TMZ reports that ‘American Idol’ bandleader, Rickey Minor, was furious with producers for not mentioning him during last night’s finale. Minor is leaving ‘Idol’ to head-up Jay Leno’s band on ‘The Tonight Show,’ and last night was his last show. He’s been with ‘Idol’ for six seasons, and I’m sure he expected that producers would bid him a public farewell. So was this an oversight or a deliberate snub? It wouldn’t surprise me if it was an oversight, given that the producers of the show can’t even figure out how to run it on time, let alone plan a proper finale. That being said, the ‘Idol’ band gets a lot of flak from the judges, who constantly say things to the contestants like “I didn’t like the arrangement, or “I loved that song until the band kicked in.” So has there been bad blood all along?
Category: Music
Janet Jackson Steals the Show on ‘American Idol’ – Watch Video
Last night’s ‘American Idol’ finale was fantastic, and it wasn’t because of the contestants. Janet Jackson sang two of her smash hits, ‘Nobody’ and ‘Nasty Boys.’ She looked the best I’ve ever seen her, and this might have been one of her strongest performances in history. Sometimes artists are so focused on gratuitous showmanship that we lose sight of the fact that they are actually very talented singers. Last night, Janet reminded us of her singing chops and her ability to out perform just about any of the current artists in the industry. While she sang ‘Nothing’, she was in sexy black unitard that wasn’t a ridiculously over the top glitter extravangaza. She also was sans fake hair, which might have been my favorite part. She came on the stage, dominated it, and then left. For a second I found myself thinking – how’d she do that? Come back on stage and sing another one!! Watch below.
janet finale @ Yahoo! Video
Lee Dewyze Wins American Idol – I’m a Genius
It’s not often that I toot my own horn, but when I can do it without reservation, it makes me very happy. Lee Dewyze won American Idol tonight, and I can safety say that I called it. I’d like to direct you to my post that was published on March 16, 2010, where I stated that he was my favorite to win (at a time when the judges had yet to realize he was a frontrunner). Click the link below to see the evidence of my Cowell-like ability. And watch the video if you’d like to see a very grateful Lee Dewyze win the show.
The Dishmaster is a Genius
leewin finale @ Yahoo! Video
Ellen DeGeneres is Starting a Record Label . . . HUH?
Ellen DeGeneres is launching her own record label called eleveneleven. Her first signed artist will be 12 year old Greyson Chance. I’m not sure what to make of this. Can anyone start a label now? I guess all you need is a ton of dough. I think the timing of this announcement is pretty perfect though. Her contract with American Idol is up after this season is over, and she can use this to say that she has the “music experience” necessary to be a judge. We’ll see if she gets any hit makers though. When Cowell began American Idol, he already had some huge successes under his belt. He wasn’t just some funny gy that they threw on the panel. Watch Greyson Chance sing Lady Gaga’s Papparazi below. He’s okay I guess, but I’m not sure I have any interest in watching 12 year olds sing.
Jonathan Groff Makes a Surprise Appearance at the Glee Concert – Sings With Lea Michele
Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele reunited on stage at the ‘Glee’ concert over the weekend. Groff starred alongside Michele in the original Broadway cast of ‘Spring Awakening,’ and Michele referred to him as her “best friend” on stage. Though he plays her boyfriend on ‘Glee,’ he wasn’t listed as one of the performers set to appear at the concert. Watch Michele and Groff sing together below.
Entertainment News Dish – In Review
Vanessa Williams will appear on Desperate Housewives to allegedly fill the vixen void of Nicollette Sheridan. Though the details are limited, she will have some relationship with Mark Moses/”Paul”.
Jessica Biel will appear on Broadway in the musical adaptation of Pedro Almodovar’s film, ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.’ Biel has always had musical aspirations; she appeared in ‘Guy’s and Dolls’ at the Hollywood Bowl last summer. You might remember Perez Hilton poking fun at her singing ability on his blog.
Charlie Sheen is returning to Two and a Half Men, despite the many press releases otherwise, and his endless insistence that those press leaks were not a “negotiating ploy.” He thanks Les Moonves for his support along with the announcement. By “support,” I am sure he means the oodles and oodles of money that they are paying him.
Bret Michaels will appear in VH1’s new docu-series, ‘Life as I know it.’ The series will follow Bret’s off-stage life, including his children and his Baby Momma, Kristi Gibson. I find it interesting that the press release reveals that Bret lives with Kristi. Am I to believe that Rock of Love was a giant sham!? It simply cannot be.
Larry Rudolph is Still Managing Britney Spears
The greatest piece of news that came out of Britney Spears singing Lady Gaga’s ‘Telephone,’ is that Larry Rudolph is still managing Spears’ career. In an interview with music producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Darkchild insisted that he didn’t leak the track, as he would “never leak something without Britney Spears approval, without Larry Rudolph, without Jive Records.” Larry Rudolph managed Britney Spears when she originally shot to fame with ‘Baby One More Time,’ and she fired him shortly after marrying Kevin Federline. She brought him back to resurrect her career after her breakdown. I haven’t heard much about him since, and I was concerned that she sacked him and the press never got wind. I am happy to report that my speculation was amiss. Listen to the Britney version of ‘Telephone’ below.
American Idol Conspiracy in the Works – The Judges Sabotage Casey James
I just finished watch American Idol, and once again found myself infuriated. Casey James had a fantastic performance with ‘Mrs. Robinson,’ and yet the judges didn’t like it. Either they are trying to influence America to to kick him out, or they are incredibly stupid. I think it might be the ladder. Did I mention that Kara DioGuardi is extremely irritating? Can she at least make an effort to dress a little hotter? She looked like a school principal. Watch Casey’s performance.
casey 4 @ Yahoo! Video
Taylor Momsen Promotes her Album in England – Wearing Lingerie
Taylor Momsen appeared on “This Morning” show in England to promote her band, ‘Pretty Reckless,” wearing a disturbing outfit for a 16 year old. First of all, I’m not sure why her band is touring at all when she’s sixteen. Second, I don’t even think that outfit would look good on a 25 year old let alone a young teenager. She looks pretty out of it, and the interview takes an uncomfortable turn when she says that she’s had a rough life and music “saved her.” I’m not sure what is going on behind the scenes, all I know is that the interview slightly unnerved me. Watch below.
‘American Idol’ Finale Will Run Long – Set Your DVRs Now
‘American Idol’ has finally admitted that it cannot run its own show. They recently confessed that the finale will run 7 minutes long which, as Movieline points out, “is more like 27 minutes.” Is it not possible to effectively produce this show? Wait – I take that back. Clearly it isn’t, given that last week’s shows had the lowest ratings since 2002.