Why was Scott MacIntyre Cut from American Idol Finale?

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol,

Days after the American Idol finale, there’s one question still lingers. (No - not whether Adam Lambert should do ballards or Broadway.) What really happened to Scott MacIntyre’s performance?

The answer to that mystery depends on who you believe: MacIntyre or Billy Joel’s camp.

According to a post on Scott’s MySpace page, his featured performance was cut due to an absent celebrity. The finalist had apparently been scheduled to play the piano opposite Matt Giraud in a “Tell Her About It” face-off. Unfortunately, a last-minute cancellation by Joel meant pulling the number altogether.

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American Idol 8: Finale!

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, Video,

Weeks of auditions, eliminations and memorable performances would finally culminate in a single evening of music and melodrama. Yes, it’s the finale of American Idol 8.

Various celebrities sat in the crowd as Ryan Seacrest warmed up the episode. Almost 100 million votes were logged after Tuesday’s performance round.

A montage of Randy Jackson clips served as the dog’s intro, he who, for reasons quite beyond me, wore a bow tie for the evening. Kara DioGuardi moments followed, and I never realized she had such a tendency to use the word “sweetie.” She looked great for the evening, at least. The same can’t be said for Paula Abdul, who wore a hideous ensemble. Her clip showed her saying a lot of words, the meanings of which she likely doesn’t understand. Simon Cowell’s video tribute was, of course, the most entertaining of all.

The host then introduced the two stars of the evening: Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. The judges stood up for the men as they took the stage. Each wore white; both looked very different. The sound equipment was hardly functioning when the two touched based with Seacrest.

A gaggle of girls stood in Conway, Arkansas (Kris Allen country) to hear the results. Carly Smithson reported from Symphony Hall (what a sad gig), where Lambert fans gathered to await the final vote count. But each camp would sit through many more video clips, performances, and general hoohah before they would find out what they most wanted to know: who won?

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American Idol 8: Scott MacIntyre Departs

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, Video,

Scott MacIntyre is the latest casualty of American Idol 8, but his tone hasn’t changed a bit. Scott is still the positive, playful contestant that made him an early favorite with viewers. You can see Scott above, in a segment filmed immediately following his Idol exit.

In the video, Scott spends some time with the judges before he begins the first of many interviews with the media that’s all part of the post-Idol elimination ritual. Simon Cowell, the judge who ultimately decided MacIntyre’s fate, spoke with the singer briefly about his exit from the show.

“It’s not a nice decision to have to make,” Cowell said of his choice to give Scott the proverbial boot from center stage. “I’m sorry I didn’t help you better,” the notoriously callous judge added, as he gave the most recently eliminated contestant a big hug.

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American Idol 8: Top 8 Results

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip,

The intro for the Top 8 results show of American Idol 8 was highly dramatic, replete with clips of judges’ comments and images of the contestants. Paula Abdul wore opera length gloves for the evening; Randy wore his usual cardigan and Simon Cowell was, as always, in a black v-neck.

To re-visit the theme of the evening, a song from the year American Idol was born (1959) played out on the Idol big screen. The song was from Frankie Avalon, who then appeared on the big stage singing the same joint. The crowd - and Paula - seemed genuinely surprised and delighted.

I wasn’t. I spend every results show thinking “just get to it, already” - to no avail of course.

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American Idol 8: Top 8 Perform

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, Video,

The theme on American Idol Tuesday was songs from the year each contestant was born, which (considering the age restrictions on the show) really doesn’t create the biggest range in songwriting history. But it does mean baby photos, always a nice development.

Photos of the judges in their younger days were also shown, but for this night (the first hour-long performance broadcast this season) there was very little time for chitchatting. The pics of the judges were shown; even a Ryan Seacrest baby photo was slipped into the slide show. But with little delay, it was time for the singing to begin.

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American Idol 8: Top 9 Results

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, Video,

The American Idol Top 9 results show began, appropriately enough, with a montage. The remainder of the episode would feature much more of the same, as it always does.

As eliminated contestant Alexis Grace watched, Ryan Seacrest announced that 36 million votes were tallied to bring us the Wednesday results. The host spent a few moments talking with Randy Jackson on the subject of song choice. “Maybe it was too wide,” said Jackson, referring to the theme of Tuesday’s performance round.

“For me, it’s about knowing who you are, and delivering that confidence with conviction,” Paula Abdul stated. “Go for it!” She advised the Idol group. “Anoop, Matt, Megan,” Simon Cowell went through a list of those he thought might want to worry about the upcoming results.

The Ford video (clip above) followed, another poorly-done attempt at entertainment set to music. Seriously, these are growing steadily worse as weeks progress.

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American Idol 8: Top 9 Perform

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip,

Ryan Seacrest’s opening monologue on American Idol concerned rising stakes and building pressure. Though these Top 9 are safely on the summer tour, they are not safe on the show by any means. One of them will be eliminated this week. One of them will win the coveted reality title. And, if they’re very lucky, some of them might become stars.

Sure, there’s plenty of pressure.

Seacrest asked Randy Jackson for his thoughts on the Top 9. “The competition’s just getting tougher, dude,” the judge offered. Kara DioGuardi defined her concept of artistry next: “I think artistry is taking those songs that you’ve heard a million times, and doing it in a way that’s unique.” DioGuardi used the word several times during performances last week.

The theme for the week was iTunes, making it a veritable free-for-all and a clever sponsor plug. Good one, Idol.

I’m just being sarcastic. It’s not much of a theme at all, but you don’t need me to tell you that.

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Simon Cowell: American Idol’s Disrespectful Judge?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip,

There are very few American Idol viewers who feel ambivalent on the subject of Simon Cowell. The fans either absolutely love him and accept his word as gospel, or they utterly despise him and everything he says. It’s a love/hate thing, and some days Cowell makes us loathe him…other days, we just have to adore him. But there are some who think the famously plainspoken judge takes his penchant for criticism a bit too far, and in fact the acid-tongued critic has come under the gun with the press more than once.

Now, MSNBC is calling Simon Cowell  out for his “disrespectful” behavior, saying the judge is “utterly indifferent and bored.” His behavior? It’s “increasingly appalling.”

Or, if you’re on the opposite side of the issue, one of the rare bright spots during performance and elimination nights.

Last week, as has happened on many such weeks, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell dissolved into a fit of squabbling at the judges’ table. Cowell has always delighted in discomfiting Ms. Abdul, who is obviously easily driven off-course. But after Scott MacIntyre’s performance, Paula was wide awake and for once quite ready for Cowell’s criticism. She whipped out props and delivered a funny line that even broke Simon up in hysterics.

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American Idol 8: Top 10 Results

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip,

Over thirty-six million votes were logged in to determine the American Idol contestant who would be eliminated at the end of the Thursday night results show. This group of Top 10 is on the tour, sure, but only nine will be on the show next week.

Ryan Seacrest opened the show by asking Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul about their shenanigans during the Wednesday performance round. He then reminded the audience about the judges’ save, the Get Out of Elimination Free card which will be used on one lucky contestant this season.

And perhaps…on this results night?

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American Idol 8: Top 10 Perform

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip,

It’s Motown week for the Top 10 performers of American Idol 8. It’s this group that we’ll see again and again throughout the season and even after the finalist is named. They will all return to tour through the summer; some of them may even go on to have successful careers. But at least a few of them, we’ll never hear from again. For one of them, that topple from reality TV supremacy could begin as early as tomorrow night.

Paula Abdul bid the remaining contestants to “surprise us,” for the night’s performances. “The point, tonight, is what you do to make these songs original,” Simon Cowell advised.

To celebrate the theme, the Top 10 took a trip to Detroit, where Motown Records was established. There, they were greeted by a dozen or so screaming fans and iconic recording artist Smokey Robinson, who just happens to be the mentor for this week.

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