HOORAY! We have our winners:
June and Geraldine! Congrats, and thanks for entering. Your awesome prizes will be on their way to your mailbox shortly. Enjoy, and thanks again for checking us out at TV Screener.com!
And everyone, stay tuned to TVScreener.com … we’ve got lots more TV goodies coming your way!
It’s almost here, it’s almost here: the 10th season of American Idol (January 19, 8PM ET, Fox), the first Simon Cowell-less season, the first season with newbie judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez and the season many are calling the show’s last shot at rebounding from several seasons of lackluster talent.
And to mark a decade of Idol, journalist and author Richard Rushfield has penned American Idol: The Untold Story, a delicious book full of the kind of behind-the-scenes details that will delight any Idol devotee. I’m not saying I stayed up until 4AM reading the book once I picked it up, but, well, I did.
Scoop on each season of the show, as well as interviews with Simon Cowell, American Idol creator Simon Fuller and controversial season one co-host Brian Dunkleman are just part of the fun, as Rushfield, who covered the show for the Los Angeles Times, shares anecdotes and insight that could only come from someone who had rare backstage access and actually sat in the live show audience week after week.
Among the juicier topics Rushfield, also a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and a Daily Beast columnist, dishes in the book:
– Details on the contestant who was season nine’s biggest diva (hint: it rhymes with Bristol Cowersox);
– The truth, finally, about exactly what happened with Dunkleman and his one-time co-host, Ryan Seacrest (including a tidbit that Dunkleman himself may not know until he reads the book!);
– How Taylor Hicks was a lot more calculating than his down-to-earth, good-time singer image might have suggested;
– And the real story behind the show’s many voting controversies, the battle of the Simons, Paula Abdul‘s shenanigans, the season six phenomenon that was Sanjaya Malakar, surprising info about how narrow a pool of choices the contestants sometimes have to work within for song selections and extensive interviews with Idols past, including Kimberley Locke, Ace Young, Megan Joy, Matt Giraud and Nikki McKibbin.
Check out my interview with Rushfield today at TVSquad.com, and follow him on Twitter and at his AI blog, Idol Inferno, where he’ll continue to dish on the show throughout season 10.
And, because nothing goes with obsessive viewing of a new season of American Idol like a great read to help fuel your obsession, TVScreener.com is giving away two copies of the book!
So, for a chance to win a copy of American Idol: The Untold Story:
– Leave a comment on this post, with the name of your all-time favorite American Idol contestant, and an e-mail address to reach you
– Deadline to enter is January 26 at 8PM ET (according to recorded comment time)
– The winner will be chosen by random, using Random.org’s Random Number Generator
– The winner will be announced on the evening of Jan. 26, as an update to this post
Good luck, Idol devotees!
Charlie Sheen, Russell Brand and Louis C.K. are getting most of the attention, but I’m most excited that one of the best new shows of last TV season — Wilfred — returns for its second season on FX tonight (10PM ET). Season one of the series ended with a cliffhanger — had Ryan (Elijah Wood) […]
My favorite winner is Taylor HIcks
Taylor Hicks also my favorite and the most talented winner . He calculated himself right into a win. chuckle
And because the bigshots at AI were angry at Mr. Hicks, this is what they have kept much of the viewers from enjoying. But many of us have enjoyed him all these years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n54-zyrtN6Y
Quelle rabas joie celui-là . On aurait pas gagner la guerre avec des gars comme toi.Début Juin Roger remporte Roalad-Gnrros, 8/6 au 5ème contre Gasquette car il a une tactique que lui seul connaît, et le 11 Juillet Raymond soulève la Coupe du Monde.
It’s a pleasure to find such rationality in an answer. Welcome to the debate.
Taylor Hicks is my favorite winner!!
No doubt in my mind, Taylor Hicks was the all time best winner.
I actually really liked Josiah Leming although he never made it on the show. He is the one that always comes to mind when I think about American Idol contestants. I am REALLY excited about the new season!
Have a great week everyone 🙂
Taylor Hicks really deserved to win!! he is still going strong and is the best preformer in person!SOUL PATROL!Junebug
TAYLOR HICKS!!!!
Romeo – The graphics Grabbed me at first. I actully wanted to see that little girl her face was so abstract that I really just wanted to see it, so I could draw her, but I’m glad I di2n7#8d1&;t go after all. I am not a fan of gore anyway and to here that it was senseless gore. Just makes me happier that I read your blog.
Taylor Hicks….best damn winner ever! He played to win!
My fav Idol contestant was Chris Daughtry. Can’t believe he was voted off before the finals…
Sounds like TPTB are still POed that Taylor Hicks WAS a lot more calculating and beat them at their own game-
Season 5 was the only season I watched-and THEN it was only the last 5 weeks due to a cousin’s recommendation-
Kudos to Taylor-the best Idol winner ever-
Get things right-without Taylor the show will continue to decline-especially with the new judges-
Taylor Hicks-the one and only American Idol winner for me!!(no disrespect to the other winners intended)!
Taylor Hicks is by far my favorite. He’s the most talented, the best showman and by far the one with the most chrisma.
Taylor Hicks RULES!! Best God-Damned Winner Ever!
Haha, shouldn’t you be charging for that kind of knew?edgol!
Been watching American Idol since the last few shows of Season four. It’s a show I hate to love, but love it I sure do. Such great talent I may never have been exposed to. My all time favorite winner: Taylor Hicks!!
Taylor Hicks
It’s a toss-up between Kelly Clarkson and David Cook.
My all time fav contestant is Adam Lambert!
add me to the Taylor Hicks beat them at their own game camp,,the man is an amazing musician.
Yikes, I seem to have stumbled onto Soul Patrol HQ. For my $, the original’s still the best: Kelly Clarkson.
Carrie Underwood.
Taylor Hicks is the most talented man!!!!Junebug
Hey, Kim! Thanks and just wondering if I should send you my address?
Taylor Hicks is a brilliant artist, and my favourite winner of American Idol. What he was able to demonstrate on that show is just a tiny fraction of what he’s capable of. Anybody who has seen his live show is well aware of that.
Being clever is no sin. Taylor Hicks is the MAN.