Video Beat - American Idol's Stephanie Edwards Departs - March 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Stephanie Edwards Departs American Idol - Is the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency A Good or Bad Influence? - Amazing Race ASIA Seek Applicants - NOW APPEARING Yanks are ON MGM - Recommended TV schedule

Saturday March 24, 2007

AMERICAN IDOL Down to Final 10

The scene was set as Chris Richardson and Stephanie Edwards were the only two remaining American Idol contestants who were left after host Ryan Seacrest told the other nine competitors that they were safe and could sit down.

The result was that after what appeared to be a bout with nerves America voted and sent Edwards home after she had a bad performance.

We picked Edwards as one of our top six finishers. The nineteen-year-old Savannah, Georgia resident was off form. Prior to her performance she stated to host Ryan Seacrest prior to going on stage that the hardest part of her appearance on the show was, "picking the song."

That uncertainty proved to be her downfall as we noted in our notes that her timing was off with the band. At the time of our observation we also questioned if the band was spot on. They seemed to be late in their timing and rhythm as they also were behind a couple of other singers. They weren't in sync with the vocalist. It seemed to be more their fault than the singer.

In fairness to the band in some cases there are dead spots on a stage where a singer can't hear the band properly since they are off stage and behind them. For an inexperienced performer that can throw them off and that could have been the case in Edwards performance.

AI judge Randy Jackson noted that her voice was a "little pitchy," and that it was hard to make ballads rhythmical. Paula Abdul said that Edwards, "Fell off some notes." And my man Simon says, (said) "You're losing your edge and you're soul. It was a cabaret performance."

Well as we all know Simon says a lot. He says a lot more than the other judges but agree or not he is more than likely SPOT ON.

Prior to Edwards elimination American Idol asked the question in a previous interview… If you don't make it on AMERICAN IDOL, what will you do? Edwards replied, "Go back to college, but pursue singing on the side."

For Edwards it was a disappointing way to go out. She has the talent to be successful. In the past she showed confidence but this past week was the exposure of her first weakness in trying to find a song from the British Invasion catalog that she had to choose from.

This is one glaring weakness in the American Idol format. From week to week they choose a theme that the contestants have to choose a song from that genre. For a country artist to sing soul is a difficult adjustment and visa versa.

The British Invasion are songs that were recorded and popular in the 60's. The translation being that for Edwards they were songs that were popular 18 to 28 years before she WAS BORN. To be in a situation where a person has to learn the melody AND REMEMBER the all-important lyrics is a challenging task. That was Brandon Rogers undoing when he became the first AI top 12 finalists to be eliminated.

Yes they are all in the same situation but this could be considered a flaw in the show. As Simon say's, "This is a singing competition." Yea, yea, sure, sure it is and that points up to an important fact….

Newly signed recording artists seldom or NEVER pick the songs they want to sing, the PRODUCER DOES. That is his job. Being that American Idol is supposed to be a singing competition raises the question why is a contestant put in the position of being a producer particularly of a genre of music or an era BEFORE THEY WERE BORN that is out of their comfort zone?

For a 19-year-old singer with no previous professional singing experience or any other contestant who are only singers haaving to be in that situation in a supposedly singing competition bes the question... ISN'T THAT A BIT TOO MUCH AND UNFAIR TO THEIR TALENT?

American Idol loser Jennifer Hudson and entertainment business winner after receiving the Academy Award for her Broadway performance in Dream Girls is being criticized on the Internet for not thanking Simon Cowell. The question is what does she owe Cowell? How do the critiques know what went on behind the scenes if she and Cowell got along? Put this in the GO FIGURE FILE…

The Amazing Race Asia winners Zabrina and Joe Jer are featured in a promotional ad on the AXN network that the Amazing Race Asia reality TV show is looking for contestants for the next edition of the program.

Those interested should contact the AXN website for details. In the last edition non-Asians participated but they lived in Asia. Applications must be in by March 30.

DID YOU KNOW???

Angelina Jolie is the daughter of actor Jon Voight? One of his most famous films Midnight Cowboy is currently being televised on the MGM movie channel in Asia. The HBO film GIA is her best work. WRITTEN IN THAI LANGUAGE.

The film "Yanks" is on the MGM channel. The film features Richard Gere and a former musician friend of mine Chick Vennera in a featured role.

Vennera also played the part of the Leather Man in "Thank God It's Friday and had a staring role in "The Milagro Beanfield Wars" produced by Robert Redford.

KATIE HOLMES - DAWSONS CREEK

Actress Katie Holmes has risen to fame and fortunes during the past eight years BUT DID YOU KNOW Holmes first major exposure to television viewers was as a cast member in the Warner Brothers TV series DAWSONS CREEK? She is also a best friend of David Beckham's wife Victoria (Posh Spice) WRITTEN IN THAI LANGUAGE.

It seems there are problems with Cambodia's Freshie Boy & Girl talent show. People are stealing their name and credibility. Full story coming... Stay tuned

The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency

The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, reality television show jumps to the top of the pile of the proliferation of modeling shows on Asian television these past few months. When one factors in the influence that television has on its viewers this show is indicative of how not to behave.

The 52-year-old Dickinson seems to gloat on her acrid behavior as she constantly berates those models that audition for her agency. In the world of POSITIVE INFLUENCES this does not qualify.

Dickinson claims to be America's first supermodel. She was a judge on Tyra Banks Top Model show and resigned. On that show Dickinson was arrogant in her critique of Top Model contestants. Her critiques were to the point of being annoying. She resigned from the show though it is not quite clear if it was a requested resignation.

She now has her own show that debut on Channel V last week. At that point it was low budget and Dickinson admitted on the show to a prospective partner that she had no money but had banking contacts. The prospective partner chose to be involved in the program.

It's a done deal if the show will be successful or not since it first aired in America. The agency opened for business in November of 2005. The series debuted on June 6, 2006 on the Oxygen Network and reached the highest rating of the network since they launched in 1998.

On October 18, 2006, Oxygen announced that the series has been renewed for a second season. Now in its second season in the USA, 21 episodes have been produced.

The question to Dickinson is what is her show about? "My hit show is about me maintaining my own modeling agency, Dickinson said on her website. "I am determined to hand-pick the best new talent, photograph them and make the industry sit up and take notice. Unlike many "reality" shows, there are no fake contests or contrived situations. It's a real business with real financial, personal and professional stakes."

Here's where the plot gets blurry. Oxygen was founded by Geraldine Laybourne, Oprah Winfrey, producers Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner all of whom are associated in the past with squeaky-clean programming. Laybourne spent 16 years at Nickelodeon, taking over the management of the network in 1984. That network produced programming for children.

Carsey and Werner produced the Bill Cosby show that was designed for family viewing. Oprah Winfrey has her own show that is hugely successful and a number of other projects that include philanthropic activities. When you do the chemistry it doesn't add up why they would be involved with a program that has so much profanity and the ridicule of people, or…. Do they have a say in the matter? Go figure.

CNN founder Ted Turner was the owner of two professional sports teams in the USA and managed one of them for one day. He also founded the Goodwill Games. Full story

TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time and date in your area.

Repeats of Top Model are flipped around by Channel V for undisclosed reasons.-

SUNDAY

10:00 AM - AMAZING RACE ALL-STARS - AXN (repeat)

11:00 AM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (repeat)

12pm NOON - ASAP - TFC (The Filipino Channel)

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ALL-STARS - AXN (repeat)

11:30 PM - AMAZING RACE ALL-STARS - AXN (repeat)

11:00 PM - ASAP - TFC - (repeat of show televised at NOON)

12:30 AM (Mon) - ULTIMATE FIGHTER - AXN - ( rerun of 1st season)

MONDAY

8:00 AM - AMAZING RACE ALL-STARS - (repeat)

11:00 AM - ULTIMATE FIGHTER - AXN - ( rerun of 1st season)

1:00 PM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (final repeat of week)

6:00 PM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (New episode)

8:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ALL-STARS - AXN - (New Episode)

10:00 PM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (repeat OF NEW EPISODE)

12:00 PM/midnight - AMAZING RACE ALL-STARS - AXN - (repeat)

TUESDAY

7:00 AM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (repeat)

11:00 AM - AMAZING RACE ALL-STARS - AXN - (repeat)

2:00 PM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (repeat OF NEW EPISODE)

WEDNESDAY

6:00 AM - JANICE DICKINSON Modeling Agency show - Channel V

11:00 AM - JANICE DICKINSON Modeling Agency show - Channel V

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - (New Episode)

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - (repeat of New Episode - 5 PM telecast)

11:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - ( repeat of 5 & 7 PM telecast)

12:00 AM (midnight) - JANICE DICKINSON Modeling Agency show - Channel V

THURSDAY

10:00 AM -AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - ( repeat of Wednesday show)

3:00 PM - JANICE DICKINSON Modeling Agency show - Channel V

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - (Elimination show)

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - (Elimination show repeat)

8:00 PM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (repeat)

9:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ALL-STARS - AXN - (repeat)

10:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - (Elimination show repeat)

1:00 AM - AMAZING RACE - AXN - (repeat)

1:30 AM AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - repeat of elimination show)

FRIDAY

10:00 AM -AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - ( repeat of Thursday Elimination show)

12:00 PM (NOON) - JANICE DICKINSON Modeling Agency show - Channel V

2:00 PM - WORLDS APART - AXN - (rerun of old series)

3:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ALL-STARS - AXN - (repeat)

5:00 PM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (repeat)

9:00 PM - NBA game - Star Sports

11:00 PM - JANICE DICKINSON Modeling Agency show - Channel V

SATURDAY

10:00 AM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (repeat)

11:00 AM - FEAR FACTOR - AXN

1:00 PM - TOP MODEL - Channel V (repeat)

9:00 PM - JANICE DICKINSON Modeling Agency - Channel V

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