Fox programming still showing on Time Warner Cable
Despite a deal dispute that threatened to cause Fox stations carried by Time Warner Cable to go black for the cable service’s 13 million subscribers at midnight, as of 12:30 a.m. in New York, regularly scheduled programming was still airing on the local Fox affiliate.
Fox and Time Warner Cable had been fighting over fees, with News Corp, which owns the network (as well as The Post), wanting the service provider to pay $1 per subscriber for Fox, matching the $1 Time Warner now pays to TNT, but Time Warner has so far refused. News Corp also refused to submit to arbitration or an interim agreement that would keep Fox programming on the air temporarily.
New York Post
‘American Idol’ rocks the decade
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve reached the end of the first decade of the 21st century. While there are numerous lists of the “best of” this and that all over the Web, there don’t seem to be many that recognize the significance and impact American Idol on pop culture.
American Idol debuted in June 2002 as a FOX summer replacement show. All the major networks had turned it down and the only reason FOX picked it up was because the daughter of one of the network executives had seen Pop Idol in the U.K. and convinced her father the show would work in the U.S. She was right. The show was an instant hit.
Syracuse.com
American Idol Kris Allen & Wife Katy Enjoy New Year’s Eve Dinner at Simon at Palms Place
Kris enjoyed Seared Moulard Duck Breast and Katy had the Ahi Tuna. For dessert they enjoyed the Simon Junk Food Platter.
Vegas News
Photo Gallery: Kris Allen plays and parties in first Las Vegas visit
There wasn’t a moment to spare once American Idol Season 8 winner Kris Allen arrived in Las Vegas for the first time yesterday afternoon. It’s a nonstop, two-day, dawn-to-dusk schedule of work and play for the Conway, Ark., native!
Kris’ first stop with his wife Katy and his band mates was at Stack in The Mirage, followed by his first Cirque du Soleil show, The Beatles Love, also at The Mirage. Kris enjoyed a White Russian during the performance, while Katy sipped on white wine.
Las Vegas Sun
Sun Bowl report card: Landry Jones, defense get high marks
Halftime: B
American Idol star David Archuleta thrilled the teeny-boppers with a short concert, the Pride of Oklahoma was its usual solid self and the kooky Stanford band entertained with a spoof of games — tic-tac-toe, pong and bowling. But that’s too much entertainment; a 28-minute halftime is too long.
Read more: http://www.newsok.com/sun-bowl-report-card-landry-jones-defense-get-high-marks/article/3428895?custom_click=headlines_widget#ixzz0bN9hz7Mu
NewsOK
Fan frenzy: Fiesta revs up spirit for today’s Sun Bowl game
Another attraction at the Fan Fiesta this year was the opportunity to have an autograph signed by David Archuleta, last year’s runner-up on the television hit “American Idol.” The first 300 children and teenagers in line received an invitation onto the field for Archuleta’s halftime show at the game.
Ashley Sepulveda, 13, waited in line with her sister, Amber Sepulveda, 17, for an hour and a half to meet Archuleta.
The sisters were breathless with excitement and clutching their autographed pictures tightly, but they managed to say between squeals, “He is so amazing!” Their mother, Linda Hooper, 50, said that the Fabens family had come to the Fan Fiesta specifically for tickets to Archuleta’s show.
El Paso Times
One person’s take on the best albums of the year
• All I Ever Wanted, Kelly Clarkson: Great music is the best revenge. And in Clarkson’s case, it came in the form of this thrilling pop album, a follow-up to her unjustly maligned My December. First single My Life Would Suck Without You topped the charts, but the rest of the disc is better: the naughty rah-rah vibe I Do Not Hook Up, the soaring heartbreak of Cry and Already Gone, the dramatic punch of Don’t Let Me Stop You and Long Shot.
High Hopes and Heartbreak, Brooke White: Funny thing about American Idol, the hub of mainstream pop music. If you don’t win, you’re free to truly get creative. Season-seven finalist White built on her sunny folk vibe via this charming disc, which delivers songs with sunny choruses and unexpected nuances. Her cover of Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody is fresh and frisky, and the title track is a sweet disco surprise.
Chron.com
OK!’s Breakout Stars of 2009
•Kris Allen
Accomplishment of the Year: Oh ya know, that little contest he won called American Idol. Kris knocked his competition out on the show though he never thought it was in the bag. Kris told OK!, “I don’t think anybody considers themselves a front-runner. I don’t think Adam was like, “I’m the best,” or Danny [Gokey] was like, “I’m the best,” you know we don’t consider ourselves that way. And I definitely did not. I was striving harder and harder to get through every week. Well, he did and has since debuted his self titled album this year!
Why We Noticed: Kris became more noticed when everyone started asking, “Hey, where did Kris go?” His runner-up, Adam Lambert, started to steal some of his spotlight and then his fans stepped in to help bring him back where he belonged! As the official winner, he should be noticed!
What to Expect Next: Performances! We want to see Kris in concert and put his talent to good use! He’s kicking off the new year right by performing for the Billboard’s New Year’s Eve Live special on the Fox network.
OK Magazine
RIFFS: Elliott Yamin returning home with love
Like many musicians, Elliott Yamin spends most of his time in Los Angeles. He moved to the city in late 2006, hoping to follow his third-place finish on “American Idol” with a long, healthy career.
Mr. Yamin was once a Virginia resident, though, having lived in Richmond throughout his teenage years and early 20s. It was in Richmond that he first caught the music bug, and the city provided him with his first opportunities as a vocalist.
Washington Times
Why Simon Cowell is the chart king of the Noughties
Simon Cowell may have lost the battle for this year’s Christmas Number One.
But as the acts behind half the Top Ten best-selling singles of the past decade were discovered on reality TV shows, the X Factor judge has won the music war.
Music mogul Cowell received a blow this Christmas as a campaign to curb the reality TV dominance of the charts deprived his latest signing, X Factor winner Joe McElderry, of the UK number one spot.
Daily Mail
Retailers fear Simon Cowell and Harry Potter overkill
Retailers have called on media companies to stop churning out sequels and cover versions and produce original films and music or risk losing the public’s interest.
The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), is today issuing a new year message to film, games and music companies to be more adventurous after a year characterised by franchises such as Harry Potter and cover versions from Susan Boyle and other TV talent show stars.
ERA chairman Paul Quirk says retailers fear conservative programming is damaging the long-term viability of some of Britain’s most creative industries. He argues that entertainment retail sales beat expectations in 2009 largely thanks to initiatives by retailers.
Guardian.co.uk
