Surprise! Kris Allen Wins American Idol
May 20, 2009 – What a big program! What a huge upset! American Idol ended its 8th season with the most star-packed show in its history, but the surprise was Kris Allen winning the top prize. What duh?

One hundred million votes were cast, a record for the show.

Guests included Rod Stewart, Kiss, Black Eyed Peas, Carlos Santana, Lionel Richie, Steve Martin, Keith Urban and even Bikini Girl made an appearance.

Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen appropriately performed “We are the Champions” with Allen and Adam Lambert, who most people believed would win. They did the tune just before the results were read. Equipped with a choir singing background the rendition was amazing.

Some music and TV critics talked about the possibility of an upset and they won this one.

Even though Lambert was clearly the best singer there is a possibility viewers preffered that underdog factor. Congratulations to Kriss. – by John Beaudin

Is this the Most Anti-Climatic American Idol Ever?
May 20, 2009 – It’s been an interesting year on American idol. Easily two months ago most viewers were already predicting Adam Lambert the winner and that’s before the judges, mostly Simon, went on a campaign for him.

I have to admit, Lambert is the better contestant, truly the better singer, but he is certainly no underdog story. His extensive stage experience disqualified him as the guy who “just needed a break” even though he, in fact, needs a break to make it to the big time.

Interestingly, he has caught on with some viewers because of his extensive vocal range but also lost votes because of it. I think it’s safe to say Lambert comes off like an over-the-top diva, watching him is like experiencing Celine hit her chest but, again, this is a singing competition and he’s the better man. Of course fans of Miss California probably think he’s closer to a woman with his, all but confirmed, sexual identity as being gay. It does explain all that mascara. In the end though that beautiful hypocrite Carrie Prejean probably helped Lambert. If anyone was going to switch people opinions on gay rights it’s Miss California, she came off so bad with her twisted lies that many who were on her side quit her club but gay issues aside Lambert is the better singer.

Danny Goekey, who made the Top 3 with Kris Allen and Lambert, is a widower and probably a better singer than Allen but he certainly didn’t have the good looks to get those votes from the young girls watching the show.

According to the judges last night Lambert won 2 of the 3 rounds. The deal breaker was the last tune, "No Boundaries," co-written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. Both Lambert and Allen sang the insipid, generic yawner but Lambert mastered the notes.

Sure the underdog is clearly Kris Allen but his chances are slim at best. Sites like votefortheworst.com are begging Idol fans to go for Kris but that’s highly unlikely. Lambert has never been my favourite (I’m a Goekey fan) but he is hands down the better choice.

A fond Goodbye to Danny Gokey on American Idol
May 14, 2009 – Even though a month ago most viewers believed the American Idol final would be between Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert but somehow things changed in the last 2 weeks. Gokey was eliminated last night leaving Kris Allen and Lambert in the final show. Danny was my fav. and his goodbye clip reminded us all that he had a heart of gold and after losing his wife became more than a survivor but a hero to many.

The top 3 American Idols got a chance to visit their home towns this week. Gokey had a huge homecoming in Milwaukee, Allen went home to Conway, AR and Lambert revisited his home territory in San Diego.

Jordan Sparks, Season 6 Idol winner in 2007, performed her new single “Battlefield” and seemed to be lip-synching but she looked like a million bucks.
Katy Perry sounded like a cat in a fanbelt, a little shaky in her guest appearance. She just seemed a little pitchy, Dawg. – by Kari Graham

Slash Readies Fans for 2010 Solo Album & Talks American Idol
May 11, 2009 – In his regular blog Slash has admitted that work on his new solo project is going well but the CD will not be ready until 2010. He also went on to say that he enjoyed working with Adam and Alison on American Idol and felt that Danny and Kris “were out of their element” during Rock week on the show. Slash also squashed rumors that Adam was being scouted as the new lead singer of his band Velvet Revolver, simply stating, “I was not scouting to sing in VR, btw.”  Check out the blog below.

"By next Monday we will have 9 songs with vocals recorded. It really is a killer record so far & it sonically sounds amazing. We've recorded everything analog & that makes a huge difference in the most positive way. Eric Valentine is the perfect producer to handle all this spontaneous information & energy I've been throwing at him, he is really a one of a kind technician. More

Paula Abdul is Nuttier Than first Suspected, Says Drug Story is False
May 8, 2009 – I doubt that Paula Abdul can remember where her bathroom is, let alone what she said yesterday. The craziest of American Idol judges is now saying the Ladies Home Journal is lying about her admission to being addicted to pain killers. Paula called the radio station WKQI's Mojo in Detroit Thursday morning to clear the air! "It was very stressful for me to hear that and to be quoted saying something. I never said," Abdul told the morning show. "I've never checked into a rehab clinic. I've never been addicted or abused drugs, and I've never abused alcohol. I've never even been drunk in my life," she said.

Ladies Home Journal, meanwhile are sticking to their story, "We definitely stand by out reporting. We're happy that she shared her journey with us," said Mariella Azcuy, a publicist for the magazine.

The issue is set to hit stands on Tuesday. So, Paula what are you on then because you act like you’re addicted to a whole bunch of something? – By John Beaudin

Where's My Teeth?: Can We Please Vote Paula Abdul Off American Idol?
May 7, 2009 – Paula Abdul waited seven seasons on American Idol to remind the world that even though she judges a singing competition it’s always better to lip-synch your way through a tune. Many Idol fans on-line are calling Abdul a hypocrite today after her obvious lip-synched performance last night on the show. I’m not sure why she even wore a microphone.

It was almost anti-climatic when Abdul admitted to Ladies’ Home Journal to being hooked on pain killers for 12 years (update: she now denies ever saying that). Girl, you’ve been quacking like that duck since the beginning of the show. Like a true addict, especially a high functioning one, the singer thought she was fooling everyone but we knew she was on something, either drunk or high and no one is surprised that she came out. Abdul did admit that she used medication a few years ago but this is the first time she admitted to having a problem.

In 2005 People magazine asked her point blank about drugs and she said, "Drugs? I'm not addicted to pills of any kind," I wonder if she was slurring her words when she said it? More

It’s Goodbye Allison Iraheta
May 6, 2009 – Danny Gokey fans were a little nerved-out tonight when he ended up in the bottom two. Even though his version of Aerosmith’s ‘Dream On’ ended with a nails-on-a-chalkboard, banshee scream, he was given another chance.

Tonight young Allison Iraheta drew the shortest straw leaving an all-boys top 3 with Gokey, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen.

The show also marked the return of Paula Abdul’s singing career (if that’s what you call it) as she performed, or rather lip-synched her new song ‘I’m Just Here for the Music,’ no you’re not Paula.

It’s been a crazy week on Idol with stage manager Debbie Williams being injured on the show's giant staircase during dress rehearsal. Paula admitted to being hooked on pain killers for 12 years and it also leaked on Perez Hilton.com that she made 2 million per season compared to Simon Cowell’s $36 million. Yikes! - by John Beaudin

Colbie Caillat Readies ‘Breakthrough’ While Getting Hooked on Idol
April 30, 2009 – Colbie Caillat is working hard on her sophomore album but that’s as long as American Idol isn’t on TV. The 23 year old admits to being an Idol fanatic and  knows the pressure is on considering the huge success of her debut album ‘Coco’ and it’s amazing buzz on MySpace.

Caillat told Billboard.com, "I'm like the loser that goes home from the studio and watches every night.” However, she is not a true Adam Lambert convert. "I think Adam is the most talented vocally, but I don't love how he turns every song into that style of music," she says. Caillat loves Allison Iraheta’s voice and understands young girls’ crush on Kris Allen. In the end she does predict a Lambert victory. Caillat was in the audience last night so maybe that prediction changed after Lambert landing in the bottom 2. More

Adam Lambert Almost Gets Booted Off Idol and Matt Giraud Does
April 30, 2009 – The American Idol judges are probably regretting saving Matt Giraud two weeks ago. He was finally kicked off last night but the real news was about presumed frontrunner, Adam Lambert, landing in the bottom two.

The Idol panel changed the rules this year allowing them to override the public’s votes just once to save a contestant and they used it to save Giraud. Interestingly Lambert almost needed one last night. His exit would probably have been the biggest upset in Idol history.

As we reported yesterday, a glitch in iTunes software allowed fans to see their top selling songs and six of those belonged to Lambert, three to Kris Allen and only one to Danny Gokey. The judge’s favourable reviews of Lambert coupled with online hoopla easily gave him the edge but that all changed last night.

The bottom three also included Allen.

Next week guitar legend Slash, from velvet Revolver and formally of Guns N’ Roses, will serve as celebrity judge. The theme, of course, will be Rock. It has not been confirmed if he will perform on results night on Wednesday. – by John Beaudin

Adam Lambert on Course to Win American Idol or Gold at the Olympics
April 29, 2009 – Is Paula Abdul drunk? Really, there is something seriously wrong with this lady. Last night on American Idol she compared Adam Lambert to Michael Phelps, she said, "it's like watching the Olympics and you're our Michael Phelps." What duh? If American Idol doesn’t renew her contract at the end of this season she could have a bright future on A&E’s ‘Intervention.’

Lambert’s version of ‘Feeling Good’ was so over the top it probably gave Celine Dion a headache. I almost expected Rum Tum Tugger to come prancing out in the middle of the tune with a few showgirls in tow. The 27 year old does seem destined to win the singing competition though with all four judges usually shooting the praises his way.

To make the show even more lopsided, a glitch on iTunes revealed six of the top 10 songs (as of last week) were from Lambert. There is a joint agreement between Idol producers and Apple to hide sales figures as to not influence voting.

The New York Times reported that 3 of the top 10 songs came from Kris Allen and only one from Danny Gokey (a big surprise since Gokey was considered the runner-up). The number one song was Lambert’s version of ‘Mad World.’

Last nights Idol theme was retro “Rat Pack” standards and instead of recruiting a logical choice like Tony Bennett the producers opted for Jamie Foxx. Was this Paula’s idea? My mom says bad things come in three’s so after our Quentin Tarantino’s “sing before I shot you” night at the movies maybe we can expect Ashlee Simpson to mentor the “Hillbilly Lip-synching” night.  – by John Beaudin

Simon and Paula Leaving American Idol? Like That's Going To Happen
April 27, 2009 – The two most talked about American Idol judges could be leaving the show.  Even though Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell talked about their possible exits from the singing competition last week it seems unlikely that the Fox network would let that happen, at least not in Simon’s case.

Abdul, whose long diluted rants are often surrounded with buzz that she’s addicted to some substance, talked to ABC’s ‘Nightline’ and pointed out that her contract ends this season. Cowell has until next year to make up his mind.

Time magazine television critic James Poniewozik said, "You take out one person like Paula or Simon, (and) you're affecting every other player in this grid, they’re a family, a dysfunctional family, and it's tough to mess with that."

Cowell told the New York Times that he felt that he might quit after next season and told the Hollywood Reporter that if the show dipped passed the No.1 spot, he would quit.

Cowell has not talked turkey with the Fox Network yet, "I have not even sat down with them yet. Maybe I'm being premature. Maybe they don't want me!" he said.

Though Idol ratings have dipped about 8% this year it is still No.1.

Bottom line? The show could easily flourish without Abdul but not without Simon, he’s easily the most respected person on the panel.

The other two judges are Randy Jackson and new judge Kara DioGuardi.  – by John Beaudin

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