I don’t know if anyone else has been watching this season of Survivor , apparently I don’t have anything better to do on a wednesday, but I recognize this shirtless guy as one of the contestants who just got voted off. I kinda felt bad for the guy, nobody would listen to his plans and he ended up getting the boot, but that was until I found this picture of him getting al up close and personal with busty supermodel Kate Upton … You win guy.
But other judges opt to boot springy-haired singer, who was joined by Hollie Cavanagh and Elise Testone in the bottom three. By Adam Graham DeAndre Brackensick on “American Idol” Photo: Fox DeAndre Brackensick sang “I Like It” on Wednesday’s ’80s-themed episode of “American Idol,” but America didn’t like it and sent the springy-haired singer packing on Thursday’s (April 5) elimination episode. The 17-year-old from San Jose, California, came the closest so far this season to being a recipient of a judges’ save, after performing Stevie Wonder’s “Master Blaster” following the news he received the lowest number of America’s votes. “This boy right here, we’ve been watching him for two years. You’re an amazing performer, and I stand by that,” Jennifer Lopez told him. “I think you have an amazing voice, and you’re gonna share a lot with the world, I really do believe that. [But] I only get one vote. I’m sorry, we’re not saving you tonight. I’m sorry, baby.” Host Ryan Seacrest asked Lopez if that meant she voted to save him and the other two judges didn’t. “Yes, that’s what I’m saying,” she said. Brackensick wound up in the doghouse despite receiving positive remarks from the judges Wednesday. Lopez called his performance “natural” and Steven Tyler called it “amazing,” while Randy Jackson told him, “It was one of my best performances from you.” Idol mentor Jimmy Iovine, however, had a different take. “DeAndre was not great!” he barked. “DeAndre needs to come out and grow at a much faster pace. If you look at the boys, Joshua [Ledet] is growing in leaps and bounds, and DeAndre is growing marginally.” Iovine called him the “weakest of the boys” on Wednesday. Iovine had harsh words for several of the contestants Thursday; he said Hollie Cavanagh “is approaching this like a high school performer, and last night wasn’t even a great high school performance,” while he said Elise Testone delivered “an old-fashioned choke.” (It goes without saying that Iovine has become by far the most interesting, honest judge on the show, even though he’s technically not even a judge. Can someone go ahead and change that, please?) It was Cavanagh and Testone, in fact, who joined Brackensick in the week’s bottom three. Brackensick was the first contestant sent to those lonely chairs, followed by Cavanagh and then Testone. Cavanagh was sent back to safety first, leaving Brackensick and Testone to sweat it out. Also on the show, the Wanted performed their hit “Glad You Came” and Kellie Pickler ran through her new single “Where’s Tammy Wynette,” while Jennifer Lopez debuted her “Dance Again” video . What did you think of Brackensick’s elimination? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Top 13 Contestants
Eliminated 16-year-old tells MTV News that Carey’s power ballad ‘One Sweet Day’ has sentimental value. By Christina Garibaldi Shannon Magrane Photo: MTV News Although Shannon Magrane was sent packing on last week’s episode of “American Idol,” the 16-year-old Tampa, Florida, native has no hard feelings about her early elimination. On Monday (March 19), Magrane stopped by the MTV Newsroom and reflected on her fun, if brief time on the “Idol” stage. “It’s hard, you never know what America is thinking,” Magrane admitted. “It’s crazy, but I loved it. It was a great learning experience for me. I loved every minute of it.” During her final performance, Magrane took on Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day,” which received relatively positive remarks from the judges. But in the end, that wasn’t enough to save her from elimination. And while “Idol” judges usually advise contestants to stay away from Carey’s power ballads, Magrane has no regrets about her song choice. “I was happy I sang that song,” Magrane said. “What not a lot of people know about that was that I chose that song because it was a song that me and my Papa sang together,” she added of the tribute to her grandfather. “And [I] sang it because before he passed away, that was our favorite song that he would always sing to me. I just felt emotionally connected to that song.” Magrane wasn’t the only contestant eliminated on “American Idol” last week. Jermaine Jones made a surprising exit after producers claimed he misled them about his history of arrests. The news was a shock to viewers but also to the contestants. “That was definitely one of the biggest shockers on ‘Idol’ that I’ve ever seen so far, and I’ve been watching it since I was a little girl. That was a big shocker,” Magrane said. “We all found out when America found out, we were all so shocked … we were so sad because he was one of the people that were the funniest people in our group. He was always making people feel happy and laugh all the time.” Magrane’s 11th-place elimination means she’ll miss out on the singing show’s summer tour but she told us she plans to attend. For now, the teen just has her sights set on making her mark in the music industry — and finishing high school. “I still have to go to school; I still have school work to do. But on top of that, I’m still going to be working on my dream,” Magrane said. “I really want to be a triple threat. I want to be like Beyonc
The show’s latest finalists leave this writer wondering where the Kelly or Carrie will come from. By Gil Kaufman “American Idol” Top 13 contestants Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty images Dear America, You don’t know me, but I’m the guy who’s been sitting on his couch for several hours each week for nearly 10 years yelling things like, “Are you effing kidding me?,” “Seriously, that guy/girl?” and “Oh, come on, how is it possible that we’re even watching the same show?” I did it because, like you, I was entranced by “American Idol” and the drama of watching potential stars climb their way to the top each week. I held on because I knew the payoff would be that triumphant final night when the confetti falls, Lionel Richie (or Kiss, or some other act your mom loves) sings a duet with a finalist and we get to hear that awful coronation song one more time before it disappears into history’s musical dustbin. But I can’t take it anymore. It’s definitely not me; it’s you. I realize I’ve been pretty judgmental this year, complaining about how “Idol” is showing its age , is blatantly stealing trick from former meanie judge Simon Cowell’s “X Factor” and just generally feels out-of-touch. I’ve been exasperated at the “everyone gets a first-place ribbon!” attitude displayed by the checking-their-watches judges, who are acting like they’re coaches at a first-grade soccer tournament and not the nation’s ratings-giant (for now) singing talent program. But after watching Thursday night’s results show , there is no one left to blame but you. What are you thinking? I get that it’s always fun to put a few ringers into the mix to make things interesting. Who didn’t enjoy the weekly yuks provided by Sanjaya? But this cast is one of the most laughable in the show’s history. And not in the good way. Yes, you passed on toothy other-other-other blonde Baylie Brown; other-other country singer Chelsea Sorell; forgettable “hot” one Chase Likens; maniacal musical Tom Cruise Reed Grimm; annoying, tear-stained Adam Brock; and “street artist” Creighton Fraker, who I was convinced was punking the show anyway. But for god’s sake, you said yes to “funny” man Heejun Han and “Idol” Lazarus Jermaine Jones? And Jimmy Iovine — c’mon, man, you’re one of the most respected men in music! You’re honestly telling me you would make an album with Jones “right now”? I can’t imagine listening to him even one more time, not to mention for 55 minutes. I defy you to find any contemporary artist on the planet who is putting up numbers groaning in that kind of death-howl baritone. And Han? I could throw a pebble in an empty karaoke bar and hit 15 drunken frat boys with more talent. I’m sure Iovine has a way better sound system on his TV at home, but no Beats by Dre subwoofer known to man explains how he believes that foot-stomping, face-making, Dave Matthews impersonator Phillip Phillips is one of the most original voices of our time. I’ve met Matthews, and he’s a very sweet, mellow guy, and even I suspect he’s chilling somewhere going, “Really?” America, I stopped being mad that you’ve failed to vote a female winner into the mix since season six. I can’t totally hate on you for the female finalists, though I continue to be mystified by your embrace of gangly teen Shannon Magrane, who strikes me as average at best. At a time when “Factor” crowned a legitimately powerful soul diva in winner Melanie Amaro and showcased a fascinating redemption story in rapper/crooner Chris Rene, contemporary R&B singer Marcus Canty, white blues man Josh Krajcik, high school cutie Rachel Crow and buzzed-about teen rapper Astro, “Idol” is offering up a warmed-over plate of potential winners whose commercial prospects feel limited at best. I’m not a TV producer, but even I thought the judges missed a potential opportunity to at least create some great reality-show drama when they passed on Brielle Von Hugel and her tenacious stage mom. Yes, Brielle, who, like a boxer, speaks of herself in the third person, is a decent singer at best. But I am willing to put a year’s salary on the line if curly crooner and wild-card survivor DeAndre Brackensick has even an iota of the success the judges and Jimmy said he did — outside of being a hair model or a joke appearance on “The Simpsons” in a Sideshow Bob gag. It’s ironic that the shiny, happy panel saved one of their only negative assessments so far this year for Von Hugel, the one person who could put some “show” into their business. Frankly, the only contestants in the mix I think are even halfway relevant are emo-ish Colton Dixon, soul man Joshua Ledet and power belter Elise Testone. Among those, only Dixon looks or sounds like someone a record label could legitimately turn into a star, and I have a sinking feeling you’ll boot him well before May. Lopez told “Access Hollywood” that she thinks this season’s finalists are “even stronger than last year.” In my world, that is somewhere below faint praise and just north of wishful thinking. I like to see and hear a variety of sounds — hip-hop, blues, rock, etc. — and see a diverse top 13. While you clearly pine for a bumper crop of blondes who sound like county fair stage-fillers and Adele-abees and generic male crooners or “quirky” vocalists who are kinda like, but no better, than the established stars they grew up imitating in their bedrooms. Conventional wisdom has it that, as a show ages, so does its audience. So, I dunno, America, maybe we just want different things. You love theme shows like next week’s Stevie Wonder tribute, while I’m more interested in hearing the contestants sing the songs of today (though not the same one twice in one show) and edgier, more relatable acts that can break the drought of platinum-selling “Idol” winners. Think about it. Until last year’s winner Scotty McCreery, only three “Idol” winners’ debuts had hit the #1 spot on the Billboard 200, and those were from season-one winner Kelly Clarkson, season two’s Ruben Studdard and season four’s Carrie Underwood. I call that a serious rut and you’re in it, and at this point you can’t blame the judges anymore. You voted for these folks, and since I don’t see another Carrie or Kelly in this mix, the best I can hope for at this point is that you prove me wrong. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Top 13 Contestants
Heejun Han was among the contestants who will move on to the live episodes; 10 more will be announced Thursday. By Adam Graham Reed Grimm celebrates on “American Idol” Photo: Fox Rest easy, America. Heejun Han made it through. Han, the biggest personality to emerge on “American Idol” so far this season, was revealed on Wednesday’s (February 22) episode as one of the 24 seminfinalists who will make it through to the live episodes, which begin next week. From a final pool of 42, 14 semifinalists were unveiled during Wednesday’s episode; the final 10 will be made public during Thursday’s one-hour episode. Joining Han — producers cued “Hey Jude,” which almost sounds like “Heejun,” when he made it through — on the guys’ side are the incredibly named Phillip Phillips; tiny soul man Creighton Fraker; former family band singer Reed Grimm; gospel-voiced Joshua Ledet; and the mohawk-mulleted Colton Dixon. Representing for the ladies are Erika Van Pelt, Jen Hirsh, Haley Johnsen, Elise Testone, Chelsea Sorrell, Baylie Brown, Jessica Sanchez and Brielle Von Hugel. This being “American Idol,” however, a simple “you made it!” is never quite dramatic enough. Instead, the judges have to drag out their decisions, cruelly suggesting the contestants have been cut and telling them everything short of, “You’ll never sing in this town again, baby,” before waiting a beat and then adding, “because this town’s no longer big enough for you, because you made it through!” Consider Randy Jackson’s speech on Wednesday to Ledet. “You know what, sometimes in life, you know, you do these shows and you do these things, and sometimes the better singers don’t quite make it, because everything doesn’t quite line up,” Jackson told him. “You know, it’s heartbreaking for us, you know what I mean? It’s like, that’s why this day is so hard, because we have to say ‘bye’ to so many people that we love that are so talented, that everything just didn’t line up. And this season’s definitely tough, you know; we’re trying to find the exact right 24. So for you man, you made it bro.” Ledet reacted to the news by singing, “Thank you, Jesus.” Likewise, when Jennifer Lopez told Van Pelt the news that she’d made it through, she framed it by telling her — deep breath — “You know, watching everybody over the past few days, we were just saying some people just blew us away, but we had a lot of people who didn’t do as amazing as we thought they were gonna do, and unfortunately you were one of those people. Because we had our eye on you so much from the beginning, because of that voice that comes out of that body, you know? And we’re all such fans, and so yesterday was difficult, ’cause we have to decide who we’re gonna take a chance on and who we’re gonna say, ‘Maybe next time.’ ” Then she told dropped the hammer: “We’re gonna take one more chance on you, Erika.” Well, at least it’s more dramatic than just texting the singers, “congrats, u made it!” “Idol” also got rid of a few familiar faces during Wednesday’s episode, and this year’s resident cowboy contestant Richie Law was one of the singers shown the door. Others who were cut included St. Louis standout Lauren Gray and an assortment of contestants who haven’t received much camera time, including Blaire Sieber, Naomi Gillies, Neco Starr, Clayton Farhat, River St. James and Caleb Johnson. Most of them seemed to be delivered the news in a less-harsh manner than the ones who made it to the next round. Thursday’s episode is set to showcase the rest of this year’s semifinalists, as well as reveal the fate of Adam Brock, the family man whose destiny hung in the balance during Wednesday’s cliffhanger ending. What did you think of Wednesday’s “Idol,” and are you ready to vote for Heejun already? Let us know in the comments!
Fellow ‘Idol’ judge Jennifer Lopez dishes to MTV News about working alongside ‘most positive’ person. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Jennifer Lopez Photo: MTV News As season 11 of “American Idol” chugs along, it’s clear that Jennifer Lopez , Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler have found their footing and place with one another. The threesome is already into their second season as the show’s brain trust, and J.Lo is revealing just what makes sharing the judging panel with “Idol” vet Jackson so great. “He has all different kinds of sunglasses. There was one pair where I was like, ‘Those are too big … those are just too big!’ and he’s like, ‘I love these,’ ” she laughed to MTV News during a recent chat about the Fox reality singing competition. “The thing I love about Randy is he’s always so positive, even when he gives negative criticism on the show, ’cause he’s the hardest of all of us.” While Jackson is straight up when it comes to his feelings about the contestants’ talent — or lack thereof — it’s his cool “dawg” demeanor that makes his criticism a much easier pill to swallow. “He’ll straight-out tell you that was awful. We won’t say it,” she said, adding that she and Tyler don’t verbalize their feelings as straightforwardly. “Even though he’s that guy, he’s the most positive and the most great-energy person ever. He can laugh at himself so genuinely at the same time. He’s just an amazing person.” As amazing as his judging style is Jackson’s aforementioned sense of style, which reaches far beyond spectacles. “And he loves crazy sunglasses and I love them on him. Without the glasses, it’s not really Randy — that and the shoes. He has a crazy taste in those things, like a little bit out there,” she said. “Not mad at that.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Jennifer Lopez Related Artists Randy Jackson Jennifer Lopez
Fellow ‘Idol’ judge Jennifer Lopez dishes to MTV News about working alongside ‘most positive’ person. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Jennifer Lopez Photo: MTV News As season 11 of “American Idol” chugs along, it’s clear that Jennifer Lopez , Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler have found their footing and place with one another. The threesome is already into their second season as the show’s brain trust, and J.Lo is revealing just what makes sharing the judging panel with “Idol” vet Jackson so great. “He has all different kinds of sunglasses. There was one pair where I was like, ‘Those are too big … those are just too big!’ and he’s like, ‘I love these,’ ” she laughed to MTV News during a recent chat about the Fox reality singing competition. “The thing I love about Randy is he’s always so positive, even when he gives negative criticism on the show, ’cause he’s the hardest of all of us.” While Jackson is straight up when it comes to his feelings about the contestants’ talent — or lack thereof — it’s his cool “dawg” demeanor that makes his criticism a much easier pill to swallow. “He’ll straight-out tell you that was awful. We won’t say it,” she said, adding that she and Tyler don’t verbalize their feelings as straightforwardly. “Even though he’s that guy, he’s the most positive and the most great-energy person ever. He can laugh at himself so genuinely at the same time. He’s just an amazing person.” As amazing as his judging style is Jackson’s aforementioned sense of style, which reaches far beyond spectacles. “And he loves crazy sunglasses and I love them on him. Without the glasses, it’s not really Randy — that and the shoes. He has a crazy taste in those things, like a little bit out there,” she said. “Not mad at that.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Jennifer Lopez Related Artists Randy Jackson Jennifer Lopez
Nicole Scherzinger puts last week’s drama behind her to focus on Josh Krajcik and her results-show performance. By Jim Cantiello Rachel Crow performs on “X Factor” Photo: FOX MTV News’ own Jim Cantiello is exclusively covering “The X Factor” rehearsals. Read on for his fly-on-the-wall backstage report! LOS ANGELES — One week after one of the most dramatic eliminations in reality-TV history, the energy on the “X Factor” set is still uneasy. Rachel Crow’s sunny presence is noticeably absent from backstage, with the remaining four contestants taking the semifinals deadly serious. The $5 million contract is on everyone’s minds, and they’re not letting anything distract them — not even Rachel’s shocking exit . Meanwhile, the judge who facilitated Rachel’s booting, Nicole Scherzinger, was still visibly upset days after the results show. Her main-show interview, normally shot right outside the stage doors, was relocated to a quiet third-floor area for extra privacy. She couldn’t even talk about the incident in complete sentences until Tuesday. But now she’s focused on making her remaining contestant, Josh Krajcik, the first U.S. “X Factor” winner, as well as prepping a brand-new single she’ll be debuting live on Thursday night’s results show. The million-dollar question: Will the audience that booed Nicole a week ago be receptive to a performance? We’ll know soon enough! Nicole doesn’t have to stress about any more hairy decisions. From here on out, the judges have zero voting power. It’s just America’s vote, and the contestants are nervous that they won’t have their mentors in their corner when the results are revealed. Adding to the stress: a mystery bug that’s making its way around the crew. Both Chris Rene and Marcus Canty have suffered through the X-virus in previous weeks. Now the show’s last remaining female, Melanie Amaro, has been floored with it. She was more than 30 minutes late to press interviews on Monday and she barely got through her interviews with the main show, yet when it was time to hit the stage for rehearsal, you’d never know she was battling a bug. Musically, expect some exciting things from all four contestants. Chris Rene is trying his hand at a new instrument. Josh is determined to put his unique stamp on a song we’ve all heard on reality singing competitions several times before. Despite being in the bottom two three weeks in a row, Marcus refuses to give up and is rehearsing harder than ever. And Melanie has been practicing a power note that may shatter your windows. And finally, “The X Factor” was able to secure private dressing rooms for the remaining four contenders, but the show won’t let their egos get too big. After two days, they had to give them up for another production. The Cowell giveth and the Cowell taketh away. Catch Jim on “The X Factor Pepsi Preshow Live,” streaming at 7 p.m. ET tonight on TheXFactorUSA.com !
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