Idol Contestants Flee Haunted Mansion!

Life of an American Idol contestant looks pretty glamorous. The makeovers, the celebrity treatment and of course, the mansion. Oh yes, that glorious mansion they've since abandoned for…a hotel?! According to Naima Adedapo, the mansion "Wasn't up to par." So what's the deal with them ditching their swanky digs? Are they getting too cool for their own good and what was the mood in the press room after the show? 

When we sat down with the top 11 after they paid homage to Sir Elton John on stage, they confirmed the mansion had a resident spirit that spooked them just a little too much! 

READ THE RECAP: American Idol Recap: Did Casey Abrams Redeem Himself? And Who Just Rocked?

Lauren Alaina told us, "Me and Pia [Toscano] were upstairs and the doors flew open. We were watching a scary movie before that and we were [already] freaked out. Me and Pia decided we were going to sleep downstairs, and James [Durbin] was making fun of us. [Then] he opens the garage door and supposedly sees a hand fall down."

"I opened the door to the garage, I was trying to freak out Pia, and it freaked me out," James told us. "I saw something white that looked like an arm."

Level headed Naima also had a ghostly encounter that convinced her she didn't need to stay another night. 

"Even though I'm a very logical person, it was a little disturbing for it to be 2:30 in the morning and the doors blow open and there's breeze and wind," she said. "I picked up this huge chair and put it in front of the door and it still blew open so it was best to leave the house."

Although Pia experienced a taste of paranormal activity she says, "That wasn't the reason we left the house." 

As funny as it would be to think the Idols were run out of the house by a ghost, it turns out their mansion wasn't as nice as TV made it out to be and the contestants weren't shy to share!

"We had leaks," Naima told us.

"The house was just kind of falling apart," Stefano Langone said. "Ants were all over my room. We relocated for a temporary thing. We're at some hotel now."

The one person bummed on hotel living is Thia Megia.

"I feel like I'm the only one who actually misses being in the house," she said. "You wake up every morning, and you have all the girls greeting you, because we all share a room. I miss seeing everyone's faces and now you don't get to see them as much."

Aside from clearing up any confusion that the Idols might be getting big heads, it was obvious the top 11 are totally tuckered out. With the judges save gone, the pressure is more intense than ever. The contestants agreed Casey Abrams was more than deserving of the reprieve, but there was no hiding the fact that the demands of the competition are beginning to take their toll. As they fielded questions, the vibrant Jacob Lusk from a few weeks ago could barely keep his eyes open or his head from resting on Paul McDonald. Thia had faint signs of dark circles nude her eyes, and Pia had tissues in hand, making us think she may be coming down with a bug that's been going around. Eek!

Backstage Scoop from Live at the Show, aka the Stuff You Couldn't See at Home:

• On our way to interview the contestants, we spotted Desperate Housewives alum Nicollette Sheridan posing for iPhone pics with Steven Tyler
• It was over 80 degrees in Los Angeles on Wednesday so even though it was sweltering outside, the air conditioning was cranked up so high that it was freezing in the studio audience!
• After Pia performed, show producer Nigel Lythgoe (@dizzyfeet) stopped her on the way off stage to congratulate her on a good performance. 
• During the commercial breaks the audience fluffer hands off the microphone to members of the audience so they can sing on the Idol stage. Painful as it may be, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson all gave them their full attention, smiles and applause. 

Do you believe the Idols were living with a ghost or was it just their imagination? Do you think they're being worked too hard? Who do you think has made the biggest change since starting the competition? Let us know in the comments!

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b233820_idol_contestants_flee_haunted_mansion.html#ixzz1ICsxj3lj

'American Idol' on the scene for the Top 11 (take 2) performance night: Scotty's grandma and James flaming piano

So basically I’m saying that American Idol takes all kinds, from hip-and-possibly-arch-villain grandmas, to young adults brandishing signs that read “Decadent deliCASEY yummy,” toModern Family‘s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who sat one row behind me and appears to be a big fan of Casey, Pia, Jacob and Haley, in roughly that order. But before we dive any deeper into the behind the scenery of the Top 11 (take two) performances of the Elton John catalogue, I feel compelled to reiterate quickly something longtime readers of our Idol On the Scene columns have heard many times already: Things sound very different inside the Idoldome than they do on your TV.

Last night I sat much closer to the judges than I ever have before — close enough that if you squinted at the far corners of your TV whenever the show cut to friends and family (who are always seated in the same four seats and then rotated out at the next ad break), you may have possibly glimpsed me with a panicked smile that screamed “ohsweetjeebusIdonotwanttobeoncamera.” Anyhoo, very quickly into the show I realized that the closer to the judges table you get, the louder the Idoldome becomes, and by not a small order of magnitude either. Possibly this is due only to increased proximity to Steven Tyler’s fashion sense. But regardless of the cause, it meant that more often than not, my ears struggled to discern the contestants’ voices from the rumble of the house band and the cheers of the audience. Oddly enough, this problem was most acute with three of Season 10′s most distinctive voices: Scotty, Pia, and Jacob. I’m honestly not quite sure what to make of that other than increasing my admiration for anyone who can get up on that stage and perform amid the aural and visual chaos and somehow not fall into convulsions of anxiety and panic.

As for the evening’s other highlights:

What the Heck Happened To Cory?! My colleague Tanner Stransky tells me Cory the Warm Up Comic was MIA last week at Idol, as he was again last night. Instead, we were treated to the comedy stylings of Jay Flats the Warm Up Comic, who introduces himself to the audience by getting everyone to say, “What up, Jay Flats!” (I did not.) Jay Flats’ warm up routine seems to consist of getting people to clap a lot, do the wave, and then pit the men and women against each other in a dance competition, in which we learned definitively that men, no matter what their age or background, will always dance inappropriately in front of a crowd of strangers. During the show’s ad breaks, Jay Flats often handed his mic over to audience members to get them to sing, with wildly varying results. One audience member turned out to be not only a former Season 7 Idol contestant who made it to Hollywood Week, but also Stefano Langone’s cousin, because why not? Also, fun fact! At certain points during the evening, Randy, Steven, and exec producer Nigel Lythgoe turned to watch one of the audience members perform, sometimes all three of them at once, their faces stuck in a polite grimace. Jennifer, however, never once joined them; she steadfastly kept looking at the crew setting up the next (official, you guys) Idol performance instead. Although part of me wants to believe her face was also frozen in a polite grimace.

Scotty’s grandma! She got a big smile from the camera man after Scotty’s performance was over; got a kiss on the hand from Nigel during the ensuing ad break; and got a hug from exec producer Ken Warwick later on. She also got to stay in the front row for the entire show along with the rest of Scotty’s group, a privilege none of the other friends and family received. In other F&F news, when it came time for Casey’s folks to relinquish the official F&F chairs to Jacob’s crew, Casey’s mom and Jacob’s mom gave each other a big, genuine hug.

Disappearing Howie! After Howie Mandel’s totally spontaneous plug for his Fox special that j’refuse to plug here, he conveniently disappeared from his Idoldome seat. The celeb situation is indeed frequently fluid at Idol, what with Marc Anthony arriving before the show and working the crowd like he’s about to open at the Copa, only to leave early on and have Leah Remini swoop in to take his seat, because, again, why not? Then again, Jesse Tyler Ferguson stayed put, as did Broadway legend Ben Vereen (who, at the end of Jacob’s performance, raised a gospel hand in approval). Some people are here for the show, dammit.

Did Pia knock Randy’s ass out of his chair? No. But the Idoldome did cheer like crazy at the prospect of it after Jimmy Iovine made the suggestion. Also, S. Ty did forcefully kick the air when Pia launched into chorus, but with his right foot, i.e. the one farthest from Randy. Still, just knowing Steven’s random flailings could take out his fellow judges at a moment’s notice is comfort enough for my snark demon, Smirkelstiltskin. In other Pia news, someone left their mic on during pretty much Pia’s entire judging panel critique, which was far more audible inside the studio than on TV and perhaps contributed to the general “We want you to sing uptempo ballads in which you stand still while also moving!” sense of needless confusion.

Nigel teaches the Idoldome to dance! Okay, not really. But in the ad break before James’ flaming performance, Nigel did commandeer the mic so he could first tell the peanut gallery to stand up and wildly cheer when James began his song amongst them. Then he teased that James would be working through the entire audience. And then the So You Think You Can Dance judge and exec producer instructed the audience on how to do the “arena stomp” while the Durbs rocked through the second half of “Saturday’s All Right For Fighting”: For future reference, the proper steps are stomp, stomp, clap, done to the beat, and, as Nigel implored, “Not too fast!” Alas, Nigel made it seem like we should start arena stomping immediately after James descended the Thunderstairs, which it turns out wasn’t the case and in my estimation led to a mess of confusion when James finally did try to lead us all in the arena stomp. Obviously, Tabitha and Napoleon would’ve crafted a better routine for us.

Idol Meter: Don't discount Scotty McCreery

dol's widely projected front-runner Casey Abrams nearly was knocked out last week, so it would be prudent to put Season 10's quirkier characters in the Idol Meter spotlight while they're still here.

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  AP
  Scotty McCreery: Beware the man in black.

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AP

Scotty McCreery: Beware the man in black.

Scott McCreery: The deep one

It's easy to underestimate Scotty. His rumble of a voice and strict country orientation seem more like the marks of a one-trick pony than a dark-horse winner. But his Nashville covers are accomplished and mature well beyond his years, and you could say the same thing about his general demeanor — he's the best in interviews, with a sly wit behind the aw-shucks charm. And the inspired way he countrified Stevie Wonder last week breeds confidence he can easily do the same withElton John tonight.

• IDOLS LIVE TOUR: Looks like we made it

• IDOL METER: Updating the Idols' odds

• PHOTOS: Meet Season 10's finalists

• IDOL CHATTER: All 'Idol,' all the time

Naima Adededapo: The vivid one

Naima's unlikely survival after her first two performances was a triumph of personality over ability. She danced, she smiled, she dazzled visually — she did everything but sing on key. Last week, she sang Dancing in the Street, a song less challenging vocally but admirably suited to her vibrant persona. It may have put her on the right track, but she needs to pick the right track from the Elton John catalog — steering away, for instance, from the ballads.

Casey Abrams: The wild one

Casey was an instant favorite from audition to semifinals with unusual song picks and exuberant performances that displayed his formidable vocal and instrumental skills. His Nirvana cover was a good idea with an abrasive, one-dimensional execution, while hisMarvin Gaye turn was merely forgettable. To avoid the dreaded Siobhan Magnus Syndrome, he has to grab an instrument and show off those dazzling vocal chops. If, that is, there's an Elton song that will work.

Simon Fuller to Manage This Year’s American Idol Winner

Simon Fuller’s XIX Management Company announced this morning he would be personally managing this year’s Idol winner. You know, because Season 10 is the Best Season Evah!

You can read the entire release HERE, including back-slapping quotes from Universal CEO Lucian Grainge, Idol mentor and Interscope record executive,Jimmy Iovine and president of 19 E, Iain Pirie.

Simon Fuller in partnership with 19 Entertainment and CKX, Inc., will be managing this year’s winner of “American Idol”.

“American Idol” is currently the No.1 show in America. It was created and is executive produced by Simon Fuller.

This new arrangement will be the first time that Simon Fuller has personally managed an act from the show since he launched Adam Lambert’s career in 2009. Over the last eight years, Simon Fuller has guided the multi-platinum careers of a select handful of award-winning Idol singers, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, David Cook and Chris Daughtry.

Currently in its tenth season, “American Idol” remains a ratings smash and a critical hit. Working closely with 19 Entertainment and CKX, Simon Fuller has been instrumental in re-engineering the show by introducing a new judging panel, as well as bringing in Chairman of Interscope Records and renowned music producer Jimmy Iovine, and welcoming a new music partner in Universal Music Group. Reflecting all this, “American Idol” was recently ranked No.1 on Forbes magazine’s annual list of TV’s top money-makers.

In case you’re confused: Fuller left 19E last year to form his own company XIX Entertainment. He still works with 19E as a consultant–continuing to produce Idoland So You Think You Can Dance. Yes, it’s all very confusing.

And for the record, neither Fuller nor 19E manage either Kelly Clarkson or Jordin Sparks at this point.

Carrie Underwood Instant Karma Points of Light Gala

Carrie Underwood performed John Lennon’s “Instant Karma” at the Points of Light Gala, honoring George H. W. Bush Tuesday night.

The Gala special aired tonight on NBC. Check out Carrie’s performance of this Lennon classic after the jump.

Video: CarrieCMA2010

American Idol 10 Top 11 Redux – Power List!

I’m enjoying Season 10 of American Idol, but what sets it apart from other seasons? I don’t have a favorite yet. Maybe you can chalk it up to a short semi-final season, or maybe it’s one of those seasons where nobody is going to strike my fancy.

It’s a talented cast to be sure–well, not the Best Cast Evah! as TPTB are hyping it. (Can’t blame them for that, Uncle Nigel and company had the big job of righting a seriously off-course ship–by any means necessary.)

I do have a group of contestants I like a lot that includes James Durbin, Casey Abrams and Naima Adedapo. But even last year’s funky season had me rooting for Crystal Bowersox by now.

Hm. Well, on to this week’s power list! There was some serious shuffling around–Casey Abrams and Stefano Langone dropped down the list, whileLauren Alaina, Jacob Lusk, Naima Adedpo and Haley Reinhart rose. Check it out after the jump.

How would you rank the Top 11 this week?

Here we go again…

1. Scott McCreery – Our basketball-playing country boy is still on top. The fact that Scott survived Motown week is a good sign for him. Elton John has plenty of country-tinged tunes in his catalog, so Scotty should do fine this week. Young Scottie knows who he is, and is sticking to it. that’s going to keep him on the top of the list.
2. Pia Toscano – She’s beautiful, her vocals are perfect, she could be molded into the complete package. She’s likable even if she’s a little dull. Pia is still on top and could win it all. Although, a surprise Tamyra Gray boot at 3 or 4 would not surprise me either.
3. James Durbin – James’ stock keeps rising. His vocal performances have been solid, and his on-air personality increasingly endearing. He could make the finals.
4. Lauren Alaina – The judges love her and her performances are solid. Lauren rises in the ranks, as some of her competitors have fallen.
5. Jacob Lusk – Jacob redeemed himself last week by pulling back and pulling off his Motown performance beautifully. If he can keep it together, he’ll go deep.
6. Paul McDonald – I like the idea of Paul, but his performances have only been so-so. Having said that, he seems to have a serious fanbase going at this point. If he can make his performances more accessible, he’ll stick around longer than mid-pack.
7. Casey Abrams – Casey took a dive on my list after earning the lowest number of votes last week. He obviously doesn’t have the fanbase we thought he did. The after effects of the save will keep him from hitting bottom this week, but Casey has to seriously re-think his strategy if he wants to stick around.
8. Naima Adedapo – Naima didn’t hit bottom last week, which is a good sign for her. But if she performs early this week and has a performance that’s bad/weird, she could find herself in trouble again.
9. Haley Reinhart – Haley’s improved performance (and her short shorts, I suspect) kept her out of the bottom last week. She’s still on the cusp, and has to perform really well to avoid being part of this week’s double elimination.
10. Stefano Langone – Stefano needs to begin taking Jlo and Byrd’s advice. Less corny–more connection. And brush up on your Idol history, dude! Stefano has a great voice, but his execution can verge on the cruise ship.
11. Thia Megia – I think Thia is running on fumes at this point. I can’t imagine her sleepy, pageant like performances are earning her new fans. She’s in danger of leaving this week.