Paula Abdul May Quit American Idol

Hollywood celebrity and American Idol judge, Paula Abdul quit "American Idol" and not return for the ninth season says her manager.

All of the others already have their contracts for the new season of American Idol. Ryan Seacrest has signed a $45 million contract for three years. Randy Jackson is signed up till 2011. Simon Cowell is already involved in negotiations to renew his contract. Paula’s manager has not even received Paula’s new contract. The other female judge, Kara DioGuardi, only signed for one season. Is that possibly because Paula is a woman and has been left till last? Don’t want to question this, but why oh why is Paula left without her contract. It’s understandable she would be pissed.

Paula is not very happy about it to say the least. What would American Idol be like without Paula? She’s a necessary part of the judge’s team, able to soften the blows of nasty Simon. Honestly, she adds balance to the American Idol team.

American Idol begins audtions in August and it will return to us on our television screens in January of 2010. They’d better hurry up and get that contract renewed with Paula. American Idol needs Paula.

Quentin Tarantino on American Idol Night

Well, it was a special, “historic” night on American Idol tonight with director Quentin Tarantino as critic and song director for the evening. It was “cinema night” on American Idol with the last seven contestants singing hits from the movies.

Randy Jackson was labelled “yellow striped” for the night. Paula Abdul named by Ryan Seacrest as “hot”. Kara DioGuardi was called “provocative” (nice frock, Kara!) and Simon Cowell, well, “legendary”, “your highness, Sir Simon Cowell” etc., etc.

The top seven of American Idol had prepped around the clock to audition for Quentin Tarantino at the Alfred Newman Stage, the main music recording sound stage at Fox. Mr. Tarantino said that he would be as tough and critical as he could be to the Idol participants who would sing their songs for him.

The young Allison Iraheta was first up and sung “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” with her powerful voice. Paula reaffirmed Allison’s amazing talent. Simon called her the “girls only hope left in the competition. He added that Allison was getting stronger as a performer and that no one has sung the song so well. Here, here!

Anoop Desai, next up, sung “Everything I Do, I do it for you”, I thought he was not bad, Randy agreed with me and added that Anoop has found himself and “good job” Annop. Kara agreed that Anoop had definitely found his place, that it was one of his best performances as the song was coming from his heart. I agree, he did a good job, but again, he has not been consistent.

My favourite (among the male contestants) Adam Lambert, is just a Star. He sung “Born to be Wild” and wow! Amazing, the guy is a star package. The way he moves and plays with that voice! The audience on American Idol had a hard time stopping their screaming and Paula praised Adam as one who “dares to dance in the path of greatness.” Exactly! Then she went further to call him the “bravest contestant ever.” Simon called Adam vocally incredible, that it was a bit like watching “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” However, Simon, I don’t think you like “rock” that much. He didn’t think Adam’s performance would be as popular as his performance last week, but he liked it after all. Of course, the audience booed Simon just a little. Simon, you are so picky!

Contestant Matt Girard sung “If You Really Love a Woman” with the piano. Randy called it an interesting performance but it got a bit rough because Matt tried to do too much with the song. Kara thought that Matt was still struggling with ‘song type’. Not good at this point on American Idol.

Danny Gokey’s song “My Endless Love” with a harp accompaniment left Paula not sure about Danny’s key and whether it should have lowered but she found his rendition “unique and unforgettable”. Simon could find no fault with the way he sung the song, However, the harp and the way Danny sung the song disappointed him. (Simon does not like harps?). However, Simon congratulated him in that one could see that the song meant a lot to him.

Chris Allen sung beautifully but Randy never quite caught onto the song and found it pitchy at times. Kara called Chris’ performance as one of his “best moments.”

Lil Rounds was the last contestant of the night at the movies American Idol. Paula liked it but Simon was highly critical saying that she was getting this thing “entirely wrong.” He said the song was too soft and not the right one for her. To dig in even further, he said Lil was not the artist they thought she was.

Now Lil the girl, she argued back. And then Paula piped in, encouraging her not to “be afraid to say whatever you believe to those who don’t matter.” Ouch! Simon did not look happy and for once did not say anything. Will they argue after the show?

And there, it ends, American Idol’s movie night. We shall see what tomorrow brings in as far as the votes go and who is “Out”…

American Idol Judgement April 8

Tonight’s American Idol looks again at who’s going and who’s staying.

American Idol started off with a humorous reference by Ryan Seacrest of Simon Cowell as Darth Vader. Simon, it’s the hair-don’t. You are so rich and famous, so get a nice haircut. It’s time.

Randy Jackson stated that the recent performances by some of the contestants had left him disappointed and had been “flat” and “off”. Kara DioGuardi talked of the “early front runners” who now had an identity crisis, kinda late in the schedule of the show for that. Paula Abdul, mother of the team presented another childhood photo of her and Darth, I mean, Simon as children. Nice collage.

The group song of the night was a hit from 2002 – American Idol’s first season – “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”. I noticed the pairing up of Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert – could this be a sign?

Later we got a view of the shooting of a Ford commercial. Again, amid the glitter, I see Adam and Allison together again. A fleeting image of the future…

Ryan then presented the hit playing in the year Simon Cowell was born. Frankie Avalon’s hit “Venus” was hot, way back then. A vintage film of Frankie Avalon morphed into Frankie Avalon in the flesh singing “Venus”. Frankie said it was a hit in 1959. Simon swore he was born in 1969. Wikipedia states his birthdate as October 7, 1959. Truth tells on the internet.

Other performers during tonight’s American Idol show included Flo Rida and Kelly Pickler singing their new hit songs.

The bottom three of the night ended up with Lil, Anoop Desai and Scott MacIntyre seated in the three feared chairs on center stage. Judges said they would use the judges’ save tonight. Moi, I don’t have a clue whom they were referring to in this line-up. However, time ran out tonight for Scott MacIntyre. There was a debate among the judge, two against two as to whether or not to use the judge’s save. However, Darth, I mean, Simon finally ended the debate by saying that although they really liked Scott, there were more talented singers sitting on the benches. Sadly, we must say goodbye to Scott. Lil and Anoop are safe, but it’s probably too late baby.

Adam Lambert is as safe as he should be. Allison is safe as she should be. It’s down to Danny Gokey, Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai, Matt Girard and Chris Allen. Tick, Tock, time is running on American Idol. And as I keep reminding, there is the American Idol tour coming up in the summer. Can't be that bad a summer job to have?

Megan Joy Doesn’t Care and Neither Does American Idol

The latest gossip on American Idol is that time is a running and has finally run out for American Idol contestant Megan Joy last night. It was rather painful to watch her in the bottom three because she seemed to sense, nervously, when assigned to the bottom three, that it was her turn to go. Watching her sing her goodbye song was very excruciating to watch. Something akin to watching a public execution in the town square circa 1492. Her comment, “I love you Simon Cowell, but I don’t care” was thrown back at her by Simon. “With all due respect, we don’t care either”. My suggestion to all contestants: If you have been living under a rock for the last 10 years, you should now know that Simon is one of the most powerful men in the music business and you have to be careful about what you say to him. He will throw any nasty remark right back in your face. Just a warning.

However, for the American Idol contestants now kicked off the show, I wouldn’t worry too much. You’ve had amazing exposure. You’ll all be performing in the summer on the American Idol summer tour and for Megan Joy, she is so gorgeous, I’m sure Hollywood or New York will be calling for a role in a TV series or some modelling work. She is absolutely beautiful.

Also sharing the bottom three chairs was Anoop Desai. No surprise, he’s about as talented as a lounge singer in an almost empty motel along the highway to nowhere. And the biggest surprise in the bottom three was, yet again, Allison Iraheta.

I just don’t get why Allison found herself for the second time in the bottom three. No doubt, Simon Cowell et al were surprised too when asked by Ryan Seacrest if they would use the “judge’s save” for these bottom three performers. He stated that “yes”, they would use the judge’s save for one of the three singers and he didn’t mean Anoop. I’m not sure why Allison keeps finding herself in the bottom three. She’s the most talented female singer on American Idol this season – with a voice that could sing anything. I can only surmise that it’s the color of her hair, a flaming red. But this is not a hair-do contest America. This is a singing contest. I’m absolutely positive that when she wins, a stylist will be assigned to fix her hair pronto. If it’s the clothes she wore on Tuesday night, same thing goes. She needs a stylist. Again, may I remind you, this is NOT a hair-do or fashion contest, it’s a singing contest. She’s 16 years old and experimenting with her look like any typical 16 year old, but her voice is powerful, a gift from the Gods and she can sing ANYTHING.

Surprises continue. Scott MacIntyre is still in the running, along with Anoop. No other surprises. True American Idol material, Adam Lambert is still on, and again we hear Paula Abdul’s praise comparing him to the likes of Steve Tyler and Mick Jagger. Adam, he’s the package. All done up and ready to go… recording.

Am so looking forward to next Tuesday’s American Idol. Hoping another Presidential address will not interrupt programming. American Idol is more important, we’re getting close to the countdown. Perhaps the President could give his addresses to the nation in the afternoon and we can all miss a few hours of work to watch it. I don’t like missing my American Idol on Tuesday nights.