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Todrick Hall and Aaron Kelly appear to be on the bubble of this year’s top 12.
By Gil Kaufman
Andrew Garcia, Alex Lambert, Aaron Kelly and Lee Dewyze
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images
For the most part, the ladies brought it on Tuesday night’s “American Idol” and early front-runners are definitely emerging in Crystal Bowersox, Siobhan Magnus and Lilly Scott. On Wednesday night (March 10), it’s the guys’ turn again, as we speed toward Thursday’s elimination, when season nine’s top 12 will be determined.
Last week’s switcheroo due to Crystal Bowersox’s illness didn’t throw the guys off, though a few of the men turned in performances that were barely enough to keep them in the running. So what do the rest of the men need to do to win the hearts — and ears — of the nation? How can they get enough votes to avoid landing in the bottom two? Here’s what we do (and don’t) want to see from these “Idol” hopefuls, starting with those who need the most work.
Aaron Kelly
Being cute will only get you so far. Though he has the Archu-dorable factor, teen Kelly is proving to truly be this year’s unripe banana. His “My Girl” was instantly forgettable, and he’s turning into one of those semifinalists who doesn’t really have a musical portfolio. He’s tried country and old-school R&B, but if Kelly wants to make the top 12, he needs to show the panel he’s got a lane of his own. How about a killer Simon & Garfunkel cover (since most of this year’s Idols seem stuck in the past) or something by Kris Allen?
Tim Urban
Unless this kid has been taking voice lessons from the ghost of Jeff Buckley all week, it doesn’t really matter what Tim does, because he’s just killing time at this point. He might not go this week, but he’s further proof that being adorable can get you into the semifinals but not much further. Urban is the weakest male link, so he might as well blast off with a blaze of glory with something ridiculous like “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.”
Todrick Hall
With Jermaine Sellers gone, dancer Hall remains as the loose cannon in the bunch. His confidence hasn’t yet meshed with a breakout performance, and though his sedate take on Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It” was interesting, Hall has been the judges’ punching bag to date. Unless he kills it, say with a seductive Usher throw-down, Hall could be the next to go.
Casey James
Speaking of cute, James is still trying to shake off the whole cougar-bait thing, but his limp rendition of the too-frequent “Idol” cover “I Don’t Want to Be” didn’t exactly show off his rock chops. Regardless, assuming he doesn’t completely tank, Casey will likely make the top 12. He should, however, soar by proving his grit this week with something edgier. How about an unplugged Kid Rock tune?
Lee Dewyze
He’s the token rocker, which is a good place to be this year, because he’s got virtually no competition. Dewyze is on a hot streak, and he’s got Simon on his side, so he should play it safe this week to ensure a top 12 berth. He’s done well playing his acoustic guitar, so maybe a Kings of Leon song would work for him.
Andrew Garcia
What happened to you, man? Garcia seemed a shoo-in for the top three, but he’s gotten steadily diminishing returns thanks to sleepy song choices, like James Morrison’s “You Give Me Something,” which find him fading into the pack. He needs another “Straight Up,” pronto! Now’s the best time to wow the judges again with a clever (re)arrangement of a classic — perhaps a folky version of Jane’s Addiction’s “Been Caught Stealing”?
Michael Lynche
He’s not blowing anyone away, but slow-and-steady Lynche is getting it done every week. He’s likeable, solid and very comfortable onstage. Big Mike is almost certainly going to advance, so a bit more of what the judges already like, perhaps a touch of Maxwell on acoustic guitar, could ensure his spot.
Alex Lambert
Either Lambert is pulling a rope-a-dope and is planning to emerge as a camera-ready superstar from his mullet-duckling persona, or we’re reading too much into his phoenix-like rise from the ashes of two twitchy weeks ago. He nailed John Legend’s “Everybody Knows” last week, and a command performance of a Robin Thicke tune might cement his blue-eyed soul bona fides.
What do you want to see from the guys on Wednesday night? Who do you hope steps up their game this week? Let us know below!
Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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‘We shook hands, did the little chest bump,’ he tells MTV News of their heart-to-heart about Auto-Tune.
T-Pain
Photo: MTV News
The Jay-Z and T-Pain saga has officially been laid to rest. When Pain stood onstage with Jay over the summer at the Hot 97 Summer Jam concert, people thought Pain was in support of the Hov’s “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune).” Jay even said he wasn’t dissing Pain on the track, rather people who were trying to take away from Pain, Kanye West and Lil Wayne by saturating the market with Auto-Tune.
Last September, though, during a Las Vegas pool party, Pain grabbed the microphone and dissed Jay-Z, implying he was old and out of touch. Later that month, Pain apologized to Jay on a record called “More Careful.”
Well, Pain said he and Jay finally talked face to face last month about their controversy.
“We talked at the Grammys,” Pain told MTV News last week. “It was a pretty big thing. Word for word, he said, ‘That’s f—ed up the way you took that song.’ I’m a [crazy] n—a, so we gonna take the song like that. That’s how we take songs. He was like, ‘I didn’t mean nothing by that.’ I was like, ‘I already put out my apology song. So there you go. My bad. I apologize. Apologize for taking the song like that.’ We shook hands, did the little chest bump. That was the end of that.”
Pain is preparing to put out his next album, Revolver, later this year. It features some of his familiar hallmarks: Auto-Tune and “a lot of sex and alcohol. That’s a main topic,” he said.
One thing he won’t have this time is a lot of guest spots. “I had to slow down on guest appearances, because a lot of people were saying that Thr33 Ringz was only as good as it was because it had a lot of people on there. I just wanted to prove some people wrong. I wanted to test myself to see if that was the case. It was so many people on the last album, it should have been a DJ Khaled album.”
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‘My thoughts go out to Corey’s family and friends today,’ Christina Applegate tweets.
By Jocelyn Vena
Corey Haim in 1986
Photo: Hulton Archive/ Getty Images
After news spread that iconic ’80s actor Corey Haim was found dead Wednesday (March 10), Haim’s friends and colleagues took time to pay their final respects.
While longtime pal Corey Feldman released a statement to MTV News, Alyssa Milano hit Twitter with her reaction. ” Just woke up to the sad, sad news that Corey Haim passed away,” tweeted Milano, who dated Haim when they were both teenagers. “RIP sweet boy.”
Comedian Michael Showalter kept his tweet simple, writing, “Damn. RIP Corey.” Christina Applegate added: “My thoughts go out to Corey’s family and friends today. So sad.”
Kevin Smith fondly remembered Haim for his classic films, tweeting, “Lost Boy goes home: Corey Haim, dead at 38. G’bye, LUCAS. You gave hope to the weird & unlikely.”
Ashton Kutcher tweeted, “Rip Corey Haim ‘Childhood hero.’ ” Fellow ’80s actor Ralph Macchio wrote, “Always so sad and disturbing when the addiction and demons prevail. RIP Corey Haim.”
Todd Bridges, who has also battled drug addiction after coming to fame as a child star in the ’80s, released a lengthy statement about Haim’s passing: “Corey Haim was a good friend of mine and he will be missed. Too many people are dying way too young and it’s sad because of the loved ones who are left behind to understand what happened and to feel the loss. I hope he’s in a better place. I will always love my Brother, and I will never judge him. I understand his pain, but I also know now there is a way out. I hope anyone who is dealing with the same stuff gets out before it’s too late. Don’t let the death of others fool you into thinking that it cannot happen to you. If you play with fire, you will get burned.”
Leif Garrett, who worked with Haim in “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” also released a statement: “This just goes to show that whether it’s street drugs or a prescription from the doctor, that all drugs are dangerous — as we saw with my friend, Heath, as well. No matter what form, it’s not to be taken lightly. Some people are lucky enough to finish the race and others crash and burn. I do not wish this horrible disease of addiction on anybody. I send all my condolences and love to Corey’s family. May he rest in peace.”
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‘During 14th anniversary, we wanna see Weezy over here showing love,’ Busta says after the show honoring the 13th anniversary of Biggie’s death.
By Shaheem Reid
Busta Rhymes at the Notorious B.I.G. memorial party
Photo: MTV News
Early Wednesday morning, Busta Rhymes was absolutely basking in an afterglow at 2:10 a.m. in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Busta had just performed with Rick Ross, Fabolous, Red Café and Puff Daddy at the Lab nightclub — the collective, wearing T-shirts that read “Invisible Bully,” took to the stage to honor the 13th anniversary of the death of Notorious B.I.G.
“Brooklyn is so thorough,” Busta yelled in the parking lot. “We seeing U-Haul trucks, we smelling jerk chicken — Brooklyn’s reppin’, homie.”
Busta brought the ruckus with his chorus on “Victory.” There was no way Rhymes would have missed saluting his close friend, Biggie.
“God bless Ms. Wallace and thank you so much Ms. Wallace for giving us such greatness. As far as existence is concerned … Big was greatness as far as existence was concerned,” he said. “When I’m sitting in the venue, we sippin’ on all type of things and we watching and really being able to appreciate how every single song … you know how people got their favorites. It’s one thing for people to sing their favorites, but it’s another when everybody sings the entire catalog. Special homie!”
Buss said the night was just about perfect — however, one person was missing.
“The one thing I definitely feel a little funny about is that the homie Lil Wayne had to go in and the timing was so close to a moment. Not only did he tear it down at Madison Square Garden, I wish he had a couple of more days to be able to come and tear it down for us honoring the legacy of the late great B.I. I’m sure Weezy would have came through and repped with everybody that came through tonight. With that being said, I hope the homie holds his head, do his little stint, 85 percent of his stint, and comes home safe in one piece. Because you really can’t cage genius. During 14th anniversary, we wanna see Weezy over here showing love to the late great B.I. Big up to the whole Young Money. Shout-out to the whole Cash Money.”
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‘I would ask her if she could design my next costume for my next music video,’ Pussycat Dolls frontwoman says.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Larry Carroll
Nicole Scherzinger
Photo: MTV News
In honor of Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” music video premiere on Thursday, MTV News got celebrities to weigh in on what they would ask Gaga about on a phone call, if they could ask about anything in the world. So, this week we will be rolling out their burning questions for the pop princess. And stay tuned to MTV News for more on the “Telephone” video.
If anybody has access to call Lady Gaga up and chat for a bit, it’s Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who toured with Gaga in 2009. And if Scherzinger can get her on the phone, she’s got a few specific things she’d like to ask.
“If I could call Lady Gaga on the phone and ask her for anything … I would ask her if she could design my next costume for my next music video. No, I would ask her to do a song with me,” she joked. “Because she is flipping brilliant.”
After getting the career-related stuff out of the way, she’s got a question about a little something she gave Gaga awhile back. “I’d ask her, you know what I would say? I’d say, ‘Gaga, you still have those really pretty Vivienne Westwood earrings that I bought you when we were on tour?’ And if she says, ‘Yeah,’ I’ll say, ‘OK, cool, you remember those earrings, right? Yeah, when are we going to do a song together?’ ” she joked.
And while Scherzinger is currently in reinvention mode with the Pussycat Dolls, she told us she admires Gaga’s ability to constantly reinvent her own look. “Already within the year, two years she’d been on the scene, she’s just always inspiring us with music,” she said. “She’s reinvented herself eight times this past week!”
What would you call Lady Gaga about? Tell us in the comments below!
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Katie Stevens and Paige Miles appear to be headed home.
By Eric Ditzian, with additional reporting by Gil Kaufman
Crystal Bowersox on “American Idol” on Tuesday
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images
The first grade in this week’s “American Idol” women’s report card goes to the producers for lopping 60 minutes off the show’s running time. A+ programming move, folks. The two-hour, filler-heavy live episodes we’ve seen in recent weeks will not be missed, even if the leaner, meaner show still managed to kick off with a painfully corny, too long bit involving the openly gay Ellen DeGeneres cuddling in the lap of the painfully heterosexual, recently engaged Simon Cowell as some sort of bid to convince us that the two talent adjudicators are BFFs.
Now about those contestants. A few will not be missed either next week, based on their subpar performances on Tuesday night. Others, meanwhile, continued to impress and had us thinking this season is not nearly as dull as we once feared. Who surprised us, who disappointed us and who’s in danger of going home? Let’s take a look at the top 12 women’s report card. (And don’t miss Jim Cantiello’s recap of their performances in the MTV Newsroom.)
Excellent
Didi Benami: Picking up the guitar for the first time since the Hollywood rounds, Benami wins the comeback-kid award for her acoustic folk take on Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon.” Her confident strumming and doleful camera stares made the judges fall in love with her again, with Cowell declaring that she’d had her first “wow” moment of the season.
Crystal Bowersox: After last week’s health scare, this season’s one to beat did it again, effortlessly killing it with a bluesy shuffle through Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason.” Though not as revelatory as last week’s Creedence Clearwater Revival cover, Bowersox’s confidence and chops inspired Cowell to absolutely guarantee she’d be in the top 12 next week.
Good
Lilly Scott: Performing in the prime final spot, Scott strummed an electric mandolin for Patsy Cline’s classic “I Fall to Pieces.” Kara loved how she made a 50-year-old song sound contemporary, and Cowell praised her unique personality and oddball delivery but wasn’t sure it was enough to get her through to the next round. Scott won’t hoist the trophy in May, but we beg to differ with Cowell: She will live to sing again next week, at least.
Siobhan Magnus: This season’s resident quirky girl paid homage to her dad with the Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun.” In place of last week’s soul-wail-heard-round-the-world, she kicked the retro tune off with a strong a cappella section and turned in a solid, if unexceptional, performance that should get her into the top 12 as well. DeGeneres said she was captivated and called the rendition spectacular. The glassblower’s apprentice may have kept it in check this week, but make no mistake: She can wail.
Lacey Brown: She’d had very little success mixing it up with Fleetwood Mac and Sixpence None the Richer up until now, so Texas’ Brown decided to chuck it all and just do what comes naturally, crooning countryish ballads. From her rooster-like hair to the animal-print cardigan, it was all a bit Beauty School Dropout, but Brown did just enough with Brandi Carlile’s “The Story” to impress most of the panel, with Simon giving her props for knowing how to seduce the camera. She’ll keep on keepin’ on, but just giving good camera face won’t get her that far.
Satisfactory
Katelyn Epperly: She wanted to up the energy, but with a disco-lite stumble through Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move,” all Epperly did was likely make voters second-guess their opinions after two strong weeks. Kara went so far as to say she didn’t think Kate had her game face on and was just going through the motions, while just about all Randy Jackson and Simon could compliment was her gorgeous head of blonde curls. She’s probably safe for another week, but just barely.
Unsatisfactory
Katie Stevens: We’ve hammered her for many things in the past, but never before for being pitchy. A new week, a new critique. After repeated criticism for picking songs that made her sound older than a 17-year-old high-schooler, Stevens smartly went with Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” … but it still didn’t measure up. Her Benjamin Button-like qualities just make her incapable of communicating any sense of youthful energy. Jackson said the song was too big for her voice, while Cowell called it gloomy, complaining that she too didn’t know what kind of artist she wants to be. You could see it in her eyes: She knows she’s going home. Voters will likely agree.
Paige Miles: One of the most epic fails in “Idol” history. Miles, who despite scant screen time before the semi-finals has been tagged by the judges as having one of the best voices in the competition, butchered one of Michael Jackson’s favorite songs, “Smile,” turning it from inspiring to just plain sad and heavy in Ellen’s eyes. Cowell said it was like a Holiday Inn lounge-worthy effort and effectively signed her ticket home. Miles broke down and said she couldn’t keep her emotions in check during the performance, perhaps a precursor to Thursday night’s tears.
What did you think of the women’s performances? Who killed it? Who blew it? Who is definitely making it to the top 12? Let us know by leaving your comments below.
Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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‘We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with,’ Feldman says of friend’s death.
By Eric Ditzian
Corey Haim and Corey Feldman in 1989
Photo: Ron Galella/ Wireimage
Corey Haim and Corey Feldman will be forever linked, from their on-screen collaborations in ’80s films like “The Lost Boys” and “License to Drive” to their more recent A&E reality show, “The Two Coreys.” Following Haim’s death on Wednesday from an apparent drug overdose, Feldman released a statement expressing grief over the passing of his longtime friend.
“I was awakened at 8:30 this morning by my brother and sister knocking on my bedroom door,” Feldman explained in the statement. “They informed me of the loss of my brother Corey Haim. My eyes weren’t even open all the way when the tears started streaming down my face.
“I am so sorry for Corey, his mother Judy, his family, my family, all of our fans, and of course my son who I will have to find a way to explain this to when he gets home from school,” the statement continued. “This is a tragic loss of a wonderful, beautiful, tormented soul, who will always be my brother, family, and best friend. We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with while they are still here to make a difference. Please respect our families as we struggle and grieve through this difficult time.”
Haim, 38, was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital early Wednesday and declared dead shortly thereafter. TMZ cites unnamed law-enforcement sources as saying prescription-medication bottles were found near his body. Haim had long battled drug addictions and told MTV News in 2007, “They built rehabs because of me.”
“I hope the art Corey has left behind will be remembered as the passion of that for which he truly lived,” Feldman said.
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‘The swoop! They have the Bieber swoop!’ she jokes about similarities in their hairstyles.
By Jocelyn Vena
Liz Lee
Photo: MTV News
While Liz Lee claims she will never wear a Snooki-style poof, she does see a hairstyle resemblance between her “My Life as Liz” crush Bryson’s hair and that of teen pop star Justin Bieber. With their sideswept bangs and dirty-blond locks, they do have twinsie hairstyles. Lee laughs off the similarities.
“The swoop! They have the Bieber swoop!” she joked to MTV News when she stopped by to talk about the “My Life as Liz” season finale. “I feel like Justin Bieber has definitely influenced Bryson as a whole: his lifestyle, his music.”
She went on to say that while shooting the show, Bryson would often serenade her with Bieber’s tunes. “Bryson often would do a nice little Justin Bieber dance number,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many times I had to hear ‘One Less Lonely Girl’ from Bryson.”
Her romantic relationship with Bryson is still up in the air, but it seems that the two are already taking cues from Bieber on how to win each other back, if that should be in the cards. “We had a dance-off at a bowling alley one time. Drake was there, and Ludacris,” she joked, adding that the MCs seem like the perfect guys to hang out with the teenaged Bieber. “Especially with little kids. I feel like when I was a child that was really what I needed to hear.”
As season one wrapped, Bryson finally admitted that he had feelings for Lee. But it was almost too late — she still decided to move to New York to pursue her dreams. “There was that hesitation [when he told me how he felt], but I felt like, if he really cared about me, that he just wanted me to be happy,” she said. “And I feel like that was another thing that pushed me to New York, [because] all of my friends cared so much.”
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‘Lost Boys’ star pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in his Los Angeles-area home.
By Jocelyn Vena
Corey Haim
Photo: Jason Kempin/ FilmMagic
Actor Corey Haim, 38, was found dead early Wednesday (March 10) of an apparent drug overdose, according to KTLA. The actor, who rose to fame in the 1980s alongside longtime pal Corey Feldman, was found unresponsive in his apartment near Burbank, California, police told the station.
He reportedly died at 3:30 a.m. PT, and his mother was at his home at the time of his death. He was pronounced dead at Providence St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Burbank, police said.
Haim was born in Ontario in 1971 and as a teenager found fame in Hollywood. His first role was in 1984’s “Firstborn” with Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr. He was one of the best-known young actors of the decade, alongside other notable actors like C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Judd Nelson and Emilio Estevez. He starred in films like “Silver Bullet,” Lucas” and most famously 1987’s “The Lost Boys,” with Feldman as well as Kiefer Sutherland.
In the 1990s Haim played more obscure roles yet continued to work steadily in films like “National Lampoon’s Last Resort” and “Prayer of the Rollerboys.” Haim struggled with substance abuse through much of his career.
In the past decade, however, Haim made moves for a career comeback. He starred alongside Feldman on their A&E reality show, “The Two Coreys,” for two seasons. He also made a cameo in the “Lost Boys” sequel, “Lost Boys: The Tribe,” where he reprised his role as Sam Emerson, and had several films in production at the time of his death.
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