Steven Tyler Leaves American Idol

Steven Tyler has announced that he will not return for another season as judge for American Idol. He is returning to his band, Aerosmith. The decision to do American Idol had caused a rift in his band, as seen on an ABC special in which Tyler was interviewed. The news comes as questions continue over whether or not Jennifer Lopez will return as judge.

Ratings for what was once America's top show have continued to decline since the departure of Simon Cowell two years ago. Cowell went on to another talent show, X Factor. Both shows air on Fox. Aeromsith has an album due out in the fall.

© C Harris Lynn, 2012

Steven Tyler To Sit Idol

A spokesperson for Steven Tyler says the Aerosmith frontman will take a seat on American Idol's panel of judges. American Idol has not officially announced Tyler's addition to the show, and the source is not authorized to publicly comment further, but said there is "no reason to refute" it. Neither FOX nor producers for the show would comment.

At this time, Randy Jackson is the only returning, original judge, as DioGuardi, Cowell, and DeGeneres are all departing, and Paula Abdul quit American Idol some time back.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

DeGeneres, DioGuardi Out of American Idol?

Ellen DeGeneres announced that she will not be returning to American Idol. The last season was DeGeneres' first, but said she told producers and Fox she did not feel American Idol was "the right fit" for her, and that she found judging the participants "hard." Ellen DeGeneres ends her tenure after only one season, but is rumored to have originally signed-on for a five-year stint.

Sources are now saying songwriter and panel judge, Kara DioGuardi is also leaving the show, but apparently this is Fox' and American Idol's decision, not hers. DioGuardi's contract is up and will not be renewed.

All manner of replacements are being bandied about, from Jennifer Lopez to Sir Elton John, but nothing has been confirmed as of the time this post was written.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

On Adam Lambert at the AMA

I saw the "censored scene" of Adam Lambert's performance at the American Music Awards without realizing it. I was in another room and I literally happened to peek-in at the exact "Big Moment," where he ground his crotch into a dancer's face. I wasn't really paying attention, so I don't know how long it went on, but what I saw wasn't really offensive, just silly. I don't know that I would personally have been offended by it, either way, so... whatever.

The controversy revolves around three, specific acts: the "simulated oral sex," Lambert open-mouth kissed his keyboardist, and he supposedly flipped-off the audience. ABC censored the "simulated oral sex" bit when it broadcast the show on the West Coast. Lambert called that "discrimination," based on the fact that no one censored Britney Spears and Madonna's kiss at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. Barbara Walters agreed with him when they discussed the matter on The View the following day. He does have a point.

Lambert also compared himself and his performance to artists such as David Bowie and Alice Cooper, and he mentioned "the 70s," specifically. Except that, when those guys did it, they actually were breaking ground. Further, their point in doing it was the show; their androgyny and actions were meant to intrigue -- to raise questions, not make statements. There is nothing artistic about homosexuality -- it's just a sexual preference.

Lambert admitted his performance was meant to be shocking, and that he thinks that shock factor is part of the entertainment. No one else seems to buy it, and many admitted (and alleged) homosexuals have castigated his nonsense in the comments across the Web. Lambert wasn't breaking ground and acting-out sexually isn't necessarily artistically shocking.

I never thought Adam Lambert could sing; I always thought he was a hack "stageplay singer" - someone who sang "theater-style." I had the lead in several highschool musicals, but I can't really sing, and that's what I have always thought of Adam Lambert. He and the press are eagerly pushing this whole "openly gay" thing, yet most of the homosexual community who bothered to respond online have called his performance and marketing package damaging to the community and "openly gay" movement.

What Lambert is doing would have been HUGE in the 1970s, but it never would have made it to primetime TV. There's nothing laudable about that, that's just history. Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Prince, Madonna -- what those people did was break ground and shock through their art; what Adam Lambert does is just... gay.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Ellen Degeneres Joins AI

Comedienne, talk show host, and entertainer, Ellen Degeneres, has been named as the fourth judge on this season's American Idol. Degeneres, better known simply as "Ellen," is replacing Paula Abdul, who had been with the show from the beginning and "tweeted" her decision to leave the show earlier this year.

Degeneres will join the panel following the auditions. Several celebrities will fill the fourth judge's chair in the meantime, including Victoria Beckham and Shania Twain.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Former A.I. Contestant Killed in Car Crash

Alexis Cohen, the two-time American Idol contestant whose post-rejection rant became a viral hit, was struck by a car and killed in New Jersey.  You probably remember her better as the chick who dressed up as that one chick in the crappy new Star Wars films.

Alexis Cohen was only 25-years old.  Police are investigating the crash.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

UPDATE:  Police arrested 23-year-old Daniel Bark and charged him with vehicular homicide.  I don't remember who this chick was nor why she became so popular, but the original video which made her famous is no longer available. - 2018

American Idol Trading Cards

FremantleMedia and Upper Deck are launching a line of trading cards based on the popular reality TV show, American Idol. The cards will feature images of contestants (both past and present), as well as the judges and Ryan Seacrest.

The series has 138 cards. Six special cards, autographed by American Idol winners, will be randomly included in the 5-card packs. "Regular" cards include past winners and popular finalists, along with rejects.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Tonight's American Idol Rundown

Last year, I quit watching American Idol around this time because the clear lead - I forget who it was (I'm pretty sure it was a female, but I honestly can't even recall that now) - was voted-off around now. Of course, "voted-off" is kind of a misnomer, since no one is so much voted-off as voted to stay. At any rate, the (by far) best contender was no longer competing around this time in the competition last year, so I resolved then and there to find something else to do with my entire week - and there is plenty.

Tonight, Alison made it through - and she was clearly the best singer last night - but while neither Jesse nor Matt deserved to make it through based on the strength of their performances last night, I was hoping Megan got another chance. Granted, her performance last night was lacking - she just didn't hit it the way I think she can, but she's good-looking. I mean real damn good-looking. And she has that sultry, husky voice. It's no surprise she's got a kid... nor that she's raising it alone.

Wha-at? Everything about the girl screams, "SEX!" She better watch the burgeoning sleeve though; tattoos are basically a neon sign, which say... well, unless you're an aborigine or pirate, you don't have a real reason to get a tattoo. I freely admit I wish she'd gone further just because she's eye-candy, but it isn't as if she can't sing, now. And Alison is cute, but she's 16! You know, just no.

Anyway, this is a really long way of getting around to saying I don't like the way they're doing the eliminations this year.

I don't know who the third person is to go through yet.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

American Idol Needs to Dial It Back a Bit

You know, these people aren't my "friends." I don't think I would hang-out with any of the contestants on American Idol. Not to be ugly, but -- you know? I sincerely doubt we're into the same things and none of them strike me as brilliant conversationalists or anything along those lines. So let's pull back a bit on the whole, "HI! HEY! YOU THERE!"

I get the whole "Your American Idols," bit and that's about as far as that should go.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

American Idol - Already Over It

So Jamal doesn't get in, but Tatiana does? Over it.

Seriously, I'm not even wasting my time with American Idol this year. Simon's right: that Kara chick is threatened by attractive girls. I've always found that interesting because only attractive girls are threatened by attractive girls. 

Did I say "interesting"? I think I meant "hot."

Still, reality TV has its own rules and I get them, they just don't make for good competition. I realize Tatiana's clinical insanity will make for good TV, but only to an extent -- after all, viewers are tuning-in to hear the music competition and all the craziness that comes with it is just the icing on the cake. Of course, I could be wrong and we all know craziness gets big ratings when it comes to reality TV.

Still, there were several who made it through that were either questionable or flat-out should not have and Jamal was one of the better singers. What really got me was the excuse they used: he just didn't stand-out. He was one of the few who did stand-out -- for singing!

So I'm not fooling with it. If American Idol is intent on becoming less a competitive musical talent show and more your run-of-the-mill reality series, there are shows which fulfill that better. Like Sober House and Tool Academy.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

American Idol - "So That's a 'No,' Right?"

I wanted to write this last week or whenever it was they did the group thing to qualify for Hollywood Week, and I forget why I didn't, but let's get this out of the way on the front-end:

Tatiana is just crazier than a shithouse rat. I mean, I'm no doctor or anything, but... just putting that out there.

Anyway, several people were put through just for the entertainment value, and Tats there is definitely one of them. She can sing, technically speaking, but she's a trainwreck. She is delusional, ridiculous, has serious impulse control issues, and - wait... they already have Paula.

At any rate, maybe she'll stab someone or something?

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

American Idol Adds Fourth Judge

FOX' mega-hit reality talent show, American Idol, has added a fourth judge. Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi will join the current panel, adding more "girl power" to the show, as one producer said.

Not to mention an extra shoulder for Paula to drool on.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Jeff Archuleta Hates His Son's Career

When you know absolutely nothing about the music industry, have no talent of your own, and were recently booted from being backstage while your kid performs -- what do you do? Why, you plan his next career move!

Jeff Archuleta decided to have his son, American Idol runner-up, David Archuleta, hold a little "thank you" concert for $1 a ticket after his recent loss on the show. Supposedly, ³/₄ of the proceeds would go to charity, while a mere quarter would pay for "processing." But American Idol producers put the kibosh on that little idea.

As it turns out, the American Idol runners-up do some kind of little touring thing and have "contractual obligations" -- whatever that means -- that preclude impromptu paid concerts organized by their greedy, stupid fathers.

Hey, Little Davey? Macaulay Culkin called, he said: "Dump your dad."

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Archuleta's Daddy Shown the Backstage Door

American Idol frontrunner David Archuleta's dad, Jeff, is no longer allowed backstage.

While an unnamed source for the hit show indicated that the elder Archuleta's meddling had been the source of contention for some time now, he did not elaborate. However, Jeff Archuleta's insistence on changing some lyrics in his son's last performance was the final straw.

Jeff Archuleta insisted his son change a verse in Stand By Me to one from the song, Beautiful Girls. The change resulted in a cost to American Idol, as they had to secure additional rights.

Moron.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

American Idol - The Girls

Wow! That sucked ass.

Not one of those chicks tonight sang worth a damn! Every, single one of them was off-key or just plain bad. The weird, Medusa-looking Elvira knock-off hit the right keys throughout most of her song, but cut everything short. That was the problem with both of the broads who did Heart songs, too! Heart songs have all those runs and extended notes and both of them cut them down to where they were almost rapping them. The few girls who did open up (ew!) and belt it out were basically off-key when they did so.

Last night's episode wasn't much better. Although the guys weren't as bad as the females tonight, not one of them really stood out except the really young guy who did Imagine and he plodded through it. I mean, he sang it well enough, but by the time he finally got through it, he had hit puberty. And would have graduated college, had he not been so busy singing.

I wonder if I'll even watch it next week?

American Idol has been like this for many, many seasons now: it starts off fun and energetic, then quickly falls off. I may catch some of the episodes with the top ten, but I don't know.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

American Idol Update

This is only the second American Idol season I've watched all the way through, so far. Even that isn't true, because the electricity went out two different weeks and we missed two of the qualifying episodes - but they were the auditions, it isn't like we missed anything really important (just more entertaining).

Tonight was the 12 guys and the very first thing I can say is that American Idol season seven is, by far, the gayest season yet.

Don't get me wrong - I don't mean that it is "gay" as in "weak" or whatever - I mean my first impression of season seven is simply that the male contestants seem overwhelmingly gay - as in "homosexual." Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just my first - overwhelming - impression. And I am not the only one.

Still, the show (ostensibly) has nothing to do with the contestants' sexuality, and most of them were very good with only a few that made me question just how much vodka Paula had in her cup the day she put them through. There were several guys whose voices stood-out, but it's too early and there are too many of them for me to know anyone's name, but I am pretty sure the cat in the orange suit is going home - as well he should - if for no other reason than that damned suit!

And did you see the tiny Ms. Abdul tonight? Whatever Simon said around the second or third commercial break that set her into a new crying jag was nowhere near harsh enough to actually send someone into a crying jag! But, in all honesty, I am starting to wonder if she isn't just going through "The Change"? And I am not trying to be humorous here; she's an emotional trainwreck and even though I have only ever watched one full season of AI and none of the first season or two, I have seen several episodes from 4-5 seasons now, and she didn't start acting truly weird until a season or so back.

I mean, she had to have been in her mid-20s/early-30s when she was topping the pop charts, because she'd already had a career as a cheerleader and had been doing choreography for at least a few years, too! She is 46, you know.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

American Idol - Fixed?

This story apparently already made the rounds throughout the Blogosphere, but I have not been "in-touch" this past week and, so long as I'm being honest, I can only take so much of the Blogosphere and then, only in doses.

See, I've been doing this for 10 years now. Throughout that time, the Blogosphere has changed dramatically; hell, the Blogosphere has changed dramatically since three months ago! Anyway, given the shocking frequency with which blogs appear and disappear these days, it's just become too much work to keep up with. So I've quit trying. Of all the blogs I was following when I first moved The Rundown to Blogger from the GeoCities site, none are still around. Well, there are a handful, but they are not regularly maintained. In fact, about 2-3 months ago, I filled my Bloglines account with nearly 10 different blogs I wanted to read regularly. Of those, only three are still regularly updated.

Honestly? It wasn't even 2-3 months ago; it was closer to a month-and-a-half.

ANYhoo, you know the Irish girl who advanced to the top 24 - the one whose husband's face is completely obscured by ink (real smart, that - just saying)? Turns out she already had a major recording label deal a few years back. In fact, her debut solo album was such a flop, it was featured in The Wall Street Journal as a "worst case scenario" example of music marketing!

Actually, Carly Smithson, nee Henessy, has a lengthy career in entertainment, having worked in the cast of Les Miserables at 9, and being nationally-recognized throughout Ireland from a sausage commercial [insert joke here]. MCA still maintains a website devoted to her!

While many bloggers are saying that she is some kind of "plant," I don't think that's necessarily so. Remember, I worked in performance entertainment for several years and the "maxims" and "Golden Rules" that get filtered down to the mass public are rarely truisms. The whole idea of "overnight success that took ten years" and all that... it's mostly bullshit; sure, those things happen, but the fact of the matter is that careers in entertainment are just like careers in every other field: they have their ups and downs and take many divergences along the way.

Marshall Mathers toiled for years to become some sort of ballad-crooning sex symbol before he became "Eminem." A perfect example of the whole "overnight success story that was ten years in the making" that didn't happen quite the way it is most often presented.

So what if she has a professional past? The long-haired blond who made it into the top 24 was in a boyband that not only toured with Britney Spears, he briefly dated her!

Many writers work in every form imaginable before they get their first big success - they work as playwrights, screenwriters, short story authors, and plod on some "great American novel" for decades before they finally write a freaking commercial for an ad agency contest and suddenly skyrocket to super-stardom... or maybe trudge along on a blog until they die in obscurity. That's just how The Business works, guys - in all forms, across the spectrum.

In fact, let me give you my Fame Story...

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Idol Thoughts

So I'm watching American Idol and this cat, Alberto Something-or-Other, got up there to sing some kind of "song" he wrote and I had to say the same thing so many of us have said time and again while watching American Idol: "Did he really... is he serious? Has he ever heard himself? Did someone actually tell him he had a chance?"

Maybe it is something in the culture that makes these people think they deserve to be famous and this is as good a chance to achieve that as any, but I wonder how many of these people audition thinking they actually have even the slightest chance. I know some of them audition just to be seen on TV, knowing full-well they aren't going to get in, but guys like this make me seriously wonder how many.

As he was leaving, one of his companions noted that he is very talented in a multitude of other (gay) areas... so why not pursue one of those?

Is fame really that much of a motivational factor? So much so that these folks are willing to embarrass themselves on national TV doing something they already know they have no chance to excel at?

©C Harris Lynn, 2008

American Idol and SNL, Studio 60

[SPOILERS]

Of course, I'm sure you'll have heard about it long before reading this, but your new American Idol for 2007 is no real shock:

Sanjaya walked away with the $1 million contract and Simon's heart in an extended show which ran a bit over time.

The real surprise of the evening was a performance of Wind Beneath My Wings by the original artist, Bette Midler. Some other legends performed and they made a lot of fun of people who are either seriously disturbed or desperate for attention (though I'm not sure how far apart those lay) and I don't mean Paula Abdul.

I don't cover American Idol much because I really enjoyed it one year about 3-4 years ago and haven't enjoyed it since. They consistently vote off the obvious front-runner(s) early and even though almost all of those have gone on to even greater success than the winners, once your favorite(s) are gone, it's just not as much fun to watch. You not only have to pick a new favorite, it's just not as entertaining because you had a favorite for a reason, not just because you were picking one.

Instead, I watched SNL in the '90s. A retrospective of one of the show's strongest decades, it included interviews with some of the greats of the decade, both on- and off-screen. Noticeably absent was Adam Sandler, but talent is noticeably absent wherever Sandler is, so while noticeable, it wasn't exactly like he was missed. I also hoped to hear something from Steve Martin, as he is one of the hosts with the most appearances, but the '90s were not his big years. John Goodman was on there, as was Alec Baldwin, Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, and a host of other castmembers from the decade.

It was fun to watch but more fun to hear the cast and crew discuss their times on the seminal latenight sketch show and I wish they'd had more actual behind-the-scenes material. Still an American institution and a good show nonetheless.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip returns for the final (?) 6 episodes tomorrow night. If you haven't seen it yet, now's possibly your last chance to watch the best cast on TV in... well, probably the best cast ever on TV. I really hope these episodes do well enough that NBC picks it up for a mid-season return with a little retooling.

The 401st - American Idol Gives Back - April Index

Yeah, I've been wordy these past few days, largely because I've actually felt well enough to sit here for more than an hour at a time, so I've been able to browse and search and all that good stuff. Speaking of searching, that's part of why you've been so blessed by the bountiful blogging, not to mention some lame alliteration and honestly horrid onomotopeia; I checked out some books from the library on effective internet searching, so I've been putting my newfound skills to the test.

ANYway, this is the 401^st post... prolly not that big a deal to anyone, but I noticed it and thought I'd pass that along. I have posted the April index on BloggerParty for all to see. It's basically a "best of" from both blogs (as well as one or both of the others, as appropriate) for April. It's really more for people who might find their way here from there, but you might come across a post or two you haven't noticed before.

Finally, did you see American Idol Gives Back tonight? That was a tear-jerker, but absolutely nothing else was on. Jack Black was easily the best part, especially since Headline News spoiled "the shocking elimination results" an hour earlier. And while I fully support their cause and what they're doing, had I not known the "shocking outcome" beforehand, I'd have prolly felt let-down. Still, it's a good cause and if you missed tonight's show, you can find the performances at iTunes.