As American Idol's "elite eight" await their fate, TV Guide calls a time-out to ask — and get answers to — some of the more-popular-than-ever contest's burning questions. Such as:
1. Is it us, or are Paula and Randy trying to be tougher this season?Seems so. "People aren't stupid," says American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, explaining that Simon's brand of brutal honesty has rubbed off on both of his less-acidic sidekicks. "Paula and Randy are not just going to sit there and say, 'Oh, you're wonderful' when they know some of the singers aren't." So that explains why Pollyanna Abdul keeps getting tongue-tied: She's just trying to find the sweetest insult possible without having to "dawg" anyone!
2. W
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As American Idol's "elite eight" await their fate, TV Guide calls a time-out to ask — and get answers to — some of the more-popular-than-ever contest's burning questions. Such as:
1. Is it us, or are Paula and Randy trying to be tougher this season?Seems so. "People aren't stupid," says American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, explaining that Simon's brand of brutal honesty has rubbed off on both of his less-acidic sidekicks. "Paula and Randy are not just going to sit there and say, 'Oh, you're wonderful' when they know some of the singers aren't." So that explains why Pollyanna Abdul keeps getting tongue-tied: She's just trying to find the sweetest insult possible without having to "dawg" anyone!
2. W
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After four seasons, American Idol has left scores of heartbroken young pop star wannabes in its wake. Once their TV stints end, most of them simply fade into obscurity without ever delivering those chart-topping albums they tearfully promise us on their way out. A few unforgettable favorites are busily carving out their musical niches, however, proving they still have the fire and the fan base to launch careers.
Take carrot-topped charmer John Stevens, for example. The 17-year-old Frank Sinatra devotee from AI's third season will release a disc of covers on June 28, aptly titled Red. "It's mostly Sinatra standards," he tells TVGuide.com, "but there are a few more-modern surprises. I do a cover of the Maroon 5 hit 'This Love.' It's a rocky, poppy song, but we turned it into a jazz ballad. I'm very pleased with the result. That was actually the idea of Guy Oseary, the head of Maverick Records."
Unlike some misguided Idols
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After four seasons, American Idol has left scores of heartbroken young pop star wannabes in its wake. Once their TV stints end, most of them simply fade into obscurity without ever delivering those chart-topping albums they tearfully promise us on their way out. A few unforgettable favorites are busily carving out their musical niches, however, proving they still have the fire and the fan base to launch careers.
Take carrot-topped charmer John Stevens, for example. The 17-year-old Frank Sinatra devotee from AI's third season will release a disc of covers on June 28, aptly titled Red. "It's mostly Sinatra standards," he tells TVGuide.com, "but there are a few more-modern surprises. I do a cover of the Maroon 5 hit 'This Love.' It's a rocky, poppy song, but we turned it into a jazz ballad. I'm very pleased with the result. That was actually the idea of Guy Oseary, the head of Maverick Records."
Unlike some misguided Idols
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Poor John Stevens. When the American Idol castoff appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien this week, Conan asked if their obvious physical resemblance hurts his love life. If only translucent skin and a carrot-top were the worst problems Stevens, 16, had to face. There was that radio deejay's "death threat", plus Simon's weekly put-downs of his crooning. Now, the shy, Sinatra lovin' high-school junior just wants to chill. He's going to the prom, filling out college applications — Boston's Berklee College of Music is his dream pick — and trying not to reflect on exactly the stuff TV Guide Online wants to ask him about! Sorry, John...
TV Guide Online: Did you ever take that radio deejay's comment seriously?John Stevens: No, I never took it seriously. I just let it go. I wasn't ever afraid or anything. People are gonna say stuff like that. It's a joke. It was tak
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