Jackie Evancho Wows on 'America's Got Talent' (VIDEO)

From: http://www.tvsquad.com/

Could Jackie Evancho be the next Susan Boyle?

The latest episode of 'America's Got Talent' (Tue., 9PM ET on NBC) featured a special twist. The show presented only acts that have never been seen before, and these contestants had to submit their auditions through YouTube. So, we got some surprises -- and the best one was the 10-year-old opera singer.

[Spoiler alert.]

Jackie Evancho is small. She's tiny. She's very young. But she has a big, big voice. She's an incredibly amazing opera singer. And the judges were stunned by her performance. But anyone would be stunned, after hearing such a singing voice come out of such a young child.

Judge Howie Mandel said this: "All we [wanted] to do was find that one moment; that one gem. ... And you know what? This is the moment; you're the star."

Piers Morgan was even more straightforward in his praise: "That is one of the most extraordinary performances I've ever seen."

What do you think? Could little Jackie win it all? We're still a little shocked by how amazing her voice is.

You can check out the full performance below:

TV Replay: Watch TV's Best Moments Daily

Ellen DeGeneres Quits 'American Idol'

From: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/186821

Jennifer Lopez rumored to join the show; Kara DioGuardi reportedly fired in major judge shakeup

Becker/Fox

By Daniel Kreps

After only one season on American Idol, Ellen DeGeneres has announced she is leaving her judging job on the Fox reality show because the role wasn't the "right fit" for her. "Dim the lights... I've voted myself off American Idol," the talk-show host wrote on Twitter last night. DeGeneres was recruited to fill the gap left by Paula Abdul, who didn't renew her contract after Season Eight. DeGeneres' announcement, along with the departure of founding judge Simon Cowell, leaves producers with the task of revamping and revitalizing the slumping show's talent lineup before the start of Season 10.

An industry source told People that Jennifer Lopez — who has performed on Idol and served as a guest mentor — will step in to replace Ellen as a judge. Both TMZ and Gossip Cop are reporting that Idol producers have also extended an offer to Aerosmith's Steven Tyler to join the show as a judge and current judge Kara DioGuardi is being forced off the show. Fox would not comment on the reports, but an announcement regarding the show's Season 10 roster is expected to be made next Monday, August 2nd, at Fox's annual Television Critics Tour.

"A couple months ago, I let Fox and the American Idol producers know that this didn't feel like the right fit for me," DeGeneres said in a statement, adding that her busy schedule became "more than I bargained for." She reportedly had signed a five-year, multi-million-dollar contract for the Idol gig in addition to her day job as host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "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." DeGeneres, who has no musical background, came under fire last season for her fluffy critiques that rarely included sharp analysis of the singers' vocal performances. She also reportedly clashed with the show's harshest critic, Cowell, behind the scenes. "As I got to know Ellen, I grew to really, really like her," Cowell told the Hollywood Reporter last night. "I have huge respect for her because she's always been in control of her own destiny." Host Ryan Seacrest tweeted, "I will miss her on 'Idol.' She's one of the kindest and most talented people in Hollywood!"

Check in on American Idol's biggest winners and losers.

Becker/FOX

As Rolling Stone previously reported, Nigel Lythgoe, one of Idol's original producers, is expected to return to the show for its tenth season (he left to start up and judge So You Think You Can Dance). Should Lythgoe take over the show, he's promised to restock the judges' table and return to a three-judge format. DioGuardi joined the show for Season Eight, when the show expanded to include four judges. Viewers have said they find the extra critique superfluous and time-consuming, and while DioGuardi wasn't a fan favorite on her debut season, she settled in to her new job during Season Nine.

Chris Isaak, Harry Connick, Jr., and Jessica Simpson are all rumored to be in the running to replace Cowell on American Idol, which suffered a dip in ratings for the first time this past season. Reps for Justin Timberlake and Elton John have denied their clients are considering the judge's job; previously, personalities as diverse as Howard Stern and Perez Hilton were floated as possible Cowell replacements. Idol will face additional competition from Cowell's own American version of The X Factor, which debuts in the fall of 2011.

Whitney Houston Sound-alike Inks Major Label Deal

By PopEater Staff

While Whitney Houston struggles to hit once-familiar notes on her critically wobbly European tour, her biggest fan -- Taiwanese singer Lin Yu-chun -- is riding high this week after inking a major label record deal. Sony Music said in a statement Thursday that Lin, the bowl cut-sporting singer whose rendition of 'I Will Always Love' on a TV talent show made him a star just a month ago, will release an album of Chinese and English songs in July.

"I still can't believe this is real," the 24-year-old singer says in the statement.

Lin gained Internet fame overnight after performing on Taiwanese talent show 'Avenue to Stardom,' which is much like 'American Idol.'

He told the AP recently that the show gave him "more confidence" to pursue a music career, in spite of his unconventional appearance. "You don't have to be a good-looking man or woman to succeed," he said. "Just be yourself and try your best."

Lin has said he suffered from a lack of self-confidence because of his weight. "Being fat draws a lot of mockery in our society," he said.

0diggsdigg To cope with the pain caused by jokes from peers, he locked himself in his room and sang along to songs by Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. But it was Houston's signature track, from the soundtrack to the 1992 film 'The Bodyguard,' that gave him the confidence to keep trekking on.

"I played it again and again even though my parents couldn't stand it anymore and asked me to stop," Lin said.

Watch His Audition:

William Shatner and Lin Yu Chun Sing Duet, Internet Explodes

From: http://mashable.com/

William Shatner and Taiwanese singer Lin Yu Chun performed a duet of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” on last night’s episode of Lopez Tonight. Consequently, the world of viral Internet memes promptly folded itself into one big tesseracted fourth dimension where we’re all slaves to cats wielding keyboards and “David After the Dentist” is the official language.

Lin Yu Chun shot to Internet famedom a few weeks ago after his stirring rendition of “I Will Always Love You” during his audition for the Taiwanese, American Idol-esque talent show Super Star Avenue. He’s been called “The Next Susan Boyle,” and garnered his share of accolades for his surprisingly sweet chords.
Shatner — aside from being William Freaking Shatner — is also set to star in the TV adaptation of Sh*t My Dad Says.
Together, the two online heroes create, um, beautiful music?


[via All Things Digital]

Taiwanese Boy, Lin Yu Chun, Sings Whitney Houston Better Than Whitney?

By Steven Avalos

From: http://www.popeater.com/  

This guy is amazing!!

Not since Susan Boyle opened her mouth and surprised a global audience with her dulcet tones has there been such a talent as Lin Yu Chun, a contestant on a Taiwanese talent show called 'Super Star Avenue,' which is much like 'American Idol'. Chun destroys all preconceived notions with a powerhouse delivery of Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' that's sure to give you chills. And with Whitney's current illness, there's certainly an opening in the music world for a successor to the ballad throne. Watch his audition and forward to the 1:10 mark (via VideoGum):

New Yorkers told to 'pull their pants up'

From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Low-slung trousers give their wearers a bad image, according to a US state senator who is behind an advertising campaign telling people to "raise your pants".

A Stop the Sag billboard is seen on the side of a building in Brooklyn Photo: AP

Eric Adams, a state senator from Brooklyn, is behind the $2,000 (£1,309) 'Stop The Sag' advertising campaign showing two men in jeans that hang low enough to display their underwear.

Mr Adams is calling for the end of the sagging trend that has become popular in men's fashion. In an online message posted on YouTube, he said: "You can raise your level of respect if you raise your pants", while pleading to young people not to "surrender control over your own image".

The politician, a retired police captain, is the latest to speak out on the trend. He follows Larry Platt, an American Idol performer who became an internet sensation earlier this year with his song "Pants on the Ground". Even Barack Obama has previously said: "Some people might not want to see your underwear. I'm one of them."

The campaign in New York follows a similar one in Dallas, where officials embarked on a 'Pull Your Pants Up' campaign in 2007, while in St Petersburg, Florida, a high school principal ordered thousands of plastic zip ties to help students pull up their trousers.

Mr Adams said he had had enough after watching a train passenger who wore a particularly low-slung pair of trousers.

"Everyone on the train was looking at him and shaking their heads," he said. "And no one said anything to correct it."

The low-slung trousers trend is adapted from the unbelted and sometimes oversized look of prison uniforms, according to Mark-Evan Blackman, who heads the menswear department at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology.

Initially seen as invoking street credibility, the style has spread from inner cities to suburban shopping centres and school classrooms.

Related:

http://www.pocketburgers.com/2010/03/pants-on-ground-guy-king-of-vegas.html

http://www.pocketburgers.com/2010/01/pants-on-ground-ripoff-detroits-green.html

'Pants on the Ground' Guy -- King of Vegas

by TMZ Staff

Move over, Frank Sinatra -- there's a new man in Sin City and he goes by the name of Gen. Larry Platt.



The genius behind "Pants on the Ground" performed at JET nightclub at the Mirage Hotel last night -- and judging by the bevy of women who surrounded the General ... that song may have taken on a whole new meaning.

More "Pants on the Ground"

• 'Pants on the Ground' Joins the Mile High Club
• 'Pants on the Ground' -- The Seeds of Conflict
• 'Pants on the Ground' -- A Rip-Off?!

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2010/02/27/pants-on-the-ground-guy-larry-platt-las-vegas-photo-video/#ixzz0gx2xMWJl

'Pants on the Ground' ripoff: Detroit's Green Brothers say they were first in 1996

By Jessica Nunez | MLive.com

Green BrothersThe Green Brothers of Highland Park claim their song 'Back Pockets on the Floor' was copied by the famous 'American Idol' song 'Pants on the Ground.'As 62-year-old General Larry Platt and his "Pants on the Ground" video became the stuff of viral gold over the past two weeks, scores of people were probably sitting around kicking themselves for not thinking of it first.

Not the Green Brothers.

According to Gerald Green, one half of a hip-hop group from Highland Park, they did think of it first -- and recorded it in 1996. And they want to make sure everyone knows it.

Gerald, who contacted Fox News Detroit about his dilemma, says their song "Back Pockets on the Floor" has the same intent, ideas and general message as Platt's.

Which doesn't seem like such a big deal -- plenty of people complain about how young people dress.

But if you listen to the "original" version, you notice some very similar wording and even similar rhythm in the delivery.

The Brothers posted this message along with their video on YouTube a few days ago:

This is in regaurds to the General Larry Platt "Pants on The Ground". His song is a take off of the Green Brothers song " Back Pockets On The Floor'. Back Pockets On The Floor was written by G. Green andwas copyrighted and recorded by the Green Brothers in 1996. The General's song have the same intent, idea and in part the same message. YOU BE THE JUDGE AMERICA!!

What do you think? Is this for real? And is it a big deal?

The Green Brothers version, 1996:



General Larry Platt's version, 2010:



Video: Who are the Green Brothers, self-claimed originators of 'Pants on the Ground?'

Brett Favre Sings “Pants On The Ground” (VIDEO)

Quarterback Brett Favre shocked the viewers with his own rendition of the American Idol hit song “Pants On The Ground” by General Larry Platt during his celebration of the Vikings big win against the Cowboys on Sunday (January 17).
MUST Watch General Larry Platt “Pants On The Ground” Video HERE

American Idol Top 13

In a surprise this evening, four American Idol wild cards were selected instead of the expected 3, making for a lucky for some 13 contestants competing to be this years American Idol.

Jasmine Murray. Megan Joy Corkrey, Matt Giraud and Anoop Desai were chosen by the American Idol judges to advance in the competition and join Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nuñez, Lil Rounds and Michael Sarver next Tuesday for the serious part of the competition.

The first live results show March 11 will feature Kelly Clarkson performing her new single My Life Would Suck Without You, and Mr. Ego himself Kanye West singing (well, if you can call it that), Heartless. Lets hope for the sake of television viewers everywhere that West lip syncs, we wouldn’t want a repeat of his recent SNL appearance.

Casey Carlson from American Idol

1/18 - Quote from FHM member "American Idol's Sexiest EVER Contestant"!
1/15 - Quote from TMZ - "She's the hottest girl Idol has had EVER"!

To see her webpage click here: http://caseycarlson.net/

the american idol top 36 are...

compliments from Durden: http://www.wwtdd.com/

138 contestants made it to the second round on Season 8 of American Idol and this week they begin the series of cuts to widdle that number down to the top 36. But why wait for all that widdling when you can know the top 36 right now, because AI nemesis VoteForTheWorst has what they say is the final list right here.

Among the nonsurprises are that sightless bastard Scott MacIntyre (who has recorded 6 full length CDs and has a masters degree in music from the Royal College of Music) super hot piece-of-ass Casey Carlson (who can be seen on her homepage here and in my erotic fantasies here), Joanna Pacitti (who was signed to A&M records in 2000 and released an album with Geffen records in 2006), Brent Keith (who finished in 6th place on "Nashville Star" in 2004) and Kristen McNamara (who finished in 6th place on "Nashville Star" in 2006).

The ratings for this season have gone quite well, maybe because of the new changes and features. I think another good feature would be tips on how I can get my penis inside of Casey Carlsons vagina. Because I think that would be terrific. On another note, if MacIntyre does win, I think a good New York Post-style headline would be "American Eye-Dull".

Birth of a Super Villain

compliments of Durden. http://www.wwtdd.com

I'm sure a better clip of this dude will show up later, but if you didn't see him on American Idol tonight, you missed a real treat. He was like a mad scientists assistant, except for that nifty striped shirt of course.