Keith Urban has already said he would be willing to return to American Idol as a judge, but for the time being, his future on the show remains up in the air, the singer said Thursday backstage at the American Idol finale.
“I have no idea. All I know is that there is talk about it,” he says. “For me, I’m in the studio literally this week finishing up my album and putting a tour together, hitting the road in July. So onwards.” READ FULL STORY »
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The new winner of American Idol was still shocked by the time she came backstage to face the press after learning she’d won the crown. READ FULL STORY »
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American Idol finalists Kree Harrison and Candice Glover wowed the audience at the Nokia Theater at L.A. Live Wednesday evening with three show-stopping ballads each. After the performances, Glover, Harrison and judge Keith Urban came backstage to talk about their night, that coin flip, and singing those soulful songs.
“As different as they are, they have a lot of similarities. They have a lot of vulnerability and strength that are both apparent when they perform. They both come from very roots-y, earthy, real families and I think that’s what’s apparent in what they do. There’s no pageantry in either of them,” said first-time judge Urban. “They sing because they need to sing. Not because they want to be famous.”
But as to what he thought of their performances, Urban said: “I was really taken with the original songs, particularly Kree’s. Kree’s to me was the one that just hit me.” Harrison and Glover may not have Urban’s luxury of distance, but both offered up insights into their performances as well.
Fox broke its silence on the worrisome performance of former reality titan American Idol and reports that the network is planning to reboot the entire show — including dumping its judges panel. Longtime Idol judge Randy Jackson quit last week after hearing the news, which still leaves Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj up for possible elimination.
Speaking on a conference call with reporters before the network’s upfront presentation in New York City on Monday, Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly blamed the show’s ratings decline on the age of the show and some creative changes that were made to season 12′s format.
“More so than any one factor is the age of the show right now, but [also] maybe the format this year,” Reilly said. “We expanded some of the middle rounds we did a boy-girl thing that went over three weeks — that’s really where the ratings took their biggest hit. The only thing I will confirm is next year, without getting into any specifics, our next season begins on the Friday morning after our [Idol] finale — that’s when we’re really going to get to work in earnest.”
Despite partly blaming the show’s ratings decline on format tweaks, Reilly pledged there will be more format tweaks next year for lucky season 13: “The format will have a few fresh twists, that we’ve already identified, that will be a nice little jolt for next season.”
Pressed on whether the remaining three judges will be “welcome” to return, Reilly said, “Welcome back? Absolutely. But everything at this point is on the table.” READ FULL STORY »
The tears may have been flowing on stage, but tonight’s eliminated American Idol contestant kept a brave face after the show. READ FULL STORY »
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Dawgs, it’s over for Randy Jackson.
The last original member of the American Idol judges panel announced today via E! News that he’s leaving the Fox talent show.
“Yo! Yo! Yo! To put all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on American Idol I have decided it is time to leave after this season,” he told the outlet. “I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It’s been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures.”
News of his departure comes at a time when Idol faces its lowest ratings and worst headlines to date. Though no one — least of all the Fox executives — expected the talent show to remain the behemoth it once was, Idol’s dwindling ratings have been especially troublesome compared to what’s happening with The Voice, NBC’s solid singing show that’s generating good will with fans and the press, thanks to charismatic newcomers Usher and Shakira. Its ratings aren’t too shabby, either: The show is averaging a healthy 5.2 rating on Mondays and a 4.7 rating on Tuesdays.
In contrast, the obviously-strained relationship between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey on Idol has only managed to alienate Idol fans, who were then teased (or tortured?) by rumors that Jennifer Lopez was in talks to return to the panel. (It ain’t happenin’). Then a new report surfaced today that said all four of the judges, Keith Urban included, would lose their gigs at season’s end.
Fox, no surprise, is staying mum about the future of the show’s judging panel. But the suits will no doubt have to say something when they address advertisers next week in New York.
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Tonight’s American Idol was full of powerhouse performances, with the top three ladies conquering a tough challenge — tonight was the first night they had absolutely no input on their song choices. (Here’s our full recap.)
So how did they feel about that? The answer to that and more scoop from behind the scenes in tonight’s backstage report: READ FULL STORY »
How eager is Fox to get new judges on American Idol?
Representatives of the show are reportedly flirting with singer — and recent guest mentor — Harry Connick Jr. while the current team is still in its chairs.
Fox doesn’t need an Idol judges panel in place until late summer and typically doesn’t get really serious about scouting new talent until after the previous season ends. But this week’s Idol mentor told E! that he’s been approached about taking a seat at the table next season. “You know, they kinda wanted to know if I would be interested in it,” Connick Jr. said. “It’s been talked about before, who knows what’ll happen in the future.”
The crooner seemed to downplay the odds that he’d join the show, joking that he’d want $600 million to come aboard and noting he has other commitments. “I’m going on tour this year so, like, when would I do it? It’s that kind of thing.”
Previously, there was a report that Fox dreamed about changing the panel before the end of the season, bringing back former judge Jennifer Lopez to replace Mariah Carey. Idol seemingly needs to do something to stop its ratings free-fall, though some wonder if changing the current judges will really solve the show’s problems.
Read more:
‘American Idol’ recap: No parade for you
It was an emotional final week for one contestant who didn’t make it into the Top 3 on this week’s elimination show. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Amidst rumors of a shake-up on the American Idol judging panel, we’ve tried to brainstorm potential great performers who could breathe new life into the show. EW’s resident American Idol expert Annie Barrett stressed in her analysis that any good judge has to tell it like it is and not be a mouthpiece for producers. So after hearing Eve talk candidly with Soledad O’Brien Tuesday night at the XX Project Salon Session, we couldn’t help but wonder if the rapper/songwriter would make a good judge for the competition.
READ FULL STORY »
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A throwback crooner comes back to American Idol: Harry Connick, Jr. is serving as this week’s mentor, and will be seen on tonight’s show (Fox, 8 p.m.) working with finalists Amber Holcomb, Angie Miller, Candice Glover and Kree Harrison. READ FULL STORY »
The Voice judges aren’t starting any feuds.
When asked during an NBC press event today about the well-documented decline in ratings that Fox’s American Idol has seen this year, judge Adam Levine shut down the attempt to drum up any ill-will between the two singing competition shows. “We don’t get involved in a stupid s–t like that,” he said. “What’s the point? We love our show. [Idol] is an institution…At one point it was getting bigger ratings than we’ve ever gotten. So we don’t think about that when we make our show. We think about making our show as good as it could possibly be.”
READ FULL STORY »
It was an all-girls club this week on American Idol, following last week’s elimination of last boy standing Lazaro Arbos. But on Thursday’s results show, the Fierce Five shrunk to a Fab Four. The fallen idol spoke to EW. READ FULL STORY »
James Hibberd
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Lynette Rice
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