If luck is a lady, we might be seeing two of the rising stars of the silver screen in a movie musical. Earlier today, reports came out that Fox was planning to remake Guys and Dolls. Not surprising given the rampant remake culture in Hollywood and the enduring popularity of the musical, but was surprising was the rumors that Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon Levitt are being courted to star in the picture, playing the roles Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando played in the 1955 film. Producers no doubt are trying to capture some of the charisma both men showed in their brief moments during the past Academy Award ceremony.
Another week, another feud, another outstanding display of talent in what’s shaping up to be an incredible season of American Idol. Somehow, each new episode either has me laughing, in awe, or incredibly jealous I’m not there in person to get my hair finger-groomed by Nicki Minaj! Okay, that’s a bit overkill but I can’t help myself! Nicki Minaj is quickly becoming my new favorite television personality, and Keith Urban is undoubtedly the most perfectly-cast judge since Simon Cowell. Urban is always entertained and invested no matter the quality of the audition, and his critiques aptly zone in on what makes that particular performer truly special. Yeah, I’m #TeamNicki/#TeamKeith for now. Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson are fine, but as accomplished as they are in the music biz, is it too much to ask for a bit of variety in their critiques, hopefully not limited to three redundant phrases? Mariah: “Yes!”, “DAAHHHHHLLLIINNNNG,” “POW!” And Randy: “DAWG,” “FOR ME, FOR YOU,” “[Insert generic hyperbole].” Thank god we have Keith and Nicki on the panel, is all I’m saying. With that, let’s get down to business as I present the Top 5 Contestants to Watch from Week Two… Read more on ‘American Idol’ Week 2 Wrap-Up: Top 5 to Watch From Charlotte and Baton Rouge…
When it comes to reality television, American Idol is where my heart lies. As corny as that sounds, it is absolutely true. For ten years, I have watched every season, seen every episode, and rooted for god knows how many contestants to win. Not a single year has a favorite of mine won American Idol, and that still never stops me because at the end of the day this show is supposed to find superstars, and it has certainly lived up to its promise tenfold! After watching the premiere this season, I have figured out Idol‘s winning formula. Yes, you need an eclectic judging panel that spices up your television screen — and believe me, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey do the trick plenty! But when it comes right down to why no show matches Idol in the ratings or in the charts — where it counts and why such shows should exist — the answer is simple and pure: our journey with the contestants is a personal one. X-Factor and The Voice put on these huge productions and force contestants to be stars before we even get a chance to know them. That seems phony to us, even though it’s probably what goes on more often than not in the music biz. With American Idol, we witness the natural progression that a contestant makes on their way to becoming a star, and that authentic process, powerful in its intimacy, is why we rush out to buy an American Idol winner’s first album in droves (…unless you’re Lee DeWyze). The long journey through the audition stage, to Hollywood, into the Semifinals, and voting every round of the Finals makes us feel as though we, as Americans, have helped pave their career for them. It’s a joint effort between talent on-stage and nationwide support that transitions the contestant from “you-and-me,” to superstar a la Kelly Clarkson. This is why American Idol is still the best of the singing competition shows, still the best reality show on television. American Idol, for better or worse, is an all-encompassing event that irrefutably lives up to its title. With that said, we now enter Season Twelve… Read more on ‘American Idol’ Week 1 Wrap-Up: Top 5 Contestants to Watch from New York & Chicago…
When it comes to the difficulties of buying a gift during the holidays, sometimes it’s just best to go with what you know. Nearly everyone at one point has encountered The Simpsons, so why not satisfy your love of America’s favorite dysfunctional family by checking out the newly released 15th Season on either Blu-Ray or DVD? With popular episodes like “My Mother the Carjacker,” “Diatribe of a Mad Housewife,” and “Simple Simpson,” it’s hard to argue against the overall quality of the season. “The Regina Monologues” episode even toppedA.V. Club’s 2009 list of “10 Best Simpsons Episodes from the Past Five Seasons.” The season’s partial focus on The War in Iraq — which had of course commenced that year (2003) — was a hot topic of discussion amongst fans, critics and even some higher-ups in government. Tony Blair’s vocal participation in “The Regina Monologues” caused somewhat of a controversy since his country, and America, expected him to fully invest every hour of his daily life towards the war effort in Iraq. This season is also infamous for showcasing the first real “acting” chops of Simon Cowell, whose television stardom thanks to American Idol was then at an all-time high. As always, revisiting The Simpsons in these Blu-Ray/DVD box sets means re-experiencing the year of its release. Beyond staying true to its timeless formula and poignant humor, The Simpsons Season 15 is as historically significant as a 2003 time capsule. Read more on ‘The Simpsons’ Season 15 on DVD and Blu-Ray!…
If you’re a Glee fan, then you know Kate Hudson will be appearing on Glee this season. Watch Kate Hudson show off her singing and dance moves, and don’t forget to tune in Thursday September 13th at 9pm on FOX.
Alas, another one has bitten the dust on American Idol. After signing on for only two seasons of the hit show, Steven Tyler — rock god extraordinaire of “Aerosmith” — calls it quits on his “mistress American Idol before she boils [his] rabbit.” Oh trust me Steven, your rabbit has long been boiled before Idol came a’ knockin. All jokes aside, I’m going to miss our free-spirited rocker. I know — shocking! Look, although I may be an ardent proponent of articulate and helpful judging — that isn’t limited to the words “beautiful” and “over-the-top” — you can’t deny that Tyler was the perfect remedy after Simon Cowell left behind a stench of bitterness and detachment. We needed a judge who’d bring a smile to everyone’s face, lighten up the somber mood that was beginning to plague the show, and most importantly show a genuine fondness for each contestant. That was Steven Tyler, and from the second he uttered the phrase, ““F–k a duck and see what hatches” during one of the show’s audition rounds, we all knew that FOX had struck television gold. Look, judging on American Idol has pretty much been a farce since Season Seven (America seems to only want white guys with guitars to win), so really…why not make the road to the inevitable a barrel of fun? Thank you Steven Tyler for bringing an exuberance to a show that was in dire need of it, and — at least from this Idol blogger’s end — you will be missed. So now the question is this: who will fill Steven Tyler’s shoes now that he’s decided to hang them up for good? Find out the five names I’ve got swirling in my head as replacements for Tyler…after the jump! Read more on It’s Official: Steven Tyler Quits Idol Gig…But Who Should Replace Him?…
Brace yourselves. In just a few short hours, FOX will confirm that the judges for next season’s X-Factorwill be none other than pop princesses Demi Lovato and Britney Spears. Spears has been all but confirmed for the past two weeks, but today the news broke that Demi Lovato would also be joining her on the judging panel. The two, alongside Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid, will serve as both judges and mentors this season. Filling in the shoes of the bewildered Paula Abdul and the reviled Nicole Scherzinger shouldn’t cause too many groans across the blogosphere, but has Simon and FOX made the right call with these two ladies? My personal thoughts are after the jump… Read more on Demi Lovato and Britney Spears Announced As Judges on ‘X-Factor’!…
This Wednesday, the Top 10 on American Idol will be tackling the songs of famed singer-songwriter, Billy Joel. I, for one, am excited about this theme, particularly because Billy Joel’s songs are awesome and incredibly diverse, making for a wide range of unique song choices that could provide a memorable night on Idol. The success of the night, as usual, depends on the wise song selections by our Idols. Like Jimmy Iovine stated during last Thursday’s results show, no matter what song suggestions the mentors try to shove down the contestants’ throats, the decision ultimately lies with our Idols. Last week proved disastrous for some frontrunners (I’m looking at you, Jessica Sanchez), because many were just too ignorant to choose songs they were unfamiliar with, and instead settled on predictable selections that did nothing to show off their artistry or musical creativity. I’m here, once again, crossing my fingers that the Idols take my advice and make the best decisions for themselves if they want a chance of making that all-important finale. I don’t care what Randy Jackson says — song choice is everything on Idol. Check below to see what choices from the Billy Joel songbook I select for our remaining ten contestants. Read more on ‘American Idol’ Billy Joel Theme Week: Song Suggestions…
Come this Wednesday, the Top 12 on American Idol will be singing “Songs From the Year They Were Born” as this week’s theme. This theme has been done a number of times on Idol, and is an exact repeat theme from last season’s Top 12. Some may call it a lazy theme week, but I find it’s always fun to see how the Idol‘s will come up with songs from their birth year to make them sound as relevant and important as their own birthdays. I’m expecting a lot of flukes this week with song choices, which is why yours truly is here to lend a hand. Take a look after the jump to see what I chose for each of the Top 12 for this week’s “Songs From the Year They Were Born” theme in alphabetical order. Read more on ‘American Idol’ Songs From the Year They Were Born Theme Week: Song Suggestions…
No more guessing now! The Top 13 has been officially formed on American Idol thanks to your votes, whether you like the end result or not. Let’s take a moment of silence for Creighton Fraker and Hallie Day, two performers who were robbed a spot in the Top 13 by Heejun Han and Erika Van Pelt, and silently wish them luck in all future musical endeavors. In all seriousness, this is a very strong Top 13, and while it’s not as fully satisfying as last season’s perfect lineup, I think we have a real competition about to ensue over the course of the next two months. I look forward to covering it with my Idol partner-in-crime, Editor Clayton Davis.
This week the Top 13 Idols will be covering two of the most legendary singers of all time: Stevie Wonder and the recently departed Whitney Houston. The boys will be covering Stevie’s classic tunes while the girls will take the plunge into tackling one of the greatest voices ever. It’s certainly going to be a must-see show, even if train wrecks are an almost guarantee with such difficult standards to meet. To help prepare the Idol’s for this difficult week, I have decided to give some advice to each Idol by suggesting the songs that would most appropriately suit them on Wednesday’s show. Whether they listen or not remains to be seen, but that’s not stopping me anyway. Don’t say I didn’t warn them! Check out my Song Suggestions for the Top 13 for Stevie Wonder/Whitney HoustonWeek after the jump! Read more on ‘American Idol’ Whitney Houston/Stevie Wonder Theme Week: Song Suggestions for the Top 13…
Welcome everyone to night two of the American Idol Season 11 Semifinals! Let’s face it — Tuesday was a bit of a disaster as far as talent goes, but thank god the girls came along when they did. This is completely the opposite of what happened last season, where the boys delivered an incredible semifinals show while the girls, although still great, weren’t quite up to par. When we thought all was lost for Season 11, the girls come along and prove that tonight’s results show is going to be one hell of an upset whatever happens. So many talented individuals are going to be cut this evening, so please don’t swear you’ll never watch Idol ever again even if your favorite goes home. It’s impossible to stay away for very long! After watching the Top 12 Girls perform, I began to get really excited about the season. In fact, can we have three girls from the Top 13 come from the Wild Card Show? Please, Uncle Nigel?! I doubt it’ll happen (Jennifer is OBSESSED with DeAndre Brackensick AKA Tree of Life), but a guy can dream! Let’s dive right into the performance show that may finally prove the women have as strong a chance of winning as Season Six had, the last season where a girl won (five years ago — that’s old even by Reality TV standards!). Check out my reviews of each of the talented women (with a few exceptions) after the jump! Read more on ‘American Idol’ Recap: Reviewing the Top 12 Girls…
Wow…I’m going to have to really take a breather on this one, folks. American Idol last night proved to us that it will definitely be hard to replicate the magic of last season. I know, it really was awful having Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina as the final two standing, but there were so many better performers overall, even in the Top 24! And what the heck is with Jermaine Jones coming back? He may have sounded better than he normally does, but his Luther Vandross impression was underscored by a blatant manipulation on the part of the producers. Seriously, they are pulling a Melanie Amaro situation with Jermaine, guaranteeing him a spot in the Top 13 by pimping out his possible return. How is that fair to the other twelve guys who worked hard to make it, and weren’t given a huge advantage like that on a silver platter? On top of that, how the heck are they not allowing another girl through to balance it out?! Idol voters are known for favoring men over women, so this gender skewing once again proves that the ladies’ best interests aren’t at heart. I have to also agree with my editor, Clayton Davis, in saying that tonight’s performances were by and large mediocre. With the exception of maybe four individuals, I’m not really excited about anyone from the boys’ side. I’m going to be doing things a bit differently in my recap this week since we are now at the live rounds. Instead of delivering a review based on the sequential order of when the Top 13 boys performed, I will be counting down from worst to best. Let’s have at it! Read more on American Idol Recap: Reviewing the Top 13 Boys…
After you watch the premiere episode of FOX’s The Finder, you may want to re-title the show: ‘The Forgotten.’ It’s not a certainty that this spinoff from Bones will find itself canceled anytime soon — Idol’s lead-in certainly helped matters — but I doubt it’ll be on the FOX lineup for more than maybe a year or so. The problem with this show is that you would never guess it’s a spinoff of Bones unless you had watched the entire sixth season of FOX’s long-lasting procedural drama. Within Bones’ sixth season, one of the episodes, appropriately titled, “The Finder,” introduced us to the sarcastically charming ex-Iraqi vet, Major Walter Sherman (Geoff Stults) and the jovial crew that accompanies him (Michael Clarke Duncan and Mercedes Mashon). We learn from this episode that Sherman had a brain injury due to a roadside bomb while on active duty in Iraq, consequently resulting in paranoid mannerisms and an unflinching desire to “find” things. Unlike the protocol that your typical law enforcement would employ in an investigation, Sherman uses roundabout methods based on random leads, wild theories, and unrelated events in order solve cases. Miraculously enough, that seemingly unreliable investigative system actually winds up panning out. Yep, and that is where The Finder’s plausibility gets chucked out the window, and the show ceases to grip me in any grounds of reality. Read more on TV Review: The Finder (*1/2)…
After many tears of disappointment and joy, American Idol has made its final decision on the Top 24 for Season Eleven. I have to say, this lineup looks about as impressive as last year’s. Other than a few contestants (Adam Brock….ugh…..), this is a solid group of performers, who all in their own way make legitimate cases for themselves to be our next superstar recording artist. I’m backing quite a few contestants, one in particular, but I will get to my favorites a little later. I do want to point out one note of interest that really took me by surprise yesterday. According to the Nielsen ratings, this was the one week where The Voice actually beat American Idol in the ratings war. I have been predicting this shift for quite some time, but now it’s official with Idol pulling in a 5.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic, noticeably less than The Voice’s 6.0 rating in that same key demographic. While Idol still received the most viewers overall this week, The Voice may soon overtake Idol in this department once the “Live Battle Rounds” begin. I love both of these shows, so the competition is something I look at with excitement and awe. Both are worthy of great success, with The Voice edging forward just a bit due to the consecutive high-quality that is being espoused each episode. However, American Idol is closing the gap with a Top 24 that I am so looking forward to seeing perform live next week. Let the anticipation come to an end, because here are your Top 24.…. Read more on ‘American Idol’ Recap: Top 24 Revealed…
Lights, camera, Vegas! Welcome to another episode of…American Idol. Not only was this episode the best of the entire season thus far, but it finally proved why Randy has been so high on Season Eleven for the past two weeks. Let’s face it, Hollywood Week was a miserable mess, and a trip to the desert was just the cure to alleviate the torture Hollywood Week put us through as viewers. I’m not saying American Idol has reached the upper echelons of its former quality, but I also think that it certainly redeemed itself with an episode that showcased many potential stars in the making, as well as providing us with some great feedback and criticism from our panel of judges. When Jennifer Lopez is on her judging game, only Simon Cowell tops her in this field. Lopez’s critiques are precise, helpful, and always spot on. She knows how far to push a contestant with a critique without making them collapse into tears, and even the let downs and cuts aren’t quite as painful to watch. That being said, there were three individuals tonight who I felt were robbed a shot at a spot in the Top 42. That’s right folks, the numbers have now been dwindled to 42 remaining contestants. After the jump, find out who made the top 42, who I select as my final “Top 5 to Watch” (yep, this is the last time these honors will be awarded this season), and most importantly: I predict who will make American Idol Season 11′s Top 24. Read more on ‘American Idol’ Recap: Vegas Round and Top 42 Revealed…
Welcome back to another week of American Idol. Well, I guess I cannot complain too much because unlike last episode, which seemed silly to write a recap, people were actually singing instead of an hour showcasing DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA! However, I nearly keeled over in shock when Randy Jackson said of all eleven seasons, this was the best talent. Are you kidding me!? Either the editing has been atrocious this season, or something else is going on, because we haven’t seen talent this lackluster since Season Three. I’m not kidding — the kids can all certainly sing, but only a handful are making me sit up and pay attention. These five individuals will receive my weekly “Top 5 To Watch” of the week honors during this recap. I really hope some stars come to fruition, because after losing four of my “Top 5 to Watch” folks in Ethan Jones, Kyle Crews, Reis Kloeckener, and (I think) Brittany Zika, somebody had better stand out! Let’s get right into the thick of things after the jump. Read more on ‘American Idol’ Hollywood Week Recap: Group Rounds and Final Solos…
Woe is me, for American Idol has just reached a new low this week, with the introduction of Hollywood Week being eclipsed by one singer’s dramatic collapse from the stage. Really, Idol, are you going to capitalize on the drama of a contestant by ending the episode on a cliffhanger with her collapsing as a means to boost declining ratings? Did the shark really jump tonight, or am I alone in feeling that this was the single WORST EPISODE of American Idol we have seen since Season Nine’s announcement of the Top 12, where talent like Alex Lambert, Katelyn Epperly, and Lily Scott were cut in favor of vocal serial killers like Tim Urban and Paige Miles? Seriously, if someone would have told me a month ago that The Voice would have a stronger showing in its second season than Idol did in its eleventh, after an impeccable season last year, I would have probably laughed and screamed Steven Tyler’s “Dream On!” But low and behold, it has happened. With two stellar episodes of The Voice under its belt, and a so-so audition run by Idol, followed by a distasteful Hollywood Week episode, it’s hard not to jump on the Superbowl lead-out’s bandwagon. Does this mean the end is near for Idol? After being a fan for eleven seasons and witnessing the discovery of America’s finest talent and biggest superstars, I can’t jump ship quite yet. However, I can honestly say that so far The Voice has proven a superior show both in quality of production and discovery of strong vocal talent. From The Voice, I still have Jamar Roger’s “Seven Nation Army” song from two days ago stuck in my head, and have yet to fully commit myself to a single Idol contestant so far this season. I’m not saying Idol is lacking talent. I’m just saying that as a whole, this doesn’t feel like the same show that gave us Haley Reinhart and James Durbin just one year ago. I am Idol’s biggest supporter and want it to succeed, but I have to be honest when push comes to shove, and observe that The Voice has done its homework this season while Idol derives excitement from a contestant’s misfortune. Check out my recap of Hollywood Week, highlighting the five best contestants after the jump. Read more on ‘American Idol’ Hollywood Week Recap: Day One…
Picking the Top 5 Contestants to Watch from Portland and St. Louis.
We have officially completed the audition phase for American Idol Season 11. Hard to believe, right? It’s a kind of depressing feeling going into next week knowing that the once uncrushable reality series is averaging under its usual 20 million range. Are people just having singing-competition fatigue, or are these drops in ratings just a string of consequences following extensive DVR usage alongside utilized media sites like YouTube, which show many of the actual auditions that end up going viral? Whatever the case may be, this television viewer is not giving up on Idol in the least, and my coverage of America’s #1 regular programming show will be even more extensive in the coming weeks once things get interesting and the top 24 are announced. I know we’ve all been a bit distracted by Oscar season, and that’s a great thing, but lets not forget that this is a place where we can openly discuss our love for Idol and other television series in general. Like Clayton mentioned, the off-season shouldn’t be a time to hang up our hats until Oscar winter season comes knocking on our window again, failing to actively engage in some excellent chatter about the finest contributions pop culture has to offer us. Oscars coming to a close next month does not mean the fun at Awards Circuit is over — far from it. So I encourage all the readers to continue to stick with us for the entire year, especially in the off-season gap. Read more on American Idol Auditions: Week 3 Wrap Up…
It is with great sadness that I have to report a negative review of a new series on FOX which stars one of my favorite television actors, Kiefer Sutherland, who was the star of one of my most beloved television series of all time, 24. Yes, Sutherland’s new series, Touch, does not hold a candle to the suspense and addiction that 24 provided viewers for eight seasons, because it simply is not that compelling a show to begin with. I can hear the detractors now saying I need to bide my time, let the show develop, let its plot flesh out to comprehensibility, but I completely object! A pilot episode should at least give us a sense of purpose and provide viewers with some direction as to where the show is heading. Touch is simply a sappy post-9/11 drama series that attempts on multiple occasions to pull heartstrings, but you are more likely be tortured by its blatant manipulation. After the jump, I will delve into why Touch may be one of the most disappointing premieres in quite some time. Read more on TV Review:Touch (**)…
Picking The Top 5 Contestants to Watch from Savannah and Pittsburgh
This is…American Idol! Oh man, I’ve always wanted to say that. Welcome readers to the brand new season of American Idol. This year at the Awards Circuit, we will do our very best to give you the most in-depth coverage of the #1 Television Show in America. It needs no introductions, so let’s get right down to it! This is Season 11, and after an amazing season last year, I can only hope the judges continue to exude amazing chemistry amongst themselves while still finding the best vocal talent America has to offer. After The Voice and The X-Factor, it is good to be back in familiar territory. I’m not knocking the other two shows, but this is what started the fad for singing competition shows, and still remains the best of the bunch. The ratings don’t lie nor do Scotty McCreery’s platinum hit sales numbers. The best part of Idol is discovering a new chart-topper, which is why it remains the best and most legitimate show on television for discovering the next great artist. Read more on American Idol Audition Week One Wrap Up…
“On March 21st, 1963, Alcatraz officially closed. All the prisoners were transferred off the island…only that’s not what happened. Not at all.”
Yes, this is the exciting premise to one of the new year’s best, most fascinating shows from the creative imagination of J. J. Abrams. Sci-Fi/Supernatural stories and J.J. Abrams go together about as well as champagne on New Years Eve, so it’s no surprise that Alcatraz could very well be the answer to the absence of Lost. J.J. Abram’s previous television hit launched a legion of fans dedicating their time to decrypting the secrets of its complex narrative, as well as pushing forward the production quality of a Broadcast television show. Before Lost, there had never been a show with such a high concept storyline, stunning visual effects, and set production values that had ever been done before. The show felt like a movie, but better — instead of neatly wrapping itself up in two hours, the show spanned six seasons with layer upon layer of mythology, fleshed out characters whose back-stories were given great weight and importance, and a highly complex science fiction plot that ignited fierce and passionate discussion on message boards across the internet. If ever there was a show that marked the beginning popularity of the post-millennium internet age coming together as an online community in debunking their favorite television show in such lavish detail and commitment, it was Lost. The show launched in 2004, and television has never been the same since thanks to J. J. Abrams. Many shows post-Lost have attempted to mimic its high concept narrative and extravagant production values, but to little avail. Most shows that did this were poorly received by the national audience, sank in the Nielsen ratings, and were forced to shut down production because their rating shares could not cover the cost to maintain expensive production. Only J. J. Abrams, it seems, could revive the high-concept science fiction show on Broadcast television. Even though Alcatraz is nowhere near Lost in its overall quality, it definitely holds promise to develop into a show that is both original, refreshing, and the remedy to the absence most sci-fi fans have been feeling since Lost’s series finale ended in 2010. Read more on TV Review: Alcatraz (***1/2)…
Rachel Crow delivers the best performance of the competition thus far.
Tonight, The X Factor Top 11 took the stage for America’s votes. It was Movie Week with the contestants choosing any song featured in a film from history.
Stacy Francis – “Queen of the Night” by Whitney Houston from The Bodyguard (**)
-Stacy takes the stage in a terrible red dress and her hair blown out which shows her massive forehead. Wow. That’s harsh but it’s true. She’s trying very hard to be young and sexy but she needs to stay with ballads and soulful numbers. I think Stacy is in serious trouble tonight.
Marcus Canty – “I’m Going Down” by Mary J. Blige from Car Wash – (***)
-Marcus pulls out the big guns with a soulful and terrific rendition of the popular Mary J. Blige number. He can riff amazingly but sometimes I do wish he’d pull back the stage antics a bit. Boy can sing. By the way, that ugly jacket Marcus? Don’t do it again. Thanks.
Drew – “Fix You” by Coldplay from You, Me, and Dupree – (***)
-Drew tackled a very beautiful Coldplay song and puts her own nuances on it wonderfully. I’m still calling her the frontrunner in the competition. Her little multi-colored dress was cute as a button. Paula insulted it. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Neither does L.A. Reid.
The highly anticipated U.S. version of the popular UK show from American Idol’s ex-judge Simon Cowell had its premiere this week on FOX and it seems that it may give Idol a run for its money. Though the ratings this week weren’t anywhere near Idol’s, much potential however, it strongly sensed. The entire dynamic of the show is altogether more compelling and moving than most reality-competition shows on television.
What stands for beyond Idol is the judges’ panel. Consisting of Cowell, old Idol judge Paula Abdul, Pussycat Dolls’ lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger, and record producer and executive, L.A. Reid all have a foot and hold on the music industry and offer quality criticisms. Abdul and Scherzinger are not as strong for the criticisms, often offering pillow talk commentary to otherwise terrible singers but they hold their own.
The breath of fresh air is the diverse range of contestants set to perform this season. The contestants can perform as soloists or groups, boys or girls, at least 12 years of age to as old as Jesus himself. This gives the show a true opportunity to find the next Backstreet Boys or Lady Gaga or Susan Boyle. The sky’s the limit.
If luck is a lady, we might be seeing two of the rising stars of the silver screen in a movie musical. Earlier today, reports came out that Fox was planning to remake Guys and Dolls. Not surprising given the rampant remake culture in Hollywood and the enduring popularity of the musical, but was surprising was the rumors that Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon Levitt are being courted to star in the picture, playing the roles Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando played in the 1955 film. Producers no doubt are trying to capture some of the charisma both men showed in their brief moments during the past Academy Award ceremony.
