Posted on 05/08/2006 4:22:13 AM PDT by silent_jonny
I got this post from a TAYLOR-friendly site:
Intersting in that 3 of the last 4 years has contained a Birmingham native in the finale...
So help me loosen it.........what's your argument?
Folks,
We've seen Taylor and the other Idols doing commercials for FORD.
But I can see in my mind Taylor totally helping to sell other products simply by endorsing it. And the commercial will be memorable as well due to sheer charm and personality.
Imagine this TV commercial for instance :
Where are they getting these numbers? I would certainly agree that Taylor has a wider fan base for a host of reasons but 64 million votes not counted? If they are using DI stats then the third line figures are not included.
Please elaborate.
My argument is that it is a tv show, and the fans are the ones who are manipulating the outcome by voting, some more rabidly than others. The producers are NOT engineering the outcome.
The exact same arguments were made in 2003 when Ruben beat Clay in a virtual tie. Do a google search on "Ruben Clay voting" and a number of articles come up.
The controversy only helps to build interest in the show, and any of the final four would make an acceptable IDOL to those who like that person. And any of the four will be hated by a sizable percentage of the audience. There is no conspiracy.
He tried to reject them right at their auditions!
Paula and Randy, both of whom are criticized for their critical abilities and judgement, out-voted Simon 2-1.
Simon you are a lousy judge of talent.
Simon is responsible for the Spice Girls and Il Divo. Simon is clueless when it comes to music, especially American music.
Oh I agree with you re the spread out thingy, but what I heard in her explaination was that she "saw" Taylor's fans and was trying to explain it and maybe just toexplain it to herself. She is a very beautiful girl and should be herself. Not what her parents want. Not to please her mama or daddy. If she doens't, she will never be happy.
http://www.celebrityspider.com/news/may06/article051806-13.html
"Bad Day" singer Daniel Powter to Appear on American Idol 5/19/06
Canadian pop singer Daniel Powter is set to thrill fans by appearing on the current season finale of talent show American Idol.
The 30-year-old star will perform his hit single Bad Day, which has been the contest's closing tune this season on 23 May (06).
One week before the end two finalists remain to battle it out for the title, Katherine McPhee and Taylor Hicks.
Bad Day was also chosen by Coca-Cola as the theme tune to their European advertising campaign.
Powter has plans for a mini-tour of North America scheduled to begin in July (06).
I hope with you but I am starting to think this is the case as well.
After two weeks of easy voting for Elliott on both landlines and texting, we had considerable difficulty with both last Tuesday night.
I was particularly dismayed that texting was supposedly unavailable because of supposed high volume. "Message not sent". According to Cingular this happened because of high volume at the receiving end.
In most cases, if we changed to a new number, we got through for awhile and then hit the stone wall again. On both landlines and texting.
I'll wear some tinfoil with you because I felt then that we were restricted at the receiving end for submitting votes. It was time for Elliott to go home.
Opposing that, however, is the very high unlikelihood of the three contestants each getting 33%. Even with the numbers after the decimal point.
http://mediafiends.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=7665
THE AMERICAN IDOL RUUNER-UPS, WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
The runners-up on American Idol have been extremely busy. I want to preface this article by saying that I KNOW I didn’t cover every little thing, because if I did, we’d be here until the start of next season’s American Idol. I also purposely avoided scandals and controversies. If I did omit anything significant, please, as always, feel free to add it below.
By LindaK
MediaFiends.com
Either Kat or Taylor will become a member of this group on Wednesday. Whoever finishes as the runner up will certainly be joining a very unique, diverse, and talented quartet.
Season 1: Justin Guarini
In my opinion, Justin got a raw deal in many ways, but he is rebounding and doing well. After Idol, Justin signed with 19 Management and RCA. According to the American Idol contract, Justin had to refuse any deals until 3 months after Kelly’s cd. This restriction was changed for the following seasons. Justin had to turn down a guest role on Friends, the emcee role in Broadway’s Cabaret, a starring role in the TV series The Fast and the Furious, recording the soundtrack for a film, and modeling for Tommy Hilfiger.
His cd was released on June 10, 2003. Unfortunately, the timing was poor. Season 2’s top finishers, Clay and Ruben, also released singles the same day, and the movie “From Justin to Kelly” was released 10 days later and received poor reviews. There were complaints that Justin’s cd was not promoted well. Justin was dropped by RCA, supposedly due to poor cd sales of under 135,000, and he broke from 19 Management.
In 2004, Justin was in the New York Stage and Film/Vassar Powerhouse Theater show “Good Vibrations”. His performance included singing, dancing, acting, and playing guitar. He did well, and received an offer to continue the role in the original Broadway production. Justin declined. He has acted in independent films including a science fiction film ‘The Unknown: Frankie The Squirrel, Mafioso II: The Son’, and the short film ‘Tilt-a-Whirl’ for the Dances With Films Film Festival. He has been on television in a musical spoof of movie making for AMC's FilmFakers, and as a guest host for VH1's Top 20 Countdown, the Oprah Show, the Tonight Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Teen Choice Awards, and Fox’s ‘Run Of The House’, among others.
Justin’s second cd was called “Stranger Things Have Happened”, and was independently released on December 6, 2005 through his own production company, Justice Entertainment, Ltd.. Justin was a co-producer on this cd. This is a 10 song jazz cd featuring a fresh take on known standards, with well known LA musicians. Justin described the album as "a 100% independent project, representing six months of experimentation, growth, and a new-found love for the art and style of jazz." In March 2006 American Idol Extra did a feature on Justin showing him in the recording studio recording/producing this cd, and commenting on his music and his own production company.
In March-April 2006, Justin reported that he was working on his third cd, with writers/producers with new label 3:AM Music. Justin described this cd as more mainstream, with a mix of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and "sprinkle of hip-hop all rolled into one". Release of a single and a tour is planned when the cd is finished. Justin has also become partners with a new digital music service called BurnLounge. He is scheduled to perform at its launch convention in Las Vegas in June 2006.
Justin has been a national spokesperson for Support Music Education since 2004, speaking and performing at events including the annual NAACP Leadership 500 Summit to support the importance of music education in schools. On March 9, 2005, he was part of a delegation that met with Congress, and later sang and emceed at a private gala concert for Congress, their families, and staff. On January 21, 2006, he received the NAMM "Music for Life" Award for his work in support of music education. According to the American Music Conference, "the NAMM Music for Life Award, created in 1990, “recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of individuals who play a significant role in promoting music education in the nation's schools and whose dedication to music and music education serves as an inspiration to others."
Justin also participates in raising money for charities such as Habitat for Humanity, Rockers on Broadway, Broadway's Kitchen Sink, and various children's hospitals across the country.
Many thanks to Justin fan Nal for the following information:
Justin’s recent 2006 interviews/appearances/commentary include CN8's It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle, FOX5 Atlanta, E! News, FOX25 Evening News (Boston), Good Day Philadelphia, NBC Philadelphia 10!, Rita Cosby Live, Scarborough Country, AI Tonight,
2006 Trumpet Awards in Atlanta, 7th Anniversary of "Carnival The Choreographer's Ball", and the Friends4Friends Benefit.
Justin has a lot going on right now, and I wish him much success in these upcoming endeavors!
Season 2: Clay Aiken
The transformation from nerd to chic will go down as the ultimate American Idol makeover. That, in addition to his voice, continues to drive many a Claymate crazy even 3 years later.
On June 10, 2003, Clay released the single "Bridge Over Troubled Water". The B-side was “This Is the Night". This was RIAA certified platinum on July 15, 2003. It debuted at #1 on both the "Billboard Hot 100" and the Hot 100 Single Sales Chart, and was the fastest-selling single since Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" and the best-selling single of 2003. It was also the first CD single to go platinum since 2002.
Clay’s solo cd, “Measure of a Man” was released on October 13, 2003. It debuted at #1 on the "Billboard 200" and sold 613,000 copies in its first week. This made it the highest-selling debut for a solo artist in 10 years. The album was RIAA Double Platinum certified on November 17, 2003, and more than 2,750,000 cds have been sold. The single "Invisible" became a huge hit. Also in 2003, Clay won the Fan's Choice Award at the American Music Awards ceremony, and his CD single "This Is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water" won the Billboard award for the Best-selling Single of 2003.
During the winter of 2003, Clay was in Disney's Christmas Day Parade and The Nick At Nite Holiday Special, where special effects allowed him to sing an awesome duet of “Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth” with Bing Crosby.
Clay and Kelly Clarkson, the Season 1 winner, joined forces for the "Independent Tour” where they alternated as headliners. Clay was also scheduled for a few summer tour dates, but demand was so high that he ended up doing 50 performances across the United States, in what became known as the "Not-a-Tour." Clay sang the song “Proud of Your Boy” for Disney’s Aladdin Special Edition DVD. They were the exclusive sponsor of Clay's Summer Concert Tour. Clay made a music video which is on the Aladdin Special Edition 2-Disc DVD. He also performed a duet on Kimberley Locke's debut cd “Without You” released in May 2004.
Clay’s 3rd tour of the year, “The Joyful Noise Tour”, had a Christmas theme and began in November, 2004. This tour was sponsored by Ronald McDonald House Charities, with a conductor and a 30-piece orchestra. In some cities, Aiken was supported by the local philharmonic or symphony, such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Local choirs from schools participated at each concert. "The Joyful Noise Tour" had sellouts at every venue.
Also in November, Clay released “Merry Christmas With Love”, which set a new record for the fastest-selling holiday cd since 1991. The cd debuted at #3 on the "Billboard 200" and tied Céline Dion's record for the highest debut by a holiday album in the history of Billboard magazine. "Merry Christmas With Love" sold over 1,000,000 copies in 6 weeks, was the best-selling holiday album of 2004, and received RIAA Platinum certification on Jan. 6, 2005. Clay also wrote a memoir called “Learning To Sing: Hearing the Music In Your Life”. This book debuted at #2 and made the New York Times Best Seller List. In December 2004, Clay starred in his first TV special, A Clay Aiken Christmas, with guests Barry Manilow, Yolanda Adams, and Megan Mullally. He was also Executive Producer.
Clay made a guest appearance on the TV sitcom Scrubs in February 2005. He was also on Oprah to fulfill someone’s “Wildest Dreams", and appeared on an episode of Dr. Phil concerning bullying among teens. During the summer of 2005, Clay’s “Jukebox Tour," performed songs of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, favorites from Measure of a Man, and some new material.
In September 2005, Clay was a celebrity guest of designer Kenneth Cole during the Fashion Week shows in New York City. He was a guest reporter for The Insider later that month at the 2005 Emmy Awards. The Kenneth Cole outfit was then donated, along with other items worn by celebrities at the Emmys, to the Clothes Off Our Back charity auction. His tuxedo, cufflinks, and shoes sold for a combined total of $27,250. Clay returned to do more guest reporting segments on the show.
Clay’s 2nd Christmas tour, in November 2005, told the story of an older woman who lost the Christmas spirit and a young boy who helps her find it again. A cast of actors, dancers and back-up singers traveled with the tour, and members of local theatre groups performed in each venue for smaller non-speaking roles and crowd scenes. The tour opened in Vancouver, Canada, on November 2, and ended in Clearwater, Florida on December 30.
Clay’s foundation is called the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, and its goal is to integrate children with disabilities into the everyday environment of their non disabled peers. Clay has also done benefits and concerts for various causes including the 2004 Rosalynn Carter Benefit, the America's Promise Benefit, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS where he sung a duet with Heather Headley. He was one of the celebrity readers for the "Arthur Celebrity Audiobook Stories for Heroes Series," which benefits the BAF and other charities, and was the spokesman for the series. He was also a spokesperson for the 2004 Toys for Tots drive, and is an ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and UNICEF, to help ensure children everywhere obtain education. He participated in the NBC4 telethon, which raised over $10 million, and recorded public service announcements for South Asian tsunami relief. He also recorded a video to be used as a public service announcement to raise money for tsunami victims.
From March through May 2005, through UNICEF, Clay went to the tsunami-stricken Banda Aceh area, appeared before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations, and went to northern Uganda. He was the 2005 spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF drive.
Clay was voted the Favorite Reality Star of 2003 by TV Guide readers, and “the most-loved reality star of all time” in a TV Guide poll in the summer of 2005. In February 2006 he was voted "Favorite American Idol" by People Magazine with 69% of the vote.
Any mention of Clay is not complete without mentioning his fans. Clay’s fans are known for their fervor and adament devotion, sometimes to the point of obsession. They are very anxiously awaiting the release of Clay’s next cd.
Clay Aiken remains the most successful non-winner in American Idol history.
Season 3: Diana DeGarmo
Diana was the young girl with the big voice. I look forward to hearing more from her.
On June 29, 2004, Diana released a single "Dreams". It included "I Believe", which was co-written by Tamyra Gray, and a remake of “Don’t Cry Out Loud". "Dreams" debuted at #2 in record sales and went #1 on the Billboard US Singles Sales Chart.
On December 7, 2004, Diana released her debut cd “Blue Skies”. The first weeks sales were 47,000. The album came in at #52 in the Billboard chart. Her single "Emotional" peaked at #54 on the Mediabase Pop Chart. She toured independently in 2005 to support “Blue Skies”.
On September 17th, 2005, Diana received the Horizon Award at the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame Awards ceremony. The award recognizes Georgia artists on the path to successful and lengthy careers. In January, she was recognized by NAMM, The International Music Products Association, with the Music for Life Award for her advocacy on Capitol Hill for music and television in schools.
In November 2005, Diana played Maria at the American Musical Theatre in San Jose, in a production of West Side Story. She played Penny Pingleton in Hairspray on Broadway from February to May 14, 2006. Diana will play the part of Brooklyn, and along with Melba Moore, will headline the 2006 national tour of Brooklyn, the Musical. This show is about a girl searching for her father. It will be from June through August. On May 12, 2006, Diana returned to Atlanta Georgia to perform at the Rialto Center. Diana said this will be one of her last concerts until her next cd comes out.
Diana spent this past holiday season on tour in support of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. She travelled to 7 countries in 7 days during a USO tour. Diana visited U.S. bases in the Middle East and eastern Africa and hosted holiday shows with comedian Reggie McFadden and country music singer Michael Peterson. They travelled with the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace.
Diana is currently working on her next cd. She stated in recent interviews that her cd is taking a new direction: "I like to call it 'rop,' a lot of pop with a little R & B and some funk and dance." She has also stated that lyrically, the material would be both personal and general. She has also stated that her material will be original, except for one cover song. Diana announced that she signed a two-album contract with Koch Records. She will begin the recording process in the summer of 2006, with a tentative October release date.
I always loved Diana’a voice and I can’t wait to hear more about her.
Season 4: Bo Bice
Bo and possibly Constantine were the first rockers after Nikki to make it to the top 10 on American Idol. Because of his success, the way was paved for future contestants. In fact, Chris Daughtry has said "I told Bo that he is the reason that I auditioned. I always thought that it was a little cheesy and it was real pop-oriented and I didn't think that I would be able to be myself, but when I saw him, he came out here and did his rock thing and everybody accepted it and he got very far. I thought, 'You know what? There is nothing stopping me from doing it.' " Bucky Covington has been quoted as saying "Bo opened up a lot of doors for a lot of people. I think he did the show a lot of good by coming on. He did a heck of a job, and so far with his career he's doing a fine job ... and I thank him very much for it."
Before Idol, Bo did shows in the United States, the United Kingdom including Ireland, and Eastern Europe. He performed in nightclubs, both alone and in rock groups such as Purge, Blue Suede Nickel, and his current band Sugar Money. He also opened for Blackfoot and Warrant, and performed live and recorded with Johnny Neal, formerly of The Allman Brothers Band.
After Idol, Bo's first single was "Inside Your Heaven" with RCA records, released on June 21, 2005. The single debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. The B-side was "Vehicle", with Richie Sambora. Bo was invited to the Bonnaroo Music Festival by Trey Anastasio (formerly of Phish). He sang with Willie Nelson at a Birmingham concert and was invited to perform at Farm Aid. Bo was also on Carlos Santana's 2005 album “All That I Am” on the song "Brown Skin Girl", which didn’t appear on his own solo cd.
Bo broke his foot during the Idol tour in Manchester, New Hampshire on July 31, 2005, but carried on with the tour. On August 18th he was rushed to the hospital for emergency intestinal surgery. The surgery was successful, but he had to miss several shows. During the time he was gone, fellow contestants Anwar, Nikko, Scott, Anthony and Constantine sang "Sweet Home Alabama" and wore Bo Bice T-shirts. Bo came back to the tour for the last 2 concerts in Syracuse, New York, September 10 and September 11, a benefit concert with proceeds going to the American Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Bo also hosted a family displaced by Hurricane Katrina in his home. Bo continued to have health problems and was re-admitted to the hospital for complications related to that August intestinal surgery.
On June 15, 2005, Bo married his long-time girlfriend Caroline. They have a son named Aidan Michael, who was born on September 24, 2005.
Bo's solo debut cd, “The Real Thing”, was released on December 13, 2005. It sold around 227,000 copies in its first week and opened at #4. According to Clive Davis, it is on its way to selling a million units.
Bo’s television appearances since Idol include The Late Show with Jay Leno, The Billboard Music Awards, The Today Show, Regis and Kelly, The View, Ellen, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Tony Danza Show, and the Radio Music Awards. He was on VH1’s Big in 05 Awards, and the 2005 Billboard Awards. Most recently on May 8, 2006, he was on the Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson.
Bo was honored this year at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Museum . They are displaying some of Bo’s clothing and memorabilia from his time on American Idol. Bo is excited and honored to be part of this.
Bo lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and continues to tour. He has appeared with Constantine and his band Pray for the Soul of Betty. On May 20, tomorrow, he will be in Mansfield, MA on Kiss 108 FM. On May 21, he will be in Agawam, MA at Six Flags New England for the Summer Kick Off Concert. Bo will perform on opening night of the 20th annual Mayfair Festival of the Arts along with Nick Lachey and the group Dirtie Blonde. The show is sponsored by radio station B104, will begin 8 p.m. Friday, May 26, at the festival's Cabaret Stage, Cedar Beach Park in Allentown, PA. On May 29, Bo will be in Orlando, FL for Hard Rock Live. A special show, featuring 3 Doors Down, American Idol Rocker Bo Bice, Hank Williams Jr., and other special guests reworking Lynyrd Skynyrd’s most famous tunes, will take place at Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Trump Taj Mahal on June 23, 2006. I’m sure Bo and his fans are looking forward to that! On June 2, he will be in Atlanta, GA. Tabernacle Star 94's Next Big Thing will feature James Blunt and KT Tunstall along with Bo. On June 3, Bo will be in Valdosta, GA at Wild Adventures Theme Park. June 9 brings him to Bessemer, AL with details to be arranged. On June 14, Bo will be in San Diego, CA at the Del Mar Fairgrounds at the San Diego County Fair. Bo has performances scheduled at least through October, 2006.
In addition, my 10 year old son tells me that Bo will do the voice of a character in a new movie ‘Fairy Idol’ tonight at 8:00 pm EST on Nickelodeon.
That’s not bad for someone who finished Idol only last season!
As you can see by the length of this article, our runners up have accomplished quite a lot, and I have not mentioned it all. Kat and Taylor are in good shape. Whether they finish first or second, it appears that they are destined for great things, as are their peers in the same position. Good luck to all of them!
If all of the lines maxed out (and with the .6% variation, it would seem to be the case...a statistical three-way tie), some other measure should've been used.
The busy signals would be a more valid measure at that point, and then it doesn't look like a three-way tie.
yeah, I was trying to figure that out too. I think the Taylor = McPhee spread is more than what they showed the other night It can't be that close
He really is. He puts too much of his own personal likes and dislikes into it. His own hatred of country is just one of the things costing them some money. Country music sells a CD or two. Alan Jackson probably has more money than Simon could dream of and his house ought to have its own zip code. LOL. Some really talented kids are probably getting rejected in favor of some pretty bland performers. He puts too much emphasis on appearance. Simon said some awful things to Mandisa--the most talented female they've had in a long time. I don't know, LOL maybe the British are just different. I still don't get "Mr. Bean". :)
Katharine Hope McPhee (born March 25, 1984 in Sherman Oaks, California) is an American singer who rose to fame as a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol.
http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2006/05/is_katharine_mc.html
Is Katharine McPhee The Misunderstood American Idol Finalist?
As Katharine McPhee has advanced to the final two of the competition, she has been coming under a lot of fire lately. The judges have not been kind to her over the last several weeks, and it’s a wonder that she survived the numerous theme weeks that favored the male singers in the competition. Worst of all, during her hometown visit, Katharine McPhee didn’t get a grand parade or a meeting with the Governor like the other finalists.
The media has not been particularly kind either. TMZ.com has uncovered a video of Katharine McPhee auditioning for a play that they write about under the sub-headline of “Idol finalist gets a little racy on a mattress.”
Star Magazine reports on possible links to scientology, while conjuring up images of people ingesting cooking oil. (For the record, other reports say that Katharine McPhee has denied being a scientologist.)
And yes, even Reality TV Magazine reported that some Elliott Yamin fans are upset over the reaction of Katharine McPhee and her family after Elliott’s elimination.
Does Katharine McPhee deserve all this criticism? No, she probably doesn’t, but it is par for the course of what a contestant can expect when they chase the American Idol dream. When you consider the dirt that has been reported on some previous finalist, the stories on Katharine McPhee are actually fairly mild in comparison.
So what of Katharine McPhee’s celebration after Elliott Yamin’s elimination? While our original article was meant to report on the backlash from Elliott fans over the way it appeared on TV, it was not meant to suggest that Katharine McPhee was celebrating Elliott Yamin’s elimination. Rather, Katharine McPhee was celebrating making it through to the next round, and Taylor Hicks did a better job of controlling his emotions. Katharine seems to have a bubbly, excitable personality, and many of her fans have pointed out that what many think is conceit is actually just enthusiasm. On camera, it looked bad for Katharine McPhee, but in reality, the most she is guilty of is getting excited over moving forward in the competition and not realizing that she would come across better by controlling her expression.
Pointing out that Katharine McPhee’s hometown celebration paled in comparison to that of the other finalist isn’t a reflection on Katharine, but a call out that her state should be doing more for her. Katharine McPhee deserved a parade, and she deserved a meeting with the Governor. Sure there is a lot going on in California, but of all states, they should recognize the importance of television. This being Hiollywood.
In the end, all of the American Idol finalists have the talent level that the majority of the world can only dream about. Part of the appeal of American Idol is watching these talented individuals pursue their dream, and as viewers, it’s fun to analyze the show and the various conspiracy theories. With so much bad news in the world, the controversy of Idol is a welcome relief. We would be very lucky indeed if all the world’s scandals were as minor as the ones reported on American Idol.
The fact that the biggest dirt that has been uncovered on Katharine McPhee is that she got a little racy while practicing for a play, some vague link to scientology, and that she smiled at an inappropriate time probably signifies that she’s led a pretty clean life. We hope that win or lose that there’s a big parade for Katharine McPhee in her hometown after the American Idol finale, and we hope that Governor Schwarzenegger is on hand for the celebration.
Do you have a source for this? My husaband and I only text vote and have never had a problem. The only time we get a message not sent error is when we have attempted to send the message too fast. Hitting resend it goes straight through.
IRONIC ISN'T IT ? THE GORGEOUS AND BEAUTIFUL TALENT, KAT McPHEE ISN'T AS UNIVERSALLY LOVED AS THE PLAIN LOOKING ELLIOTT YAMIN.
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