Simon Cowell is about to become a dad … but don’t send him a card just yet. Multiple sources tell Us (you know, the not-as-reliable-as- People -but-more-reliable-than- Star tabloid) the former American Idol judge is expecting a baby with Lauren Silverman, a New York socialite who just so happens to be… …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Newser – Home
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Nicki Minaj stepped onto the stage of “American Idol” this week and jaws dropped. The “High School” rapper showed off what her mama gave her in an outfit that took the term “boob window” to the next level.
The MTV Movie Awards were earlier this week and celebrities flexed their style muscles. Unfortunately, many of them stumbled and ended up on our worst-dressed list, including Ke$ha, whose transparent hippie-inspired pants were outlandish, to say the least. Zoe Saldana and Kerry Washington both took risks at the awards, but the daring styles didn’t translate and ended up looking strange.
Check out those over-the-top looks, as well as more celebrities who made our week’s worst-dressed list. Do you agree with us?
Read More…
More on The Fashion Page
From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/nicki-minaj-idol-outfit-worst-dressed-list_n_3111707.html
LOS ANGELES, April 19 (UPI) — Janelle Arthur, a 23-year-old Tennessee native, was eliminated from the singing competition series “American Idol” in Los Angeles.
From: http://pheed.upi.com/click.phdo?i=78ad8d2e91dac2fc35c4a28f79a908f0
By The Huffington Post News Editors
The judges haven’t been interacting with one another that much at all this season on “American Idol.” Perhaps that’s because when they do, things get contentious as they did this week when Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey disagreed on a critique. It all went down after Kree Harrison‘s performance when Nicki said she didn’t agree with what Mariah was saying.
Mariah interjected into Nicki’s comments to try and clarify how they disagreed, because she didn’t see it. “So, you don’t really disagree with me,” she surmised at one point, but Nicki said she did. “I’ll explain,” she said.
“Oh, Okay. Because i disagree with your disagreement,” Mariah said.
Read More…
More on American Idol
From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/18/american-idol-feud-nicki-mariah-sir-video_n_3106520.html
LOS ANGELES, April 11 (UPI) — Cuban-born Lazaro Arbos was eliminated from the singing competition series “American Idol” in Los Angeles Thursday night.
From: http://pheed.upi.com/click.phdo?i=307a8451abd1efb7b99455dde7a4b51e
By Rich Duprey, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
If Kim Kardashian couldn’t help Sears Holdings turn its retail operations around, what makes it think singer Adam Levine, or rapper-turned-American Idol judge Nikki Minaj, will do any better? The diminished stature of the once-venerable retailer is simply taken down yet another notch as it slaps a new pop icon face across its banner.
Sears is developing a new business unit called Shop Your Way Brands that focuses on entertainment-driven fashion and lifestyle brands, and the Levine-Minaj tag team duo represent the first two also-rans to populate the stage. I’m just not sure the “authentic personal style of iconic artists” is exactly what the typical Sears shopper is looking for.
Levine’s t-shirt and jeans might carry over, but exactly how that differentiates what Sears offers from the clothes found at Target and Wal-Mart is beyond me. And the big curves of Minaj seems to have already been tried with the Karadashian line, though perhaps the pink hair might be a new draw.
It’s easy to understand why Sears might want to hitch its wagon to celebrities, as revenues at the retailer continue to ebb away, dropping more than 4% in 2012, and down 25% since 2007, the last year it recorded a gain. The ShopYourWay social shopping experience drove over half of its revenues at Sears and Kmart in the fourth quarter and for all of last year. But its half of a quickly dwindling pie. In contrast, Wal-Mart sales grew 4% in the fourth quarter, to $127 billion while Target’s sales were almost 7% higher, and neither had to rely upon pop stars to achieve the growth.
It’s true that every retailer has a stable of personalities it relies upon, though more often than not, they’re related to true fashion designers rather than the latest popular reality TV star. But Sears is making an art form out of trying any new shtick to see if it can reverse course and, by this point, you’d think it would realize it’s making some horrible choices.
At this point, I’d be willing to bet J.C. Penney has a better shot at making a viable comeback than does Sears. Perhaps it was done tongue-in-cheek, but a blog yesterday speculated about the chances of Sears buying out Penney, though it concluded adding yet another wounded retailer to its mix of dying brands would probably not serve anyone’s interests.
From Christmas in July to being your quick cash-for-gold broker, financial gimmicks like total return swaps to calving off divisions like Orchard Supply and Sears Hometown, the retailer has thrown a lot at the wall over the years to try and return value to shareholders, but hardly anything has worked.
Despite what it heralds as a new entertainment-driven fashion business, Sears isn’t singing any new tune that shoppers — or investors, for that matter — are likely to want to hear.
J.C. Penney’s stock cratered under Ron Johnson‘s leadership, but could new CEO Mike Ullman present the opportunity investors have been waiting for?
From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/11/sears-is-out-of-fashion/
LOS ANGELES, April 5 (UPI) — Burnell Taylor, a 19-year-old aspiring singer from New Orleans, was eliminated from “American Idol.”
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Kelly Clarkson is returning to the show that made her famous: She’ll perform her new single “People Like Us” for the time ever on April 11’s “American Idol” results show.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post
By Tim Powers
While most Americans are absorbed in their own lives (whether it be trying to make sure they can provide for their families, having a hobby, or just plain watching TV), one thing stands clear. Our Republic is being stolen right out from under our noses. Some have realized this, but some are still asleep.
Allow me to simplify this if you will. What good will just sitting around watching baseball be when there isn’t any more of it because the UN using “sustainable development” (Agenda 21) has decided that the ball field must be returned to the wilderness of nature? Don’t believe me? Look up “sustainable development.” Or how about watching NASCAR, where the motto is “Go fast, Turn left”? Well, isn’t that what our communist/Muslim brotherhood plant Barack Hussein Obama is doing to the United States as we speak? Do your own research. Trust me, you won’t have to look far.
Or maybe you find yourself absorbed in watching MTV’s “Teen Mom” show. Well, I guess that is better than standing in front of an abortion clinic advocating for a mother’s rights while a Planned Parenthood doctor commits infanticide. Well, we must not forget about American Idol, where it would seem that half of America has made the Obamas theirs.
My point is this: unless we all become educated as to the things that our own government and the United Nations are trying to pull on us, we are facing a loss of freedom for not only us, but for our offspring for generations to come. How would you feel if your grandchild comes to you one day and asks you what Freedom and Liberty were like in America? Would you know how to answer them? Would you even try to answer them knowing that there were things that you could do NOW?
It’s time to wake up America: educate yourselves and take a stand for the generations to come. We are the last line of defense; and if we fail, there clearly is no turning back. As always, my fellow Patriots, stay safe and be aware of your surroundings.
Photo credit: formatted_dad (Creative Commons)
By Kevin Chen, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Youku Tudou will add 33 popular American TV dramas and variety shows to its international library by the end of 2013.
With shows from ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW, and WB, Youku Tudou is looking to continue to grow its American TV content as Chinese viewership has seen explosive growth over the past years. From 2011 to 2012 alone, Youku Tudou has seen about a 400% increase in the content category. Each episode averages as many as 2.5 million people.
Included in the deal are such TV shows as “Vampire Diaries,” “Modern Family,” and “2 Broke Girls.” These new shows join American Idol, Scandal, and the more than 20 hit TV shows Youku Tudou has imported since 2010. Youku Tudou has chosen these TV shows according to in-house content metrics and analysis.
Youku Tudou‘s foreign TV expansion comes after the company struck an exclusive partnership with Hong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited (“TVB“). Announced last week, the deal sets the stage for Youku.com and Tudou.com to host more than 2,500 hours of popular TVB content each year for the next two years.
The article Youku Tudou to Add 33 U.S. TV Shows By Year’s End originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Kevin Chen has no position in any stocks mentioned, and neither does The Motley Fool. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
LOS ANGELES, March 29 (UPI) — Devin Velez became the latest contestant sent home on the singing competition series “American Idol” in Los Angeles.
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Keith Urban talked about why he tries to be gentle with the contestants on “American Idol.” The Aussie country star was on “The Tonight Show” where he said he could relate to what they were going through. When he was nine-years old, Urban took part in an Australian talent show, “Pot of Gold.” Of course, there was a picture of him as proof.
The experience wasn’t a positive one, though it proved motivating. Urban said there was a judge on that show that was even harsher than Simon Cowell, and Urban had memorized his critique verbatim. The judge told him, “I desperately encourage you to escape the mediocrity. Get out of country and western, and get into some real music. Otherwise you’ll end up sounding like Dolly Parton and being absolutely useless.”
Urban memorized it by listening to the recording of the show his parents had over and over. And it was because of that experience that he doesn’t want to humiliate the “Idol” contestants. He may not have to worry about it, though, after this season.
Read More…
More on Reality-Free
LOS ANGELES, March 22 (UPI) — Paul Jolley, a 23-year-old Tennessee native, has been eliminated from Season 12 of “American Idol” in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES, March 15 (UPI) — Curtis Finch Jr. was the first Top 10 contender eliminated from “American Idol” in Season 12.
FOX
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at AOL
By Anders Bylund, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Netflix is notoriously tight-lipped when it comes to the costs of producing fresh content for its own exclusive use. But third parties are spilling the beans.
A self-described “super agent” at a major Hollywood talent agency just provided detailed estimates on what Netflix pays per episode of this year’s new in-house shows. And the company isn’t skimping on budgets: The “cheapest” show on deck would be prison dramedy Orange Is the New Black, which costs about $3.8 million per episode.
The numbers, please
Here’s the cost per show, according to Creative Artists Agency agent Peter Micelli, by way of a report in Variety :
|
Show |
Genre |
Cost Per Episode |
Cost Per Season |
|---|---|---|---|
|
House of Cards |
Political drama |
“Way above” $4.5 million |
More than $60 million |
|
Hemlock Grove |
Werewolf horror |
About $4 million |
$52 million |
|
Orange Is the New Black |
Prison drama/comedy |
Just under $4 million |
$49 million |
These are not hard numbers straight from the source, but Micelli’s estimates presumably based on discussions with Netflix and other stakeholders. CAA is one of the “big four” talent agencies, and even though Netflix seems to have chosen actors from other agencies in most cases, you can safely assume that CAA sat at every show’s negotiating table.
Agents certainly have a clue what the going rate for acting services is, and you can’t consider a 13-episode role without knowing something about the production values surrounding the cast as well. Moreover, CAA knows plenty about the television industry, managing big names such as David Letterman and Ryan Seacrest when it isn’t busy launching the Oprah Winfrey Network or hit shows such as House and American Idol. That’s why I think Micelli should have a better view of Netflix’s production budgets than most of us mere mortals.
Whoa, doggie! Will production costs eat Netflix alive?
Isn’t that a bit high, though?
These figures are a bit higher than the rumors you’ve seen elsewhere. House of Cards was supposed to be the big-ticket title at roughly $100 million for two seasons, but Micelli’s figure is at least 20% higher. And all three of the shows he discussed broadly match the oft-guessed figures for House of Cards. If this agent is anywhere near the real figures, Netflix is spending way more on these shows that analysts and pundits have been assuming so far.
Micelli reminded his audience — about 500 entertainment lawyers at a symposium hosted by UCLA — that the costs are much higher than your regular, run-of-the-mill hour of serialized TV drama. HBO flagship Game of Thrones reportedly plays in the same budget ZIP code. That show is a huge selling point when Time Warner peddles its premium HBO service and has collected eight Emmy Awards in just two seasons. Quality production pays off. Sometimes you get what you paid for.
Micelli also noted that a significant chunk of these costs would account for global …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Here’s a look at all the fashionable stars in this week’s “Best Style Moments” roundup…
Mariah Carey turned heads in a lace mini dress while attending the “American Idol” finalists party in Los Angeles Thursday night. Looks like she’s been sticking to her Jenny Craig weight loss regimen or has on a might tight pair of Spanx. Either way, we think she looked fab.
Ooo la la, Ciara! The singer stepped out in a stunning black Givenchy dress for the French design house’s Fall 2013 presentation during Paris Fashion Week. Ciara’s blunt cut blonde hair is the perfect contrast to the moody look. And we’re thrilled she’s learned that she can be just as sexy without showing too much skin.
Read More…
More on Mariah Carey
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Juliana Chahayed may have been eliminated on Wednesday’s “sudden death” episode of American Idol, but the 15-year-old’s performance of “Skyscraper” was still one of the most memorable.
Juliana, who is high school sophomore from California, was the only female contestant who opted to play the guitar while singing, and her soft and airy rendition of Demi Lovato‘s powerful single stood out as the most unique vocal showings of the evening. Though she was criticized for being a little “pitchy” by Keith Urban, Mariah Carey described her voice as “angelic.”
Watch Juliana’s “Skyscraper” cover in the video above, and tell us: Do you think she did Demi’s song justice? Sound off in the comments below or tweet @huffpostteen!
By The Huffington Post News Editors
“Zero Hour” has been canceled, a spokesperson for ABC confirmed to The Huffington Post.
The ABC drama, starring “ER” alum Anthony Edwards, has been pulled after three episodes. “Zero Hour’s” cancellation should come as no surprise, considering the series held the unfortunate honor of being the least-watched premiere for a scripted series ever on ABC — it debuted to 6.3 million viewers and a 1.3 rating in the key 18-49 demographic.
“Zero Hour” continued to drop in the ratings — its final airing on Feb. 28 brought in just 5.1 million viewers and earned a 1.0 rating (and while CBS was airing reruns). The show was up against “The Big Bang Theory” and “American Idol” in its 8 p.m. Thursday timeslot — “Last Resort” held the timeslot on ABC in the fall before it was also axed.
The Doctors
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at AOL
