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Post by 4Ms on Sept 15, 2011 6:33:43 GMT -5
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 15, 2011 8:14:55 GMT -5
TV RECAP 'American Idol' recap: Crime-Scream Investigation by Michael Slezak | May 6, 2009 Kris and Allison get mugged by the judges, but a caterwauling Danny lands the 'Get Out of Jail Free' card for his abysmal Aerosmith cover www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20276858,00.html atop.proboards.com/thread/23/page/27/2009-adam-lamberts-ai-performances
If you tuned in for tonight's episode of American Idol and worried for a second that Fox was running a Cops marathon, who could blame you? In the course of a single hour — and, naturally, a few additional minutes designed to boost ratings for Fringe and drive DVR users/fans of The Mentalist to the brink of despair — I counted so many heinous crimes that Idol's newest judge would need to remove her shoes to keep count.
Shall we tally? Danny Gokey garroted a defenseless Aerosmith tune till its tongue lolled purple and bloated from its mouth. Kris Allen was casually hurled under the bus by a band of vicious imbeciles. Simon Cowell repeatedly vandalized his own reputation and hacked away at the last remaining threads of credibility that Idol possesses. Kara DioGuardi committed a lewd act, not to mention multiple counts of first-degree stupidity. And with their flawless, episode-ending duet, Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert stole the show.
Really, the only thing missing were blaring sirens, flashing red lights, and a cameo appearance by David Caruso, removing his shades at the end of Danny's solo performance and intoning, ''Somebody'd better request 'American Pie' on the jukebox, because today, the music died.''
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20276858,00.html
Okay, now let's get back to Danny.
Did he really think he could convert voters from the Glambert nation by trying to pull off a clumsy imitation of their chosen one?
(Funny enough, guest mentor Slash kinda forshadowed the vocal meltdown with that sly grin he gave as he talked about how Danny's whole performance hinged on him nailing the scream.)
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20276858_2,00.html
Randy: ''Yo, all right so [laughs] Yo, man. [Interrupting Danny's ''thank yous'' and self-applause.] So listen, listen, listen, listen. You know once again I know this is not your genre either, this is not really what you do, but I'll give you one thing. I mean, it was all right for me. It wasn't like perfect or that great. But I'll give you one thing: I'll give you an A+ for a valiant effort. 'Cause to hit that high note you had three notes jumpin' off at once [Laughs.]...It's just not what you do. You know what I mean?'' [Note from Slezak to Randy: Since when is lack of comfort with a given theme an excuse for a piss-poor performance? Did Adam get extra credit because he actually stayed on pitch during a Grand Ole Opry Week in which his nail polish freaked out the guest mentor? Um, no!]
Kara: ''Danny, I think you took the swagger comment and adding more edge into your performance, and those are all good things, we told you to do that, but I think you took it a little too far. I don't see you on this. I don't see you on this type of song. I see you more early Aerosmith — 'Cryin',' 'Crazy' — but I will say I like to see growth and I like to see risks and I like to see more edge, and I saw that tonight. Was it perfect? No. But I commend you for taking chances. Because rock and roll is about being bold and going for it.'' [Note from Slezak to Kara: Rock and roll is also about singing in tune. Furthermore, ''Cryin''' and ''Crazy'' are from the 1993 album Get a Grip, while ''Dream On,'' from Aerosmith, precedes them by two full decades.]
Paula: ''Danny, I know this was a tricky genre for you. And I told you, you know you've just got to go with the song that you're drawn to. I don't know if this was the right song for you, but again, I am huge fan of yours — a huge fan of yours! How many of you are Danny Gokey fans? It wasn't my favorite choice of song but I give you an A++ for going for it.'' [Note from Slezak to Paula: Abdul! Now you're cribbing from Randy, too! What would you say to an F--? No, that's not a bleeped out expletive, folks, it's F-minus-minus!]
Simon: ''Well, I agree pretty much with what everybody said. But that last note, I mean it was like watching a horror movie. I mean, it's like the scene in Friday the 13th, it was just like this scream...and I think it was actually a little bit off. And where I think for Adam it kind of worked, with you it didn't work so much. But I still think you're gonna be safe tonight though.'' [Note from Slezak to Simon: Nice way to replace ''f---ing awful'' with ''a little bit off.'' Also, I believe that instead of ''so much,'' you meant to say ''at all.'' Finally, please substitute ''dismissed without prejudice'' for ''safe.'' Aaaand, we're all done!]
Why is it that somewhere in my imagination, I'm imagining Ramiele Malubay texting Kristy Lee Cook and saying: ''OMG grl. WTF? 'Drm On' was atroshe! Adam 4EVA. Put the 'Go' in Gokey!''
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20276858_3,00.html
All kidding aside, though, if Simon is right, if his subtle suggestion that Danny is an inevitable final-three finisher takes root with the viewing public, that spells trouble for either Allison or Kris. Stress not, Glambert lovers, I'm not dissing your dude. I'm just saying there's no way he's in the bottom two again this week.
Think about it: The show opened tonight with a replay of the ''THIS is your bottom three'' heard 'round the world (nice way to re-motivate the troops!) and then Adam came out and nailed Led Zeppelin's ''Whole Lotta Love,'' probably the night's most difficult melody. Not that it showed on Glambert's face. Decked out like he'd just finished up a very easy cage-match at the Thunderdome, Adam sauntered onto the stage and suddenly, effortlessly, was hitting the kinds of notes Paula couldn't buy if she spent her entire Idol salary on Auto-Tune. (Which isn't to say I didn't give her new single an okay review on EW's Music Mix blog.) Adam is literally that guy at the gym lifting 400 pounds and not even grunting, while you make asthma-wheezing sounds picking up the bar. (And by ''you,'' I am referring to ''me.'')
I only had two issues with Adam's performance: First, that the jittery, amateurish camera work and cuts distracted from the emotional strength of the number (thank heavens for DVRs) and, second, that Adam didn't color much outside the lines of Robert Plant's original. In his defense, though, none of the contestants tonight attempted any new or daring remixes, and after all, this isn't Song Arrangement Idol. I just fear that Adam's decision not to eschew one very gender-specific line — ''Way down inside, woman, you need love'' — may have unleashed that head-throwing, table-slamming climax to Kara's critique. [Cue: Silkwood shower!]
As if ''Whole Lotta Love'' wasn't enough to take Adam to the top three on its own, though, he returned at the end of the show (in some muy tight trousers) for a show-stopping duet with Allison set to Foghat's ''Slow Ride.'' FOR ONCE, KARA WAS RIGHT. [Apologies: In all honesty, I just realized I hit the ''Caps Lock'' button on my keyboard instead of shift when I started that sentence, but it seems too poetic to lowercase the whole thought.] A duet should, as she explained, push both parties to be even better, and under those parameters, Adam and Allison succeeded in making me thoroughly enjoy a song I'm not certain I ever dug before tonight. Yet as pitch-perfect and authentically jammy as their vocals were, my favorite part of the number was the gleeful hug the rival contestants shared when they finished. The way Adam grinned when Allison was nailing her solo lines, the way Alli gave props to Adam for sharing his hairstylist with her, felt as authentic as Ryan's spray tan looked fake. These two totally have mad love for each other, and that warms my cynical heart. For real. (What a contrast to the utterly chemistry-free and time-wasting pairing of Danny and Kris on the thematically dubious ''Renegade.'' The whole affair was such a non-starter, the only significant note I took on it was to note the fury in Kris' eyes when Simon blithely (and incorrectly) decided he'd been outsung by a showboating Danny.)
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20276858_4,00.html
The lone female contestant in the competition probably benefited more from ''Slow Ride'' than Adam, seeing as how Randy, Kara, and Simon all used treacherous keywords — ''didn't love the song choice,'' ''nervous,'' and ''tried too hard to sound like the original,'' respectively — to undermine a vocal on Allison's solo performance of Janis Joplin's ''Cry Baby'' that they knew was pretty damn stellar. Granted, I thought Allison sort of rushed the transition from verse to chorus each time — losing out on the repetition of ''come on, come on, come on...'' that gives Joplin's original that extra touch of urgency, but who the hell is Randy to question the merits of anything from the Janis Joplin Songbook? Come on, Dawg! ''Whole Lotta Love'' and ''Dream On'' repeat their choruses with as much (if not greater) frequency, and yet you're only gonna pick a bone with one of the female-fronted number? The last hit you worked on was ''Dance Like There's No Tomorrow,'' dawg!
If we assume for a moment that Adam is safe — not really an assumption so much as a statement of fact — and we surmise that the pimp-slot positioning and epic win of Allison's ''Slow Ride'' duet also carries her into next week, then we're looking at either Danny or Kris heading home on Wednesday.
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20276858_5,00.html
We saw four singers get up on stage tonight to make a case for advancing to next Tuesday's performance show, and only one of 'em failed on an eye-popping level. That person is the one who should go and will go home. And I'm willing to bet my lunch money I'm right.
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20276858_6,00.html
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 16, 2011 8:34:56 GMT -5
TV RECAP 'American Idol' recap: Go Fourth and Prosper! by Michael Slezak | May 7, 2009 Allison's season 8 'journey' comes to an end, while Danny dreams on to join Kris and Adam in the final three www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20277370,00.html  [WE PAUSE FOR A MOMENT FOR AN AD BREAK: Coming up next Tuesday night on FOX! American Idol's is down to the final three, but this season, instead of getting nine musical performances, you'll get SIX! Yes, that's right. Who wants to hear Adam, Kris, and Danny singing, when you can bask in the glow of the judges' manipulative tactics? Watch Kara work the judges' table like a stripper pole after Adam performs! Hear Paula predict the final two again! (Hint: She's not picking the guy from Arkansas.) Listen to Simon demand that Kris act like a cocky bastard or risk immediate elimination! And Randy will use words, too. Possibly in a complete sentence fragment. Tune in, Tuesday night, on FOX!]
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20277370_2,00.html
Light your candles for Adam, because you're still waking up with night terrors remembering that time he was in the bottom two during Rat Pack Week, and you have vowed to never let it happen again. (Yes, Mom, that sentence was directed at you). But don't forget he's totally going to win this thing.
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9:07: Howl, Danny, howl! No, you are still not Adam.
9:14: I love that Adam loved his outfit. Love it.
9:39 Kris almost passed the eff out. And I loved how Adam gave him mad hugs. Also: Did I note lack of huggage and only arm grippage with Danny? Scandale? Or lack of time. Now save the rocker(s) and save the season people!
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9:54 Second person doing the safety dance -- in random order -- (Allison looks so nervous)…it's ADAM! Not a surprise. Smart move to announce him next.
10:03 Okay, my husband, bless his rational heart, just reminded me that Daughtry, too, was a fourth-place finisher, and LOOK AT HIM NOW! So I'm gonna go listen to my downloads of ''Someone to Watch Over Me,'' ''Give in to Me,'' ''Papa Was a Rollin' Stone,'' ''Don't Speak,'' and ''Hot Stuff,'' and try not to cry. There is work to be done, people. And I speak not only of my full TV Watch recap that needs writing, but of the Adam-Kris finale we need to make a reality. Good night and good luck.
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20277370_5,00.html
Idolatry 5/10/2009 1  Idolatry 5/10/2009 2  Idolatry 5/12/2009  Idolatry Kristen with glasses Put the Go in Gokey bcove.me/797p99ouIdolatry Allison 1 bcove.me/cok2n1u0Idolatry Allison 2 bcove.me/h9hov6x8Idolatry Allison 3 bcove.me/5x5brvbxIdolatry Allison 4  Idolatry Allison 5 1:22 Allison says Adam gave her Pappa Was A Rollin Stone.bcove.me/h3lpv1xu |
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 16, 2011 13:30:14 GMT -5
TV RECAP 'American Idol' recap: It's Reigning Men! by Michael Slezak | May 13, 2009 Kris, Adam, and Danny make their cases for a season-finale slot, while the judges reach new levels of idiocy www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278579,00.html 
Let's begin our recap of American Idol's eighth-season Top 3 performance night with a quiz:
Which of the following unexpected events and scenes did NOT play out during tonight's Idol telecast?
A. A fearsome howler monkey wrestled the mic away from a backup singer and offered aggressive, unwanted support to Adam Lambert as he performed Aerosmith's ''Cryin'.''
B. Kris Allen swiped some nailpolish off the top of Adam's dresser.
C. Simon upgraded from bargain-store undershirt to an elegant, tailored suit.
D. Randy was the least annoying member of the judges' panel.
E. Ryan's play-by-play included the exclamation: ''Paula's just punched Simon in the left breast.''
I know, I know...even if you missed tonight's episode, the correct answer (C) was too easy. (Simon never wears a suit until the season finale! Duh.) But the thing that impresses me about my favorite show on television is that with only three contestants and three episodes remaining before the lights go out at the Nokia, it manages to avoid settling into a predictable groove. I mean, just after I reach a point where I feel safe promising on an Idolatry episode that I'll dye my hair (gulp) to Iraheta Red if Adam doesn't take home the season 8 crown, along come those nagging winds of uncertainty. Was there a slight yet certain disturbance in Glambert's swagger? Was Danny's voice beginning to show the strain of 10 weeks of getting run through the unforgiving Idol machinery? And did Kris manage to have a moment despite/because of his decision to cover a song by Kanye West?
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278579,00.html
Adam Lambert and the Backup Singer from Hell, ''Cryin'' Imagine you're at work, and one of your colleagues decides to shadow your every move, mimicking your words, your motions, your every action. (Actually, if, like me, you're a fan of ABC's Better Off Ted, then you've witnessed this scenario in sitcom format.) That's kind of what happened to Adam as he navigated his way through the soaring chorus of what Kara still probably thinks is an ''early Aerosmith'' ballad, hounded at every step by a ''supporting'' vocalist who kept trying to outwit, outlast, and eventually consume whole the melody Adam was throwing down. But as with many of Adam's best performances, by the end, I found myself laughing and clapping along. Whether or not you ''get'' Adam, I think you have to admire the sheer audacity of what he tries to create each week on the Idol stage. The risks and liberties he takes with melodies are extravagant in the extreme: If vocal performances were bank heists, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, & Co, could take notes on Adam for their climactic scene in Ocean's Fourteen. This one moved Kris' family to their feet — before Adam said anything about how it was an honor to share the stage with the two other remaining finalists.
Oh, and before we move to the next performance, I have to make note of some of the ridiculata surrounding Glambert's number. First, there was the loaded-with-subtext quip from Ryan that Adam had already covered Cher and Queen during earlier parts of the season. Oh, Ryan, you coy little piece of fluff! Whatever could you be grinningly trying to imply? And speaking of fluff, how about Paula's comment of Adam soaring so much and so often that he needs to ''collect frequent flier miles''? Let's have a show of hands: How many of you think Paula had pre-scripted that quip, stored it in her brain (or written on her hand) for a day or two, and served it up the first moment she had a chance to use it? Either way, I found it interesting how Simon ended his critique by reminding viewers not to assume Adam would be safe in this week's voting, even though I'd bet every cent in my wallet that he will be.
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278579_3,00.html
Adam Lambert and the Missing Melodies, ''One'' Yo, yo, yo. What's goin' down? What's goin' down? I don't know, dawg. For me for you — Side note: anyone notice, actually, Randy has backed off ''for me for you'' for the last couple weeks? Yay! — but for me for you, this started out kind of touching and tender and lovely, and then something went haywire. The SwayBots got activated — I thought they were dead, but they're like pony-tailed, rhythm-less terminators — and then your voice got a little strained, and the more that happened, the harder you went for it. And then the SwayBots, they ate the crumbs you'd been sprinkling behind you, and you couldn't find your way back to the path to the melody, Dawg. It ended up kind of putting the ''arg'' in ''gargantuan.'' It was not a gold medal in the Throat Olympics, but you can really sing, baby. You can definitely sing. This just was not hot for me. Also, why must all ballads be bathed in blue light?
[Okay, my Randy Jackson impression is ludicrous, but no more than him telling Adam he was ''one of hottest three in this competition'' — a competition where only three people remain! How much does this man get paid? Then again, Randy was the only one to correctly point out that Adam's liberties with the melody didn't really work this week.]
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278579_4,00.html
And now, our letter grades for the night...
Kris' ''Heartless'': A
Adam's ''Cryin''': B+
Kris' ''Apologize'': B
Danny's ''Dance Little Sister'': B
Adam's ''One'': B-
Danny's ''You Are So Beautiful'': C+
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278579_5,00.html
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 17, 2011 18:27:08 GMT -5
TV RECAP 'American Idol' recap: It's Shock-Tale Hour! by Michael Slezak | May 14, 2009 As judges' favorite Danny gets booted, the season 8 battle (correctly) comes down to the outré glam rocker versus the laid-back, guitar-playing artiste www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278836,00.html  
As the great philosopher Mick Jagger once said, ''You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.'' And those words certainly sprang to mind as I watched American Idol's four-judge panel react with utter shock to Danny Gokey's elimination during tonight's Top 3 Results Show telecast.
You see, for 10 weeks running now, Paula, Simon, Randy, and Kara have been marching in lockstep and beating the drums for a Danny-vs.-Adam Lambert showdown.
In the Dangerous Corner, we have Adam, the man who turned ''Ring of Fire'' into a sexually charged, sitar-infused scorcher that left Idol viewers either panting or recoiling (or perhaps a little bit of both)...the man who sent us marching to iTunes by tackling a somewhat obscure cover of a very obscure Tears for Fears song...the man who moved Smokey Robinson to tears...the man who threatened to give us every inch of his love during Rock Week and bookmarked his performance with such humble, charming sound bites, you'd almost have thought he'd stepped out of some classic '60s sitcom (if not for the guyliner and mischievous sparkle in his eye)...the man who, even if you can't fathom buying his music, has undeniably provided the weekly Idol telecast with badly needed snap, crackle, and pop.
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278836,00.html
Katy Perry got in on the act, too, sporting a tacky cape emblazoned with the name ''Adam Lambert.''
...you kind of had to take the emotion where you could get it during the results-show telecast, seeing as how the hometown packages seemed not as well put together, and therefore less able to make me reach for a Kleenex the way they have in years past. I blame the lack of good, solid footage of weeping parent figures in Danny and Adam's packages, and a weakness in emotionally manipulative soundtrack choices, for my failure to cry.
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278836_2,00.html
Adam's trip to San Diego highlighted the following facts: Fox's local news affiliate is staffed by crazies; Adam does a heckuva nice job with the National Anthem; not even older gentlemen are impervious to Lambert-mania; and that in Idol's mind, women who strip to their bras are streakers. (Controversial pair-up of ''Baba O'Riley'' and its ''teenage wasteland'' refrain with footage of Adam's high school, no?)
And now, before we come to the end of our story, a quiz:
Tonight's most amusing cameo arrived when:
A) Bill Hader imitated the opening to the Idol theme song during the Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian promotional skit (Score one for the film's producers; I just typed the full movie title in my TV Watch!)
B) That adorable kid at the Metropolitan Educational Theater in San Diego asked Adam ''How did you get so good at singing and dancing?''
C) Paula's Divine Secrets of the GaGa(h!) Sisterhood Lace-Doily Blouse transported us to the center of a Fredericks' of Hollywood catalog (daywear section)
D) Noah from Rawanda busted out with the MC Hammer side-dance during his ''performance'' of ''I'm the World's Greatest'' (which still contained 72.3% more actual singing than Paula's ''I'm Just Here for the Music'' last week)
E) That chick in Milwaukee wearing the pink plaid pajama bottoms ran after Danny's limo. (Important programming note: I do not condone public wearing of pajama pants.)
F) Alicia Keys's arrival on stage was met with tepid applause from Simon (because anyone who offers competition to Leona Lewis is a problem!)
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278836_3,00.html
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 19, 2011 8:59:30 GMT -5
 
It was the best of finales, it was the worst of finales.
On one hand, not even the most rabid American Idol addict — even someone who's, say, starting to think of the SIMS people in the show's opening credits as a second family — could've scripted a better story arc than the one we got for the final Tuesday-night performance episode of season 8. In Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, we were treated to two wickedly different types of singers, bonded by mutual admiration and respect, singing not so much to win our votes, but rather, to win our hearts. (''We just came to give a good show,'' was how Kris so succinctly put it.)
And indeed, there was Adam, his falsetto swooping across the Nokia Theater like some rare, exotic bird, fanning out his feathers of vocal virtuosity and unflinching showmanship, without which this season of Idol might never have left the ground. (Whoa! That sentence just outed itself!) And there was Kris, behind the piano one minute, strumming his acoustic guitar the next, getting our attention with a whisper, and reminding us that his own brand of magic, while more subdued than Adam's, is just as powerful. I say this without the slightest hesitation or embarrassment: I can't wait to buy my first Adam Lambert concert ticket. I'm counting the days till I can download Kris Allen's debut CD. And, despite that promise I made a couple weeks ago to dye my hair Allison Iraheta red if Adam doesn't take home the season 8 crown, I'll have a smile on my face when I finish my live-blog of Wednesday night's season finale sometime around 10:15 p.m. EDT. (Look for it at popwatch.ew.com, and do comment like crazy using our new ''CoverItLive!'' technology!)
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20280073,00.html
Round 1: Break out the photo-finish camera...it's Kris by a nose! On paper, I'd have guessed Adam would easily have the edge, seeing how ''Mad World'' had been hands-down his defining performance of the season, while at this point, Kris was better known for ''Falling Slowly'' and ''Heartless'' (and possibly even ''She Works Hard for the Money'') than ''Ain't No Sunshine.'' But perhaps, with the benefit of hindsight, Kris' move was one of strategic brilliance? I mean, isn't it easier to slay the crowd when their expectations aren't quite as lofty?
Still, Adam's ''Mad World'' (Take Two) was about as close to vocal perfection as it gets — and this time had the added benefit of dry ice, some sort of magical stage elevator, and a very dramatic black duster than might've fit in nicely on the set of The Matrix. Simon labeling Adam's performance as ''over-theatrical'' seemed like a ridiculous ruse to achieve the appearance of parity, the better to subtly dismiss Kris during the latter portions of the telecast. I mean, Adam without the theatrics is like Roger Federer without a tennis racket! And what was with Randy's insistence that the performance was more Twilight than Phantom of the Opera? Black hair dye and a deep emotional connection to the material do not a vampire make, sir!
But no matter. Adam is operating on a plane that transcends the opinions of four adjective-challenged foolios sitting behind a table. Let's hope that in his post-Idol career, he can convince someone to make ''Mad World'' his first single, and forget that ''No Boundaries'' ever happened.
To break the tie for this round, you'd almost have to go to the Coca-Cola-sponsored parental interviews, but that would require telling Adam's sweet dad that his tale of his son's diaper-era wailing was five-percent less adorable than Kris' ''mama'' discussing her son's ''best gift ever'' — hand-made coupons holding the promise of a musical number from her son. Ouch! No one ever said the Idol journey was painless.
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20280073_2,00.html
Round 2: Break out the photo-finish camera again...it's Adam by a nose! In a season where certain ridiculous/disgusting factions would've had us believe that Idol would be decided on some kind of HeWhoCannot ameded up ''Godly vs. (Possibly) Gay'' battle lines, I found it particularly pleasing that Adam grabbed hold of ''A Change Is Gonna Come'' and took it directly to church. In his natty gray suit and a massive metallic ring that recalled shades of Beyoncé's mechanical ''Single Ladies'' hand, and flanked by the ''Idol Guitar Duo Guys,'' Adam delivered Sam Cooke's classic civil-rights anthem with a fervor that resulted in a full ''Gospel hand'' gesture, and had me briefly fantasizing about a Glambert-Fantasia duet. (How awesome would that be?) Paula certainly had a religious experience of her own when she went into her critique, waving her hand over her head and blurting with a cracked-voice crazy, ''I know with every fiber of my being you are gonna be iconic. Yes you are.'' And yet, while that's a lot of pressure to place on a guy who only five months ago was a session singer and chorus member for traveling theater productions, Adam seemed to soak in the hyperbole with his usual grinning, unperturbed charm.
Round 3: Kris' ''No Boundaries''...slightly less awful than Adam's! Does it really matter that ''No Boundaries'' was in too high a key for both Kris and Adam? Kris' voice got stretched like a single parent's budget in our current economy, but somehow he seemed more emotionally invested than his competitor in the worst song to grace the Idol stage during seasons 7, 8, and 9. (Yeah, I'm psychic like that.) Unnoticed by the judges, however, was the way Kris completely dropped a line of the song, although since said line was directly prior to the ''hurricane'' reference, I think we can forgive the guy for experiencing a moment of pure panic. Adam, meanwhile, sounded shrill and strained on Kara's composition, and missed more notes during its 90-second duration than he has in the rest of his Idol performances combined. Even worse, he seemed to be holding the mic too close to his mouth for the opening of the number, resulting in icky prank-call-ian feedback.
But instead of nitpicking about how our Idols failed in their quests to roll their respective boulders through the hurricane, up the quicksand-covered mountain, etc, let's check out the way Kara's fellow judges tap-danced through their critiques. (All quotes taken out of context at my bemused discretion, although watching Kara clap giddily at the end of Adam's rendition, I came thisclose to feeling bad for her.)
Randy on Adam: ''You could sing the phone book.'' (What was left unsaid? ''And I kinda wish you had, Dawg.'')
Paula on Adam: ''You can sing whatever you want to sing and I will be a fan forever, front in line.'' (What was left unsaid? ''I'd appreciate it, though, if you skipped that crappy song by the lady who wants to take my job!'')
Simon on Adam: ''[Laughs.] It's the mountains and the hurricanes. I'm not gonna judge that song. I'm gonna judge you.'' (What was left unsaid? Not much.)
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20280073_3,00.html
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 19, 2011 11:28:19 GMT -5
 
Five (and only five) words for you: ''Adam deserves this. I'm sorry.''
Yes, folks, the only thing more shocking than witnessing Kris Allen's upset win over Adam Lambert during tonight's season 8 finale of American Idol was hearing the unassuming (and yet in my estimation, completely worthy) victor utter those astonished words of apology. I mean, what's next? Rachel Alexandra giving Mine That Bird some room on the rail to pass her in the Belmont stretch? Federer handing a Wimbledon title to Nadal? Coke and Pepsi swapping cola recipes?
In all seriousness, though, while I went into tonight's finale completely ready to embrace either the terrific Kris or the fabulous Adam as my Idol, I also recognize that not everyone approached the telecast with such a Kumbaya attitude. Exhibit A: At 10:09 p.m., I literally had to talk my own Adam-obsessed mother through a crying spell punctuated by her first-ever ''I'm never watching this stupid show again!'' outburst. (Welcome to the full Idol experience, Mom!) Exhibit B: The message boards for my Idol season-finale live-blog (which is excerpted at the end of this column) are uncomfortably crowded with the kind of nascent barbs that signify folks are getting worked up by something more than their feelings about who took a confetti shower at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles tonight. ''Kris is the least-worthy Idol winner ever!'' ''The screecher went down in flames!'' ''The Christians voted for Kris!'' ''The homophobes voted against Adam!'' (As if being Christian and being gay were somehow mutually exclusive, or as if any single contestant from this year's top 13 had ever openly discussed his or her sexual orientation in a public forum! Okay, I'm being a little coy there, but I also speak the truth!)
But before we gather in the town square with our torches and brickbats, ready to descend on Fox and 19 Entertainment and whoever else should be held responsible for tonight's somewhat unexpected results, let's all take a deep and cleansing breath. Before we lob the words ''unfair'' or ''untalented'' or ''unforgivable'' in the direction of a soft-spoken and by all accounts charming young gentleman from Arkansas, or before we sneer and jeer that the inevitable victory march of a certain cool cat from California fell a step short, let us check ourselves. Before we put smiles on the faces of the arms dealers who'd so love to see us turn our obsession with a televised talent competition into a full-blown culture war, let's ask ourselves: In whose name are we fighting?
Oh, I know, vitriol and outrage and whining are important signposts on the Idol highway — without them, this column would crawl under a couch and turn to dust, and I'd be out of a job! — and yet every single thing I have seen this season about Kris Allen and Adam Lambert tells me they wouldn't want us to take the bait at a moment like this. In Kris and Adam, we have a couple of telegenic, talented guys who reportedly showed their solidarity — set an example of how competitive rivals from different walks of life can still behave respectfully and dare I say lovingly — by the former painting his thumbnail black, and the other leaving his thumbnail unpainted. (If that not-sponsored-by-Maybelline anecdote made no sense to you, then please click for a more detailed explanation.) The point is, these guys clearly like and respect one another. These are the combatants who, when asked on Tuesday night who was going to take home the season 8 crown, promptly pointed at each other and said ''That guy!'' So how exactly can anyone who loves Idol not be smiling right now? Well, unless, of course, you're a fan of Scott MacIntyre, who actually managed to get less screen time tonight than Janice Freakin' Dickinson! (More on that and other egregious snubs in just a moment.)
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20280292,00.html
American Idol season 8 winner Kris Allen, and runner-up Adam Lambert's versions of their debut single 'No Boundaries,' is available at iTunes now.'' To which I say ''WHAT?'' I thought the consolation prize for this year's runner-up was the assurance that they wouldn't be forced into releasing a digital version of what I'm hoping will be Kara DioGuardi's final defilement of the Idol franchise.
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3. Maybe a runner-up finish is the best thing that ever happened to Adam Lambert. If you're still sniffling into a tissue (in sadness, not with allergies) or trembling with fury about Glambert's runner-up status, please go directly to your iPod or the official American Idol site and treat yourself to a repeat performance of one of the following: ''Mad World,'' ''Black or White,'' ''Ring of Fire,'' ''Tracks of My Tears,'' ''Whole Lotta Love,'' or ''Feeling Good.'' (Yes, of course, the ''Slow Ride'' duet with Allison is also more than acceptable.) Now riddle me this: Do you seriously think the likelihood of Adam Lambert becoming an international singing superstar will be affected in any way by his failure to attain a title that would've been bestowed on him by the head of Fox's reality TV programming department?
The truth of the matter is, Adam's voice is insane, over-the-top, unbridled, and not quite like anything residing on Billboard's charts today. His performance tonight with KISS drove home the fact that Adam could (and I think should) begin the movement to bring hair metal back to the mainstream after a too-too long absence. Of course, what's most fascinating about Adam is he could also choose to use his powerhouse voice in a half dozen completely disparate musical genres — yet look and sound equally comfortably in each of 'em.
Glambert Nation cardholders: What's important to remember as you curse American Idol tonight is that, without it, you probably would have no idea who Adam Lambert is, or what he sounds like. Your glam god would be a faceless session singer in a Los Angeles recording studio or a chorus member of a touring Broadway show, still looking for some uninspired, robotic record exec to take a chance on him. But now, thanks to his Idol run — one in which only he and Kris Allen got to perform for 11 consecutive Tuesdays — you'll be lining up to buy his major-label debut album in about six months' time. And perhaps, as a second-place finisher, he'll get to cut a more daring debut than he might otherwise have. (See Blake Lewis' sadly underappreciated Audio Day Dream as an example of where and how runners-up are allowed to roam creatively.) In my mind, Adam's ''sound'' will be eclectic, driven more by where his voice can take him than where his voice will be led by a team of hit-hungry producers. And without the weight of the Idol franchise's hopes on his back, maybe he'll be allowed to carry out that mission.
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20280292_3,00.html
And now for a few highlights of last night's live-blog. (Or read it in its entirety here.)
8:10 ''So What'' by the top 13. (Wasn't this just on the DWTS performance finale on Monday? I'd like to be getting the royalties checks on that!) And Allison RAPS!
8:11 Is this 100% live? Let's check Jorge's lips, because boyfriend cannot lip-synch to save his life.
8:12 Jasmine off-key. Yep this is live.
8:15 David Cook is here with ''Permanent.'' How many singles is dude working simultaneously?
8:16 Oooh. I like hearing David's voice on something stripped-down and melodic. But seriously, is he singing ''make it go away'' about the Swaybots who are threatening to destroy his performance. DAMN THESE SWAYBOTS! Just when you think they're gone, they come back, like rhythm-less fire ants.
8:24 Norman Gentle. Same joke. Bigger stage. Fewer laughs. And enjoy the perch and the power, because it's gonna be gone in 5, 4, 3, 2...
8:33 ANOOP!
8:34 Anoop singing ''I'm Yours.'' With ALEXIS. Happiness is an awesome duet. Let's hope Jason Mraz gives these two underrated Idols their time at the mic.
8:35 Anoop, that's a KILLER jacket, and I covet it. You better Tweet me what the brand is, sir!
8:38 Kris Allen and Nicole Kidman's husband duet on ''Kiss A Girl.'' How come I never think of Kris as country? Although I bet he'd sell a gugillion records if he went that route.
8:39 Note to Simon...Kris is showing you how to do the unbuttoned dress shirt thing, aiight? And note to Danny...Keith is showing you how to make eye-contact with your duet partner, just for future reference.
8:56 Now that Bikini Girl is singing, it's just getting depressing.
8:57 Kara! You better hit those notes, fourth judge! You can't suck at judging, songwriting, and singing all in the same week. Okay, not bad. OH! She was almost having a moment till the dress popped open. Now we're back to depressing.
9:00 ALLISON IRAHETA! AND CYNDI LAUPER! Future legend + living legend = Me having heart palpitations.
9:01 OMG! ALLISON YOU SOUND A-MAH-ZING. AND I CAN'T STOP THIS ALL-CAPS BUSINESS. SORRY, GUYS.
9:03 Yep. Put this down in the top five moments of season 8.
9:06 Okay, I don't say this to be bitchy, but I literally forgot about Danny till they brought him back out. Seems a little cold to saddle him with a David Cook anthem, but he sounds pretty good tonight. And cue Lionel Richie! Oh and what's THIS they're singing? Can we go back to ''Hello''? And can we bring Cookie and his gee-tar back out?
9:09 Literally, ''fiesta forever.''
9:16 WOW! Adam's jacket looks like the glass-and-metal collection from the Mode magazine fashion show on a recent episode of Ugly Betty.
9:17 A KISS ballad. Eyeliner that looks like it's made from shards of glass. And now we've got KISS themselves in full battle makeup. Clearly the warm and cozy voting portion of the competition has come to an end. And I gotta say, Adam sounds absolutely at home, and flawless.
9:18 I seriously think Adam can (and should) bring hair metal back to radio when he gets done with this show. This is all kinds of awesome. AND A GUITAR IS BEING SMASHED ON THE IDOL STAGE. Tongues out, beeotches. Fun for the whole family...at least at Casa Slezak.
9:31 Michael Sarver, Megan Joy, and Steve Martin doing bluegrass. Really about 76 times better than I'd expected.
9:39 Michael Sarver and Danny Gokey kicking off ''Do Ya Think I'm Sexy.'' Oh boys, no, not even in the Godly way. (Yeah, I'm couldn't resist referencing that hein MySpace video earlier in the week.)
9:40 Who wants to start a petition? No guest performers on Idol finales unless they're directly dueting with/engaging at least one of the finalists!
9:52 WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! Anyone who says Kris has a weak voice did not hear the opening bars of this song. Also: I'm loving being able to love these two guys loving each other.
10:00 RESULTS! SQUEAK.
10:01 The man from ''Telescope'' declares a ''world record.'' I don't know what that means but he has a British accent so it must be true.
10:02 OH. MY. GOD.
10:03 Show of hands: Who just crapped their pants?
10:04 How cute is Allison pushing Adam to center stage. And how happy is Adam that at least he doesn't have to sing ''No Boundaries.''
10:05 This song doesn't sound quite as bad as it did last night. Kris falls off the platform. And cue the confetti shower!
10:06 Kris crying into his wife's shoulder. Awfully cute.
10:07 Wait a second. I have to dye my hair tomorrow. Oh crap. I am gonna look so ridiculous with Iraheta red on my thinning locks.
www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20280292_5,00.html
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 19, 2011 12:14:23 GMT -5
POPWATCH BLOG 'Idolatry' finale: Pink hair, Kris and Adam love, contestant snubs, and The Kara Problem! by Michael Slezak | May 26, 2009 It's here at last: The five-part Idolatry season finale! Okay, yes, it's not technically our season finale. (Later this week, we'll have in- depth interviews with... popwatch.ew.com/2009/05/26/idolatry-finale/
Idolatry 2009 Finale - Part 1
Idolatry 2009 Finale - Part 2
Idolatry 2009 Finale - Part 3
Idolatry 2009 Finale - Part 4
Idolatry 2009 Finale - Part 5
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 19, 2011 12:28:32 GMT -5
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 20, 2011 10:42:00 GMT -5
NEWS BRIEFS BLOG Adam Lambert officially signed to 19, RCAby Michael Slezak | Jun 9, 2009 A day after announcing American Idol season 8 champ Kris Allen's deal, 19 Recordings revealed it has also signed runner-up Adam Lambert, and that, as... news-briefs.ew.com/2009/06/09/adam-lambert-rca/POPWATCH BLOG Adam Lambert and Madonna: Please work together now. Thanks.by Michael Slezak | Jun 19, 2009 When I read in Rolling Stone's Adam Lambert cover story that the American Idol runner-up was starstruck during a recent meeting with Madonna, my... popwatch.ew.com/2009/06/19/adam-lambert-madonna-yes/INSIDE TV BLOG Exclusive: Adam Lambert working with Linda Perry, Sam Sparro, Kara DioGuardi, Ryan Tedder; responds to Hi Fi statementsby Michael Slezak | Jun 26, 2009 Adam Lambert officially responded this evening to news that Hi Fi Recordings' upcoming disc, On With... insidetv.ew.com/2009/06/26/adam-lambert-linda-perry/ |
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