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Lee DeWyze’s Friends Reveal ‘American Idol’ Finalist’s Improv Skills

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘He’ll look at the pool table and sing a song about it,’ Brian Friedopfer tells MTV News. By Gil Kaufman Brian Friedopfer, Lee DeWyze’s Friend Photo: MTV News We’ve gotten to know Lee DeWyze, 24, a bit on “American Idol” this season. We’ve learned that he struggled a bit in high school, used to work at a paint store and that he can make even an old “Idol” chestnut like “Hallelujah” feel brand-new again . But the one thing nobody has talked about, that his friends and family say is actually one of Lee’s strongest skills, is his ability to improvise lyrics on the spot. There’s not really room on the show to freestyle, but if you believe his karaoke pal Brian Friedopfer, 27, Lee can throw down off the top of the dome with the best of them. “He always had [his guitar] in his car or if we were at a bar during the summer … he’ll bust it out [and] we’ll have sing-a-longs. Everybody would be doing harmonies. He’ll make up lyrics on the spot,” Friedopfer recalled. “It’s crazy. He’ll sing a song about a bottle of beer, about anything. He’ll look at the pool table and sing a song about it. … I don’t think you’re going to have the ability to see it on the show, unfortunately.” DeWyze’s sister, Sarah DeWyze-Salas, 26, said Lee would show off his on-the-spot skills during family vacations as well. “Every year, we used to go on vacation, [and] we would sit around the campfire, and he would go, one-by-one, just making up something about us,” she recalled during a viewing party in support of the onetime high school hell-raiser in his hometown last week. “He’s always been really, really good at making things up and having fun with us.” His old boss at Mt. Prospect Paint, Bill Lagattolla, told a similar tale, recalling that on slow Sundays, Lee would bring in his guitar and jam, making up new words to old songs or riffing off of customers and co-workers in the store and making up lyrics to improvised jams to pass the time. During his senior year at Forest View Alternative school, assistant dean Dave Winsauer said Lee used his unique skills to make a long class trip down to Atlanta much more bearable. “I brought my guitar and … Lee played the guitar in the van most of the way down there, and … he would just start playing a blues riff or something like that and start making up songs about the different kids in the van or me,” Winsauer laughed. “He was great. He was hilarious.” In fact, DeWyze was so good at making up songs on the spot, Winsauer tried to get the teenager to try out for the famous Second City comedy troupe in Chicago to see if he could motivate the budding singer/songwriter to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. Another friend, Mike Corsi, 27, who met DeWyze in high school detention more than nine years ago, said in addition to being a decent beatboxer (watch out, Blake Lewis ), Lee could riff a song off anything he saw. “You would talk to him, and you would start telling a story, and then he’d cut you off and sing a song about yourself,” Corsi said. “I’m a deli manager for Jewel-Osco food stores, and I would be talking to him, and then all of a sudden he’d be like, ‘In the deli!’ ” before taking off and singing a few free-association verses about his friend’s supermarket gig. That talent also came in handy when the perpetually broke twosome would go hang out at a local Denny’s and not even have enough change to buy coffee. “Lee would be in the back booth playing his songs, and they just kind of let it go,” he said, alluding to an unspoken free-coffee-for-fresh-tunes quid pro quo. Would you like Lee to show off his improv skills on “Idol”? 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’ Top 3 Visit Their Hometowns ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances

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‘American Idol’ Finalist Casey James Was Always ‘A Throwback’

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘He had no cell phone, no computer, no TV,’ musician Danny Ross recalls of the old-school ‘Idol’ guitar ace. By James Montgomery Casey James Photo: FOX Unlike most of the “American Idol” audience, Danny Ross has had a front-row seat to the Casey James show for years now. As owner of the Fort Worth, Texas, blues club the Keys Lounge, Ross has seen the “Idol” finalist grow from a fresh-faced kid to a full-fledged guitar ace, and no, he’s not surprised that James now stands on the brink of big-time fame. In fact, Ross always thought James was destined for greatness. “I’ve known him for a while, and I always knew there was something about him,” Ross told MTV News on Tuesday. “His mom is a singer, and he’d come sit in when he was a baby-faced kid; we’d have these blues jams. And as he got more proficient, he started booking his own acoustic gigs, then with an electric band. At first, his mother used to have to come with him,” Ross explained. “Then me and him hit it off and we started playing together … he’s just got it. A lot of people in other places — New York, Dallas — they’re in it for the money and the women … they’re ‘scene players,’ and then there are those who are in it for the music, and Casey is definitely one of those.” Ross has been playing with James on and off for more than two years now, most recently jamming with him at the Keys during his “Idol” hometown visit. He said that in all his years as a musician, he’s never met someone as dedicated and in love with playing music as Casey. To the point where, sometimes, he’d have to forcibly remove the guitar from James’ hands. “I’d have parties at my house, and Casey would play … and he’d just keep playing,” Ross laughed. “It would be 3, 4 in the morning, and I’d have gone to bed, and he’d still be playing. If there was one person still at the party, he’d keep playing for them. He’s that dedicated.” To that end, Ross said James reminds him of a bygone era of bluesmen — the kind who would travel from town to town, playing gigs until the sun came up. To be honest, that’s not all that far from the truth — James truly doesn’t belong to these times. “He had no cell phone, no computer, no TV … I remember telling him he needed to get his e-mail address out there, to get some publicity for his gigs at Keys, and he told me, ‘Man, I’m just not into that.’ He’s a real traditional guy, and I think that’s why he gets along with us older musicians,” Ross said. “He’s a throwback — he’s got a house, and he’s got these two basset hounds and, you know, I think he’d be happy just living there, with them, playing gigs. He’s honestly in it just for the music.” Which is why, Ross said, James almost didn’t try out for “American Idol.” (“His mother let him borrow her truck and told him to get his butt up to Denver and audition,” Ross chuckled.) But now that he has, it would appear that the sky really is the limit. And Ross, as he always has, sees nothing but big things in Casey’s future. “I think America likes him … I think, overall, because of his playing — he’s played to all kinds of crowds, big and small and now national, and he has the poise to do anything,” he said. “He’s a far better guitar player than he’s shown on the show. … I really think he could be the next John Mayer, only without the attitude.” Are you rooting for Casey on “American Idol”? 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’ Top 3 Visit Their Hometowns

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Crystal Bowersox And Lee DeWyze ‘In It To Win It’ On ‘American Idol’

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Casey James seemingly punches his ticket home with lackluster pre-finale performance night. By Gil Kaufman Crystal Bowersox Photo: FOX It’s down to three, and if this season (or any season, frankly) of “American Idol” has taught us anything, it’s all about song choice. Left to their own devices, the top three mostly blew it on Tuesday night with their selections, with only Lee DeWyze earning lukewarm praise for his pick, while Crystal Bowersox and Casey James both elicited tepid responses. Things turned around in the second half when all three got thumbs-ups from the judges (who also happened to pick the songs), and DeWyze sprinted ahead of the pack with a powerhouse performance of the oft-covered Leonard Cohen soul-stirrer “Hallelujah,” which has been the savior of many an “Idol” contestant. First up, though, was Cool, Texas’ James, who chose little-known singer Eric Hutchinson’s 2008 song “OK, It’s Alright With Me,” a tune he said felt like something he could have written. James sang the bouncy pop tune in his signature bluesy rasp and smiled his way through the peppy lyrics, earning a clap-along from the pumped-up audience but clearly not impressing the panel. Randy Jackson said it was just all right and deemed the song choice too safe and easy, and Ellen DeGeneres agreed, reminding James that what he really needed to do was blow the crowd away. “The problem is, it is arguably the most important night of your life,” Simon Cowell said. “You’re lucky you’ve got two song choices, because I would compare that first song to if you were having dinner, that’s the salad. In other words, there’s something more hopefully substantial to come.” He ended by saying James appeared to be busking for change rather than competing to win. Bowersox went with a more recognizable song, picking “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge, a song that seemed like an obvious choice for her voice and blues-mama style. Opening with some Bob Dylan-esque harmonica and finger-picked acoustic guitar, the Elliston, Ohio, native came out a bit wobbly with the first couple of lines but soon found her vocal footing and leaned into the choruses with her big, brassy voice, biting into the passionate lyrics and displaying her signature sass. Kara DioGuardi thought she got lost in the arrangement a bit but still brought a decent vocal. Jackson also didn’t love the arrangement but said Bowersox rose above with her vocals and won him over. Cowell agreed and gave her props for never once compromising during the entire competition. “You came out here and you just decided to do what is you,” he said. “It’s a very honest performance, and I think you probably made the right choice.” Also slinging his acoustic guitar was Mt. Prospect, Illinois’ Lee DeWyze, who said the lyrics to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” — a tune he has frequently performed at karaoke bars with his hometown pals — have always spoken to him. Starting out solo acoustic, DeWyze didn’t change up the arrangement of the classic-rock ballad too much but still managed to put his patented bar-band-crooner stamp on the tune. After asking him why he chose the song — Lee explained that it just makes him happy — Cowell said Lee picked well. “I don’t think you won round one; I think you just crushed the other two,” Cowell said. Comparing him to a “little baby lamb” when they first met him, Ellen busted out another of her bizarre metaphors and said Lee’s blossomed into a carefree impala. Randy agreed that it was a brilliant song choice and growled, “Somebody here is feelin’ like they could win!” Kara said he did what every wannabe “Idol” winner needs to do: show dynamics and pick a song that has meaning, calling round one for DeWyze. For their judges’ pick, Randy and Kara went with John Mayer’s “Daughters” for James, saying it fit his commercial appeal to women. His eyes narrowed in concentration, James gently strummed an electric guitar, accompanied by some subtle piano and acoustic guitar, as he played a straightforward, smoldering jazz cover of the only contemporary song in the mix, making some flirty eye contact with the camera, and, seemingly, some ladies in the crowd. “This fits you like a glove, and I hope that you continue in this direction,” Jackson enthused, seconded by DioGuardi, who said the song showed his more artistic, vulnerable side. Cowell couldn’t help but laugh at Kara’s commendation of her song choice, saying he liked the performance but had an issue with the “lazy” arrangement and held his fellow judges responsible for not providing James with a “moment.” Ellen gave Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed” to Crystal, hoping it would help show off MamaSox’s range. Sitting on the stairs to start, Crystal put some gospel grit into the tune as she made her way down the stage, growling the lyrics (without changing the gender pronouns!) and putting some serious soul fire on the subtle solo hit from the ex-Beatle. “I couldn’t have asked for more. That’s what I was hoping you’d do, and you did it,” smiled DeGeneres, after Jackson shouted, “Great song, great vocals, and America, we got somebody else in it to win it!” Kara praised her for putting down the guitar and showing off new parts of her voice. “What you’ve proved after that performance is that you’ve got soul,” said Cowell, who was initially wary of the song choice. “You worked outside of your comfort zone, and after that, you may be thanking Ellen next week for putting you in the final. That was terrific.” Going back to a song that has been pay dirt for several former “Idol” contestants, Cowell chose Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” which the judge said he suspected DeWyze could knock out of the box. Backed by a string section and a gospel choir and bathed in white spotlights, Lee poured all of his gravelly spirit into the song, his voice rising to meet the ascending arrangement before climaxing with a sustained note that earned him a standing ovation and, likely, a berth in the finale. “Lee, you are what this show is all about,” Kara gushed. “Somebody who starts in one place and ends up here tonight in an incredible, epic moment. You are the heart of this show this season, and you just owned the entire night.” Jackson gave props to Cowell for picking the song and called the performance unbelievable, as Ellen concurred, calling the tour de force “stunning.” Never one to mince words, Cowell said he was very proud of DeWyze and said the performance proved he was a “fantastic singer and a great person” who is on his way to realizing his dream. Wednesday night’s elimination show will determine this season’s finalists and will feature performances from Justin Bieber and Travis Garland. How do you think the top three did? Who came out on top? Who is probably going to go home? Leave 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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Lee DeWyze Spun Teenage Rebellion Into ‘American Idol’ Gold

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘High schools don’t necessarily have courses that tap into that kind of talent,’ Dean Patricia Tedaldi-Monti recalls of ‘Idol’ finalist. By Gil Kaufman Lee DeWyze Photo: Amy Silverman MT. PROSPECT, Illinois — You wouldn’t think so by looking at him on “American Idol,” but there was a time when Lee DeWyze was a teenage rebel. Though he’s shown a quiet, respectful demeanor in his climb into the “Idol” top 3, like many teens, DeWyze struggled with authority in high school and, according to those who knew him at the time, his headstrong determination might be responsible for setting him on a path to potential musical stardom. “Lee was the first student we had, and maybe the only student, who said, ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do this high school the way it’s set up, I need to go somewhere else,’ ” recalled Dr. Patricia Tedaldi-Monti, dean of students at Prospect High School, where Lee attended from ninth grade until halfway through senior year. It wasn’t that he couldn’t hack the academic work, she said, it was just that Lee was struggling to fit into the regimented rules of the school. If anything, she was impressed at the maturity he showed in expressing his frustration with traditional schooling. “He had music going through his head and … high schools don’t necessarily have courses that tap into that kind of talent, which is unfortunate,” she said. “So I kind of say shame on us. You know, we didn’t have the ‘I Want To Be a Rock Star’ course.” Tedaldi-Monti said DeWyze was not involved in any of the school’s musical programs and she never saw him bring his guitar to school, but it was obvious even then that he was focused on pursing his dream. “Like many kids that come to our school, [Lee] was full of energy and ideas,” said Dan Gentry, a teaching assistant at Forest View Alternative School, the high school DeWyze attended after leaving Prospect High. Gentry said he tried repeatedly to encourage Lee to come up with a fallback career in case music didn’t work out. But even at 17, DeWyze resisted , saying he was determined to make it. “On his first interview with ‘Idol,’ he said, ‘I am music, that’s all I really know,’ and I thought back to when I talked to him, and I [had] said, ‘You know, you need a fallback career,’ and he didn’t have one,” Gentry said. Like Tedaldi-Monti, Gentry had fond memories of Lee tapping out a beat on his desk or leg and always humming or singing a song he was working on. “He said, ‘Then I don’t have one. Music is my life.’ ” Although he worried that Lee was limiting himself, Gentry said he couldn’t be more proud now that DeWyze has made it, and he uses his former student’s “Idol” run as a way to motivate his current students. An assistant dean at Forest View Alternative, Dave Winsauer, said he always tries to discourage kids from leaving school before graduation — DeWyze reportedly quit Forest View just shy of graduation — but he could see Lee’s determination and hoped for the best. “Lee’s kind of an old soul,” Winsauer said. “Talking to Lee’s not like talking to a kid. Even when he was here … I mean, he had his moments … but a lot of times you could have a pretty serious conversation with him. And you knew he was listening and taking it all in and trying to do the best that he could.” There may be no one who knows the ins and outs of DeWyze’s progression better than Amy Silverman, the Special Education coordinator at Buffalo Grove High School. Silverman met Lee in the summer of 2003, when she was an instructor on a 10-day Upward Bound trip to Wisconsin and Michigan. “Lee and I kind of hit it off,” Silverman remembered. She has helped coordinate DeWyze’s recent homecoming activities , as well as weekly viewing parties and the sales of DeWyze T-shirts for a local charity. “He did bring his guitar with him and he pretty much ended up sitting in the passenger seat … There were a lot of hours on the road. And he was entertaining us with his guitar at the time.” (Silverman’s office is a warehouse of classic photos of Lee strumming his guitar.) DeWyze had only picked up the instrument a year or two earlier, and Silverman said she was impressed with how well he played considering he’d had no formal training. A few months later, while she was teaching at Forest View Alternative, the program’s director brought Lee around and he ended up in her classroom for the next year. Silverman and another instructor bought Lee his first microphone a short time later, and Silverman recalled seeing him use it during one of his first public performances in the basement of a diner. “Him and a couple high school buddies [were] sitting in the meat locker,” she said, describing the scene. “There’s two teachers and a bunch of high school kids … smashed potatoes and tomatoes all over the floor. And there’s Lee playing, having a good old time.” From banging out a song on the piano at her parents’ house to jamming on the drums in her basement with her kids, DeWyze, Silverman said, is constantly surprising her with his musical abilities. Though she couldn’t go into specifics, she said, like a lot of teens, Lee went through some “stuff” in high school. “Lee was never mean or nasty,” she said of the 24-year-old singer, whom she described as shy and humble. “He was never doing illegal things; he was never being harmful or hurtful. Lee liked to argue, Lee liked to push buttons. He liked to push my buttons. Lee was very smart, so he would challenge the system to make sure his voice was heard.” Holding up one of the handful of Lee-shirts her students are wearing in support of DeWyze, Tedaldi-Monti recalled the day the soft-spoken teenager came into her office before leaving the school and told her, “I’m going to be a rock star. “And you [and my other teachers] are going to be in the front row, and I’m going to be playing a really big concert.” She laughed, recalling that she told him, “Well, stay in touch, because I’d like to see that really big concert.” And though she counseled him to keep reaching for his dreams while planning for a backup, Lee’s promise is now coming true. “And so, it is going to happen,” she said proudly. “He’s a rock star.” 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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‘American Idol’ Top Three Get Warm Homecoming During Whirlwind Visits

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox and Casey James greeted their hometown fans on Friday. By Gil Kaufman Crystal Bowersox visits her hometown of Toledo, Ohio, on Friday Photo: Getty Images Winning “American Idol” is the goal, but for the top three finalists of every season, going home is always the sweetest trip. The remaining trio — Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox and Casey James — all took trips back to their respective hometowns on Friday and were greeted with parades, huge crowds and the first sight of their adoring hometown crowds since the finals began. People magazine tagged along with all three and reported that Bowersox visited all her old haunts when she returned to the Toledo, Ohio, area, spending time with bassist Frankie May and dropping in at one of the bars she played in as a young teenager, Papa’s Tavern . After flying into a private airstrip on Thursday night, the 24-year-old singer popped in to the local Fox TV station, hit a few radio stations and then waved to the crowd during a parade in downtown Toledo, where she got a glass key to the city from Mayor Michael Bell. She celebrated by performing her original ode to the city, “Holy Toledo,” which has become a minor local radio hit, to a crowd of 5,000. Then she moved to the cozy confines of Papa’s, where she performed a mix of covers and originals for a crowd made up mostly of regulars. There was a lunch at her dad’s house, some downtime with son Tony and then a show for 4,000 at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds, where she urged fans to vote. The day ended with the tossing of the first pitch and the singing of the national anthem at Fifth Third Field, the home of the minor league baseball team the Toledo Mud Hens. Lee DeWyze , 24, couldn’t keep his emotions in check during his tearful trip back to Chicago, where he dropped in on teachers at his old high school, hung out with his family and played a nine-song acoustic show for more than 41,000 at the Arlington Park Racetrack, according to People. His day began with the reading of the local weather on Fox Chicago News, some radio-station drop-ins, a first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game, a parade and a check-in with his old boss at Mt. Prospect Paint. It was a similarly hectic routine for Casey James, 27, who made 10 stops during his visit to Texas, the magazine reported. After visiting his alma mater, Milsap High School, which set out a red carpet surrounded by screaming fans, James spent some quality time with his mother, brother and two dogs, Daisy and Buster. He also paid an emotional visit to Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital, where doctors treated him six years ago after a serious motorcycle crash. He played his guitar and sang a few songs at one of his old haunts, the packed Fort Worth club Keys Lounge. He also reunited with his family for a picnic at the home he built himself and popped in to the Fort Worth Stockyard, where he got a key to the city. James was the only finalist to have a two-day home visit, which also included a show on Saturday at the tiny community center in his hometown of Cool, Texas, and a bigger gig in front of 4,000 at day’s end at his high school stadium. The final three will sing two songs each on Tuesday night: one of their own choosing and one chosen by the producers. The next night’s elimination will pave the way for the May 26 finale.

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30 Old People Having Fun (Photos)

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood

Filed under: Humor , Photos Old people are often a lot less functional than regular people, but that doesn’t make them unimportant. Old people are great for a lot of things which we should all remember to appreciate. They can make wonderful grandparents to a child who will remember their kindness, home baked cookies and time together for an entire lifetime. Having been around much longer than anyone else, old people are usually really smart and can spread wisdom to complete strangers with just a sentence or two. The elderly are often seen as crotchety and rigid, but there are many who really believe that age lies in the mind. There are some people over the age of 90 who can stand on their heads, dance, or do sports . That’s impressive! In appreciation of all the awesome stuff old people do, here are 30 pictures of old people having fun. Old People Dance Party Flipping the Ol’ Bird Beach Boogie Down This granny gets cross-eyed when she drinks. “Old People Are Still Worthwhile” Old People Halloween Grandma Loves Satan “Cannabis May Cut Alzheimer’s Risk” “Pot Use Soars Among Older Americans” Nuns With Guns Funky Old Lady Gramps and Guitar Hero Old People Pillow Fight Old People Party Elderly Wii Baseball Jack Nicholson Is Pretty Old Old People Video Games Don’t Mess With Granny! Chug, Chug, Chug! Cuddle Party Old People Skating Old Hippies Grandma Drank Too Much Pretty Princess Fight to the Death! Old Nudists Sexy Grannies Granny’s First (And Possibly Last) Gravity Bong Old Lady Beer Bong She Looks So Happy! Share Continue reading →

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B.o.B Brings ‘Nothin’ On You’ To ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Bruno Mars joins Atlanta MC for the late-night show on Wednesday. By Jayson Rodriguez Photo: ABC B.o.B and Bruno Mars took their act to the late-night airwaves on Wednesday night, when the pair performed the rapper’s hit single “Nothin’ on You” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Backed by a band, with Mars on guitar , B.o.B led the set through his syrupy breakout smash dedicated to the pretty ladies. “Hands down, there will never be another one/ I been around and never seen another one,” the Atlanta MC rapped. ” ‘Cause your style I ain’t really got nothing on/ And you wild when you ain’t got nothing on.” Dressed down in jeans, a red jacket, a striped T-shirt and a paperboy cap, the bespectacled B.o.B was boisterous and energetic through his appearance, which also included an acoustic version of “Lovelier Than You,” from his recent chart-topping debut The Adventures of Bobby Ray. Sans Mars, B.o.B. closed out the show with “Lovelier Than You.” “Maybe one day, girl, I pray/ We can float off to space/ Now hold my hand, I’ll lead the way/ And I won’t let go or fall astray,” he sang on the melodic number, while strumming his guitar. ” ‘Cause ain’t no ifs, ands, buts or maybes/ You’re my baby, my lady/ And don’t you worry, baby, please.” Bobby Ray then kicked the accompanying rhyme: “Well, well, well, I say I’m dangerously, dangerously, dangerously in love/ ‘Cause I love her more than I love myself and it’s still that ain’t enough,” he rapped. “If this a dream, I don’t want to wake up/ We go together like the tub and the shower head above.” What did you think of B.o.B’s performance? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists B.o.B Bruno Mars

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Lee Dewyze Supporters Psyched For His Homecoming After Making ‘Idol’ Top Three

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Friends, teachers and fans gathered to root Dewyze on in his Illinois hometown Wednesday night. By Gil Kaufman Lee Dewyze fans Photo: Gil Kaufman/ MTV News MT. PROSPECT, Illinois — It’s not that Lee Dewyze’s supporters are feeling cocky, but when they — from his high school principal to the drummer in his band to his old boss at Mt. Prospect Paint — were asked if they’re planning to go to his homecoming parade and rally on Friday, the answer was a resounding, triumphant, “Yes!” And that was days, and hours, before Dewyze got the news on Wednesday night that he would be coming home after making it into the “Idol” top three. When the verdict was finally read, the crowd of 100-plus supporters at the Blues Bar in Mt. Prospect erupted into joyous clapping, shouting, whistles and hugs as they all scrambled to figure out who they needed to call in order to get tickets to Friday night’s big event. “My heart is pounding a hundred miles a minute,” said a teary-eyed Karen Kinnare, who could hardly contain her pride at Dewyze’s success. Her husband, a local general contractor, used to buy paint from Dewyze when the guitar slinger was but a humble paint salesman. And though he’d never seen “Idol” before, when Kinnare was watching auditions earlier this year, her husband came in and yelled, “Hey, that’s my paint guy!” Like just about everywhere MTV News went this week in the area, there were plenty of other people at the bar who knew Lee or his family or who had seen him play at the countless clubs in the area. They packed Blues Bar wearing their bright green “Vote 4 Lee” shirts and pins, waiting breathlessly for host Ryan Seacrest to spill the big news. As they killed time in the Blues Brothers-themed bar, they could buy Lee shirts and buttons — including one that referenced his days as a paint salesman that read “Lee Dewyze Shook My Cans” — as well as copies of his two independently released CDs and delicious homemade cookies imprinted with the “Idol” logo and the plea “Vote for Lee!” from the Central Continental Bakery, which is located just across the street. Bakery owner Marilyn Czerniak said she’s sold more than 5,000 cookies to fans across the country over the past few weeks and proudly showed off a signed photo of Lee holding one of the confections that his mother had brought out to Los Angeles for him. Matt Mika, 25, has known Lee for a while, and like a lot of people in the area, he also had a great story about the “Idol” star’s formative musical years. “The first guitar I’ve ever seen him play was my brother’s guitar in my basement, and that was really one of the first nights he ever played guitar,” said Mika of Dewyze, who didn’t pick up the instrument until he was old enough to drive. “I think he’s going to move on. I don’t think he’s going to have any trouble.” Mika’s friend, mowhawked Mike Musich, 24, who went to high school with Lee, said he was also feeling good about things just before the show kicked off. “Tonight I think it’s going to be the same as usual. I think Lee’s going to coast on through and come home and give us a good show on Friday,” said Musich. Once word broke that Dewyze had made the cut, both men were ecstatic and eager to see their old friend and bask in the glory of his newfound fame. “We’ll be lucky to get two minutes with him,” Mika laughed. Just moments after Dewyze made the cut, Tara Battaglia, 18, was already planning on ditching school on Friday to attend the parade. “I was screaming ‘oh my God,’ I was so excited,” said the teen, who was wearing her bright green “Vote 4 Lee” shirt. “I’m probably not going to go to school on Friday. I’m definitely going to follow him around, go to the Cubs game, watch him throw the first pitch, go to the parade, go to the concert. … I knew he was going to make it.” Her sister, Deanna, 19, was equally excited, but admitted that she got nervous when Seacrest was chatting up the other contestants first. “I was biting my nails, I was so nervous,” she said. “And when they said his name, I screamed and almost fell off my chair.” Earlier in the day, Dr. Patricia Tedaldi-Monti, dean of students at Prospect High School, where Dewyze attended high school before transferring to an alternative school during his senior year, said Lee promised her he’d make it big someday. Surrounded by a variety of Lee-shirts in her office, Tedaldi-Monti recalled the day when the shy teenager who was always tapping out a beat on his desk or leg and playing an imaginary guitar came into her office and told her, “I’m going to be a rock star. “And you [and my other teachers] are going to be in the front row, and I’m going to be playing a really big concert.” She laughed, recalling that she told him, “Well stay in touch, because I’d like to see that really big concert.” And though she counseled him to keep reaching for his dreams while planning for a backup, Lee’s promise is now coming true. “And so, it is going to happen,” she said proudly. “He’s a rock star.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos Lee Dewyze’s ‘American Idol’ Experience

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Lee Dewyze Supporters Psyched For His Homecoming After Making ‘Idol’ Top Three

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Crystal Bowersox Shines On ‘American Idol’ Movie Night

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘After that performance, you, Crystal, are back in the game,’ critiqued judge Simon Cowell. By Eric Ditzian Crystal Bowersox on “American Idol” Tuesday Photo: FOX Would it be a blockbuster or a bomb? That was the key question heading into Songs of the Cinema Night on Tuesday’s (May 11) “American Idol,” a theme whose approved song list heavily favored a perplexing mix of tunes from golden oldies, ’80s action flicks and Disney cartoons. And while this Hollywood-centric episode might not be the stuff of awards-season glory, the “Idol” crew handled themselves well in front of the camera. Crystal Bowersox shined like a seasoned A-lister and made Lee Dewyze look like a breakout star during their duet. Meanwhile, Casey James and Michael Lynche proved they just might not be bankable solo stars at this point in the competition. Dewyze got the night started with “Kiss From a Rose,” a nod back to season eight contestant Danny Gokey, thanks to mentor Jamie Foxx. During the pre-performance video, the Oscar-winning actor got up in Dewyze’s face as he did with Gokey last year, giving the singer what Foxx called the Michael Mann treatment (a reference to the famously intense director of “Miami Vice” and “Collateral”). “Yeah, it’s different,” said a visibly uncomfortable Dewyze of his mentor’s approach. Dewyze brought that unease to the stage during his straightforward take on Seal’s hit from “Batman Forever.” His higher register was simply not up to the song’s requirements. Ellen DeGeneres alone was impressed with the rendition. Randy Jackson wanted to see more of a rocker attitude and more of an effort to switch up the song’s arrangement, while Simon Cowell laid down one his most dreaded analogies: “That was verging on — I’m afraid to say — karaoke,” the Brit judge said. And so the night proceeded on from karaoke to what DeGeneres mockingly dubbed “one of the classic, great movies of all time.” Yes, Michael Lynche selected a tune from “Free Willy,” one sung by Michael Jackson but nonetheless made famous in a movie about a boy’s enduring friendship with an Orca whale. Foxx was not impressed during rehearsals, nor were the judges when they heard his live version. Backed by a choir and with a lovely gospel vibe to the song, Big Mike sounded perfectly lovely. But Kara DioGuardi nailed it when she said, “You played it safe. What you did tonight, you can do in your sleep.” Just as Kara wished Lynche had done something in the vein of past R&B performances like “This Woman’s Work,” Jackson wondered why Big Mike abandoned what is so clearly his strongest genre. “You’re an R&B dude,” said the disappointed judge. “I wish you’d chosen something R&B.” Next came the first duet of the season, as Dewyze and Crystal Bowersox teamed up onstage. Facing each other with guitars sandwiched between them, they traded and shared lyrics from “Falling Slowly,” a beautiful number from “Once.” It marked a welcome return to form for Dewyze and a stunning debut for MamaSox. His growly tone contrasted nicely with her innate bluesiness. The judges then took turns trading superlatives to describe the performance. “One of my favorite moments from the entire season,” said DioGuardi, seconds before Cowell declared, “I don’t know if I’d call that a good song. I’d call that a fantastic song.” It was a tough act to follow, but as they say in showbiz, the show must go on! And on came Casey James with a ukulele and a bluegrass-tinged take on “Mrs. Robinson,” the Simon & Garfunkel classic from “The Graduate.” Foxx seemed to be channeling DioGuardi when he asked the singer to seduce him during rehearsals. The seduction didn’t necessarily pay off. “For me, this is you fighting to stay in the competition,” DioGuardi said as she pointed out how Casey’s more comfortable standing back and rocking out. “For me this was actually a good choice.” That was less of a compliment than it might sound in print. Cowell was more direct when he said, “I didn’t think the song or the performance had the substance required on this important night for you. … I thought it was a little bit lazy and I think you could have made more of an impact.” After the break, Bowersox headed back onstage for a country-rock version of Kenny Loggins’ “I’m Alright” from the comedy “Caddyshack.” Like the movie, her rehearsal was marked by some foul language. But by the time of her live performance, MamaSox had found her form. The judges feted the 24-year-old for switching the song up far more than any of the other contestants dared during their performances. Both DioGuardi and DeGeneres announced that she “made it better.” Cowell, who had criticized Bowersox in recent weeks, welcomed her back by saying, “After that performance, you, Crystal, are back in the game.” To finish up the night, Big Mike and James sauntered back onstage for another guitar duet. Though it lacked the energy on display during Bowersox and Dewyze’s performance, their take on Bryan Adams’ “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman” was still far better than either man’s individual effort. “The duets tonight were incredible,” said DioGuardi, summing up the judges consensus. “They were better than all of the solo performances.”

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Crystal Bowersox Shines On ‘American Idol’ Movie Night

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Crystal Bowersox’s Musical Mentors Saw ‘Idol’ Hopeful’s Promise Early

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Toledo, Ohio, musicians Ron Rasberry and Bob May share memories of the ‘American Idol’ favorite. By Gil Kaufman Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX TOLEDO, Ohio — Ron Rasberry has been playing music his whole life and has seen plenty of good players come and go. But when the amiable, redheaded guitar strummer with the glint in his eye spotted a 13-year-old Crystal Bowersox more than 10 years ago, he knew he was seeing a rare talent. “I was hosting an open mic night, and she was there already … sitting at the table with her ma, and I asked the bartender, the owner, ‘Who’s that?’ ” recalled Rasberry last week of the season-nine “American Idol” front-runner. He learned soon enough who she was when Bowersox got up and sang Jewel’s “You Were Meant for Me.” “Of course, she got up there and played and then sang and … she was amazing,” he said. “She was a showstopper then.” Bowersox followed up that performance with an original, one of several she’d already written at that tender age. Thus began a musical friendship that endures until this day. Rasberry — who has been playing local bars for most of his adult life — has seen his young prot

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