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DOS: Simon Slams Hudson; Kellie Pickler's New 'Assets,' & Janet On 'Idol'?
It seems like all I talk about in this blog is Idol everyday.
It does sort of consume my life right now especially since it's on three days a week! It is the most watched, most talked about show on TV though and let's face it.. fun to gossip about, right? With that in mind, I do want to fill in Idol maniacs on some interesting tidbits that were uncovered at last nights Museum of Radio and Television Paley Fest event where they held a panel discussion on AMERICAN IDOL.
This morning I'm rushing off to interview the four booted contestants (more on that Monday) so with no time to write something catchy, I'll just give it to you in subjects. First, I spoke with Mike Darnell, FOX's Executive Vice President of Alternative Programming and Specials and Executive Producer, Ken Warwick and Ryan, Simon, Randy and Paula then I went inside to listen to the panel discussion. Here is what's noteworthy.
1. Sir Paul McCartney is definitely not coming on the show this year but it will likely happen on a future season.
Ken: "I'm afraid not no, he's too busy and our second choice was Sir George Martin. He'd love to come but we are locked into the series and their are specific dates. We want to save that and we're gonna have a British Invasion week instead."
2. Janet Jackson asked to come on AMERICAN IDOL, apparently they could not fit her in.
Simon: "I don't blame you, I wouldn't let them." (He was joking.)
3. Simon weighs in on why many of the contestants turn out to be not the best singers:
Simon: "Charisma, personality, likeability, all those things. You know honestly we could go out to LA this evening and I could go around all the recording studios and I'll find you 20 fantastic singers with the personality of a peanut. It doesn't mean anything because you're not gonna vote for them. I mean they are just very very talented singers. There are tons of them around."
4. The panel weighs in how the competition has changed some contestants, including Jennifer Hudson. ( I love this quote!)
Simon: "It's very rare we got to be honest with you, that we get a returning winner who apart from us will actually go up to the team (of the show) including producers and the stylists and hair and make-up and people and say thank you for the time I had on the show. Some people will deliberately turn against the show that made them successful and the truth is anyone that enters American Idol enters American Idol because all the doors are being closed in their face. They come on American Idol because it's the one chance they got, we put them there in the beginning and then the audience decided whether they are going to stay or go. And there was somebody this week when asked about her time on Idol said it was a stepping stone, Jennifer Hudson. And I thought at the time well if you thought it now why didn't you say it then that this is just my stepping stone. It wasn't a stepping stone, it was her big opportunity to become noticed. She got noticed and she got Dreamgirls. So to answer your question yes. Some of them start to resent the fact that the show made them successful".
Mike: "I think that managers, once they get to the outside world managers, the music industry makes them feel guilty. I think there is a sense sometimes of you have to get rid of it, you have to move on, which I think is silly."
5. The producers tell me Antonella Barba is NOT going to be kicked off the show for the racy photos:
Ken: Of course not. She probably hasn't done anything that any woman in this room hasn't done. Her fault is that she trusted her friends, had some photographs taken...and the pictures came out and it's not fair. It's not right. I know obviously her parents are upset about it and it's just not fair really. I know if it was me it would affect my performance. People love to create controversy over the show, they do. You know it doesn't matter what they are doing as long as they are talking about American Idol which suits us fine."
Mike: Kenny's right, the truth is the show's so big any little thing we do is controversial
The big secret is still YET to come even though Nigel Lythgoe told the announcement would happen this week.
Mike: "It has to do with American Idol."
Ken: "It is and it's going to be very big. A thing we're gonna do."
NOTE: My spies tell that it may be that the show is going to bring back the twelve booted contestants for a wild card show, making it a Top 13 this year.
6. Yes, everyone noticed Kellie Pickler's new assets last night:
Randy: Yes, yes. A little Dolly maybe, a little Dolly-ish.
Paula: I think Ryan was really clever yet subtle..
Simon: And perverted.
Ryan: No I just noticed that when she came to the set she had a new pair of shoes and she clearly had spent her money on it.
Simon: We call them pups.
Randy: Yeah pups, yes.
I just have a question... I'm a bit dissappointed about how the situation with Antonella is being handled the way it is(or not handled I should say). Why is nothing being done, why hasn't it been adressed? A few seasons ago when Frenchie Davis a strong black, contestant was booted off for racy photos of her, then why not the same for Antonella? I've seen sets of both puctures and both are pretty much in the same league. Was it because Frenchie is large and of color and Antonella is not. It is ashame race has to be looked at in a situation like this, but it seems the only logical route to go. A precedent was set with contestants in prior seasons, dirt gets dug up and they get booted, or repremanded at least. Here why is that not the case. Frenchie was and is a better singer, don't let the fact that Antonella looks better in her racy photos cloud the fact that the photos still are racy, and non-representative of the image American idol is putting forth. I may be completely wrong about this situation, but every season there seems to be an instance when I can pinpoint the " we support equality" attidue, yet and still what has been done this season makes me question if this is really true.
Frenchie's photos were taken as part of a paid photoshoot for a pornographic magazine.
Antonella's photos were private and never intended for public viewing.
I am a married, 40 year-old white woman, and I too see the hypocrisy of rejecting Frenchie and not Antonella. Considering a large part of the most talented this season and many season are African Americans, something should be done.
Personally, her talent doesn't come close to the other contestants. Eventuallly the school boys will stop voting, and the true talented, not just exploitive will come through.
THe whole industry is corrupt. It is an oxymoron, hypocritical and discriminating all in one shot.
However, Frenchie, if I understand correctly, was kicked off because she was involved in activity that also had ties to child pornography.
Simon is right that the only winner or contestant that gives idol its just dues is Carrie Underwood. Kelly clarkson, ruben, taylor hicks, clay, never thank idol and try to pretend they were never on the show. Not sure about fantasia who seems more grateful and less arrogant then the others. Kellie Pickler is becoming more like dolly parton every day- but not in a good way, if you know what I mean. Not sure how she got a record deal anyway- not a good singer.
I agree with your comments on the 'Antonella' situation but that's 'Hollowood' (my term for Hollywood. 'Hollow' people living under false impressions.) I guess. Nothing surprises me too much any more here. As for Simon's comments regarding Jennifer Hudson's 'acknowledging' Idol for her 'success', he needs to get his facts straight because she's done this from the very beginning.
I've found it amazing how he manages to critize almost everything and everyone, but can't remember what he says from one moment to the next.
Congrats to Jennifer and the rest who managed to 'find' success with or 'without' Idol in their corner.
First race is irrelavent. America votes so don't make this a race issue. I find it funny that you feel compelled to tell us your WHITE. There is a huge difference between taking your top off at a party and posing for porn. If you don't recognize that fact then go to "Mardi Gras" or Lake Havasu at "Spring Break". By the way it would be "many SEASONS" plural.
I am very disappointed that Barba has not been replaced on the show this year. I have seen ALL of the photos of her and they go beyound a litle racy. Remember Kellie Pickler? This little cutie had the wolves trying to hurt her and all they found was her prom dress and 2 piece swimsuit photo. These contestants are quized about their background,etc. I they lie about it... they are gone.At least until this year (?)
I think that the Antonella situation needs to be resolved. I realize that Frnechie posed for a porn site and was booted off, but this girl (Antonella) can not sing and is trying to get by on looks alone. She will eventually get her due. I think that American Idol needs to stand by their rules and do what is right for all contestants.
It is amazing how pictures that are stolen and posted are deemed equal to prostituting oneself for a few dollars. Especially considering that they were posted on a filthy porn site with her permission. It seems that when a racism lawsuit is inevitable logic and intelligence go right out the window.
Just sad to me that people are bringing race into this at all, if you watch the show many of the contestants are of color. As for the pictures, just seems to me the difference is that Frenchie and I agree is a wonderful singer, didn't disclose the fact that she posed for money in a porn magazine. Barba had pictures taken for a boyfriend and wasn't meant to be published. Difference, one did it for money and the other for private. As for why Barba has continued to move on ( well until last night) people voted for her not the judges. People grow up, not everything is because of race!