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Syesha Mercado, This Could Be Your Future

Posted 6/12/08 5:27 pm EST by in American Idol


SwayWithin the last few days, we've read some rather disturbing headlines about some of our favorite former "American Idol" hopefuls — both of whom finished in third place the season they were featured on the show.

First came the pathetic revelation that season-one bronze-winner — and former exotic dancer — Nikki McKibbin had been booked for the next season of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab," following in the very troubled footsteps of fellow "Idol" alum Jessica Sierra. Nikki will join such luminaries as Rodney King, Rod Stewart's son, hair-metal video staple Tawny Kitaen and Gary Busey.
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Having Survived 'Idol,' Jim Can Now Finally Reveal the Truth: David Archuleta Is Not Who You Think!

Posted 5/27/08 3:12 pm EST by in American Idol, Behind The Scenes, MTV News, Television


Archuleta

So I'm back home in NY and finally on a normal sleep cycle. Hallelujah! And even though I had a three-day weekend to detox from "Idol," I still can't shake one thing I witnessed at last week's Grand Finale...

Nope, not Fantasia's awesome hair. Nope, not the fact that Ruben Studdard was really 9 feet tall in person. Actually, it didn't even happen on the red carpet. It occurred backstage in the press room, and I call it the David Personality Shift.

The two David's made their way to a podium to answer a few questions. First came the Cookster, who just 30 minutes earlier was crowned America's Next Top Clive Davis Slave. We were all expecting him to be over the moon with excitement, or maybe he'd still be crying like he was on TV. (He did, after all, just win a crazy-popular reality show.) But, nope. He waltzed up to the mic, mumbled a few words about his music teacher, then politely smiled and walked off. A few of us turned to each other and said, "He knows he just won, right?" Was it dawning on him that it might be tough for him to break out of the "Idol" mold? Or maybe it just hit him that his first single was a steaming pile of goo? Or, most likely, he was just damn exhausted, and would rather chill with his family (standing backstage waiting for him) than answer silly questions about fashion accessories. (Yes, stupid tabloid reporter who drove everyone nuts. I'm looking at you.)

Conversely, there was ArchuRunnerUp, who haters bashed for his awkward "gosh's" and giggle fits. Several of my co-workers have been "creeped out" by how he often acted like an eleven-year-old boy, as opposed to a seventeen-year-old dude. Well, based on the few minutes I witnessed in the press room, Archuleta was a shockingly mature, well-spoken young man. He finished all his sentences; he didn't gasp for air more than John Goodman on a staircase; he didn't shrug and turn away from the camera like a Harajuku girl. In other words, he came off like the complete opposite he did while on the telly. And he...had...tons of personality! Where was this Archuleta all season long???

Could it be that losing "Idol" was the best thing that could happen to this kid's emotional growth? Was he just freezing on camera all season because of the intense pressure? (Or was he just relieved to finally get away from Seacrest?)

I wonder if this personality shift happened with the other "Idol" contestants. Maybe, behind the scenes, Brooke White was sane, Jason Castro clever, and Syesha Mercado, uh, likeable...?

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'Idol' In Iraq: Awkward Song Choices Hurt Syesha, Cook Ready to Grab the Crown

Posted 5/15/08 3:16 pm EST by in American Idol, Idol In Iraq, iraq, Television


IdolInIraq1

Editor’s Note: It’s crazy serious and difficult for the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq, but our soldiers still find time for a little fun and escape: just like many of you, they love their weekly dose of “American Idol.” We made friends on the Internet with some members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne division (Fort Bragg, what up!), who will be sending us their review of each “Idol” installment.

They get “Idol” a day later than we do, and their reports might not arrive until well after the show has aired (because, of course, things like communications blackouts do happen when you’re in the military taking care of URGENT BUSINESS). But you don’t mind because they are helping give you the freedom to watch “Idol” in the first place.

Our soldiers each week (L-R): PFC Joshua Miranda, 22 (Orlando, FL); PFC Nathan Puckett, 19 (Cynthiana, KY); SPC Cory Combs, 21 (Plymouth, MA); and SSG Steve Cody, 27 (Los Angeles, CA)


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Only two of our soldiers caught this week’s “Idol” performances (Joshua and Steve), and even halfway across the globe, they could see Syesha Mercado’s elimination coming a mile away. For their money, our boys in camo are betting that the “Idol” crown will be placed on the noggin of David Cook on next week’s finale. Here are their impressions of this week’s renditions, after the jump. Read More...

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'Idol' In Iraq: Sweet on Syesha, Saw Castro Elimination Coming

Posted 5/9/08 3:40 pm EST by in American Idol, Idol In Iraq, iraq, Television


IdolInIraq1

Editor’s Note: It’s crazy serious and difficult for the US Armed Forces in Iraq, but our soldiers still find time for a little fun and escape: just like many of you, they love their weekly dose of “American Idol.” We made friends on the Internet with some members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne division (Fort Bragg, what up!), who will be sending us their review of each “Idol” installment.

They get “Idol” a day later than we do, and their reports might not arrive until well after the show has aired (because, of course, things like communications blackouts do happen when you’re in the military taking care of URGENT BUSINESS). But you don’t mind because they are helping give you the freedom to watch “Idol” in the first place.

Our soldiers each week (L-R): PFC Joshua Miranda, 22 (Orlando, FL); PFC Nathan Puckett, 19 (Cynthiana, KY); SPC Cory Combs, 21 (Plymouth, MA); and SSG Steve Cody, 27 (Los Angeles, CA)


IdolInIraq2

So, not all of our soldier pals got to catch this week’s “Idol” performances (SSG Cody was the only one who did, and he only caught the last half of the episode), because they were off doing what our nation’s servicemen and women do -- real classified-type stuff. That means there isn’t a complete briefing from our Iraq-based “Idol” hounds this week. But even though he’s halfway around the globe, in one of the world’s most unstable countries, Cody still could tell that dread-head Jason Castro’s number was going to be the one called.

Surprisingly, SSG Cody didn’t even mention Paulagate in his report, but it does seem he’s got a little thing for dark horse Syesha Mercado -- but that’s something he’s got to work out himself.

SSG Cody’s impressions of this week’s “Idol,” after the jump. Read More...

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'Idol' Quiz: Can You Name the Number 3's of Past Seasons?

Posted 5/8/08 5:16 pm EST by in American Idol, Music, Television


syesha

So last night the “American Idol” crew was whittled down to three. Ciao, Jason Castro! (Cue violins at John Norris’s house.)

Now we are left with David Cook, David Archuleta, and Syesha Mercado, and the competition is really heating up. Because it's great to be in the final three and all -- but how many of you remember the number three's of seasons past?

(Um, we've posted a photo of Syesha above because -- not to be too presumptuous -- let's just say that an office pool of the 29th floor would reveal that most of us are betting our paychecks a David vs. David showdown.)

Can you remember all the number three’s? It may not be as easy as you’d think. Check your answers after the jump. Read More...

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'Idol' In Iraq: Soldiers Slag Off On Brooke, Castro; Think Syesha Was 'Hot'

Posted 4/28/08 1:13 pm EST by in Idol In Iraq, Television


IdolIraq1

Editor’s Note: It's crazy serious and difficult for the US Armed Forces in Iraq, but our soldiers still find time for a little fun and escape: just like many of you, they love their weekly dose of “American Idol.” We made friends on the Internet with some members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne division (Fort Bragg, what up!), who will be sending us their review of each “Idol” installment.

They get “Idol” a day later than we do, and their reports might not arrive until well after the show has aired (because, of course, things like communications blackouts do happen when you’re in the military taking care of URGENT BUSINESS). But you don’t mind because they are helping give you the freedom to watch “Idol” in the first place.

Our soldiers each week (L-R): PFC Joshua Miranda, 22 (Orlando, FL); PFC Nathan Puckett, 19 (Cynthiana, KY); SPC Cory Combs, 21 (Plymouth, MA); and SSG Steve Cody, 27 (Los Angeles, CA)

IdolIraq2

As President Bush would freely admit, it’s not always possible to meet deadlines when you’re living and working in a war-torn area -- and that’s something we here at MTV News learned last week. With PFC Puckett, who usually emails us the soldiers’ “Idol” commentary each week, taking some much-needed R&R, the rest of the troops slacked, having failed to “make a contingency plan” for Puckett’s time off. So the soldiers sent in their impressions of last week’s performances over the weekend.

While they didn’t comment -- at all -- on Kristy Lee Cook’s ouster the previous week, our soldier pals did think Carly Smithson had redeemed herself, and would be spared elimination. Of course, that didn’t happen. So, how did our valiant troops feel about the “Idol” hopefuls tackling the songs of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber? SSG Cody said that “ever since my mother took me to see my first play as a child, I have loved the theater. I was happy to see ‘Idol’ take a step in that direction.” After seeing the performances, the guys definitely thought Brooke White or Jason Castro would be sent packing -- which they weren’t.

So, who did they love this week? Who do they want to go all the way? Find out after the jump. Read More...

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