David Cook by Frank Micelotta/Fox
Less than a week after being crowned the Season 7 American Idol winner, David Cook's got a record deal. Cook has, not surprisingly, signed with the Idol production house's adjunct, 19 Recordings/RCA label, says E! Online.Taking advantage of his momentum, Cook will start to lay down tracks in between the Idol summer tour dates, to prep for a fall release. It may sound impossible to some (some = me), but this is well-trodden territory for his new label home, whose shared RCA roster includes other former Idol contestants. In a statement, Cook said, "Signing this deal is truly a dream come true" — which may also be said for his fans. Will you be waiting to purchase his work, which he promised will "make the hair on the back of your neck stand up"? — Anna DimondCheck out videos and more of American Idol.More Cook Mania:• VIDEO: David Cook Talks Dating With Regis• David Cooking Up a CD to "Make the Hair on the Back of Your Neck Stand Up"
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David Cook and Luke Menard courtesy Fox
In the days leading up to the Idol finale, David Cook reportedly stepped out from the rehearsals and interviews for a more important appointment: he visited former Idol hopeful Luke Menard in the hospital. Menard was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Cook told People.com, "I love Luke and I just wanted to show up and make sure that he understood that I love him and know that if there’s anything I can do for him and his wife, sign me up, you know?" During Hollywood week, Cook said he, Menard, Michael Johns and Jason Yeager bonded and called themselves "the four horsemen." He explained, "Any time one of your own is going through something as horrible as that, it makes everything else seem a little bit insignificant." "I'm excited to be put in [the spotlight] where I can hopefully do something to help other people," Cook said. His older brother, Adam, has also been battling cancer. In the aftermath of his big public achievement, it seems that Cook's persona as a caring g...
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Looks like someone is mighty smitten! During an interview yesterday morning on Regis and Kelly, Idol champ David Cook divulged that he recently went on a date with former Idol Season 2 contestant and TV Guide's own Kimberly Caldwell. During his interview with Kimberly on Idol Tonight, Cook definitely wasn't shy about asking Caldwell out — he did it on camera for all the world to see! Daw… a match made in Idol heaven!
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Sanjaya Malakar by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
First Bat Mitzvahs, now retirement? Sanjaya Malakar's hitting all the life stages!Yes, he's back, returning to TV in a new ad for a retirement and financial services firm. The spot, to be made specifically for the South Asian market, will be part of Nationwide's "Life Comes at You Fast" campaign, and will give a nod to Malakar's (in)famous hairdos. In the commercial, Sanjaya visits an Indian monastery, where he's told not only that he needs to start planning for retirement, but also that he should work on that 'do of his. With his Nationwide ad, Malakar's following in the footsteps of Kevin Federline, MC Hammer and Fabio, among others — which, needless to say, may give him pause.It's too bad that we won't be getting his ads in our TV market — but fingers crossed for the ads' inevitable arrival on the 'net! In the meantime, what should Sanjaya do with his (extremely extended) fifteen minutes of fame? Suggestions welcome, below. — Anna DimondUse our Online Video Guide t...
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David Cook by Michael Becker/Fox
What's that sound? Why, it's the broken hearts of tens of thousands of female fans. Fresh off getting named your new American Idol, David Cook's first order of getting busy-ness was asking for (on camera, no less!) and efficiently landing a date with TV Guide Network's Kimberly Caldwell (aka a cohost of Idol Tonight). "She's great," Cookie tells TV's Extra. "So far, I've had a really good time with her." (Watch video of Cook telling Regis & Kelly about his and Kim's first date.)Cook admitted that while he knew Kimberly herself vied on Idol (during Season 2), "I can't remember a song that she sang. I'm probably in the dog house now." Dude, just because you can't remember what she sang? That's gotta be one crowded dog house. — MWMRelated:• David Cooking Up a CD to "Make the Hair on Your Neck Stand Up"• VIDEO: David Cook Does Hit Best Risky Business• Kinged David: Idol Voters Kiss the Cook
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David Archuleta by Frank Micelotta/Fox
After coming thisclose to winning it all, David Archuleta took some time Friday to reflect on his Idol experience, what might come next and if he'll ever have time for a girlfriend — or anything else, for that matter.American Idol's Season 7 may be over, but don't expect to see David A. out on the dating scene just yet (sorry, ladies!). We know, there's a hungry crowd of would-be GFs awaiting, but once the Idol mania dies down a little bit, David A.'s planning to focus on his career. Not only that, but he's pretty sure he's not mature enough to even know what he wants yet. "Being 17," he told press, "I'm not really mature enough to understand those feelings yet." He also doesn't want to deal with the "drama" of relationships that he sees his friends go through. Of their trials, he says, "It's not like you're going to live off that person, like your infatuation is going to support you. I want to make sure I don't get confused with a feeling for someone so quickly. I so don't wan...
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David Cook by Michael Becker/Fox
Ask David Cook if, some 36 hours into his reign as the new American Idol, he will ever get used to the hoopla, and he will tell you, "Hopefully never!" Still, he's starting to give some thought to his first album as your Idol, and it sounds like he will stop shot of nothing less than a doozy.Hoping to accommodate "a mixture of my own [song]writing and hopefully writing with some other people," he tells TVGuide.com, "The bottom line is I want to come out of the gate with a solid record. If I could do that, I'll be happy."As for the type of release he has in mind, Cook concedes, rather obviously, "It will probably be a rock record." But, he adds, "That's a pretty vague generalization. I just want to make a record that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up."And when might fans first get their mitts on Cook's first release as Idol? "'As soon as possible,' if you're asking me," he says. "But obviously these things take time."David, of course, will drop by TVGuide.com in a few ...
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Yes, we know Idol is done and over, but our separation anxiety was kicking in. Some of you may not have noticed this commercial during the finale because you fast-forwarded through it or were hitting up the kitchen for a snack. But behold! The power of the Internet has allowed us to show you the new Guitar Hero commercial featuring David Cook doing a killer Tom Cruise impression from Risky Business (expect he upped the stakes from air guitar to plastic guitar).
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David Archuleta and David Cook by Michael Becker/Fox
It was just one huge love-fest following the big American Idol finale. At a news conference after David Cook's big win, both the winner and the runner-up had nothing but praise for each other, says the L.A. Times, and solidarity at the end of the Idol road. Speaking to press, Cook not only reflected on recent events — like Simon's Tuesday-night predictions and Wednesday's retraction — but also on the talent of his main rival, David Archuleta, and their Idol journey. For starters, Cook was just letting his breath out and still taking it all in. It was his final performance that was his favorite, and was part of letting go during the final show. "Tonight was just about exhaling," he said. The exhaling, though, wasn't necessarily expected, especially after Simon's Tuesday prediction that Archie was the one on top. Simon's surprising apology the next night, though, gave Cook even more to savor. "I didn't really know that [Simon's] apology was warranted," he said. Yet, Cook con...
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It was the moment you've all been waiting for — but whether you were on team Archie or team Cook, you have to admit, both of these guys really killed it this season. If by chance you missed last night's finale (or if your DVRs were being fickle and chopped off the final seconds), now's your chance to relive the final three minutes, when Ryan was given the envelope and announced which David would be the next American Idol.
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