BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 8/3

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:30:08 -0700

The debut novel by Lori Culwell, inside-showbiz tale Hollywood Car Wash, is headed for the big screen. - Variety
The entire original voice cast of Futurama will return for the new episodes. - The Hollywood Reporter
An Austrian pianist performed two newly discovered pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for the first time in public on Sunday. - Reuters
Will Ferrell and director David Dobkin are no longer involved in the comedy Neighborhood Watch. - ComingSoon
The premiere of The Real Housewives of Atlanta had the best ratings for any Housewives season opener. - Zap2it
Battlestar Galactica was named program of the year at the Television Critics Association Awards. - The Hollywood Reporter
Tom Arnold says he's reuniting with director James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger for a movie next year that "might as well be" called True Lies II. - ComingSoon
Kara DioGuardi will officially return to American Idol. - Variety

Which Judge Should Idol Keep: Kara or Paula?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson are both in for the next season of American Idol. But will either of this year's female judges be back to join them at the table? Newest judge Kara DioGuardi doesn't have a contract yet for season nine, nor does Paula Abdul, whose manager recently said he doesn't expect she'll return to the show.

Now, this isn't necessarily a Kara vs. Paula situation. There's no reason they couldn't both come back. But let's pretend for a moment that Idol wants to go back to three judges, and only one of the ladies can make the cut. Which judge would you pick?

Photo courtesy of Fox

Idol Fans: What Do You Think of Kara So Far?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:30:49 -0800

American Idol's new fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, has made it through her first year of auditions and the first part of Hollywood week. She's survived challenges from Simon Cowell and Bikini Girl and a (hopefully fake) kiss from Paula Abdul, and she's fought for some singers she really likes while ridiculing others under her breath.

I'll be curious to see how Kara fares once the singers start performing live and she has to utter her judgments on the spot. But it seems like we've already gotten a pretty good look at what she brings to the table. So tell me, Idol fans: How do you think the big fourth-judge experiment is working out?

Photo courtesy of Fox

TV Tonight: American Idol Is Back!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:30:03 -0800

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 read more.

Photo courtesy of Fox

American Idol Adds Kara DioGuardi as Fourth Judge

BuzzSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:32:15 -0700

When wannabe American Idols take the stage this Winter, there will be another voice at the judges' table telling them what's what. The show has added Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi as a fourth judge for the show's eighth season, joining Simon, Randy, and Paula.

In a statement, producer Simon Fuller said DioGuardi is "a smart, sassy lady, and one of America's most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show.” She's written songs for several Idol winners and contestants, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, and Clay Aiken, as well as for Celine Dion, Pink, Hilary Duff, and scores of others. Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl" was one of hers, as was Clarkson's "Walk Away" and, um, "We Rock" from Camp Rock. She's won 10 BMI Pop Awards for having written the most performed songs on radio.

According to Fox's press release, the show was originally intended to have four judges (though the network didn't say why they've decided to add one just now). A Fox executive added that DioGuardi will mean "more girl power" on the judging panel.

I can't blame Idol for wanting to shake things up a little. It was still the biggest show on TV by far last season, but its ratings were down considerably from its strongest years. Still, is a fourth judge the best way to do it? The judging segments of the show can seem long and painful enough as it is. Then again, maybe it will be nice to have a judge whose schtick hasn't been played to death . . . yet. What's your take?

Photo courtesy of Fox