American Idol 2006--Live Thread (Part III)

Fox ^ | 5-8-06

[CajunConservative]

I still haven't figured out the Paris Hilton thing. Perhaps those in the industry should look at what the viewing public is voting on.

[CajunConservative]

I saw that. He's right, there are no coincidences. I'm just glad he didn't get stuck in NOLA.

[Sue Perkick]

I think it's like that Brad Paisley song "Celebrity". A lot of people think if someone is on TV, they're "famous". Then they wind up being famous for being famous. It's a little goofy.

[Netizen]

I read on TWOP that someone posted an article on Gray Charles where Taylor said Bill Clinton was one of his favorite presidents. Has anyone else seen this? The sad thing is, it literally made my blood run cold. I don't think I should be having that strong a reaction to either man, but there ya go.

Straka: Anybody ever tell you you remind them of President Bill Clinton?

Hicks: (Laughs) Yeah, and you know Bill Clinton was one of my favorite presidents. I think he was one of the greatest politicians that ever lived, in my opinion.

[Netizen]

Rat Ruins 'American Idol' For Thousands
http://www.local6.com/news/9280824/detail.html

POSTED: 1:41 pm EDT May 26, 2006
UPDATED: 1:43 pm EDT May 26, 2006

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- About 9,500 Riverside residents found themselves in the dark after a rat chewed through power equipment at a substation.

The rodent had to gnaw through two barriers before it reached the 12,000-volt equipment that it shorted out on Tuesday night, Public Utilities deputy director Steve Badgett said.

"We found him. What was left of him," Badgett said.

The rat made it to the live wires despite traps and rat poison placed in the substation, he said.

Some 1,100 customers went without power until early Wednesday morning.

Badgett said he braced for the worst when he realized that residents lost their power just as the semifinalists of "American Idol" were to perform on television.

---

I guess they should be glad the rat didn't wait 24 hours and chew through during the finale! Can you imagine? LOL

[sirchtruth]

ANd this may be why Simon doesn't like him. :)

I have a different theory on this. I believe Simon "Reverse Psyched" Taylor into an American Idol. I believe immediately Simon KNEW what he had, a GREAT performer!

In Taylor's audition here is the exchange that takes place after Taylor sings -

Simon: My problem is, and I've always said this, it's not just about the voice...and you prove that.
Paula: You've got a good personality...(Simon looks cockeye towards Paula)You're just like a good energy, good character, just good performer.
Simon: I disagree, completely.
Randy: Naw, come on!
Simon: Completely...
Randy: You don't think this guy could be commercial?
Simon: Nope.
Randy: Why?
Simon: Because this is a guy who should be singing...backgrounds, not in the spotlight.
Paula: I disagree...
Randy: Background movin' like that?! What?! (Laughs)
Paula: I disagree...
Taylor: I don't think some of these folks know who Joe Cocker is...
Paula: Sum it up...Obviously, you're going to say yes,
Simon: No.
Randy: No...He's going to say no.
Simon: Because you know why? They will not put you in the finale group to be judged by the public.
Randy: ah, that's not true! That's not true! We will! We will!
Taylor: Give me a chance. Give me a chance Give me a chance...
Simon: No you won't, no you won't.
Paula: We won't know that until,...
Simon: I know now...
Paula: ...we see how you do, but I say, Yes!
Randy: And I say, Yes!
Paula: Yes, you're going to Hollywood!
Taylor: Wooooooooooooo! Sweet!

Now, that exchange may seem normal to some but what gives Simon away is all the time he's talking to Randy and Paula, he's looking right at Taylor. I think he challenged him with the "background singer" remark. He knew Randy and Paula would say, Yes. So he more or less told Taylor to "bring it!" Simon is very crafty.

Download the audition here: Audition

[AmusedBystander]

Now we know where he got the hair dye from:

[A knight without armor]

Wow! A great article. Today I was thinking it would be neat of the army took Taylor to Iraq to entertain the troops. I bet they have kept up with him, too! Then he could go to Ramstein Air Base in Germany and visit the hospitalized soldiers. Taylor's kindness and sly humor plus his harmonica and singing would be a real boost. In my opinion.

[Netizen]

I disagree. I've listened to that clip and exchange a LOT! Simon didn't think Taylor was marketable. Even in Vegas, and later, all through AI Simon was rude, calling Taylor drunk on numerous occasions and saying he looked like someone's father. These are things that stick in young people's minds. Looking like a drunken father at a wedding, isn't exactly idol material to a teenybopper. Simon was using character assassination to sabotage Taylor.

When it was announced that Taylor won, Randy and Paula were soon on their feet clapping. Not Simon. It took a while before he stood and then he had his arms at his sides while RAndy and Paula clapped. Finally after a bit Simon did clap, but his face held no smile or joy. On Leno Taylor said that later, that night, was the first time Simon even shook his hand.

Randy and Paula knew Taylor was a winner at the audition. I think the American people outsmarted Simon, and I like it!

[Jessica24]

Everybody's gotta have a flaw :)

Taylor, Kat and Randy are on Larry King tonight. It repeats at 12 eastern. Larry's not there. It's hosted by Ryan Seacrest, who will one day take over the world. I've been watching for five minutes and Taylor hasn't gotten a word in. Watching him watch Kat and Randy is actually more entertaining than when he does talk.

[sirchtruth]

Randy and Paula knew Taylor was a winner at the audition. I think the American people outsmarted Simon, and I like it!

On Larry King, Taylor said there were things that Simon said that ticked him off and I believe drove him to do certain things better. Don't forget Simon also gave Taylor some high marks too.

Simon was looking right at Taylor while speaking to Randy and Paula, go watch it again...I just think it's not plausable that Simon, who works every day in the recording industry, and has had the success he's had picking what works, didn't recognize Taylor's immediate talent. Simon knows how to get the best out of people...I believe in the most cunning way that's what he was trying to do with Taylor.

Btw, you said you "listened" to the clip, does that mean you've seen it also? I think it's crucial to look at the way Simon is talking to Taylor, IMO that gives him away.

[Palladin]

>>>Katharine also broke this big news: "Steven Spielberg would like to have a meeting with me. That for me, I think was the thing that really made this last week calming for me. I was just like, ‘Wow, Steven Spielberg would like to have a meeting with me.'" <<<

Interesting. Will Daddy McPhee buy out Kat's contract with AI when Spielberg comes a-calling?

[Netizen]

Yes, I've seen it! You don't get people to do their best by insulting them. The only praise Simon gave Taylor was generaly followed or prefaced with a slam. Even then, they occured after Chris was gone. Meanwhile he slobbered all over Kat, even apologized for telling the truth.

You think what you want, and I'll stick with my thoughts. :)

[Palladin]

Very scary! Are you trying to give me nightmares?

[Netizen]

Very scary! Are you trying to give me nightmares?

If you think that is bad, wait until you get to 10,587!

[Palladin]

Ack! Clay is starting to look like a junior Wayne Newton.

And Priscilla looks like she's had a very hard life.

[Netizen]

Did you catch this part?

"the percentages were shown for the top 3 and a big deal was made about how close it was. but i heard there was a huge gap for the finals. do you know the percentages for the finals?"

and Kat looked all shocked and said, "no, i didn't know that!"

and randy said (with ryan talking over top of him) that "i heard it was a pretty big gap but i don't know the numbers" and then they quickly changed the subject.

[SirLinksalot]

THIS IS WHERE WE GOT THE REFERENCE TO BILL CLINTON.

---

In an interview with FOX

Taylor Hicks Gracious Post-'AI'

By Mike Straka

HOLLYWOOD — After over 63 million votes were tallied, this season's "American Idol" talent competition went to Taylor Hicks.

I caught up with the 29-year-old to get his perspective on the past five months, and what this victory means to him.

Straka: Does it feel any different today?

Hicks: Um, you know, I'm a little bit more relaxed. The pressure from the last five months has been crazy. Luckily for me and Katharine it's over with, we were the last two standing and we're in the home stretch. She's going to have a great career and hopefully I will too.

Straka: It only took you 10 years to become an overnight sensation.

Hicks: Yeah, 10 years and every one of those years was worth it, you know. It's amazing that the road that I've been on and the journey that I've taken and I want to say thanks to all the voters 'cause if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here.

Straka: Yesterday I talked with Chris Daughtry, and I asked him what he respected about you as a musician, because I really think Chris has a good following as a talented musician. He said, "You're a songwriter, man, you did the grind in the bars, playing for very little people for very little money."

Hicks: You know that teaches you a lot about whether you really want to stay in this business or not, because there are more bad times than there are good, paying dues. You really have to love your art and what you do, because dues will be paid, and it's the road that are those dues. Chris is a very talented artist and I know he'll do very well.

Straka: Anybody ever tell you you remind them of President Bill Clinton?

Hicks: (Laughs) Yeah, and you know Bill Clinton was one of my favorite presidents. I think he was one of the greatest politicians that ever lived, in my opinion.

Straka: What's next for you, movies, TV or singing?

Hicks: Rest and sleep right now (laughs). Music is my passion, that's going to carry me to the finish line.

Straka: A lot of people say your maturity is what separates you from the rest of the Idols. Does that give you the ability to better appreciate what you've just achieved?

Hicks: Yeah, I think appreciation is key. You can get lost in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, and as soon as that appreciation gets lost, then it can be taken away from you like that. Being on the road and paying dues helps me appreciate an opportunity like this. I was at a crossroads in my career, working at a bank, supporting a band on the road, I chose "American Idol" and as soon as I was allowed to go through from the Vegas audition, it was an opportunity that I had to seize, and luckily I seized it.

Straka: Did you have any trepidation even auditioning for "American Idol"?

Hicks: I had some seconds, it didn't allow me to be who I was as an artist, as far as a songwriter goes, but I think it's a great way for people like me in this area that I live in to be able to be exploited vocally and a good way to get my talent heard.

Straka: You do have a lot of presence in the moment. Probably your greatest moment of the show came when you were walking in to find out if you made the top 12, and you had the harmonica. Was that something spontaneous or did you think "This is an opportunity for me to stand out"?

Hicks: Yeah, you have to premeditate your moves, especially in a competition where the stakes are so high, like this. You can't get lost in the moment in all this, you have to storm out, and luckily the harmonica helped me out.

Straka: Well, this is a very gracious winner of "American Idol," Soul Patrol all the way.

Hicks: Soul Patrol man, thank you so much to everyone.

Taylor, you are most welcome!

[Netizen]

Lisa Live: 'Idol' Postscript

Friday , May 26, 2006

By Lisa Bernhard, FOX News Entertainment Correspondent


I’ve just returned from a week in Hollywood, where usual idol worship was inflated by the hoopla surrounding the "American Idol" finale.

What’s a trip without gossip? I offer you some "Idol" nuggets, in no particular order. The facts are true, and the opinions are correct (because they’re mine, of course).

The card that Ryan Seacrest read when he announced Taylor Hicks won "American Idol" was actually blank. The reason for this, Seacrest told me, is that some past contestants have tried to peek over his shoulder before the name is divulged.

To keep it a secret — and to safeguard against anyone tampering with the card by writing the wrong name — producers tell Seacrest who the winner is early in the day. This is the information he goes by, and the card is left blank.

There doesn’t seem to be any way to truly prevent "Idol" voting fraud. I asked the judges how they could keep a computer hacker from overriding the phone system and launching excessive calls or text messages for one contestant. Simon’s response: “Good point. Good point. Can’t answer that.”

According to Katharine McPhee, mega-songwriter and producer David Foster, who appeared on the show this season, told her before the finale that it’d be better NOT to win. He thought this would allow her to develop her artistry more fully, rather than coming straight out of the "Idol" mold. We’ll soon find out if he’s right....

Despite his recent inability to release a hit song, the supremely diminutive Prince still behaves like rock royalty.

Prince didn’t show up for rehearsal until 11:30 p.m. the night before the finale; producers weren’t even sure he’d turn up until 10.

The night of the show, the Purple One provided white knuckles by not arriving until moments before he was scheduled to perform. Granted, once on stage his number was killer — arguably the highlight of the evening.

Then, in true Princely fashion, he turned on his high heels, blew off Seacrest’s congratulatory advance, walked off the stage and straight out the back door of the theater. His two barely-dressed female dancers led the way, forming a sexy fortress around their Prince.

Last season’s stud rocker Constantine Maroulis needs to stop posing like a member of an '80s hair band. In fact, I would suggest using a hair band to pull back the shaggy mop. Pull the tongue back, too. The Gene Simmons pose went out before Kiss took off their makeup.

Last season’s unstudly Anthony Fedorov is on his way to becoming a stud. The blond, boyish crooner of Ukranian decent has tossed the glasses, grown hipster facial hair above the chin and toned his body with a trainer. He’s recording songs by top songwriters — Diane Warren among them — and expects to release an album this year or early next.

But here’s the coolest thing of all: he’ll be singing the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium for a Mets-Dodgers game in June (he’s a Yankee fan — a misguided path in my opinion. I told him the Mets would win it all this year).

Simon actually felt SLIGHTLY guilty about predicting that Taylor would win. According to Katharine, Simon pulled her aside after his proclamation and asked, “You all right with what I said?” She said she was fine, told him she loved him, and he said the same. Then they hugged. And all was right in the "Idol" world.

Backstage at the "Idol" finale was a happily hectic place. Elliott Yamin took full advantage of the craft services table, noshing on the fruit, veggies and mini pizza.

Taylor hardly had time to be nervous, given that he had six wardrobe changes. And after the show, Katharine’s family chatted with other parents, including those of "Idol" finalist Lisa Tucker.

But the biggest smiles came from the oddest couple of all — tall, tailored Fox Entertainment president Peter Liguori, and pint-sized Mike Darnell, FOX’s crazy-haired, cowboy-booted chief of alternative programming.

The two managed to high-five each other despite a nearly three-foot height difference. Good ratings will overcome anything.

[Apple Blossom]

This guy is 29 years old and does not look like an artist that would ever get a record deal. I know dozens of A&R guys. NONE of them would have given Taylor Hicks the time of day a year ago. He is neither young enough nor skinny enough. He has grey hair and is about as goofy as it gets on stage. Normally he would be a total non-starter in this business.

What's wrong with this picture? Only the part where record executives have no idea what is considered good music/entertainment or what the people want. Just ask Simon..."That's show business!"