It’s all about Casey Abrams: ‘I love him — his attitude, his charisma,’ closet ‘Idol’ fans says on ‘Idol Party Live.’ By Katie Byrne, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Sammi Photo: Jonathan Goldner/ MTV News “Idol Party Live” took a trip to the Jersey Shore on Thursday (March 10), when Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola stopped by to chat with MTV News “American Idol” expert Jim Cantiello. Who knew Sammi was a closet “Idol” fan? “I think I just really like watching it this time around because there’s so many amazing singers,” she said. “Everyone’s unique in their own way and brings their own flair to the show.” We had to find out who the reality-TV star is rooting for this season, and she had to praise her #1 guy: Casey Abrams. “I love him — his attitude, his charisma, he’s funny, he brings something new every week,” she gushed. “I just like his style. I get chills. Whenever I get chills when I watch ‘American Idol,’ I know I love somebody.” In honor of Sammi’s “Jersey Shore” catchphrase — “I’m done” — we played a round of “Done or Fun” with the “Idol” contestants. So who did Sam find fun, and who was she over? She gave a thumbs-up to Casey (of course) and also Stefano Langone, James Durbin and Thia Megia, but it wasn’t sunshine and rainbows all around. While Sammi thinks Jacob Lusk is “fabulous, don’t get me wrong,” she “didn’t like his song choice.” But she isn’t quite “done” with him yet: “Let’s put him as a maybe.” Lauren Alaina, on the other hand, has been completely written off by the “Jersey Shore” starlet. “I think she’s so cute, but I think she’s still young and has a long way to come to progress,” she explained. “Maybe I’m just done because she’s up against these other amazing singers.” We had to slip in a few “Shore” questions, and Cantiello brought up Sam’s recent Ronnie dis when she told her ex he looked “pale.” This prompted recent “Idol” castoff Rachel Zevita, also an “Idol Party Live” guest, to wonder: “If he’s pale, what would I look like in that house?” “We’ll give you a spray tan before you come to the house,” Sammi promised. Are you surprised Sammi is such an “Idol” fan? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With Jim Cantiello And Sammi ‘Sweetheart’
‘When they need to be harsh, they’re harsh,’ said the teen. By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Kara Warner Lauren Alaina Photo: FOX Maybe she’s a bit biased because the judges on “American Idol” have been visibly charmed by her antics since day one, but finalist Lauren Alaina thinks Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are doing a fine job in their first attempt at working together on the show. “I think the judges do exactly what they’re there to do,” said the 16-year-old teen phenom when MTV News caught up with her and the rest of the “Idol” top 13 at Thursday night’s celebration of this year’s top singers. “When they need to be harsh, they’re harsh. I know that sounds crazy, but … they don’t sugar coat it, most of the time. When they need to say something, they’re gonna say it. Which is great, because it makes you stronger.” Alaina, who has gotten a lot of attention (both positive and negative) for her flirtatious attitude with the judges — especially Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler — said she’s not going to let the online chatter throw her off her game. “I’m just gonna try to be myself,” she said. “Everybody talks about my crazy personality, [but] hopefully my voice is good enough to back that up. But I’m just gonna be myself, that’s all I can be.” Alaina will get another chance to be herself on Wednesday, when the top 13 take the stage for the first round of live performance and results shows and get a taste of the pressure that comes with singing on live TV every week. Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, 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: ‘American Idol’ Party Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Top 24 ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
‘It’s an honor to write for one of pop music’s biggest icons,’ she tells MTV News. By Kelley L. Carter, with additional reporting by Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears “Til The World Ends” cover art Photo: Jive Britney Spears’ new single, “Till the World Ends” is dance-floor ready — just ask Ke$ha. The pop star in her own right wrote the just-released track, which was produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin. “I consider myself a songwriter before and above everything else, so it’s an honor to write for one of pop music’s biggest icons. And I hope it gets everyone’s ass on the dance floor cuz y’all know that’s what K-Monay does best!” the singer said in an exclusive statement to MTV News. The single was posted by Perez Hilton on Thursday afternoon (March 3), after speculation earlier in the day that it would hit radio next week. “Till the World Ends” is a swirling, “beat the beat” track, ready for late nights spent “dancing till the world ends” as she sings on the fast-paced party jam. “This kitten got your tongue tied in knots I see/ Spit it out ’cause I’m dying for company,” a confident Spears purrs. Later in the song, she sings: “See the sunlight/ We ain’t stopping/ Keep on dancing till the world ends/ If you feel it/ Let it happen/ Keep on dancing till the world ends.” Last month, Ke$ha talked with Spin.com about the song, saying it’s about the power of an artist performing a great gig. “That song is me imagining her and any female musician touring the world,” she said. “You know, when you go out, and you’re having an amazing, magical night and you don’t want to go to sleep and you want it to last until the world ends.” This new track is the latest single from Spears’ forthcoming Femme Fatale, which drops March 29. What do you think about the latest Britney song? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Britney Spears Ke$ha
Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and more make up voter-approved top 10. By Gil Kaufman Stefano Langon performs on “American Idol” Photo: FOX After what’s felt like years (OK, just two months), “American Idol” finally got to its first live elimination show Thursday night (March 3), and it was not pretty. The biggest cut-down in show history came after host Ryan Seacrest said more than 40 million votes were cast over two performance nights. The good news was that favorites like Lauren Alaina, Casey Abrams, Thia Megia and Jacob Lusk made the cut, but that meant that a few beloved singers like Brett Loewenstern and Julie Zorrilla were eliminated as the show revealed its top 13 finalists. After copious time-killing segments, Ryan Seacrest finally got to the first elimination nearly 25 minutes into the two-hour episode, with country boy Scotty McCreery moseying into the top 10 while Robbie Rosen was sent packing. Next up were Clint Jun Gamboa, Jovany Barreto and Jordan Dorsey. After blowing it with Usher’s “OMG,” Dorsey got the hook, along with karaoke host and eyeglass aficionado Gamboa and Barreto. The girls were in the hot seat next, and it was hard to believe that Pia Toscano and Alaina were standing next to each other, since Toscano got a standing ovation and high praise from the judges, and Alaina has been a favorite for weeks. It was good news for 16-year-old Alaina and, of course, for Toscano as well, as Seacrest reveled in his favorite game of elimination psych-out. But when Ta-Tynisa Wilson and Julie Zorrilla came up, after a night when both blew their chances with subpar performances, it was no surprise that both missed out on the top 10. It was hard to know who might lose out when glamazon Kendra Chantelle, baby-diva Ashthon Jones and funky bilingual singer Karen Rodriguez took center stage, though. Shockingly Jones was sent packing, as was Chantelle, with Rodriguez filling out the third women’s slot. Young Luther Vandross-alike Lusk huddled up next to bearded wild man and budding sex symbol Abrams and cutie crooner Tim Halperin. Lusk sang hallelujah when he got the call, and to no one’s surprise, Abrams was next, as Halperin made the long walk. The hits kept on coming, as funky soul singer Naima Adedapo, 16-year-old wunderkind Megia and blues mama Lauren Turner all got the boot. With only two spots left, Adedapo and Turner got some bad news, as Megia became the second high-schooler to get a magic ticket. It was anyone’s guess who would be out when two of this season’s standouts, spunky ginger Loewenstern and flair-loving showman Paul McDonald stepped up to the spotlight. Alas, sensitive teen Loewenstern would have to hope for a wild-card spot, as McDonald got the call. Vying for the final spot on the girls’ bench were Haley Reinhart and resident quirk Rachel Zevita, who went over the cliff on Wednesday night with a mannered cover of Fiona Apple’s “Criminal.” Without much drama, Reinhart got the call, as multiple-auditioner Zevita washed out. The judges were digging Stefano Langone on Tuesday night, certainly more than James Durbin, who took a chance with a Judas Priest song and may have overplayed his rocker card. But only one of the roommates could snag the final men’s spot, so it was curtains for Langone and joy for Lambert-like rocker Durbin. With 14 singers vying for the wild card, the judges chose six to get another chance. Jones was up first, strutting to her spot to sing the song that made Jennifer Hudson a star, the “Dreamgirls” classic “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” giving it plenty of attitude, but coming off a bit shouty as she played to the rafters in an attempt to work her way back. Steven Tyler thought she brought it again, Jennifer Lopez felt the passion and Randy Jackson loved the attitude. Langone picked Smokie Norful’s emotional ballad “I Need You Now,” filling the tune with lots of passion and turning it into a tour de force that tugged heartstrings and seemed to punch his ticket. Randy loved that Stefano picked one of his favorites and Lopez said he nailed it when he needed to. Chantelle got the next shot with Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind,” starting out low and breathy and then climbing into her high, sweet range and hitting a series of giant notes near the end that felt like her attempt to swing for the fences. Jackson wasn’t sure where it was going at first but said she totally pulled it off. Barreto dedicated Jon Secada’s “Angel” to the woman he once loved, figuring he’d try to curry some favor as well by singing a half Spanish/ half English tune. His vocals were strong and moving, but it was unclear if it was enough to get him back in the mix. All Lopez could say was “you did all you could do,” which didn’t sound promising. Tyler called Adedapo, which meant the definitive end of the line for Zorrilla, Turner and Wilson. At first Naima didn’t seem to have enough in the tank to take on soul icon Donny Hathaway’s “For all we Know,” but she gave it her all and put some smooth soul into the performance. Tyler felt she dug deep, but Naima’s tears signaled that she didn’t feel confident. The final shot went to Rosen, meaning Gamboa, Dorsey, Loewenstern and Halperin said bye-bye. Double-R chose Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Hard,” reworking the song into a kind of flamenco torch song, which he sang while flashing his puppy-dog eyes and over-emoting by several measures. Jackson called it nice and tender, saying the decision was going to be a brutal one. After the break, the judges weren’t ready, so Seacrest cued up the glittery video for Lopez’s “On the Floor” to give them a chance to deliberate some more. With time running out, it was redemption time for Jones and Langone, as well as Adedapo, who helped fill out the top 13. The first live performance shows of the season kick off next Wednesday. Do you agree with the top 13? Did your favorite make it? Let us know what you think in comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and more make up voter-approved top 10. By Gil Kaufman Stefano Langon performs on “American Idol” Photo: FOX After what’s felt like years (OK, just two months), “American Idol” finally got to its first live elimination show Thursday night (March 3), and it was not pretty. The biggest cut-down in show history came after host Ryan Seacrest said more than 40 million votes were cast over two performance nights. The good news was that favorites like Lauren Alaina, Casey Abrams, Thia Megia and Jacob Lusk made the cut, but that meant that a few beloved singers like Brett Loewenstern and Julie Zorrilla were eliminated as the show revealed its top 13 finalists. After copious time-killing segments, Ryan Seacrest finally got to the first elimination nearly 25 minutes into the two-hour episode, with country boy Scotty McCreery moseying into the top 10 while Robbie Rosen was sent packing. Next up were Clint Jun Gamboa, Jovany Barreto and Jordan Dorsey. After blowing it with Usher’s “OMG,” Dorsey got the hook, along with karaoke host and eyeglass aficionado Gamboa and Barreto. The girls were in the hot seat next, and it was hard to believe that Pia Toscano and Alaina were standing next to each other, since Toscano got a standing ovation and high praise from the judges, and Alaina has been a favorite for weeks. It was good news for 16-year-old Alaina and, of course, for Toscano as well, as Seacrest reveled in his favorite game of elimination psych-out. But when Ta-Tynisa Wilson and Julie Zorrilla came up, after a night when both blew their chances with subpar performances, it was no surprise that both missed out on the top 10. It was hard to know who might lose out when glamazon Kendra Chantelle, baby-diva Ashthon Jones and funky bilingual singer Karen Rodriguez took center stage, though. Shockingly Jones was sent packing, as was Chantelle, with Rodriguez filling out the third women’s slot. Young Luther Vandross-alike Lusk huddled up next to bearded wild man and budding sex symbol Abrams and cutie crooner Tim Halperin. Lusk sang hallelujah when he got the call, and to no one’s surprise, Abrams was next, as Halperin made the long walk. The hits kept on coming, as funky soul singer Naima Adedapo, 16-year-old wunderkind Megia and blues mama Lauren Turner all got the boot. With only two spots left, Adedapo and Turner got some bad news, as Megia became the second high-schooler to get a magic ticket. It was anyone’s guess who would be out when two of this season’s standouts, spunky ginger Loewenstern and flair-loving showman Paul McDonald stepped up to the spotlight. Alas, sensitive teen Loewenstern would have to hope for a wild-card spot, as McDonald got the call. Vying for the final spot on the girls’ bench were Haley Reinhart and resident quirk Rachel Zevita, who went over the cliff on Wednesday night with a mannered cover of Fiona Apple’s “Criminal.” Without much drama, Reinhart got the call, as multiple-auditioner Zevita washed out. The judges were digging Stefano Langone on Tuesday night, certainly more than James Durbin, who took a chance with a Judas Priest song and may have overplayed his rocker card. But only one of the roommates could snag the final men’s spot, so it was curtains for Langone and joy for Lambert-like rocker Durbin. With 14 singers vying for the wild card, the judges chose six to get another chance. Jones was up first, strutting to her spot to sing the song that made Jennifer Hudson a star, the “Dreamgirls” classic “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” giving it plenty of attitude, but coming off a bit shouty as she played to the rafters in an attempt to work her way back. Steven Tyler thought she brought it again, Jennifer Lopez felt the passion and Randy Jackson loved the attitude. Langone picked Smokie Norful’s emotional ballad “I Need You Now,” filling the tune with lots of passion and turning it into a tour de force that tugged heartstrings and seemed to punch his ticket. Randy loved that Stefano picked one of his favorites and Lopez said he nailed it when he needed to. Chantelle got the next shot with Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind,” starting out low and breathy and then climbing into her high, sweet range and hitting a series of giant notes near the end that felt like her attempt to swing for the fences. Jackson wasn’t sure where it was going at first but said she totally pulled it off. Barreto dedicated Jon Secada’s “Angel” to the woman he once loved, figuring he’d try to curry some favor as well by singing a half Spanish/ half English tune. His vocals were strong and moving, but it was unclear if it was enough to get him back in the mix. All Lopez could say was “you did all you could do,” which didn’t sound promising. Tyler called Adedapo, which meant the definitive end of the line for Zorrilla, Turner and Wilson. At first Naima didn’t seem to have enough in the tank to take on soul icon Donny Hathaway’s “For all we Know,” but she gave it her all and put some smooth soul into the performance. Tyler felt she dug deep, but Naima’s tears signaled that she didn’t feel confident. The final shot went to Rosen, meaning Gamboa, Dorsey, Loewenstern and Halperin said bye-bye. Double-R chose Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Hard,” reworking the song into a kind of flamenco torch song, which he sang while flashing his puppy-dog eyes and over-emoting by several measures. Jackson called it nice and tender, saying the decision was going to be a brutal one. After the break, the judges weren’t ready, so Seacrest cued up the glittery video for Lopez’s “On the Floor” to give them a chance to deliberate some more. With time running out, it was redemption time for Jones and Langone, as well as Adedapo, who helped fill out the top 13. The first live performance shows of the season kick off next Wednesday. Do you agree with the top 13? Did your favorite make it? Let us know what you think in comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Honestly? Kill those dudes . American Idol ‘s tenth season about the ladies — these toilet-scrubbing, bathtub-hawking, makeup-sponging femmes who look you in the eye, trill a melody, and demand, like, 8-80% of your soul. For keeps. Last night the Top 12 women crooned with unexpected grace, and today we’ve got them all listed, exalted, or exposed as frauds (in some special cases). Compare your rankings to ours, and prepare to be wrong.
Honestly? Kill those dudes . American Idol ‘s tenth season about the ladies — these toilet-scrubbing, bathtub-hawking, makeup-sponging femmes who look you in the eye, trill a melody, and demand, like, 8-80% of your soul. For keeps. Last night the Top 12 women crooned with unexpected grace, and today we’ve got them all listed, exalted, or exposed as frauds (in some special cases). Compare your rankings to ours, and prepare to be wrong.
We grade Pia Toscano, Lauren Turner and the rest of the ladies while waiting to see who makes the finals. By Eric Ditzian Photo: Michael Becker / FOX On Wednesday morning, following the top 12 men’s debut on “American Idol,” MTV News sized up the competition with our first report card of the season. We doled out high marks to Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams, and delivered some tough love in the form of failing grades to Robbie Rosen and Jordan Dorsey. Now it’s the top 12 women’s turn to soar or suffer. When the ladies took the stage on Wednesday night, they busted out praiseworthy tuneage and showed off vocal chops that aren’t quite ready for the big time. Who’s up, who’s down, who might be out by next week? It’s report card time! Excellent Pia Toscano : She alone lands in this category because she alone blew us away with the iron-man strength of her vocals. Some of those sustains during the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You” were dizzying. Pia made a savvy song choice, avoiding the voice-crowding din of an up-tempo tune (unlike Lauren Alaina), and showcased nothing but her best-in-show vocals. Welcome to the head of the class, Miss Toscano! Good Kendra Chantelle : Unlike her Hollywood Week duet partner Paul McDonald, who broke out of the crowd on Tuesday, Kendra didn’t fully separate herself from the pack. At least not yet. She showed off an impressive range and a soulful tone while singing, a tad boringly, Christina Aguilera’s “Impossible.” We look forward to Kendra following McDonald’s lead and delivering a breakout performance soon. Lauren Turner : Though her take on Etta James’ “Seven Day Fool” was a tad bit Broadway, there’s no denying the strength of her vocals. Still, we’re not yet ready to join our colleague Jim Cantiello in we’re-not-worthy praise of Turner. We’ll be looking for a more contemporary and radio-relevant tune before thrusting her into the upper echelon. Ashthon Jones : Steven Tyler was right: Jones has a trainload of confidence, and it’s on the strength of her self-assurance and personality, rather than her song choice of Monica’s “Love Over Me,” that she sneaks into this range. We dig her sultry, R&B soul, though we’ll stop way short, unlike Jennifer Lopez, of saying she’s a diva-in-the-making. Thia Megia : It took guts for this teen to strip down Irene Cara’s “Out Here on My Own,” stand out there on the stage under a spotlight, and live and die on the strength of her vocals. Live she did, and she came close to having a “moment.” Close. Lauren Alaina : Let’s just pretend the judges didn’t anoint Lauren as the artistic goddaughter of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. We get it; she’s an internal “Idol” favorite. For us, her high-energy take on Reba McEntire’s “Turn On the Radio” veered too far into “Coyote Ugly” territory. Who knew she wanted to be a country rocker? But we give her credit for going big early. Satisfactory Naima Adedapo : Perhaps Naima isn’t a student of “Idol” history, because even casual viewers know that a) you can’t sing “Summertime” without being compared to Fantasia and b) you’ll never come off on top in that comparison. That being said, her vocals were solid, the arrangement had a nice, jazzy feel to it, and she ended strong. We’re expecting more from Naima going forward, and we’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t rise up next week. Karen Rodriguez : Like Naima, Karen chose a song that simply would not lead to favorable comparisons. It doesn’t matter if she sang “Hero” in English, Spanish, Dutch and Mandarin, the “Idol” contestant is never going to wow us more than Mariah Carey. Unsatisfactory Ta-Tynisa Wilson : There was something inhumanely tinny about her voice during a take on Rihanna’s “Only Girl.” Not only were there pitch problems galore, but the performance very much reeked of girl-singing-into-a-hairbrush-in-her-bedroom syndrome. Rachel Zevita : We were praying, “Please don’t throw off that cape and reveal some skimpy outfit!” Then we were praying, “Please don’t try to act all sultry!” Then we were praying, “Please just stay still because you’re running around the room like a loon, trying to hit your marks, and your vocals are suffering.” Despite our prayers, Rachel made all these mistakes and more in an all-too-“Chicago” performance. She’s in serious danger this week. (There is a god!) Julie Zorrilla : Above and beyond the unpleasant, nasal tone to her voice, the performance was all sorts of wrong. Maybe it was the dress or the forever-waving arm, but the whole thing came off as very pageant-y and practiced. Haley Reinhart : Haley’s take on Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’ ” was yet another example of poor song choice by the women. She brought nothing new to the tune, overused her rasp and growl, and unleashed the single worst note of the night when her voice actually cracked toward the end. Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, 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 10 Performances
We break down the season 10 hopefuls, in 140 characters or less. By James Montgomery Contestants perform on “American Idol” on Wednesday Photo: FOX On Thursday night, “American Idol” revealed the remainder of the season 10 Top 24, a collection of singer/songwriters, balladeers, scatters, divas, perky teens and belters that will compete to become the heir to Lee DeWyze’s throne (perhaps he’s not the best example, but let’s move on). Unlike previous seasons, this year’s crop of contenders is long on talent, short on sob stories — Chris Medina’s exit made sure of that. And while it’s probably too early to say this, we could be looking at the most- gifted field of singers in “Idol” history (or at least since the epochal third season). So it would probably benefit you to get to know the field before the cruel cut-downs begin. And since we know you’re busy, we’ve decided to condense each contestant into a quick, 140-character bio, each ready to be cut-and-pasted into your very own Twitter feed. For your perusing pleasure, here’s our take on the “American Idol” top 24 — Twitterized. Because how else can you tell your Brett Loewensterns from your Clint Jun Gamboas? Ashthon Jones: Big hair, bigger voice. Bears uncanny resemblance to young Beyonc
Before American Idol picked up and took its show to Las Vegas – where contestants will be challenged by The Beatles next week – the show narrowed its numbers of contestants from 100 to 60. Which hopefuls separated themselves from the pack, at least for one week? Below, we’ve posted videos of such impressive talents as Lauren Alaina , Chris Medina, Thia Megia , Colton Dixon, Robbie Rosen and Brett Loewenstern. Sit back, give each one a listen and choose an early favorite… Lauren Alaina – I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing Colton Dixon, Robbie Rosen and Brett Loewenstern on Idol Chris Medina and Carson Higgins – My Prerogative Thia Megia in Hollywood
