3Pretty Much Everyone On American Idol Got Fired

Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson, and…who is the other one? Ah, Keith Urban. Yeah all of them are fired and won’t be coming back for the next season of American Idol. And Jennifer Lopez isn’t coming back either. Or Nigel Lythgoe. That’s what they’re saying. So spin it away, boys! Here’s most of the report. It contains the delicious quote “No more big checks for big divas.”

From The Wrap:

“All four are gone,” [an] insider told TheWrap. “They feel they’ve lost their core audience and they want it back.”

A Fox spokesperson declined to comment for this story.

All four judges have options to return for another season, but Fox won’t be picking them up, according to the knowledgeable individual, who said: “No more big checks for divas.”

The network has resolved to stop paying the huge salaries it has been shoveling out for its big name talent, i.e. Carey’s reported $18 million package, Minaj’s $12 million salary and former judge Jennifer Lopez’s $15 million.

The show’s format will also change. Its look will be redesigned and the dated tribute nights will be a thing of the past. But the show’s trademark audition episodes will continue.

Behind the scenes, Fox Broadcasting chairman Kevin Reilly is charged with “fixing Idol.” And one of the first changes will occur at the top of the food chain: Longtime executive producer Lythgoe is expected to be replaced. What that means for the show’s producers, FremantleMedia, remains to be seen.

Fox’s meltdown has everything to do with the talent competition’s declining viewership. Its ratings are already down 22 percent this season and it hit a series low for ratings last Thursday, when it attracted only 11 million viewers and a 2.4 rating/7 share in the ad-coveted 18-49 demographic. The ratings slide is especially problematic during May Sweeps, where ratings numbers are used to dictate advertising rates.

Viewing has been in decline for several seasons now. At its height during Season 6, “Idol” attracted about 30 million viewers an episode.

So, why not just cancel the show?

“Idol” is still a huge revenue generator for Fox, bringing in $836.4 million in ad revenue last year, according to Kantar Media. Plus, it has nothing to replace it. Simon Cowell’s “The X Factor” is far from being “Idol’s” heir apparent after failing to meet ratings expectations over its first two seasons. It, too, is undergoing another round of changes for Season 3, with pop star Britney Spears and record executive L.A. Reid not returning.

“Idol’s” problems are compounded by the success of NBC’s “The Voice.” Currently airing its fourth season, the show recently crossed a milestone when it beat “Idol” (and everyone else on the small screen for that matter) in both total viewers and the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic. Additionally, “The Voice” took “Idol’s” spot in the Emmy race last year, replacing it among the nominees in the Outstanding Reality Competition category.

I haven’t watched American Idol in years. It got boring as hell. And it really wasn’t the same after Simon left. Remember when they tried Ellen? And Steven Tyler? They had no idea what they were doing and neither did the audience. I’m surprised it still generates so much ad revenue.

Anyway, EFF YEAH, because it is EFFING RIDICULOUS to give people that much money to essentially cohost a talent contest. I guess they’re keeping Seacrest though.

May 9, 2013 at 3:30 pm by Catherine St. Ives

1These Wax Figures Of Aussie Celebrities Are Perfect Nightmare Fuel

Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Dannii Minogue, Miranda Kerr, Eric Bana and Lleyton Hewitt have been turned into wax nightmares. Get your “Nicole Kidman already looks wax” jokes ready!

So why did Madame Tussaud’s Sydney they put all of these horrifying wax figures together, outside, along the harbor? It was to celebrate the museum’s 1st birthday. And to give us nightmares. I mean really, I still don’t quite understand this. But here’s more from News.com.au:

MADAME Tussauds Sydney has celebrated its first birthday with the help of an array of A-list wax figures at an exclusive celebration by the Harbour.

Surrounded by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, figures of Aussie stars including Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Dannii Minogue, Miranda Kerr, Eric Bana and Lleyton Hewitt, were all in attendance

Madame Tussauds revealed its most requested figures are pop-sensation boy band One Direction, while Johnny Depp holds the honour of most kissed.

US President Barrack Obama tied with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as the most photographed figures.

“The Australian public has welcomed the attraction to their shores with open arms and for that we are truly grateful. We have some exciting plans for the year ahead and can only hope that the public will like all the new faces that will grace the exhibition in the coming months,” said Madame Tussauds Sydney spokesperson Kristy Enright.

I don’t think these belong outside. Maybe that’s what’s so weird.

The Emma Watson one wasn’t nearly this scary.

STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT, KEITH URBAN.

April 19, 2013 at 5:30 am by Catherine St. Ives

2Jennifer Hudson Likes Mariah Carey on ‘American Idol’; The Others… Not So Much

Jennifer Hudson took a break from updating her thinspiration tumblr and trying to shrink her head down to match her body size this week to let the world what she thinks of the new panel of American Idol judges. My guess (because it’s my own opinion) is that she loves Mariah Carey, who’s a legend, thinks Nicki Minaj is clinically insane/really annoying and couldn’t give two shits about Keith Urban because all she knows is that he’s Nicole Kidman‘s husband and used to be an alcoholic.

Well, what do you say – am I right? Do I win the special prize?

Via The Daily Mail:

When it comes to the new judges on American Idol, the show’s most famous daughter, Jennifer Hudson, isn’t going overboard with praise.

‘It’s taken a bit to get used to the new judges. I come from American Idol, so I’m used to seeing Simon, Paula and Randy,’ she explained about the latest season during an interview on Live with Kelly & Michael on Friday morning.

‘So now it’s new faces, and to me, [Cowell, Abdul and Jackson] represented the show. It’s kind of awkward for me to see it with new judges.’

They’re ‘awkward’: Jennifer Hudson isn’t keen on the new American Idol judging panel, save for Mariah Carey, she told Kelly and Michael on Friday. But she did have some kind words for diva of divas, Mariah Carey.

‘Well, I’m happy that [Mariah Carey]‘s there because she’s a singer, so she knows what to expect, how to judge, even the position that the kids are in when they’re auditioning,’ she said.

But when asked about Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj – both successful artists, both singers – she could only respond with a vague, ‘Ummmm, yes.’

Listen, Idol has been dead in the water for at least the past three seasons and throwing the biggest stars in the world on that panel is not going to save it. Let it die, Fox. Mariah’s head is soon going to inflate too big to fit in the door, Nicki is going to go full-blown schizophrenic and Keith will be driven to return to drink. I don’t know what the hell Randy Jackson is going to do. Probably end up homeless on the corner, begging for “food, dawg“.

February 13, 2013 at 2:30 pm by Jennifer

3Grammy Fashion 2013

The 55th Annual Grammy Awards happened last night and all that means to me is that we get to “Ooh!” and “Ahh!” and “WTF?” over what everyone was wearing. There were guidelines this year for what attendees could and could not wear. I mean, really! Here are some highlights:

Please be sure that buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered. Thong type costumes are problematic. [...] Please be sure the genital region is adequately covered so that there is no visible ‘puffy’ bare skin exposure.

Hee hee, puffy! That’s some creative phrasing.

So let’s get to some standouts, for better or for worse.

Singer Carly Rae Jepsen may have finally redeemed herself in my eyes after that diabolical BCBG nightmare of an outfit she wore at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards. (Rumor has it someone was fired over that outfit. I hope so.)

(more…)

February 11, 2013 at 4:30 am by Catherine St. Ives

2It’s Time to Pretend Like We Care About American Idol Again

After a big mess of speculation and lies and false hope (Kanye was never even in the running, was he, you cruel dream-crushers?), the good (?) people over at American Idol have finally finalized the judges panel for the upcoming twelfth season. Are you excited? Well, try, all right?

First is dear Mariah Carey, whose spot was officially announced months ago. This one shouldn’t be a surprise, because what else does Mariah have to do these days, besides tend to dem babies? Her presence should be fun though. I think she’ll be interesting to watch.

Second is Old Faithful, Randy Jackson. He’s been there since the beginning, and he’ll be there till the end. At one point, producers wanted Enrique Iglesias instead, but in the end, they went with Randy. Which is great, because I honestly have no idea what else Randy Jackson does.

Third, and here is where it starts to get interesting, is Nicki Minaj. This decision is definitely my favorite, because Nicki is a crazy bitch, and I think it will be really funny/embarrassing to see her try to make everything all about her. Can’t you just see her going into one of her alternate personalities while some really talented kid is experiencing her one shot at fame? Ugh. Also, you know the diva antics between her and Mariah will be insane. Yeah, I’m kind of looking forward to this one.

Oh, and the fourth judge is Keith Urban. You know, because … I don’t know. Because country music. Whatever.

Are you psyched or what?

September 16, 2012 at 10:00 am by Emily

2Quotables: Nicole Kidman on New Baby, Faith

“I wanted to be able to tell everybody because I was so excited about her. We just decided this was our thing together. It kind of just perpetuated itself … [And] it protects her and it protects everyone in the situation.”

So Kidman and husband, Keith Urban, had a child born via surrogate at the end of December, if you hadn’t already heard, and kudos to them for keeping something this big a secret, right? I guess, though, when you use a surrogate, or adopt, like Sandra Bullock, you don’t have to worry all that much about letting the cat out of the bag – it’s not as if you’re being spotted with a bump.

Also, Nicole and Keith named the new baby girl Faith Margaret, which I rather like. It’s old-fashioned, it’s sweet, and it makes me think of red-haired Southern belles baking peach pies in the kitchen. In addition?  I think the Kidman-Urbans have a deep appreciation for religion or church at the very least – their first child, Sunday? New baby, Faith? It speaks for itself maybe.

January 31, 2011 at 8:00 am by Sarah