Eric Sanchez and Danielle Turner were the last team to arrive at the ninth leg's Pit Stop during last night's broadcast of CBS' The Amazing Race: All-Stars, however the duo wasn't sent packing just yet as they were pleased to learn they had encountered one of the competition's non-elimination legs. Instead of going home, Eric and Danielle were now marked for elimination, which means they must arrive at the next Pit Stop in first. If they fail to do that, they'll incur a 30 minute penalty, allowing other teams to check-in before them and possibly spelling the end to their game.
This race is really important to me and I want to show that I'm stronger than people think I am, said Danielle. Being 'marked for elimination' is scary but I want to make it to Top 3 and I want to win. The Amazing Race: All-Stars' tenth episode began with beauty queens Dustin Seltzer and Kandice Pelletier departing at 12:28AM in first place among the final four teams.
Their departure clue instructed them to fly over 1,500 miles to Hong Kong and travel 22 miles by taxi to Sun Wah Kiu Laundry. We don't know how Eric and Danielle will bounce back from by us, said Dustin, questioning the potential reaction they'll receive for their decision to Yield Eric and Danielle during All-Stars' ninth leg. We're not expecting to be their best friends.
Cousins Charla Baklayan Faddoul and Mirna Hindoyan were the next to depart at 1:29AM, followed closely by Eric and Danielle at 1:50AM and Ozwald Mendez and Danilo Jimenez at 2:19AM. Charla and I have coined a new phrase. It's called 'Yield karma,' said Mirna.
There's really no reason to resort to dirty play like the beauty queens using a Yield. Otherwise they might get some bad karma back. Added Eric, We're definitely not happy with the blonde girls for Yielding us.
So if we have an opportunity to pay them back with anything we will. Upon arriving at the empty and mostly closed Kuala Lumpur airport, Dustin and Kandice learned that China Air would be the earliest flight, departing Malaysia at 8AM and arriving in Hong Kong at 11:55AM. The second quickest flight would be on Malaysian Air, departing at 9:15AM and arriving at 12:55PM.
However like always, there was a twist -- although its flight left later, the Malaysian Air counter opened at 4AM while the China Air counter didn't open until 5AM. Dustin and Kandice chose to wait for the Malaysian Air counter to open while Ozzy and Danny decided to take another approach -- walking down to the China Air office. While down there, they serendipitously walked right into the Malaysian Air office and placed their name on the wait list ahead of Dustin and Kandice, who sat idly at the closed counter.
Dustin and Kandice quickly learned of their mistake and had to settle for being the second team on the Malaysian Air wait list. Eric and Danielle were third. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, Ozzy and Danny then went to the China Air office, where they ran into Charla and Mirna, who were already waiting for the office to open.
Desmond, a China Air employee, then arrived at the office and eventually placed the two teams on a standby list for the 8AM flight ahead of Dustin and Kandice and Eric and Danielle, who talked to agents at the counter. With two possible ways to get to Hong Kong, Ozzy and Danny promised Charla and Mirna that if they made the China Air flight, they would give their standby reservation on Malaysian Air to the cousins. Realizing how far along it was in the competition and hoping to take advantage of his feelings towards the beauty queens, Mirna attempted to strike a deal with Eric.
We have been screwed over one too many times by the bubbly, giggly girls, she told Eric. The final three: you guys, us and Danny and Ozwald. The two shook, and Mirna commented, It's going to be a fun final three!
With only half-an-hour before the China Air flight departed, Danny and Ozzy were informed they'd be on it. They were the only team to be placed on the flight, meaning they would arrive in Hong Kong at least an hour before any other team. They also honored their word and offered their standby reservation code for the Malaysian Air flight to Charla and Mirna.
We gave Charla and Mirna our standby code for Malaysia Airlines because they have shared information with us, explained Ozzy. Again, it goes back to the whole issue of karma. Charla and Mirna and Dustin and Kandice then rushed over to the Malaysian Air counter while Eric and Danielle -- thinking they had already secured a spot on standby -- decided to exchange some of their money.
Once at the counter, Dustin protested Charla and Mirna's use of Ozzy and Danny's standby code during a verbal confrontation. She wins the pushy award of the year, said Dustin to Mirna. Mirna replied, Good luck, Yield queens.
Good luck , which prompted Kandice to comment, [Mirna's] so manipulative. All the bickering was for not, as both teams made the flight to Hong Kong that arrived at 12:55PM. Eric and Danielle then learned it was completely booked, and they had to buy tickets for a flight that wouldn't be arriving in Hong Kong until 3:20PM.
You've got to be kidding me...
this is ridiculous, opined Danielle. The standby fairy doesn't like us apparently, so we're absolutely dead last. Danny and Ozzy were the first to arrive in Hong Kong at 11:55AM and -- after receiving a discounted rate on their taxi since they were running low on funds -- they opened their clue to find the second of two Fast Forwards on the race.
In this Fast Forward, Ozzy and Danny had to travel five miles to a film set where a high-speed stunt was being filmed for an action movie. When they arrived, they had to get in a car with a professional stunt driver and participate in an action-packed stunt sequence. Ozzy stated he was a little scared, and as they suited-up for the stunt he was visibly nervous as Danny told him, You'll be fine.
Danny thought it was going to be so much fun and amazing, while Ozzy kept his eyes closed throughout the entire stunt. You have to do a good job here. My mother wants me back, Ozzy told the stunt driver.
If I wet these pants, they're the only clean pair of pants that I brought. As the car they were driving in sped-up, hit a ramp and tipped on its side, the Fast Forward was over and Ozzy and Danny learned they could proceed directly to the eleventh leg's Pit Stop at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. That was amazing.
Thank you for being such a good sport, said Danny to Ozzy as the two celebrated. Replied Ozzy, Baby I told you I was coming to this thing to win it. Danny and Ozzy reached the eleventh leg's Pit Stop and finished first.
Charla and Mirna and Dustin and Kandice then arrived in Hong Kong at 12:55PM and realizing Danny and Ozzy had already taken the Fast Forward, they opened their clue to find a Detour requiring them to choose between Kung Fu Fighting and Lost in Translation. In Kung Fu Fighting, teams had to travel five miles to Tonkin Street and find a nearby building. Once there, they had to climb up an 11-story bamboo scaffold while avoiding an ongoing battle between stunt kung fu experts to reach the top and retrieve their next clue.
In Lost in Translation, teams needed to make their way four miles to Kowloon City and find Nga Tsin Wai Road. Once there, they had to search among hundreds of similar-looking Chinese signs for the specific sign shown in a photo in their clue. Once they matched the photo with the correct store sign, the owner would hand them their next clue.
While Mirna was initially nervous that Charla would be unable to complete Kung Fu Fighting, they eventually decided that was the Detour challenge they'd try. Dustin and Kandice also chose Kung Fu Fighting, and were able to complete the Detour before Charla and Mirna even arrived at Tonkin Street. After completing the Detour task, the beauty queens learned they had to take the Star Ferry across to Hong Kong Island and then travel four miles by taxi to an abandoned building, an old police headquarters, where they would receive their next clue.
Charla and Mirna had a much more comical time at the Detour. How the heck are you going to climb that? Each step is longer than your legs!
Mirna told Charla upon seeing the scaffolding with the kung fu fights happening on them. Okay..
. that's enough fighting!, Mirna yelled after they had started their ascent.
We are trying to make love not war! The cousins eventually made it to the top and celebrated their victory. Charla is here to prove on the race that she can break down what people's expectations are of her, explained Mirna.
And the Detour was very hard, but she did a great job with it. Eric and Danielle eventually arrived in Hong Kong at 3:20PM, and Eric instantly realized, Right now we have to play major catch-up. As they made their way to the laundromat and eventually chose Kung Fu Fighting, Dustin and Kandice boarded the ferry while Charla and Mirna's cab driver took them through a tunnel, and Mirna questioned if they were going the right way.
Charla and Mirna reached a ferry, but only learned once it had departed the dock that the cab driver had taken them to Hong Kong Island via the tunnel and they were now on a ferry to Kowloon. Luckily they were only slowed a little, as they just remained on the ferry for its return trip to the island. Once they reached the abandoned police headquarters, Dustin and Kandice opened their clue to find a Roadblock.
In it, one teammate had to kick down doors in the building until they found the room with their next clue. Kicking Kandice went to work ,busting down doors until she came across the clue instructing her and Dustin to drive five miles to Victoria Park. Once there, they needed to find a model boat pond that had Travelocity roaming gnomes positioned on floating junk boat models.
Then, in a local tradition practiced by Hong Kong children, they had to pull the junk boat models across the pond to receive their next clue. After slowly leading the model junk across the the pond and getting it to shore without toppling the gnome into the water, the beauty queens received a clue directing them to go to the Pit Stop at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. They finished the leg in second place.
Eventually arriving at the old police headquarters, Charla decided to complete the Roadblock. I'm not afraid of getting a little dirty. My legs are very strong and I love kicking things, so I'm very proud of how I kick each door, explained Charla.
Meanwhile, Eric and Danielle flew up the scaffolding and began to make their way to the ferry. Charla eventually found her clue and she and Mirna made their way to Victoria Park. Eric kicked down doors and also found the clue, however he made a blunder by trying to navigate to the park himself instead of asking to follow a cab.
Eric is very stubborn. He thinks he can do everything. He doesn't like to hear me give opinions.
It's very frustrating, said Danielle. Don't even start with me, Eric replied as Danielle scolded him. Once they navigated through some rush-hour traffic, Charla and Mirna located the park and pulled their gnome across the pond.
They finished the leg in third place. Eric and Danielle finally stopped for directions to the park, pulled the gnome across the pond and arrived at the Hong Kong Jockey Club in last place. However host Phil Keoghan informed them it was a non-elimination leg and they were now marked for elimination.
I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, said Eric. I was wrong. Danielle was right in this case, we should have gotten the taxi earlier.
I can't blame Danielle because we're a team. We're doing it all together. Danielle and I have are work cut out for us at this point.
.. I'm just going to try and keep Danielle strong.
The Amazing Race: All-Stars will continue on Sunday, April 23 at 8PM ET/PT on CBS. Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 11:41 AM EST Patrick Tango Hunter proposed to Tiffany Pollard during the of I Love New York -- but after watching the reality dating competition's broadcast run play itself out on VH1 -- he apparently had a change of heart. After four months of being unable to see each other, Tango withdrew his wedding proposal to New York during last night's I Love New York reunion special.
This show was just out of the norm. The first thing I said on the show was I'm here to meet..
. I'm here to get to know Tiffany, said Tango. He further explained how he went to war for New York's affection, and took a lot of verbal and physical abuse.
While he tried to be a good dude, he said all that abuse eventually added up. It's bad enough I got to fight off these on a regular basis, taking whatever I'm taking from them, because I know I've got a goal at hand, he said. So somebody tell me why I've got to take it from the person I'm supposedly pursuing and supposedly supposed to be loving?
Watching I Love New York on VH1, Tango said he realized New York was dissing me harder than the dudes is. He said the one diss that really stood-out to him was when his mother Paula met New York and her mom Sister Patterson. Both New York and Patterson Paula behind her back, taking shots at her age, weight and personality.
This is not to say I don't love Tiffany. I love Tiffany. I ain't feelin' New York, said Tango.
I'm done with New York. I proposed to Tiffany..
. but I got New York. A stunned New York asked Tango what that meant, and he was eager to explain.
I sat back and watched New York disrespect me. And I watched New York disrespect my mother..
. and that ain't gonna fly. New York shouted, I should have f**king chose you!
to Kamal Chance Givens -- I Love New York's runner-up -- to which he cooly replied, I would have never done this to you. Shouting then ensured between New York and Tango, as he got the final word. That's a wrap!
When you see Tiffany, tell her to get at me! he yelled before exiting the stage where the reunion special was being held. I don't care, said a teary eyed New York.
I put my heart into this. This is f**cked up that this had to happen to me! Having been spurned by Flava Flav on the first (and only) two season of VH1's Flavor of Love, New York was unlucky in love once again, although this does set-up the possibility for another season of I Love New York.
The series' was the most-watched series' premiere ever for VH1, drawing 4.4 million viewers ( Flavor of Love 2's premiere). The finale drew 4.
8 million total viewers, making it the most watched episode of the series (but well short of the Flavor of Love 2 finale's ). I Love New York's reunion special wasn't all bad blood between New York and Tango, as one of her old Flavor of Love nemesis also made an appearance. Pumkin -- who finished third during Flavor of Love's first season and famously -- revealed during last night's reunion that she's been dating Boston.
She said the two met at VH1's Christmas Party. He's really my boyfriend, said Pumkin, causing New York to curse her out. Pumkin and Boston then kissed.
***** get off my set! New York yelled at her. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.
Former American Idol fifth-season finalist called the Tone E Fly morning radio show in Minneapolis, MN last Friday and described the current climate of Idol's sixth season as very, very funny due to all the attention -- and votes -- being directed at 17-year-old Federal Way, WA-native . I've been voting for him too. It's a few [former Idol finalists].
.. it's a few of us from last season who are voting, said Bennett.
We want to see him win because it will kind of prove that American Idol is kind of losing its taste and that it kind of isn't going for talent anymore...
it's more for popularity. So we think it's a joke and we're voting because it's funny. Bennett -- who, like Malakar, was only a teenager while competing on Idol -- has apparently forgotten how the show helped her career.
After on Idol 5 last May, she's currently Princess P and is also planning an upcoming tour to promote it. She still couldn't resist bashing Idol's sixth season, comparing it to last year's Idol-spoof American Dream starring Hugh Grant. I think that definitely -- now having Sanjaya on it -- it kind of reminds me.
.. do you remember that movie American Dream that came out last year?
asked Bennett on the radio program. Remember how there was the Indian guy? Or the guy from India and then it was Mandy Moore?
That's kind of what the competition seems like right now. When Bennett was asked if she thought Malakar's appearance on Idol would spell cancellation for the Fox mega-hit, she didn't seem to think twice about her answer. Well that's all good.
.. as long as Sanjaya's still on American Idol it will continue to be funny, she said.
Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 06:02 AM EST Add executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz to the infinitely growing number of people who believe that, despite being one of the remaining in the competition, Sanjaya Malakar has no chance of winning American Idol's sixth season. It's not gonna happen. Trust me, Frot-Coutaz recently Entertainment Weekly.
Eventually America gets it right. We're not worried. We love Sanjaya, but he's not going to win.
Fellow executive producer Ken Warwick has also stated he's Malakar won't be crowned Idol's sixth season champ -- as has Idol judge Simon Cowell, who even threatened to quit several weeks ago if Malakar was the eventual winner. Cowell has seemingly given-up all hope of swaying the American public to not vote for Malakar due to his lack of vocal ability. I'm not sure there's anything I'm going to say in the 20 seconds I'm allowed that's going to change what he does, Cowell told Entertainment Weekly.
People are going to talk more about his than his singing, so I don't think it's necessary for me to give a proper critique. Idol judge Randy Jackson asked viewers to harken back to the Top 24, when he described Malakar as shy and reserved. Now, Jackson told Entertainment Weekly Malakar has come out of his shell, a comment the 17-year-old Federal Way, WA-native agrees with.
I'm shy until you get to know me, and then I'm really outgoing and kind of obnoxious sometimes, he told Entertainment Weekly. I'm turning 18 in September. So basically I see it as, this is my training to be an adult.
And when I'm 18, I'll have the training in what I want to do for the rest of my life. Somewhat brazenly, Malakar even offered his own opinion as to why the judges have stopped offering constructive criticism about his signing. I think they gave up because people in America at this point know what they think about me, Malakar told Entertainment Weekly.
They've gotten to a point where they can judge for themselves. When Cowell has to reference statistics and odds to make his point that Malakar must eventually go, it only adds fuel to the fire that Idol's sixth season cast might be when it comes to talent. When you have nine or 10 contestants, only one can go [each week], Cowell told Entertainment Weekly.
So at this stage you've just got to relax a little bit. There's always going to be that teen vote for the underdog. There's nothing wrong with that, by the way.
As long as they don't win. Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 05:30 AM EST lost a total of 118 pounds -- an all-time female The Biggest Loser contestant record -- as the on the reality weight-loss competition's third season. But she said she couldn't have done it without the help of fellow contestants and .
There were points where they carried me, said Hibbard in the April 17 issue of Woman's World magazine. Now she's repaying the favor, as Hansen and Smith will be bridesmaids at Hibbard's October 6 wedding to fiancee Jake Zwierstra. Hibbard said her new trimmer figure will be on display at the wedding, as she's been able to since competing on NBC's The Biggest Loser 3 last year.
I love my real-world workouts, she told Woman's World. On Biggest Loser, many days we had to sit in a van waiting to film challenges. Other days, we'd hit the gym, pool and hiking trails for up to six hours.
As the show's third season runner-up, the 28-year-old from Eagle River, Alaska received $50,000. She started the competition at 262 pounds and while at the ranch lost 77 pounds. She then lost another 41 pounds after returning home, giving her a total weight loss of 118 pounds and a finale weigh-in weight of 144 pounds.
I started the show as a size-26 aerobics instructor, so I knew it wasn't all about exercise, the now size-8 Hibbard told Woman's World. Diet was 80% of my success. I didn't always eat what my trainer recommended, but I think my results speak for themselves!
Refusing to skip whole-grain carbs or healthy fat, Hibbard instead enjoys a mix of wholesome foods every three hours. She also encouraged others to combine their diet with exercise, which will speed-up the metabolism. You don't have to run a marathon.
My sister lost 45 pounds just by walking, she told Woman's World. Having Smith and Hansen there during filming for The Biggest Loser 3 helped Hibbard, so she's still utilizing a support system for her workouts. I run 45 minutes each morning and do strength-training at night with pals, she told Woman's World.
Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 03:22 AM EST Olivia Mojica never made it to the finals of American Idol's second season, but the 22-year-old Royse City, TX native is still getting a starring role on the small screen. Mojica will star in Hardcore Idol, a new 40-minute DVD distributed by adult-movie company Vivid Entertainment that will feature footage of the former Idol 2 contestant having sex with her boyfriend, Daily Variety Friday. Appropriately enough, the tag line for the film -- set to hit stores on May 3 -- is Here's what the judges didn't see.
According to Vivid co-chairman Steven Hirsch, the company moved quickly to get the DVD into stores in order to piggy-back on Idol's sixth season, which continues to narrow its field of finalists. Hirsch told Variety Mojica and her boyfriend Adam Roberts filmed the video just a month ago in her New York City apartment and within a few days, a third party approached Vivid with a copy of it. Mojica, who was 18 years old when she appeared on American Idol, was part of the second season's unusual Wild Card semifinals group.
During its second season, Idol aired four performance shows in which eight of the season's Top 32 semifinalists performed each week and each group's top two viewer vote-getters automatically advanced into the season's finals. However after all four of the second season's semifinalist groups performed, Idol held a nine-contestant Wild Card round in which five seminfinalists that hadn't been voted into the finals and four other second season auditioneers -- including eventual sixth place Idol 2 finisher -- who hadn't originally made the Top 32 cut were given a chance to compete for the season's four remaining Top 12 finalists slots. Mojica -- one of the four non-Top 32 semifinalists who was given the chance to compete in the second season Wild Card round -- performed Celine Dion's Because You Loved Me on American Idol's March 4, 2003 broadcast.
Four of the Wild Card performers -- including eventual first runner-up -- subsequently advanced to the season's Top 12, however Mojica was not one of them. This was better than any other celebrity sex tape I'd ever seen, Hirsch, whose company is also currently distributing socialite Kim Kardashian's sex tape, told Variety. The sex is so great that if she were in the adult business, she'd be an instant superstar.
According to Hirsch, the third party even agreed to compensate for damages in the event Vivid is sued by Mojica or the Fox Network, which led him to make the deal. We're a conservative company, Hirsch told Variety. We don't move forward until we've dotted all of the 'i's and crossed all of the 't's.
He added Vivid has made repeated attempts to contact Mojica with the hope she'll agree to promote Hardcore Idol in exchange for a share of the revenues it earns, Variety reported. Idol has already endured its fair-share of scandal during its sixth season, some of which involved another former Idol 2 contestant. During Idol 6's semifinals, 20-year-old Point Pleasant, NJ native despite the of numerous that captured viewers' attention.
She was eventually when the season's Top 12 finalists were announced, but not before disqualified Idol 2 semifinalist Frenchie Davis over the fact that producers allowed Barba to remain. Davis was over nude pictures she posed for at the age of 18, in which she simulated solitary sexual activity for a kiddie-porn website. Despite a petition to reinstate her into the competition, Fox to disqualify Davis.
Posted by: Christopher Rocchio and Steve Rogers on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 03:16 AM EST This full figured beauty is not so big after all. Whitney stands 5 feet ten inches tall, weighing 165 pounds and she is a size 8. Whitney says she represents the average size woman.
Hmmm… that's not what Tyra and her cast of judges are calling it. On Tyra's talk show she had real full figured woman that started at a size 14. They had attitude, they could walk, and were very photogenic and beautiful.
Tyra knows if any of the size 14 plus got on top model, it would be a done deal and the show would be ruined for having a full figured model as the winner. The fashion industry is not ready to receive big girls on major runways. Whitney has a bubbly, happy personality and I had a very pleasant conversation.
Read on so you can see what Miss Whitney had to say...
QUESTION: The shoots sound easy to do, look easy to do but when it was time to actually perform, the fire was not there. Please comment. WHITNEY: What the viewers must understand is that this is a reality TV show and it is different being in front of the camera on a television show than just being in the studio at a photo shoot.
When Tacara was on the show they kept telling her that she lost her fire and did not seem comfortable. So, when I came on the show, I knew I had to be 'ON' and over the top all the time. Modeling is easy to me and I always walk away with a lot of pictures to choose from for my portfolio.
On the show I had a problem trying to get to the middle ground; not too much or little energy. Note to readers: This sounds like a bunch of excuses to me but on the other hand we don't know what the producers did in the editing room to make her appear like she did not have enough confidence to get her through the shoot. Whether you are on a TV show or in a studio there are three common factors: You, the camera and the photographer.
No excuses; just good photos. QUESTION: Why do you think you were eliminated from the show? WHITNEY: They kept saying over and over again that my photos did not translate my beauty on film.
I was so shocked that I was in the bottom two again. At the last shoot Mr. Jay said, You finally know what it means to be a model.
He just kept saying how well I progressed and you know Tyra always looks for progression. So, I went into the elimination confident that I made it this far and would be traveling oversees with the girls and not going home. Note to readers: If Mr.
Jay was one of the judges, I guess I would be a little confident. However, what he says to the girls is totally different from what comes out on film. QUESTION: You mentioned on the show that you owe your father for tuition.
Please tell us the story. WHITNEY: I auditioned for cycle 7 and did not make it. My father told me to try out again but I was not sure if I would get chosen again and wanted to apply for school.
If I did not make the cut again, it would be too late to register for school. My dad kept telling me to wait, but it was my senior year in college and I wanted to go back. Then I got a call from the producers that they remembered me auditioning for cycle 7 and wanted me to meet with the producers for cycle 8.
So I dropped out in the middle of the semester. QUESTION: It is so funny how things work out. I know you were wondering how to get money to pay back your father and what falls in your lap… a beautiful diamond charm bracelet.
The prize you won from the laser challenge. Please describe it. (I was kidding about selling her prize to pay her father back and she laughed and answered :) WHITNEY: It's a beautiful platinum charm bracelet with and envelope charm that says, 'love Tyra'; it has a shooting star, yellow diamonds and a shoe with pink diamonds.
I'm not going to sell it. More things will be coming my way and I will find another way to pay my father off. QUESTION: Did the girls ever make you feel you were not a legitimate model?
WHITNEY: I struggled the entire time. Society always looks for the stick skinny women and says they are legitimate models. That's why Tyra looks for women with strong personalities.
I am comfortable and confident about my size. I have a positive self image about my size 8. I'm 5'10 and 165 lbs.
I have big boobs and thighs. I carry my weight very well because I have an athletic build from playing basketball. QUESTION: Are you still on a basketball team?
WHITNEY: I quit playing basketball in my junior year. We went to the finals and I have a championship ring. In my senior year I was called for top model.
The call came just in time. I graduate in June and will definitely go to New York to pursue a career in modeling and acting. Note to readers: You know, it can also be frustrating for the fans who cheer for contestants only to be disappointed when they lose their fire.
It's not as easy as it looks especially if you don't have the it factor naturally. Good luck to Whitney and her journey at earning a living as a model. Meet me here next week to see who will be the next contestant to loose a chance at becoming America's Next Top Model.
Email me at or visit . Posted by: Belinda Trotter-James on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 12:00 AM EST No, it's not just you -- even American Idol judge believes Idol's sixth season finalists haven't been as good as some of the show's previous casts. We're doing as well as we are doing with not a great cast at the moment, to be honest with you, Cowell recently Entertainment Weekly.
They're not the best bunch of kids we've ever had. Idol's sixth season is currently down to its , so nobody's won anything yet. However recently ousted finalists , and have all stated they felt they achieved a goal by just cracking the Top 10, allowing them to perform during Idol's traditional summer tour.
I think that we suffer from - and -itis, which is people who didn't win getting great careers and now a lot of the contestants believing it absolutely doesn't matter, Cowell told Entertainment Weekly. Sometimes there's part of me thinking, 'You genuinely couldn't care less what we've got to say; everything's going to go your own way now.' Even -- the Idol judge who frequently dishes the most upbeat and positive criticism to contestants -- seems to agree with Cowell.
I just can't say that they're really good if they're not, Abdul told Entertainment Weekly. I just can't anymore. With the exception of and , all of the season's remaining finalists still have a chance of winning Idol's sixth season, according to Cowell.
It's as close as it's been in any season, Cowell -- who termed the competition a five-way race between , , , , and -- told Entertainment Weekly. Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 04:31 PM EST , the reality show's new performing arts summer camp, has announced that former Idol 5 finalist Bucky Covington and Idol 2 finalist Kimberley Locke will each teach special Master Classes when the Northfield, MA summer camp opens on July 7. Other former Idol finalists expected to teach this summer include Season 4 finalist Vonzell Solomon, Season 3 finalist Jon Peter Lewis and Season 2 finalist Carmen Rasmusen, with the announcement of additional staff members still forthcoming.
The former Idol finalists participating in Idol Camp will work in partnership with performing arts educators to teach a variety of classes that will educate youngsters on singing, dancing, acting, songwriting and audition techniques. This roster of Idol Camp instructors helps to reinforce our commitment to creating a unique American Idol experience while providing children with the ultimate performing arts education, says Donna Milani Luther, Idol Camp's director. All of these talented individuals have something special to offer our campers and we're looking forward to working with them this summer.
Enrollment into Idol Camp is still open to youth ages 12 through 15 throughout the U.S..
The deadline for applications is this Wednesday, April 18. More information about Idol Camp is available on the camp's idolcamp.com website.
Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 03:34 PM EST NBC has announced that Age of Love, a new reality dating series of some kind, will air as part of a Summer 2007 original programming lineup that will also include the returns of America's Got Talent and Last Comic Standing and a late summer early launch of The Biggest Loser's fourth season. The eight-episode series -- which the network is cryptically calling a new twist on the reality dating show format -- will premiere on Monday, June 18 at 10PM ET. We have a strong hand to play this summer season with a proven stable of winning series from past summers, NBC Craig Plestis stated in an announcement of the network's Summer 2007 programming.
Impressively, each returning show will have a fresh look with new hosts and the competitions on America's Got Talent, Last Comic Standing, and The Biggest Loser will be even bigger and better than before. Likewise, we like what we see with the new Age of Love, which could prove to be the breakout hit of the summer. While NBC is keeping mum on any additional details about Age of Love's concept, the network did announce that Mark Consuelos -- whose acting credits include My Super Ex-Girlfriend, All My Children and Hope Faith and is married to unabashed The Bachelor fan Kelly Ripa -- will serve as the show's host.
Despite NBC's attempt to keep the show's specifics under wraps, some details do appear to have leaked out. In a casting notice posted online in March, Age of Love's casting directors stated the show was seeking men between the ages of 28 and 36 and women between the ages of 21 and 50 to participate in a show about modern romance and finding love in an increasingly complicated world. If you're a single female looking for love, we'd love to meet you.
We have one of the world's most eligible bachelors waiting for you. We are looking for all age ranges, the casting notice stated. Age of Love is being produced by 3 Ball Productions, with JD Roth, Todd A.
Nelson, Adam Greener and Craig Armstrong serving as the show's executive producers. In addition to The Biggest Loser, 3 Ball's previous credits also include Beauty and the Geek, Unan1mous, Endurance (a Survivor-like children's reality show), and , one of the reality dating show genre's first twist concepts. Broadcast in Summer 2003, For Love Or Money featured a Joe Millionaire-like twist in which unbeknownst to the show's bachelor star, his final bachelorette had to decide between pursuing a relationship with him or winning a $1,000,000 prize (which despite NBC's hype, was actually payable over 40 years and only had a present day lump sum value of less than $500,000).
Immediately after For Love Or Money's six-episode first season ended with final bachelorette Erin Brodie choosing the money over bachelor star Rob Campos, an already-filmed The Bachelorette-like sequel that featured Brodie -- now in on the show's twist -- attempting to double her money and convince her final bachelor to pick her over his own $1,000,000 prize aired. When For Love Or Money 2 ended, Chad Viggiano, Brodie's final bachelor, over the money, resulting in Brodie -- who'd offered to share her additional $1,000,000 with Viggiano -- walking away with a total lump sum amount of $732,000 and Viggiano receiving $244,000 (the lump sum value of half of Brodie's additional $1,000,000. ) Since For Love Or Money 2 was also a summer ratings hit, NBC broadcast similarly-structured For Love Or Money editions the following summer, however despite some new twists, the show's and editions did not do as well in the ratings and no additional editions were produced.
Last Comic Standing's fifth season will premiere on Tuesday, June 13 at 9PM ET. America's Got Talent's second season will premiere Tuesday, May 29 at 9PM ET. Posted by: Steve Rogers and Christopher Rocchio on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 11:34 AM EST She has legs, and sure seemed to know how to use them.
However the American Idol 6 finalist said she doesn't understand what the big deal was. I didn't think it was going to be that distracting. It's just shorts, said Scarnato during a conference call with reporters on Thursday afternoon.
It hurts of course...
It's just legs. It is what it is. It's legs.
I mean I don't even know what to say about it. It's frustrating because I'm just trying to go out there and perform and sing -- and it is a singing competition -- and they weren't listening to me anymore. Scarnato made Idol 6's but didn't really capture America's attention until the following week during the when she sang Tell Him.
I thought about the shorts just because it was a more upbeat kind of song and it would be comfortable to wear, said Scarnato, explaining why she decided to bear her legs for the performance. And [Idol stylist Art Kahn] just kind of finished the style. We just molded it together.
.. you get so much feedback from everybody and they're kind of like, 'Keep it.
' Following her rendition of the song, Idol judge called Scarnato a naughty little thing and added he though people are going to be talking about a lot more than your singing tonight. They always say this is a singing competition and yada yada yada I'm like, 'Okay. This is a singing competition.
' But you know, it is what it is, you just kind of brush it off and do the best you can do, said Scarnato. I got a good vibe from the judges and I didn't want to loose it because I didn't get any great vibes from them before. My stylist liked it.
It just seemed to kind of work, everybody was kind of liking it. I think she's good looking kid. I think she has a very good voice.
I think she was given a really bad rap by Simon earlier, Warwick told reporters during an April 3 conference call. She's quite a shy girl; that's the problem. She's not one that's in your face all the time.
But she's a lovely kid. I love her. She looks great on stage and she has a good voice.
I don't care what Simon says. The next week Scarnato's vocals the best of compliments from the judges, but Cowell commented on how nice her legs were following her of Ain't Misbehaving when he said, I think you've got great legs. However her appearance apparently became a negative following her of Turn the Beat Around.
Cowell told Scarnato, I think you have a very good tactic at the moment Haley: wear the least amount of clothes as possible. Because, look I'll be honest with you, you can't do well in this competition based on your voice because there are much better singers. I'm on international TV.
.. I still want to stay in that frame of mind you have to respect him.
He's Simon Cowell. It does hurt a little bit, but you've just got to brush it off and try to get through it. You can't please everybody.
I didn't go shorter. I didn't wear less clothes. I just did the same thing, said Scarnato.
I mean I never really changed my look since Hollywood Week. I kind of showed my midriff a little bit and stuff like that. I want to stay true to who I am and it's fun dressing up.
.. you know playing the part of the theme week and the song that you're singing.
I don't think I wore less clothes than before...
I think I stayed true to who I am. With Scarnato's wardrobe and appearance judged more than her singing, at least the 24-year-old from San Antonio, TX was able to take her elimination lightly. Definitely if I was still going to be here next week I was going to wear a choir robe, she told reporters.
Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 10:04 AM EST I did not expect him to get as far as he did, and I did not expect him to be such a phenomenon, but he could get as far as [the top] four or five, Shyamali recently TV Guide. I did not think Stephanie [Edwards] or Sabrina [Sloan] would get cut out so early, and I did not see Gina [Glocksen] going before Haley [Scarnato]. It is hard to predict.
Shyamali can be frequently seen during in the audience of Idol 6's live performance and results shows, and if she appears familiar it's because she also auditioned for the reality competition series. However unlike her 17-year-old brother, she was unable to crack the Top 24. I thought from the beginning that [Sanjaya] would make it through, but I was definitely surprised [that I didn't], since on a professional level I have more experience and am much more able to deal with the pressure, she told TV Guide.
I was not angry but disappointed in the process. I am not resentful. It is definitely a high-pressure thing.
The closer I am to it, the happier I am [not to be] the one [enduring it]. Other than their blood relation and vocal abilities, Sanjaya and Shyamali share something else in common: criticism from Idol judge Simon Cowell. I believed Simon more [when he was criticizing me] than Sanjaya believes him [now], Shyamali told TV Guide.
I admire Simon for being honest, but I do not know that he is right in everything he says. He tries too hard to be mean, and I tried to change [his opinion of me]. If you can't sell yourself, it is hard for other people to accept you in the end.
While Sanjaya might be none-the-wiser of what critics are saying about him because he's living in the Idol bubble, Shyamali said she knows how he would handle it. He is thin-skinned as far as being empathetic and having concern for friends and family, but he does not worry about criticism. He has no trouble changing his style and crazy hairdo, he does not care what people say.
He says, 'I am confident,' Shyamali explained to TV Guide. I am proud of Sanjaya and how he handles the controversy around [Idol]. He doesn't read the blogs and doesn't watch TV -- he's isolated in the environment -- so he doesn't have to be as exposed to it as I am.
But it doesn't seem to be getting him down. It has been both a learning experience and a dream come true. I never would have expected to get the exposure and recognition and popularity that Sanjaya has gotten, because there is no other way to achieve it, she told TV Guide.
It is a whirlwind of craziness, random people prying into your personal life. It is hard to prepare for, it all happens so fast. It has definitely changed everybody's lives, for all of my family.
Shyamali said she was studying at Evergreen St. College but is currently preparing to move to Los Angeles and pursue a music career. While she didn't expect her baby brother to make it as far as he has, she hinted it wouldn't surprise her if he made it farther.
I could see Sanjaya and Melinda [Doolittle] in the end, which would be crazy. It all depends on who is more popular, Shyamali told TV Guide. Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 07:17 AM EST The star of Bravo's Blow Out reality series is expecting his second child with his wife Sescie, People on its website Thursday.
The couple also has a one-year-old son, Asher. [Fatherhood was] the greatest experience I've ever had in my life and every day that goes by I wonder why I waited so long, Antin told People last year. We can't wait to have more.
Hair used to be the only thing that mattered to me, Antin told People. Now it's secondary. Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 05:53 AM EST NBC has announced the fifth season premiere of Last Comic Standing, the Emmy-nominated reality talent competition that will search -- for the first time -- for the funniest stand-up comics in the world.
Last Comic Standing 5 will premeire Wednesday, June 13 at 9PM ET/PT with a special two-hour premiere. Following its special two-hour debut, Last Comic Standing will air in the Wednesdays 9-10PM ET/PT time period. Viewers will be introduced to a new face for Last Comic Standing's fifth season, as the series will be by comedian Bill Bellamy, the show's third host in its last three seasons.
The actor and former MTV VJ served as host of Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes?, a Last Comic Standing-like reality series that aired on the TV One cable network. Despite a new host, some familiar Last Comic Standing faces will be part of the show's fifth season.
NBC has tabbed three former Last Comic Standing contestants -- Last Comic Standing 3 winner Alonzo Bodden and Last Comic Standing 2 contestants Ant and Kathleen Madigan -- to serve as the show's new talent scouts. Celebrity judges will also join the talent scouts in their search for the world's funniest new comic. Last Comic Standing's fifth season casting search , with talent scouts for the series making stops in Sydney, Australia, London, England and Montreal, Canada.
Also new to the show's fifth season will be a bigger prize package -- in addition to landing an NBC talent contract deal and Bravo half-hour comedy special that's similar to the prizes that previous Last Comic Standing winners have received, the fifth season's winner will also receive a . Last Comic Standing is produced by Peter Engel Productions, Magical Elves and NBC Universal Television Studio. The executive producers are Peter Engel, Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz and Barry Katz.
Javier Winnik is the co-executive producer. In addition to Last Comic Standing 5, NBC announced America's Got Talent's second season with new host Jerry Springer will premiere on Tuesday, May 29 at 9PM ET and new reality dating series Age of Love will premiere on Monday, June 18 at 10PM ET. Posted by: Christopher Rocchio on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 01:07 AM EST America's Got Talent 2 will debut Tuesday, May 29 at 9PM with a special two-hour premiere.
Following its special two-hour premiere, America's Got Talent will air weekly Tuesdays 8-9PM ET/PT time period. Talk show host and former Dancing with the Stars 3 participant Jerry Springer will fellow talk show host Regis Philbin as host of America's Got Talent. The 75-year-old New York-based Philbin reportedly decided not to return for America's Got Talent's second season due to the heavy travel schedule the show's Los Angeles tapings required.
While its host has already been announced, NBC has yet to formally reveal who serve as America's Got Talent's second season judges. The judges for last summer's first America's Got Talent edition were actor David Hasselhoff, singer Brandy Norwood, and journalist Piers Morgan. However last December, Norwood caused a four-car accident on a Los Angeles freeway that resulted in the death of motorist Awatef Aboudihaj.
Aboudihaj's children have since against Norwood, and the Los Angeles city attorney's office is still deciding if she should be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. In late March, it was Cowell might replace Norwood with popular The X-Factor judge and former The Osbournes star Sharon Osbourne. A surprise hit, last summer's first America's Got Talent edition averaged a 3.
5/10 rating/share in the Adults 18-49 demographic and 11 million total viewers. America's Got Talent is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Cowell's SYCO TV. Cowell, Ken Warwick, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Jason Raff and James Sunderland are the executive producers.
In addition to America's Got Talent 2's debut, NBC has also announced that Last Comic Standing's fifth season will premiere on Tuesday, June 13 at 9PM ET and Age of Love, a mysterious new reality dating series, will premiere on Monday, June 18 at 10PM ET.
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