As in "The Godfather, Part Three," every time David Archuleta thinks he's out, they pull him back in.

The Murray, Utah, singer will return to "American Idol" - where he came in second last season to David Cook - for next Wednesday's results show.

According to "The Insider," Archuleta will sing his new single, "A Little Too Not Over You."

But Archuleta's appearance won't be the only flashback. Since Tuesday's show will have the remaining seven competitors singing disco songs, Wednesday's show will feature stars of the disco era - Harry Wayne Casey (a k a "KC" of KC and the Sunshine Band), Thelma Houston and Freda Payne - performing a medley of their hits, "Get Down Tonight," "Don't Leave Me this Way" and "Band of Gold."

Where's your mirrored ball when you need it?

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta

Megan Joy seemed to know - from mugging for the camera to her overdramatic pop-eyed look during Ryan Seacrest's announcement - that this "American Idol" episode would be her last.

Joy, the 23-year-old single mom from Sandy, Utah - she of the tattooed arm and quirky hip swivel - was eliminated on Wednesday night's results show, with a gratuitously cruel flourish from lead judge Simon Cowell.

In shutting down hopes of a "judges' save," even before Joy re-sang her rendition of Bob Marley's "Turn the Lights Down Low," Cowell seemed upset that Joy didn't care about the judges' criticism.

"Megan, with the greatest respect, when you said that you don't care, nor do we," said Cowell - the judge who, more than any of the four, championed Joy's offbeat singing style in the early rounds.

Cowell's disaffection for his former favorite is another indication of "Idol's" central paradox: The judges demand originality from the singers - but when confronted with a singer who breaks the mold, the judges seem determined to shove that singer right back into the mold. (Take, for example, judge Kara DioGuardi's suggestion that Joy should have chosen "Chasing Pavements," a recent hit by Adele, rather than the Marley number.)

Now Joy gets to come back home to Utah and her little boy, and prepare for the "American Idols" tour this summer. Then she can go about applying that original voice, away from Cowell's disapproving stare.

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

A handful of Utah "American Idol" viewers may have been surprised Tuesday night when Fox 13's 9 p.m. newscast popped up 35 minutes early.

Without explanation, a crawl across the top of the screen informed KSTU's viewers that the show scheduled to follow "American Idol" - the debut of the variety program "Osbournes Reloaded," which Ryan Seacrest dutifully teased - would be shown instead at 12:05 a.m.

"Osbournes Unloaded" - which stars rocker Ozzy Osbourne, manager/wife Sharon Osbourne and talent-free kids Jack and Kelly - had already offended the folks at WPGX, the Fox affiliate in Panama City, Fla. That station pulled the Osbournes' completely, replacing it with an episode of "The Simpsons."

(According to Broadcasting & Cable, an industry trade publication, 16 Fox stations didn't air the show - while another 10, like KSTU, pushed the show to a later time slot.)

Insomniacs who stayed up past midnight to watch "Osbournes Reloaded" got to see a celebrity train-wreck of lowbrow pranks - blindfolding a lothario and having him kiss an old lady, having Kelly work a fast-food drive-through window and shout obscenities at the customers, or confronting a reluctant boyfriend with his long-suffering girlfriend in a wedding dress - and bleeped-out profanity. It may not have been the worst use of videotape ever, but it's in the Top 5. (Don't believe me? Tom Shales of The Washington Post called it "must-flee TV," while Ken Tucker at Entertainment Weekly opined that "the stink of this show will last a long time.")

Awful as it was, the offensiveness level of "Osbournes Reloaded" wasn't out of line for the network that gives us "Family Guy" every Sunday. But as a follow-up to "American Idol" - whose multi-generational audience includes teens, tweens and their grandparents - the Osbournes' profane hijinks were woefully out of place.

Labels: American Idol, television

Oh, for the love of all that's holy - Bob Marley?!?

On a week when the nine remaining "American Idol" contestants could choose pretty much any song they wanted (under the vague corporate-happy umbrella of top iTunes downloads), Sandy, Utah, singer Megan Joy - the perky blonde with the smoky jazz voice - picked Marley's "Turn Your Lights Down Low" and bombed with the judges.

"It was like watching paint dry," declared Randy Jackson. "Boring, indulgent and monotonous," said Simon Cowell. Kara DioGuardi said Joy was in trouble.

Expect Joy standing at center stage tonight, awaiting the bad news from Ryan Seacrest. My picks for joining Joy in the Bottom 3: Scott MacIntyre, for his screechy rendition of Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are"; and Anoop Desai, who gave a funk-free version of Usher's "Caught Up."

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

Maybe Megan Joy is right - her fans will see her through.

Enough of them saw her through to the next round of "American Idol," as callers and text-message senders gave the boot to oil-rigger Michael Sarver - confirming Simon Cowell's brutal assessment that "you're not going to win this competition."

In fact, Joy wasn't even in the bottom 3 - an all-guy trio that included Sarver, Matt Giraud and Scott MacIntyre. Maybe somebody finally figured out how boy-heavy this year's line-up is.

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

Get ready for the montage of Megan Joy's "journey" to the Top 10 of "American Idol."

Joy (the 23-year-old from Sandy, Utah) fired up a rendition of Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life" during Motown night on Wednesday night's "Idol" episode - and the judges' appraisal was particularly harsh.

Randy Jackson called it "a trainwreck." Kara DioGuardi said she should have sung another song. Simon Cowell said it was "atrocious" and that Joy was "in trouble."

Paula Abdul tried to compliment Joy's looks: ''Your stunning beauty takes my breath away.'' This prompted Cowell to mutter, "It's not 'Top Model.' ''

Joy's only hope is that the voting public - "my fans," to whom she gave a somewhat desperate shout-out - knock either Michael Sarver (who bulled through "Ain't Too Proud to Beg") or Scott MacIntyre (who did his piano-man thing to "You Can't Hurry Love") first.

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

When you try to make the most wholesome show on TV - as the folks at "American Idol" do, as they try to satisfy teeny-boppers and their grandmas at the same time - even the most tangential link to pornography is going to get some attention.

In past years, contestants Frenchie Davis and David Hernandez got the boot after word of their extracurricular activities - respectively, topless photos on the Internet and stripping in a gay bar - came to light.

Expanding the Top 12 to a Top 13 this season presented a dilemma for "Idol" producers, because they had only secured 12 phone numbers for voting - and the numbers above and below the 12 secured numbers were owned by phone-sex companies. The show found an extra phone number to use, just in time for the first week of voting.

Now, contestant Megan Joy Corkrey - the tattooed divorced mom from Sandy, Utah - has stumbled into another small problem. The singer last week dropped her married name, Corkrey, and is now billed as Megan Joy.

Alas, there's already a Megan Joy out there: A porn star whose credits (according to E! Online) include "Sorority Sex Kittens: Kappa Kappa Sex" and "Cheerleader Auditions 6" (for those who thought the stories of "Cheerleader Auditions" 1 through 5 weren't thoroughly explored).

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

Whether America liked her bluesy rendition of Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight" or felt sympathy for her bout with the flue, Utah's "American Idol" contestant Megan Joy survived another week on our nation's communal karaoke show.

Joy wasn't even in the bottom three, in spite of predictions from some blogs that she'd be sent home. Instead, little Alexis Grace (pictured) - dinged for a generic rendition of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" - was eliminated. (Grace's departure goes counter to the rumors, fostered by this New York Daily News item, that the fix was in and Grace was already chosen for the final four.)

The good news for Joy is that, because she's in the Top 10, she'll be part of the "Idols" tour this summer.

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

Megan Joy - the pride of Sandy, Utah - wasn't just singing a country song on Tuesday night's "American Idol." She was living one.

Joy - notice that the recently divorced 23-year-old mom has dropped her married name, Corkrey, adopting her middle name as a stage name - was on the bubble last week, and has been roundly criticized by "Idol" wags on the Internet. (The notorious VoteFortheWorst.com - the folks who lobbied for Sanjaya Malakar in an effort to take down "Idol" from within - has chosen Joy as their favorite this season.)

On Tuesday, Joy fought off a bad case of the flu - which put her in the hospital on an IV bag, and forced her to miss the show's dress rehearsal earlier in the day - to sing a passable rendition of Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight."

The judges were impressed with the effort. "You should have flu every week," said Simon Cowell, "because you were better this week than last week. And you look gorgeous."

(Cowell was also right that whoever is styling Joy is detracting from her tattoo-flavored quirkiness. She needs to wear something with a bra - the halter-top gown she was wearing does not pass the "pencil test.")

Of course, the strangest performance of the night was Adam Lambert's ill-advised attempt to turn Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" into a Depeche Mode song. Cowell again called it right: "What the hell was that?" (Randy Jackson, on the other hand, should be ashamed for his positive comment that it sounded like "Nine Inch Nails doing a Johnny Cash song." Randy should be forced to listen to Cash's late-career cover of Trent Reznor's "Hurt," to be reminded of what a Cash/Reznor collaboration really sounds like.)

If Joy survives tonight's results show - a big if, though Scott MacIntyre's uncanny ability to turn everything into a Bruce Hornsby song makes him a prime candidate for dismissal - she'll be in the Top 10, which means she'll go on the "American Idols" tour his summer.

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

The "American Idol" producers decided to send a message to Megan Joy Corkrey on Wednesday's results show: You're on the bubble, so get better or go home.

Host Ryan Seacrest called Corkrey - the 23-year-old single mom from Sandy, Utah - down to the main stage to stand alongside Jasmine Murray (who, like Corkrey, was a judges' wild-card choice for the Top 13) to learn which of them would be eliminated. After a moment of tension, Seacrest told Corkrey she would be safe, and that Murray was going home.

(To add to Murray's misery, she was also told the judges - who now have the power to "save" one eliminated contestant - wouldn't be exercising that power with her. The same thing happened to Jorge Nunez, who got sent packing.)

The good news for Corkrey and her fans: If she survives next week (with the theme ''songs popularized by members of The Grand Ole Opry''), she'll be in the Top 10 - which means she'll be part of the national tour.

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

Can we all agree with Simon Cowell that "Rockin' Robin" was an atrocious song choice for Sandy's favorite tattooed single mom, Megan Joy Corkrey, on last night's "American Idol"? (Why couldn't she have done "The Way You Make Me Feel," instead of Lil Rounds?)

But not everyone thought Corkrey's performance was that bad. Michael Slezak, recapping "Idol" for Entertainment Weekly, wrote that she "interpreted the fusty old number with enough swing and sass that it wouldn't have sounded all that odd sandwiched between cuts from, say, Duffy and Nellie McKay."

Corkrey has got to work on her stage moves, like actually moving around on the stage. Right now, if a hurricane swept through the "Idol" studio, Ryan Seacrest and the others should tie themselves to Corkrey - because when she sings, she's as rooted as a tree.

Tonight we find out how America voted - and we learn about the mysterious new format change, which I suspect will have the judges taking the final decision out of the voters' hands.

While you're waiting for tonight's results show, consider this excellent column by Los Angeles Times' pop music critic Ann Powers, who urges "Idol" producers get over the homophobia that forces contestants to submerge their identities. (Consider Clay Aiken, who came out five years after his "Idol" season.) Powers' commentary is a reasoned call for the overly homogenized "Idol" to be as diverse as America itself.

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

It's been the burning question all the nation has been asking, apparently: Just what is tattooed on Megan Joy Corkrey's right arm?

The "American Idol" finalist - and 23-year-old single mom from Sandy, Utah - explained it in a Q-and-A session (which MTV.com dutifully transcribed here) after securing her spot in the top 13:

"It's a castle, and there's a night sky above it. And the glass is stained glass, and it's my fairy tale. And there's a king and a queen, and that's me and — who knows? And then there's a fairy godmother, my mom; a wizard, my brother; and a prince, my son. Then there's roses growing up the castle."

Corkrey has seven tattoos in all: Her son's name on her wrist, two stars on her back (representing herself and her mother), her middle name on her hip, and "a jumble of things I love" on both feet.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

"American Idol" finalized its Top 13 (not 12, but 13, in a "surprise" twist) Thursday night, and Megan Joy Corkrey - the 23-year-old single mom from Sandy, Utah - made the cut.

Unfortunately for Corkrey, her big moment of triumph was upstaged by another singer's hissy fit.

Corkrey impressed the judges with a fiery cover of KT Tunstall's "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree." Simon Cowell, while saying it wasn't the best vocal ever heard, heaped praise on Corkrey.

"What I like about you is that you're current," Cowell said. "Sometimes this show can get a bit karaoke, and I don't get that from you. You've got originality, you're quirky, you've got your own thing."

(Cowell's comment drew this rebuke from Michael Slezak, who's recapping "Idol" for Entertainment Weekly: "What is it about her that's so current? The fact that she's going to need serious help from Auto-Tune when she goes in to cut her debut album?")

When Corkrey got the word in the episode's final minutes that she would be moving on to the Top 13, she had to share the stage with drama queen Tatiana del Toro - whose meltdown in front of the judges when she was eliminated stole Corkrey's thunder. (On the plus side, Corkrey is almost guaranteed a supporting role on tonight's episode of E!'s "The Soup," when Tatiana's crying fit gets played over and over again.)

Also, did you notice that when Corkrey tried to give a high-five to fellow Top 13 pick Jasmine Murray, she got left hanging? Welcome to Hollywood, indeed.

(By the way, Corkrey has her own website now. Here it is.)

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

Sixteen-year-old Hurricane resident Taylor Vaifanua was an early casualty on Wednesday night's "American Idol" results show - getting the word from Ryan Seacrest that she wouldn't be going into the Top 12.

But Megan Joy Corkrey, the 23-year-old divorced mom from Sandy, gets one more chance tonight to prove herself. Corkrey was one of eight competitors in the Top 36 who were chosen to compete for three wild-card spots tonight.

Michael Slezak, who writes the "American Idol" recap for Entertainment Weekly, thinks Corkrey might get the judges' approval to go on to the Top 12. He puts her odds at 3-1, just behind Anoop Desai and Ricky Braddy.

The show airs at 8 p.m. (Eastern/Pacific), or 7 p.m. (Central/Mountain) on Fox (Ch. 13 in Utah).

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Taylor Vaifanua

Taylor Vaifanua, the 16-year-old beauty from Hurricane, Utah, finally gets to put her musical chops up for America's judgment on tonight's episode of "American Idol."

Vaifanua is in the last group of 12 singers from "Idol's" Top 36, from whom America will choose three singers to enter the round of 12. Those who don't make the cut could return in Thursday's wild-card round.

MTV.com's Gil Kaufman handicaps tonight's field, picking sassy belter Lil Rounds as the favorite.

The show airs tonight at 8 (Eastern/Pacific) or 7 (Central/Mountain) on Fox - Ch. 13 in Utah.

Labels: American Idol, Taylor Vaifanua

Sandy singer Megan Joy Corkrey missed the cut on "American Idol" Thursday night, but don't count her out yet.

The tattooed mom's jazzy rendition of Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On" - which Simon Cowell said she "oversang" in the second half - wasn't enough to convince the voting public to put her in the Top 12.

Instead, Kris Allen (who did a cover of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror"), Allison Iraheta (Heart's "Alone") and Adam Lambert (The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction") advanced.

But Corkrey's fans shouldn't give up hope. Several of the also-rans from the Top 36 will be back for a wild-card round on March 5. It's clear from the comments Wednesday night that the judges like Corkrey's jazzy sound - and Randy Jackson even opined that he wants to see her go farther in the competition. (He's not the only one: Entertainment Weekly's "Idol" blogger Michael Slezak picks Corkrey as one of the singers he'd like to hear in the wild-card show.)

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey

Set your TiVos for "American Idol" tonight: Megan Joy Corkrey, the 23-year-old divorced mom from Sandy, Utah, performs in the second wave of the Top 36 singers.

Tune in at 8 p.m. (Eastern/Pacific) or 7 p.m. (Central/Mountain) on Fox (KSTU, Ch. 13, in Utah).

(Hurricane teen Taylor Vaifanua will perform in the third group of 12 next week.)

Here's her rendition of "Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine" from the Salt Lake auditions.

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Taylor Vaifanua

- Metal band Psyopus, featuring the nimble fingers of guitarist Christopher Arp, celebrates the release of its new album today with a performance at 6 at Studio 600, 26 E. 600 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $12, at the door.

- The documentary "Waiting to Inhale," about the national debate over medicinal marijuana, will screen at 7 at the City Library auditorium, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City. It's the second of four films to be shown by the Salt Lake City Film Center in its "War on Drug Policy" series. Free.

- The touring production of the Fats Waller musical "Ain't Misbehavin'," starring 2003 "American Idol" champ Ruben Studdard (pictured) and "AI" also-ran Frenchie Davis, opens at 7:30 at Kingsbury Hall, on the University of Utah campus. The show runs through Sunday. Tickets, from $25 to $55, are available at the Kingsbury Hall website.

Labels: American Idol, Tonight's schedule

I'm back on the culture prowl, after two-plus weeks' vacation (gotta thank George Washington and Abraham Lincoln for arranging that extra day off). In that time, I missed the following:

• News that all of Utah's TV stations wouldn't be switching to digital TV today.
• Two Utahns - Megan Corkery of Sandy and Taylor Vaifanua of Hurricane - making the round of 36 on "American Idol."
• A bad stretch for the Osmond clan: Young David (son of Alan) missing the cut in the Hollywood round of "American Idol," while his famous uncle Donny was not among those picked for "Dancing With the Stars" - despite hinting loudly that he would be.
• Utah's own singing heartthrob David Archuleta making his acting debut on Nickelodeon's tweener sitcom "iCarly" - portraying, in a stretch worthy of Olivier, a singer (named David Archuleta) competing on a TV talent show.
• Heber resident Tyson Apostol competing on the new season of "Survivor."
• Huka Bar waitress Kelsey Lee still hanging tough with the other skanks on "Rock of Love Bus."
• The Beehive State's newest congressman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Publicity Stunt) having his daily routine videotaped for a CNN series, "Freshman Year." (Chaffetz has charmed D.C. media - an easily charmed bunch, apparently - by sleeping on a cot in his office. This is in marked contrast to his predecessor, Chris Cannon, who during the Clinton impeachment sacked out on a cot in the Fox News Channel's green room.)

I did have my own bit of celebrity spotting last week. My wife and I had a pre-Valentine's lunch at a downtown SLC sushi restaurant, and sitting at the next table was actor Frankie Muniz ("Malcolm in the Middle") and a good-sized entourage.

Even on vacation, I can't get away from this stuff.

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta, Jason Chaffetz, Kelsey Lee, Osmond, Survivor, television

Tonight's the night Utahns have waited for: To see themselves on TV, singing their hearts out for the judges on "American Idol."

Footage from July's auditions at EnergySolutions Arena (and follow-up auditions in September, when the coven of judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and newbie Kara DioGuardi were in town) will be shown tonight at 7 on KSTU, Ch. 13.

The Tribune's Vince Horiuchi anticipates tonight's "Idol" episode, recounting the audition experiences of several Utahns who aren't going to Hollywood.

Of course, getting the "you're going to Hollywood" call isn't the end of one's problems, either. Take the example of Joanna Pacitti, who's written up in today's New York Post as a potential "ringer" - because she's already had a record contract, plus a couple of soundtrack appearances and a stint on an MTV reality show.

Labels: American Idol

David Archuleta - "American Idol" runner-up, the pride of Murray, Utah, and now a bonafide pop star - turned 18 years old on Sunday.

That means all you 30-something and 40-something fans can feel a little bit less dirty about loving him so much.

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta

Fans of the Osmonds 2nd Generation got a surprise at the group's Christmas concert Saturday at Salt Lake City's Capitol Theatre: A visit from one of Santa's elves.


Oh, wait, that's not an elf - that's David Archuleta.

The "American Idol" also-ran from Murray joined Alan Osmond's brood for three songs: "O Holy Night," "Mary Did You Know" and "Amazing Grace."

Archuleta certainly gets around. He put in his SLC cameo just two days after appearing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

This may not be the only Archuleta/Osmond connection. According to the "Idol"-obsessed MJ's Big Blog, the rumor is that David Osmond - lead singer of Osmonds 2nd Generation - auditioned for "American Idol" and made it as far as the Hollywood round.

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta, Osmond

OK, so this is a little cruel to some pre-teen David Archuleta fans. But it's also unrelievedly funny:





(Tip o' the hat to Wm. Steven Humphrey at The Stranger in Seattle, who unearthed this.)

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta

Utah's favorite small-enough-to-fit-in-an-overhead-compartment pop singer, David Archuleta, releases his first album on Nov. 11 - but that didn't stop Entertainment Weekly's Shirley Halperin to give an advance review of the CD's liner notes.

The surprise is that while Archuleta's responses to questions - whether from Ryan Seacrest on the "American Idol" stage or over the phone with the Tribune's David Burger - are brief and opaque, the liner notes go on and on. To the tune of 3,500 words, of which 2,000 are thank yous.

Archuleta gives thanks to his parents, his friends, his musical influences (including Kelly Clarkson, Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, Natasha Bedingfield, John Mayer and Sara Bareilles), his vocal coach Dean Kaelin, everyone at Fox and his fellow "American Idol" contestants. And he gives a special shout-out to the folks at home:

Thank you to all of my neighbors and members from church who have shown their love and support every step of the way... It has meant the world to me to see the support from Utah, and I hope I make everyone there proud :) Go Murray, Utah!

"My problem is, it's either one line or, like, 300 pages," Archuleta told Halperin in a brief interview Saturday (at an after-party for Jason Mraz' L.A. concert). "I completely ramble, even in my interviews or just explaining things. And I didn't want to forget anyone! Gives you something to talk about, I guess."

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta

Today's dead-tree Salt Lake Tribune includes a roundup of Halloween activities along the Wasatch Front - with the usual onslaught of haunted houses, corn mazes and other autumn traditions. (Tribune writers also offer tips on how to pick and carve a pumpkin, how to cook pumpkin seeds, how to create a cool Halloween costume and throw a fun party, plus a look at Utahns who get carried away with the Halloween decorating.)

One of the highlights is Cornbelly's annual corn maze at Thanksgiving Point - which this year features the smiling, singing image of Utah's own "American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta.

If you think that's tacky - that millions of Americans will fly over Lehi and laugh at those wacky Utahns - consider what Ohio farmer Duke Wheeler did to his cornfield:


(Photos: AP)

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta, politics, Sarah Palin

The rules of celebrity are simple: Celebrities should mate with other celebrities, thus ensuring the celebrity gene is passed down to the next generation.

That's what David Archuleta's friends are apparently working on.

"All my friends keep saying, 'You should try to hook up with Shawn Johnson,' " Utah's own "American Idol" runner-up told The Los Angeles Times on a quick interview from Tampa, where the "American Idols Live!" tour recently played.

But gold-medal-winning Olympic gymnasts aside, the singer - now riding the hit single "Crush" - was coy when asked who he has a crush on. "I’m just afraid to mention anything now," Archuleta said, adding that when one of his female friends attended him perform, she received a ton of hate male from fans. "They said, 'You’re not good enough for him, and you’re ugly.' You can see why people want to keep things to themselves."

Hey, a celebrity who wants to keep his private life private. Maybe this is a genetic trait we want to pass along.

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta

The links between David Archuleta and Miley Cyrus - like the conspiracy-theory similarities between Lincoln and JFK - are starting to pile up.

Eonline.com reports that Utah's own "American Idol" also-ran will be working with the producers at Rock Mafia Records. That company's producers Antonia Armato and Tim James, co-wrote and co-produced eight of the tracks on Cyrus' latest album, "Breakout," including her hits "7 Things" and "See You Again."

The team also has worked with Mariah Carey, Vanessa Hudgens and Aly & AJ.

Last month, the gossip columnist Janet Charlton reported that Cyrus "had a schoolgirl crush" on Archuleta - and wants him to make a cameo in the upcoming "Hannah Montana" movie.

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta

Once again, David Cook beat David Archuleta for a big prize - this time, a large surfboard.

Cook (at right), who beat Archuleta (on the left) in the finals for "American Idol" in May, won at Sunday's Teen Choice Awards in the category of "Choice TV Male Reality/ Variety Star."

Archuleta - the pride of Murray, Utah (as this blog is obligated to say every time it mentions him) - did get his own Teen Choice Award surfboard, though, in the category of "Most Fanatic Fans." (If you don't believe that, let me show you the e-mails from the "Archies" who objected to my criticism of L'il David during the "Idol" competition.)

The Teen Choice Awards were handed out Sunday, but the show broadcasts tonight on Fox.

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta

Melanie Denos learned a lesson in how TV works - and how being pretty isn't always enough - outside EnergySolutions Arena on Tuesday morning.

Denos (at left), a 17-year-old from Bluffdale, Utah, was among the 4,000-plus people who auditioned for "American Idol" - and she seemed to have guaranteed herself at least a second or two of TV time before the auditions even started.

When Fox producers were setting up a crowd scene, during which hundreds of screaming auditioners cheer for the camera, Denos was in a prime position: Standing on the corner of the bottom stair outside the arena, the tip of the wedge of humanity being captured by the jib-mounted camera swooping overhead (pictured at right).

After a few preliminary passes, TV esthetics came crashing down. A production assistant moved Denos from the front spot, and two other young women were moved in front of her. Now the corner position (as the picture at top shows) was held by a taller, leggier blonde - 16-year-old Lauren Sater of Sacramento, Calif. - wearing a short skirt and high heels. When the Salt Lake City auditions air on "Idol" next winter, it will be Sater, not Denos, who will be the first smiling auditioner America sees.

That's showbiz.

(Crowd photos by Al Hartmann/The Salt Lake Tribune; Denos photo taken by me.)

Labels: American Idol, Reality show

"Bread and circuses, man," a photographer friend said as we circled EnergySolutions Arena this morning, watching the estimated 4,000-to-6,000 people auditioning for "American Idol." (Read my colleague Vince Horiuchi's story on the madness.)

But everybody has a reason to think they are America's next singing sensation. Here are a few of them:

Name: Arianna Rowley
Age: 20
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Why she's here: "I've been performing ever since I was a little girl."
Audition song: "Fame" by Irene Cara

Name: Andrew Nadon
Age: 27
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Why he's here: "I've never had the chance to audition, and this is the last year I can try it."
Audition song: "Summertime" by George Gershwin

Name: Taylor Lawrence
Age: 17
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Why she's here: "I've wanted it for a very long time, and it's my time to shine."
Audition song: "Take Me or Leave Me" by Idina Menzel, from "Rent"

Name: Janet Eicher
Age: 25
Hometown: Kirkland, Wash.
Why she's here: "I've been singing since I was six. Now is my time. All my students [third-graders at Bennett Elementary] told their parents I was quitting teaching."
Audition song: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder

Name: Liu Vakapuna
Age: 23
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Why he's here: "Polynesian's the new thing. You don't see too many Polynesians singing professionally." (Actually, Liu was too cool to speak. His buddy, who did not give his name, spoke for him.)
Audition song: "Ordinary People" by John Legend

Name: Juliet Christensen
Age: 27
Hometown: West Valley City, Utah
Why she's here: "Just for fun. Maybe I'll get on TV." (By the way, she's due to give birth to her second child on Sept. 29.)
Audition song: "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers

Name: Mikayla Dewar (left)
Age: 20
Hometown: Nampa, Idaho
Why she's here: "I've been wanting to be a singer since I was a year old. I want to be the next American Idol."
Audition song: "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera

Name: Carna Peach (right)
Age: 24
Hometown: Orem, Utah
Why she's here: "I want to be the next American Idol. I'm the whole package. Do you want my autograph?"
Audition song: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye

Name: Katie Clark
Age: 28
Hometown: Magna, Utah
Why she's here: "I had a lot of friends and family tell me, 'You've got to do this.' "
Audition song: "Independence Day" by Martina McBride

Name: Melanie Denos
Age: 17
Hometown: Bluffdale, Utah
Why she's here: "I just wanted to try out, to see what I could do."
Audition song: "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" by Betty Everett (later covered by Cher)

Name: Emily Peach
Age: 21
Hometown: Tucson, Ariz.
Why she's here: "I want to see if my dream should remain a dream. You can't win the lottery unless you buy a ticket."
Audition song: "Amazing Grace"

Name: Lauren Sater (right, with her mom, Sue)
Age: 16
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
Why she's here: "I want to be the next American Idol. It's always been my dream, since I was 11, to be on the show."
Audition song: "Always Be My Home" by Rachel Lampa

Name: B.J. Oldroyd
Age: 24
Hometown: Lindon, Utah
Why he's here: "I've been singing most of my life. A bunch of my friends in a choir I'm in [Latter-Day Celebration Choir] decided to come out. I love to sing."
Audition song: "Everything" by Michael Buble

Name: Katelyn Gallagher
Age: 19
Hometown: Pleasant Grove, Utah
Why she's here: "I've been singing or performing or entertaining since I was little. I absolutely love it."
Audition song: "I'm a Woman" from "Smokey Joe's Cafe" (a hit for Peggy Lee in 1963, and used as a jingle for Enjoli perfume in the 1970s)

Name: Mikalene Ipson
Age: 25
Hometown: St. George, Utah
Why she's here: "I've been singing for a long time, professionally since I was 13. ... I have been waiting to audition forever, and my little girl's potty-trained now."
Audition song: "Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams, from "Footloose"

Name: Kristen Back (holding a poster of her 6-month-old daughter Alexa)
Age: 21
Hometown: Nephi, Utah
Why she's here: "I've always wanted to do it, but it's just never been a convenient spot for me."
Audition song: "God-Fearing Woman" by Martina McBride

Name: Desirae Bronson
Age: 25
Hometown: Emmett, Idaho
Why she's here: "It was just a really good opportunity."
Audition song: "You Don't Know Me," a song covered by Patti Page, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and countless others

Name: Cory Ferdinand
Age: 24
Hometown: Murray, Utah
Why she's here: "I thought it would be fun."
Audition song: Not sure, possibly something from "Aladdin"

Name: Brenden Heywood (left)
Age: 19
Hometown: Payson, Utah
Why he's here: "I think I have a lot of talent, a lot more talent than a lot of people. My coworkers [at Starbucks] took my shifts and made me come up to audition."
Audition song: Either "Swing Life Away" by Rise Against or "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen

Name: Shari Short (right), who made friends with Heywood in line
Age: 23
Hometown: Bonners Ferry, Idaho, recently relocated to Redondo Beach, Calif. (She's a singer-songwriter, with her own website.)
Why she's here: "It's a great opportunity. You just have to try it once in your life."
Audition song: "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion

Name: Fehi Latu (left, with his wife Lani)
Age: 24
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Why he's here: "My wife and a lot of my family members said I should do this." (Lani: "It's been a dream of his.")
Audition song: "Sharing the Night Together" by Fiji, a Polynesian singer (covering a Dr. Hook song)

Name: Meredith Silver (left)
Age: 16
Hometown: Chicago
Why she's here: "This was my chance, this is my year. Maybe America will love me."
Audition song: "Mercy" by Duffy

Name: Ryan Silver (right), Meredith's brother
Age: 19
Hometown: Chicago
Why he's here: "It's just an awesome opportunity. It was one of the auditions that worked with my schedule."
Audition song: "Your Smiling Face" by James Taylor

Name: Andy Hulka
Age: 18
Hometown: Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Why he's here: "I just heard about it on Sunday, and I thought it would be awesome. Maybe I can get interviewed by the newspaper."
Audition song: "Proud to Be an American" by Lee Greenwood

Name: Amanda Arbon (left)
Age: 17
Hometown: Logan, Utah
Why she's here: "I've been waiting, like, ever to be old enough - and it's finally in Salt Lake."
Audition song: "At Last" by Etta James

Name: Dyson Morgan
Age: 16
Hometown: Garland, Utah
Why he's here: "She [Amanda, his cousin] was going to do it. My mom talked me into doing it."
Audition song: "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

Name: Christi Cox
Age: 22
Hometown: Boise, Idaho (originally from Texas)
Why she's here: "It's an awesome opportunity. It's something I want to do, and [my mom] sees it in me."
Audition song: "Walking After Midnight" by Patsy Cline

Name: Morgan Lolar, the absolutely last person in line
Age: 17
Hometown: Chandler, Ariz., relocated six months ago to Wetumpka, Ala.
Why she's here: "I've been singing since I was 10, and last year I had cheer camp so I couldn't audition ... and I hate Alabama."
Audition song: "Broken Wing" by Martina McBride

Labels: American Idol, Reality show

This is the weekend that many Utah singers - and would-be singers - have been waiting for: To start the audition process for "American Idol."

Registration for "American Idol" auditions begins Sunday morning at EnergySolutions Arena, with the real auditions beginning Tuesday morning.

Anyone can enter - well, not anyone. According to the audition rules, you have to be a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident, between 16 and 28, have never been an "Idol" semi-finalist, not already signed to a record label or similar contract, and not related to anybody who works for Fox or Coca-Cola or any company related to or sponsoring the show.

The idea is that you register to get a wristband and ticket into the audition, so everybody will be ready to go when auditions start Tuesday morning. You can also get ahead of the game by downloading the "American Idol" release form and guardian form (if you're under 18) and signing them ahead of time.

You should read the release form carefully before signing it, though, if only to appreciate the purity of the legalese. Here's just one example, detailing how the show can use your image:

I understand that I may reveal, and other parties may reveal, information about me that is of a personal, private, embarrassing or unfavorable nature, which information may be factual and/or fictional. I further understand that my appearance, depiction and/or portrayal in the Program may be disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing or of an otherwise unfavorable nature which may expose me to public ridicule, humiliation or condemnation. I acknowledge and agree that Producer shal l have the right to (a) include any or all such information and appearances, depictions or portrayals in the Program as edited by Producer in its sole discretion, and (b) broadcast and otherwise exploit the Program containing any or all such information and appearances, depictions or portrayals in any manner whatsoever in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, or for any other purpose, throughout the universe in perpetuity.

In other words, once you sign up, Fox owns your Celine Dion-warbling butt forever - and can show you in any demeaning way it wants.

Are you sure you want to be famous? If you still do, you better spend the weekend rehearsing.

Labels: American Idol, Reality show