Archive through May 14, 2003
TV ClubHouse: Archive: American Idol (FOX):
Miscellaneous Gossip (ARCHIVE):
Archives:
Archive through May 14, 2003
Bracken | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 03:58 pm     Maybe you are right Crazydog. I was of the opinion that they were judging the performance that each singer gave on any given night, making suggestions for improvement, etc. And, that is fine since they are professionals in this field. I don't even mind when one of them says after a performance that it was the best of the series or they feel they are the leader. I guess I just thought that before the final two give their last performances it was premature for any judge to come out and say who should win, because it's not over yet. It is unlikely that Clay or Ruben would perform horribly, but since the judges get to select one song they want them to sing tonight, a "not so good" performance may occur. I think it will be really telling to hear them perform something that is not of their choosing. |
Yuhuru | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 04:02 pm     I'm so on the late show, BUT I had to state my opinion. The comparison of any AI2 contestant/winner to a player who is drafted high in the NFL and doesn't make it is a huge diss. Josh is basically saying that Ruben can't cut it or doesn't have what it takes for the next level. Go Kimberly!!!!!!!!!!! |
Crossfire | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 04:12 pm     Hey, I've not discoursed you yet. Had Josh actually said what you wrote, that would be true, but that's not what he said. |
Meme9 | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 04:18 pm     Did someone say "Unchained Melody". That is one of my favorite songs!!! |
Djgirl5235 | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 04:25 pm     I had heard that Clay was singing "Unchained melody" tonight as his choice... I guess that remains to be seen - ET hasn't come on yet with the scoop on tonight's show so I'm going on pure speculation... I will be excited to see Justin tomorrow night. As for Paul McCartney - there was a piece on either Inside Edition or ET a couple weeks ago stating that he had been in talks for the next season of AI, not this one. I don't believe that there are anymore guest judges. |
Meme9 | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 04:48 pm     Oh, be still my heart...Unchained Melody and Clay singing it...this could be a great night!!! |
Ladytex | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 04:51 pm     Here is Lobeck's (from Fansofrealitytv.com) Exit Interview with Josh: American Idol, The FORT Interview With Joshua Gracin This morning, I had the pleasure of talking with Josh Gracin, the latest finalist voted off of American Idol. Ever the family man, Josh had his daughter Briana with him for the interview, and I was lucky enough to get two interviews for the price of one. Here's what Josh (and Briana) had to say: Josh, what made you decide to try out for the show? You know, I had seen the show last year, and I wanted to try out. But I wasn't too sure how everything would work out. So, this year, I decided to just go for it, ask my commander, and see what happened from there. So, you did watch the show last year. Were you pulling for anyone in particular? Yeah...Tamyra. Now, if you could sing a duet with anyone you wanted, who would you like to sing with? Oh...Rascal Flatts...it's a group. And if you were in charge of picking the theme one week, what would you like to see done? Well, they've covered pretty much everything. I'd like to see them do, um...I don't know...they pretty much covered everything. Is there anyone you'd like to see as a guest judge? Yeah...Garth Brooks. With your interest in country music, had you thought about trying out for Nashville Star? Um...I had thought about it, but I wanted...you know, my whole intent was to bring country music to a new kind of audience, and I thought the best way to do that would be on American Idol. At first on American Idol, you weren't singing as much country as you did later. Why did you make the change? Well, I really was, but not much. It was more of a rock-and-roll type of pop country. What I decided was two give it two different sides. I mean, it could sound like that or it could sound more like traditional country. Do you think in general that it helps or hurts to talk back to the judges? Um, I...I think it doesn't hurt as long as you're respectful. You know, like if you're joking around with them or anything like that. But, if you get to the point where you're disrespectful, that's when it would hurt you. A whole lot has been made this season about talent vs. image. How important do you think each one should be? Um...I think they're very important, but not so far as physical image. Do you know what I mean? As far as what you want an American Idol to be, as far as their background, what you believe, and things like that. That has a lot to do with it. So, I believe both are very important. (Briana: "Haaaa haaaaa waahhh ba goo goo") Now, look into your crystal ball and tell me who's going to win the whole thing. Clay Aiken. OK. Of all the celebrities you've met, is there anyone that stands out? Uh...I would have to say that Neil Sedaka and Robin Gibb are both real high up there. We met them at, you know, as a guest judge. Neil Sedaka was great. He's such a great and fun man to be around. Were you able to interact with them outside of the actual show? Yeah, he (Neil Sedaka) actually treated us all to dinner one night to thank us for singing his music on the show and how much he appreciated it. What was it like living in the house? Um, it was kind of...it was kind of different. You know, you have 11 different people and 11 different personalities. So, it was kind of weird to see how it would all play out. But, it actually played out pretty good, you know. There was no fighting or anything like that. Everybody pretty much respected everybody else's space. Now, while you were in the house, were you able to see your wife and daughter a lot. How did that work out? Yeah, I'd see them after everything was kind of taken care of. I'd see them at nighttime for like 3 or 4 hours, you know, just to like be with them and make sure they were alright and stuff like that. When you go on tour, will they be able to go with you, do you think? (Briana: "Ba baaaaaaah") Um, it's not set as to whether I'm going to be going on tour yet or not. We're still working on that. American Idol is working on that to see if they can get me...you know, to see what could happen with that. We're not quite sure what's going to happen with that yet. I don't know if I would go on tour if my family would go with me...I don't know that at this point. I know if they wouldn't that I would fly them out to see some shows. It's still kind of up in the air. Since y'all were living in the house together but were also competing against each other, did that make things tougher? (Briana: "Waaaaa baaaa baaaa") No, we got along real well, and we tried not to think about...I mean, yeah, it was a competition, but when somebody was voted off, it was kind of tough to get through. I mean, you live with these people and you're with them like 14 hours every day. So, you get to know them pretty well. Of everybody in the house, who would you say you felt closest to? Oh, there were 3...Ruben, Clay, and Rickey. Now, while you were in the house, did you have a chance to go out onto the Internet and visit any of the fan sites and message boards? (Briana: "Wah bahhhhhhhhhh") Um, yeah...sometimes. Not too much, because we usually got home pretty late, and we'd usually go right to bed if we could or talk to family and friends. But, yeah, we did a little bit. Josh, while you were on the show, did any members of your unit or company or division get sent to the Middle East? Um, I have a couple of friends that were. Not too many, though. I kept in correspondence with them. Actually, their wives have written me through the fan mail that I got through American Idol and told me that they were doing fine and that they know of my progress on the show and that they were proud of me and stuff like that. It was very good to get mail like that. And they're still over there, or have they already come back? They're supposed to all be coming back about the middle of July. I bet you can't wait to see them. I can't wait. You were able to keep in touch with the people at the base through fan mail? No, actually through phone calls. I'd call down there and make sure, you know, that everything was alright there and to see if they had any questions to ask me about the job I left down there. Sometimes they would just call to ask me what was going on. So, I would imagine that when y'all recorded "God Bless the U.S.A." that it had a special meaning for you. (Briana: "Bahh gaahh goooo") Oh, definitely. Even before I was in the military, back when I used to sing at fairs and stuff like that from the time I was 16, that's the last song I would sing at every show. So, I mean, it meant a lot to me before I was in the military. It was a great opportunity for me to get to open the song. I understand that you were quite the practical joker. What was the best prank you pulled while you were in the house? (*laughter*) Actually, it was the other way around. It was Ruben that was the big joker. I pulled one practical joke and that was about it, and Ruben took it from there. So, Ruben was the big joker in the house? Oh, yeah. Did anyone try and pull one over on you? They tried. They tried to hide my shoes, but I found them real quick. Did anyone in the house have any kind of annoying habits? No, surprisingly. That's what helped us all get along. We were all making sure we didn't annoy anybody. (Briana: "Bah gah geeeeeeeee") OK, now two weeks ago...When it got down to between you and Ruben to see who would join Trenyce in the bottom two and Ryan announced that it was Ruben and not you that was in the bottom two, you were...you could see you were visibly moved. What were you feeling? Well, I was in shock. You know, with all the media attention around the guy...I mean, you'd think that if you were up against someone like that, no matter how well you do...Simply because of all of the build up, you'd think you were automatically in the bottom two. So, when they called him, it was a complete shock for me. I wasn't expecting it at all. (Briana: "Bah wahhhhhh") While you were on the show, what would you say was your favorite and least favorite theme? My least favorite theme was actually disco. I would have to say that my most favorite was a tie between country and the Bee Gees. What would you say were your best and worst performances? Um, I would have to say that my best performance was this past week. I believe that was my best performance. My worst performance...my worst performance was Diane Warren Week. (Briana: "Bahhhhhhhhh") I'm going to throw out some names to you, and I want you to tell me the first thing that comes to mind. Let's start with Ryan Seacrest. Great person. Fun to be around. Simon Cowell? Uh...mean on TV, but likeable and talkative off-screen. Paula Abdul? Very, very sweet. She's the nurturer of the whole group, basically. Randy Jackson? The in-between guy. He walks that fine line... Clay Aiken? Great guy. Powerful voice. Nice to be around. (Briana: "Bah weeeee") Ruben Studdard? Fun personality. You know, just an all-around great guy. Trenyce? Trenyce...very quiet. She kept to herself. But very sweet. Kim Locke? Very outgoing. Very talkative. And a great personality. Kim Caldwell? Um, same thing. Fun girl. Vibrant. Real outgoing. Carmen Rasmusen? Same thing (*laughter*). They're all pretty much the same. Rickey Smith? Oh, geez...that's the all-around nicest guy in the competition. Very, very funny and very fun to be around. In terms of the judges' critiques, do you think they were really trying to offer constructive criticism, or do you think they were being harsh for dramatic effect? I think they felt I could do better, and I think they were just trying to bring me out of whatever I was feeling at that point. They would try to help me out of a bad situation. (Briana: "Bahhhhhh") If someone came to you and said, "Josh, I want to try out for the show", what kind of advice would you give them? (Briana: "Bahh baaah") I would tell them to go for it. It's a great experience, and if you love singing and love performing for people, there's nothing better than doing the show. OK, which would say is tougher: In the semifinals when it's just you, the judges, and the camera, or in front of the live audience? Um, I would have to say in front of the camera with just the judges, because, there, the judges have control over whether you make it or not. On stage, the American people have the control. The judges may not like you, but if you perform well for the people, they'll vote you through. What was your favorite part of the whole American Idol experience? When I came out on stage for the first time, and I heard the people screaming my name and holding up signs. I mean, you could barely hear yourself talk, but it was the greatest moment. How do they determine the order y'all sing in each week? It's pretty much a random thing. How much longer do you have in the military? Will being on the show affect that? I only have a little bit over a year left. I get out September 17, 2004, and being on the show doesn't affect anything. I don't have to be extended or make up any time or anything like that. In closing, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans at our site? Thank you for all your support. Thank you for giving me the chance to be on the show and to last as long as I did. I appreciate it. I hope to have an album out in the future, and I look forward to getting back up on stage and seeing the fans again. (Briana: "Wah bah weeeeeeeeee") Well, Josh, thanks for taking the time to talk to me today. If you have a chance, please stop by our website and say hi sometime. OK, I will. Thanks. Bye. Thanks to Josh for talking to me today and to FOX for letting me interview all of this season's finalists. To contact the author of this interview, send e-mail to lobeck@fansofrealitytv.com. |
Surealityjunkie | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 05:45 pm     I was watching tv today -- don't remember what -- but they said that Paul McCartney was signed up as a judge for American Idol 3... |
Sadiesmom | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 06:08 pm     Poor sweet Josh. He probably believes in the tooth fairy. Yes, sure Josh, the order of the singers was random. Randomly it was always Ruben and Clay that closed the show, just randomely. |
Sadiesmom | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 08:20 pm     OK, must not watch Idol anymore, not to make this man any money. do not like this person at all!!!!! American Idol lifts News Corp profits |
Iscreamer1 | Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 11:19 pm     If Paul McCartney is signed as a judge for AI3, I'm starting singing lessons right now!!!!!!!!! |
Crazydog | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 07:06 am     Interesting. On the Today Show and Early Show, Joshua said that Ruben would win because of the media machine. Now in this interview, he says that Clay will win. How is he going to go on tour in the summer? He's already gotten months of time off from his job, and then they're going to let him have the whole summer off as well? Must be nice. Wish I had a job which essentially consisted of an extended vacation. |
Crazydog | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 10:45 am     Also, I disagree with the assertion that Clay has grown the most during the competition. Apart from the haircut and makeover, he sounds exactly the same as he did at the beginning. I think the person who has grown the most is Kim. She's made the most attempts to work on improving her singing and her image. Anyone else remember her disastrous first round song? Plus she has dropped weight at an admirable rate. Go Kim! |
Sadiesmom | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 11:53 am     I think Clay has changed, he changed most of his expressions when he sings, he changed (with some slip backs) many 'sounds'. I specifically remember when he was in the wildcard because he sang hereeeeiYAM. I think he is not quite as garish. I spent the next day singing Popeye songs, it was that memeorable to me. Ialso thnk he has more quiet passes that are more relaxing and seems to have more poise. He certainly has learned how to take a shot. Don't think I could be composed if someone said they thought I was better with their eyes shut. Kim has grown in confidence and experience, needs to learn how to dress though. She would have looked great in a long black dress. I think we need to get her on what not to wear. She keeps wearing tops that cut her body in half. I don't think Ruben has grown much at all, but seem like his voice is strained lately with much <sounds like flem on vocal cords maybe>, might have a cold. |
Texannie | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 12:09 pm     How does it work tonite? Just tell the person who's out or do they do a bottom two thing? |
Watching2 | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 03:21 pm     Iscreamer1 : <<If Paul McCartney is signed as a judge for AI3, I'm starting singing lessons right now!!!!!!!!! >> ROFL Iscreamer!!! I just LOVE the man! Unfortunately, I don't think all the singing lessons in the world would help me, but if I could get a front seat in the audience near him, WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!! |
Iscreamer1 | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 03:50 pm     Watchdog I think if I'm realistic a front row seat is about all I'll achieve too and even that is a long shot! But hey, I'll just brag here for a minute, he did acknowledge the sign I held up at his concert! |
Seamonkey | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 03:58 pm     Tonight is an hour.. I really resent the excessive padding they do with this show and especially when they put the hour from 8:30-9:30 hoping to win the ratings for two solid hours, overlapping the two hour Dawson's series finale, the West Wing season finale, The Bachelor, Star Search. Lots of fluff to just tell us who won't be there for next week's inflated three shows.. |
Realbiz | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 04:06 pm     i agree, sea. i will only tape the 2nd half of the show and watch the bachelor instead. |
Seamonkey | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 04:23 pm     As for Josh having an opinion on who has changed more, remember he's been living with everyone and he may be commenting on more than just what we see on the show. And he is allowed to have an opinion anyway Dawson's is my only must-see, but clearly there will be conflicts for some people. |
Texannie | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 04:41 pm     Well, harumpf!!! Did anyone see ET tonite? It was such a Rueben love fest..hate the media sometimes! LOL |
Maris | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 04:44 pm     are you telling me that tonight is an hour starting from 8:30 to 930???? Damn it. I need to find out what happened to President Bartlett's daughter. What am I going to do................... In twenty years I have never figured out a vcr and I have to do it tonight????? |
Meme9 | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 04:53 pm     Yes Maris, I checked the paper and it is on for a hour tonight. I was planning on a half hour myself. |
Maris | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 04:54 pm     crap, I better figure out this picture in picture stuff. |
Tishala | Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 05:08 pm     I need to find out about Bartlett's daughter too, Maris! That was actually a good episode last week. |
|