Glee.”
Why DVR Rocks On IDOL Results Night
SPOILER ALERT: If you don’t want to know who went home on AMERICAN IDOL quit reading now.
Someone please tell me who created the DVR b/c I want to bow down at his feet. I might even kiss them. The DVR has changed the way we watch television and how much we watch. We actually watch more now. Wow. We need to get lives. But I digress…
On AMERICAL IDOL results nights, the DVR is a godsend. That is, without a doubt, the longest hour in television. It goes on and on and on… when, in all honesty, all we care about is the last five minutes, but since you can’t program just five minutes of television, it’s an hour. It really should be 30 minutes and I think IDOL is cutting it back to 30 minutes at some point. The sooner the better, please.
Tonight on IDOL, for example, I was able to fast forward through that awful group number. When are they going to stop doing these? No one likes them. The IDOLs looks uncomfortable. They can’t dance as a group. It looks like High School Musical: The College Years.
I also get to zoom through that hideous Ford commercial/music video the IDOL kids are enslaved to do. I realize Ford is a sponsor and I am as proud an American as anyone else, but the IDOL kids dancing around a Ford Fiesta does not make me want to buy one.
I also ran through the long interview segment of all of the contestants. They’re just filling time folks and on results night I don’t care who has a cuddly dog, I just want to know who is going home.
I also fast forward through the judges explaining their comments from the night before. Frankly, I thought they were off the mark last night. I don’t know where they were, but they were not in my living room hearing what most of my friends and colleagues agree was not a good night for IDOL.
As I am fast forwarding I can tell that Casey Abrams makes the cut. Even though I thought his performance last night was horrendous, he does have talent so I am glad he is staying. But Haley Reinhart makes the bottom three and that’s where she belongs after last night. Don’t sing Whitney unless you can make it better. Haley, you did not.
I continue to fast forward and see J Lo’s hubby, Marc Anthony, in the audience. Then I stop. Lee Dewyze is singing. Not only is a Chicago hometown guy, he is a great singer. So I listen to his new song. At the end, he announces he is going on the road at the end of the year.
I keep zooming through and see more IDOLS are safe, until we get to Naima. She is not safe. I liker her voice and style, but her rendition of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” was “pitchy,” to quote Randy. Yeah, dawg!
The cuts continue and this time it’s Karen Rodriguez to round out the bottom three. Okay, so who is going home? I don’t know b/c the Black Eyed Peas are performing. Now, I don’t like the Black Eyed Peas (love the food, hate the band) so I am going to continue fast forwarding.
Now, I push play when I see Seacrest and quickly learn that Naiema is safe. Good call. And going home tonight is…Karen Rodriguez. Someone has to go and Karen’s performance was just not that great, although I think Haley’s was worse.
And that’s it. In 20 minutes, I have seen the hour-long IDOL results show and I have written my blog. I really could have finished in 15 minutes, but I had to watch Lee Dewyze. Right? Yeah, Dawg.
UPDATE: IDOL Alum NOT Really Homeless
Well, not so fast, Mr. Lambert. It seems when his tweets caught attention, he changed his tune and wrote: “I have places to stay. I just don’t want to be a burden on anyone!” He added, “I have money! And soon I will have a place to stay! I just wanted to let y’all know! I’m not some rich spoiled kid! That I’ve had to hustle and grind, and I don’t mind sleepin’ on the street, as long as I get my chance!”
A rep for 19 Entertainment says Lambert is on a retainer, gets money every month, is working on demos in the recording studio and is definitely “not homeless.”
Not cool, Mr. Lambert. Not cool at all.
The Real Hollywood: From IDOL to Homeless
Now this is sad!!! Former “American Idol” contestant Alex Lambert from season nine is learning that show business ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. The 20 year-old wanna singer is now homeless and living on the streets of LA.
“Ever since “IICD” ended I’ve been kinda homeless!” Lambert tweeted. “Sleepin on the street and behind buildings. I have a choice to stay and pursue my career or go back to Texas and not do music! I’m usually a strong person but I can’t take it anymore.”
After “Idol,” Lambert took part in web-based reality series where he lived in a mansion with other struggling actors and musicians. When the show ended, he had no where to go, but he didn’t want to give up on his dream so he took the streets.
“I’m a poor boy yall! Never had nothin in my life,” Lambert blogged. “Please be grateful for everything you have. Because there’s people out there with nothing! There’s no way I’ll ever stop making music as long as I live.”
For some reason, I feel like Ellen DeGeneres is going to come to his rescue. She loved Alex. There is no way she is going to let him be homeless in her hometown. Someone should do something for the guy. He deserves better than this…everyone does.
“Rise of the Apes” Moves to Thanksgiving Slot
Thanksgiving is about to get a whole lot hairier. The “Planet of the Apes” pre-quel, “Rise of the Apes” is moving from a summer slot to Thanksgiving week (November 23). Twentieth Century Fox thinks there are too many family films that weekend and wants to offer something different. The focus of this film is said to be genetic engineering and Deadline.com says it should be called “Apetar.” Funny!!!
GLEE SCOOP: Yes to more Gwyneth. No to Bieber.
It’s a GLEE-ful Sunday as I catch up on all my TV scoop. GLEE EP Ryan Murphy confirms that Gwyneth Paltrow will be re-appearing in not just one, but two more episodes…and get this…she will be dating Will Schuester, played by Matthew Morrison. She’ll also be teaching sex ed. Gotta love it.
Speaking of Paltrow, she’s hosting Saturday Night Live on January 15th with musical guest Cee Lo Green. Paltrow sang his song, “F**k You,” on GLEE…although it was “Forget You” for the TV audience.
And shooting down a popular Internet rumor, Murphy says there will NOT be a Justin Bieber episode. He says those episodes are reserved for people with big music catalogs…(and I add, people who actually have talent).
GLEE Star Going On The Road
If you thought GLEE star Matthew Morrison a/k/a Mr. Schuester sings too much on the hit Fox show, well, he’s about to sing a whole lot more when the show goes on break!
Morrison is releasing a solo album and going on tour. “I’m gonna go all over the world actually. I start band rehearsal in two weeks when we go on our little Christmas break,” he tells Entertainment Weekly. Morrison says his solo project is due in May. “I’m really really happy with it and I can’t wait for people to hear it as well.”
Meanwhile, the cast of GLEE is taking its hugely successfull concert show to the UK and Ireland ths summer. So if you missed it stateside, it’s time to hop across the pond.
