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5) I Haven?t Left the Time Zone.
Sad, but true. I?ve traveled to Florida a few times, but it was to see my grandparents in Boca, which is really just an extension of New York, so that shouldn?t even count! And just last October, I FINALLY left the country when I crossed the border at Niagara Falls. So it?s safe to say I need to get out more.
4) Um, have you ever been to Binghamton?
Let?s just say it felt like -25 degrees a few weeks ago according to weather.com. If it?s not snowing, it?s raining. In fact, Binghamton is one of the top 10 rainiest cities in the country. Enough said.
3) I want to see the celebrities!
Now I?ve seen my fair share of the rich and famous: Sarah Ferguson was 10 rows behind my family and me at The Lion King on Broadway, I?ve interviewed Bob Costas and members of the New York Mets (for those sports fans at home), and I saw Bebe Neuwirth in a grocery store in the city (she?s an actress). Wow. Now that I think about it, I really haven?t seen any celebrities. I wouldn?t mind bumping elbows with George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey or of course, Mr. Brad Pitt, in LA!
2) I want the golden ticket!
Like the American Idol hopefuls, I want to say, ?I?m going to Hollywoooooooooood!!!!?
And now...the #1 Reason Why I Need To Go To LA.....
[DRUMROLL]......
1) THIS IS MY BIG BREAK!
All right, while I don?t have a Hillary Swank-like story of my family living out of a car for years, life hasn?t been that easy. Getting this opportunity would really validate everything that I have strived to accomplish. Working in the entertainment field has always been a dream, and there is a part of me that wonders whether or not that will just stay a life-long dream. But this could be the beginning of an amazing future! I can see it now?.
I would like to thank the Academy, the Hollywood Foreign Press, my parents, and most of all?JibJab Media?for starting me out on this incredible journey!
UPDATE: Check out Cateye36’s humorous recap of the San Jose CA LiMBO show featuring Taylor Hicks. She loved the show with and without Taylor…
Little Memphis Blues Orchestra After Idol Party Schedule
Taylor Hicks’ band, (well hopefully–they auditioned for the suits in LA at The Viper) the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra has been shadowing the Idols tour, playing gigs along the way. When possible, Taylor and a few of the other Idols have appeared to play a set with the band. Here’s the schedule for the rest of the tour. I’ll update the pending dates as soon as I have more information.
Sep 5 2006 10:30P Herman’s Hideaway Denver, CO
Sep 7 2006 9:00P Galaxy Club Dallas, TX
Sep 9 2006 10:30P Engine Room Houston, TX
Sep 10 2006 10:15P Antone’s Austin, TX
Sep 12 2006 10:30P Pending Atlanta, GA
Sep 21 2006 10:30P Asylum Portland, ME
Sep 23 2006 9:30P Pending New Haven, CT
Sep 24 2006 10:30P Pending Wilkes-Barre, PA
Tickets for the Denver show go on sale later today. And here’s a quote from Ace Young from today’s Rocky Mountain News:
“After the show, there’s gonna be a little party with Taylor Hicks’ band,” Young says. “We’re gonna be at Herman’s Hideaway and we’re gonna do a jam session. We’re going to be there till they kick us out.”
And who exactly is “we”?
“The whole Rat Pack is going to be there. It’s going to be Taylor, Elliott (Yamin), Bucky (Covington) and myself,” Young says. “We’re gonna get cleaned up and go right over there after the show and just have a jam session with a five-piece band. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
It’s a great show. I highly recommend it, with or without Taylor.
I am by no means an American Idol junkie. I watch the show about 3-4 times every season just when it happens to be on. There is nothing particularly wrong with it, but it doesn't really get me going.
That said, I saw a story today on US Magazine that Courtney Love has said that she is being pursued by AI for a spot at the judges table. One comment I heard is that this might be some sort of reaction based on all the wacky crap that Paula pulls all the time, which many people are describing as drunk behavior.
If that is the case, then here is my take. American Idol has been in the news over and over about that Paula crap. I don't think they mind it one bit. I would be willing to bet they like that a lot more than her otherwise boring persona. In fact, I am sure a lot of people tune in just to see if she is sliding out of her chair under the table in a drunken stupor. If Paula is replaced, it is due to the fact that they *know* Courtney Love would keep them in the news. Not only is she completely unpredictable when she isn't sober (and that is just a matter of time), but she is confrontational unlike the happy-go-lucky Paula and the friction on the show would undoubtedly increase. If that happens, I might have to start tuning in just to see that.... wait.... their plan is already working!
Arion Berger left on a jet plane to cover the Cannes Film Festival, so Express' Greg Barber is your guest judge for Tuesday's "American Idol."
THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER this week. Three finalists, three songs each, three judges — and there are at least three ways I'd like to smack around Ryan Seacrest right from the get-go. Could he be any more unnecessarily haughty with his "This ... is ... AMERican IDOL" show intro? The cure for cancer will be announced with less gusto.
No guest coach today, which makes me wonder whether the show can still reach its usually high level of suck-uppage. How will they possibly fill time without a star's ego to massage? With singing?
Speaking of, Seacrest explains how the night's selections were chosen: The judges have picked one of the songs for each contestant, the faceless but oh-so-powerful producers picked a second one and the hopefuls themselves picked a third. Like those carefully choreographed family photos that were always followed by "OK, now let's do a funny one!"
» EVERYWHERE A SIGN: *Whew.* Like the Dyson vacuum of television shows, "AI" hasn't lost its suction. But this week, instead of a gaggle of star-struck wannabes far too young to know much about The Bee Gees chirping about how very, very excited they were to work with Barry Gibb, it's hometowns declaring their eternal gushing adoration for that dude or chick from "American Idol" they're going to forget in a month or so.
Glendale, Ariz., for example, loves itself some Jordin Sparks. From shouty-talky Mayor Elaine Scruggs to wavy-chanty crowds with banners to — wait, is that a billboard? Seriously? She's a singer on TV, people, not McGruff the crime dog. Scruggs bellows that she's got a fax from Simon that says Jordin's first song will be "Wishing on a Star" by Rose Royce. A lot of effort for an intro. Too bad that money couldn't have been donated to Idol Gives Back.
The song's smidge too little-girlish a selection, which I guess feeds into the show's "she's just a teenager, dawg" mentality (watch her performance here). The vocal's on-target, and she's got a great presence, although I hope wardrobe will be kinder to her for the next song — her dress looks like a shower curtain.
Randy compares her to Beyonce.
Paula attempts playful banter with Simon, then slurs "sssssagreatwaytostartheshow" as she leans in so close to her mic that it's now illegal for anyone under 21 to talk into it.
Simon didn't like the arrangement. Jordin attempts to respond, but she's cut off by the music — like a guitar-powered cyclone, that thing is — then by the unsilenceable Seacrest. "You didn't like your own choice," he says to Simon mockingly. "I didn't say that Ryan," Simon responds huffily, "I didn't like the arrANGEment." Then Jordin mocks the song juuuust a little. Simon isn't pleased.
Filed under: Deals, Television, Private equity, CKX Inc (CKXE), Entrepreneurs
The gleam of the American Idol brand is brighter than ever after CNNMoney.com reported that billionaire and media magnate Robert F.X. Sillerman made a successful bid to take the AI franchise owner, CKX Inc (NASDAQ: CKXE) private. CKX announced Friday it accepted the offer from a group led by its current CEO, Sillerman, for $1.3 billion. Since Sillerman and other board members already owned 46% of outstanding capital stock, sale approval was a slam dunk.
The offer of $13.75 per share carried a 29% premium. However, according to the Wall Street Journal's MarketBeat, this fell well short of the $20-25 value investors placed on the stock.
Other CKX holdings include the rights to Elvis Presley, his music and his Graceland estate, as well as the rights to the name, image, and likeness of Muhammad Ali.
The company is attempting to grow its Presley line by enlisting the help of Cirque du Soleil in creating Presley-themed shows. It already has a deal with MGM Mirage to stage a permanent, live Presley show on the Strip in Las Vegas beginning in 2009. CKX also operates the Heartbreak Hotel, near Graceland, which might be a good place for the stockholders who feel the sale price was low to commiserate.
The company also plans to extend its Idol franchise worldwide. Since Simon (who needs a last name?) is contracted to the company, as well as holding a seat on the board of directors, we can safely assume his involvement won't be affected by the transition.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Deals, Television, Private equity, CKX Inc (CKXE), Entrepreneurs
The gleam of the American Idol brand is brighter than ever after CNNMoney.com reported that billionaire and media magnate Robert F.X. Sillerman made a successful bid to take the AI franchise owner, CKX Inc (NASDAQ: CKXE) private. CKX announced Friday it accepted the offer from a group led by its current CEO, Sillerman, for $1.3 billion. Since Sillerman and other board members already owned 46% of outstanding capital stock, sale approval was a slam dunk.
The offer of $13.75 per share carried a 29% premium. However, according to the Wall Street Journal's MarketBeat, this fell well short of the $20-25 value investors placed on the stock.
Other CKX holdings include the rights to Elvis Presley, his music and his Graceland estate, as well as the rights to the name, image, and likeness of Muhammad Ali.
The company is attempting to grow its Presley line by enlisting the help of Cirque du Soleil in creating Presley-themed shows. It already has a deal with MGM Mirage to stage a permanent, live Presley show on the Strip in Las Vegas beginning in 2009. CKX also operates the Heartbreak Hotel, near Graceland, which might be a good place for the stockholders who feel the sale price was low to commiserate.
The company also plans to extend its Idol franchise worldwide. Since Simon (who needs a last name?) is contracted to the company, as well as holding a seat on the board of directors, we can safely assume his involvement won't be affected by the transition.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsExpress' Arion Berger is your tour guide in the world of "American Idol."
I WILL SURVIVE: Make way for Gibbs! Barry Gibb, the brother from another era who will be half-heartedly guest-mentoring the four remaining contestants,
is a great modern artiste who defined disco with his and his brothers' contributions to the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack. You know what I love? I love disco night!
The kids will be singing two songs each, so we can get our full four hours' worth or however long this show is.
Melinda: She sings "Love You Inside and Out" (watch it here). She's set the bar so high that the judges kind of yawn and tell her to be even better, not just a stone professional who seems incapable of hitting a bum note, but to remember to pull focus and let her back-up singer training go.
Simon is hoping she'll whip it out in the next song. By now, I feel sorry for these poor kids, with their future such-as-it-is fame assured and all. Pimping cars every week and having to deal with a different bewildered guest mentor and now having to learn two ancient disco-era numbers on which their future depends. At least they seem to like each other, this crew, which is refreshing.
Paula set her makeup gun on Outer Space Hooker and then aimed it at her hair.
OK, so, "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (watch here). Melinda is more magnetic this time around, but it's still kind of really good and boring. The judges go all Stephanie Mills on her ass, a good call. (And who remembers Stephanie Mills anymore? Ah, the compliment that cuts both ways.) Simon, still obsessed with the voting, states that that second song has put her back in the semifinals. Like she was ever in danger.
Melinda: Safe.
