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Feels Like Yesterday -- Meeting 'Idol's' Season Seven Top 12
Last night was the “American Idol” Top 12 party here in Los Angeles. Standing on the red carpet waiting for the contestants to arrive, I was struck with the realization that it felt like not one day had past since I had been standing on that same carpet last year waiting to meet Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, Haley Scarnato and the others. Nothing has changed really this year, just the faces. The contestants still arrived an hour and half after the party started and were out on the carpet talking to media for an hour and a half at least. A scandal had again broken out the week before the Top 12 party. I annoyed some Fox people for getting too personal with some of the contestants lives. Yep, another year, another Top 12 party.
The first person I got to meet with was Chikeze, who was so excited that when the photographers called his name tonight they pronounced it correctly. He told me this is why he dropped his last name for the show. He didn’t want to go around being called Chikeze EASY. His last name is Eze but that is not how its pronounced. It’s EZAY. So it was just better to lose the last name altogether.
Next, I met Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado. Ramiele is seriously tiny, tiny, tiny. Even smaller in person than I thought. I had to take my shoes off for the interview so as not to feel like a glamazon and I'm only 5’4". The girls are roommates and told me they get along great because they are both messy. I had to ask about those photos that came out of Ramiele and she said that it's just girls having fun. Later, inside the party, Ramiele and booted Idol Danny Noriega were holding onto each other for dear life. I asked how she would handle life without Danny and she replied, "He’s NOT leaving."
While Brooke White was working the carpet for nearly two hours, her dad and husband stood behind the media the entire time watching her. It was so sweet. She’s as easygoing and down to earth in person as she looks on the show. I found out she lives about a mile from my house!
I was surprised to learn that David Cook had no intention of trying out
for "Idol." His younger brother was the one who wanted to audition and
talked him into going. Ironically, his brother never made it to the
next round. I joked with him that his brother probably has a voodoo
doll that he plays with when David is singing. He laughed and said, “I
wondered what the tingling feeling in my leg was.” Now, I wasn’t trying
to be mean when I asked him what he would do with his hair this season.
I simply meant that he has a certain style and would he change it? He
busted out with the fact that he knows he has the recessive hair gene
and there is nothing he can do it about. I wondered if he might shave
it all off like Daughtry if they asked but he said he’s keeping what he
has for as long as he can.
Speaking of hair, those dreadlocks on Jason Castro are never coming off. Jason also says he will never cut his hair for the show. His hair is part of who he is. A bunch of people around the office asked me if I thought they smelled. Jason assured me that they didn’t and that he washes them all the time. I took sniff. No smell!
So, while everyone else was so excited to be at this party and thrilled about making it into the Top 12, Amanda
Overmyer was still taking it
all in. She was in a shell shocked state all night. She’s one tough
cookie, but very smart, and very focused on the goal at hand – winning
this competition.
About half way through the contestants it was time to meet David Hernandez. I have to give him credit for handling himself so well. It cannot be easy to know that the entire country has been gossiping about you. Fox made it clear we were only to ask him one question about the scandal. He had his prepared answer about how he is just trying to stay focused. It’s exactly what I would have expected him to say.
I’m now a converted Michael Johns fan. Something about him on the show always bugged me, but let me tell you -- in person he is cute! I gave him a bit of crap for being Australian but he said he has been here for ten years and this is where his life is. He hopes he can be the first “Auserican Idol” -- funny.
If you want to hear what Carly Smithson has to say about her prior record deal then make sure to watch the Top 12 videos here on AccessHollywood.com. I’d tell you here but the girl is a talker. She had lots to say on the subject so make sure and check it out.
Kristy Lee Cook made it into this Top 12 by the skin of her teeth. The first week she performed with a 102 degree fever. She had the flu, bronchitis and a chest infection. She was still sick this week, but is hopefully on the road to recovery. So, it will be interesting to see what she can do vocally next week.
Last, but certainly not least, was David Archuleta, who is dealing with a bout of strep throat. So, the poor little guy was losing his voice. It sounded like everyone he talked to had asked him about being the frontrunner. He seemed very humble about it but he talks so softly I could hardly hear him. Earlier, Nigel Lythgoe had to told me that Yoko Ono had called to say how much she loved David singing ‘Imagine.” He said he heard this from Paula and was floored to have someone so close to the song say that.
Lastly, if I can read Nigel Lythgoe’s facial expressions as good as I think can then I’m 99 percent sure that Mariah Carey will be one of the four celebrity mentors this season as well as being on “Idol Gives Back.” They will be announced next week.
Speaking of hair, those dreadlocks on Jason Castro are never coming off. Jason also says he will never cut his hair for the show. His hair is part of who he is. A bunch of people around the office asked me if I thought they smelled. Jason assured me that they didn’t and that he washes them all the time. I took sniff. No smell!
So, while everyone else was so excited to be at this party and thrilled about making it into the Top 12, Amanda
Overmyer was still taking it
all in. She was in a shell shocked state all night. She’s one tough
cookie, but very smart, and very focused on the goal at hand – winning
this competition. About half way through the contestants it was time to meet David Hernandez. I have to give him credit for handling himself so well. It cannot be easy to know that the entire country has been gossiping about you. Fox made it clear we were only to ask him one question about the scandal. He had his prepared answer about how he is just trying to stay focused. It’s exactly what I would have expected him to say.
I’m now a converted Michael Johns fan. Something about him on the show always bugged me, but let me tell you -- in person he is cute! I gave him a bit of crap for being Australian but he said he has been here for ten years and this is where his life is. He hopes he can be the first “Auserican Idol” -- funny.
If you want to hear what Carly Smithson has to say about her prior record deal then make sure to watch the Top 12 videos here on AccessHollywood.com. I’d tell you here but the girl is a talker. She had lots to say on the subject so make sure and check it out.
Kristy Lee Cook made it into this Top 12 by the skin of her teeth. The first week she performed with a 102 degree fever. She had the flu, bronchitis and a chest infection. She was still sick this week, but is hopefully on the road to recovery. So, it will be interesting to see what she can do vocally next week.
Last, but certainly not least, was David Archuleta, who is dealing with a bout of strep throat. So, the poor little guy was losing his voice. It sounded like everyone he talked to had asked him about being the frontrunner. He seemed very humble about it but he talks so softly I could hardly hear him. Earlier, Nigel Lythgoe had to told me that Yoko Ono had called to say how much she loved David singing ‘Imagine.” He said he heard this from Paula and was floored to have someone so close to the song say that.
Lastly, if I can read Nigel Lythgoe’s facial expressions as good as I think can then I’m 99 percent sure that Mariah Carey will be one of the four celebrity mentors this season as well as being on “Idol Gives Back.” They will be announced next week.
thanks for the post. really enjoyed it. and yeah, i'm a fan of kady too, she's very pretty. i was sad to see her go. but still i love the show. love love them all. =)