BuzzSugar

TV Tonight: American Idol Is Back!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:30:03 PST

I know this will sound a little doomsday-ish of me, but lately it's hard to shake the feeling that each new season could potentially be American Idol's last. There's always some foreboding sign that the end is near: bad ratings buzz (though even when it's down, it's still been bigger than anything else on TV), rumors that Paula ~~has totally lost her mind~~ is leaving the show, the departure of executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, the simple fact that few shows ever go beyond eight seasons, etc.

So I'm greeting tonight's return of Idol with joy and relief. The Idol powers that be are always promising improvements, but this year a lot of things are being changed up, including a return to the wild card round, a longer Hollywood Week, and adding a new fourth judge. It seems to me that if these things don't make the this-could-be-the-end vibes go away, nothing will, so I'm curious to see how it turns out.

Are you ready for a new season of American Idol? Do you think a fourth judge will make a difference? What part of the show are you most looking forward to? I personally want to see if any of the San Francisco hopefuls I hung out with make it on the air!

The Phoenix auditions kick things off tonight. For a reminder of how American Idol spins dreams into a reality for a destined few plus a couple of other promo clips for season eight, just

Photo courtesy of Fox

American Idol: A Morning in the San Francisco Auditions Line

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:30:28 PDT

It's baaaa-aack! Just when you think you're out, they pull you back in! OK, that's a bit melodramatic but that's a little how I felt when I headed down just south of San Francisco to check out the first set of folks lining up to audition for the eighth season of American Idol. Feels like just yesterday we crowned David Cook the winner and yet, here we are, back at the beginning.

And for some people, this beginning couldn't come quickly enough. Despite the fact that it was very early (6 a.m.!) and the line was very long, the folks I met were as pumped as ever, clearly inspired by last season and ready for their chance at singing stardom.

As I approached the line to talk to some of the auditioners, I thought I might have to pry them to sing for me - not so! Turns out, wielding a microphone and a camera around thousands of people hoping to be famous is like holding a magical singing wand. They saw my mic as I wandered by and just started belting away! It was. . . amazing, and their enthusiasm was contagious.

After the jump, watch my video of hopefuls, including a guy whose journey to the auditions made the front page of his local paper, a self-proclaimed "Trader Joe's Idol," and my favorite: A lovely rendition of Boyz II Men's "End of the Road." To judge for yourself if the next Idol will come from this city by the bay,

Photo courtesy of Fox

What to TiVo: Thursday

Maggie Pehanick — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 Duets (new, series premiere)
10:00 Rookie Blue (new, season premiere)
11:35 Nightline (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guest Charlize Theron)

8:00 The Big Bang Theory (repeat)
8:30 Rules of Engagement (repeat)
9:00 Person of Interest (repeat)
10:00 The Mentalist (repeat)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (repeat, with guest Johnny Galecki)
12:37 The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guest Alfred Molina)

8:00 So You Think You Can Dance (new)

8:00 The Office (repeat)
8:30 The Office (repeat)
9:00 America's Got Talent (repeat)
10:00 Awake (new, series finale)
11:34 Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Glenn Close and the winner of American Idol)
12:37 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Will Smith and Bill Paxton)

9:00 The Vampire Diaries (repeat)

More TV to watch when you read more.

What to TiVo: Wednesday

Maggie Pehanick — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:59:56 PDT

8:00 The Middle (new, season finale)
8:30 Two and a Half Men (repeat)
9:00 Modern Family (new, season finale)
9:30 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (new, season finale)
10:00 Revenge (new, season finale)
11:35 Nightline (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guests Josh Brolin and Bethenny Frankel)

8:00 The Big Bang Theory (repeat)
8:30 Two and a Half Men (repeat)
9:00 Criminal Minds (repeat)
10:00 Criminal Minds (repeat)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Bill O'Reilly)
12:37 The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guests Jennifer Love Hewitt and Rutina Wesley)

8:00 American Idol (season finale)

8:00 Betty White's Off Their Rockers (new)
8:30 Betty White's Off Their Rockers (repeat)
9:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (repeat)
10:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (new, season finale)
11:34 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Charlize Theron and Jeffrey Dean Morgan)
12:37 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Edie Falco and Jim Gaffigan)

8:00 America's Next Top Model: British Invasion (repeat)
9:00 America's Next Top Model: British Invasion (new)

Get more TV to watch when you read more.

What to TiVo: Tuesday

Maggie Pehanick — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 Dancing With the Stars (repeat)
9:00 Dancing With the Stars (new, season finale)
11:35 Nightline (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guests Patricia Heaton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and the winner of Dancing With the Stars)

8:00 NCIS: Los Angeles (repeat)
9:00 NCIS (repeat)
10:00 NCIS (repeat)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Will Smith)
12:37 The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guest Billy Bob Thorton)

8:00 American Idol (new)
9:00 Glee (new, season finale)

8:00 America's Got Talent (repeat)
9:00 America's Got Talent (new)
10:00 Dateline NBC: 20th Anniversary Special (new)
11:34 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Josh Brolin and Ali Wentworth)
12:37 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Anderson Cooper and John Mayer)

8:00 Hart of Dixie (repeat)
9:00 The L.A. Complex (new)

More TV to watch when you read more.

What to TiVo: Thursday

Maggie Pehanick — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 Missing (new, season finale)
9:00 Grey's Anatomy (new, season finale)
10:00 Scandal (new, season finale)
11:35 Nighline (new)
12:00 JImmy Kimmel Live (new, with guest Matthew Morrison)

8:00 The Big Bang Theory (repeat)
8:30 Rules of Engagement (new, season finale)
9:00 Person of Interest (new, season finale)
10:00 The Mentalist (new, season finale)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Conan O'Brien)
12:37 The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guest Mila Kunis)

8:00 American Idol (new)
9:00 Touch (new)

8:00 Community (new)
8:30 30 Rock (new, season finale)
9:00 Community (new)
9:30 Community (new, season finale)
10:00 Awake (new, part one of the season finale)
11:34 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guest Hugh Laurie)
12:37 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guest Arsenio Hall)

8:00 Perez Hilton All Access: Katy Perry (repeat)
9:00 The Vampire Diaries (repeat)

More TV to watch when you read more.

What to TiVo: Wednesday

Maggie Pehanick — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 The Middle (new)
8:30 Suburgatory (new, season finale)
9:00 Modern Family (new)
9:30 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (new)
10:00 Revenge (new)
11:35 Nightline (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guest Rita Wilson)

8:00 Mike & Molly (repeat)
8:30 Rules of Engagement (repeat)
9:00 Criminal Minds (new, season finale)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Betty White)
12:35 The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guest Michael Clarke Duncan)

8:00 American Idol (new)

8:00 Betty White's Off Their Rockers (new)
8:30 Betty White's Off Their Rockers (new)
9:00 Law & Order: SVU (repeat)
10:00 Law & Order: SVU (new)
11:34 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Joel McHale and Bobby Brown)
12:37 Late NIght With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Taylor Kitsch and Tony Hale)

8:00 America's Next Top Model: British Invasion (repeat)
9:00 America's Next Top Model: British Invasion (new)

More TV to watch when you read more.

Glee Moves to Thursdays and More From Fox's New Fall Schedule

Maggie Pehanick — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:40:10 PDT

It's that time of the year again! It's Upfronts Week and that means the networks are unveiling their Fall schedules. NBC has already revealed its lineup and now Fox has given us a peek at what their new season will look like. Glee will be moving to Thursdays while several new shows will be debuting. New medical drama The Mob Doctor will be sliding into the Monday slot currently occupied by House and Tuesday will be a two-hour comedy block featuring Raising Hope, New Girl, and new comedies, Ben & Kate and The Mindy Project. In all, the network ordered three new comedies and two new dramas, though two shows, The Goodwin Games and The Following, will wait until midseason to debut.

To check out the schedule, just

*New show

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. – Bones
9-10 p.m. – The Mob Doctor*

TUESDAY
8-8:30 p.m. – Raising Hope
8:30-9 p.m. – Ben & Kate*
9-9:30 p.m. – New Girl
9:30-10 p.m. – The Mindy Project*

WEDNESDAY
8-10 p.m. – The X Factor/American Idol (midseason)

THURSDAY
8-9 p.m. – The X Factor/American Idol (midseason)
9-10 p.m. – Glee

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – Touch
9-10 p.m. – Fringe (fall)

SUNDAY
7-7:30 p.m. – NFL Game (fall) / Animation Domination (encores)
7:30-8 p.m. – The OT (fall) / The Cleveland Show
8-8:30 p.m. – The Simpsons
8:30-9 p.m. – Bob's Burgers
9-9:30 p.m. – Family Guy
9:30-10 p.m. – American Dad

What to TiVo: Thursday

Maggie Pehanick — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 Missing (new)
9:00 Grey's Anatomy (new)
10:00 Scandal (new)
11:35 Nightline (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guest Dr. Phil McGraw)

8:00 The Big Bang Theory (new, season finale)
8:30 Rules of Engagement (new)
9:00 Person of Interest (new)
10:00 The Mentalist (new)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Elizabeth Banks)
12:27 The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guest Anna Kendrick)

8:00 American Idol (new)
9:00 Touch (new)

8:00 Community (new)
8:30 30 Rock (new)
9:00 The Office (new, season finale)
9:30 Parks and Recreation (new, season finale)
10:00 Awake (new)
11:34 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guest Howie Mandel and Vinny Guadagnino)
12:27 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guest Will Ferrell and Ellie Kemper)

8:00 The Vampire Diaries (new, season finale)
9:00 The Secret Circle (new, season finale)

More TV to watch when you read more.

What to TiVo: Wednesday

Maggie Pehanick — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 The Middle (new)
8:30 Suburgatory (new)
9:00 Modern Family (new)
9:30 Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23 (new)
10:00 Revenge (new)
11:35 Nightline (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guests Steve Harvey and Dev Patel)

8:00 Survivor: One World (new)
9:00 Criminal Minds (new)
10:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (new, season finale)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Eva Longoria)
12:37 The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guest Jenna Fischer)

8:00 American Idol (new)

8:00 Betty White's Off Their Rockers (new)
8:30 Betty White's Off Their Rockers (new)
9:00 Rock Center With Brian Williams (new)
10:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (new)
11:34 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Garry Shandling and Alison Brie)
12:37 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Howard Stern and Brooklyn Decker)

8:00 America's Next Top Model: British Invasion (repeat)
9:00 America's Next Top Model: British Invasion (new)

More TV to watch when you read more.