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Buzz News Roundup, 6/26

BuzzSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:30:25 -0700

Focus Features is taking over domestic distribution of The Boat That Rocked from parent studio Universal Pictures, and is pushing back the release date from Aug. 28 to sometime in November. - ComingSoon
Noah Wyle will star in a sci-fi pilot for TNT. - The Futon Critic
Topher Grace, Emma Roberts, and Hector Elizondo have joined the already very full cast of Garry Marshall's Valentine's Day. - The Hollywood Reporter
Adam Lambert is still feuding with the label that plans to release some of his early recordings. - E! Online
Jeri Ryan will guest-star as a con woman on Leverage. - The Hollywood Reporter
Debuting Wednesday to an estimated $60.6 million, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen already has begun its rounding of the box office bases that should see it set a record or two by weekend's end. - Reuters
Flashpoint will be back on CBS July 17. - The Futon Critic
American Idol alum Syesha Mercado will portray Deena Jones in the upcoming stage revival of Dreamgirls. - AP

American Idol Rundown: The Final Two Revealed

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:13:16 -0700

American Idol said goodbye to one of the final three on Wednesday which gives us our 2008 top two finalists. Of the three above, many could have predicted two of them would make it this far (ahem! Davids) and one has shocked many by fighting her way to the top. So was there an Idol upset? Or do the top two look the way many of us expected? To see some of my thoughts and discuss, just read more.

And Idol rolls along as expected with Syesha singing her final song of the competition. She was gracious and thankful for the experience. I can only imagine how proud she must feel to get this far - and she should be. No one really expected it and the girl pulled out some fight in the end to stay alive (though it was a little hammy sometimes).

"The math is very simple, but the reality is hard to swallow." This is how Ryan kicked off the "drama," aka the elimination business of the night. And from that eloquent introduction we traveled with the top three Idols to their respective hometowns. David Archuleta was full of "gosh!"s and all three shed some tears.

Here are some more of my thoughts:

Why do the producers of Idol insist on boring us with soft-rock hits? That opening group performance could not have been a more anti-climactic start to the final elimination show of the season.
David Archuleta's head in the pool of his Ford commercial dream sequence made me spit out my drink in laughter.
I loved that Fantasia busted onto the stage with a crazy amount of energy and some pretty funky moves. Her back-up dancers were fun too. Despite how you may feel about the song (and overall performance), there is no denying the girl's got charisma. Did anyone happen to catch the shot of Simon's face near the end? Priceless.
Those little girls screaming themselves blue in the face back in Utah gave us all a little glimpse into what's been fueling little David along in this competition. Well, that and talent. But the girls, they love this guy.
How cute were the brothers Cook on stage? That was nice of Ryan to bring David's brother up there. Also, upon viewing Cook's "Idol Journey" segment I've decided he definitely wins most improved in the image department. What do you think?

So Simon got his wish for a "humdinger" of a finale with a David vs. David match-up. Syesha was sad, of course, but she took it like a champ and probably knew it was practically inevitable. So what did you think? Excited for next week?

Photos courtesy of Fox

American Idol Rundown: Triple Threat?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:41:26 -0700

The final three American Idol contestants had one more chance on Tuesday to show why they belonged in the finale . . . and honestly, I'm not sure any of them proved they really deserved to win. To be fair, I remember similar poor showings from the final three in other years; at this point, spots in the finals are so coveted that people tend to get safe and deliver mediocre performances. But I can't shake the feeling that all three of these contestants peaked earlier this season - Syesha last week, David Cook a few weeks back, David Archuleta in the first weeks of the finals - and now are just riding this thing out along with the rest of us.

Which of the trio do you think is done? Don't forget to cast your vote, and to hear my thoughts on the night's performances and share your own, just read more.

David Archuleta
First song (Paula's choice): "And So it Goes." It does, as Paula suggested it would, exploit the timbre of his voice. It sounded smooth and rich, lounge-y without being too cheesy - but it was also like every other one of his performances, albeit one of the better ones. Randy said it was good, Paula called him a storyteller, and Simon deemed it good but not outstanding.

Second song (his choice): "With You." Wow, Archuleta's attempt to prove that he's young and modern and hip just made me feel wildly uncomfortable. It actually reminded me a little of the more awkward moments of watching Elliott Yamin . . . but I guess he turned out OK, right? Also, his lack of enunciation drove me crazy. Randy said he didn't believe this side of David, Paula said he should do more songs like this, and Simon compared it to a chihuahua trying to be a tiger.

Third song (producers' choice): "Longer." What stuck out to me about this performance (other than reminding me how much I don't like the song) was that the background singers totally overwhelmed him in parts. The most fabulous thing about the performance were how awesome their harmonies were, and that - not anything about Archuleta - is what I remember. Randy tried doing the whole "another hot one from you!" thing (but did you notice the crowd wasn't really into it?), while Paula called it lovely and Simon couldn't get over his hatred for the song to critique the performance.

Syesha Mercado
First song (Randy's choice): "If I Ain't Got You." This song was a rollercoaster ride for me: boring on the verses, then pretty darn good on the chorus, until the end when it started to sound like she was pushing too hard to make runs out of odd collections of notes. Randy said she's peaking at the right time, Paula was glad to see her as the last lady standing, and Simon said she sang it well but wished she'd gotten a song that would let her show her own style more.

Second song (her choice): "Fever." She performed this super cabaret/Broadway take on the song, strutting all around her chair and showing off her slinky dance moves. Mostly, I thought it sounded good, though I hated it when she took the verse up into her higher, wobblier register. Overall, though, this was a case of trying way too hard. Randy called it "interesting" in the negative sense, Paula said it didn't show who Syesha was (I disagree: it showed she's a ham, the one thing we've known about her all along), and Simon bemoaned the fact that when she had a chance to do something contemporary she did lame cabaret instead.

Third song (producers' choice): "Hit Me Up." Even when Syesha tries to go modern, she ends up sounding old-fashioned, and this song mostly proved to me why her talents don't quite fit the Idol style. Also, it was another arrangement that gave a lot of the best parts to the backup singers. Randy said he could see her doing something "kind of Rihanna-esque" but didn't sound convinced, Paula said she did the song well but it wasn't really her, and Simon said it wasn't a defining moment.

David Cook
First song (Simon's choice): "The First Time I Saw Your Face." David has his rocker growl perfected, but sometimes it's nice to hear something else from him, which is why I thought this was an interesting choice. I was unsure at the beginning, but I thought he grew much stronger toward the end and actually did turn the song into something of a rock ballad. Randy said he wished the song had rocked more, Paula said he's now her second-favorite person ever to sing that song (second only to Roberta Flack, presumably), and Simon said it was one of David's best to date.

Second song (his choice): "Dare You to Move." Is it just me, or did he once again pick a song that started a wee bit too low for his voice? His rendition sounded pretty faithful to the original, but I'm not sure that's a great thing - I think this should have been his standout performance, and instead it was just OK, even when he got to the power chorus (a little too late, in my opinion). Randy said it was a little pitchy, Paula said the arrangement wasn't great and was just getting good when it ended, and Simon said it was about what he expected and not fantastic.

Third song (producers' choice): "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." With the orchestra in the circle, and the blockbuster final spot of the night, the producers really set David up to have his capital-M Moment here, and I just don't think it happened. It was another odd arrangement that saved the best bits for the very end, and David didn't look all that comfortable - or, for that matter, confident when the song ended. Randy said it was OK but predictable, Paula said . . . something weird(?), and Simon said David did enough to win the night.

Going home: Syesha. I think a Big David vs. Little David finale has been coming for a while now, and there's probably nothing she could do to change that.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Which American Idol Contestant is Going Home Next?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:30:42 -0700

Three contestants, three songs each, three chances to show they could be the next American Idol. This year's top trio - the two Davids and Syesha - battled it out on Tuesday night for a spot in next week's Idol finale. Which of the three do you think will be going home before the big event?

Photo courtesy of Fox

American Idol Elimination: The Top Three Revealed

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:30:03 -0700

American Idol cut its field to three on Wednesday, meaning one of the singers we've come to know and love – or, well, at least know - has reached the end of the competition. Which of the singers above bid Idol a fond farewell? To find out and talk about it, just read more.

Well, after a few lackluster weeks, and a night of forgotten lyrics, Jason Castro was dunzo on Wednesday - and it was probably no surprise. He'd said in an interview a week ago that he was ready to go home, and that seemed obvious in everything he did. I'm glad his fans sort of let him go, rather than voting in double the numbers they did on Tuesday; it seemed like the merciful thing to do. He didn't seem the least bit shocked, or even sad, which I think means it was the right call.

Idol basically removed any potential drama the night could have had by sending the two Davids to safety immediately. Yawn. Seacrest faking that he was going to reveal the winner at the 25-minute mark seemed exceptionally cruel this time around.

Some other thoughts on Wednesday's show:

Jason's video montage reminded me that we didn't see him at all during the auditions. Considering the lack of early exposure, it's pretty amazing that he got this far.
"Reeling in the Years"? Yeah, that's a way to show that this crop of Idol contestants can sell records in the modern climate. Yeesh.
Who made a more ridiculous bullfighter: Syesha or David Archuleta?
Tuesday's Idol performance show had astoundingly low ratings by the show's normal standards, and yet it was the highest vote total of the season - 21 million viewers vs. 51 million votes.
Archuleta has had nothing to overcome. Shocking! Also, maybe all the stoner comments would stop if Jason Castro would stop asking like such an obvious stoner. (That said, his "someone told me I shot the tambourine man" line was pretty good.)
The final four arriving in Vegas = the Beatles arriving in America? I . . . don't think so.
I'm not a big Maroon 5 fan, but Adam Levine kind of won me over with his personality. Didn't see that coming.

What did you think? Was it good to see Bo back again? Was Jason the right pick to go home? And is there any way Syesha can make the finale over one of the Davids?

Photos courtesy of Fox

American Idol Rundown: The Top Four Try to Rock You

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:40:13 -0700

The remaining four American Idol contestants had a chance to prove they could rock out on Tuesday. By picking songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame songbook, they had a huge portion of music history open to them. So would you have expected one of the song picks to be "Hungry Like the Wolf"?

Beyond that, Tuesday's performance night fell flat in a lot of ways; nobody really impressed me - including this year's anointed "rocker." Were you similarly let down? Don't forget to vote for which singer is going home, and for my take, just read more.

David Cook
First song - "Hungry Like the Wolf." OK, I was kind of excited when I heard he'd be singing this; it's so cheesy that I figured he'd take it and turn it into something entirely unexpected (see also: "Always Be My Baby"). Instead, he delivered a version that sounded very close to the original - partway between karaoke and a slightly edgier Duran Duran cover band. Randy said it was just OK, Paula said something gross about it leaving her with a big appetite, and Simon said it was good enough.

Second song - "Baba O'Reilly." This started out all slow and ballad-y, then kicked up a notch going into the chorus, then seemed like it was going to go up another notch and become totally awesome - but then it just abruptly ended. It's always interesting to hear a song that shows he can actually sing rather than just growl, and this song did, but for me, it lacked the excitement or connection that David's been so good at bringing all season long. Randy liked his rocker style, Paula said it made her want more David, and Simon simply said "welcome back."

Syesha Mercado
First song - "Proud Mary." I'm surprised that Syesha didn't try to play up her performance capabilities earlier in the season, because none of the other contestants have managed to take command of the stage, and Syesha did that pretty well here. OK, so some of the dancing was awkward, but at least she didn't sing sitting down. Her voice wasn't fabulous, but the energy was, and overall she kept my opinion of her on the rise. Randy said she's peaking at the right time, Paula said she's come into her own, and Simon called it "a bad, shrieky version."

Second song - "A Change is Gonna Come." Um, I'm going to assume that Syesha didn't really mean to compare her journey on Idol to the civil rights movement. The thing about Syesha is that she thinks she's a better singer than she is - thus all the warbling at the end, proving she can hit those glory notes. I wish she'd changed up her style to fit the song, but she still mostly pulled off what she attempted. Randy said it wasn't very good, Paula said it was beautiful, and Simon agreed with Paula. Then, tears. It was almost shocking to see some actual emotion from Syesha.

Jason Castro
First song - "I Shot the Sheriff." Oh man, he had the dreadlocks in full effect and was making this "oh yeah, I'm funky!" face through the whole thing. Worse from a competition perspective, he let the backup singers carry most of the chorus. He got points for at least trying to connect with the audience but lost them by being lazy and not trying to show how well he can sing. Randy said it was really karaoke, Paula liked how he played to the audience, and Simon called it atrocious and "a first-round audition massacre."

Second song - "Mr. Tambourine Man." OK, I'm starting to agree with Pop that forgetting the lyrics should be automatic disqualification. There's just no excuse for it at this point, and it all but proved what the judges have been hinting at for weeks: Jason doesn't seem like he's trying. I thought Randy and Simon might jump on stage and try to shake some life into him, they were so angry. Randy said he was just off, even Paula didn't love it, and Simon just told him to pack his bags.

David Archuleta
First song - "Stand By Me." Which he sings to his dog! I actually did like how he changed the arrangement, and he sounded good - but to me, it was the same as every other Archuleta performance. The cheers, though, went on forever. Randy said it's good that at least one person was bringing it, Paula loved it, and Simon declared it the best of the first round.

Second song - "Love Me Tender." Awwww, little Archie's first love song! It didn't really connect with me, but I'm not 14. Again, he sounded good, but I thought he really struggled toward the end with some of his bigger notes. Randy still loved it, Paula said it was one of his best, and Simon said he crushed the competition.

My favorites: Syesha? I don't know; nobody really blew me away.

Bottom two: Beyond Archuleta, it could be anyone. I think Jason Castro has got to be there, unless his fans rally in crazy numbers. And I'd suspect Syesha would be there, just because of her run in the bottom two. But I'm worried about David Cook: On a night like this, sometimes it's better to be bad than to be mediocre.

Going home: It's got to be Jason, right? Though I think a surprise David Cook elimination is possible.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Which American Idol Contestant Is Going Home Next?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:30:23 -0700

After tonight, we'll be down to three on American Idol! The top four took on songs from artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, striving for just the right balance between modern and classic. Who knocked it out of the park - and who was completely off-base? Make your prediction for who's going home now!

Photo courtesy of Fox

American Idol Elimination: Who Are the Final Four?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:30:00 -0700

Just three more weeks till this year's American Idol is crowned! Which of the five smiling singers pictured above couldn't make it past the rigors of Neil Diamond week and was sent home on Wednesday? To find out, just read more.

Aw, Brooke! At one point, I had her pegged as the last woman standing - and maybe even making a run at the finals. But it's no secret that she's been declining for the past few weeks. I don't know if she just lost confidence or faith in herself or what, but it had been a while since we saw the same singer who turned "Love is a Battlefield" into a dark, heartbreaking ballad. She's one of the few contestants from this year whom I'm legitimately curious about, though; I think she could have an interesting career, and no Idol alum has really broken into the singer-songwriter sphere yet. If she gets a contract (which I bet she will), I'd definitely check out her album. I'm also proud of her for pulling herself together enough to sing - I honestly didn't think she could do it.

Syesha dodged a bullet again, ending up in the bottom two but staying safe. As for Jason Castro, he was the first guy sent to the Safety Couch. Um, he can't actually be the winner . . . right? I'm a little worried that if he could be safe after Tuesday, there's nothing that will get him voted off.

Some other thoughts on Wednesday's show:

At 9:26 p.m., we knew Brooke and Syesha were the bottom two, and Ryan had them both out on stage together. I got momentarily hopeful that the show was actually only half an hour. Yeah, no.
The only comment about PaulaGate came from Seacrest: "The rumors? They're not true. She's part of our family, and we love her." What, by the way, were the specific rumors? That Paula was drugged/crazy/fired?
Maybe I'm wrong, but David Archuleta seemed to be genuinely surprised that he was safe. Either that, or he's just learned to fake it better
Who is this old flame of Simon's from when he was 9 years old, and how did she get the number to call American Idol? That was actually funny, though I admit I'm perversely intrigued by both Simon's personal life and his childhood, so it was kind of the perfect storm. Also: "For all the kids watching, 9 years old is too young to kiss."
Neil Diamond looks like a sweet old man when he's not wearing a glitter-laden sparkly shirt.
I was thinking the group sing really seemed to be missing something, and then I realized what it was: Carly! Without her, there's just nobody else with a big enough voice to carry the songs forward.
It is ridiculous how excited I am for So You Think You Can Dance - except that it looked like Sex is back again at this year's auditions. Seriously, the show really needs to move past him.

Your thoughts? Was it Brooke's time to go? How long can Syesha squeak by? And does a Young David vs. Older David finale seem inevitable at this point?

Photos courtesy of Fox

American Idol Rundown: Neil Diamond Night

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:30:12 -0700

I always look forward to the moment in the American Idol season where the contestants start singing two songs per night. Not only does it make the whole show move a lot faster, but it also demonstrates what the contestants can do under more pressure and given the chance to really show off different sides of their singing styles.

That said, Neil Diamond night was a mess - not the least because of Paula, who amazingly criticized Jason Castro for a song before he'd performed it. I'm sure she had notes from the dress rehearsal and whatnot, but still, it was the first time I think I've ever seen Seacrest rattled (his panicked look offstage was telling). Also, going through the first half of the show without judges' comments was an interesting choice, but it actually made the flow of the show feel even more rushed than it needed to be - and none of the contestants really got a meaningful critique on both songs.

Overall, I thought the night was just OK - no real standouts from the contestants at the top of the pecking order, no real challenges from those at the bottom. What did you think? Don't forget to tell me which singer you think is headed home, and to hear my take on their songs, just read more.

Jason Castro - I actually liked Castro's take on "Forever in Blue Jeans." The tempo, the range, and the style of the song were all perfectly suited to him, and he seemed to be at ease performing it. Maybe too much ease, as he didn't really do anything interesting to the song, but it wasn't a disaster. His take on the ballad "September Morn," on the other hand, was a wreck; his voice couldn't handle the verse, and from the look on his face at the end, he knew he'd botched it. He didn't seem that bothered, though, and that's something that's bugged me about Castro for a while now: Does he even want to try? The judges were all unimpressed, with Paula making sense for a moment and telling Jason she doesn't see him fighting.

David Cook - On first listen, I thought David's take on "I'm Alive" was disappointing and "All I Really Need is You" was a showstopper, but actually, after hearing those 30-second song clips at the end of the show, I'm tempted to reverse my opinion. "I'm Alive" sounded about a half-step too low for his voice, but it had good energy. "All I Really Need is You" was one of those power ballads meant to show off his tender side, but I actually found myself annoyed at how he needed to bring a rocker growl into every single note. The final verdict, though, is the same: On balance, he was the best of the night. The judges mostly preferred his second song to the first, and Paula said she felt like she was looking at the winner already - because, as we know, she can see the future.

Brooke White - Show of hands for how many people thought it was a given that Brooke would pick "I'm a Believer"? I certainly did. And on that one, she showed off the same weakness as she had on "Here Comes the Sun": Uptempo stuff isn't her comfort zone, and even this relatively simple song was a stretch for her voice - Simon even called it a nightmare. "I Am, I Said" was a thousand times better; she fits best at the piano, her voice was clearer and more secure, and she managed to make even a horribly cheesy song sound earnest. The judges' comments were along those lines: First song awful and weird, second song a reminder of why Brooke has gotten this far.

David Archuleta - OK, new beef with this kid. Every song he sings sounds exactly the same. Doesn't matter if it's "Sweet Caroline" or the Beatles or Stevie Wonder; it sounds identical to every other midtempo, adult-contemporary song in the book. I would have loved to hear him have some fun with "Sweet Caroline" rather than bust up the arrangement into something I'd hear in an elevator, and "America" was - to steal a Simon term - theme park-y. Simon even called him amateurish at one point, but in the end, the judges said he was in the zone, and Simon praised his clever song choice (as you must if the song mentions America).

Syesha Mercado - Syesha won me over a little last week with her Broadway-esque performances, and I think she must have realized that was the way to go, because we got more sing-acting from her last night. "Hello Again" sounded nice and pleasant, but it was old-fashioned and a little too hotel-bar for my tastes. "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" was better, possibly because Syesha's obviously fake stage personality makes more sense when she's throwing herself into an uptempo song. I don't think she'll win Idol, but she could have a great Broadway career. Oh, and I want her dress. Randy said Syesha is finally coming into her own, and Simon said she could be in trouble, which I think was a gift to her because it will get her fans to call.

Bottom two: It should be Brooke and Jason. Syesha could end up there, too, but again, I think Simon saying she's in danger should actually help.

Going home: Jason

Photos courtesy of Fox

Which American Idol Contestant is Going Home Next?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:30:13 -0700

Good times never seemed so good? The top five American Idol contestants sang the songs of Neil Diamond on Tuesday - words that, frankly, I never thought I'd type. So, how did they do? And whose interpretation will land them a one-way ticket back home?

Photo courtesy of Fox