TV Squad

• American Idol auditions announced
  

  Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, Contestants, Casting

  The eighth season of American Idolwill begin auditions on Thursday July 17th in San Francisco. Other cities that will be holding try-outs for the hit singing competition show are Louisville, Kentucky; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; Jacksonville, Florida; East Rutherford, New Jersey; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  
  Any TV Squad readers going to sing for Paula, Randy and Simon? If I were to audition (and I won't), I think I'd sing something by Stevie Wonder (cause no one ever sings anything by him), or Mariah Carey (cause...
  



• Idol has its claws in David Archuleta
  

  Filed under: American Idol, Celebrities, Contestants, News and Gossip

  David Archuleta is American Idol's bitch. Like the other contestants, he signed an incredibly restrictive contract. All of his public appearances and performances are closely monitored and approved by AI managers.
  
  That became painfully clear for Archuleta and his rabid fans in Salt Lake City this week when the runner-up was forced to cancel a 'Thank You' concert. It was to be this Friday night and the proceeds were to go to charity. But American Idol nixed the whole thing because of Archuleta's "contractual obligations" to the show. It was an Idol-sanctioned...
  



• AI7 Report Card: The season that was
  

  Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, Judges, Contestants, Alumni, Host, Predictions and Trends, News and Gossip

  We scoured the earth (and the archives at various record companies for failed projects that showed vocal promise) to create the greatest assemblage of singing talent American Idol has ever seen! So what happened? After last year's virtual snooze-fest, how did a season that truly did give us perhaps the greatest depth of talent we've ever seen (an argument could be made for Season Five) give us such lackluster shows?
  
  After Sanjaya-gate last year, the biggest controversy to come out this...
  



• AI OD: Congratulations to David Cook - VIDEOS
  

  Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, Performances, News and Gossip

  It seems that even after winning American Idol's seventh season, David Cook still expected David Archuleta to have won the whole thing. in the exit interview with David Cook, he describes the twelve million votes he won by as a "discrepancy" and said he "thought Archie was a little bit ahead" of him.
  
  He thanks the show for allowing him to grow as an artist, and shrink at the waistline. "I've lost probably about 10 to 15 pounds. There was definitely a progression for me on this show. Early on ......
  



• AI OD: A farewell to David Archuleta - VIDEOS
  

  Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, Performances, News and Gossip

  Poor Archie, he fell victim to a Clarkson-style assault. In Season One of American Idol, Justin Guarini was picked as the early favorite to run all the way to the finals and win the whole thing. Meanwhile, nobody even noticed the nondescript little waitress from Texas in there midst until Kelly Clarkson just kept growing and growing through the competition and ran away with the whole thing.
  
  Sure, David Cook was good, but virtually nobody saw him as an early favorite to take the title, and the '50s theme in week one didn't...
  



• AI Aftermath: The Winners - VIDEOS
  

  Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, Performances, News and Gossip

  
  Welcome to the final installment of "AI Aftermath," where we explore Idol's past. Each installment, as one more American Idol hopeful is eliminated from the competition, we take a look back at contestants past who were eliminated at the same point. We'll examine how they did on the show and what they've been up to since their eliminations. In honor of David Cook's crowning as your American Idol, we will look back at other winners.
  
  This week: The Winners, featuring Kelly Clarkson (Season One), Ruben Studdard (Season Two), Fantasia...
  



• American Idol outcome could have a deeper significance
  

  Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, Watercooler Talk, Contestants, Predictions and Trends

  Like Jason wrote in his reviewcap of the American Idol finale, I too think that America got it right. But more than that, I think the outcome of last night's vote has some deeper significance to AI's future.
  
  First of all, it was not only a record-breaking number of votes, but the outcome was more distinct than in years past. That means that America really wanted David Cook to win. That's not to say David Archuletta can't belt out a good tune, but for America to pick the more original...
  



• Backstage at the American Idol finale
  

  Filed under: American Idol, Interviews, Judges, Contestants, Host, News and Gossip, Celebrity Commentary

  
  The battle of the Davids has come to a close, with David Cook emerging as the victor for the seventh season of American Idol.
  
  The highly anticipated finale had everyone -- bloggers, fans and even celebrities -- buzzing about which David would be the next Idol. But even after David Archuleta's much-praised performance Tuesday night (and Simon Cowell's endorsement), many were predicting Cook to win the title.
  
  Still, backstage at the Nokia Theatre in Los...
  



• Idol Polls: The Top 2
  

  Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Predictions and Trends, News and Gossip

  Welcome back to our weekly American Idol polls round-up. Each week we look at various online polls that were conducted from the end of last week's results up to the performance show Tuesday. And then a few that were conducted after the performance show, but before the results were revealed.
  
  This way we can analyze how the week's performances affected a contestant's overall popularity, which turns out to be not very much except in a few select cases anymore. And this week we're mixing it up a bit, bringing you this column before the...
  



• American Idol: Your American Idol Revealed (season finale)
  

  Filed under: American Idol, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Episode Reviews, Episode Recaps

  
  (S07E42) Forty-two episodes later we're finally ready to find out who is going to take home the crown of the next American Idol. Look at all those faces up there, and now it's all come down to the Davids. The lingering question is if they're going to be Idols the likes of Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson; sales in the millions with mantles full of awards; or will they find mainstream success more of a challenge, like Taylor Hicks or Justin Guarini (I know he came in second but let's...