According to the National Enquirer, Sanjaya's mother, Jillian Blyth, was busted in 2005 for growing pot in her garage. Neighbors complained about the smell of marijuana and the large vent on the roof of the garage, according to legal documents unearthed by the Enquirer.
According to the report, police found 310 marijuana plants at the Malakar's house, and even more at another location in Federal Way, Washington. Sanjaya's mother pled guilty to "unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance", a felony.
The National Ledger revealed further details in an article Wednesday, including the fact that Sanjaya's sister Shyamali was at the scene when police arrived, and that she was the one that told police where to find her mother at the second growing operation in Federal Way.
While his mother was in jail, Sanjaya lived with his aunt.
For quite a while, rumors have been flying that Season Five American Idol winner Carrie Underwood is dating Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. She was in a luxury box at a Cowboys game last year, and they've been seen together in public many times.
The Kidd Kraddick morning show has gotten their hands on some exclusive photographs, showing them together recently, and they certainly seem like a couple. They are seen with their arms around each other, hugging, kissing, and laughing.
As always in Hollywood, representatives for Underwood wouldn't confirm or deny the rumors. "They have recently been spending a little time together.", representative Jessie Schmidt told People magazine. They are "definitely not boyfriend/girlfriend. It's very casual at this point. It's the really early stages."
This is "Idol Gives Back". They've hyped it up for weeks, and now it's finally here. NewsCorp (the company that owns Fox) will donate 10 cents per call tonight up to 5 million dollars. Ford, AT&T, and Coca Cola are also donating money tonight to help the cause.
First, we're greeted by footage of Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell's trip to Africa. These are some of the chldren and families that this charity will be helping. Simon and Ryan are obviously very moved by the whole experience.
Bono is the special guest tonight, and the theme is "songs that inspire".
Chris Richardson starts us off with "Change the World" by Eric Clapton. This seems like it would be a great song for him, but for an "inspiring song", it started off very uninspiring and a little pitchy. As the song progressed and he picked up the pace, the energy really picked up, and he ended the song really well. The judges seemed to really like him, even Simon! Overall, it was a good start to the evening.
Randy: You are in it to win it. That was great! Paula: To start it off, you did fantastic. Great song choice. I'm really proud of you. Simon: This reminds me of the first time we saw you. I think you did really well.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Next we see footage of Randy, Paula, and Ryan's trips to various places around the US, including Louisiana, Kentucky, the Navajo nation in Arizona, and Atlanta. Our votes will be helping to raise money for these places as well.
Since we haven't seen Bono yet, I'm assuming that his duties as "special guest" will be in some capacity other than helping the contestants with their singing. I'm surprised that they've even had time to work on their songs this week considering all the rehearsing and filming they've been doing for the special tomorrow night.
Melinda Doolittle sings "There Will Come a Day" by Faith Hill, because it has a good message that encompasses what tonight is all about. As always, her performance is fantastic. Her voice is strong and powerful, and she really manages to express the emotion of the song through her performance.
Randy: You're our resident pro. You're so dope. You have it all together. You have arrived. Paula: There's no one like you. You're magical. Simon: It wasn't a copycat performance. You made me believe you'd recorded it originally. A vocal masterpiece!
Buzz Score: 10
As we go to the break, we see a sign for "The Blake Girls", apparently a fan club for none other than Blake Lewis, who is up next. A question from Virginia asks what the biggest sacrifice he has made to be here. He says it's being apart from his family and friends.
Singing John Lennon's "Imagine", he's out on stage with a piano and wearing a coat. The vocals are sound, but the performance as a whole was kind of boring. I think he's trying to beat Clay Aiken's record for the most odd facial expressions during one performance. I kept waiting for him to break out and really make me enjoy the performance, but it never happened. I was kind of dissapointed by Blake this week.
Randy: It was just kind of alright for me. It didn't move me. Paula: It's the first real sensetive and emotional performance from you. I really enjoyed it. Simon: You've chosen one of the big songs of all time. It felt sincere, but it didn't go anywhere. Good.
Buzz Score: 8
After learning about feeding centers and seeing Ryan try to balance a basket of bananas on his head, LaKisha Jones will bring back Fantasia Barrino's winning song from Season Three, "I Believe". This seems like a good choice for LaKisha. I wasn't the biggest Fantasia fan, but I thought she performed this song very well. Since most American Idol viewers have seen this song performed by Fantasia numerous times, it will be hard for voters to not compare the two singers. I think Fantasia definitely wins this battle. Not only did Fantasia sing the song better, but the energy and emotion she brought to the stage far exceeded LaKisha's version. Like with Blake, the performance is vocally sound, but not really unique or exciting. Also, Simon is right about the shouting. For the second week in a row, LaKisha's performance has been overwhelmed her shouting.
Randy: Great song choice. Not your best performance, but I did like it. Paula: You are a powerhouse vocalist, but I have a hard time getting past the fact that Fantasia sang it so well. Simon: I'm having an issue with the shouting.
Buzz Score: 8
Molly in Little River, SC asks Phil what he misses most about home. He says he misses his daughters the most. They are usually in Hollywood for his performances, but this week, they are with their grandparents. Tonight, he is singing the Garth Brooks tune that was written to commemorate the Oklahoma City bombing victims - "The Change".
With a piano on stage with him, he brings a good amount of emotion to his performance right from the beginning. His voice starts off a little shaky, but powerful and soulful at the same time. It didn't completely blow me away, but I did really like it a lot.
Randy: You're back again this week with a strong poerformance and a great song. Paula: I feel like you've really found your comfort. This was your best. Simon: I really like you. A country tone suits your voice better. People like you.
Buzz Score: 9
After the break, Simon gives us a tour of 'America's Second Harvest', a foodbank that provides starving children in the US with food at a huge discount. Jordin rounds out the night with "You'll Never Walk Alone", which she says has a message of hope. The song, from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Carousel", starts off slow, and Jordin's voice wavers a bit. As she gets louder and the song picks up a bit, I get can't past the pitch problems that I seem to be hearing on every other note along with her scratchy voice. Maybe I'm hearing things, because all the judges loved it. It just didn't move me like it seemed to move the judges. Even on the recap of all the songs,Jordin's part sounded way off to me. Either way, I think Jordin's safe this week.
Randy: I think that's one of the best vocals by any contestant ever. Paula: You picked an amazing song to end the night. You did a lovely job. Simon: I thought you were fanstastic.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Everybody left is a great performer and well-liked by America, so it's even harder this week to pick who will go home. I think the three most vulnerable are Chris, Blake, and Phil. Maybe LaKisha. Since Chris went first, I think he may edge out the others, but that's little more than a guess. So that's my final answer: Chris Richardson will go home tomorrow.
Tomorrow night, we will have one of the biggest shocks we have ever had on American Idol. My bet is totally on Simon singing for charity. Sanjaya had suggested he sing "Shiny Happy People", and that might just be what he does. Either way, you heard it here first - Simon will be singing tomorrow night.
Sanjaya Malakar appeared on David Letterman on Monday night, and presented his own Top Ten List, with “Top Ten Things I Learned From American Idol”.
Here is his list:
10. The camera adds ten pounds to your Mohawk. 9. Work hard and make sacrifices, you can finish in 7th place. 8. It’s very important to 'Keep it real, Dawg.' 7. I should have gone for the immunity idol – oh, wait that’s Survivor. 6. On camera Simon is a bit nasty, but off camera, he’s a total jerk. 5. Voting for yourself 100 times an hour causes some wicked carpal tunnel. 4. When you forget the words, just do this: “whoa oh, yes he did.” 3. Honestly, I though I was auditioning for 'Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?' 2. Nothing. 1. American loves performers with bad hair - Right, Dave?
American Idol had said "two of the biggest stars in musical history will come together," and they weren't lying.
Elvis Presley and Celine Dion, on stage together for the first time ever!
According to a source dug up by TMZ, Dion will be singing with a virtual Elvis as she sings his hit song "If I Can Dream." The current American Idol contestants will sing backup.
The singer, widely regarded as one of the best in the world, is currently performing in her own show at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
"Idol Gives Back" is a charity event with many actors and singers coming together to raise money for the poor in the United States and Africa. Celebrities participating include Hugh Grant, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Daniel Radcliffe and Keira Knightley.
This week, American Idol will have the biggest event in it's six year history with it's "Idol Gives Back" show.
Actor Daniel Radcliffe, better known as "Harry Potter" will be on hand along with Forest Whitaker, Hugh Grant, and Jack Black, among others. Musicians Gwen Stefani, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, and Celine Dion will perform on the Wednesday night special.
Ellen Degeneres, the popular host of this year's Oscar ceremonies, will be co-hosting the show.
Sanjaya Malakar, recently ousted from American Idol can't go anywhere without being noticed.
He talked of his newly found fame on a Monday appearance of Regis and Kelly. "It's really weird. I mean, I'm just Sanjaya from Seattle."
Asked about how he is dealing with the legions of adoring fans, the 17-year old entertainer said "It's paparazzi that get at you, and fans come up and try to give you hugs and get autographs. I would love to just be able to hug everyone and give autographs and take pictures, but you can't."
Sanjaya has been making his rounds this week, attending a dinner at the White House and appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman.
Despite his quick rise to fame, Sanjaya plans on being in the spotlight for a long time. "What I want to do is experience the whole entertainment business because, I mean, I'm not just a musician, I'm an entertainer," he said.
In a recent AOL Television interview Sanjaya was asked what role VoteForTheWorst.com and Howard Stern had in his staying power.
"I don't think that VoteForTheWorst.com or Howard Stern really have enough people voting enough times to make a dent. I think the reason why I'm here is solely because of my support from fans."
Sanjaya also said that he wasn't too happy with Stern, who encouraged viewers to screw with the Idol system by voting for Sanjaya. Now that Sanjaya is off the show, Phil Stacey has been chose the new "worst" for those still trying to mess with the results.
As the contestants get fewer and the votes pile up, it becomes exponentially harder to keep a bad contestant on the show. Add that to the fact that Phil Stacey isn't as "interesting" as Sanjaya, and it seems pretty clear that VFTW will have little or no impact on the results this week. Phil may not go home on Wednesday, but it won't be because of VoteForTheWorst or Howard Stern.
On the results show last night, Simon Cowell addressed the furor that had arisen over the sarcastic eye-roll he gave Chris Richardson after Chris had expressed sympathy towards the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre.
After arguing with Simon about now "nasally is a type of singing", Richardson went on to say "My hearts and prayers go out to Virginia Tech. I have a lot of friends over there. ... Be strong."
The camera then cut to a shot of Simon rolling his eyes and tapping impatiently on the table. This led to the furor, with several commentaries written and videos posted all over the web in outrage during the hours following the show.
"I didn't hear what Chris was saying," Simon said. "I may not be the nicest person in the world, but I would never, ever, ever disrespect those families or those victims. And I felt it was important to set the record straight."
Fox showed the entire sequence, showing Simon the entire time, next to the feed that American saw where it cut back and forth from the judges to the stage. It seems pretty clear that Simon stopped paying attention to Chris before he made the comments regarding Virginia Tech, and instead was arguing with Paula.
Below is a video of the side by side camera angles, which seem to show that Simon was in fact not being disrespectful (at least not any more than usual).
I thought this might be Sanjaya's week to go, but since he hasn't been in the bottom three in what seems like forever, I couldn't bring myself to make that prediction. In the round of seven, though all sorts of crazy stuff can happen.
Despite the best efforts of Howard Stern and VoteForTheWorst.com, Sanjaya was given the boot after his "utterly horrendous" performance of "Somethin' To Talk About" on Tuesday night. Perhaps even more surprising, LaKisha Jones and Blake Lewis rounded out the bottom three.
LaKisha's performance left something to be desired on Tuesday, but she has long been a fan favorite along with Blake. Neither of them had ever been in the bottom three before last night.
Holding back tears, Sanjaya said it had been "an amazing experience." "We won't soon forget you," host Ryan Seacrest said in reply.
Next week, a Sanjaya-less cast will perform in the "Idol Gives Back" week, when each vote cast will help the poor in both the United States and Africa.
The field is down to seven as Martina McBride leads us into Country night. Surprisingly enough, over the past several seasons, American Idol contestants have probably been more successful in the country genre than any other, with Carrie Underwood, Joshua Gracin, and Kellie Pickler releasing country albums, among others.
There doesn't seem to be a "country" contestant this year, but both Joshua Gracin and Amy Adams broke out on country night, seemingly finding a style they had never considered. Let's see if anyone will shine tonight!
Phil Stacey is first and he hails from Kansas, just like Martina McBride. He comes out without a hat, singing "Where the Blacktop Ends". At first, it was hard to completely buy into the country style for Phil, but his pitch was on target, and his energy was good. He really got the crowd into it by walking through the audience. Nigel Lythgoe was clapping and dancing along with everyone else.
The more he sang, the more I liked it, and he ended it really well. As I mentioned just a second ago, several contestants have found their niche on country night, and Phil might be the next singer added to that list.
Randy: You gonna have a career in country music. Paula: You sound good from the beginning to the end. Simon: It's only taken 10 weeks. This is the only time I've heard you in a long time where I think you've chosen a good song, and most surprisingly, we actually saw some personality.
Buzz Score: 8.5
During the break, we see a commercial for KFC that's always bothered me. A Mom is talking to her babysitter about her picky kids, and she stops on the stairs to talk to her son. The conversation continues, but somehow, now they're in the doorway to the kitchen. Then, they're back on the stairs somehow. It just doesn't make sense.
Jordin Sparks sings Martina's very own "Broken Wing". Her voice is even better than usual tonight, and is well suited for a country song. She really brings a good vibe to the stage. As the song progresses, she gets a little pitchy, but she finds herself by the end, and brings it home. Overall, a very good performance. One of her best, I would say.
Randy: Probably one of the most difficult songs to sing. At 17, I like the way you started it slow and took your time. That was the bomb. Paula: I love you too, and I think you did a fantastic job. You told a story. Simon: This is the first time since we have met where I actually believe you could win American Idol.
Buzz Score: 9
Since we're on the subject of commercials, the Visa commercial with the woman who breaks her heel, and then decides to buy hundreds of dollars worth of new clothing and a makeover always bothers me too. It says to me "If you're down, don't worry. You can always use your credit card to buy whatever you want. You can worry about the massive interest you'll owe another day. Keep spending because buying things makes you happy!"
Anyway, back to Idol.
Sanjaya, is up next, singing the Bonnie Raitt hit "Something to Talk About". Sally from Cincinatti asked him which judge he would make sing if he had the option. He would choose Simon to sing "Shiny Happy People". 20 bucks says that we'll see this happen in the finale. He sounds pretty good in the rehearsals, and Martina gives him the (very good) advice to project more and not sing so quietly.
The song starts out pretty well. Nothing overly special, but good none the less. Although he stays on pitch and his voice is good, he doesn't sell the song very well. At the risk of sounding cliched, it really sounds like someone performing karaoke at a bar. If I was watching this performance at a bar, I would think it was good. On American Idol, it just didn't measure up.
Randy: That was really just like karaoke. It was very bland and boring. Paula: We're watching somebody who loves adversity. You're having fun. Simon: Utterly horrendous. As bad as anything we've seen since the beginning of American Idol.
Buzz Score: 6.5
I rarely comment on commercials, but now that I've started, I just can't stop. The "Sponge Bob No Pants" commercial for Burger King is the dumbest ad I've ever seen. Is it supposed to make me want to eat at Burger King? I just don't understand. Why is the Dad taking a bubble bath? Why does his son just walk in to the bathroom without knocking? We'd better get back to American Idol...
LaKisha Jones is up next with "Jesus Take the Wheel" from Season Five's Idol winner Carrie Underwood. She chose the song because she felt like she could really connect with the song and "tell the story." It's hard to listen to the song without comparing it to the original, but LaKisha really does a good job of making it her own. When she came to the chorus though, it sounded a little out of tune, and I didn't like the style nearly as much as the rest of song. I expected a little better, but overall it was a good performance.
Randy: This had some pitch problems and for me, it wasn't my favorite vocal. Paula: I'm gonna have to agree with Randy. You're still brilliant. Simon: It's like eating a hamburger for breakfast. It doesn't go together.
Buzz Score: 8
Chris Richardson sings "Mayberry" by Rascal Flatts. He says he's more confortable with country than people might think. Martina McBride says he could be a country singer if he wanted to be. As the song starts, I don't quite agree with Martina. While Chris sounds fine, he doesn't sound completely comfortable with the style. When he gets to the chorus, he gets into his groove a little more. Then the pitch problems start. To be fair, I think the violin is out of tune more than anything else, but Chris definitely sings off key on several notes.
Randy: I just didn't feel any sense of connection or any emotion. Paula: The joy and love that you have on stage didn't come through. Simon: I heard a very non-descript nasally vocal which had no impact on me. Completely and untterly insignificant.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Tracy asks Melinda Doolittle if she had ever run into a crazy fan on the street. She tells the story of when a fan saw her, and she got scared and started running away, not realizing that it was a fan. I guess she's still not used to stardom. She's singing "Trouble is a Woman" tonight, and Martina is impressed, saying it's the "perfect song choice for her."
As she starts her performance, she sounds great! Surprisingly enough, she fits perfectly in this country song. I've never heard this song before, and I already like it. In fact, I can't find a single flaw in this performance. She gets the second perfect BuzzScore of the year tonight! Great performance!
Randy: Another solid performance from our resident pro Miss Melinda Doolittle. Paula: A girl who knows how to pick the right song and sing her heart out. Simon: It was fantastic. great choice of song. I saw a little Tina Turner there as well. I saw some attitude as well.
Buzz Score: 10
Blake picked "When the Stars Go Blue" by Tim McGraw. Martina said that Tim had mentioned the other day that he hoped someone would sing that song on the show, and he's gotten his wish. Sporting his trademark sweater vest, Blake sounds good to start, when he gets to some of the higher notes, he strains a little bit, and then gets off pitch. His stage presence is very nice, and I liked to performance overall. There's just no getting around the pitch problems though. Not Blakes best performance.
Randy: I love your sense of style. I love that you picked the right song for yourself. You know who you are. Paula: You kinda have the whole package. Simon: It wasn't a jumping out of my chair performance. It was okay.
Buzz Score: 8
It's hard to make any predictions about who will go home. Will this finally be the week that Sanjaya makes the bottom three, and maybe even the bottom one? It's possible, but I'm going to have to go with Phil. Not only did he perform first, but his performance, though good, was forgettable. I think we'll see Phil go home tomorrow night. Chris Richardson is another possibility for getting the boot tomorrow night.
On a radio talk show this morning, Senator Hillary Clinton was asked what the United States could do about Sanjaya Malakar, the Idol contestant routinely criticized for being the worst of the remaining contestants. Despite his seemingly lesser talent, he hasn't been voted one of the bottom three contestants in weeks.
"That's the best question I've been asked in a long time", the Senator responded, but she refused to ansdwer the question directly, telling American that they are free to vote for whomever they wish, just like in the Presidential election next November.
"That's true in my election, and it's true on American Idol," the Senator said.
No word yet on what Ms. Clinton thinks of Sanjaya's mohawk.
US Magazine has posted their list of the top six scandals to take place within American Idol since Season 1. Topping their list is the Corey Clark scandal. First, he was given the boot from the show because a criminal incident was uncovered that he had not disclosed to the show's producers. Two years later, he released a book entitled "American Paulatics", where he revelead details of an alleged sexual relationship that he ha with American Idol judge Paula Abdul.
Second on the list is Antonella Barba, who's racy photos were spread around the internet before the round of 24 even got started. Though the photos revealed a side of Antonella that we didn't see on the show, they weren't racy enough to get her kicked off, so I'm not sure why this would come in at number two.
Third is Frenchie Davis from Season 2. Before the preliminary rounds even started, critics were predicting her to be a finalist. She never got the chance to sing for America's votes, though. Her relationship with an adult website was uncovered, and she was replaced by another contestant. She has gone on to have a relatively successful career since then, including a role on Broadway.
Fourth on the list is the alleged homosexual affair that Clay had with a former military man. The Green Beret has since recanted his story. This probably doesn't belong on the list either, since it apparently didn't even happen.
Fifth is Mario Vasquez, with lewd bahaviour alleged against him by an Idol employee. He withdrew from the show voluntarily for "family reasons", despite being a fan favorite. Not sure if the two are related or not. He may have been given the opportunity to leave on his own accord rather than being kicked off.
Last on the list is Olivia Mojica,who has apparently bared all in an amatuer porn video. US Magazione says they would have ranked her higher, but they could barely remember who she is. America seems to remember. Mojica has been a very popular internet search term for the past week.
Season Five contestant Paris Bennett is trying to screw over American Idol, calling the show that made her famous "a joke" on the Tone E Fly Morning Show on Friday. She says that the show should be taken off the air, and that helping Sanjaya win this season might achieve that goal.
"We want to see [Sanjaya] win because it'll kind of prove that 'American Idol' is kind of losing its taste," she said. She compared the talent competition to the movie American Dreamz. "It kinda isn't going for talent anymore and more for popularity."
Although she didn't name names, she claimed that other past contestants are also part of the plot to 'Vote For the Worst' and take down the show.
Recently ousted Idol contestant Haley Scarnato didn't think her shorts and short skirts were a big deal, but after Simon brought up her skimpy clothing in his comments Tuesday night, her wardrobe seems to be what everyone wants to ask her about.
After Haley's performance of"Turn the Beat Around" on Tuesday night, Simon commented that her tactic must be to "wear the least amount of clothes as possible."
Scarnato didn't see what the big deal was. "It's just legs. It is what it is. It's legs. I mean I don't even know what to say about it. It's frustrating because I'm just trying to go out there and perform and sing, and it is a singing competition, and they weren't listening to me anymore."
Tuesday wasn't the first time Simon had alluded to her oufit. In the round of 11 , he called her a "naughty little thing" after she came out in short shorts to perform "Tell Him". "I still want to stay in that frame of mind you have to respect him," said Haley. "He's Simon Cowell. It does hurt a little bit, but you've just got to brush it off and try to get through it. You can't please everybody. I didn't go shorter. I didn't wear less clothes. I just did the same thing." She continued "I mean I never really changed my look since Hollywood Week. I kind of showed my midriff a little bit and stuff like that. I want to stay true to who I am and it's fun dressing up."
Scarnato insists that her clothing was meant to match the vibe of the song and genre she was singing to, not to get viewers looking at her midriff. "You know playing the part of the theme week and the song that you're singing. I don't think I wore less clothes than before. I think I stayed true to who I am."
Though she is off the show, this is not the end for Haley. She will return to the American Idol tour this summer, and after that anything is possible. Don't expect her to be wearing a revealing outfit this summer though. If she hadn't been voted off on Wednesday, her attire would have changed drastically next week. "If I was still going to be here next week I was going to wear a choir robe," she said.
Despite Simon's comments, neither Haley's singing or her lack of clothing on Tuesday night could keep her on the show. She was eliminated on Wednesday night, becoming the 5th finalist to be given the boot. Seven contestants remain, and will perform next Tuesday, April 17th on Country night with Martina McBride.
Scarnato's performance of "Turn the Beat Around" was criticized by the judges. Simon Cowell commented that Haley's tactic must be to wear "as little clothes as possible". Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson rounded out the bottom three. Phil performed "Maria, Maria" to mixed reviews, and Richardson sang Santana's "Smooth". The judges seemed to like Chris' performance, but The Idol Buzz gave him a low score.
Jennifer Lopez performed the hit single from her new Spanish album on the Idol stage.
It's Latin night on American Idol, and American Idol superfan Jennifer Lopez will be coaching the contestants.
Melinda Doolittle is singing "Sway", a song that Jennifer Lopez has recorded. She tells Melinda to give it a sexy vibe. Melinda's not sure she can pull it off. She does look a little awkard trying to pull of a sultry kind of feel, but the singing is great as usual. It's pretty clear that Melinda is out of her element, but she manages to make a good performance out of it regardless. After the judges review, Ryan Seacrest asked Melinda what she thought of Simon's mildly harsh comments. Ever the nice person, she said "I think he really wanted to say something bad, and I'm glad he got the chance." Is there any contestant as sweet as Melinda. I think not.
Randy: Another solid performance. Not your best, but solid. Paula: Very sultry, very sweet. Subtle, sexy, and beautiful. Simon: I didn't like it. That song is all about personality. I found it very lounge/cabaret. The end was very good.
Buzz Score: 8.5
LaKisha Jones is up next, with her rendition of "Conga" Before the performance, Stephanie of Birminghan, AL asked why LaKisha tried out for American Idol. She says that she wanted to build a better world for her and her daughter. J Lo was giving her pronunciation lessons and showing her a few latin dance moves. She's a little out of her element as well, but I think she pulls it off a little better than Melinda. We're seeing a different side of LaKisha tonight. She has the niche of "slow soulful song" down pat, and it's nice to see her break out a little. The song didn't show off her voice very well, but the performance was good none the less.
Randy: You came out and were having a good time. You made it your own. That was hot. Paula: You look lovely. I didn't feel it as much as Randy. Very safe. Simon: I agree with Paula. Fun performance. I'm not sure how much fun everyone at home was having. Safe song.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Over the break, we see the commercial advertising AmericanIdol.com for the thousandth time this season. I guess I've never paid too much attention to it, but really, it's just a bunch of close-ups of Simon Cowell with the Daughtry song in the background. Is that really the best way to advertise the website? When they advertising agency was coming up with the ad, did they say "You know what would really bring in the visitors to our website..... close ups shots of Simon Cowell."?
Chris Richardson is the first guy of the night. He'll be singing Santana and Rob Thomas's song "Smooth". A big hit from a few years ago. He starts out on stage with some of the band members out there with him. I always like when they do that. The performance is a little disappointing though. It starts off way too low, and stays awkward until the very end. The judges seem to really like it, but I really thought it didn't come close to matching the vibe that Rob Thomas brought in the original song. I thought the background singers were really lacking too, which contributed to the lackluster performance.
Randy: You did a really good job. Very cool. Paula: It was a hot performance. You were sexy. Simon: I'm not going to say it's the best vocal I've ever heard, but I prreferred it to the first two. It was a good performance.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Haley Scarnato is next with "Turn the Beat Around". Diana DeGarmo did a great job of it a few years ago. Can Haley turn out as good of a performance? She wasn't looking too hot in rehearsals, but on stage, she comes out with some emotion and excitement. The real test in this song is when they break it down, and the words come a mile a minute. I had some doubts as to whether Haley could actually pull it off, but she did a decent job. It wasn't fantastic, but I liked it more than I thought I would. Simon tells Haley to have fun performing, because she's not the best singer in the competition.
Randy: That was really karaoke for me. Paula: It's not a singer's song, but it's a fun song. You had fun up there. Simon: I think you have a very good tactic. Wear as least clothes as possible.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Phil Stacey is singing the second Santana song of the night with "Maria Maria". Phil starts off on a stool at center stage, with the lights dim. His vocals are great, and the vibe he brings is really nice. My only complaint is that it gets a little boring towards the end.
Randy: You didn't quite connect with the passion of the song. Paula: Vocally, I thought it was really good. Simon: You're a nice guy and you chose a good song. No originality. Lifeless and flat.
Buzz Score: 8
If Jordin Sparks could choose any theme for next week, it would be 80s music. In rehearsals, J-Lo said she sounds like Michael Jackson. Singing "The Rythm is Gonna Get Ya", she comes out on stage looking a bit awkward, but she finds her comfort zone toawrds the middle of the song. Of all the contestants, I thought that Jordin would be the best fit for Latin night. Though most of the other contestants didn't fit in exceptionally well, Jordin doesn't fare much better. A little disappointing to me, but overall, not bad.
Randy: Absolutely wonderful. The Yo factor on Blam! Paula: You're so authentic. You're out there having a great time. Simon: I feel about you how I've felt all night. Okay performance.
Buzz Score: 8
Blake Lewis has chosen to suck up to Jennifer Lopez by singing a song by her husband Marc Antony, "I Need To Know." He comes out on stage looking exceptionally..... latin. The song starts out good, but he has some pitchy spots near the beginning. The vocals are solid, but he's lacking some passion. He fused some dance moves into the performance, and overall, it was enjoyable. On an off night for the other contestants, it was definitely one of the better performance of the night.
Randy: Bets song choice of the night. Hot performance. Paula: Very smart performance. It captured who you are. Excellent. Simon: Best choice of song of the night. Best performance so far.
Buzz Score: 8.5
American Idol's most popular entertainer, Sanjaya closes the show tonight. "The Embodiment of Latin Passion", according to Seacrest , Sanjaya has chosen to sing "Besame Mucho." J Lo says that he really impressed her. Will he impress America? Does it matter?
Sanjaya's spanish accent could use some work, but his vocals are at least as good as the other contestants tonight. In fact, he may be the best performer of the evening. Not only are his vocals good, but his stage presence was great. He was at least as good as Blake, and I actually think he was a bit better. If you had told me an hour ago that Sanjaya would get the highest BuzzScore of the night, I would have said you were crazy, but that's exactly what's happened. Pigs are preparing to fly as we speak.
Randy: You're one of the smartest contestants I've met. That was actually really good. Paula: On pitch. Smooth. Very nice. Simon: I couldn't understand a word of it. You sang like a 14-year old. it wasn't horrible.
Buzz Score: 9
It's tough to say who will go home this week. I think it will be either Phil or Haley, but which one? I'm going to go with Haley, but I don't have too much confidence in my prediction.
VoteAgainstTheWorst.com is rallying fans to do what you would think most people would do anyway: vote for their favorite contestant. Still, it's a noble effort to keep anti-fans like Howard Stern from determining who goes to the final.
VoteForTheWorst has always seemed to play a role in keeping their contestant around longer than expected, but they've never had this much success, mostly because they've never had Howard Stern on their side. Howard Stern was the one that rallied his listeners to get Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf voted People Magazine's most beautiful person. He also takes credit for rocking the vote for the governor of New Jersey in the early 90s. Considering Stern's sway with many otherwise non-voters, it's possible that his listeners could put Sanjaya in the finals.
One thing to remember, the fewer contestants remain, the more concentrated the voting becomes, and the harder it is for a group of people to sway the vote. Still, Simon's promise to quit the show if Sanjaya wins may encourage more than just anti-fans to cast their vote for Sanjaya Malakar and his crazy hairstyles.
Gina Glocksen was sent home from the American Idol competition last night, edging out Haley Scarnato from the bottom spot. Glocksen was forced to stray from her traditional rock genre to sing the standards of Tony Bennett this week, and she seemed to really pull it off, with her rendition of "Smile".
Her performance on Tuesday got good reviews from the judges. Randy called her performance "a very nice controlled performance for the rocker girl", and Paula said it was "flawless, understated, beautiful, and sentimental", but the judges rave reviews weren't enough to keep her on the show for another week.
Since Gina ended up in the the top 10 finalists, she will join the American Idol Tour this summer.
Kellie Pickler, the American Idol contestant from Season 5 known for her southern charm as well as being a bit of an airhead, will host the 2007 CMT Music Awards Video of the Year Special on April 9th at 10:30pm.
The special gives a rundown of the eight videos up for Video of the Year, including:
Carrie Underwood - "Before He Cheats" Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready to Make Nice" George Strait - "The Seashores of Old Mexico" Keith Urban - "Once In a Lifetime" Kenny Chesney - "You Save Me" Rascal Flatts - "What Hurts the Most" Sugarland - "Want To" Toby Keith - "A Little Too Late"
At the beginning of the Music Awards on April 16th, the field will be cut to four, and then the winner will be announced towards the end of the program. Kellie Pickler will also be up for an ward at the show. She has been nominated for Breakthrough Video of the Year for her video "Red High Heels". The Music Awards will be hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
Can't get enough of La Kisha? Do you want the world to know how much you love Blake Lewis? Or is Sanjaya your favorite Idol? Well now you can proclaim your love for your favorite contestant to all the world with your very own bracelet charm, with your favorite's name and face right on it.
Really.
The Charming Spot is selling these on eBay. You can even get a charm with your favorite American Idol judge.
Why just vote for your favorite, when you can wear them!
It's Tony Bennett night on American Idol. After Chris Sligh left us last Wednesday, we are now down to nine contestants. The show opens with Ryan Seacrest reminding us that tomorrow night, yet another contestant is history. Tony tells us that the songs they will be singing tonight will never go out of style (just like he's never gone out of style).
Blake kicks us off with Mack The Knife, which most people from my generation remember best as "Mac Tonight" performed by a singing moon in a McDonalds commercial. Blake decides to perform the song as it was originally written instead of adding any sort of modern feel, and it works great. He looks very comfortable in a suit and tie, singing in a jazz style, and his dancing is very, very good. Simon gave it seven out of ten, but I will give it an eight.
Randy: A very good way to start off the evening. A couple pitch problems. I liked it. Paula: Tonight, you personified pizazz. You're just cool. Simon: Good choice of song. You performed it well.
Buzz Score: 8
Here we go, let's all sing....
"When the clock strikes, Half past six, babe. Time to head for Golden lights. It's a good time For the great taste (dinner!) At McDonalds, It's Mac tonight! Come on make it make tonight!"
I can't believe I remember that after what must be about 20 years. Anyway, moving on....
Phil Stacey is next, and he has chosen to sing "Night and Day". He says that Tony Bennett is his hero, and Tony returns the compliment, saying Phil is one of the best singers he's heard in a long time. This is a pretty good style of music for Phil too. He almost sounds like Frank Sinatra. This may just be the type of music that fits him best. Also, just for the record, I write this recap as the show is happening, and then go back and edit it a bit after the show. I wrote that Frank Sinatra line before Paula said it, and I stand by it, even after Simon disagreed. But I digress.
Randy: You sang it good, but I didn't feel any real connection/passion. Paula: You're reminiscent of a young Frank Sinatra, but I need you to have more joy. Simon: I think it had all the joy of somebody singing in a funeral parlor.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Tony Bennett thinks Melinda Doolittle is the best singer he heard all day. I think she might be the best singer I've heard today too. The song starts off slow with an amazing, jazzy, sultry style. It gets faster, and it gets better still. In the end, she really brings the song home with a show-stopping ending. Once again, it's hard to find much of anything wrong with Melinda's performance.
Randy: You give everyone here a lesson in singing. This is how you do it, America. Paula: You're like a master class. Simon: I thought it was a bit cabaret, but I liked the second half of the song.
Buzz Score: 9.5
Chris Richardson first answers a viewer question about what he considers most when choosing a song. He tries first for something he's comfortable with, but thinks about what the judges and America will like when making his final decision. The song he has chosen is "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". He didn't have the words memorized yesterday, but he seems to have them under control tonight. He's not quite as comfortable in this style of music as the three contestants before him, but he brings a nice vibe to the performance, and she has very few flaws. As an aside, he's looking very Timberlake-esque tonight, even more than usual.
Randy: I think this was one of your best performances of the whole season. Paula: True artistic integrity. Simon: I thought that was very good. Very believable. One of the strongest tonight.
Buzz Score: 9
After Tony Bennett lavishes praise on Jordin Sparks, she takes the stage with "On A Clear Day". In the past few weeks, she has started to emerge as a potential threat to make a run at the finale. Her performance tonight is very solid, but not particularly exciting. From her clothes to her voice, to the energy she projected, it was very good but not completely memorable. Paula predicts that she will sail through to the next round, which is a sure sign that she should worry when the results are read tomorrow night. Many a judge has eaten their words when making predictions.
Randy: We got some heat up here. That was the bomb. Paula: You are this magnet of joy. You exude it when you walk on stage. Simon: You sang it very well, but you didn't achieve what Chris did.
Buzz Score: 8
Gina Glocksen sings "Smile", and song that gives you hope in your darkest moment, according to Tony Bennett. In rehearsals, the song brings Bennett and Glocksen both to tears. Gina tends to bring a 'rocker' persona to most of her performances, so this is definitely out of her element. Even so, her tongue-ring is probably the only thing making her look out of place here. Her voice is very nice, and her whole dynamic really came along very well. I agree with Randy, when he says that her performance was nice and controlled. Overall, very good.
Randy: A very nice controlled performance for the rocker girl. Paula: Flawless, understated, beautiful, and sentimental. Simon: I can't rave about the vocals. The two previous girls outsang you.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Sanjaya Malakar dares to be different. He sings "Cheek To Cheek" this week, with yet another new hairstyle. I think Sanjaya gets a bad rap, with all the buzz about him. Overall, I would agree that he doesn't match up to most of the other remaining contestants, but he still is a very good singer. He proves that tonight, with not only a good vocal performance, but an entertaining show, coming into the audience, and dancing with Paula. I think Sanjaya did a great job tonight, and if any other contestant did just as well, no one would be calling it a poor performance. Since it was Sanjaya, I think most people will look upon it unfavorably, as usual.
Randy: I can't even comment on the vocals anymore. You've turned into a great entertainer. Paula: I get why people love you. You're charming. Simon: Incredible. (with a bit of sarcasm)
Buzz Score: 8.5
Haley Scarnato is the next to answer a viewers question. Does she get more nervous singing in front of the crowd, or listening to the judges comments. She says listening to Simon is the most nerve-racking. Singing "Ain't Misbehavin'", she starts off slow, and then picks up the pace as she goes into the crowd. Back on stage, she really picks up the pace. Her vocals are very good and her energy is better than usual. I found the latter part of the song to be a bit strained, and her movements a bit awkward, but overall, I really liked the performance.
Randy: Didn't really say much, deferring to Simon, since Haley apparently respects him so much. Paula: Didn't really say much, deferring to Simon, since Haley apparently respects him so much. Simon: I think you've got gret legs. It was a good style of music for you. A bit pageanty.
Buzz Score: 8
La Kisha Jones caps off the show with "Stormy Weather", and as usual, she starts off the song with a great vocal performance. Throughout the song, the vocals just get better and better and she brings it home with a great ending. Great performance!
Randy: I love this. The perfect song for you. Paula: This is the most gorgeous you've ever looked. Simon: That was a sassy, great performance.
Buzz Score: 9.5
The field is very tight this week, and for the first time this season, I think everyone had a good performance this week. As such, it's even harder than usual to choose who will go. Despite his good performance, I think Philwill go tonight. He hasn't seemed to completely connect with the voters yet. I think Ginamay also be in a lot of trouble. We'll see what happens tomorrow night.
Wow! Sanjayareally is this season's most popular contestant. Not only does he dazzle us with his singing every Tuesday night, he's apparently also managed to win the Miss USA pageant and make a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live.
I've managed to get footage of his being presented the tiara at the Miss USA pageant:
He's already outlasted Chris Sligh, Stephanie Edwards, and Bradon Rogers. Now, we can add one more Sanjaya naysayer to the list. Sanjaya has outlasted one of his stranger critics, "J", who setup a MySpace page, telling the world that she would go on a hunger strike until Sanjaya Malakar was voted off American Idol.
I think it's a safe assumption that "J" figured Sanjaya was sure to go in the next round, and she would be back to eating burgers and fries within days. Unfortunately for her, that was not to be. Sanjaya lasted through the Round of 11 vote, and the Round of 10 vote, without even being one of the bottom contestants either week. Last week, Sanjaya's mohawk intrigued viewers, and even left Simon Cowell speechless, not a small feat.
With the help of VoteForTheWorst.com and Howard Stern, Sanjaya is sailing through each week with plenty of votes. Hunger Strike Girl, a Buffalo, NY native, finally had to call it quits, citing her doctor's orders. She appears to have taken down the website that made her a semi-celebrity, and has returned to obscurity.
Simon promised to quit if Sanjaya won the competition, and every day, it's looking more and more like Simon may have to answer for his remark. If Sanjaya and his mohawk win, we can all mark up a victory for the underdog.
