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AMERICAN IDOL recap: Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina in the finals next week

By PETER BROWN 05/20/2011

Haley Reinhart is eliminated on AMERICAN IDOL - Season 10 - The Final Three | ©2011 Fox/Michael Becker

Cast: Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson Network: Fox, airs Wednesdays and Thursdays Original Telecast: May 19, 2011 And then there were two on the world’s greatest karaoke competition, AMERICAN IDOL. Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina are in the finals and next week will battle it out for the numero uno position of the season. The big cheese. The top dog. The ace of spades. But who will it be? That means that Haley Reinhart was eliminated this week despite perhaps being the strongest singer left in the competition and having the better performances last night. It’s too […]Read On »

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TV Review: AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – “Three Finalists Compete”

By PETER BROWN 05/19/2011

AMERICAN IDOL: The Final Three: L-R: Haley Reinhart, Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina | | ©2011 Fox/Michael Becker

Cast: Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler Network: Fox, airs Wednesdays and Thursdays Original Telecast: May 18, 2011 There was a lot of pomp and circumstance on the world’s greatest karaoke competition, AMERICAN IDOL, this week. Lots of looking back at the final three and how they got this spot, but one more has to go before the finals during Season 10 of this powerhouse series. So I’m skipping all that filler (since they boosted it to two hours this week) and going right to the heart of the matter – the performances. Beyonce was the guest mentor this week […]Read On »

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Breaking News: Could Jennifer Lopez not be back next season for AMERICAN IDOL?

By CARL CORTEZ 05/16/2011

Jennifer Lopez judges AMERICAN IDOL - Season 10 | ©2011 Fox

With AMERICAN IDOL enjoying a renewed success this year in Season 10 without its iconic judge Simon Cowell, the one thing that has been forgotten is that new judge Jennifer Lopez only signed on for the show for one year. Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice spoke to the press today about this fall’s Fox schedule and talked about the current judging situation at AMERICAN IDOL which also includes Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson. “Everyone has multiple year contracts and Jennifer has a single year contract,” explains Rice. “We haven’t talked to her about the show, but we’re hoping she’ll return. […]Read On »

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Breaking News: Fox predicts the new Simon Cowell show THE X FACTOR will be huge

By CARL CORTEZ

Simon Cowell judges THE X FACTOR | ©2011 Fox

There were many doubts with AMERICAN IDOL going into Season 10 that it wouldn’t thrive and survive without iconic judge Simon Cowell at the helm. Yet, with new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez joining Randy Jackson, the show has been an even bigger player than last year. That said, Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice says the plan was never to replace him and his personality on IDOL, but rather save his iconic personality for his own singing reality competition series THE X FACTOR which will be airing in the Fall and featuring new judges Cheryl Cole, L.A. Reid and […]Read On »

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AMERICAN IDOL Season 10 recap: Another SHOCKER as James Durbin goes home

By PETER BROWN 05/13/2011

James Durbin eliminated on AMERICAN IDOL - Season 10 - The Final Four | ©2011 Fox/Michael Becker

Cast: Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson Network: Fox, airs Wednesdays and Thursdays Original Telecast: May 12, 2011 Well, the contest is anyone’s ball game after losing James Durbin on the world’s greatest karaoke competition, AMERICAN IDOL. This was a complete shock. James has never been in the bottom at all. He was the only one to never be in the bottom. Yet, he’s gone. I figured that James was a lock for the finals. He was and is such a good singer. He rocked the house every single time he was on stage. I can’t believe that […]Read On »

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Song Reviews: AMERICAN IDOL – TOP 4 SEASON 10 album

By CARL CORTEZ 05/12/2011

AMERICAN IDOL: The Final 4: Haley Reinhart, Scotty McCreery, James Durbin and Lauren Alaina | ©2011 Fox/Michael Becker

After last night’s strange episode of AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10, where the Top 4 contestants sang two songs apiece (one that inspires, the other from the Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller songbook), it was clear the judges are still all over the map when it comes to criticism and what an IDOL should exactly be (okay, one map, everyone is great EXCEPT Haley). While James Durbin, Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery have gotten pretty much a free ride to the Top 4 with nary a critique (especially when they blow hard), Haley Reinhart has had to claw her way into her […]Read On »

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TV Review: AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – “The Top 4 Perform”

By PETER BROWN

Haley Reinhart performs on AMERICAN IDOL - Season 10 - The Final Four | ©2011 Fox/Michael Becker

Cast: Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson Network: Fox, airs Wednesdays and Thursdays Original Telecast: May 11, 2011 We are down to nearly the home stretch on the world’s greatest karaoke competition, AMERICAN IDOL. And lucky the theme of the night was not Randy Jackson’s “Who is in it to win it” but more about the home stretch and who will either falter or bring home the bacon. Each four contestants sang two songs again tonight: The first, songs that are meaningful to the contestants; the second, songs from the writing combo of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller […]Read On »

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AMERICAN IDOL recap: Jacob Lusk finally gets the hook

By PETER BROWN 05/05/2011

Jacob Lusk is eliminated on AMERICAN IDOL - Season 10 - Final 5 | ©2011 Fox/Michael Becker

Cast: Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson Network: Fox, Airs Wednesdays and Thursdays Original Telecast: May 5, 2011 Last night, I posed the question if anything could prevent Jacob Lusk from going home this week on the world’s greatest karaoke competition, AMERICAN IDOL. The answer is no. As he was sent home finally after being in the bottom three for the past three or four weeks on the show. It was only a matter of time in my opinion as there was a reason he was in the bottom for a number of weeks – he had gotten […]Read On »

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TV Review: AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – “The Top 5 Perform”

By PETER BROWN

AMERICAN IDOL: Final 5: Clockwise from top L: James Durbin, Lauren Alaina, Jacob Lusk, Scotty McCreery and Hayley Reinhart | ©2011 Fox/Michael Becker

Cast: Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson Network: Fox, Airs Wednesdays and Thursdays Original Telecast: May 4, 2011 Who is in it to win on the world’s greatest karaoke competition, AMERICAN IDOL? So Randy Jackson just loves to repeat the same crap over and over again. I know, you’re shocked. You’ve never heard that before, I’m sure. The first couple of seasons it was all about “pitchy.” Later, it was “dawg” and “keeping it real” and “yo yo yo.” This season it is “Who is in it to win it!?” My God, if I hear him say it […]Read On »

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TV Review: DANCING WITH THE STARS – Season 12 – Week 7 – “Ballroom Greats”

By PAMELA HARLAND 05/02/2011

Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff perform on DANCING WITH THE STARS - Week 7 |©2011 ABC/Adam Taylor

In an action-packed two-hour episode stretched out far more than necessary, the seventh week of DANCING WITH THE STARS – Season 12 celebrates the ballroom greats this week with guest judge Donnie Burns, one of the most decorated dancers ever, while esteemed professional dancers Shirley Ballas (yes, Mark’s mom) and Luca Baricchi gave pointers to the remaining six couples during rehearsals. The pressure was on with the DWTS couples learning two new dances – one for their group dance and the other for their individual dance. The two groups, picked by the two celebs that have accumulated the most points […]Read On »