Ryan Seacrest Tweeted this picture of himself on the Emmy red carpet yesterday rehearsing for today’s big event. Looking at that picture of him, I have to wonder when did Simon Cowell start styling him or is it just that he is going to miss working with the mean judge so much on American Idol that he is starting to dress like him. What is even worse is he even has his hairstyle in that picture.
It seems like every day there is a new name being thrown in to the mix of who could be joining American Idol as a judge. We have heard names like Bret Michaels, Harry Connick Jr, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and most recently Shania Twain was added to list. Well there is another name being thrown in to the hat, and I spoke to the man himself about it.
Remember during American Idol season 8 Adam Lambert broke out from the pack when he sang Tears For Fears’ Mad World? Well I guess Fox and the producers of American Idol took notice, because Curt Smith who sang that song originally had a meeting with Fox and Freemantle about being a possible judge! When I saw the man that sang one of my all-time favorite songs (Mad World) could possible be someone I would be watching twice a week from January to May, I had to find out more. So here is what he told me about Idol, Tears For Fears, his solo work, his new website and the popular USA Network show he will be guest starring on!
Seriously? OMG! WTF? – How did you being considered for a judge on American Idol come about? Curt Smith – Now that’s a mystery 🙂 I received an e-mail from my music agent (CAA) whilst on holiday in the UK asking if I would meet with Fox & Fremantle about judging on American Idol. Being a fan of the show I said sure.
SOW – What was it like getting that call? CS: I wondered how they thought of me and my kids went bananas
SOW – What was the meeting like? CS – A little strange not being used to those kind of things. I don’t see how someone can form an educated opinion of anyone in 30 minutes.
SOW – There have been so many rumors on who will be the next judge(s) on American Idol, have you been following them? What do you think of them? CS – I couldn’t really form an honest opinion as I don’t know those being considered personally. I just hope they have a rapport with each other as the show used to be more fun to watch.
SOW – If you got the phone call tomorrow from Idol asking you to judge the show, what would you say? CS – Yes probably 🙂
SOW – Your song Mad World went through a resurgence for a second time, thanks to Adam Lambert singing it in on American Idol. What was it like when you heard him sing on the show? What was it like hearing him perform it live at the finale? And did you watch General Hospital when the show made his version James Franco’s theme song? CS – I was there to hear and see him sing it in the finale – I’ve taken my kids to the show a few times. I liked it and we were rooting for Adam to win as he was the most talented. As to the latter, daytime soaps are not really my thing.
SOW – I know you have been on the road internationally with Tears For Fears earlier in the year and you are out on the road again now here in the states with TFF. Where are you going? What has it been like? CS – We start tonight in Detroit then head to Buffalo, Toronto and follow the coast down to Florida so no reports yet.
(SOW note – You can get a list of all the cities and dates that Tears For Fears is playing from now until September 5th at Pollstar)
SOW – You have a single out today, Perfectly…Still! Where can my readers get it? CS – It’s available on all the online sites, iTunes, Amazon etc. You will also be able to buy limited CD copies at TFF shows and on my website www.curtsmithofficial.com
SOW – You already have a lot on your plate, but what else do you have going on? CS -I’ve just started a music web show called Stripped Down Live that will be up and running again when I return to LA in early September. I’ve filmed an episode of the TV show Psych playing the difficult part of myself which will be out in September also. I’m performing a few solo shows in LA (see my website for details) and heading to San Francisco in November to talk at TEDxSF about social media.
Wow Curt Smith has a lot coming up and I can’t wait to see him playing himself on Psych next month on USA. I hope that he has something else that we will have to watch him on coming up in the new year and that is him being a judge on American Idol! Seriously after watching him in that second video from his website Stripped Down Live, don’t you think he would be great sitting at the judges table on the #1 show on American TV? Fingers crossed he is still in the running.
Now back to his music, you have to download Perfectly…Still because it is as good as Mad World, Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Woman in Chains. Also make sure to see Tears For Fears or Curt Smith live when they are playing a city near you because they are just that awesome live.
BTW Curt Smith is on Twitter and I have been enjoying his Tweets for a while. So if you are Twitter, I highly suggest following him because he is really interesting and posts some really cool pictures.
Finally thank you so much to Curt Smith for taking the time to speak with me before you performed your first show on the tour in Detroit tonight!
So American Idol is a little over a month from filming their auditions with the judges and as of now neither us nor Fox know who will be sitting in those seats. The only thing we know is that Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres are out, but who is in is still a mystery. Recently there were rumors that Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler were going to join the show. Well today People is reporting from a source that Jennifer Lopez is no longer being considered because, “Her demands got out of hand,†says the source. “Fox had just had enough.†Why does she think she still has the right to make reportedly outrageous demands? I mean wasn’t she reportedly dropped from her label when the first single off the upcoming album bombed and they opted not to release it. And who has seen her last few movies, no really who has seen her last few movies. Wait why I am complaining? Because if J-Lo got the slot, I (like many people I spoke to) were going to drop Idol like Ben Affleck did right before their wedding. Too soon?
Talking about demanding divas, Nick Cannon told Hollywood Reporter that his wife Mariah Carey would be interested in the vacated slot. He said, “You know what? She talks about it. She says, “I would love to do that.” She is one of the greatest singers of our time; she would be great. I don’t know if she has enough time, though, but if they could work with her schedule, I know she would love to do “Idol.” Let’s start the campaign!” You know what I wouldn’t mind Mariah joining the show because she can be tough!
So want a random name that was thrown into the mix? Glee show creator Ryan Murphy told us last week at the Fox TCAs that he was asked if he would be interested in being a judge, but then added he can’t comment on that. What he did comment on is when I asked him if there would be an American Idol crossover, he straight out said “no!” Then I asked even an audition episode, he again said “no!” Oh well.
Now over to someone who has been a judge on the show, Zap2It posted Kara DioGuardi’s father Joseph DioGuardi talking to Capitol Tonight about his daughter and he said, “Would you believe that she did not hear and still has not heard anything. She read it the way you did and I did. In fact, her disappointment is that that’s the way she’s being treated … I think what they’re trying to do is create a lot of buzz, like they did with Paula Abdul. They’re trying to reformat the thing. But Kara has a very deep career in music … so she’ll be fine. Does she want to do it another year? I think so … I think she will at some point confront them on that.” That is messed up, they should at least let her know they have or haven’t decided yet if they are keeping her.
So with this update, I kind of feel that we won’t have our judging panel ready when they are ready to begin production next month. So what happens if those seats are not filled? Here is what Peter Rice, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Network Group told me when I asked him that question, “I guess we can shoot it with an empty panel of judges, or we’ll have to wait until we have judges.†He said with a smile on his face! Something I have on my face, now that J-Lo is allegedly out of the running!!!
Today was the day when we were Fox was facing the firing squad, I mean reporters, and answer if the rumors that Kara DioGuardi was out and Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were in as judges of American Idol is true or not. The response was that they have not signed any contracts with anyone who wasn’t already on the show last year. In other words, we know just as much now as we did when Ellen DeGeneres announced that she was leaving last week.
Today is August 2nd and they have until mid-September to announce their replacement(s) because that is when the second round of auditions begin. Peter Rice, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Network Group said they are hoping to have their judge(s) by then, he jokes “I guess we can shoot it with an empty panel of judges, or we’ll have to wait until we have judges.” But the chances of them waiting until then, I am sure is, highly unlikely.
When it comes to the two remaining judges, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson he would not comment if they will or will not be back on the show. He also did not comment if they will stay with the 4 judge format or return the 3 judges.
The one thing he did comment on is as of now Nigel Lythgoe has not signed a deal to return to the show and I am fine with that.
Ellen DeGeneres has opted to leave American Idol after one season of joining the show! The blonde judge posted a statement on her daytime show’s website.
A couple months ago, I let FOX and the “American Idol” producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me. I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on “Idol” and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.
I respect her for realizing she wasn’t the right fit for the show. After seeing her judge on So You Think You Can Dance, I knew she would not work. As a daytime talk show host, actress and comedian I think she is great. As a judge, it was not the right fit for her.
It will be interesting to see who they will get to replace her. On Monday Fox will be having their press day and we critics have been speculating that they would make the announcement of the Idol changes then and sounds like they will. I just hope that they don’t announce that Nigel Lythgoe is going to be one of the judges. What I do hope is that they go back to 3 judges!
We will find out on Monday…I hope!!!
UPDATE: Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Jennifer Lopez will be joining American Idol as a judge. She is a good get for the show, but a bad get for me. We shall see on Monday if she is the new one…
