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William Levy and Katherine Jenkins dazzle with near perfect routines
Latin Week was pretty darn hot! We saw near perfect Argentine tangos from William and Katherine, and Maria was nipping right at their heels with her stunning salsa, as was Donald with his own smoldering Argentine tango. In fact, the only real hitch this week was Gavin's downright loopy samba.
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Here's a quick look at how the stars did in this round:
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Jaleel White
Jaleel's energetic samba was a showstopper! He had the choreography down pat and was having a great time on the floor. The crowd was in his corner and Len praised Jaleel's rhythm. Bruno was a fan of Jaleel's "unstoppable wiggle," but Carrie Ann cautioned him to watch his arm work getting out of hold. Jaleel is going strong, but he has yet to take the top spot on the judges' leaderboard. Maybe next week?
Score: 24/30
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa's hip-shaking shoulder-shimmying salsa was gorgeous, and this is in in spite of the neck brace she sported during rehearsals this week. (She suffered from whiplash after her injury last week.) The routine highlighted her great rhythm – and Maks' addiction to tricky spins! Melissa more than held her own. Bruno called it "wild and untamed," but said she lacked control. Carrie Ann praised Melissa's newfound confidence but agreed that the routine lacked control. Melissa was staging a comeback the last few weeks, but her salsa was a real setback. Let's hope the fans turn out for her.
Score: 21/30
Maria Menounos
Maria's sexy salsa had the crowd on its feet. It was a lively, fun, incredibly sexy routine that she executed beautifully. Also, she and Derek kissed ... again. Just in case the actual dancing wasn't hot enough for us? Maria has really become an extraordinary dancer. Carrie Ann praised her hip action and Len had nothing but love for Maria. This was a knockout routine – Maria is definitely still a contender.
Score: 27/30
Katherine Jenkins
Katherine's Argentine tango was very nearly flawless. The routine showed off her incredible strength and precision. She and Mark moved well together, and there were two stunning, difficult lifts. This routine really brought down the house. Len compared this tango to a rose: beautiful on the outside, but with thorns underneath. Bruno praised both the choreography and the storytelling of the routine. Not to be outdone, Carrie Ann said Katherine's legs are the best she's seen in the history of the show. Katherine was one point away from a perfect score – will she bridge that gap next week?
Score: 29/30
Gavin DeGraw
Gavin's samba ... had some really cool special effects at the beginning? The dance was a bit frenzied and Gavin seemed lost pretty much throughout the routine. None of the judges had anything positive to say. Bruno said that Gavin "really went for it," but he didn't mean that in a good way. Carrie Ann just shook her head and praised Gavin's energy. Len didn't mince words – he called the routine a "sham-ba." (See, Bruno has not cornered the market on puns.) Gavin has escaped elimination twice, but I wouldn't bet on a third reprieve.
Score: 19/30
William Levy
William's Argentine tango was smoldering and intense! His rhythm was very nearly perfect and he and Cheryl got in a couple of jaw-dropping lifts. This routine made for a nice comeback after William's disastrous jive last week. Carrie Ann called it "ridiculously amazing," and Len praised the routine's sensuality and color. Bruno was beside himself – I think he was actually purring. William was actually dancing on a stressed ligament, so it's all the more amazing that he turned in such an exceptional performance.
Score: 29/30
Gladys Knight
Gladys' spirited samba was a real departure from her usual stately, elegant routines. She really had fun with this one! Gladys can't pull off the same fireworks we're seeing from the leaders of the pack, but she's got her own special magic. Len called the dance "simple but effective," and Bruno praised her for playing to the audience. Carrie Ann pointed out a few mistakes Gladys made but echoed the other judges when she said Gladys is a joy to watch.
Score: 22/30
Roshon Fegan
Roshon's salsa capitalized on his two greatest strengths in this competition: energy and hip-hop action. The pace of the routine was brutal, but Roshon held up his end of the stick admirably. Bruno praised Roshon's timing and Carrie Ann was a fan of his mojo. She said the routine was charming words "sexy in a Disney way," which sounds about right to me. Len did caution Roshon to slow down a bit and see that sometimes "less is more." This was another excellent performance from Roshon, but he doesn't seem to have quite the fan base as some of his competitors. Let's hope the votes come in for him this week.
Score: 26/30
Donald Driver
Donald's Argentine tango was measured and very, very sexy. He and Peta moved seamlessly together – you'd have thought they were long-standing tango partners, in fact. Donald's rhythm was excellent. Carrie Ann called the routine "divine," and praised his control during the routine's lifts. Len agreed that the lifts were spectacular, but wasn't totally sold on the routine as a whole. Bruno liked the routine but thought Donald's "supermodel walk" broke up the overall flow. Another fabulous performance from the man who topped the leaderboard last week!
Score: 27/30
Who won over the judges: William and Katherine
Who won over the crowd: William and Katherine
Who needs to step it up: Gavin and Melissa
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Report says FOX has approached Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and others
"American Idol" is in need of a makeover, and that could mean turning past winners and contestants into judges.
FOX and the producers behind "Idol" have approached first-season champion Kelly Clarkson and former contestant Jennifer Hudson to become judges, reports Vulture. While FOX has yet to comment about the show's 13th season and who will be judging, sources tell the website the network has shortlisted Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken as well.
"I'd like to see a past 'American Idol' contestant," Angie Miller, who finished third this season, told TVGuide.com, when talking about future judges. "They really understand what this process is like and what you do during the week. (It should be) someone who gets it."
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Miller's wish could come true. According to The Wrap, all four judges from Season 12 -- Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban -- and even producer Nigel Lythgoe are getting the boot. But so far, Jackson has been the only one to officially wave goodbye.
But a change in personnel is inevitable. "American Idol" suffered a considerable ratings slump this season. The network and producers are also reportedly fed up with paying out huge sums to big-named stars who don't stick around. Although Clarkson and Hudson wouldn't be cheap, they should be more relatable because they've competed on the show.
They might also presumably attract a broader, younger audience. "Everything is on the table," Kevin Reilly, FOX's entertainment chairman, told reporters last week. And if the Vulture story holds true, that means fans of "Idol" could see a judges' table full of familiar and friendlier faces.
"American Idol" Season 13 returns to FOX in 2014.
| Tags: | American Idol |
Amy's Baking Company cancels press conference, part ways with PR firm
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Lawyers representing Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares" have warned Amy's Baking Company owners to stop discussing their "unflattering portrayal" or face paying $100,000 each. Amy and Samy Bouzaglo were sent a legal notice from the show's attorneys last Friday after "Kitchen Nightmare" bosses learned of the couple's plans to hold a press conference in advance of the restaurant's "grand reopening" to tell their side of the story, according to Radar Online. The couple ended up canceling their press conference. Shortly after receiving the cease and desist from FOX, Amy's Baking Company was dropped by their new PR firm, Rose+Moser+Allyn Public & Online Relations on account of what publicist Jason Rose describes as "differences on public relations strategies."
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According to reports, the letter claims that any media session, especially one derogatory against the show, would constitute a breach of contract and make the couple liable for $100,000 in damages each. It reads, "We understand that you are planning a public event on May 21, 2013, at which you will discuss your experiences and your 'unflattering portrayals' on the show. If you speak about the show without Upper Ground's and FOX's prior approval, and if you disparage the show, its host, or its producers, you will breach your obligations under Paragraph 10 of your Personal Release and Paragraph 14 of your Participant Agreement." The letter goes on to state, "These agreements prohibit you from speaking publicly about Kitchen Nightmares, other than to acknowledge 'the mere fact of your participation in the Series in personal publicity relating to yourself.' Your conduct exposes each of you to liability for liquidated damages of $100,000." In their episode of "Kitchen Nightmares", the Bouzaglos were unwilling to accept chef Gordon Ramsey's attempts to rehabilitate their struggling restaurant.
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'Voice' coach recounts experience at Denny's with fellow bandmate
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"Voice" judge Adam Levine swore off drugs early on in his career after a strange experience on prescription medication Ambien. The Maroon 5 frontman and his bandmate James Valentine mistook the sedatives for stimulants and took them while on tour. But instead of giving a much-needed boost, the drug knocked them out cold -- while they were waiting for dinner.
Levine explains, "We had a brief experience one time with what I guess was Ambien. James Valentine and I, we didn't really know what it was ... It was the first and last time we took this drug. But we were at Denny's at some shady part of the city of whatever part of the country we were in, and we took it and we ordered the food ... and we woke up at the table, what must have been an hour (later) ... I was like, 'Oh, no.' And James had his head down, so I was like, 'Hey, man. Hey, we should get out of here.' We didn't eat our food. We sheepishly paid our bills and walked out, and everyone's looking (at us) like, 'What's wrong with these guys?' And then since then I've never done drugs."
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Soap veteran and pop star join Jon Lovitz, Sebastian Bach, Darrell Hammond, more
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Actress Lisa Rinna and pop singer Debbie Gibson have joined the cast of the upcoming reality show "Sing Your Face Off." ABC recently snapped up the rights to the hit Spanish talent show "Your Face Sounds Familiar," where celebrities take on the identity of a legendary singer each week. Veteran soap star Rinna, comedian Jon Lovitz and former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach have signed on as contestants.
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Toronto Raptors basketball ace Landry Fields and teenage Disney Channel singer/actress China Anne McClain are also gearing up for the challenge. The show will be hosted by "Scandal" star John Barrowman. Their performances will be judged by Gibson and comedian Darrell Hammond. An air date for the show has not yet been set.
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'Giuliana and Bill' star returns for third year, Kevin and Joe set to appear with brother
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NBC announced on Tuesday that Giuliana Rancic would return for her third year as host along with the 20-year-old singer, who will co-host for the first time. Kevin and Joe Jonas will also be on hand to back up Nick, as the trio are set to perform for the contest held in Las Vegas before kicking off their North American tour in July.
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A statement from the President of the Miss Universe Organization, Paula M. Shugar, reads: "We are excited to announce a veteran and a newcomer as hosts for this year's Miss USA Competition. The diverse backgrounds of Rancic and Jonas in the entertainment industry will bring a new and exciting energy to the stage."
Plus: Summer shows we're excited about | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
Host offers insight into why NBC series is beating 'Idol,' 'X Factor' in ratings
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"Voice" host Carson Daly has credited the show's blind auditions as the reason for the its success. Unlike rival shows, the coaches on the show can't see the auditioners: Their evaluations are based solely on singing quality. Daly believes the format is the prime reason it has trounced "American Idol" and "The X Factor" in TV ratings.
Daly tells Zap2it.com, "We just liked the pureness of it, hearkening back ... Is there a place for pure? In this day where you have to be beautiful and popular ... Yeah, they can sing, but what do they look like?" Daly also pinpoints another interesting dynamic only present on "The Voice": the judges being rejected. He explains: "It's the power shift. A 24-year-old sandwich maker, and he gets three chairs to turn around. Now they are in it for the right reason, and he, all of a sudden, he gets to interview them. And where else do you get that shift in power? Multimillionaires interviewed by a kid who makes sandwiches for a living."
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'X Factor' judge says she and ex enjoy a 'great friendship'
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"X Factor" judge Demi Lovato has developed a "great friendship" with Joe Jonas, three years after their breakup. In an interview with ABC's "Nightline," the singer admits to having been "really mad at him" following their decision to call it quits in 2010. But time has healed old wounds, and the two are good friends once again.
Lovato says, "I can fortunately say that him and his brother Nick have always been there for me and are literally family and like brothers ... We have a great friendship. And we may not be as close as we used to be, but that's OK." Jonas, 23, proved the former couple had buried the hatched by tweeting his support for her new album Demi on May 14. He wrote, "Congrats (Demi Lovato) on the new record! So happy for you!"
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Wanted star says he 'felt like a king,' eager for fans to see how group really lives
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Wanted star Max George hopes the group's new reality TV show is a big hit because he became quite accustomed to life in Hollywood while filming it. "The Wanted Life" debuts June 2, and George, for one, loved the idea of having his own mansion with his band mates for the show. He says, "It was a little bit different than being in Manchester, England. I could definitely get used to it. First of all, it was nice to wake up every morning and see the whole of the city ... That was just insane. But it was the little things to me that meant the most, like having your own bar, your own swimming pool and the run of Los Angeles. I felt like a king."
George will definitely be watching the show because there were a few unexplained mysteries that might be solved on the program -- like which band mate left their underwear hanging from the chandeliers and who trashed the Jacuzzi. He tells Ryan Seacrest, "I think we'll have to watch. I think we'll find out a lot of mysteries when we see it ... I think I'm probably going to learn a few things about myself I didn't know." As for what fans will learn about him from watching the show, he adds, "Definitely the bond I have with my brother ... and the bond I have with my mom ... I'm very, very close with them two. As a group, I think people will realize when we say we get on like brothers actually do. I think a lot of the time bands have to say that or if they didn’t people will think, 'Surely it doesn't work.' But we genuinely do really get on, and we don't just work together. We actually do everything else away from work most of the time with each other, as well. (And) we actually do party as much as we say we do."
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
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Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.
Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
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