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American Idol 2006--Live Thread (Part II)
FOX ^ | 3-25-06

Posted on 03/24/2006 9:00:43 PM PST by silent_jonny

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To: Netizen
"Our country twice elected a retard President"

In the nineties.

And only by a plurality.

7,561 posted on 04/22/2006 4:21:32 PM PDT by Senator Goldwater
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To: GraniteStateConservative

ROTFALMAO....

Brokenote Mountain....Now that's comedy!!


7,562 posted on 04/22/2006 4:49:13 PM PDT by TonyWpi ("Victory is mine" - Stewie Griffin)
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To: doodlelady

Tammy had a sense of humor and realized that AI is not such a serious thing that it can't be made light of.


7,563 posted on 04/22/2006 5:06:53 PM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
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To: GraniteStateConservative
AI is pure entertainment. Half the fun for most followers of the show is to laugh at the bad performances, parody the contestants, etc. That's why the first few episodes spotlight the bad singers during tryouts.

We'll keep laughing with you, GSC!
7,564 posted on 04/23/2006 6:54:42 AM PDT by over3Owithabrain
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To: GraniteStateConservative

You people are sick, sick sick! Jumped the shark is right!


7,565 posted on 04/23/2006 10:51:33 AM PDT by Apple Blossom (...around here, city hall is something of a between meals snack.)
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To: Netizen

Not bad suggestions except that Gideon did "When a Man Loves a Woman" earlier in the competition and it was great. It was voted the farewell song everyone wanted to hear again on the AI website. He may not want to be compared to someone who was voted off lest they get any ideas!


7,566 posted on 04/23/2006 10:57:42 AM PDT by Apple Blossom (...around here, city hall is something of a between meals snack.)
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To: Palladin
Just report it to the mods as slanderous.

That's hilarious. Thanks for the laugh. I didn't know Chris and Ace's parent were FReepers. Who knew?

7,567 posted on 04/23/2006 11:14:46 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
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To: GraniteStateConservative

Shouldn't the bald guy wear the hat?


7,568 posted on 04/23/2006 12:04:52 PM PDT by Senator Goldwater
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To: silent_jonny

WHERE ARE THE PAST SEASON's 6th PLACE FINISHERS ?


http://mediafiends.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=7391&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

The past 4 seasons have brought varying degrees of success for the 6th place finisher. Will this season surpass all others?

By LindaK


I’m starting to feel sad about this upcoming week of American Idol. We have 6 very talented people left (yes, even Kellie, in her own way), but someone has to leave. We might like some contestants more or less than others, but I don’t think anyone can deny the immense talent we have here. It comes down to this: Whoever exits AI5 this week should be very proud of him or herself. Not only have they made it this far, but with all the exposure from Idol, success can and should be in all their futures.

Let’s start at the beginning and season 1. Our 6th place finisher was Christina Christian. She has been on CSI, in an episode called “Lucky Strike” as Kenisha Jones. She was also on TRL on August 12, 2002, and is now a TV Guide correspondent for American Idol.

In season 2, our 6th place finisher was Carmen Rasmusen. In 2003, Carmen was in the movie Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-day Comedy as Charlotte. This was an extended cameo appearance and singing performance. Her single "Photograph" released in late 2004, won her the New Music Weekly Award in 2005 for New Country Artist of the Year. Carmen will also be in an episode of NBC's Fear Factor. This was supposed to have aired on March 7th, 2006 but was postponed until this summer, when the current season of American Idol is over. Carmen was married in December, 2005.

In season 3, we had John Stevens in 6th place. John’s debut cd was called Red , and was released on June 28, 2005. It debuted at number 5 (some sites say 6) on the Billboard jazz charts. John’s cd has sold 18,000 copies as of March 2006. He was dropped by Maverick Records and now attends Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

On to season 4 and Constantine Maroulis. Before Idol, Constantine was the lead singer of the band Pray for the Soul of Betty. According to Wikipedia online, Maroulis recorded a studio version of the track for Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen which was released on August 9, 2005 on Queen's label, Hollywood Records. On March 20, 2006, Constantine left his band due to creative and business differences. He is working on a cd. In terms of acting, “he was in negotiations to star in a television sitcom that is loosely based on his upbringing as the youngest of three in a large Greek-American family of New York. Disney's ABC network bought rights to the show, courtesy of Grammnet (of Paramount, owned by former Cheers and Frasier star Kelsey Grammar). On February 16, 2006, he announced in his blog an involvement with a film production contract.”

Not bad for 6th place finishers, even ones who got a lot of flack for making it that far. Our current contestants have a lot to look forward to, and should do at least as well as their predecessors, if not better!


7,569 posted on 04/23/2006 5:37:07 PM PDT by SirLinksalot
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To: SirLinksalot

Very good points. I too have been looking at her facial expressions when the judges talk to her. She is genuinely surprised when they say she is good, or she had a good song choice. That being said, she also knows this is a competition and can (and does) look threatened when someone is "working the crowd" better than she is. I've watched and re-watched all of the episodes, there is one in particular, in the old studio with the red circular couch, where Katharine is sitting apart from the rest of the girls. This may be to clear her own head (she had already performed) or to not let another girls' success mess with her own head. You gotta do what you gotta do to win!

I'm thrilled to see someone like her in this competition. Her voice, especially in the lower range is so soothing, and we haven't had someone like that since Karen Carpenter.


7,570 posted on 04/23/2006 7:07:27 PM PDT by Apple Blossom (...around here, city hall is something of a between meals snack.)
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To: silent_jonny; retrokitten; doodlelady; mystery-ak; Netizen; All
Following is a very funny fantasy spolier list for love songs week I found on an AI board:

Originally posted by saraj26

Here's what my crystal ball is saying will happen on Love Song week:

TAYLOR opens the show with a boogie-woogie version of "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic, complete with an "I'm the King of the World" shout in the middle. The judges do not get to comment because the thunderous applause is too loud and lasts to the commercial break.

KATHARINE is next. She doesn't even sing. She smiles at the camera very charmingly for 2 minutes. Simon LOVES it and predicts her the winner by a mile.

PARIS sings an electrifying version of Garth's "Shameless" while wearing a leather aviator jacket and sunglasses.

CHRIS, in an effort to show more versatility, rocks out "The Love Boat" theme, and, unbelievable as it seems, he pulls it off to the loudest applause of the night. Simon shrugs his shoulders and says, "Chris, you're not even trying anymore." Chris finally throws the mike stand at Simon.

KELLIE sings "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Ryan asks her why she chose this song for Love Songs week. She said France seemed like a very romantic country.

ELLIOTT sings "My Funny Valentine" and makes the entire audience's, even Constantine's, eyes fill with tears as they are so completely moved by his amazing rendition. Randy, Paula, AND Simon are visibly weeping with raw emotion that Elliott's singing brought to the surface. Simon throws his hands in the air, and says "You could hear that at any wedding across the country and the entire audience would cry just because they're in a bubble. Whoopie!"

Chris retrieves the mike stand and gives it to Elliott to throw at Simon.


7,571 posted on 04/23/2006 9:27:22 PM PDT by Wolfstar (Not for just an hour. Not for just a day. Not for just a year.)
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To: Wolfstar

LOL! Thanks for posting that :-D


7,572 posted on 04/24/2006 5:49:20 AM PDT by silent_jonny ("me lovey the jonny" -- conservativebabe)
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To: Wolfstar

ROTFLMAO


7,573 posted on 04/24/2006 6:54:21 AM PDT by mystery-ak (Army Wife and Army Mother.....toughest job in the military)
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To: silent_jonny

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/entertainment/14412188.htm

Is it the water? Birmingham home to three American Idol finalists

DESIREE HUNTER
Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A long, cool, gulp of this city's water reveals no particular flavor, no telltale tinge that would explain why three men from the area have done (and are doing) so well on "American Idol."

Maybe it's the city's size - big enough for musicians to make a splash, but small enough to keep them from drowning - or it could be the region's gospel influences. Perhaps it's the South's natural saturation of talent. Whatever "it" is, it's probably a combination of several factors, says David Johnson, executive director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

"There just seems to be an extreme amount of talent in Alabama in general," said Johnson, a former music producer. "I really don't have a good explanation for it, but it really is amazing the talent that's come out of Alabama in the last 100 years."

Birmingham's Idol relationship began when then 25-year-old Ruben Studdard beat out Clay Aiken in 2002 to become the country's second Idol. Next came Helena resident Bo Bice who finished second to American Idol winner Carrie Underwood last year.

Now Birmingham's silver-haired Taylor Hicks is in the top six, garnering both votes and loads of attention for his hair as much as his soulful blues singing.

That makes three Idol finalists from Birmingham in the past five seasons - four finalists if you count Diana Degarmo, who was born in Birmingham but moved to Snellville, Ga. at age 3. She finished second to season three winner Fantasia Barrino in 2004.

"I think there really must be something in the water," Buffalo Wild Wings manager Chris West said after a recent watch-party for Hicks at the Hoover restaurant. "We've had Ruben, Bo, everybody here is just really fired up about it. It shows there's a lot of talent here."

And, most are quick to point out, that talent has been in Birmingham, in Alabama, in the South, long before Idol judge Simon Cowell & Co. ever dreamed of the TV talent show.

Johnson said it's great that Alabama talent is being recognized on a national level and Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Dilcy Hilley agreed.

"It does show what amazing musical roots we have in our area ...," Hilley said. "There's blues and rock-and-roll and especially jazz was such a part of this city and I think it's only natural that there's a great pool of talent here today as there has been for decades."

Entertainment greats from Nat "King" Cole and Nell Carter to Hank Williams and Emmy Lou Harris all called Alabama home and the state's contributions to soul and blues rank right up there with its Southern counterparts.

The region's relationship with religion has no doubt contributed to its musical inclinations, with children often singing in their church choirs, observers say.

Studdard and Bice both sang in choirs as children and that's where her son first got a taste of performing, Emily Studdard said.

"It was very important because it gave him an audience," she said. "It came from a place where he could build his confidence ... he could get constructive criticism and feel comfortable there. The church was very important."

Also, there's often an expectation among Southern families that children would partake in music, said Frank Adams, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

"Back then, everybody in the family had to do something musical," he said during a recent tour at the hall, a clarinet clutched in his right hand. "(You had to) play an instrument, sing, something - else they'll talk about you. They'll say, 'What's wrong with her?'"

Before auditioning for Idol, Studdard was in the group Just a Few Cats and Bice was the lead singer for SugarMoney. Hicks has been touring for several years with the Taylor Hicks Band, his father, Brad Hicks, said.

"I think that Bo and Ruben and Taylor were all serious entertainers and really knew that they wanted to do this for the rest of their lives," the elder Hicks said. "I think all three of those guy are really hard workers and that's made a difference."

Emily Studdard and Bice's mother, Nancy Downes, both grew up singing in church and Downes was part of a gospel group called the Singing Jays.

She recalled how Bo (short for nickname Bogart - his real name's Harold) started singing at age three and would delight when people gave him change for his trouble.

"A quarter was just awesome," she said laughing. "He would just sing and sing and sing for a quarter."

Studdard has set up a foundation that awards college scholarships and recently announced the "The Music Alternative Project," a program aimed at keeping young people away from gangs by introducing them to behind-the-scenes aspects of the music industry.

Bice, who moved from Helena to Nashville after the show, let Hurricane Katrina evacuees stay in his Helena home as long as they needed to. He also recently donated the outfit his grandmother made for him to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

That Southern charm and hospitality has probably helped endear them to fans, Johnson said.

"They're more `people-people' - they're from the South," he said. "It's just the upbringing. You're raised in the South and we're friendly and we're nice and we like people. We like to show that appreciation back."

The die-hard Southern pride that makes Alabamians cry out "Roll Tide" and "War Eagle" has crossed over to the singing arena and bolstered Birmingham's hold in the competition, said Charnel Wright, a WBRC-FOX 6 NEWS reporter who's been organizing Idol watch parties since Studdard was on the show.

"When you have people who start talking about it like they do games at either Auburn or Alabama, then you know it's big," she said. "You get these people - even these hardcore sports buffs - saying 'Taylor did well this week, but I think Ace should be off,' and these are the same guys talking about Brodie Croyle and the NFL draft - people are treating it as if it were sports."

Having the solid backing of your home state helps on a show where the winner is chosen by the number of votes that are called in. While the excitement for Studdard and Hicks has been phenomenal, Helena's enthusiasm bordered on fanatical, Wright said.

"We started calling it Bolena," she joked.

Also working to their advantage is Birmingham's location and size, said Mark Harrelson and Courtney Hayden, both producers at Boutwell Studios in Homewood where Hicks cut a record about a year ago.

"Birmingham has given them that freedom to develop, I think," Hayden said. "If you were living in Philly and you were trying to break into New York, you want to be more like New York guys."

Brian Less and Zippy Dieterich, play keyboard and drums respectively in Hicks' band, which is performing as the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra while Hicks is in Los Angeles.

Both had been in bands in Nashville before moving to Birmingham to join up with Hicks.

What's one thing they couldn't do in Nashville that they can in Alabama?

"Make a living," they said in unison.

"What's happened there in Nashville is it's so saturated with talent," Less said. "Now you're seeing the talent in Birmingham. American Idol is helping put Birmingham on the map."


7,574 posted on 04/24/2006 7:28:32 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
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To: SirLinksalot

From MJs Blog site, interesting notes :




Interview with Nigel Lythgoe. Here are some notable comments:

* Here's why Idol is and continues to be popular, according to Nigel: America gets to choose. Folks are entertained by the "dysfunctional family" of Randy, Simon, Paula and Ryan. The show brings the entire family together.

* Also, since Bo Bice and Constantine Maroulis introduced the "rock" element - the show isn't considered cheesy any more. I beg to diffah. Nigel thinks Bo and Constantine opened the door for Taylor and Chris.

* Furthermore, extending the age group made the show more diverse. I agree.

* Nigel is still trying to get Paul McCartney and the Beatles songbook on the show. Hey, while yer at it, Van Morrison would be nice, too.

* They almost had Prince, but he couldn't work with the kids. Nigel feels that it's important for the guests to work with the kids. Like Shakira?

* Nigel believes there haven't been any "wow" performances this year because the kids aren't "hitting those last notes...the notes that make you want to stand up and applaud them." He goes on to say, "The great singers know there is a little trick at the end of it that forces you to stand on your feet and applaud. This year's singers aren't being as clever as seasons past." I think glory notes are overrated. In other words, the beginning of Taylor's "You Send Me" was just as great as the end.
Regarding song selection, Nigel also thinks the songs should show off a singer's vocals AND be recognizable.

* Nigel said that when Simon said "I didn't sing the song" when Ryan asked Simon if he was going to take the blame for Chris being in the bottom 3 since Simon wanted to take the credit for his song choice Tuesday night--Simon should have shouldered the responsibility. And Nigel thinks Simon should offer more constructive criticism rather than just "shrugging his shoulders."

* About love songs, Nigel said one of the greatest love songs of all time is "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" recorded by the Righteous Brothers in the 1960's.


7,575 posted on 04/24/2006 7:55:34 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
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To: SirLinksalot
About love songs, Nigel said one of the greatest love songs of all time is "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" recorded by the Righteous Brothers in the 1960's.

I htink Taylor and Chris should do the "Maverick and Goose" Top Gun version to Katharine....

7,576 posted on 04/24/2006 9:03:19 AM PDT by Wyatt's Torch
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To: doodlelady
Doodlelady:

Please don't leave. You have a good thing going here, with mostly excellent discussion. Letting a few jerks ruin that doesn't solve anything.

It's really nice getting to cyber-know you and sharing impressions about AI.

7,577 posted on 04/24/2006 9:10:44 AM PDT by grania ("Won't get fooled again")
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To: Palladin; Netizen
You're being unkind. Listen to last week's performance eyes closed. Kelli has a very sweet voice, and she actually wasn't much more off in places than were some of the trained singers. Also, the way she took the criticism showed a lot more class than you detractors give her credit for.

I see her as the next Suzanne Summers(who started from rock bottom), only doing a situation comedy with some singing thrown in.

My comparison is with the Paris Hiltons of the world, who start out with everything, and think it's funny to act like white trash.

Kelli has a natural graciousness and humility. I hope she chooses a path more higher-end than you give her credit for. At least now, she has a future.

7,578 posted on 04/24/2006 9:16:21 AM PDT by grania ("Won't get fooled again")
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To: Wolfstar

That's pretty funny! :)


7,579 posted on 04/24/2006 10:18:04 AM PDT by Netizen
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To: Wyatt's Torch

Nah, something from Air Supply...


7,580 posted on 04/24/2006 11:00:34 AM PDT by misterrob (Teach a Liberal to think for himself and he'll vote Conservative for the rest of his life.)
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