Author Archive
Adam Lambert Retakes “Idol” Spotlight as Garcia, Stevens Exit
April 15th, 2010
After American Idol viewers cast 34 million votes — the most so far this season notably came with Adam Lambert’s return to the show this week — Andrew Garcia and Katie Stevens were eliminated last night. Garcia’s exit came as little surprise, and his last words were grateful: “You guys let me experience something that I’ve never experienced.” Stevens’ ousting seemed to surprise the judges (Kara DioGuardi sat fixed with a tight smile on her ...
Adam Lambert Brings Straight Talk to ‘American Idol’ Elvis Night
April 14th, 2010
American Idol may have generated artists who have sold more albums than last season’s glittery runner-up, but the show has never birthed a star of Adam Lambert’s magnetism. But depending on who you ask, he became the first former contestant invited back as a mentor because he energized the series (and raked in big ratings), or needs the show’s help as he’s “struggling” to live down his controversial American Music Awards performance from November: the ...
“American Idol” Saves Michael Lynche as Rihanna Teaches “Rockstar 101″
April 8th, 2010
Photo: Becker/FOX If the introductory rules of rock stardom are “teach thyself to pick slide,” “tight clothes” and “pyro!” then Rihanna has been paying attention in her “Rockstar 101″ classes after all. The singer showcased nimble touring guitarist Nuno Bettencourt while debuting her latest single on American Idol (and promoting her upcoming Last Girl on Earth tour) last night, following Jason Derulo’s athletic performance of “In My Head” and David Archuleta’s stirring reprise of John ...
Songs From Lennon/McCartney Catalog Return to “American Idol”
April 7th, 2010
American Idol and the Beatles don’t mix very well (what could go wrong with a bunch of amateur singers tackling some of the greatest songs of all time?). Two years ago, the show devoted two weeks to songs from the Lennon/McCartney catalog, with mostly dull results. At the good end of the spectrum, David Cook impressed with rocked-out versions of “Eleanor Rigby” and “Day Tripper,” David Archuleta sang a velvety “The Long and Winding Road,” ...
“American Idol” Offs Didi Benami, Preps for Return of Beatles Week
April 1st, 2010
Photo: Becker/FOX
Why has American Idol decided to embrace rock’s biggest, most important bands of all time during its Season of Suck? First, the Rolling Stones, and next week songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Idol has been here before: twice in Season Seven (remember Brooke White’s “Let It Be” and David Cook’s “Day Tripper”? Both are worth watching again for crazy Paula action).
Hopeful Mike Lynche also heard the words he feared most — ...
Usher Guests, Bowersox and DeWyze Score on “American Idol”
March 31st, 2010
Photo: Becker/FOX
Newly single Usher, promoting his latest album Raymond v. Raymond, pulled an Andrew Lloyd Webber on Tim Urban during last night’s American Idol, instructing “Teflon Tim” to sing to him as though Usher was an alluring lady (it wasn’t quite the come-on Webber presented to David Cook two seasons ago: “I’m a gorgeous 17-year-old girl from the chorus”). Still, Usher oozed star power and the 10 remaining hopefuls largely did not. The R&B/soul night ...
“American Idol” Nixes Paige Miles as Miley, Joe Jonas Take the Stage
March 25th, 2010
Photo: Becker/FOX Tuesday night, the dominant judges’ critique on American Idol was that the songs were too old. With all the Hot 100 Number Ones to pick, the 11 remaining contestants selected tracks from 1967 through 1998 (with one Fergie ballad from the 2000s in the mix). So what did Idol producers pick for the dreaded group number, which was lip-synced so poorly it was clear nobody could remember the lyrics? Wham’s 1984 hit “Wake ...
Miley Cyrus Guides “American Idol” Through Disastrous Number Ones
March 24th, 2010
Photo: Becker/Fox You may not like “Party in the U.S.A.” You may not understand the significance of the response, “She’s just bein’ Miley.” But it would be hard to claim that mentor Miley Cyrus was the weak link on last night’s horrendous American Idol. Which songs were up for grabs? Every single Hot 100 Number One in history. So why did history range from 1967 to 1998 with one little detour into the present century ...
“American Idol” Eliminates Lacey Brown, Gets a Visit From Ke$ha
March 18th, 2010
American Idol delivered its first Ford commercial set to an unlikely tune last night — the Hives’ “Tick Tick Boom” — which was quite appropriate for Rolling Stones week since the Swedish garage rockers’ charismatic frontman Howlin’ Pele Almqvist has borrowed 70 percent of his mind-blowing stage show from Mick Jagger. If Idol can somehow get even one percent of its massive viewership to revisit the band’s incredible 2000 disc Veni Vidi Vicious, Season Nine ...
“American Idol” Finds Its Lady Lambert on Rolling Stones Night
March 17th, 2010
American Idol is definitely reeling from the loss of queen of kook Paula Abdul — see Rob Sheffield’s excellent Post-Paula Depression for a full explanation — but the show is also lacking something it didn’t even have until last season: breakout sensation Adam Lambert. Say what you will about his post-Season Eight career, for a few months in ‘09, Glambert was the reason people tuned in to Idol on Tuesdays (to see what he’d sing) ...