Naima may not have had the biggest voice in the competition, but she certainly had one of the biggest personalities. And if she has her way, she’ll be putting it to use — not just on stage, but on screen as well. I chatted with Naima at our Entertainment Weekly photo shoot just a few days before her American Idol elimination and she talked about wanting to play a superhero on film. Unfortunately for her, her top choice — whom she describes as her “idol growing up” — has already been taken. Find out the identity of the hero in question in the video player below, and also see why Naima is extra excited about the upcoming AI summer tour and what it is going to enable her to do for her family. Then, if you missed it, make sure check out our behind-the-scenes conversation with Thia, where she explains whom she was planning to root for once she was out of the competition. And for more reality ramblings, follow me on Twitter @EWDaltonRoss.
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James Hibberd
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TV Finale Highlights
Five days at a glance*
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Tuesday, May 1
- The Biggest Loser NBC, 8-9PM
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Friday, May 4
- In Plain Sight USA, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 6
- The Amazing Race CBS, 8-10PM
- GCB NBC, 10-11PM
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Monday, May 7
- Two Broke Girls CBS, 8-9PM
- Castle ABC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 8
- Last Man Standing ABC, 8-8:30PM
- The Voice NBC, 8-10PM
- New Girl FOX, 9-9:31PM
- Unforgettable CBS, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 9
- CSI CBS, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 10
- The Big Bang Theory CBS, 8-8:31PM
- The Vampire Diaries The CW, 8-9PM
- The Office NBC, 9-9:30PM
- The Secret Circle The CW, 9-10PM
- Parks and Recreation NBC, 9:30-10PM
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Friday, May 11
- The Finder FOX, 8-9PM
- Undercover Boss CBS, 8-9PM
- Fringe FOX, 9-10PM
- CSI: NY CBS, 9-10PM
- Blue Bloods CBS, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 13
- Once Upon A Time ABC, 8-9PM
- Survivor: One World CBS, 8-10PM
- Desperate Housewives ABC, 9-11PM, SERIES FINALE
- American Dad FOX, 9:30-10PM
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Monday, May 14
- Bones FOX, 8-9PM
- How I Met Your Mother CBS, 8-9PM
- Gossip Girl The CW, 8-9PM
- Two and a Half Men CBS, 9-9:30PM
- Hart of Dixie The CW, 9-10PM
- Mike & Molly CBS, 9:30-10PM
- Hawaii Five-0 CBS, 10-11PM
- Smash NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 15
- 90210 The CW, 8-9PM
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- NCIS CBS, 8-9PM
- NCIS: Los Angeles CBS, 9-11PM
- Fashion Star NBC, 10-11PM
- Private Practice ABC, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 16
- Suburgatory ABC, 8:30-9PM
- Criminal Minds CBS, 9-11PM
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Thursday, May 17
- Missing ABC, 8-9PM
- Community NBC, 8-8:30PM, 9-10PM
- 30 Rock NBC, 8:30-9PM
- Rules of Engagement CBS, 8:30-9PM
- Awake NBC, 9-11PM
- Grey's Anatomy ABC, 9-10PM
- Person of Interest CBS, 9-10PM
- The Mentalist CBS, 10-11PM
- Scandal ABC, 10-11PM
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Friday, May 18
- Nikita The CW, 8-9PM
- Shark Tank ABC, 8-9PM
- Who Do You Think You Are NBC, 8-9PM
- Grimm NBC, 9-10PM
- Supernatural The CW, 9-10PM
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Saturday, May 19
- Saturday Night Live NBC, 11:29PM-1AM
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Sunday, May 20
- America's Funniest Home Videos ABC, 7-8PM
- The Cleveland Show FOX, 7:30-8PM
- Harry's Law NBC, 8-9PM
- The Simpsons FOX, 8-8:30PM
- Bob's Burgers FOX, 8:30-9PM
- Celebrity Apprentice NBC, 9-11PM
- Family Guy FOX, 9-10PM
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Monday, May 21
- Dancing With the Stars (Performance) ABC, 8-9PM
- House FOX, 8-10PM, SERIES FINALE
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Tuesday, May 22
- American Idol (Performance) FOX, 8-9PM
- Dancing With the Stars (Results) ABC, 9-11PM
- Glee FOX, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 23
- The Middle ABC, 8-8:30PM
- American Idol (Results) FOX, 8-10:07PM
- Modern Family ABC, 9-9:30PM
- Don't Trust the B— ABC, 9:30-10PM
- Revenge ABC, 10-11PM
- Law & Order: SVU NBC, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 24
- Awake NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 29
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- The L.A. Complex The CW, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 30
- America's Next Top Model: British Invasion The CW, 9-10PM
*Times are Eastern Daylight and subject to change
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Wow, she’s totally self-deluded.
She’s very pretty!
She is definitely self-deluded. How sad.
go and exile yourself to Jamaica “mahn” tee-hee!
SHe is definately self deluded….She was on American Idol and did not even win, but then again, Snookie and Gosselin has a reality show and they are brainless
You stupid little fool. You will never amount to anything. Concentrate on being a good mother, maybe go back to school, and giove up these fame delusions you will be the next Lady gaga.
How bitter and self-righteous to insinuate that someone shouldn’t be allowed to dream big. What have you amounted to, bitter, inarticulate poster on EW.com – shall we judge?
I’m with you Janiequo – any person with time to type in how self deluded or foolish someone else is 100% self rightous.
Ditto. What kind of evil harpy would pointless (and likely wrongly) say such things for no reason?
So good to see the nice comments about Naima. She has a beautiful spirit and she was always interesting. I never understood the hate for her from people like Lori. If people dislike her so much why come to this page. Married with children, college degree. She’s already accomplished a lot. I wish her all the best.
Amen!!!!!!!!!!! She has a right to dream big.And i hope she makes it.:)
Lori – You really need to do your homework and LISTEN before you assume someone needs to ‘go back to school’. This woman has a college degree in the arts and has done many productions in the field. As she said her FIRST priority was to help pay for a home for her family. She has a supporting husband who is also a talented musician who I am sure is taking good care of their children while she tries to advance her career. She is FAR from delusional. Like any working mother, sees this as an opportunity to help contribute to their dream as a family. Nobody is trying to be the ‘next Lady Gaga’, simply appears to be seeking success in her industry.
Lori – we really don’t care why you are so bitter, however, we’ll bet that you haven’t accomplished a fraction of what Naima has. As JazzyV wrote above, Naima graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Dance / Fine Arts. She paid her own way – cleaning toilets, for one. She set her goals and went for them making it all the way to Hollywood, American Idol and now ? We all know HER name. We don’t know YOU from dirt – and really don’t want to.
Amen Suncatcer. We all know and love Naima. She is sincere and has heart. There are many talented artists out here looking for their opportunity to shine. Good for her that she has HER opportunity. She is extremely creative and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
THANKYOU!! Ditto. Thank you JazzyV for being a good voice of reason.
Suncatcher, I had to ponder again on your comment and it brought some other things to mind. You have entertainers out here who have sold drugs on the streets and started careers and people rightfully complain about the negative imagery. Now, you have a woman who is a wife and mother and has worked hard to help support her family the LEGAL, hard working ‘American’ way… and people are still finding a reason to criticize.
People are so braindead and evil these days. Ugh. Good luck to Naima!
Suncatcher…um…Naima could benefit from a course in English, vocabulary aaannd communication. She does sound ignorant and behaves even worse. Just sayin’…
Well said, Suncatcher. Best of luck to Naima! I really enjoyed every performance she brought to the stage, and I’ll definitely miss her. We’ve lost an original, captivating performer.
I LOVE Naima!!! I’m excited to see her on the tour.
Boy is she in love with herself or what?! Can’t stand her… go away Niama.
I think it’s called, “confident.” You must lack it yourself to write you can’t stand someone – having never met them… Weak.
Why is she deluded? Brooke White was in a tv movie for goodness sakes. Good for Naima for having goals. Don’t give up your dreams Naima!
I agree. I don’t think she’s in love with herself or freakin deluded. She talked about other dreams she may have not what she thinks is GOING to happen. And I doubt she wants to be the next Lady GaGa, why would anyone wanna be her. UGH Why are people on here so mean and nasty? Geez! I love her and I don’t want her to go away. If you don’t liker her then don’t pay attention to her. No one said she wasn’t gonna focus on being a good mother.
Right, you gotta have a dream if you don’t have a dream….I’m sure all the Idols if you ask them would want to be in a movie as a superhero, esp. James — don’t you think?
Please people, you need to back off and back down…none of you have an any aspirations in life, do you?
Yes Stay Positive. She does have a right to go for her dream. I am not sure how someone can be considered ‘self-deluded’ when her priority is to buy a home for her family. People will always find a way to hate.
Haters gonna hate.
Isn’t that what everyone is? A hater? Movies, music, etc. Everyone seems to hate EVERYTHING. Oh and whatever I don’t like is what everyone else is in love with. Mostly annoying pop stars who slut their way thru Hollywood.
I love Naima and was sorry to see her go. She had a unique quality that is sorely lacking in today’s artists. I am glad she made the tour-without her it would have been far less entertaining.
perhaps not the best voice, but certainly the personality that had the most snap! I enjoyed watching what she brought to each of her performances. I hope her dreams are realized!
Me too.
I agree. My heart goes out to her and I hope she achieves what she wants. A powerfully charismatic woman. Go Naima!
Loved Naima. She was the only girl who was unique and showed any sign of creativity and being able to entertain. She owned the stage when she performed. I knew she wouldn’t win because a female will never win again until the voting is changed. What I see is confidence in herself not delusion and that is what it takes to make it. Hoping to see good things in the future for Naima and I would go see her in a movie and buy her cd when it comes out. I also liked Brooke White and glad to see good things coming her way.
I think she’s sweet and even though not all of her risks worked out, I really applaud her for taking them. And no, it’s not likely she’d be headlining movies – but we would have said the same thing about Jennifer Hudson too, wouldn’t we?
@Sun–so true! And even Fantasia is working on a movie….and even Brooke White has made a TV movie…and the list keeps coming doesn’t it!
Of course she may go the route of Justin Guarino with the first movie tanking and never making a record.
well, Kelly Clarkson was in that movie, too, don’t forget
Justin Guarini has made two albums.
I really like Naima… the most original and interesting contestant on Idol. She’s also very pretty. I wish her lots of luck in the entertainment world. I would definitely go to her movie, watch her TV show… whatever.
I was sad that Naima was voted off, but happy for her that she made the tour and is one step closer to realizing her dreams. Keep dreaming big and ignore the small minds.
Naima, see you on Celebrity apprentice next year, Oh wait, That’s too big of a show for her. I have show for her it’s called, Being irrelevent.
@Back to Obscurity: I have a show for you; it’s called: “Hello, Grammar!”
LOL! Best short comment yet! GO JON!