Simon Cowell has his panties in a bunch over Jennifer Hudson calling American Idol a “stepping stone” for her career which has brought her international fame for her role as Effie in the smash hit Dreamgirls. When Cowell was asked about Hudson’s comment he had this to say; “Jennifer Hudson said ‘American Idol’ was a ’stepping stone’ for her. Stepping stone? It was her big opportunity to become noticed and she got noticed and she got ‘Dreamgirls.’ Singers like her deliberately turn against the show that made them successful. The reason (people) come on the show is because all the doors had been slammed in their face.”
In typical Cowell fashion the comment was harsh – doors slammed in the contestants faces? Well that’s not necessarily the case as it’s obvious that some people’s first step is American Idol (think Antonella Barba). However Jennifer Hudson had such immense talent that she probably didn’t need the backing of American Idol to secure the role of Effie. That’s not to say that knowledge of her because of American Idol helped her get the foot in the door for the audition; I firmly believe that it did. Don’t be mistaken though, Jennifer Hudson and only Jennifer Hudson secured that role. I agree that American Idol is a stepping stone. For some it’s a stepping stone to a larger music career than they had prior to American Idol (Chris Daughtry) and for others like Hudson it is a stepping stone to other aspects of the entertainment industry.
She is so good she only needs one name – Mandisa. Season five finalist Mandisa Hundley was recently featured on Kimberley Caldwell’s TV Guide Channel show entitled “Idol Faves – Where Are They Now?” Mandisa starts off by saying “Since American Idol ended I have been in a whirlwind of activity.” Whirlwind is right! Mandisa signed on to model for the clothing store Ashley Stewart; Ashley Stewart specializes in clothing for the plus-sized urban woman. The modeling contract wasn’t Mandisa’s only contract – she’s also signed with EMI’s Christian group. What is her music style like; Mandisa considers it “pop, contemporary Christian, and urban Gospel.” Mandisa’s album is scheduled to be released in May 2007.
Not stopping with the record industry, Mandisa has also penned a book co-written with Angela Hunt entitled “IdolEyes – My New Perspective on Faith, Fat, and Fame” scheduled to be released on June 1. The book can be preordered from Amazon.com.
Please be patient with me as this is going to be a vent of sorts. What is the deal with Antonella Barba and Sanjaya Malakar? Both have made it to the top sixteen and are poised to make it to the top twelve. Let’s start with Barba; her voice is mediocre at best, her best performance was her initial audition – since then she’s tanked. Not only is her voice mediocre but her attitude is over the top. When Randy Jackson was trying to give her constructive, albeit harsh, criticism after her performance on Wednesday night she flipped her hair and rolled her eyes. That was utterly disrespectful. She listens to Paula because Paula only says positive things (which is another story in its own) and then appears to only casually pay attention to what Simon Cowell has to say. When Cowell is finished Barba has the gall to say that Cowell was wrong about Jennifer Hudson so he might be wrong again. Oh no honey, you are no JHud. Nowhere close. Don’t flatter yourself.
It’s a little different with Sanjaya Malakar. His performance seems to have gone downhill since his initial audition as well but at least the kid is respectful. Even his look of surprise upon hearing that AJ Tabaldo was going home showed his humble side. What I don’t get is why he’s still here after two bad performances. Admittedly I like the kid, something about him makes me smile when I watch him perform. A friend of mine likened it to the Kevin Covais “Chicken Little” syndrome. Let’s see how far his cuteness takes him; here’s hoping next week he steps up and brings a more upbeat song to the stage.
USA Today reports that the Antonella Barba scandal was the talk of a recent bash at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion. Hugh Hefner himself commented on the scandal calling the condemnation “hypocritical and dumb.” You know why he’s saying this, right? He saw the pictures and wants to book her for a Playboy Magazine layout. Hefner then went on to say “I think in America we have a very strange attitude toward sexuality and nudity, and it makes no real sense.”
In addition to Hefner, Idol judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson finally commented on the ordeal. Simon Cowell said “These people haven’t done anything illegal; that’s their private life” and that the pornographic photographs should “not affect her standing on the show, and if the public wants to keep her in, they’ll keep her in.”
Randy Jackson agreed saying “Nobody’s clean in the entertainment business.” Even Ryan Seacrest chimed in on the matter saying that he would “absolutely let her stay on. If American Idol is a true representation of American youth, we’re going to find imperfections. And it’s OK to be imperfect.”
It’s OK to be imperfect. Imperfect is allowing Antonella Barba to continue on whereas Frenchie Davis was removed for the same imperfection.
No official word has come from American Idol producers or staff regarding the Antonella Barba sex scandal but her BFF Amanda Coluccio has finally spoken up. Coluccio spoke with staff from the website Outside The Beltway and here is an excerpt from the interview:
“They were meant to be seen by one person and one person only,” Coluccio said at her Holmdel home. “The really bad ones aren’t her. I’ve studied them. It’s not her nose. She’s never had (acrylic nail) tips in her life. She’s the least slutty person I know.”
Coluccio then goes on to say
“She’s been crying. She’s horrified,” Coluccio says. “She’s most upset about what her parents think.”
Read the entire store on outsidethebeltway.com
Idolwire.com would like to congratulate Jennifer Hudson on her receipt of the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Dreamgirls. With this win Hudson has secured her place as the ultimate American Idol contestant even though she didn’t win her season. She can now place her Oscar award on her shelf next to her Golden Globe and SAG (Screen Actors Guild) awards for the same role.
Antonella Barba’s parade of pornographic pictures has reached sex scandal status. You know you’ve hit it big when you’ve made it into the Washington Post and your name ranks higher than Britney Spears’ on the AOL search engine. I don’t recall the Frenchie Davis affair reaching this magnitude – then again the pictures of Davis were much tamer in my not so humble opinion.
Speculation is that the photographs were released by both her ex-boyfriend and her possibly ex-BFF Amanda Coluccio. No definitive information has been found but Nigel Lythgoe, American Idol producer, had this to say about the scandal “It’s sad, isn’t it, that your best friends are the ones that come forward with information that will go to Smoking Gun or put your photographs on the Web?”
In addition to the obvious controversy a lot of people are up in arms about the wet t-shirt in a fountain picture montage that Barba had taken. No it’s not just the wet t-shirt aspect but the fact that the fountain she was posing in and on was the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. People are upset stating that this tasteless act defames an honored memorial.
I think someone needs to take the shovel out of Barba’s hand because she’s dug the hole deep enough.
I keep thinking of the phrase “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” when I think about the pictures of Antonella Barba that have been leaked to the press. The floodgate of pictures has opened up with new x-rated pictures cropping up on the net. Evidently Barba created a nude calendar as a birthday gift for her boyfriend (whom she has since broken up with) and that part of the calendar has been released on the web with the rest of the calendar promised to be ‘coming soon.’ In addition to the nude pictures there are also pictures of Barba (or someone looking very much like her) engaged in sexual acts.
This is all quite sad actually. Barba is barely out of her teens and has already had pictures published of her topless on the beach, participating in underage drinking, nude, and performing sexual acts. Are the shenanigans of stars like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears having an impact on the teens of today? Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox. Sorry I won’t be posting these pictures but you can easily Google them if you’re curiosity gets the best of you.
I am curious how the producers of American Idol will react to this. Dedicated AI fans will remember Frenchie Davis who was released from season two when it was discovered she had taken topless pictures to help pay her way through college. As soon as I hear anything rest assured I will report it here at Idolwire.com .
The following is a press release by Fremantle Media, Idolwire.com is not responsible for any contextual errors, typographic errors, etc.
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FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment Launch Idol Camp, the First Ever American Idol Performing Arts Summer Camp
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 — FremantleMedia, co-producer and licensor of American Idol, in conjunction with show creator, 19 Entertainment, today announced the inception of Idol Camp, the first performing arts summer camp for kids between the ages of 12-15 based on the nation’s most watched television show and #1 talent search. Born out of the desire to foster passion and creativity in young teens, Idol Camp will be a fun-filled and non-competitive training ground for America’s future stars.
“Utilizing the power of the American Idol phenomenon, we can provide a truly one-of-a-kind experience,” said Mark Brittain, Head of Commercial, American Idol, 19 Entertainment. In fact, the Idol Camp experience will include master classes from surprise celebrity guest performing artists, favorite former American Idol contestants and other top industry professionals. Daily instruction will also be provided in a variety of classes from singing, dancing and acting to song writing and audition techniques as well as traditional camp activities such as swimming and field sports.
Idol Camp is located on a picturesque campus in Northfield, Massachusetts and acceptance into the camp is based on limited enrollment and applicants demonstrating enthusiasm, dedication, a desire to perform and a passion for the arts. In addition, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment will reward a certain percentage of students with fully paid scholarships based on financial need in an effort to reach a wide range of the country’s most eager performers.
“We want to honor a diverse cross-section of educational backgrounds and opportunities and provide a valuable experience to kids displaying a passionate motivation to learn and grow within themselves through the performing arts,” said Keith Hindle, Executive Vice President, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, North America. “As in American Idol, the goal for our kids is to soar beyond their expectations; however, because Idol Camp is not a competition, every kid goes home a winner.”
Starting today, anyone interested in learning more about Idol Camp including sample class schedules and how to apply on-line for the 2007 summer sessions can visit the official American Idol website at http://www.americanidol.com/idolcamp.
Limited enrollment into Idol Camp is not audition-based and DOES NOT GUARANTEE entrance into the American Idol television series competition, nor will it provide inside information or any other advantage in the American Idol audition process.
SOURCE FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas; 19
Access Hollywood is reporting that Jennifer Lopez will be performing on American Idol’s April 11th show. This comes on the heels of another report that Gwen Stefani will be a guest performer on March 28th and American Idol Season Three winner Fantasia Barrino will be on the results show tomorrow, February 22. Evidently a big announcement will be made about Barrino tomorrow night; here’s a sneak peek – she’ll be joining the cast of Oprah Winfrey’s show “The Color Purple” on Broadway.
Guest judges are a big part of American Idol with past seasons featuring such big named performers as Mary J. Blige and Prince. In my opinion it just gives credence to the show; it has come a long way since season one.