Believe it or not, it’s already time for more “American Idol.” Auditions are currently taking place in Texas, attracting the typical crowd mixed with the talented, mediocre and downright delusional. Sometimes, it’s hard to know who is who.

“I know the game now,” said Davies, 29, who was booted from the show last season after making the first cut. “You can’t give them everything at once.”

I can’t really get into that show–except for the part where the really horrible people sing, or the occasional strange outbursts/bouts of unconsciousness exhibited by “Idol” judge, Paula Abdul and quite frankly, I could get all of that, without the annoying singing from “Hey Paula.” It’s like I had all the important stuff distilled in vitamin form for easy consumption that sifted out all the “Good job, Dawg” and Simon and Ryan banter that used to just bore me. Speaking of Paula, her current beau, restaurateur, J.T. Torregiani seems to still be hanging on and I must say I’m impressed with his perseverance. Or at least, she’s still got him agreeing to pose for pictures with her, which I’ve learned from past experience is just at as good as a real relationship.

(Flynet)

Corey Clark is probably best known as the 2003 “American Idol” contestant who was disqualified from the show’s finals after it was discovered that he’d fibbed about his arrest record. After he was let go from the show, he asserted that he’d been engaged in an illicit relationship with Paula Abdul, a judge on the show, stating that Paula had helped him out financially and made promises that she would help further his singing career.

Well, believe it or not, this shady kid has actually been arrested again. This time, it’s for possession of a controlled substance, as well as drug paraphernalia in Arkansas. This dude had already had a warrant issued for him after he missed a court date in Arizona from an arrest of his from last year. Maybe if he would have thought to sport a pony-hawk during his time competing on the talent competition show, his life would be vastly different.

Ryan Seacrest is blaming Simon Cowell for the ratings drop “American Idol” took this season . What a catty bitch. Maybe people are just tired of this show? I love “24″ but even I realize the day might be over. Maybe people are tired of all of these plastic-ass “singers” coming out of the “Idol” cookie cutter. Maybe people are tired of YOU, Seacrest, and your blond highlights and your various beards.

When asked about the decline, reports Canada’s Globe and Mail, Seacrest replied, “Well, the knee-jerk reaction would be Simon.”

Seacrest says there’s just too much of the acid-tongued judge: “Clearly there’s an over saturation of his character.” Seacrest pointed out that the ratings are still high, and addressed buzz that bosses want to change some of the “Idol” judges. “That’s clearly rumor,” he said. “I’m positive you can’t recreate the chemistry that we have with the group on ‘American Idol.’”

Way to backpedal in the same interview, honey.

(WENN)

Neil Cavuto may be a place where Keith Olbermann’s potential dinner dates are discussed, but that’s not the worst of it. On Your World this week, before Jordin Sparks was crowned the champ, Neil also welcomed MeMe Roth from National Action Against Obesity to argue Blake Lewis should win because he’s thinner. Or, rather, less […]

What does American Idol need to apologize for? Well, for starters, Clay Aiken, William Hung, and Kelli Pickler’s chest. But, also, for letting their broadcast run long.
While the two-hour Wednesday finale was supposed to wrap at 10pm, the winner wasn’t announced until 10:03pm, and the show didn’t close until 10:09pm — which means Americans who […]

Sure, it’s consistently rating number one in its time slot on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but the truth of the matter is that “American Idol” has dropped as a whole in its ratings, versus those from last year. From NBC5 .com:

Last year, according to Nielsen, the finale performance show drew 36.3 million viewers, while the 35.1 million watched the show crown Taylor Hicks over Katharine McPhee. It was a monster leap over 2005, when 31.7 million watched the finale performance show, and 31.1 million saw Carrie Underwood win over Bo Bice.

This season started strong, with the number of viewers consistently tapering off as the season progressed. There are those who speculate that the inexplicable advancement of Sanjaya Malakar as far as into the top seven might have something to do with the decline in ratings, if only because with his wacky hairdos and less-than-impressive performances, he is a clear and easy target. Truth be told, I don’t actually watch the show once the really horrible people have been weeded out, but then again, that’s just me. Maybe what’s happening is that the rest of America is starting to think like me, and all I can say to that is it’s about damn time we agreed on something.

(Splash/WENN)

Many more photos (Jordin Sparks, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, Jeri Ryan, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Janice Dickinson, David Hasselhoff, Anthony Federov, Sanjaya Malakar, Chris Richardson, Teri Hatcher, Diana Degarmo, Zac Efron) from the “American Idol” red carpet after the jump.

It came down to 17-year-old, Jordin Sparks, and the beat-boxing, highlighted wonder, Blake Lewis, Wednesday night. But it was a triumph of voice over entertainment, as Sparks delivered performances that bested those of Lewis, which included more of his beat-boxing and dancing. Although, these days, losing on American Idol doesn’t seem to have hurt the career of anyone who’s managed to stick it out long enough to be get some irons in the fire. Unlike this guy.

The finale was probably the splashiest ever, featuring performances by past Idol winners, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, as well as a slew of guest musical performances by Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennett, Green Day, Gwen Stefani and Bette Midler.

In any case, congrats to both finalists, who is the youngest Idol yet in the show’s history, and to Idol itself, which garnered a record 74 million votes for this season’s finale.

Photos of the winner are after the jump.

Hsve you heard the news? Melinda Doolittle was the latest cast-off of America’s highest-rated singing competition, leaving the predictably quirky Blake and perpetually perky Jordin to duke it out in the finals. Meanwhile, the newspapers and blogs have all reacted to the news with modestly understated headlines.

• Weak season gets weaker: ‘Idol’ boots Melinda (Boston Herald)
• “American Idol” Voters Kick Most Experienced Singer Out (eitb24)
• American Idol Disaster: Melinda Doolittle Voted Off Idol (National Ledger)
• WTF???!!! Melinda Voted Off (phillyBurbs.com)

And while the wording, phrasing and intensity varies from one publication to the next, one hierarching theme is consistent throughout, namely Melissa’s vocal superiority to the remaining contestants.

Or, as D-Listed puts it:

[Doolittle] was starting to get on my nerves, but I figured she would get her “oh shucks” ass into the finals. This leaves Blake “please don’t beat box” Lewis and Jordin “Ugly Betty” Sparks.”

Stay tuned for the big finale!

Jordin Sparks is being examined by critics of the national talent search competition, made suspicious by a series of coincidences. The young “American Idol” contestant and daughter of former New York Giants cornerback is being scrutinized for her pre-existing connections to the FOX franchise. BuddyTV.com points out the following:

-Sparks was the winner of Coca-Cola’s Rising star award in 2004, a sponsor of AI. However, it was later pointed out that there was no tangible connection made through Coke, Sparks and Idol.

-Sparks also won the Arizona Idol contest, sponsored by FOX, winning the grand prize of a Ford Fusion and an audition in Seattle.

-Another point made was the fact that Paula Abdul, who often probably forgets where she is half the time, was able to remember the name of Sparks’ father, as well as the position he played.

It just sounds to me like a lot of people really miss getting their fill of conspiracy theories since “X-Files” went off the air. Or maybe she IS an alien. An incredibly talented alien, sent to this planet to gain world domination through music. And that’s why I don’t watch Idol–mind control.