Free Republic

Adam Lambert aimed for the kind of controversy Britney Spears and Madonna are known for generating, completely stunning the audience at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre and the millions watching the American Music Awards live on ABC. Glambert definitely delivered on his promise of a “sexy” performance as he closed the live show with simulated oral sex from a male backup dancer, a brief make-out session with his male keyboardist and a giant mirrored prop so the audience could see the looks on their own shocked faces. Rolling Stone has learned that producers weren’t informed about the guy-on-guy kiss in advance,...

Those morons at Jeff Zucker's company have stepped in it yet again. It's bad enough NBC can't get anyone to watch its piss-poor network primetime shows, but now NBC is making sure the American public can't watch other networks' shows as well. (This follows an earlier report that NBC doesn't want the Jay Leno Show to book rival networks' TV stars.) The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is known for annually including "cultural touchstones of the moment" in its broadcast, from every American Idol winner since the 2nd season (a Fox show) to the stars of High School Musical (a Disney...

LOS ANGELES – Ellen DeGeneres is dancing her way onto "American Idol," replacing Paula Abdul as the show's fourth judge. In a Wednesday release from Fox and the show's producers, DeGeneres described herself as a longtime fan of the hit singing contest. Abdul, who announced she was quitting the show amid a contract dispute, had been replaced by a succession of guest judges as "American Idol" started next season's auditions. DeGeneres, host of a daytime talk show, wasn't among them. She will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for the ninth season starting in January.

<p>FREEDOM Day has arrived for last season's "American Idol" contestants.</p> <p>Last Thursday, the top 36 semi-finalists' contracts ended with 19 Entertainment, the company that owns "Idol."</p> <p>And that means if you haven't been signed to a record deal by "Idol" creator Simon Fuller, you are free to start your career. On your own.</p>

Paula Abdul just twittered. Read what she has to say : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ # It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month # What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me # I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent,but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day1 become an international phenomenon. # With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to IDOL. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all..Cont'd.

American Idol remains the guiltiest of pleasures here in the United States. It’s a pop culture phenomenon engineered to lift spirits, distract viewers from depressing headlines, and provide a platform for Simon Cowell’s withering put-downs. The Afghanistan version of Idol is literally a life and death affair, with fans embracing the show as the ultimate manifestation of a culture war between modernism and strict Sharia law. Afghan Star, a new documentary named after the country’s Idol-style showcase, reveals just how ingrained the show has quickly become in the country’s culture. But not everyone wants to embrace a show teeming with...

SEASIDE HEIGHTS -- The Toms River man charged in the hit-and-run death of former American Idol contestant Alexis Cohen is scheduled to be in court this afternoon in Ocean County for an initial hearing in the case. Daniel Bark, 23, has been charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident in the Saturday crash that killed Cohen, a 25-year-old Allentown, Pa. resident. Cohen, a contestant on the seventh season of American Idol, was struck by a car as she was walking near the intersection of Bay Boulevard and Dupont Avenue in the beach town of Seaside Heights.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. – Authorities say a 25-year-old former two-time "American Idol" contestant has been struck and killed by a car in a New Jersey shore town. The Asbury Park Press reports that Alexis Cohen, of Allentown, Pa., was killed early Saturday in Seaside Heights.

Weird and tragic. Alexis Cohen, the ranting, foul-mouthed Idol contestant, was killed by hit-and-run in NJ over the weekend. Read more here. Due to copyright issue, only the link is allowed.

Paul Abdul may not return to "American Idol" for a ninth season, her manager claimed in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times. "She's not a happy camper as a result of what's going on. She's hurt. She's angry," David Sonenberg, the "Idol" judge's manager, told the newspaper on Friday. David, who said that he became Paula's manager just weeks ago, at the end of June, added that he has yet to receive a proposal for a new contract for Paula. "I find it under these circumstances particularly unusual; I think unnecessarily hurtful," he said. "I find it kind...

Early salary figures from Simon Cowell's "American Idol" contract negotiations are leaking out and they're eye-popping. Cowell, who reportedly made $36 million last year for judging the hit competition show, has been offered three or four times that amount -- between $100 million and $144 million per year -- by co-producers Fox and 19 Entertainment to stick with "Idol" when his contract expires next May, according to The Guardian, a London newpaper.

During a raid in mid-January on a massage parlor in Midvale, Utah, the father of last year’s American Idol runner-up, squeaky-clean Mormon David Archuleta, was arrested by police and charged with prostitute solicitation, a Class B misdemeanor. According to Us Weekly, Jeff Archuleta, 41, who was the consummate stage dad during his son’s Idol run, has pleaded no contest to the charge, paying a $582 fine following his arrest at an establishment called the Queens of Reiki on January 14th.

The father of American Idol runner-up David Archuleta was charged with soliciting a massage parlor prostitute, stemming from a raid in January. David Archuleta, a seventh season fan favorite, lost to David Cook. He released his first album in late 2008. Jeff Archuleta pleaded no contest and paid a $582 fine after being busted at the Queens of Reiki on Jan. 14 in Midvale, Utah. During the raid, Midvale officers found one client receiving services, according to news reports. "Two of our detectives went back to that room to stop the activity," Midvale Police Sgt. John Salazar told news outlets....

If this is our future, maybe we should just give it all to Obugger and kill ourselves now (be sure to watch this video of a teenager reacting to Adam Lambert losing American Idol ALL THE WAY THROUGH)....

David Archuleta hasn't let success spoil him. Even though he recently wrapped up his first headlining tour and his self-titled first CD debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 (and is nearing platinum status), he's still just a kid from Murray, Utah. "I was amazed at how many people came to my concerts," Archuleta observed during an interview Wednesday. "I knew people liked me on 'American Idol,' but I didn't think they'd care to come see me sing at my own show." Salt Lake fans will get a chance to see the "American Idol" runner-up at an event...

Red State America bitch-slapped Perez Hilton by proxy. (Note: This is the second post on the page.)

This week Kris Allen, who during the American Idol season prompted unabashed praise from Simon Cowell and the rest of the judges, was voted America’s favorite over Adam Lambert, his theatrical and inconsistent competitor. Because Adam Lambert is, according to many, gay, the liberal media is blaming Christians for the tough loss. There are even rumblings that this “election” was rigged. Reminiscent of Bush/Gore 2000, anyone? Liberals are once again falling back on the only explanation they can ever muster when an anointed protégé or pet cause du jour loses: blame the backwards, hickish, intolerant Christian masses. Yes, the...

Clay Aiken is no fan of fellow Idol runner-up Adam Lambert. "Now that it's all over, and for the record... I couldn't be happier about the way AI ended this year," the Season 2 second-place finisher wrote on his official fan site. Look back at the most controversial Idol contestants of all time. "I only turn the show on once a season, and only to see what the set looks like each year. This year, I happened to turn it during the minute that Adam Lambert was singing 'Ring of Fire' and, at that moment, thought my ears would bleed....

NEW YORK (AP) - Clay Aiken is no fan of Adam Lambert. The "American Idol" also-ran has blasted this season's runner-up on his Web site, mocking Lambert's rendition of "Ring of Fire" as "contrived," "awful" and "slightly frightening." According to Aiken, he tunes into the show about once a season—and this year, he caught Lambert's take on Johnny Cash and thought his ears would bleed. But wait—there's more. Aiken aims his vitriol on "Idol" itself. He thinks the series showed bias for Lambert over eventual champ Kris Allen and has focused on "slick productions and polished contestants" rather than raw...

For the second year in a row, American Idol voters have chosen the underdog over the frontrunner. Viewers, odds makers, pundits, more than half the audience - even Simon Cowell - were all stunned when the seemingly untouchable frontrunner fell to the underdog. Again. They shouldn't have been surprised. Rooting for the underdog is what American Idol - and what much of our public discourse - is all about. In any given week, more people tune in to watch amateur underdogs sing (often poorly) on American Idol than buy the Top Ten albums on Billboard's Chart - combined. It seems...

That's the argument raging online. "It's difficult not to wonder if Lambert's sexuality played a role in Allen's victory," the Chicago Tribune's TV critic writes. "Though he never said whether he was gay, pictures of Lambert kissing other men appeared on the Internet during Season 8. "If Lambert's popularity on Idol was any indication of how tolerant and accepting America has become, his loss may indicate there's still further to go," continues the Tribune writer. Adds pro poker player (and recent Celebrity Apprentice runner-up) Annie Duke: "I seriously think Adam lost just because he is gay. Bummed. Bummed. Bummed." Blog...

(Mental breakdown alert!!)KRIS ALLEN WON AMERICAN IDOL!!! ADAM SHOULD'VE WON. HE IS THE ONLY ONE WITH ANY TALENT ON THE SHOW!! Tune in next season!! Watch it here

Is American pop and political culture shifting toward a more traditional view of sex and gender? Don't ask me the difference between the two as only sociologists understand the mysterious jargon which they have invented. California's infamous Proposition 8 which sought to legitimize gay marriage last year was soundly defeated, and was an extraordinary defeat for homosexuals because it was CALIFORNIA, the land of "fruits and nuts" as my Marine sergeant explained back in Camp Pendleton. He also advised staying out of Tijuana. In Miss California vs. Perez Hilton et al. (et al. consists of every person in Hollywood and...

Newsweek speculated that there was a Christian voting bloc that would affect the outcome of the American Idol finale -- and others pondered that there  might be an anti-gay backlash against Adam. (Although no one but he knows for sure what his true inclinations are...)I'm not going to suggest that there wasn't a whole bunch of conservative folks voting for Kris -- I'm certain there were, considering that Idol is one of the few shows that (for the most part) is family friendly and appeals to all ages. But honestly that would be a "Pro-Kris" vote, not an "Anti-Adam" vote.Adam obviously was...

Does anyone else think Kris Allen, who was very good won American Idol over Adam Lambert who was great because Red Staters siad "No!" to Lmabert for reasons other than talent? Lambert is the best ever on the show, but I think he was denied because Red State America has had "enough." I hope I'm wrong, just thinking out loud.

How American Idol's creator, and his apparent Obama worship, ruined the season finale of American Idol with politically correct bull... I don't know American Idol creator Simon Fuller's politics, but judging by tonight's season finale, he's fallen for President Obama's hope and change act. And it resulted in one of the most lackluster finishes in Idol history. For those of you who don't follow the show, for the season finale both contestants sing three songs. The first song is one of their personal favorite performances from the season. This assures that the performance will be good, and show those who...

According to Newsweek's Ramin Setoodeh, "American Idol's" Adam Lambert could "be heading home" due to those homophobic Christians that watch every week. Lambert, Setoodeh wrote in a May 12 blog post, "has been called the best ‘Idol' singer in the history of the show, thanks to his Celine Dion-like pipes. But he's also one of the most controversial, thanks to his Marilyn Manson-like wardrobe and his (not-so) ambiguous sexuality." Despite the fact that Randy, Simon and Paula all like Lambert, and he's garnered enough votes to compete in the semi-finals of "Idol," Setoodeh warned of a "possible roadblock" to a...

The organization that was turned down when it tried to get NBC-TV to air an anti-abortion video that portrayed President Obama as an unborn child has had better luck the second time around with the TV show American Idol. Fox TV has agreed to air an ad by CatholicVote.org during the finale of the hit show. It's part of a campaign by CatholicVote.org -- a subsidiary of the Fidelis Center, a Chicago-based conservative Catholic organization -- to attract Americans who are lukewarm in their support for abortion. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center for People & the Press...

According to Newsweek's Ramin Setoodeh, "American Idol's" Adam Lambert could "be heading home" due to those homophobic Christians that watch every week. Lambert, Setoodeh wrote in a May 12 blog post, "has been called the best ‘Idol' singer in the history of the show, thanks to his Celine Dion-like pipes. But he's also one of the most controversial, thanks to his Marilyn Manson-like wardrobe and his (not-so) ambiguous sexuality." Despite the fact that Randy, Simon and Paula all like Lambert, and he's garnered enough votes to compete in the semi-finals of "Idol," Setoodeh warned of a "possible roadblock" to a...

Pro-Life Ad on Adoption, Abortion to Air on American Idol Finale Washington, DC -- The same pro-life organization that produced a well-received advertisement on President Barack Obama and abortion has another commercial it will air on the series finale of the popular television program American Idol. CatholicVote.org, sponsored by the pro-life Catholic group Fidelis, is behind the ad, which is part of its “Imagine the Potential” series of television commercials. The latest ad focuses on the lives of political and business leaders, sports figures, and others who all could have become victims of abortion, but, instead, were welcomed into loving...

It was a busy weekend in Milwaukee, San Diego and Conway, Ark., as each city played host to their "American Idol" finalists. Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen are home for parades and celebrations that will be shown on next week's episode of "American Idol." While Idol-mania is heating up as the season heads into the home stretch, some viewers have noticed an interesting phenomenon that began way back during the audition season: There have been a lot of Christian singers competing this year. Certainly, there have been Christian contestants on "American Idol" before. Some, like Mandisa, Phil Stacey,...

CHICAGO (AP) - "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell says he thinks Adam Lambert will win this season of the popular singing competition show. Cowell told Oprah Winfrey on Monday's episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that his money is on Lambert because the contestant is fearless, unique and "he's got swagger."

American politics . . . is ultimately just a popularity contest. WE conservatives are having one of our grand knock-down, drag-out fights over the future of conservatism and the GOP. Should conservatives compromise on gay marriage or abortion rights? Should we jump on the environmental bandwagon? Are there ways to reform health care without abandoning our principles? What would Reagan do? What would William F. Buckley think? Frankly, I love these arguments. I think they're healthy and good for conservatism and the country. One thing I love about conservatives is that we have these internal debates more often than the...

No Suprise I've practiced this for hours, gone round and round And now I think that I've got it all down And as I say it louder I love how it sounds Cause I'm not taking the easy way out Not wrapping this in ribbons Shouldn't have to give a reason why... It's NO SURPRISE I won't be here tomorrow I can't believe that I stayed till today Yeah you and I will be a tough act to follow But I know in time we'll find this was NO SURPRISE It came out like a river once I let it...

PAULA Abdul is hitting the stage for a live performance on "American Idol" tomorrow night. She'll leave the judging to others to sing "I'm Just Here for the Music" -- the first single off an album due out in the fall. Since she's preparing to return to the music scene, the timing seemed right to bare her soul over the drug habit that she's recently kicked.For the first time, Abdul reveals how hard it was for her to detox from a 12-year-long painkiller addiction. "I could have killed myself," she tells this month's issue of Ladies' Home Journal. The withdrawal...

"American Idol" winner David Cook's brother Adam, 36, died of brain cancer early Sunday in Terre Haute, Ind. Cook announced his brother's death Sunday morning at the Race for Hope 5K in Washington, D.C. The audience responded in gasps of shock. "I actually lost my brother yesterday to a brain tumor and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else right now," Cook told the crowd at the benefit for brain cancer research. Cook was both the event's grand marshal and running with a team that – as of last month – had raised more than $40,000. "I lost one today," he...

The "American Idol" contestants have enough pressure dealing with the critiques of Randy, Kara, Paula and Simon – and if "Idol's" harshest judge gets his way, they'll be performing for President Obama. "We would put out an invitation on a daily basis," Simon Cowell told The Hollywood Reporter about "Idol's" attempt to get the Commander in Chief to appear on the hit FOX show. "I'd love him to come on, his wife to come on, kids to come on." Simon said of the First Family. "I could only picture now what it would be like if he actually turned up."...

American Idol's stage has hosted a veritable who's who of the country's brightest talents. But there is one rather recognizable American that judge and TV producer Simon Cowell would love to see step foot on the glitzy blue monstrosity: President Barack Obama. "Listen, we would put out an invitation on a daily basis [to get him on the show,]" Cowell told The Hollywood Reporter. "I'd love him to come on, his wife to come on, kids to come on. I could only picture now what it would be like if he actually turned up -- he's a rock star."

As Barack Obama marks his 100th day in office, it's hard to think of anything of real substance the president has achieved. On the domestic front there's yet more reckless government spending, endless bailouts, stimulus packages, tax rises, threatened nationalizations, ominous talk of socialized healthcare, and no sign at all of an economic recovery. In terms of national security the Obama administration has already succeeded in demoralizing the intelligence services and deeply dividing the country with the selective release of interrogation memos and threats of prosecution, and is trying to force a series of defence cuts through Congress at a...

There are still a few places left in American society where hard truth and unrelenting standards still intersect - courtrooms, basic training. But those are exceptions. Schools ban competitive games, stop designating valedictorians and promote everyone with a pulse to protect the tender feelings of those who fail to achieve. Teachers whine endlessly about the tyranny of standardized tests and the oppression that is accountability. Auto companies mismanage themselves until their capitalized value is less than that of Arby’s while the wizards of Wall Street flush trillions on deals that would make P.T. Barnum blush, yet they all get checks...

President Barack Obama has asked to make a prime-time appearance during May sweeps. White House officials have requested up to an hour of airtime for Wednesday, April 29, according to TV Week. The press conference, which falls on the 100th day of Obama's presidency, will probably air in the 8 o'clock hour and address questions of the president's performance. Broadcast networks have not yet announced their response, but a source said that they will most likely agree to the administration's request. Will you tune in to President Obama's "100 Days" press conference? Or have there been too many already?

Do 'American Idol' voters discriminate against minorities, gays? by Troy Reimink | The Grand Rapids Press Thursday April 23, 2009, 11:36 AM AP Photo Lil Rounds performs on "American Idol" on Tuesday night. She was voted off the competition Wednesday."American Idol" is many things. Off the top of my head, I can think of about two dozen adjectives, both positive and negative (well, mainly negative) to describe the program. Bigoted, though? We run a live blog of each "American Idol" show and there was some interesting commentary last night upon the elimination of Lil Rounds (African-American) and Anoop Desai (Indian-American)....

A recording made ten years ago by the unlikely Britain’s Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle has been uncovered. The sudden singing star’s spokeswoman confirmed this morning that an emotional recording of Cry Me A River which hit YouTube late last night is the 48-year-old Scot. She reportedly covered the blues ballad for a charity album in 1999, partly funded by the tiny Whitburn Community Council in West Lothian, where she lives. Only 1,000 copies of the CD were pressed. The surprisingly seductive recording for The Millennium Celebration compilation album drew another flood of tributes this morning, as Susan Boyle Mania...

THE Daily Record has uncovered the only CD ever made by Scotland’s singing sensation Susan Boyle. It emerged last night that Susan, whose Britain’s Got Talent triumph has made her an instant superstar, is being lined up for an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show which would give her the chance of a number one album in the US. But the Record can reveal she made her first recording back in 1999, when she sang blues ballad Cry Me A River for a charity CD. Only 1000 copies of the disc were ever produced, but we’ve got hold of the...

47 Year old Susan Boyle wows the judges with her performance in the auditions for Britains Got Talent, singing I dreamed a dream from Les Miserables.

Simon Cowell wants Obama to appear on ‘Idol’ But judge is unsure if presidential mention of him was a positive one March. 24, 2009 Simon Cowell and "American Idol" have the power and popularity to enlist plenty of big names to appear on the show. But can they pull in the biggest name of all — President Barack Obama? According to digitalspy.com, Cowell told Absolute Radio that "we're trying to get (Obama) to do a show at the moment." It didn't escape Cowell's notice that he received a mention from the commander in chief on the "Tonight Show" last week,...

Video Here: http://www.butasforme.com/2009/03/24/busy-simon-cowell-tells-jay-leno-he-turned-down-obamas-invitation/Busy Simon Cowell Tells Jay Leno He Turned Down Obama’s Invitation to Have Dinner in LA — Says Washington Finally Getting Smarter for Criticizing Obama the Simon Cowell Way

Say it ain’t true, Paula. One cog in American Idol’s production machine says the show is completely fixed and that producers have already chosen the final four competitors. According to an unnamed female production staffer, Danny Gokey, Lil Rounds, ...

. For Ladyinred

If there's a stage that trained Danny Gokey for his run at this season's "American Idol" crown, you'll find it in a former movie theater across from Mitchell International Airport, where Faith Builders International uses music to preach the gospel. "We knew he could sing a little bit," said Faith Builders Pastor Jeff Pruitt. Pruitt met Gokey in 1999. By the end of 2000, he had joined the then-fledgling church, which had 50 members. It now regularly brings in hundreds of people for its weekly services at 4901 S. Howell Ave., the location of the former Skyway Cinema. Gokey joined...