American Idol Backstage Report: Can the Contestants Hold Up?
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Ashthon Jones on American Idol, Jennifer Lopez and Being a Diva
In the first major elimination of the season, the young woman who wanted to be American Idol's diva-in-training, Ashthon Jones, was voted out Thursday night. Ashthon, 24, who hails from Valdosta, Georgia and lives in Nashville, was chosen as one of three wild cards last week, but she was unable to persuade more than 30 million voters to keep her in the competition. After learning she was at the bottom, Ashthon sang Diana Ross' "When You Tell Me That You Love Me," hoping that the judges would use their one save of the season to keep her going. But it wasn't to be. Her role model, judge Jennifer Lopez, broke the news: "Not this time baby... I'm sorry."
American Idol Backstage Report: Why Casey Was Hospitalized
For the second time in two weeks, American Idol's Casey Abrams has been hospitalized for stomach pain, and according to show sources, the problem is bleeding ulcers. "That poor guy's in a world of hurt," says one source.After thrilling the judges with his rendition of Joe Cocker's "With A Little Help From My Friends" on Wednesday, Abrams was M.I.A. from last night's results show...
American Idol Backstage Report: Pia Toscano's Powerful Performances
If timing is everything, then American Idol's Pia Toscano has a great internal clock. She wowed the studio audience — again — with her powerful vocals Wednesday night, singing Celine Dion's "All By Myself." "She's totally gonna win this thing," said someone in the crowd. But it was last week's rendition of "I'll Stand By You" that really put the Howard Beach, New York native on the map. She received the first...
American Idol to Pre-Tape This Week's Performance Show
American Idol will pre-tape Wednesday night's performance show tomorrow, rather than have all 13 finalists sing live. In every season until now, the show has always gone live after selecting the final group. But this year, that group — the Top 13 — has become a little unwieldy.
Backstage at American Idol: The Top 13 Revealed
American Idol stage manager Debbie Williams switches on her microphone and trumpets the night's marching orders to a packed-to-the-rafters crowd of more than 800: "There's gonna be stuff you agree with, stuff you disagree with. Let us hear you! Spit it out!" But Williams doesn't really need to pump up this crowd. Inside a massive studio at CBS Television City in the heart of Los Angeles, this season's electrifying new crop of singers, along with the unexpected, lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry between judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, has created so many good vibrations that the infectious, light-hearted energy has already super-charged the audience. "Lightness! That's the word," says veteran Idol vocal coach Debra Byrd, who says she's in love with the changes to the show (including getting to the Top 10 much faster) wrought by executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick.
Dancing With the Stars Season 12 Cast Revealed!
It's the season of the lookers, the fighters, a rapper, a Super Bowl MVP and a former Fat Actress — but not a one-time candidate for the U.S Senate. Emmy winner Kirstie Alley (Cheers) leads the cast of celebs who'll kick up their heels for Dancing With the Stars' 12th season, which begins March 21 on ABC. "We've wanted Kirstie from Day 1," says executive producer Conrad Green. "She's enormously winning and an absolute hoot." Check out photos of the Dancing With the Stars Season 12 contestants She'll be going toe-to-toe with one of the most popular boxers of all time...
Will Idol Control Steven Tyler's Potty Mouth?
American Idol's new rock star judge, Steven Tyler, hasn't quite gotten the hang of not swearing on family friendly network TV. "He says f--- sometimes," says executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. "And I say, 'Steven, you said f---.' And he says, 'F---, did I say f---? Ah, s---. Sorry, man.'"Lythgoe laughs. "We've had to bleep him many times for the audition shows. It's a part of who Steven Tyler is."But it's about to get trickier...
Remixing American Idol
Nine years ago, a brutally honest record exec named Simon Cowell was so vicious as a judge on a new musical talent show that a few performers he rudely rejected came after him with baseball bats. Fellow judge Paula Abdul was so put out by his rough treatment of young singers that at one point during the first season, she stormed off the set threatening to quit. The third judge, Randy Jackson, once could be seen standing up angrily behind the judges' table, looking like he was going to clobber Cowell.Despite that rocky beginning, or perhaps because ...
Dancing With the Stars Upset! Bristol Palin Didn't Win
The night may have belonged to Dancing's newly-crowned champion, Jennifer Grey, but the conversation in the ballroom after the finale was all about the woman who came in third, Bristol Palin. There was relief in many quarters that she hadn't won, and wide admiration for the way she'd handled the firestorm of criticism about her inclusion in the final three. "I really respect the way Bristol handled all that controversy," says contestant Florence Henderson. "She's a tough kid. I remember being 20 and having to ...
American Idol: Inside the Move to Thursdays
For the past eight years, American Idol has been appointment television for millions on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Get ready to change that appointment, because Fox is taking the bold step of sliding its spectacularly successful reality franchise to Wednesday (performance show) and Thursday (results show).
Dancing With the Stars: Who Will Take Home the Trophy?
Two helicopters circled overhead. The paparazzi were out in full force. Security guards were everywhere. And there was a full moon. But for all the insanity this week surrounding Bristol Palin's inclusion in Monday night's Dancing With the Stars finals — like the man who shot his TV set in anger, and whoever sent that threatening letter containing what turned out to be a benign white powdery substance to the show's production offices — everything inside the studio was relatively normal.
Backstage at Dancing With the Stars: A Shocking Elimination
There was anger, outrage and sadness in the Dancing With the Stars ballroom Tuesday night. Brandy, who did such a magnificent job this season, was told she would be going home, knocked down by the seemingly unstoppable force that is Bristol Palin. Whether it's the wide reach of her mother, Sarah Palin, the influence of the Tea Party, or Bristol's appeal as the only "ordinary" (and therefore relatable) person in the competition, it doesn't seem to matter that she comes in dead last on the leader board. Viewers' votes, week after week, have allowed her to leap-frog over Audrina Patridge, Rick Fox, Kurt Warner and now, Brandy, and put her into next week's finals...
Backstage at Dancing With the Stars: Bristol Steps Up
It's a shame the cameras weren't trained on the Dancing With the Stars judges for the beginning of Bristol Palin's paso doble last night. Because you would've seen all three of them, jaws dropped, astonished. "I never thought I would see this!" raved judge Bruno Tonioli after her performance. "The little lamb is turning into a tigress!"The truth is, the girl who comes across as reserved and shy has a lot more bite than viewers realize...
Backstage at Dancing With the Stars: Maks Makes Peace
Here's what you didn't see on Tuesday night's Dancing With the Stars after former NFLer Kurt Warner was drop-kicked from the show and the cameras stopped rolling: Pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy breaking away from the group hug around Warner, going to the judges' table and putting his arms around Carrie Ann Inaba, who had roundly criticized the beginning of his choreography on Monday night. They stayed that way for a long moment, talking privately into each other's ears. It seemed to restore peace in the Dancing neighborhood, at least for now. Says Chmerkovskiy, explaining his unusually heated reaction to ...
Backstage at Dancing With the Stars: Anger on the Dance Floor
The stars weren't the only ones battling it out on the Dancing With the Stars dance floor Monday night. Pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy went after judge Carrie Ann Inaba on the air, fighting back verbally after Inaba dissed the slow opening to his "instant dance" cha cha choreography with Brandy. But backstage after the show, long-time choreographer and dancer teacher Buddy Schwimmer, father of pro Lacey Schwimmer, went after Maks. "I would've thrown ...
What's Behind Dancing With the Stars' Shocking Eliminations?
When Audrina Patridge was booted from ABC's Dancing With the Stars on October 26, head judge Len Goodman called it "ludicrous." One week later, former L.A. Laker Rick Fox shared her fate, while the judges looked on in disbelief. "Shocking elimination tonight," Tweeted judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Backstage at Dancing With the Stars: Game Over For Rick Fox
"It's shocking," says two-time champ Cheryl Burke, moments after she and former L.A. Laker Rick Fox were eliminated from Dancing With the Stars. "It's America's show," says Fox, "and it's out of our control." After their names were announced, the judges' mouths dropped, and you could hear a collective gasp from the studio audience. One man turned to his wife. "He was robbed," he said, simply. Not that the man wanted Kyle Massey gone, the last contestant standing in jeopardy with Fox. No, the man in the crowd was annoyed because Bristol Palin once again ...
Skating With the Stars: Controversy Already!
ABC just announced the cast of celebs who will take to the ice on Skating With the Stars. Among the group: Former Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel. Not on the list: Frankel's costar...
Skating With the Stars Reveals Cast
Forget polished oak floors and mirror ball trophies. Think cold, hard ice and blades of glory. ABC is hoping that their latest reality show — Skating With the Stars (not to be confused with Fox's failed 2006 show Skating With Celebrities), premiering November 22 — will do for the toe loop what...
Backstage at Dancing With the Stars: Is it Brandy's Trophy to Lose?
"Things have changed since we last spoke," Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba told TV Guide Magazine as she headed to her trailer after Monday night's show. Inaba is referring to Brandy's surprising power surge, while early favorite Jennifer Grey seems to be hanging on to the top spot by her fingernails. Just three weeks ago, Inaba was ...
Tom Bergeron Celebrates Dancing With the Stars' 200th Episode
Happy 200th episode, Dancing With the Stars! In honor of the event (9/8c, ABC), Tom Bergeron — the ringmaster of TV's hottest show — discusses this season's highs and lows so far. (Hint: Inappropriate groping counts as both!) ...
