After Friday's eliminations, we asked who your favorite male and female wannabe Idols now are. Young David Archuleta came away with a commanding win — 63.6% versus second-place Michael Johns' 15.4% — over the other males in our Idol Power Rankings. The ladies among the "sweet 16" got caught up in a much tighter race, with Brooke White and Carly Smithson swapping the top spot throughout the voting period. In the end, White edged past Smithson, while last week's No. 1 female, Ramiele Mulaby, placed a not-too-distant third.Female singers27.6% Brooke White26.2% Carly Smithson 20.7% Ramiele Malubay (last week's No. 1)8.6% Syesha Mercado 6.3% Kristy Lee Cook 4.9 % Asia'h Epperson3.6% Amanda Overmyer2.0% Kady MalloyMale singers63.6% David Archuleta15.4% Michael Johns (last week's No. 1)7.0% Jason Castro5.6% David Hernandez4.9% David Cook 1.4% Luke Menard 1.1% Danny Noriega1.0% ChikezieWho needs to pull out a showstopper this week to dodge the chopping block? For a second straig...
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Alexandrea Lushington courtesy Fox, Robbie Carrico by Frank Micelotta/Fox
Another week, and another four have to say goodbye. There were lots of tears, big hugs and some group singing, but now that the dust has settled, how are the four latest casualties doing? What did they take from the show, and what are they planning next? And what about the rumors on infighting, Britney, wigs and more? Here's what the latest castoffs had to say:On leaving the show:Alexandrea: "I have no regrets." Alaina: "Last night I was so emotional, because it was so surprising." "[Kady and I] were really good friends.... She was shocked [that she stayed]. She told me she thought she would be the one going home.... So it was kind of ironic that it came down to us."Jason: "[I'm] disappointed. Kind of let down... song-choice-wise, I felt the odds were really against me.... I've been at this a very, very long time, and I wish I'd gotten more of an opportunity to show my personality. I'm an easygoing guy, I would've represented everything that an American Idol [stands] for."On what t...
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Ruben Studdard by Maury Phillips/WireImage.com
"Velvet Teddy Bear" Ruben Studdard, who has been seriously MIA from the music scene lately, is returning to American Idol. The Hollywood Reporter says that the Season 2 winner will serenade contestants as they are eliminated with a special "goodbye" song. What ugly-cry-inducing song will Ruben croon? None other than a cover of Kenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home," which will be produced by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.Perhaps for contestants who get the boot, like poor Alaina Whitaker last night, Ruben's mellow sound will soothe them into being able to shut off the waterworks and sing their swan songs.Traditionally, these "goodbye" songs have done very well with Idol exposure. Daniel Powter's "Bad Day," (from Season 5) went on to sell 1.9 million copies and was the top download of 2006. Sounds like the Stud needed a little help in the sales department, and Idol producers know the singer is still very popular with the Idol crowd. So now the song will be available on iTunes for download st...
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This week on American Idol, America's second vote was revealed, sending Alaina, Alexandréa, Jason Y. and Robbie home. That brings us to 16 wannabe Idols. Who is your current favorite? Vote now for the best male and female.Poll: The Top Eight Guys: Your TakePoll: The Top Eight Gals: Your TakeRelated:• Read Nina's in-depth American Idol recaps!
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Amanda Overmyer and Robbie Carrico courtesy Fox
It seems to be about that time in the American Idol season.... No, it's not time to start an "If David Doesn't Win, I'll Shave Off All My Hair" campaign; it's that time for all the contestants' skeletons to come stumbling out of their closets. Today, we have two bags of bones for you, and they're pretty darn good. First up, TMZ has uncovered that rocker-chick/nurse Amanda Overmyer was busted for a DUI back in 2006 near her hometown of Mulberry, Indiana. The Harley-riding, gravelly-voiced judges' favorite was given a suspended sentence of 60 days and placed on 180-days probation ending in August 2007. Someone's been a naughty nurse!Next up, former boy-bander (and Britney Spears' ex-flame) Robbie Carrico has been called out for... wait for it... wearing a wig! We wondered why his hair looked so "off," and now it all makes sense. (And it looks like he and Brit still have a lot in common!) According to TMZ, Idol producers are "flipping out" because "Robbie never talks about his matted-d...
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David Archuleta on American Idol courtesy Frank Micelotta/Fox
After boy-wonder David Archuleta was practically crowned the next American Idol by judges and garnered glowing reviews Tuesday night, one wonders: Might he be too good to be true? Where did that beautiful arrangement of "Imagine" come from? (And why didn't he sing the first verse?)Addressing Query No. 1, The L.A. Times uncovered a similar "Imagine" take sung by the late Eva Cassidy. Not that there's anything wrong with using an arrangement from another artist, but what bothers the Times is the fact that Archie receives his praise like an innocent choir boy, yet they know he's sung this song before (as a 13-year old on Good Things Utah). This teen has got a plan, and it's working.As for Archuleta not singing the beginning of the song, though he claimed to Randy that Verse 3 was his "favorite," the Times says it's more likely that the Mormon didn't want to sing about imagining life without "religion, too." Still, give him props for sticking to his convictions... and for making Paula c...
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Graham Colton by Soren McCarty/ WireImage.com
Last week, the first four contestants (Joanne, Colton, Garrett and Amy) said goodbye to American Idol, and were eased out that painful door to budding artist Graham Colton's "Best Days" from his album Here Right Now. The singer-songwriter has toured with past Idol winner Kelly Clarkson (whom he dated) as well as Maroon 5, John Mayer, DMB, Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton. Can't remember that tune from Idol? No worries, because you can listen to Colton's tracks at MySpace.com/GrahamColton. When I asked if we'd be hearing more of Colton's songs on Idol, his publicist Marty Nolan said, "Actually 'Best Days' was also used for the group auditions, and then after Hollywood Week as the exit song. We are in there for the next few weeks, hoping for more!" Judging from his songs being featured on shows like Idol, Wildfire, Oprah's Big Give and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, we think this is just the beginning of a long and beautiful career for Graham Colton. —Erin FoxMore on Idol:&bul...
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Simon Cowell courtesy Fox
Simon Cowell might bash contestants right and left, but he has high hopes for at least one them. On Tuesday's Extra, he predicts this year's winner: David Archuleta.Describing why he thinks Archuleta's winner material, Cowell said "He's cute. He's likeable. [He has] a big voice. He's the one to beat." But what about the dapper Chikezie? "He's never going to win unless the other 18 resign."In the interview, Cowell also comments on his own future on American Idol, completely dismissing the rumors that he's on the way out. "I'm not ready to walk and I'm not walking," he insists. "I have a contract [to do] two more seasons." Do you agree with Simon's prediction? Are you relieved/disappointed we've got at least two more years of Cowell? Let us know! — Anna DimondPolls:• Do you agree with Simon's assessment?• Is it fair for Simon to say this so early on?Related:• Is Idol's Archuleta Too Good to Be True?• TVGuide.com Readers' Idol Power Rankings: The Top 20• ...
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American Idol by Michael Becker/Fox
Not letting the audition rounds' sliding numbers go unnoticed (the season premiere, for example, was down 11 percent from a year prior), American Idol is proactively pondering tweaks to Season 8's early weeks. "It won’t necessarily be anything radical; we just have to figure out how to start the show next year," Preston Beckman, Fox's executive VP of strategic program planning and research, tells Broadcasting & Cable. "The early part [of Season 7] saw some erosion, and then we got to Hollywood."Speaking of new directions, Bruce Gowers — who has directed Idol since its 2002 launch — is said to be on the way out, his departure perhaps fueled by a recent on-set incident (sources tell Variety). Pre-Idol, Gowers directed music videos such as Queen’s "Bohemian Rhapsody." More recently, he called the shots at last year's Primetime Emmy Awards. — Matt MitovichWhat's your take? How would you tweak Idol's early rounds?
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Colton Berry and Amy Davis courtesy Fox
They sailed all the way through to Hollywood week. But that didn't stop fans from whittling down the top 24 wannabes on American Idol. Who called Simon crazy? And who feels she simply had a bad day? Here, the first four casualties from Season 7 speak out. — Dana Meltzer ZepedaGarrett Haley: "I didn't think I was going to get voted off that soon. I was happy with my performance! That was pretty crazy what Simon said [about looking like I'd been shut in my bedroom], but I thought it was pretty funny. I didn't let it get to me because I know I'm a fair kid. I came into this competition staying true to myself so I wouldn't change a thing."Amy Davis: "I have some credit-card debt from fostering too many dogs when I didn't have the necessary funds. I had six adult dogs and two litters of puppies while I was going to school at Purdue. It's a very expensive thing to do so I wanted to pay that off [by winning Idol] because it's a stressful thing in my life. It felt like I was trying to ...
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