As if there is some kind of force keeping poor Angela Martin from ever competing on American Idol, her mother has disappeared!

If you recall, the first time she made it to Hollywood, her father died.  The second time, she was forced to leave to answer a legal summons for parking tickets.  Now this year, just when you’d think NOTHING can stop her, and she is in the last year that she is eligible to participate (age 28), her mother vanished the day after Christmas.  According to the article I read, she never arrived at her other daughter’s house and her car was found on New Year’s Eve in a different neighborhood.

Here is a link to the story.

This poor poor girl!!  I’m sure that by now they are already in Hollywood for Hollywood week.  Just how much more is going to happen to keep Angela from a career that she so richly deserves?  I hope and pray that her mother is found alive and not a victim of foul play.   I would also hope that the producers give her special dispensation should she need it and allow her some extra time once this situation is “resolved” one way or another to allow her some time off while not kicking her out of the competition.

Ryan lets us know that many of the past Idol finalists  (as well as his formerly cute chubby little self) are from Atlanta.  He calls it “Hotlanta.”  Mary J. Blige is the guest judge and for some reason, the judge with the new face lift doesn’t feel like getting out of the car.  The auditions are being held on the 27th floor and the elevator ride for the contestants to audition is just like what they do during “The Chair” segment in Hollywood and no less annoying. 

First up is Dewone Robinson.  I find that the more they brag about themselves, the worse we ALL know they are going to be.  Dewone is no exception to this rule.  He sings an original composition called “Lady, we’re not together anymore.”  Just 2 notes and you know why.  It is sung in two completely opposite registers and Simon asks him if it was supposed to be a duet because he seems to be singing both parts.  Dewone blames Simon for his awful voice saying he threw him off when he asked him too many questions (such as ”What are you going to sing for us today”).  It was everyone’s fault but his own and he is sent packing.

Next up is Keia Johnson with really cute blond curly hair and neon yellow pants.  She is a former beauty pagent contestant who won Miss Congeniality.  Simon makes some remark about how it’s better to be chosen the beauty instead of the “nice personality”  but Simon can never see the inner beauty of anybody up front, and then has to eat crow later.  Of course,  she sang beautifully and she’s through to Hollywood.

I loved Jermaine Sellers right off the bat.  He takes care of his mother and is a singer in his church.  (Take notes, gals, any guy who takes care of his mother will treat his wife with dignity and love.)  He sang Joan Osborne’s  “One of Us.”  Man, I forgot how much I loved that song.   During a commercial I downloaded Joan’s version from iTunes .  He sings it GREAT with his own spin to it, Mary J loves it and he gets the golden ticket.

Vanessa Wolfe is very poor, from Tennessee and likes to dive off bridges.  She will do great during Country Week, but she has to live long enough to get there.  I have a feeling Hollywood week will eat this poor darlin’ alive.  (BTW, anyone know what “Cow Tipping” is?)

They humiliated the toothless guy who almost died 3 times.  The BFF “Ditsy Chicks” cried a lot cuz one made it and the other didn’t.  Holly, the human guitar, is the new Kelly Pickler.  She must never have watched the previous 8 seasons or she would have known how much Simon hates when people dress stupidly for auditions.  But WOW what a voice!!  She knocked me off my chair.  Golden ticket.

I’m only going to mention 3 more that cannot be overlooked.  Skii Bo Ski, the king of rhetoric, can sing but I’d never vote for him because I do NOT want to listen to his drivel all the way to May.  Angry Lamar screamed his song, promised to take constructive criticism, got angry when Mary told him to exhalt himself, wouldn’t stop screaming-I mean “singing”, and cursed his way all the way out down the elevator and into the street.

Closing the show was 62 year old General Larry Pratt singing “Pants on the Ground, Lookin’ Like A Fool.”  Everyone loved him, so did I.  Anyone else out there love him too?  The song was great.

All in all, it was a good show, Mary J. was a great judge, and check in with me next week for the Chicago auditions.

*West Coast Spoiler* This video from the end of American Idol has to be one of the most memorable parts of this episode of American Idol. In case you missed it, check out “Pants on the Ground”:

Those people looking for the lyrics to Pants on the Ground, hopefully this will help:
Pants on the ground, pants on the ground.
Lookin’ like a fool with ya pants on the ground.
With da gold in ya mouth, hat turned sideways
Pants hit the ground, ya call yourself a cool cat
Lookin’ like a fool, walking downtown
With ya pants on the ground
Git it up
Hey!

Season 9 auditions aired last night and I have to say it appears that AI has gone back to basics…back to the thing that made the show great in the first place.  What impressed me the most was that this season, they concentrated more on showing the good singers as opposed to the bad ones and the freaks. A lot of my friends have stopped watching the audition shows and waited until Hollywood week to watch because the audition shows had become a freak show. Last night’s show was a good mix of both, but mostly the good singers and that made it enjoyable to watch.

The very skinny Victoria Beckham was the guest judge and she did a pretty decent job. Randy looks like he’s had a face lift. First I thought he lost a lot of weight because he face was so tight and thin, but then I saw that he hadn’t. So, I’m thinking face lift!

It was very funny how several of the contestants called Kara “Paula” and that ticked her off to the max. Janet McNamara, the human jumping bean, kept callng her “Paula” and then later on referred to her as “The Kara girl on the left.” Great way to start off the show, I’m sure Paula was GLOATING.

There were a lot of really good singers who came out of New York and with NY being my home state, I was glad to see it!!!  There were a couple of 16 year old girls who were unbelievably talented, one of which was Maddy Curtiss. She’s #9 of 12 kids, and she had a bitter sweet story attached to her that I hope AI won’t try to ram down our throats this season and ruin her chances to win like they did with Danny Gokey last year. I was so hoping she would be good and she was better than good, she shined.

Likewise with Justin Williams who is a cancer survivor.  He was a great singer and I’m hoping AI doesn’t jump all over his sob story like they tried to do with David Cook’s brother.  I’m really rooting for a revamped improved AI this season!

There was Amodeo Diricci, the lovable Italian guy who actually said “I want to thank all yous”. Loved it. They showed his family at home at dinner and all I can say is I want to go to his house on Sundays!!  And there was Derek Hilton, the peacenik landscaper that made me cringe when he “sang”. He was so bad that my son went and got his nerf gun and shot himself with it!

There was Kimono Girl whose own mother rolled her eyes at her. Her teeth were so yellow, it put me off my food.  But the weirdest contestant was Andrew Fenlon in his superfly eyeglasses. He had such a prissy hissy fit about having had to wait so long that by the time he got into the room, he filled the room with bad energy, sassed back very rudely to the judges and completely ruined his chances of ever getting on the show. Kara hated him and told him so. The thing was  his voice wasn’t all that bad. But his attitude made him a clown. He was completely shocked that they didn’t send him to Hollywood. Big surprise there.

Kara and Simon didn’t get along through 2/3 of the show and it is apparent to me that Simon doesn’t care for her. It’s almost as if he doesn’t like her because she replaced Paula. Yes, that’s right, I said it. SHE replaced Paula, not Ellen Degeneres. I firmly believe that they brought her in last year to set the stage to force Paula out only it blew up in their faces because she was just as bad as Paula only not as likable.

I can go on forever with everyone’s names and the songs they sang and the usual delusionals, but there’s not enough space. Suffice it to say that Idol is back and in a good way. Simon is still his acerbic self with the sometimes hilarious comments. The best of the night? When he told Roberto Guerrero that he sang like a 3 year old girl and dressed like Latoya Jackson.

If tonight is an indication of how Season 9 is going to be, then it’s going to be a good watch this year.  Here’s hoping Ellen can bring it on and not behave like she did when she was a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance.  I hope she is like she is on her own show.  She loves her audience and I think she can bring that compassion to the contestants on Idol.

As I’ve done a number of times in the past I’m here to list the dates for the season premieres of your favorite shows on most of the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, etc). I can’t guarantee that this list is perfect, but it should give you a pretty good idea of when your favorite TV shows will be premiere in Winter 2010.

JANUARY

Sunday, Jan. 3
Giuliana & Bill (E!), 9 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 4
The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love (ABC), 8 p.m.
Make It or Break It returns (ABC Family), 9 p.m.
The Secret Life of the American Teenager returns (ABC Family), 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 5
The Biggest Loser (NBC), 8 p.m.
The Good Wife returns (CBS), 10 p.m.
NCIS returns (CBS), 8 p.m.
NCIS: Los Angeles returns (CBS), 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 6
Friday Night Lights returns (DirecTV 101), 9 p.m.
Nip/Tuck (FX), 10 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 8
Ghost Whisperer returns (CBS), 8 p.m.
Medium returns (CBS), 9 p.m.
Numb3rs returns (CBS), 10 p.m.
Shark Tank returns (ABC), 9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 9
Legend of the Seeker returns (syndication)

Sunday, Jan. 10
Big Love (HBO), 10 p.m.
Chuck (NBC), 9 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 11
Accidentally on Purpose returns (CBS), 8:30 p.m.
The Big Bang Theory returns (CBS), 9:30 p.m.
CSI: Miami returns (CBS), 10 p.m.
Heroes returns (NBC), 9 p.m.
How I Met Your Mother returns (CBS), 8 p.m.
Two and a Half Men returns (CBS), 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12
American Idol (Fox), 8 p.m.
Southland (TNT), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 13
Criminal Minds returns (CBS), 9 p.m.
CSI: NY returns (CBS), 10 p.m.
Gary Unmarried returns (CBS), 8:30 p.m.
Leverage returns (TNT), 10 p.m.
The New Adventures of Old Christine returns (CBS), 8 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 14
Archer (FX), 10 p.m.
Bones returns (Fox), 8 p.m.
CSI returns (CBS), 9 p.m.
Fringe returns (Fox), 9 p.m. (for four weeks, then off until April)
Grey’s Anatomy returns (ABC), 9 p.m.
The Mentalist returns (CBS), 10 p.m.
Parks and Recreation returns (NBC), 8:30 p.m.
Private Practice returns (ABC), 10 p.m.
Project Runway (Lifetime), 10 p.m.
The Vampire Diaries returns (CW), 8 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 17
24 (Fox), 9 p.m.
Human Target (Fox), 8 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 18
Life UneXpected (CW), 9 p.m.
One Tree Hill returns (CW), 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 19
White Collar returns (USA), 10 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21
Burn Notice returns (USA), 10 p.m.
Supernatural returns (CW), 9 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22
Caprica (Syfy), 9 p.m.
Smallville returns (CW), 8 p.m.
Spartacus (Starz), 10 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 25
Damages (FX), 10 p.m.
Greek returns (ABC Family), 10 p.m.
La La Land (Showtime), 11 p.m.
Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Showtime), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 27
Psych returns (USA), 10 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 31
American Dad returns (Fox), 9:30 p.m.
The Cleveland Show returns (Fox), 8:30 p.m.
Family Guy returns (Fox), 9 p.m.
The Simpsons returns (Fox), 8 p.m.

FEBRUARY

Tuesday, Feb. 2
Lost (ABC), 9 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4
The Office returns (NBC), 9 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 7
Undercover Boss (CBS), 10 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 11
Past Life (Fox), 8 p.m.
Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (CBS), 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 14
The Amazing Race (CBS), 8 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 19
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO), 9 p.m.

MARCH

Monday, March 1
Parenthood (NBC), 9 p.m.

Wednesday, March 4
FlashForward returns (ABC), 8 p.m.

Monday, March 8
Gossip Girl returns (CW), 9 p.m.

Sunday, March 14
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC), 9 p.m.
The Marriage Ref (NBC), 8 p.m.
The Pacific (HBO), 8 p.m.
Sons of Tucson (Fox), 8:30 p.m.

Monday, March 22
Nurse Jackie (Showtime), 10 p.m.
United States of Tara (Showtime), 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 30
V returns (ABC), 9 p.m.

APRIL

Thursday, April 1
Fringe returns (Fox), 9 p.m.

Sunday, April 11
The Tudors (Showtime), 9 p.m.

Tuesday, April 13
Glee returns (Fox), 9 p.m.

So, which of the premiere’s are you most looking forward to see? My list includes, The Bachelor, Shark Tank, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice (kind of), Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, The Amazing Race (my favorite), and Celebrity Apprentice. I’m also confused since I don’t see Dancing with the Stars on my list above. I know season 10 of DWTS is happening sometime too. Maybe they haven’t announced a date yet.

Please let me know of other shows that are missing and I’ll update them. Thanks!

It’s now official that Paula Abdul is quiting American Idol. Here’s the tweets that Paula Abdul sent out on Twitter about leaving American Idol:

With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to #IDOL. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all..Cont’d…

I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent,but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day1become an international phenomenon.

What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me

It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month

I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all

Of course, American Idol’s loss might be So You Think You Can Dance’s gain. Nigel Lythgoe has been making a bunch of overtures to get Paula Abdul to come on So You Think You Can Dance as a judge and/or choreographer. Needless to say, I think Paula’s going to be ok after leaving American Idol.

UPDATE: Fox put out the following official statement:
“Paula Abdul has been an important part of the American Idol family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show. While Paula will not be continuing with us, she’s a tremendous talent and we wish her the best.”

Danny Gokey, ‘Dance Little Sister’ by Terence Trent D’Arby
Kris Allen, ‘Apologize’ by OneRepublic
Adam Lambert, ‘One’ by U2
Danny Gokey, ‘You Are So Beautiful’ by Joe Cocker
Kris Allen, ‘Heartless’ by Kanye West
Adam Lambert, ‘Cryin’ by Aerosmith

Special Guest Performances for AI top 3 results show:
Jordin Sparks sang “Battlefield”
Katy Perry sang “Waking Up in Vegas”

I previously posted about the American Idol 2009 tour. American Idol tour tickets are just now going on sale on Ticketmaster. All American Idol 2009 tour tickets go on sale on May 9th at 10am with the exception of the July 8th date in Vancouver, BC. Tickets for that show go on sale on May 9th at 12pm. However, if you get a presale code (looks like you can get American Idol Tour Presale Codes on eBay), you can buy AI 2009 tour tickets today.

The top 10 American Idol tour members are: Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver, and Scott MacIntyre.

Buy American Idol 2009 tour tickets on Ticketmaster
Buy American Idol Tour Tickets on eBay

Here’s a look at the entire list of American Idol 2009 tour dates, locations, and venues.
July 5 Portland, OR Rose Garden
July 7 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
July 8 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
July 10 Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena
July 11 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
July 12 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
July 14 West Valley City, UT The E Center
July 16 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
July 17 Ontario, CA Citizens Business Bank Arena
July 18 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena
July 20 Glendale, AZ jobing.com Arena
July 23 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
July 24 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
July 25 N. Little Rock, AR Alltel Arena
July 26 Memphis, TN FedExForum
July 28 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
July 29 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center
July 31 Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center
August 1 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
August 2 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
August 4 Washington, DC Verizon Center
August 5 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
August 7 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
August 8 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
August 11 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum
August 14 Hamilton, ON Copps Coliseum
August 15 Rochester, NY BlueCross Arena
August 16 Hartford, CT XL Center
August 18 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden
August 19 Albany, NY Times Union Center
August 20 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
August 22 Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena
August 23 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center
August 25 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
August 26 Auburn Hills, MI Palace at Auburn Hills
August 28 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
August 29 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
August 30 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
September 1 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
September 2 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
September 4 Madison, WI Alliant Energy Center
September 5 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
September 6 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
September 8 Reading, PA Sovereign Center
September 9 Wilkes Barre, PA Wachovia Arena
September 10 Bridgeport, CT Arena at Harbor Yard
September 12 Portand, ME Cumberland County Civic Center
September 13 Providence, RI Dunkin’ Donuts Center
September 14 Syracuse, NY WarMemorial at OnCenter
September 15 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena

Buy American Idol 2009 tour tickets on Ticketmaster
Buy American Idol Tour Tickets on eBay

Unfortunately, I took last week off for listing the American Idol music. Life has been really busy. So, I’m going to catch up on 2 weeks of American Idol music right now.

American Idol Top 5 Rat Pack Song List
Kris Allen, ‘The Way You Look Tonight’

Allison Iraheta, ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’

Matt Giraud, ‘My Funny Valentine’

Danny Gokey, ‘Come Rain or Come Shine’

Adam Lambert, ‘Feelin’ Good’

American Idol Rock Week Song List
Adam Lambert – ‘Whole Lotta Love’ by Led Zeppelin

Allison Iraheta – ‘Cry Baby’ by Janis Joplin

Kris Allen and Danny Gokey Duet, ‘Renegade’ by Styx

Kris Allen – ‘Come Together’ by The Beatles

Danny Gokey – ‘Dream On’ by Aerosmith

Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta Duet, ‘Slow Ride’ by Foghat

It was disco night on American Idol 2009. Donna Summer is the big winner having three of her songs being performed on the show. They could have almost called it Donna Summer night on American Idol. Check out the music sang on American Idol.

Lil Rounds, ‘I’m Every Woman’
(Chaka Khan)

Kris Allen, ‘She Works Hard for the Money’
(Donna Summer)

Danny Gokey, ‘September’
(Earth, Wind and Fire)

Allison Iraheta, ‘Hot Stuff’
(Donna Summer)

Adam Lambert, ‘If I Can’t Have You’
(Yvonne Elliman)

Matt Giraud, ‘Stayin’ Alive’
(Bee Gees)

Anoop Desai, ‘Dim All the Lights’
(Donna Summer)