AMERICAN IDOL IS GOING THROUGH SOME CHANGES

After not receiving a contract offer to return as a judge on American Idol judge Paula Abdul has pulled the plug on the suspense by saying that she will not return to the program next season. The word is that Abdul is not a happy camper since Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest received $100 million and $40 million deals respectively to return to the reality entertainment series.

If this is a done deal then the show will go back to its three judge format after experiencing numerous problems with the four judge setup last season. The irony is that last season's new judge Kara DioGuardi is expected to return.

Several years ago DioGuardi made a move to Hollywood from New York to pursue her career and at Abdul's invitation moved into her home and were the best of friends. Abdul has stated that DioGuardi sleep-walked and ate her out of house and home. The question is should DioGuardi sign a new deal to return to AI next season in effect she would be replacing her friend.

Last season Cowell complained that the four judge system didn't work. He and DioGuardi often quarreled on air about the time she took to give her critiques. On one show they limited the critiques to only two since they ran overtime the previous week. After eliminating some contestants the show returned to having all of the judges critique each contestant.

Another fly in the AI big changes ointment is that last season Idol changed producers thus the then new four judge system was implemented much to the displeasure of Cowell. Ken Warwick joined AI creator Simon Fuller as the shows Executive producers. Former AI producer Nigel Lythgoe said that he would work with Abdul again. Lythgoe had left the show to focus on So You Think You Can Dance and his new show with Fuller, Superstars of Dance.

Rumor has it that Abdul has ideas for other shows. There is no word on the fate of judge Randy Jackson but in the world of American Idol anything can happen. Stay tuned….

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SHAQ… OHH PLEASE!!!

NBA basketball star Shaquille O'Neal has a reality show where he challenges other sports stars in their sport. His latest challenge is David Beckham that the LA Galaxy/AC Milan English nation team player can't score a goal against the Shaq Man in goal.

O'Neal has entertainment in his blood and enjoys performing. While he was playing for the Orlando Magic we asked him who he would like to do a film with. His reply was the Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger while nothing that he was to defeat the Terminator. Schwarzenegger the now governor of California is busy but when his day job is over Shaq is waiting for him.

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AMERICAN IDOL RERUNS TRANSLATED IN KHMER LANGUAGE

It seems that American Idols licensing partner Freemantle Media is doing business in Cambodia as Cambodia's My TV is airing reruns of the show with Khmer translations on Sunday afternoons. My TV is positioned in the channel previously designated for the CTN (Cambodian Television Network) International channel. That channel has been moved to a less favorable position from 51 to 68 which is at the end of the channel spectrum on many of the older TV sets.

Sparks fly as Laarni Losala WINS Dream Academy title - ABS-CBN photo Laarni 23 overcame ridicule and verbal abuse to win the Dream Academy title - ABS-CBN photo

A POSITIVE STORY

A television feature took the top spot in our all-time NR Top 10 ratings. The subject was Philippine singer Laarni LoSala who was verbally and mentally abused on the Dream Academy program. What began as a TV review turned into a human interest story resulting in it being the most read story ever on National Radio while achieving that status within an 18 month period from being published?

During the reality series LoSala never won the televised weekly competition outright as the mentors on the show were a major factor in the decision who would win and throughout the series they continually criticized her. She was a victim of child abuse but the judges and mentors repeatedly tried to beat her down.

The 23-year-old singer toughed it out and was rewarded as the finals were judged only by the viewers who gave LoSala her only outright win as she won the title. To add insult to injury prior to the finals the chief mentor took it upon himself to change her name without consulting her or having her consent to LoZada. Which sounds better? You be the judge.

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WORTH WATCHING

A TV program worth watching is Trails From The East. The program travels through Asian countries and interviews its citizens about their culture. Previous shows that have aired were from Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Iran and most recently they have been traveling through Turkey.

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BELIEVE IT OR NOT?

What can you believe? With Thailand spending large sums of money to televise their Amazing Thailand commercials that are focused in luring tourists to their country the question can you believe that those individuals in the commercials giving positive tributes are real tourists who are NOT BEING PAID to do so or actors? It's up to you…

8 PM Cambodia/Thailand =

9 PM Hong Kong/Singapore =

10 PM Malaysia

 

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MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

11:00 AM - I'm a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here! - Star World

FRIDAY

11:00 AM - PRISON BREAK - Star World

12:30 PM - UFC (ULTIMATE FIGHTING) - True Sport 2

SATURDAY