Reality Ravings

If you live in Western Australia, Victoria, Tasmainia or South Australia you still have the opportunity to see Lisa Mitchell who was one of the highlights from the 2006 season of Australian Idol. Full details on dates and location can be found on http://www.lisamitchell.com.au/.

She is currently touring and playing songs from her yet unnamed new album. Lisa has been living in London writing and recording songs.

If you have forgotten about her whimsical style here is her singing one of her own songs Incomplete Lullaby.

In an Australian Idol first singers will be able to audition online in 2009 via the Australian Idol website.

If interested go here and leave your email address and details on how to apply will sent to you in the New Year.

I think it is a great idea and may draw out even more talent for the seventh season of Idol. I think a lot of pub muso's who have spurned the show previously will be interested by the success Wes Carr is having and will audition.

Now if we can just get a bit of verve in the judges it should be a great season next year.

In the social pages of the Sunday Telegraph today it was revealed that Mark Spano who came third in this year's Australian Idol will not be signed up by Sony BMG.

Mark Spano who had a lot of female's heart a flutter when he sang Kings of Leon's megahit Sex On Fire must not be seen as a hitmaker for the recording monolith.

However he can be consoled that he has the support act on the upcoming Chris Isaak tour. For those who missed his performance at the final here it is.



In other Mark Spano news Ricki-Lee Coulter has denied she moved to Melbourne to be near him, apparently they are just friends.

However Ricki-Lee won't be spending a lot of time in the southern city as she will be in LA working on her new album. This also means she will not be back for next season's Australian Idol. I cannot really decide whether that is a positive or negative thing.

Wes Carr shows that unlike former Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan he is extremely media savvy.

In this interview in the Herald Sun Wes manages the following:

• To plug his girlfriend Charlotte Gregg's TV show Out Of The Blue, which is tanking.
• To diplomatically address the issue of the "unpleasant power struggles" that Ben Gillies from Silverchair talked about when discussing their former band Tambalane;
• To show he has music credibility by refusing to have covers on his upcoming album; and
• To pitch a mockumentary.

If his music career does not work out he could always go into media training.

Wes Carr has hit the charts with his new single 'You' in the number 3 position. This is a much better start to his post Idol career then last year's winner Natalie Gauci.

Wes has sold nearly 1000 more downloads then the Gauch, but he had the advantage of a tailor written song, rather then the one song must fit all contestants approach of previous years.

Full story on Daily Telegraph.

Also here is an interview with Wes from Who Magazine.

Update: Livenews reckons may not be that great compared to the sale of Guy Sebastian who sold over 120,000 of Angels Brought Me Here.

Matt Moran Tells Of His Abhorrence For Restaurants On The Chopping Block
Matt Moran who advises failing restaurants in The Chopping Block tells Perth Now how at his horror at what he has found at the failing restaurants.

“To walk into the first kitchen and see the dirt and the grime and the uncovered things and the chefs who look like they just came to work after being out for 48 hours… I realised straight away it was a completely different league.

"The way I run my restaurants, we’re proud of what we do – we like our uniforms to be clean, our shoes to be spotless and the restaurant and the kitchen to be immaculate every time someone comes into it – because you’re on show… It made me realise that they, the featured restaurants, are not the kind of places I would ever go to anyway… It made just go ‘f****** hell!’ and realise there’s another world out there.”

It is a pity he does not name names, as I was thinking of eating at Emads one of the featured restaurants on the show.

Australian Idol Winner Won't Be Releasing a Christmas Album this year.
After the disaster of Natalie Gauci covers release last year, this year's winner will not be releasing a covers album of songs they sang on the show.

This tradition was started with Damien Leith's win and he sold over 100,000 CD's, however Natalie's bombed with only 11,000 sold.

The winner will release their album in May next year with a single released in March. Which raises the interesting issue of when is Natalie Gauci album going to be launched? Or will it just be buried?
Full story on Herald Sun.

Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe launch 'Superstar Dancers Of The World'
A follow up from yesterday's post on Nigel Lythgoe criticising Simon Cowell, it has now been announced that NBC will be launching a new dance show produced by Nigel Lythgoe.

It is called 'Superstar Dancers Of The World' and as Nigel previously said it is like the dance Olympics.

The series will pit the masters of various dance genres from eight countries against each other. Equal parts sporting event, rock concert and artistic exhibition.

The eight countries currently scheduled to participate include: Ireland, India, USA, Argentina, China, Russia, South Africa and Australia.

It is interesting that the UK and Canada are not represented.

Full details on The Futon Critic.

Kirk Pengilly To Mentor On Australian Idol This Sunday.
Former Inxs musician Kirk Pengilly will be mentoring on Idol this week. Are there going to be mentors each week? This could be overkill.

Anyway he will be able to catch up with his former mother-in-law Marcia Hines.

Ricki-Lee and Sophie Monk Face Off Over Tummy Controllers
Ricki-Lee has been named the face of Hold Me Tight shapewear range, whilst Sophie Monk will also be launching tummy tuckers this Tuesday.

I know which one I will be believe the product works for considering Ricki-Lee is size 14 whilst scrawny Sophie wouldn't even need to use these products.

A Unfunny Mary Murphy So You Think You Can Dance Parody.
Well I thought it was not amusing but then again maybe I don't have a sense of humour.
Click the link here and you decide.

Lisa Mitchell Has Completed Her First Album
Lisa Mitchell, the Australian Idol contestant, who was in the best season with Bobby Flynn and Damien Leith, has completed her first album.

Full details on Popdirt.

Project Runway - When they said they were taking it to LA, they meant it.
With Project Runway going to LA it was not just the location. First Lindsay Lohan is to be a guest judge but now Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria Parker will be as well.

It is currently being filmed in LA, however there are issues on when it will screen as Bravo who originally had the first five seasons has gone to court to stop the producers from swapping it to Lifetime.

Here is an interview with Heidi Klum regarding the delay. Please note there is a spoiler regarding one of the Season Five designers in it.

Jack Chambers from So You Think You Can Dance Australia Is Networking in New York.
Season one's winner of SYTYCD Au, Jack Chambers, is currently in New York networking to try and make it on Broadway. He will be back in Australia soon to fulfill some SYTYCD Au requirements, and also to organise his US work visa. Full story here.

Bad Marcia is like the Loch Ness Monster, a few people have claimed to have seen it, but it has never been proven that it actually exists. Where is she? There appears be a Paula Abdul type Marcia where she says things that are incomprehensible and don't make sense. At least Paula has an excuse for her gobblydeegook as allegedly she has some pill or alcohol issue.

Anyway it was Australian Hits Night and Darren Hayes was mentoring the final ten. He was great as a guest judge at the London auditions but tonight I thought he soft cocked it.

Thanh Bui - Your The Voice - Johnny Farnham

Is he reading the blogs? Just because he is called the Asian Johnny Farnham did he think we actually wanted him to sing one of his songs? So instead of boy band moves this week, we have Farnsie moves including yelling out "Come on sing it, sing along". This is not going to get him out of the bottom three.

Dicko summed it up when he said "Not the coolest song".

Kyle advised "If you want to be a rock star you are going to have to lose the cheese."

Chrislyn Hamilton - Chains - Tina Arena
I clearly have spent far to many nights pissed in gay bars as I think I have seen far too many drag queens lip synch this song. Also some of Chrislyn's dance moves did remind me of Miss Penny Tration on a Thursday night at the Albury.

Having said that her singing was sensational and yes I like her better then Tina.

Tom Williams - "Light Surrounding You" - Evermore.

The good news was it better then his Uptown Girl last week, and he looked great. But god is low register is appalling.

Tom whose dream it was to be on Idol is starting to look like it is not fun anymore. At the end of his song awaiting the judges comments he had that look when Dorothy has when she realises "We're not in Kansas anymore" plus he teared up.

Marcia kindly told the Australian audience that he finished the song early, personally I had not noticed.

Tom is just completely out of his depth but the tween vote will keep him in.

Teale Jakubenko - Black Fingernails, Red Wine - Eskimo Joe
If Tom has the tween vote sown up, Teale must have the teenage vote sown up. I am in despair at the young people these days...

This guy reminds me of Tip Top White bread - so bland. He just tries too hard from his over acted performance to his designer facial hair.

"Rock posturing, and devil stare... just posturing" Dicko said.

The line of the night was when Teale said "I just wanted to show a different side of my personality" What personality I have yet to see any sign of one.

Darren Hayes - "It was world class" He thinks he would fit in Stadium Rock, this man is on drugs.

Roshani Priddis - Heading In The Right Direction - Renee Geyer.

Roshani decided to wear a table cloth tonight, however her earrings were amazing. The song was like musical calisthenics up and down and all around in a pared back arrangement which was nice. She will keep on going in the competition for awhile, but won't be there at the end.

Marcia told her to fly. What does that mean?

Kyle put it in perspective when he said and I am paraphrasing "I think you're great, but then people forget about you."

Wes Carr - Friday On My Mind - The Easybeats

It was funny when the owner of the recording studio where they were rehearsing was a member of the Easybeats and he had come to listen in. Coincidence that would make anyone feel slightly uncomfortable.

It was a great performance, and for the first time I thought he had sex appeal. I thought he lost it a bit when he ran up the stairs in the audience. There is no comparison between him and Teale - Wes has charisma, and Dicko basically said this when he threw Darren a glance and said "This is a rock star."

Luke Dickens - Flame Trees - Cold Chisel.

In a non-surprising move which I picked earlier this week that Luke would sing Chisel. However it is perfect for him. What is amazing about Luke is that for someone who only discovered that he could sing 12 -18 months ago when he was singing on a mates karaoke machine he looks so comfortable on stage. Again he will be safe.

Dicko asked him about whether he had been drinking too much, and Luke admitted he had. Obviously he tied one on at Kyle's wedding and he was still feeling the effects of it.

Sophie Patterson - Don't Hold Back - The Potbellies.

Sophie's earring's were amazing as well. Who is the jewellery sponsor. Sophie must wish that Darren was mentoring her each week. He gave her great advice go back to what you do best. Also he must have told her to look at Brooke White from this years American Idol. Sophie was so much better. Just maybe she has saved herself.

Mark Spano - Age of Reason - John Farnham

This was the weirdest song choice of the evening. Why he picked Farnham when Thanh has the John Farnham groupies tied up is beyond me. I thought he would have picked something rockier like Hunters and Collectors. Also why were people picking songs that are over ten years old infact Tom Williams would not have been alive when this song came out.

Madam Parker - Hook Me Up - The Veronica's
Points are given for picking a song that was sung in the noughties.
However the cutsie girl thing complete with hair curling with her finger just did not do it for me. She looked great but I was a bit worried about some of the camera angles with her short dress.

Marcia did the cop out "How did it feel up there?"
Dicko thought "It felt wrong" and I would have to agree.

Bottom three - Thanh, Madam Parker, and Tom

In the first week of Idol we had fans of Jonny Taylor's, all three of them, having to vote twice to get their votes through.

This week we have Brooke Adamo's dad alleging there were voting discrepancies on the night his daughter was eliminated from the competition.

The Who Weekly article said:
At least one betting agency was puzzled, too. "All of a sudden, [bets] came rapidly," says Centrebet spokesman Neil Evans, who watched the odds plummet from $15 to $3. "They backed [Brooke] and no-one else."

There's also anecdotal evidence that Brooke's supporters were unable to vote for her. Carlo, who runs a Tattslotto outlet, says that out of all the people who have since visited his Melbourne store, "There's not one person who tried to vote who didn't have problems." And one Idol forum message read: "Brooke's line kept saying that it was closed every time you SMSed it."

Channel Ten and Fremantle Media have of course denied any discrepancies and rabbited on about independent auditing.

Brooke's father is promising a Harry Bosch type investigation as "...Something's is terribly wrong."

It is doubtful she will be reinstated into the competition so read her eviction interview here.

Brooke Adamo Thought She Was Not Perceived Well By Public
Brooke Adamo this week's eliminated Australian Idol said ``The competition is on talent and singing ability but also on popularity and I think the public didn't perceive me well,'' she said.

However she will draw inspiration from Ricki-Lee and the success of her career.

She has a right to be upset considering lesser talents then her are still in the competition. The teen voters were clearly voting for another person.

Source of article here.

Bullied Alamela Rowen Back Modelling.

Another teenage girl who was reduced to tears because of a reality TV show is Alamela Rowen. Alamela was the victim in the notorious bullying incident in Australia's Next Top Model. Her perpetrator, Demelza, went on to take out the title and to star in Ferrero Rocher chocolate ads.

However Alamela has not given up on modelling all together she entered a Byron Bay modelling contest.

Rowan, who lives in Byron Bay, is one of 14 finalists vying for first prize of a photo shoot, makeover, modelling course and a lunch date with the singer Amiel.

"I really enjoy modelling in the real world without the intensity of a reality TV show," she said. "People are so much nicer and it's more realistic and the pressure is far less than what it was on Top Model."

Source SMH

Darren Hayes Disappointed With His Idol Pick Sophie Patterson.

Darren Hayes who will be mentoring the Australian Idol's this Sunday where the performers will have to sing Australian hits. What are the chances Luke Dickens will do a Barnesy number? However in an interview he said Sophie had become too 'slick'. Hayes had been at the London audition where she was found.

Personally I think Sophie is trying to be sexy when she is not. I don't get why Dicko goes the whole Bridgette Bardot route with her. She needs to go back to be a bit more the folk singer like Brooke White was in this years American Idol.

Hayes says he is impressed with Roshani Priddis and Wes Carr. Full interview on News.com.au

Charlotte Dawson In Talks To Become The Host of Australia's Next Top Model
In non surprising news Charlotte Dawson will be meeting with Brian Walsh, the head of Foxtel today to discuss her future with the show.

After stepping in at last minute to host the live finale when Jodhi Meares choked she deserves to be first crack at the top job. Anyway Jodhi never really made a success of that role she was far too scripted something Jennifer Hawkins should learn from. Full story here.

Speaking of Jennifer Hawkins...
In tomorrow nights show of Make Me a Supermodel the wannabe models will be training with AFL footballers, Brodie Holland and Ryan O'Keefe. If you want to see a nice picture of Shanina Shaik click here.

This year's Idol's and Bobby Flynn to Meet Up At The Basement tonight
Bobby Flynn will be playing at The Basement tonight and tomorrow night to promote his new album. If that Idol fix is not enough this years Idol contestants will also be there tonight with cameras in tow.

In other Idol news - Carl Risley will be singing at The Vanguard at Newtown tonight. Shannon Noll is also releasing a Best Of Album. Can you do that if you have only been around for five years?

Also the Australia contestant from this years American Idol, Michael Johns, will be in Perth as a guest star on a telethon.

For the truly Obsessed US So You Think You Can Dance Fan
Yes I am one of them. Here is an excerpt from the LA Times about them hanging out at the post Emmy party.

The "American Idol" / "So You Think You Can Dance" table was in a festive
mood despite "Amazing Race's" continued dominance of the reality television
category. "Idol" / "Dance" overlord Nigel Lythgoe reported that he used his
first few moments without a show on the air this year to launch the dance show
franchise in South Africa. Telling of his travels, he marveled about that
nation's talent.

Across the table, "SYTYCD" judge Mary Murphy was asked if the
party rates a ticket on the Hot Tamale Train (her highest level of praise on the
show)."Oh, no," she drawled in a deep Southern pitch, "You can't get a ticket on
the Hot Tamale Train if there's no dancing." She gazed out forlornly at the
empty patch of dance floor in front of the bandstand. So why are these things
called balls if there's never any dancing? "Maybe because there are so many more
losers than winners," she said."A party with Mary Murphy is a scream!" Lythgoe
said from across the table, referring to his colleague's penchant for
full-volumed praise on the show.

But Murphy didn't take the bait; no piercing trademark shout came forth to crack the chandeliers across the ballroom.Making his way out of the party, Ryan Seacrest stopped by to greet his "Idol" family.

The famously early-to-bed, multiple-job-holding hosting titan is out awfully
late, maybe his latest ever? "Well, let's see," he said, looking at his watch,
"the big hand is on the 2 and the little hand is on the, what's that number?
I've never seen that before, 1 and 0 . . ." He looked up and gazed around the
room. "So this is what normal people do at night . . . I've got to try this
again."

In today's Daily Tele Confidential there is a little vignette about how Dean Geyer was about to buy some "funky footwear" but was informed they were girls shoes.

Can all parents please confiscate their daughters mobile phones to ensure they are unable to vote for the untalented runt Tom Williams. He makes Zac Efron look butch.

Who else can be voting for him other then young teenage and tween girls? After last nights appalling performance of Uptown Girl - getting my teeth drilled was more interesting - only young teenyboppers and relatives could have voted for him.

And no one over 16 would find him attractive as he is pre-pubescent ie barely developed.

Anyway the people who had to take his place in the bottom three were Brooke Adamo, Thanh Bui, and Sophie Patterson.

Also with this new voting thing why do we have to sit through three of the worst performances from the previous evening? Tonight I don't think they were the worst. Why can't we see the best performances from the Sunday night show? This could be voted for on the official website.

Anyway Brooke could not be saved and was eliminated. She has talent and may have progressed further if she had waited a few more years before auditioning for the show.

The highlight was Cyndi Lauper singing Time After Time. She has been the best special guest performer this show has had since its inception.

New Reality TV Show For Alex Perry On Foxtel

Designer and Australian Next Top Model judge Alex Perry will start filming a reality TV show next month. It is a bit unclear what it will be. He said it will be something "fun and different" and not a Big Brother style behind the scenes snapshot of his crazy life.

He said he would love to do a bridal aspect because the craziest stuff happens at weddings!

Now that would be cool our very own Bridezilla, though I am sure the society babes he designs for won't agree to that.

Expect to see his celebrity clients trying to raise their profile on his show.

Link to story here.

Australian Idol Contestant Sex Predator Finally Convicted.
In an article here in the Herald Sun it is revealed a sex offender has finally been convicted on charges for sexually assaulting 10 girls between 14 and 18 between 2003 and 2005.

Previously the Idol contestant had been through a harrowing court case with this same person for sexually assaulting her in the late '90's when she was 15. A jury did not convict him of the three sex related charges.

She states she is happy she had made the allegations against him. Did the jury get it wrong? Because of the nature of the charges the singer nor the year she was on Idol can be revealed, and out of respect for her I won't bother speculating.


Andrew G's Australian Idol Top Four Predictions
Andrew G reckons the top four will be Wes Carr, Mark Spano, Brooke Addamo and Roshani Priddis. I found the most interesting aspect in an article here where he reveals his and his wife's Noa's plans for kids.

Make Me A Supermodel Are Trying To Boost Ratings By Promoting The Best Bits Of The Upcoming Episodes.
Last week it was the stolen bottle of Bollinger by Hannah and this week it is the fight between Billy Bishop and Tom Penfold which is broken up by judge Jackie Frank. Apparently would be model Courtney was also injured in the melee.

This strategy appears to be working with the show cracking the over 1 million viewer mark for the first time last week.

The link between these to controversies appears to be Jackie Frank - will she turn into the Charlotte Dawson of this show, taking away the attention from the bland hosts?

Grant Hackett's Channel 7's Contract In Danger Because Of His Refusal To Go on Dancing With The Stars.
Now I always knew this guy had integrity and this confirms it by him refusing to go on that awful boring show Dancing With The Stars. Apparently he said no and David Leckie head of Channel 7 said he had to. Rumour has it that Hackett may be looking for a new contract elsewhere. Full story in the Daily Tele here.

Now I know this is off topic but can someone tell him to take his wife Candice out for a good feed as she looked incredibly scrawny at the Olympics.

In other Dancing With The Star News James Tobin from Sunrise (I have no idea who he is) and Renee Bargh from Channel V may be doing the wild thing.

For the lucky Australian Idol fans who have their mobile phones contracted to Vodafone they will be able to access free of charge video recaps of every episode including on-demand access to every performance from the Top 24 onwards, video highlights from the first five years of Australian Idol, an exclusive weekly blog, plus all the latest news and profiles on the 2008 Top 12 finalists – direct from their mobile handset.

This will ensure they will be obtain the viewers who have a life and are out on Sunday nights.

Punters whose handsets are not contracted to Vodafone will also be able to access this service however it will cost them. This will be data charges to access the site, subject to their individual mobile plan. Caveat Emptor.

Marcia Hines has finally admitted she did not always tell us what she really thought in seasons gone past on Australian Idol.

In an article in the Sunday Telegraph today she said "I can't hold back because a lot of the things, musically, that Mark [Holden] would have said, I've got to say them,'' Hines said.
"I relied a lot on his ears and now I have to say what has to be said.

She has also admitted with the departure of Mark Holden she will need to step up.

Marcia and Dicko were nearly on the chopping as well this season so Marcia has had the make over with botox etc, and will also have to make over her image as a judge. Everybody knew that Marcia never gave any criticism, constructive or otherwise and it was boring.

So to avoid her hitting the underemployment or worse doing promos for late night shopping TV, she is going to have to be more sizzling.

Full article here.

Dicko will also reveal his nasty side tonight when he throws James Sidebottom out of the Top 24 because he does not want to win Idol. This story is obviously planted to get viewers to tune in. James is the not so great looking chiropractor from Melbourne. Full story here.

In the first week of season 6 Australian Idol it is a good time to look at highlights from seasons past. Mr Melodius's blog has done just that. He has outlined what he thinks are the top 10 performances (with the footage) from the past seasons, and he pretty much nails it on the head. I would have included a Ben McKenzie number. He includes the talented Bobby Flynn, and the girl who had a lot of promise Chanel Cole. Chanel had the honour of being the only Idol contestant that Marcia Hines did not like.

Maybe the top 10 worst performances list needs to be done. The Casey Donovan number where she forgot the lines, any Lee Harding number, and the Damien Leith disco number would have to be included.