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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For those who dream of stardom, American Idol is the primo place to be on reality TV. Shortly after joining the show, finalist LaToya London went from obscure songbird to TV Guide cover girl (in the March 13 issue). "It's a dream come true, yet it's surreal," she says now. "Man! Thank you so much, TV Guide." No doubt London's glad she wore that spiffy shoulderless white pantsuit to sing on the air — making her performance of "All by Myself" that much more memorable.
"Yeah, I am," the Oakland, Calif., native says, chuckling. "It went really well with the song. I was the only one in white, so I was all by myself! Hey, what can I say?"
But enough about fashion — she's already won that contest hands down. Who does Ms. London see as her biggest musical competition? "I definitely admire Jennifer, Fantasia, Leah and Camile. They're all so good. We all shine in our own ways. No one's really bett
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