Sanjaya and Britney?

That's the story.

See you tomorrow...

John

JLo was on Ellen Degeneres Today...

They were chatting about American Idol, and when they mentioned Sanjaya, you should have heard the astonishing heartfelt booing from the audience at the mention of his name. JLo noted that he had a sweet voice and that he hadn't yet come into his own, but that she thought he was a good singer. They both agreed that the young girls were probably keeping him alive.

...John

WES - William E Samland

(clap.stomp.clap.stomp) is quasi-spamming MySpace members with 'add me as a friend' requests, noting the following:

"When I went on American Idol, my goal was to go on and represent my artistic vision, and to get the word out about my music. I got my song played on the most- watched TV show, and probably over 30 million people watched it. I would have liked to have gone further in the show, though I think it worked out Ok, as it has given me an opportunity to continue working on my album. Also, the pot of gold at the end of the American Idol Rainbow is a record deal, and why would I want to be signed to a company that didn't understand where I'm coming from as an artist? I want to work with a label that realizes that my music is for the future. My music is the Rock n Roll of the Future. The Idol judges really have no frame of reference for my music. They are judging on the standards of the past. Now is a new millennium, and it is time for a new paradigm."

His "artistic vision" looks photoshopped, to me... ; )

Katharine McPhee...

... will appear on the Rachel Ray Show, tomorrow, singing her new single. See you there!
(Sorry for the error - I originally said the Ellen Degeneres Show. I sit corrected. I wear orthopedic pants)

******************
UPDATE and REVIEW
******************

Katherine sang the biggest hit on her new album, 'Over It'. The live performance was even more spacious and lively than the studio version on the album. Accompanied by a backup trio and conga drums, as well as the usual instruments, she owned the song and gave me the same goosebumps as her performances on American Idol.

She talked of how much freer she now feels to be herself and not have the self-critical voices in her head that were a part of auditioning for the judges on the show.

Rachel noted that she's now being compared to Mariah and other star singers.

UPDATE

On Friday, 2/16, Katherine appeared on the Ellen Degeneres Show and sang 'Over It' once again. Her performance was slightly less inspiring than the one she gave on the Rachel Ray Show, but she's still going strong!

Various and Sundry

So, here's some AI gossip that might interest one and all. Oh, but first. Have I mentioned "THANK GOODNESS Hollywood starts this week!"? Ah, Hollywood. I remember that's where it really started to be all the more obvious that ELLIOTT was a leader among the masses. Remember when Elliott Yamin was up against that pushy, obnoxious Brittenum twin and a couple of other guys? And the twin fudged the lyrics and then gave a big, huge speech saying that he sang better than the others and that it's their fault he didn't do well because they didn't want to rehearse? And then Randy said something like, "Dawg, you wanna know who sang the best? That boy right there!" and he pointed to Elliott who humbly smiled and bowed like he does and went on to the fame he deserves (not enough fame--yet, in my opinion). I *love* Elliott!

Anyway, on to the gossip! I've got information about AI Alums and current contestants.

AI Alumni News

Chris Daughtry tells his fans to "Get over it." I'm happy for him and I really like him, so I mean this sincerely and not as a slam--I hope his marriage is really solid. His wife championing his cause was so heartwarming (I shed a tear) and with the schedule he must keep, I really do hope his marriage and family are solid. I imagine that it must be difficult to have that kind of success and schedule with both his career and his home life.

Katharine McPhee is savouring her success and appearing on magazine covers! She really is so beautiful.

Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson blasts 'Idol' as abusive and brainwashing.

Poor Jessica Sierra was being stalked after her stint on American Idol. Her stalker has been arrested.

Current Idol Contestants

Porcelana Patino (think "Rocky"--that girl who worked out and wore REALLY low-riding pants to her audition?) missed her TV airing to be by her dad's side at the hospital after he was involved in a hit-and-run.

Here's a VERY interesting (and perhaps surprising) interview with early favorite Sean Michel (think Fidel Castro)--I highly recommend reading this one!

Jamie Lynn Ward (the 17-year-old who cares for her paralyzed dad who shot her stepmomma when he caught her cheating?) -- apparently her family is speaking out about Jamie's recounting of events (apparently they have a different story) and for bringing up the past in her audition. Geez, I hope she doesn't get grounded.

Chris Sligh, Funny Guy. Here's a link to his blog. And here's a link to his MySpace page -- his music is SO good, much better than his audition. I hope he goes far.

Judges

Paula Abdul is NOT being replaced by Courtney Love -- apparently it was a hoax.

Early Favorites

Here is an article that lists early favorites including Chris Sligh, Sundance Head, Sean Michel, Sanjaya Malakar, Melinda Doolittle, and more. Vote for your favorite! Better yet, I'm making us our own poll! Be looking for it . . . them . . . I'm making several. :P

Taylor Hicks Goes Platinum . . .

. . . before even releasing his first single!! AMAZING!! We've heard nothing but good about his album. The reviews are truly phenomenal. We've heard that NPR has had interviews with people who have said that his original songs (he's written many of them) are better than the others! His songwriting and style are highly praised. We've ordered a copy for ourselves. :) We can post a review once we listen to it.



Here's the very short article that highlights Taylor going Platinum:
http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=29847

10 Things You Need to Know about American Idol

So here's a (rather large) teaser from TV guide to get you to buy this week's edition. Here are the first FIVE things you "need to know," but to find out the other FIVE, you've got to buy the magazine. I just want to say a few things first.

1. I thought something was odd about how Paula and Jewel weren't that buddy buddy on the show yesterday.

2. It's interesting to get a sneak peek at other judges from other cities as well as judges' favorites.

3. Ken Warwick can feel free to ask my input on what to cut out. I disagree with his assessment. Seattle very well could've (and should've) been a one-hour show. It was, as Simon says, abysmal.

Are the words "This is American Idol" music to your ears? Then brace yourself: Fox's unstoppable ratings juggernaut has returned for a sixth season of off-key wannabes and future chart-toppers. We tracked down the show's three judges, two producers and one excitable host and got them to reveal exclusive scoop on what just might be Idol's most unpredictable year yet.

1) Missing the early episodes would be a huge mistake. There are generally two reasons to sit through Idol's initial auditions: to catch the drama created by those who are a) tone-deaf, or b) have Lifetime-movie sob stories (such as Kellie Pickler, who showed up at her audition last year and revealed that Mom had abandoned her and Dad was in jail). The first city to get the audition treatment, Minneapolis, was chock-full of the latter, according to executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz. "We have some great stories — some really sad, and some inspirational," she promises. "You'll see a lot of heart."

Seattle, on the other hand, was all about damaged eardrums. Host Ryan Seacrest recalls the first of two days spent in the Pacific Northwest, when he sat down for a lunch break with the three judges. "We just looked at each other, jaws dropped, like, ‘Where have these people come from?'" he says.

As chronically cranky judge Simon Cowell puts it, "I hated everyone who auditioned." Surprisingly, he did not storm out of the room as he has in the past when frustrated by a lack of talent. But, he notes, "there were a lot of [contestants] who went nuts at me and walked out."

The turnout in Seattle was so ear-splittingly bad that what was supposed to be a one-hour episode got extended to two. "We came to the point where we were saying, ‘What do we take out?'" says executive producer Ken Warwick. "So to hell with it, we made it a two-hour show."

2) A whopping 103,000 hopefuls auditioned, and, Seattle aside, they weren't all William Hungs. In fact, Season 6 may boast the biggest talent pool yet. "America always has had the greatest singers in the world," Cowell proclaims. "We've definitely found that." Everybody has his or her early favorites. Paula Abdul is gaga over a handful of guys, whom she describes as "edgier than the girls." Randy Jackson favors "someone with curly hair," and Warwick raves about a girl who "is gonna give Aretha Franklin a run for her money." Still, they all agree that of those who made it through to Hollywood this year, there is no clear Fantasia-esque front-runner. This seems to suit everyone just fine. "It's a competition," Warwick says. "The ‘American Idol' is the last 35 seconds of the last show. The show is really about the journey, not the destination."

3) Contestants are sent packing faster than ever. It's hardly a big shock when Simon bluntly crushes a hopeful's dreams. But after five seasons, it seems even the sympathetic Abdul is running low in the patience department. "I actually said to myself, ‘I can't believe I just said [to a contestant], "You've gotta be kidding me."' But it's the sixth season! The bar's gotta be raised." And the bloodletting isn't contained to the seven audition cities. Some 173 hopefuls advance to the four-day-long Hollywood round — where the group is whittled to 24 — but, warns Frot-Coutaz, "the judges get rid of a lot more people than normal on the first day."

4) It's Paula versus Jewel in a verbal smackdown. Olivia Newton-John was a "sweetheart" when she helped the judges comb through prospects in L.A, while legendary songwriter Carole Bayer Sager was "subdued" in New York. Then there's Jewel, who sat in on Minneapolis. "She and Paula got a bit competitive at one point," Frot-Coutaz says carefully. Warwick is more blunt about the incident, which you'll see in the premiere episode: "They had a bit of a spat. It was near the end of the day. You gotta remember that Paula looks at [Idol] like, ‘This is my turf, girl.'"

5) Simon, Randy, Paula and Ryan secretly kind of like each other! On camera, Seacrest and the triumvirate of judges bicker like a dysfunctional family reunited for the holidays. Off camera, they're prone to teasing each other as only a close-knit clan can. When Abdul laments that Cowell has never given her a Christmas or birthday gift, he cracks, "I gave Paula a personality! That's the best present."

And when it comes to discussing their adventures on the road to each of this season's audition cities, they're prone to tattling on each other like children. Says Seacrest: "When Simon got into his hotel room, he'd call and ask how big mine was. If my room was bigger, he'd request a change."

And Cowell reveals that, during a shopping excursion to Seattle's Louis Vuitton store, Seacrest made an odd purchase. "He bought a hatbox," Cowell says. "You know, a box you carry ladies' hats in? He bought one. For himself. In red." Now, now, boys.

For the other five things every fans need to know about American Idol, pick up the new issue of TV Guide, on sale Thursday.

Full article here. The article at the link has several links contained in the article if you feel like digging further.