Via MSN BC
Fox announced Wednesday that Ellen de Generes, talk show host and comedian, who admittedly has no formal music experience, just a passion for tunes, will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for the ninth season. The announcement all but seals the departure of Paula Abdul, the original third judge who announced she was quitting amid a contract dispute in July.
I wonder if Ellen really has the talent to discern the quality of a singer. Or maybe she can also get training on the judging aspect.
By now, I’m sure you’re well aware of the fact that during season 9 of American Idol, there are several celebrity guest judges who will be sitting in the place that Paula Abdul left empty. Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry were the first, Shania Twain was in Chicago to guest judge the auditions, and Neil Patrick Harris will be judging the Dallas auditions. Let’s take a brief moment to look at the other rumored American Idol guest judges and speculate about how well they’ll do.
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I’m not really a fan of Katherine McPhee but I am totally digging her blond locks in her latest album cover. Her sophomore album, Unbroken, will be released on Verve Records on October 6 and I’m guessing the tracks will sound pretty much like your standard pop tunes. The first single from the album, Had It All, was written by Kara DioGuardi and is available on iTunes now.
Exciting news! E Online just confirmed that Neil Patrick Harris, also known as Uncle Barney from How I Met Your Mother, will be guest-judging the Dallas auditions. On the surface level, it seems as though his wit is the only thing he can bring to the judges’ table. But he’s had extensive experience singing on Broadway, and the Internet public got to see his talent firsthand with the Dr. Horrible musical miniseries. I doubt that Fox will keep Neil Patrick Harris on board because he’s not really a part of the recording industry, but I’m definitely looking forward to viewing the Dallas auditions episode. Among all the guest judges, NPH’s appearance is the one I’m excited for the most!
Photographer Robert Sebree has been taking a bunch of photos of Adam Lambert in his studio, and this Tudor-themed photo is the latest in the series. According to Adam, he enjoys playing dress up and you can totally see his flair for drama in these photos. Most of them have an awesome glam rock vibe that reminds me of my favorite movie of all time, Velvet Goldmine. Look under the cut for the colored version of the photo above, plus a few more photos by Robert Sebree.
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Jason Castro’s new single “Let’s Just Fall In Love” is finally out! At first, I was put off by the cheesy title because it sounds like a cheap ballad, it but after giving it a listen here I found myself bopping my head to the music. It’s a lively, radio-friendly tune that sounds a little like The Kooks, minus the thick accent. I can totally see this getting a lot of radio play in the weeks to come.
Jason’s upcoming debut album is also available for pre-order at JasonCastro.Com. For $9.99, you can get a digital download of the whole album 24 hours before its November 2009 release. And as much as I love Jason Castro, I wouldn’t be crazy enough to fork over $399.99 for the Pre-Order Deluxe Pack, which includes an autographed limited edition poster, an instant mp3 download of “Let’s Just Fall In Love Again”, a personalized voice mail message (I’d hate to have to pay for a voice mail message), a bunch of other merchandise I probably won’t use, and access to a fan club I probably won’t participate in.
The search is still on for the next American Idol judge! Early rumors said that Jessica Simpson may be the judge for the next leg of the auditions round, but this has been denied by her rep. In the Atlanta round of auditions, Mary J Blige filled in for the spot left by Paula Abdul. And according to People, Shania Twain might be the guest judge for the Chicago auditions on August 30 and 31. I’m not really a big fan of her music and I’m not sure exactly what makes her qualified to be an American Idol judge, but she is very pretty and pleasant to look at. In any case, I’ll reserve my judgment for when I see the auditions for myself early next year.
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