The Bice Squad Is Mad Hot For Their BO!

I think this is the cutest story about Bo Bice. The Ventura County Star is running a story on Bo Bice and his fans. Apparently, in Ventura County, the Bo Peeps or the Bice Squad runs rampant in this town. Basically, the whole article is about how women from this town think that Bo Bice rocks the freakin house. LOVES IT!

Click the link to read the story

Nashville Star's Shawn Mayer Takes A Quick Trip Back Home

Iowa Newspaper, The Spencer Daily Reporter has released a full length story on Nashville Star contestant, Shawn Mayer. This week on Nashville Star, the contestants are headed back to the house. Each of the Top 4 will return home for much fanfair, many parades, and lots of baby kissin!

This story focuses on Shawn and her path through Nashville Star. La Mayer does not seem terribly confident that she will win this competition . . . then, she back tracks a bit and basically says it is anybody's ballgame.

Melissa Lawson, Gabe Garcia, Coffey, and La Mayer will perform two songs on Monday night. One will be voted off and the remaining three will perform in the Nashville Star finale.

Click the link to read the entire story.

Simon Cowell Voted Best Reality TV Villain!

In a poll released today, American Idol badass Simon Cowell was declared the Best Reality Show Villain. This poll appears to be one that asked all kinds of questions about all kinds of aspects of all kinds of reality shows. In other idol related results, Paula Abdul was voted Worst Reality Show Judge, and Hottest Reality Show Hook-Up props were handed out to American Idol 7 Winner, David Cook and American Idol 2 Finalist and Idol Tonight Host, Kimberly Caldwell.

Click the link to read the entire article

The Final Two . . . Will Ashlee or Shaun Head to the House?

The final two performers tonight are Ashlee Hewitt and Shaun Mayer.

Ashlee Hewitt is up first singing her original ditty, "Mike's Hard Lemonade". She calls it a little bit nasty, but she's comfortable with it. She has been looking forward to this night the entire time.

She just sounds wonderful. Like Coffey, this is by far her BEST performance. She sounds comfortable and her stage presence is, as per usual, on target. For the first time, I'm totally into her voice. She sounds kind of like a more country version of Jewel. I'm impressed.

Jewel - She thinks that Ashlee is, above everyone else, an artist. She loved the song, and wants to write songs for her when she records.
Jeff - Ditto his other comments. He just thinks that everyone is more talented than he would have ever anticipated.
John - Thinks that no matter what happens, Nashville would be a fool not to give her a recording contract.

I don't know if I would go as far as Jewel . . . I think Gabe and Melissa are both artists as much, if not more so than Ashlee. However, I guess we've got to cut Jewel a break here, she is talking to the girl who is almost EXACTLY her spitting image.

Shaun Mayer is up next, and I think Jeff Steele has worked with her so much better than John Rich. She just seems to blossom under his tutelage. She is also singing her own original tune tonight, "I'm Not Looking Back".

I will say this . . . probably not the best performance of the night . . .BUT, this is clearly the one song out of all five where she absolutely FEELS the lyrics. Clearly, the one performance that was from the heart. Excellent!

John - Thinks that she has knocked it out of the park the past two weeks. If she goes this week it is bad timing.
Jewel - Mentions the Lisa Marie Presley connection again. Liked her.
Jeff - Just completely loved her performance and her phrasing throughout the song.

ELIMINATION TIME!

Here comes the BRC with the recap and the inevitable massive silence of elimination . . . Who is going home?




Ashlee Hewitt is hitting the road, jack. BRC thinks she is a star waiting to happen. Again, she was the first to perform last week . . . seems to be a complete hex.

Pimpin The Judges . . . And Gabe Garcia Kicks It Country Style

Next up, our judges perform. It appears as if all three of our judges are going to perform some of their hits and then their gonna kick it country style together. First up, Jewel sings her non-country hits. Jeff Steele sings some of his songs, and now, we're saving horse by riding a cowboy. And we're done . . .

Gabe Garcia is the next to be through to the Top 4, and he is singing his original song, "Lost Weekend". He seems more and more confident each week. I'm wishing good things for him tonight.




Mr. Garcia does not disappoint. This song, much like Melissa Lawson's, could be released on the radio right now and be a hit. In fact, this song is a wee bit better put together than Melissa's. However, I will say that neither one of them (Gabe and Melissa) will be lost after this show is complete. Excellent!

Jeff - Ruining his critiques! Great work and great lyrics.
John - Liked it as well, and thinks it could be a big hit. He is cautioning him to remember that his connection with the audience is still a problem.
Jewel - Liked it, but wants to make sure that he understands that originality is important.

Melissa Lawson is Ready To Stand

And, we're back. Who is next to be safe and move on to the top 4. Thank Goodness . . . Melissa Lawson is up next. She only started writing lyrics a few months ago . . . What I hear in the mentor session sounds pretty darn good. She's singing "Ready to Stand" . . . This song is really good in a . . . I will probably go on itunes and download it now . . . kind of way. VERY VERY RADIO FRIENDLY!
Excellent!

Jewel - Thought she did a good job writing a song for her own voice
Jeff - He's mad. He was ready to critique. He can't. She was really great.
John - Is becoming more and more impressed each week. She needs to stay focused, but she is in control.

I think at this point, it doesn't matter whether or not this girl wins . . . she's record contract bound.

Nashville Star: The Top 5 Perform . . . Coffey Is Seriously A Southern Man

It's time for the Final Five on Nashville Star. We're down to five finalists - Two Guys - Coffey & Gabe Garcia AND three girls - Shaun, Melissa, and Ashlee. They will all be performing songs they penned themselves.

BRC wants us to "get this party started".



Once again, we begin this show with me saying WTF . . . as Coffey is up first. He is singing a song he wrote called "Southern Man" . . . Strangely awkward song . . . his vocals are better this week, and he seems much more relaxed. By FAR his best performance.

Jeff - Wanted to hate it, but didn't.
John - Didn't think the song was a hit song on country radio. . . but thought the performance was good.
Jewel - thought the song was about him and that's why people are gonna vote for him.

Thankfully Jewel is telling us why people are voting for him because I have never really been clear. However, I will say again, his best performance by far.

David Cook Endorsement Deal

American Idol 7 winner, David Cook (AKA, Rocker Boo) has signed an endorsement deal with Sketchers . . .

Click the link to read the story . . .

5000 and Growing, Y'all!

Hey Y'all!

With all of the shizz going on in this thing I call life right now, I totally forgot to acknowledge our 5000th hit! Holy Shizz! It continues to tickle me to no end that our little blog has been hit up 5000 times . . . actually, right now, we are knock knock knockin on the door of 5200!

So, as it usually goes here at A Little Taste of Idol, I have chosen to post an old school idol clip to commemorate the occasion. I was thinking about all of the famous . . . and infamous . . . Idol performances, and I remembered one that is not often mentioned anymore.

Take a trip down memory lane with me, won't you . . . The year was 2005, and the competition was American Idol IV. The final three performers were Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, and Vonzelle Solomon. A particularly spectacular final three if I am remembering correctly. However, what made this Top 3 stand out for me was that it featured, arguably, one of the boldest moves in Idol history! One Mr. Bo Bice chose to sing the song "In A Dream" . . . . ACAPELLA! IT WAS AMAZING! Thinking back on that performance still gives me a bit of a chill.

I hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane!

And keep checking in for more Idol and Nashville Star updates!

An Interview With Brooke White

The Daily Herald (city unknown) has posted an interview with Brooke White at the site of the next American Idol tour stop. The interview is pretty much classic Brooke . . . I had to post the picture because MY BROOKE looks so good!

Click the link to read the interview

Official Top 6 Rankings!

Alright, this week was a wee better than most on the entertainment mecca that is Nashville Star!

Here are my rankings . . .


1. Melissa Lawson - By a longshot . . . she is still the Queen of this Kingdom!
2. Gabe Garcia - He's so authentic . . . so vocally amazing.
(SPACE)
3. Shaun Mayer - She took a shot by doing such a contemporary song . . . but she did a very, very good rendition.
4. Ashlee Hewitt - Her stage presence continues to rule, but her vocals are not improving . . .
(SPACE)
5. Coffey - He retains his usual place on this list. He was better this week, but just not good enough. He seems like a nice guy, but he should not still be on this list.

Eliminated Laura and Sophie would have been ranked 5th on this list. They were better, but not great . . . but better than Coffey.

Elimination . . . Laura & Sophie Harmonize AND Shaun Mayer Is Gonna Screw Up Somebody's Ride

Here comes Laura and Sophie and Shaun Mayer . . . which one will go home . . .

Laura and Sophie are up first . . . they look much more grown up tonight AND in fact the one girl . . . I can’t figure out which one she is . . . looks just like Miley Cyrus . . . hmmm . . . vocals are MUCH better tonight and they seem to be performing much better. The harmonies were tighter. Much, much better tonight.

To start off, John Rich wants to know why these girls were disrespectful and rolled their eyes at Jewel. One of the girls . . . I can’t remember which . . . said that a lot of people told her that she rolled her eyes but she didn’t know she had done it. Jewel suggests that perhaps she had a seizure and maybe she could go ahead and do it a bunch right now to get it out of her system. Anyway, Jewel thinks that they looked better and that they performed better, but doesn’t think that their harmonies are improving. John Rich doesn’t comment anymore. Jeff Steele is proud of the job that they did and thinks they look better but is not thrilled with their performance. . . . The girls are clearly not thrilled with their remarks . . .

In their defense, I know . . . I know . . . I’m not usually one to defend them, but . . . if I had to stand up on stage every week and get railed on, my face might occasionally betray me. . . The girls were definitely better tonight.

Shaun Mayer is up next . . . and George Jones is in the audience . . . I’m not sure just how that is relevant to Shaun singing, “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. Very, very nice. Great job. She really seems like she is comfortable in her clothes and in her voice.

Jewel loved it, and feels a bond with her. She thought she did a really good job.
John Rich thinks that this is the performance he has been waiting for from her.
Jeff Steele thinks she is a bad ass and brought it all on stage.

Great job!

Here we go with elimination . . . Shaun Mayer is smiling and the girls look bitter . . . after the obligatory eleventy years of silence . . . we find out that the duo of Laura and Sophie are eliminated. The girls clearly look as if they have a bit of a speech prepared . . . they knew it was their time. Jeff Steele thinks they’ve got some raw talent there, and that they need to stay friends and keep working . . .

Next week, they are performing their own original songs . . . that should be interesting.

America Loves That Baby, Melissa Lawson!

We’re down to Shaun Mayer, Melissa Lawson, and Laura and Sophie. Apparently, two of them are safe and one will be going home. Much like last week, I have a bad feeling here . . .

Melissa Lawson is up next . . . Thank goodness America got this one right. She’s singing “My Baby Loves Me”. Wow, this girl is really about three steps above everyone else. She looks amazing . . . she sounds amazing . . . she’s gotten a hold of her nerves . . . nothing to say except that we are looking at the next big thing in country music . . . just phenomenal.

Jewel was a little worried about the song selection, but thinks she just blew it away. Jewel thought she controlled her vocals and did a great job. Jeff Steele thinks she over sang it. He thinks that she needs to tone it down a bit, and hopes that America doesn’t forget to vote for her because they assume that she is safe. John Rich agrees and thinks that her performance was overkill. Melissa Lawson, LOVES IT, tells John Rich that she loves him, but that he was the one who told her to “kill it” and she kinda thinks she did. I HEART her for standing up . . . without sounding bitchy.

Coffey . . .

The next to be saved from the trash pit is . . .

Coffey. What the feck . . . Y’all, I am so not getting the voting on this show . . . UGH! He is crying about his mom. I hate when anyone uses a parent . . . as someone who has lost a parent, it is a devastating situation. However, I’m not sure the intro montage before he sings is the appropriate place to reveal that . . . Just my opinion . . . He has started crying during the song . . . he lost the words . . . and is that Jewel I can hear singing from the judges station? Song was terribly pitchy, but he channeled some emotion in that one. His best performance so far, but still a far cry from others in the competition.

Jeff Steele thinks he was pitchy, but that he tapped into some raw emotion. John Rich still isn’t sold on him, but thinks he did a good job. Jewel got a little choked up, and thought this was a good effort . . .

Ugh . . .

Gabe Garcia Is Definitely Doing Something Right!

The next finalist who avoids obscurity . . . for right now . . . is Gabe Garcia.

I'm soooo glad! The Garcia was so very good last week. Perhaps, the only truly authentically country singer on this show. I don't think he is destined to win, but I do think he is destined to get a recording contract.


He’s performing “Must Be Doing Something Right” He’s singing this for his ex-girlfriend . . . not sure that he was or she’d probably still be his girlfriend . . . anyway . . . here he goes. . . uh oh, the judges may think this is boring, but I think that he is just brills . . . just amazing . . . his vocals are so solid! His stage presence is so much better tonight. Still not where I think he could be, but I do think he is improving each week. I just get the feeling that he is so very genuine. Another thing, he performance illustrates just how shaky Ashlee’s vocals actually were. Very very good.

The judges agree. Jewel thinks his vocals were great, but wants him to continue to up the level of audience seduction. John Rich thinks that Jewel kind of digs him . . . and Garcia does say that Jewel's boyfriend gave him his belt buckle . . . John and Jeff both think that Garcia is authentic and just wonderful . . . they kind of heart him too . . . In fact, I think John Rich probably wants him to go all the way . . . If he doesn't, I'm betting that John Rich records with Garcia.

Huh, it looks like we are only eliminating one act this week. They said we were eliminating two . . . in fact the info button on the cable tells us they are going from six to four this week . . . hmmm feels like something is amiss at the Circle K . . . I wonder if the brass at NBC didn't like who one of the acts were being eliminated and decided to axe the double elimination . . . just a thought.

Nashville Star: We're Going From Six To Four Tonight . . . I Think . . .

It's time for another episode of Nashville Star.

I'm still reeling a bit from last week's episode . . . The Pearl Heart is gone . . . and "others" remain . . . yikes . . .

So, anyway, here comes the BRC and his teleprompter lines delivered with such . . . er . . . um, gusto.

BRC tells us that we are about to hear who is the first to be safe for the night . . . Hmmm . . . they must be doing the eliminations a little differently this evening.

The first to be safe tonight is . . . Ashlee Hewitt.

Not a big surprise here. A pattern seems to have emerged where the person who is in the bottom two is safe the next week . . . and the first person to be safe is the person in the bottom two the next week.

Ashlee is going to sing "Cowboy, take me away" . . . I think this is a Dixie Chicks song . . . I'm not quite sure. Ashlee is excited to be the first to be selected. I wonder if it will make her vulnerable next week. Here she goes . . . Wow, as per usual, her stage presence is just rocking. She just looks so natural on stage. I just wish that her vocals matched her stage presence. Man, her vocals are all over the place. The guitar playing is on target, her stage presence is immaculate . . . her vocals are just not quite there.

The judges like her: Jewel is a fan and likes how she uses her . . . er, um . . . crack . . . her vocal crack, that is. Jeff Steele didn’t like her last week, but thought she was back (minus a few iffy notes) this week . . . John Rich, of course, thought that she brought poppies, and lilies, and daisies to the stage . . . he hearts her hardcore . . . .

Syesha Mercado Interview in OK! Magazine

American Idol 2nd Runner Up, Syesha Mercado is dishing to OK! Magazine. In the interview, La Mercado discusses her "personal style", who she was close to during the show, and how she feels about moving to California.

A fairly good article, and it's good to see Syesha getting some press . . . however, FOR ME, the interview came off sounding like she did on the Idol stage . . . very polished and rehearsed. What do y'all think?

Click the link to catch the whole story!

Sailor Tommy and Pearl Heart Dish On Their Nashville Star Oustings!

Reality Tv World interviewed Sailor Tommy and (sniff sniff) Pearl Heart on their respective eliminations from Monday's Nashville Star telecast. The story is pretty interesting as our little Sailor Tommy has some not so nice words to say pertaining to Judge John Rich. However, he has glowing appreciation for Jewel, and speaks of his desire to continue pursuing his dream of singing.

The Pearl Heart interview features the girls' admiration for Jeffery Steele. They worked well with him and have already contacted him about his offer at the end of the show. For those of you who don't remember (or more likely, didn't watch), Jeffery Steele, along with all of the other judges, were stunned that the girl group was eliminated. Further, Jeffery Steele told the girls to knock on his door because he would love to work with them. Well, the girls report that they have already begun discussions with J. Steele, and that they are already "working on it".

Click the link to read the full story!

David Archuleta in High School Musical 3?

Alright, y'all . .

This story is from about a month ago . . . it was the most recent story I could find. So, it appears that the Insider is reporting that the folks over at Disney have recognized the utter adorablility that exists in our little David. . . . and they're hankering for him to do a cameo in the much anticipated High School Musical 3. We all understand that this cameo could be a difficult endeavor to pull off . . . the Idol Machine does not like to let go of it's talent when it is on tour and, more importantly, under contract. However, rumor has it that all involved think that it will come to fruition.

Makes perfect sense because if there is one thing that Simon Lythgoe and Simon Cowell understand it is the value of a buck. . . . and, this move could be quite lucrative for the Idol Machine, as well as our Lil David. Click the link to read the whole story.

David Cook and Audrina Patridge?

Hola, my little Idol Tasters!

So, Hollywood gossip website "She Knows" is reporting that David Cook and Hills star Audrina Patridge were caught hanging out at a recent Hollywood glam fest. Our Cookie is reportedly dating former Idol Kimberly Caldwell . . . Hmmmm . . . is Cookie going Hollywood?

Anyway, kinda cool to see Cookie going so mainstream! Click the link the read the whole story