This week’s “Entertainment Weekly” features a cover story about “the strangest season ever” of “American Idol”…There are a few interesting highlights from the piece, including some great quotes from Simon and some interesting revelations about Blake…
No doubt Ryan will have questions about Simon’s statement that this group is “not the best bunch of kids we’ve ever had.” Simon also had something to say about all the finalists who say they’re just excited to make the tour:
“I think that we suffer from Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry-it is, which is people who didn’t win getting great careers and now a lot of the contestants believing it absolutely doesn’t matter. 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.’”
As for a final prediction, Simon says it’s “as close as it’s been in any season,” telling “EW” it’s a five-way race between Blake, Chris, LaKisha, Jordin and Melinda (By the way, this statement was made when there were still eight.).
Now to the interesting scoop on Blake. It seems that Mr. Lewis is a bit of a rebel. He admits to breaking the 10 p.m. curfew and staying out until 1:30 a.m. Blake’s response? “What are they going to do? ‘You can’t sing anymore?’” He said he was reprimanded by having to sing last “which is probably the best thing that can happen.”
You know this only makes me love him more…
Blake also provided some candor that previous contestants haven’t about the living arrangements. “I have to share an apartment with three other dudes, which is terrible. [Producers] are like, ‘View this as your job.’ I’m like, ‘Well, you get to go home after your job.’”
Blake also pointed out something we already had—the contradictory statements of the judges. About his rendition of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (my current ringtone, by the way), Blake said the judges tell the finalists “you’ve got to make it yours and keep it fresh. Then they gave me criticism about that”…
As for interesting points about the other finalists, Simon said that if Chris would “start taking himself and his vocals a bit more seriously” he could challenge Blake as the most contemporary recording artist of the group. He must really be taking those vocals lightly…LaKisha admits she’s “chosen to sequester herself somewhat from the other singers.” That would explain all the reports of her being cold to the other contestants during the results shows…And then there’s Sanjaya. Simon’s response to Sanjaya-gate: “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”…
The most telling quote of the whole piece, though, comes from “Idol” Executive Producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz. When asked what would happen if Melinda, LaKisha or Jordin went home before Sanjaya, she responded: “It’s not gonna happen. Trust me. Eventually America gets it right. We’re not worried. We love Sanjaya, but he’s not going to win.”
After a statement like that, there’s no way Sanjaya will win now, whether it’s America or the show that decides it, so don’t give up hope yet…
The “Idol” issue of “Entertainment Weekly” is on newsstands now…
Photos courtesy of "Entertainment Weekly"
