THE AUSTRALIAN IDOL BLOG

Final 3 Performances & Verdict

2005-11-16T07:01:00.000+10:30

Bummer. I was hoping Lee would make it to the final just so we could hear his version of the sappy love song that will be the first single..........and see Emily stomp all over him at the Opera House.

Anyway, Lee will soon be auditioning for his new punk Wiggles band (his previous bandmates need not apply) - look out for the CD for Xmas.

Emily should win as she is hands down the best singer in 3 years of Australian Idol. I hate Whitney Houston, but she sang the song effortlessly.

Well done to the tuck shop lady for getting this far.

No More Idol For Kelly Clarkson

2005-11-11T14:32:00.000+10:30

It seems Kelly Clarkson is hoping to shake the American Idol tag right off.

Clarkson, on the advice of her management, refused to appear on the latest series of Australian Idol during her trip to Australia. Fans of the show will remember that she appeared on the first series, and was filmed meeting the contestants.

But a lot can change in two years and Clarkson seems to want to focus on developing her musical credibility - something that Idol obviously doesn't convey.

Qld Premier Says Dan Was Robbed

2005-11-10T17:11:00.000+10:30

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says that Dan E was unfairly booted from Australian Idol last Sunday night.

The introduction of daylight saving meant voting lines closed an hour earlier in Queensland. Just 27 votes separated Dan and Lee Harding in the closest vote in Idol history. Queensland voters jammed radio stations and internet chat forums over the result, questioning whether daylight saving cost England his place and venting anger over being barred from lodging last minute votes.

A Ten Network spokeswoman said the show had no comment.

Grand Final Shifts From Wednesday To Monday

2005-11-08T14:11:00.000+10:30

The Australian Idol Grand Finale will be on Monday November 21 at the Sydney Opera House. The finale will run for two hours from 7.30 pm. This means they have scaled back dramatically from the near three hour event of last year.

Sunday night's performance episode was watched by just over 1.4 million people - 39% down on a year ago. The verdict episode last night was watched by 1.141 million. The trend this year has been for the verdict episode on the Monday to attract a sharply smaller audience than the performance program on the Sunday night. This means the show isn't engaging viewers like it in previous years and that in turn will mean changes for next year.

Final 4 Performances & Verdict

2005-11-08T09:15:00.000+10:30

The Elvis theme revealed what a karaoke-fest Australian Idol really is. None of the performers ever looked completely comfortable doing songs they've all heard a million times before, but never really listened to.

Unfortunately it appears that this week's Idol was to be the lead-in show for Channel 10's Sunday night movie. I thought 10 had given Sunday night movies the flick? However, given that most episodes of Idol this season have been promoting someone or something, it doesn't surprise.

The other thing that is apparent is there will be no big signature songs this year as in year's past (eg Guy's Doves Cry, Callea's The Prayer). I thought Dan E might pull one out, but unfortunately he was cut down last night, leaving us with 2 girls who can sing and one guy who can't. Lee's appearance in the bottom 3 doesn't bode well for him, as it appears every tuck shop lady in the country has rallied behind Kate.

Interview With Dan S

2005-11-01T20:09:00.000+10:30

Daniel says he amazed even himself at how long he lasted on Australian Idol, and he was relieved when his eviction actually happened.

He also thought the Shannon Noll comparisons were funny, although he admits there are resemblances between the two of them.

Like the rest of the booted idol hopefuls, he's now scouting for a recording deal and wants to make a living from music.

See the full interview here.

Top 5 - Verdict

2005-11-01T15:23:00.000+10:30

Dan S gone - no surprises there.
Lee in the bottom 3! Surprise there. Too much makeup on Sunday night, maybe?

What is with the Elvis theme?
That is gonna suit the girls wonderfully - not.
Get ready for the Blink 182 version of blue suede shoes..........

Final 5 - Performances

2005-10-31T11:29:00.000+10:30

Lee (My Sharona)
The Adam Ant crossed with Boy George crossed with Nemo look is really wearing a bit thin for me now. Looking past the image there's not much to see. Lee NEVER sings a song in its original key (My Sharona's key is G, Lee sang it in F - a whole tone drop). This could be history in the making - a crap singer winning a national singing competition.

Kate (Lady Marmalade)
She was so worried about her sore throat (when she needn't have been) that she forgot the arrangement of her song and produced a big mistake that was obvious to all. Will the sympathy vote be enough to keep her in?

Emily (I'm Every Woman)
This girl is just so far ahead of everyone else its not funny. If she doesn't make the final Channel 10 may as well call it off.

Dan E (Desperado)
A good performance, but not worth a touchdown. He should have shown Dan S how to sing Foreigner.

Dan S (Cold As Ice)
Great song choice, but ultimately Dan S didn't deliver the goods. Apparently wandering around the stage with a blank look an your face is showing passion................go figure.

Bottom 3: Dan S, Kate, Dan E.

Dan S to go.

Wannabe Idol In Bed With Big Brother Bogan?

2005-10-26T18:47:00.000+09:30

Lee was spotted playing tonsil hockey with Christy (Big Brother) at the ARIAS after party.

Harding didn't get back to the Idol house until midday on Monday and denied everything, whereas Christy confirmed the story that day on radio.

The guy has no taste...............

Idol Audience 28% Down On Last Year

2005-10-26T18:40:00.000+09:30

Some are blaming Kyle and saying he's been a poor replacement for Dicko.

Others are blaming the recent glut of musical reality shows eg X Factor and INXS: Rock Star on pay TV.

The girl talent is probably the best it has been of the 3 seasons.

It would be interesting to know how much overall SMS voting numbers are down. Surely people are getting jacked off with the constant requests to vote for this and that show every week. Isn't it enough that we have to put up with the incredibly annoying Imode ads?

Final 6 - Verdict

2005-10-25T15:19:00.000+09:30

Anne & the 2 Dans in the bottom 3........

In hindsight Anne's departure was understandable. She kept choosing boring songs and never pushed herself - basically Emily outsang & outperformed her until it was obvious there was no room for both of them.

Dan S has dodged more bullets than Neo, and now Dan E must be feeling the pressure of 2 bottom 3 appearances in 3 weeks.

Questions for next week:
Can Dan S continue to improve?
Can Dan E smile while singing?
Will Lee be allowed to put a 70's classic on speed?
Will Kyle refrain from criticising Kate's appearance?

Final 6 - Performances

2005-10-24T13:58:00.000+09:30

Kate (I Wish)
Never puts a foot wrong vocally. Kyle seems determined to avoid another Casey Donovan scenario by continually criticising her appearance, but it could work in the opposite way by encouraging votes for her, rather than against her.

Lee (Ben)
Anyone who watched Lee's performance on Friday night knew this was coming. Its a given - he is the worst singer in the top 30 - but he's got the popular look. Will it be enough for him to weather disasters like last night? He's stuffed when he can't speed the song up and turn the volume up to suit his style. If he's got any brains that will be the last ballad he attempts outside of the shower.

Anne (If I Were You're Woman)
She also never screws up vocally, but she just doesn't impress me. Anne never really lets loose the way that Emily and (to a lesser degree) Kate do. That she never draws any negative comments suggests that she is a judges favourite.

Dan S (Standing On Shaky Ground)
Probably his best performance so far, but I fear he has only moved from shaky ground to thin ice. I don't think it was enough to push him out of the bottom 3.

Dan E (Reach Out)
Great singer, dreadlocks make him stand out - BUT - his performances seem lacking. Did anyone see Bo Bice from the last American Idol? He used to grab the mic stand and strut around like he owned the stage. Apart from Lee the boys seem to be incapable of moving. If Dan is to win this thing he's gonna have to do more than stand and deliver, 'cos all 3 of the girls belt him out of the park in that department.

Emily (River Deep, Mountain High)
Probably deserved the touchdown. She has been giving 110% for weeks now and vocally sets the bar for the rest of the contestants. My only criticism would be her dress sense - a little too much of an op-shop/urban mix up for my liking. But hey, at least she's got the hair under control.

My bottom 3: Dan S, Kate, Lee - with Dan S to go.

James Croons Off To Oblivion

2005-10-18T14:18:00.000+09:30

James and Dan S tossed the coin last night and James lost. He was obviously well prepared for his demise, but to his credit he gave the viewing audience a bake for letting Emily slip tearfully into the bottom 3. If only we didn't have to listen to the loser perform the same crap song again.

Once Dan S goes next week we are then left with the real talent of this season's Australian Idol (well, except for leaping Lee, but he's staying for other reasons).

Final 7 Performances - The 80's

2005-10-17T12:28:00.000+09:30

Somebody said that they read an interview from Roxane, where she lamented the limited choice of songs the Australian Idol contestants were given to choose from for each genre. This would have to explain the boring load of rubbish songs that were performed last night. The 80's had so many classic songs - and we heard none of them.

Emily (I Wanna Dance With Somebody)
Flawless performance of a crap song. Maybe she will do a better song next week.

James (Truly)
HAS to go this week. His shortcomings are blindingly obvious and he hasn't got a clue how to work around them. Should be booted just for the fact he chose a Lionel Ritchie song!

Kate (Ain't Nobody)
See Emily.

Dan S (If You Don't Know Me By Now)
Should go this week, but will have to wait for next week. Some statues are more entertaining to watch. Simply Red? Gimme a break........

Dan E (Broken Wings)
Has a talent for picking songs that suit his voice. If Casey Donovan can win Australian Idol while rooted to the spot, then Dan is in with as good a chance as anyone.

Anne (Open Arms)
Took a risk by choosing an (obscure) bloke's song, and largely pulled it off. The fiddly voice thing at the end needs to go in future.

Lee (Eye Of The Tiger)
I think Lee will make the final two. He's tailor-made for the voting demographic of this show - the punk boy you can take home to meet your Mum. He is the worst singer left in the competition, but he makes up for it with a flashy, noisy performance. The sped up, lowered key treatment of Eye Of The Tiger didn't work as well as it did for Roxanne, but will the voters notice? I think not. His Hi-5 meets Blink 182 image is marketing genius, and the one trick pony is going to perform his one trick each week for the fans.

Bottom three will be Dan S, James and probably Kate. I say Kate because vocally there isn't much between the three girls, but she looks too much like an older sister and so may not attract as many votes as the others.

James to go.

Milly Out With A Big Band Bang

2005-10-11T14:06:00.000+09:30

Ironically the Big Band night was to be Milly's finale, after a series of finals performances where she failed to live up to her earlier audition promise.

You forget how young some of these people are, and obviously the pressure was a little too much for the 17 year old Milly.

Dan E was as surprised as I was that he made the bottom 3, but even Guy and Shannon had bottom 3 appearances during their season of Australian Idol, so I don't think he has much to worry about.

Someone who should be worried is James. His survival hinges on Dan S - a poor performance by Dan would seem the only way that James will avoid an exit this week.

Top 8 Performances - Big Bands

2005-10-10T09:13:00.000+09:30

I'm right with Kyle on this type of music - its up there with jazz & country/western . Why they have this theme on Australian Idol is beyond me - none of the contestants are ever likely to have have anything to do with the style ever again after last night and it has precious little to do with their ability (or otherwise) to sell records for anyone.

Anyway, I'm not going to bother listing the individual performances as I wasn't remotely interested in any of the songs sung.

Basically all the good singers (Anne, Emily, Dan E, Kate) sang well, the average singers (Lee, Milly, James, Dan S) sang averagely. Nobody significantly raised or lowered their chances as far as the competition went. Therefore the bottom 3 should be Milly, James & Dan S.

The "Hoff" To Appear On Australian Idol

2005-10-08T12:57:00.000+09:30

David Hasselhoff, or the "Hoff", as he is now known, from popular TV series Baywatch, is set to make a guest appearance on Australian Idol. Hasselhoff is a good friend of Idol judge Mark Holden, who produced a number of his songs during the 1990s.

The Hoff will inspect the talent on Australian Idol during the live verdict show on Monday, October 24. According to Channel Ten, the actor will only be chatting with the contestants.

He will also attend the ARIA Awards ceremony, at the Sydney SuperDome on October 23.

Interview by Roxane

2005-10-05T17:04:00.000+09:30

After her exit from Idol Roxane said she was both relieved and excited.

After being gifted a position into the finals she felt that the pressure was on her "to kick butt", although she never really thought that she would win the competition.

The best part of the Idol experience for Roxane was meeting all the fans, and she had no hesitation in tipping Dan England as the eventual winner.

See the full story here.

Final 9 Performance and Verdict

2005-10-04T10:41:00.000+09:30

I went away for the long weekend, so wasn't around to post separately about the performances, so here's my take on both the performances and the verdict.

Performances:
Kate (Not That Kind Of Girl)
Great performance. My only criticism was she kept trying to impersonate Gene Simmons by sticking her tongue out all the time!

James (Love The 1 Your With)
More of the same average rubbish. This guy is not up to scratch, but obviously has enough female fans willing to look, rather than listen, to him each week.

Roxane (The Voice Within)
The girl can sing, but her vocal tone is a bit love it or hate it.

Lee (Holiday)
The one trick pony keeps performing his trick and getting away with it. Can't wait for his punk version of a big band tune next week.

Emily (Hero)
Finally scrubbed out her GT stripe! Vocally the best singer in the comp, so must be a big shot at winning.

Dan S (If I Could)
The guy has no idea about performing. He just stands and delivers with no conviction. A crap song choice too.

Milly (Sunday Morning)
Another crap song choice - does she WANT to leave or what?

Dan E (To Be With You)
A good song choice this week, although I agree with Mark Holden that the arrangement left something to be desired. Back to form though.

Anne (Independent Woman)
I thought she did this really well, but I didn't like the dress much.

Watch out for more histrionics from the judges (eg water throwing, walkouts etc). It is no secret that ratings are lagging, so more choreopraphed shennanigans are to be expected.

Verdict:
Bottom 3: Roxane, Dan S & Milly, with Roxane out.

A bit unfortunate for Roxy, as she is definitely better than some of the others left (eg James, Dan S). It shows that the male performers are likely to have more dedicated fans (voters) than the females.

Unless Dan S pulls something out next week he is in big trouble. Milly will make a better fist of the big band theme and should save herself for another week.

Laura Says Idol Is Scripted

2005-09-28T15:15:00.000+09:30

Laura Gissara has gone into true denial mode following her dumping from Idol, and has suggested that the show is "scripted".

To support her accusations she says that the judges had certain favourites that were picked early on in the process. She also points out that none of her early performances were shown in the show while other contestants were shown regularly.

What she conveniently forgets is that she was one of Kyle's favourites, and that he only jumped off her bandwagon when her continual poor performances became indefensible.

The reality is that Laura is only a slightly better version of one of those "unforgettable" audition rejects. You know the ones - they believe (because their family tells them) they have true talent and they cannot handle negative criticism from an unbiased source.

One can only hope that, after the dust has settled, Laura takes on board all the criticism and acts upon it to improve herself as a singer and performer. Otherwise the only audiences she will be entertaining in future will be her fawning family and friends.

Interview By Laura

2005-09-27T15:33:00.000+09:30

In an interview after being booted from Idol, Laura spoke of how upset her parents were about the criticism she had received from the general public, and how the allegations of vote rigging were "sad, boring and not true".

She accused judge Mark Holden of having a "hidden agenda" and blamed her demise on the public hate campaign, rather than her performances.

Apparently the public hasn't seen the last of her, as she hopes to break into TV work, and her tip for a winner was James or Dan E. See the full story here.

Laura's Fairytale Ends

2005-09-27T15:13:00.000+09:30

All my bottom 3 tips were correct this week. Laura's backers finally deserted her and she was sent packing.

There was no recap of her "wonderful" Idol journey, and her swansong performance was particularly insipid, even given the emotion involved in being evicted.

James and Dan S win a reprieve, but both must be feeling the pressure and will have to do something special in this Sunday's Idol's choice performance show to stave off another bottom 3 appearance.

Top 10 Performances - Supergroups

2005-09-26T10:38:00.000+09:30

My comments on the performances (in no particular order):

Dan S
There's something missing with Dan. He's got the "Ian Moss" voice, but he's not doing much with it. A squeaky clean version of a song he should have got down & dirty with. Time is running out for him.

Laura
It could have been worse, alot worse. However, add serious personality/conviction deficiency to her well documented singing deficiencies.

Anne
A typical performance by her - good, but nothing startling. The judges are waking up to her as well.

James
His looks are the only thing keeping him in the comp. Lee does alot more with alot less.

Lee
His rock/punk version of Roxanne worked a treat. The only contestant to alter the style of the song from the original version. I was hoping he'd sing the word "Roxanne" at some point in the chorus, rather than endlessly repeating "you don't have to put on the red light" - he did it right at the end in a rousing finale to the song. Standout performance of the night.

Roxane
I thought she probably put out the best vocal performance of the night. Probably copped it a bit unfairly from the judges.

Milly
Another good vocal performance. Judges complained that she doesn't move enough, but Casey Donovan used to do a great impression of Ayres Rock and the judges loved her - go figure.

Kate
Sang well, but the song had an all over the place arrangement. I thought she looked the best she has all comp, but she still managed to cop criticism from Kyle about her weight.

Emily
Trying to cram a 7 minute epic into 2 minutes was always going to be tough. Did ok but not a patch on her previous week's efforts.

Dan E
Stayed true to the original when he probably should have played around with the arrangement of the song to make it more interesting (anyone remember Five's version?). Cracked me up that Kyle had no idea about the song when he asked Dan why the band only came in at the end.

Definitely in trouble:
James
Dan
Laura

Possibly in trouble:
Roxane

Songs Choices For This Sunday - Supergroups

2005-09-23T12:06:00.000+09:30

5 Queen songs out of 10!!!!!!!!????!!!!! The 5 that aren't singing Queen have an advantage straight up, and I pity the person in the lineup singing the 5th Queen song!

Dan S - TNT
Crunch time for Dan S. If he can't stand up with this song he should go.

Laura - Greatest View
Ambitious, and will probably expose her many faults in plain view. Centrebet is offering $3.25 for her to go next - I might put down a lazy $10.

Anne - Where The Streets have No Name
Great band, but one of their more boring songs. The judges will probably wax lyrical about her as usual.........

James - Layla
A classic song because of it's classic guitar riff, NOT the vocal. Bad song choice which could kick him out. Centrebet is offering $13 on him - I'm gonna put my $10 on James.

Lee - Roxanne
Lee is gonna have to bring the key down so far to sing this it probably won't sound much like the original. At least it isn't Queen........

Roxane - We Are The Champions
If you are gonna do Queen this is the one. Hope she nails it.

Milly - Somebody To Love
I dunno............I think it will be ordinary.

Kate - I Want It All
I just can't see a girl singing this. Definitely breaks her out of the cabaret mould.

Emily - Bohemian Rhapsody
She deserves kudos for even trying. Is it bravery or stupidity? Stupidity for me. How is she gonna arrange the song? Which bits to do and which to leave out? Honey - why?

Dan E - We Will Rock You
This song normally only works in a gang vocal situation. But as a song to showcase your solo singing talents? Wrong! All that stuff I said previously about Dan being this year's Courtney? Forget it.

This Sunday could go down as one of the collectively worst performance nights in Idol history - don't miss it!

Interview By Natalie

2005-09-20T19:55:00.000+09:30

NATALIE Zahra, talking to News.com.au, said she felt safe prior to Monday night's show and was too stunned for words after her early exit. She felt she would finish "in the middle somewhere".

Natalie said Idol was "simply one experience on the road to becoming a musician" and she was looking ahead with enthusiasm. Her pick for the winner was Dan England.

See the full story here.

Top 11 Verdict

2005-09-20T12:22:00.000+09:30

Bottom 3: Natalie, James, Laura

Gone : Natalie

Mmmmm........none of my bottom 3 pick predictions eventuated. However, it's good to see that people are finally coming around about James and that Laura's apparent popularity seems to be waning.

I feel sorry for Natalie - hers was definitely not one of the worst performances of the night. Just goes to show you don't have to be dead to be stiff.

Top 11 Performances - the 60's

2005-09-19T10:27:00.000+09:30

This season of Australian Idol is fast becoming the season of the bad song choice. 9 Soul/Motown songs out of 11? What happened to the biggest bands of the 60's - The Beatles, Stones etc? Where are these people getting their songs from? Am I too harsh, considering most of the contestants were born 20 years after the 60's?

Kate
Sorry - but she needs to hire Sophie Monk's dietician. Kyle keeps hinting at it, but won't say it outright. The girl can sing though.

Natalie
A lot better look this week. Did enough to get through.

Dan E
Blew his song choice this week. Unlike the judges I thought he was all over the place vocally.

Anne
Why is she so favoured by the judges? Another safe, controlled performance of a boring song. She gives me the impression she is only in third gear - but will she ever go up tempo?

James
Overdoes the limp wrist thing. As I said last week, James is at the top of his (limited) game - he won't get any better.

Emily
Overwhelming stand out performance of the night. Kept the cat in the bag again and belted out a challenging song without breaking a sweat. She is setting the bar for the other females.

Roxane
Nice and safe. May be in trouble because she doesn't seem to have the popularity of some of the others.

Dan S
Bad song choice sung badly. Bottom three coming up.

Laura
Ok, so she has proved she can sing - but she has no idea about choosing songs.

Lee
The vocal limitations of the singing clownfish are becoming obvious. Tries to make up with energy & enthusiasm, but it IS a singing competition after all.......

Milly
Another surprisingly restrained performance. I didn't particularly like the song and she seems strangely disinterested. On thin ice.

My Bottom 3:
Milly
Dan S
Roxane

Interview By Booted Idol Duo

2005-09-14T12:41:00.000+09:30

News.com.au caught up with Chris and Tarni after being booted from Idol Monday night.

A pretty disappointed Tarni put her exit down to there not being a market for a "rock chick" this year (maybe a legacy from Kelly last year).

Chris thought he got a raw deal from Mark, and felt the pressure of being the favourite (what the......?).

Both have plans to record albums, but do you remember the first contestant who was booted off Idol last year? Nah, I didn't think you did.

Read the interview here.

Top 13 Verdict

2005-09-13T11:01:00.000+09:30

Gone:
Tarni - her uninspiring performance exposed her as the rock chick wannabe, rather than the real deal.

Chris - his curious warbling version of an Australian classic was obviously the last straw and Mark's "Sideshow Bob" quip was a rare funny moment.

Nearly gone:
Milly - almost paid the price for an unenergetic performance of an uptempo song. I think we'll see a more intense performance from her next week, otherwise bye-bye.

Watch out for the Laura Gissara Blog - coming soon. If she can do the unthinkable and win this, it should kill off Australian Idol for good!

First Final - Top 13

2005-09-12T09:52:00.000+09:30

Overall, my impression was that everyone tonight played safe and were trying not to get voted out, rather than trying to win. No one really extended themselves, although with only about a minute each, the drastically truncated songs often sounded disjointed to me.

Tarni
Stayed true to form, but didn't really belt it out. She seems even more one dimensional than last year's rock chick Kelly, and I can't wait to see what happens when the contest moves to different genres. Will she ever wear a dress?

Laura
I expected bad things, but was pleasantly surprised. Ok, she CAN sing, but she would be better off trying to write songs for a living. Really should go after this week, but will her fan club step up again?

Daniel
Great song for his voice. Still needs to loosen up.

Roxane
You can't help but like her - she's just always smiling. I liked her version of Chisel. Should be there next week.

Emily
The singing GT stripe. Please, please go to the hairdresser! Great performance though, because she didn't try to strangle the cat.

Milly
Looked like she was in second gear all thru her performance. Had hardly warmed up and the song was over.

Lee
His gay punk look and mannerisms are starting to annoy me. Definitely limited vocally and gave a limp wristed version of a pub anthem. If it was up to me he'd be gone.

Kate
Great voice, but the whole thing was nothing that you wouldn't see any morning on GMA. Needs to bring it in to the 21st century and appeal to the voting demographic, or she will not last long.

Chris
I don't know what to think about this guy - he's weird. Looks like he's permanently stoned, and sang like it at first. Then went into a bizarre Mark Seymour on helium falsetto section. I want him to stay just for the weird factor.

Natalie
I didn't even hear what she sang because I couldn't get my eyes off her hideous double bumper hips! Must be using Paulini's wardrobe assistant.

James
The judges thought he had more to give. I really think he is at the limit of his abilities right now. He won't get any better. How long will the voters put up with him? Probably to the top 3 or 4.

Anne
Pedestrian performance and didn't extend herself one iota. Great voice, and apparently if you lose weight and shake your hips a bit the judges think you are fantastic.

Dan
Great song choice done well, with feeling. Can't understand why he was bagged by Mark when it was an obviously better performance than Anne's. Will the dreadlocks appeal as much as the fro? Hope so.

I think two of the following will get the axe:
Tarni
Lee
Laura
Kate
Chris

Top 13 Song Choices For This Week

2005-09-09T08:31:00.000+09:30

Anne Robertson - I Don't Want To Be With Nobody But You
Chris Luder - Throw Your Arms Around Me
Dan England - Crying Shame
Daniel Spillane - Tucker's Daughter
Emily Williams - Buses And Trains
James Kannis - Day Like Today
Kate DeAraugo - Please Don't Ask Me
Laura Gissara - You're My World
Lee Harding - Holy Grail
Milly Edwards - Playing to Win
Natalie Zahra - Absolutely Everybody
Roxane Lebrasse - Forever Now
Tarni Stephens - Got You On My Mind

I like girls singing guy songs (will one of the guys ever try a girl song after Linsday's horrific Cyndi Lauper?), and Roxane's popular Cold Chisel song should go well. Tarni's Powderfinger is sticking to her formula. The two Farnham songs from Kate & Milly are pretty ho-hum as far as I am concerned, but I'm not a Farnham fan.

The two Hunter's & Collectors songs are fraught with danger. Mark Seymour has a very distinctive voice and Chris & Lee are nothing like him. I think these guys may have goofed here (Chris again!), but at least we will get to see if Lee can really sing or not.

The Dan's have made the best song choices. I reckon Dan England may be this year's Courtney, and come up with some really cool songs that just suit. Dan Spillane's Ian Moss song seems right up his vocal alley.

Can Laura dodge the axe? Not with her song, which is right out of the archives, and it should become apparent this week just how far behind the other girls she really is. She definitely doesn't do herself any favours with her "I don't share anything with anybody" line (from Inside Idol last night). I want to feel sorry for her, but I can't.

Top 12 (actually 13) Finalised

2005-09-06T13:33:00.000+09:30

In what was an obvious tilt at Laura's inclusion in the finals, Roxane was given a wild-wildcard, making a baker's dozen top 12 (of 13). The result will be a first up double elimination that should see Laura booted and the Idol universe restored to normality.

The choice of James (especially) and Emily by the judges surprised me, while the voter's choice of Dan didn't. I don't think James has much improvement left in him, whereas Dan can only get better.

While Emily undoubtedly has a great voice, it remains to be seen whether she can keep the cat in the bag for long enuff periods so as not to cause mass migraines in the viewing audience.

Wildcard Performance Show

2005-09-05T08:37:00.000+09:30

In order of appearance:

Chloe
Competent, but uninspiring.

Lindsay
This guy is starting to grow on me. Another agonisingly expressive performance, but he gives 110% every time. I once knew a guy who could swallow his arm up to his elbow - Linsday would give him a run for his money.

Roxane
Standout - nailed a big song. Sexed herself up as well, just to prove she can mix it with the better looking females in the top 12.

Michael
A vastly improved performance, but with a lame song.

Lauren
This girl has the talent to be top 12. However I fear her diabolical song choice will relegate her next public appearances to FHM and RALPH magazines.

Josh
I had a nightmare last night featuring Josh & Laura Gissara singing a duet together. Be afraid - it could happen.

Irene
Whitney Houston + a sore throat = not good enuff.

James
All talk & no action. James reminds me of my well hung mate who aspired to be a porn star - problem was he could never last more than 30 seconds.

Emily
No class. Missed her appointment at the hairdresser which meant she was left with a GT stripe so big you could land a Jumbo jet on it. Her voice goes into screetching cat mode too much for my liking. Soppy song dedication may not be enuff to make up for the aforementioned issues.

Dan
I would love to play poker against this guy - he cannot keep a straight face. Lost it on the improv at the end of his song. Great talent tho. I hope he makes the top 12 because if he improves he could go all the way.

My picks:
Roxane
Dan
God knows - Lauren, I hope

2004 Idol Contestant Shows Up on "Neighbours"

2005-09-03T12:15:00.000+09:30

I happened to walk past the TV last night while Neighbours was on (I don't watch the show, it's crap) and there was Daniel O'Connor (2004 Idol contestant). He made the top 12, but I can't remember how far he went.

I can't tell you anything about his character on Neighbours, I couldn't stand to watch the show long enuff to find out.

All Wildcards Announced & Wildcard Song Choices

2005-09-02T16:37:00.000+09:30

The rest of the Idol wildcards have been announced, so here is my take on the 10:

Lindsay West (Bed Of Roses)
The first of a couple of extraordinary wildcard choices. His rehearsal for Bed Of Roses showed he has done nothing to tone down his facial expressions - I predict Holden will bag him again for it (why why why bring him back?)

Dan Spillane (Gimme Some Lovin')
Had to participate in an excruciatingly staged confrontation with Lindsay (Dan also wanted to sing Bed of Roses). Could go well if he puts everything into his song.

Josh Williams (Lonely No More)
Extraordinary choice no. 2. His song rehearsal revealed that he will be adding a rap/skat section to his song. This will be good for him as it means less singing time - BECAUSE HE CAN'T SING!

Roxanne Lebrasse (All By Myself)
Deserved choice, and I hope she gets thru and makes Laura look amateur.

Irene Bosmans (Greatest Love Of All)
She's singing Whitney, and she's suffering from some sort of throat problem.......do I need a third reason why she will bomb?

Chloe Zuel (Come On Over)
Probably picked to keep Josh company. I don't think young & cute will be good enuff reasons for her to get thru.

James Kannis (Drift Away)
Another thrashed Idol song.....I think James is banking on his self-proclaimed good looks to get thru.

Lauren Street (Lady is a Tramp)
Lauren is now my favourite since Victoria McGee didn't make the cut. I hate jazz tho.....

Michael Williamson (Ready For Love)
Extraordinary choice number 3. I really hope the kid does well, but if his rehearsal was any indication I doubt he will.

Emily Williams (To Zion)
Emily is probably the best singer of this lot. If she pulls off this song she will prove it.

Radio switches off Idol

2005-09-01T16:35:00.000+09:30

PROMOTIONAL problems continue for Australian Idol, with two more major radio stations dropping the show and its judges.

We reported last week that Nova 100 had reduced its coverage of the show considerably after Ten signed an exclusive advertising deal with Fox FM's parent company, Austereo, effectively banning other radio networks from advertising during the show's prime-time slots.

Now we hear ARN networks Mix and Gold FM are also avoiding promoting the program. A spokeswoman for ARN told The Eye neither station would be interviewing the judges as they had done in previous years.

Herald Sun
1 Sep 2005

No Crowd For Idol

2005-08-31T16:37:00.000+09:30

IT'S the incredible shrinking pop phenomenon. Former ratings titan Australian Idol continues to disappoint as its ratings have fallen 25 per cent on last year's figures.

Channel 10's talent show only drew 1.157 million for its semi-final last week, down 350,000 viewers for the corresponding episode last year. Even worse was the third semi-final's result on Sunday night, with its audience of 1.139 million viewers down 520,000 on last year's episode.
Viewers cite poor performer standards and stilted dynamics between the new judges as turn-offs for this season.

Ten argues the show still delivers, last year's series was unexpectedly popular and SBS's cricket coverage has effectively added another commercial network. "Do we still love Idol or would any network still want the numbers it's pulling? Absolutely," Ten's programmer David Mott said. "I'm very happy – this year is by far the best load of talent we've had," he added. "You wait until the final 12 perform on stage week in week out. That's when the audience connects with them."

Nevertheless, the strong ratings of its competitors 60 Minutes, Massive Nature and the Broadway series suggest viewer fatigue has set in on Australian Idol. Certainly the talent show genre is tired after four series of Channel 7's Popstars, three Idols and The X Factor.

The Daily Telegraph
August 30, 2005

Final 30 - Group 3 Verdict

2005-08-30T18:11:00.000+09:30

The verdicts went pretty much as I predicted. Thru were Dan, Natalie and Lee.

Lee was an interesting choice, but at least he is unique and stands out - and he's really a nice guy pretending to be a punk. However, I fear he may be found out in the finals because I doubt he has the versatility required.

Three of the wildcards were also announced and given to Lauren, Emily and James.

I think Leah was unlucky to miss out, looks like she may have suffered from her plain jane image.

Final 30 - Group 3 Performance Show

2005-08-29T13:54:00.000+09:30

Definitely the best group of the 3, especially from the male performers.

Nat Matiuk (Light My Fire)
Strange version of a classic song. Strange dress sense. She will find herself estranged from the top 12.

Jeremy Bourke (If You Could Only See)
This is Holden's talentless git of a bunny. I would take Holden more seriously if he didn't do exactly the same thing that he accused Kyle of - supporting style over substance. However, Jeremy's style sucks as much as his singing. An embarrassment to Holden and himself.

Lauren Street (Simply The Best)
Looks great but she went the karaoke route - won't make it unless she has plenty of phone friends.

Leah Rushforth (Low)
Totally surprising - her look and voice were great. She would have won alot of fans and may sneak in.

Joe Sait (Always)
Sounded just like his rehearsal on Inside Idol - weak and whiney. Blew it with bad song choice (why doesn't someone TELL these people?)

Natalie Zahra (When You Believe)
Great voice and stage presence, but needs to dress more appropriately. Probably the standout performance of the night.

Lee Harding (The Anthem)
Stayed right within his comfort zone. Will probably get thru but then what?

Dan English (Try a Little Tenderness)
Great performance. His dreadlocks could be this year's "fro". Will make it.

Emily Williams (Make it Happen)
Came across as a bit of a Destiny's Child wannabe, but very good performance overall. I don't think the Aust public is going to vote thru an American-looking chick tho.........

James Kannis (Change The World)
Self praise is no recommendation. May get thru just to bump up the number of guys in the top 12, irrespective of how many votes he gets.

My picks to get thru:
1. Natalie
2. Dan
3. Another bloke.

Australian Idol Vote Fix Denied

2005-08-24T13:39:00.000+09:30

AN angry Australian Idol contestant has rejected claims of vote rigging. The accusations surfaced after 21-year-old Preston girl Laura Gissara was put through to the final on Tuesday night, despite being the most heavily criticised by the judges.

Some Idol insiders told The Eye there was disbelief and tension after Tuesday's show. Gissara dismissed the claims yesterday and said she was finding the constant criticism difficult to deal with.

"I've only got one sister and one set of parents, it's just not true," she said. "I've just copped it all day and people don't realise I've worked really, really, hard to get where I am."

Gissara admits she did not get through purely on her performance on Sunday night. "There is a big emotional side to this," she said. "It's like a rollercoaster, it's really hard. I'm the first to admit it wasn't a great performance and the public didn't vote on that performance."

Gissara has a background singing around town at corporate gigs and weddings, and has been in two girl groups. She hopes the public will give her a chance and is looking forward to proving everybody wrong.

Herald Sun
24 Aug 2005

Idol Viewing Numbers Down

2005-08-23T15:37:00.000+09:30

"IT was the biggest television ratings phenomenon of the past decade but the number of Australian Idol viewers for this series has sunk to a dangerous low with it's Sydney audience slashed by a third. Overall viewer numbers are down across the country by a massive 23 per cent from last series.

Industry insiders suggest the addition of a contentious new judge and reality viewer fatigue from Big Brother have contributed to Idol's lacklustre ratings. And it has hit Channel 10 where it hurts most with the network's beloved key demographic of 16- to 39-year-olds down 35 per cent in Sydney and 22 per cent across the nation.

The show had gained more than 1.6 million viewers at this stage in the show last series but stands at just 1.26 million this series. In fact, what should have been Ten's biggest week of the year last week turned into a complete dud.

Disappointing national ratings for Idol and Ready Steady Cook left Ten lagging behind Channel 9 and Channel 7 in week 34 of official ratings, even after the final Big Brother episode, which was the biggest show of the week with 2.282 million viewers.

The dud returns for Australian Idol and the failure of Celebrity Ready Steady Cook meant Ten was third last week behind Nine's national 27.4 per cent share and Seven's 25.9. "

The Daily Telegraph
August 23, 2005

Final 30 - Group 2 Verdict

2005-08-23T15:15:00.000+09:30

I guess it was bound to happen sometime, but nevertheless the fact that it actually DID happen was still unbelievable.

I am talking about the fact that someone who can't sing has finally made it into the Aussie Idol Top 12.

Who in their right mind (other than her family - they are excused) would have voted for Laura Gissara after her shocking performance on Sunday night? Probably the same idiots who bought that Crazy Frog song and made it number 1.

Everyone's reaction was plain to see and it will be interesting how Laura handles things from here. She KNOWS she isn't up to it, but now she's there and that gives her a couple of weeks to learn how to sing properly.

The bonus for Kate DeAraugo & Milly Edwards, the other finalists from this group of 10, is they only have to beat 11 others, not 12, to become the eventual winner.

Final 30 - Group 2 Performance Show

2005-08-22T13:09:00.000+09:30

Last night there were a couple of standouts, a couple of horrors and alot of mediocrity.

Here's my take:

Milly Edwards (I Just Wanna Make Love To You)
A standout performance, but I'm not sure of the look - maybe she will grow on me. Will get thru.

Ben Worthington (Tell Her About It)
Cabaret look, cabaret song. Will not get thru.

Laura Gissara (Don't Let Go)
Totally out of her depth. Mark revealed that she was one of Kyle's favourites. She made Kyle look like an idiot.

Victoria McGee (My Immortal)
Ok, I admit it - I like her. Looks good and did a reasonable job with the song. So what if she likes C & W? I hope she gets thru.

David Mardini (A Song For Mama)
Was sick and it showed, but the sensitive new age tattooed muscle guy look didn't work for Vin Deisel in his last movie and doesn't work here for David either.

Roxanne Lebrasse (Natural Woman)
Did a thrashed to death Idol song, but sang really well with feeling. Hers was the other standout performance of the night and she will get thru.

Kate DeAraugo (For Once In My Life)
Great singer but looked more like a Good Morning Australia performer than the next Aussie Idol. May get thru on the strength of her voice.

Michael Williamson (I'll Be There)
The young kid cracked under the pressure. Hopefully this experience will make him stronger because he has potential and the right attitude. I felt sorry for him.

Catherine Vasilakis (Cry Me A River)
She's a hip hop dance teacher, yet she looked straight out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and sang a karaoke version of a 70s song! She shot herself thru both feet and probably shot herself in the head as well. Should have known better and would want to learn from her mistakes if she gets a wildcard.

Rocky Loprevite (Incomplete)
I don't think doing a current chart song is a good idea unless you really nail it. Rocky didn't and I can only see him getting thru if all his extended family vote furiously for him.

My picks to get thru:
1. Milly
2. Roxanne
3. I hope Victoria.

Something Funny From A Lindsay West Fan

2005-08-19T15:17:00.000+09:30

"I admit it; I have become addicted to Australian Idol. I love everything about, even the crappy singers who think they can sing but really sound like my cat ET when she is on heat.

But I have to ask the question why is Kyle so mean??? I know it’s an act Australian Idol can’t possibly be any different to the American version, we have to even have the same characters. But honestly, is there any need to break a kid to the point of tears? I understand these kids that think they can sing but sound awful are draining on the judges. I also understand the music industry has a certain image that it upholds. I mean just look at Kyle’s girlfriend she is gorgeous, I can’t remember what she sings or what her name is but she’s gorgeous, so the image thing must be doing something for her career. I will just go into the record shop and say can I have an album by that gorgeous chick that Kyle is going out with please?

But one incident has struck me as particularly nasty and it wasn’t even by Kyle so I’ll stop going on about him, but I wont be held responsible if I go back there after all I’m obsessed by that mohawk he has going on, its just so damned hypnotic. The event in question came from Mark Holden on Tuesday night’s show. "

Read the rest here.

Final 30 - Group 2

2005-08-18T13:36:00.000+09:30

The second group of 10 vying for a top 12 spot include six girls and four guys.

The females are:
Roxane Lebrasse, Kate DeAraugo, Catherine-Louise Vasilakis, Milly Edwards, Laura Gissara and Victoria McGee.

The guys:
Ben Worthington, David Mardini, Rocky Leprevite and Michael Williamson.

Simon Cowell Headed Downunder

2005-08-18T13:31:00.000+09:30

A certain DJ-turned-Australian Idol judge might be about to lose his post as the show's resident bully as news reaches us US and UK Idol 's chief 'Mr Nasty' Simon Cowell is heading to Sydney. The man known by a variety of flattering aliases, from Foul Cowell to Osimon Bin Laden, will be sniffing out TV opportunities on his arrival to Australia in January.

Cowell's visit will be managed by his "old mate" and former Idol counterpart, Ian 'Dicko' Dickson and his television production company, Watercooler. "I'm very excited to be bringing Simon to Australia for two reasons," Dicko told Confidential yesterday. "Firstly, I'll be able to re-acquaint myself with a great old friend and secondly, it will be Watercooler's first royal visit."

While the royal reference might be a bit OTT, Cowell has definitely carved a niche for himself as the acerbic critic on American Idol and Pop Idol, the successful pop star quests which spawned our own local version.

Cowell's candid character has been immortalised in The Simpsons and as a wax dummy in Madame Tussauds. "I've been planning a trip for years ... for some strange reason, I'm looking forward to seeing my old friend Dicko," Cowell said. Australian Idol's newboy should watch his back.

News.com.au
Sydney Confidential 18aug05

Final 30 - Group 1 Verdict

2005-08-18T12:52:00.000+09:30

Thru to the final 12:
Anne Robertson, 22, from New South Wales;
Chris Luder, 26, also from NSW, and
Tarni Stephens, 27, from Brisbane.

Just missed:
Joshua Williams, 17, from Adelaide.

Not surprised about Josh making the top 4, despite his poor performance.

Justice was done for Anne and Chris, although Chris' song selection will have to improve in the finals.

Tarni was a bit of a surprise, although she is unique amongst the top 30. However, I think her one trick pony may come to a screaming halt fairly early in the finals......unless she starts wearing dresses etc.

Final 30 - Group 1 Performance Show

2005-08-17T09:45:00.000+09:30

I must admit I was fairly underwhelmed by the performances of the first 10 of the final 30. No real standouts, and those couple who I thought were shoo-ins for the top 12 shot themselves in the their collective feet with bad song choices.

Overall I thought the judges got it right in most instances, and on the whole they were pretty easy on some fairly average performances.

Here's my take:

Dan Spillane (I Don't Want To Be)
Nerves got the better of him early, although he pulled it together as the song went on. Not sure if he did enuff to get thru.

Jade Lori Crompton (1 Thing)
Looked good and did a good job with a difficult (although boring) song.

Lindsay West (Time After Time)
Bad version of a song that just didn't suit. Has his own style, but you are either gonna love it or hate it - Mark hated it. Won't make it.

Chloe Zuel (Because of You)
Obscure song will probably work against her. Looked good and sang well but may not have done enuff to get thru.

Seth Haapu (Signed Sealed Delivered)
Looked comfortable and sang and performed well. Maybe tried to be a bit too busy with his moves while he was singing.

Anne Robertson (Home)
GREAT voice - standout of the night. Reminds me of a skinny version of Paulini. Should get thru.

Josh Williams (All My Life)
Has the looks but vocal performance was probably the worst of the night. If lots of girls vote he will get thru, just like Dan O'Connor did last season.

Irene Bosmans (Turn the Beat Around)
Dodgy song. Vocals were competent, if a little weak. Good performance but probably not enuff.

Chris Luder (Beautiful Soul)
Huge mistake with song choice. He should have waltzed thru this part of the comp into the top 12, but may have blown it. Looked like a 30 year old trying to be 18 - didn't work. Hopefully the judges positive comments will influence voters.

Tarni Stephens (Sweet Child 'O Mine)
A rock song by a rock chick, but she looked like she was purposely toning it down. Would have been better off just doing what she does and not hold back. Her moves looked a little out of place on a bare stage with no band behind her.

My picks to get thru:
1. Chris
2. Anne
3. No idea - Seth because he is the most talented, Josh because he's great looking, ditto Jade, Tarni because she's different.

Channel 10 Unveils Final 30 Idol Contestants

2005-08-15T14:49:00.000+09:30

CHANNEL 10 has unveiled the final 30 contestants to chase the Australian Idol crown. The final 30 have been broken into three groups of 10, to be narrowed down to just 12 individuals over the next month.

The lucky dozen will then fight for a chance to become the next Guy Sebastian or Casey Donovan, the past two winners of the television talent search competition.

This year's group includes a single mum who loves Beyonce, a rocker who idolises Pink, and a handyman who bears a resemblance to first series runner-up Shannon Noll. Dan Spillane, a 25-year-old handyman and real estate agent from Brisbane, auditioned for Australian Idol in 2003 but failed to make the cut.

Two years later, Spillane believes he has what it takes to win the competition." (Judge) Mark (Holden) said to me: Your breathing (song phrasing) was everywhere and you look like an accountant – come back and show me a contestant image," he said.

"A lot of people could walk away and shrug that off as harsh criticism. But I listened to that." Despite having a goatie, Spillane denied he was trying to emulate Shannon Noll's look. I suppose that I like Shannon Noll. I respect him," he said. "But the idea of the facial hair was to cover my baby face once I left real estate."

South African-born Jade-Lori Crompton, who moved to Australia when she was four, and who lives in Perth, grew up singing in churches. The 22-year-old said she looked up to previous American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, who is also black and a single mother. "But I don't ever want to be the mum of the competition," Crompton said, adding that she hoped viewers would not play the race card with her either.

However, the aspiring star said she would like to emulate Beyonce. "Oh my God, I love Beyonce," Crompton said. "I always wanted to be like her."

From 16-year-old Sydney high school student Chloe Zuel, to the resident rock-chick Tarni Stephens, 27 - these kids know what's in store if they can turn up their personality, charm, and talent to maximum volume.

Brisbane punk rocker Stephens has a unique style and says she's proud of it. "I think it's important to be original," the 27-year-old with peroxide blonde hair said. "Someone said to me last night that when we were watching ... you know every time you're on TV, you don't have to look for you because the hair stands out. I just hope people like me for who I am, and not just think I'm trying to be different."

Confidential 's first vote went to former Pom Joshua Williams, 17, of Adelaide, who won over the media pack with his massive grin and cute Cockney accent.

News.com.au
with Sydney Confidential
Amy Fallon 11-08-2005
From: AAP

Top 30 Wrap Up

2005-08-12T15:22:00.000+09:30

Youngest: Chloe Zuel - 16
Oldest: Tarni Stephens, Lindsay West, David Mardini - all 27

Random observations:
Ben Worthington - looks way older than 22
Chris Luder - fill-in for the Wiggles!
Dan England - dreadlocks (need I say more)
Jeremy Bourke - talentless git
Victoria McGee - ex X Factor
Lindsay West - plays in a KISS cover band
Tarni Stephens - a "rock chick" will NOT win Australian Idol
Irene Bosmans - she's got a head start in the looks dept
Lee Harding - Blink 182/Good Charlotte wanna-be

Here's next weeks first ten and the songs they will be performing:

Anne Robertson - "Home"
She made Erina cry during rehearsals - was that with joy, or despair?
Chloe Zuel - "Because of You"
Daniel Spillane - "I Don't Want To Be"
Irene Bosmans - "Turn the Beat Around"
Better vocalists then her have tripped over this song in other Idol series.
Jade-Lori Crompton - "1 Thing"
Challenging song.....
Josh Williams - "All My Life"
Lindsay West - "Time After Time"
You joking, aren't you? A KISS maniac singing Cyndi Lauper!
Seth Haapu - "Signed Sealed Delivered"
Tarni Stephens - "Sweet Child of Mine"
What else would you expect from a rock chick?
Chris Luder - "Beautiful Soul"
Early dark horse for the title.

Final 30 chosen for Idol competition

2005-08-11T18:37:00.000+09:30

Network Ten has unveiled the final 30 contestants who will battle it out for this year's Australian Idol crown.

The final 30 have been broken into three groups of 10, to be narrowed down to just 12 individuals over the next month.

The lucky dozen will then fight for a chance to become the next Guy Sebastian or Casey Donovan, the past two winners of the television talent search competition.

This year's group includes a single mum who loves Beyonce, a rocker who idolises Pink and a handyman who bears a resemblance to the first series runner-up Shannon Noll.

Dan Spillane, a 25-year-old handyman and real estate agent from Brisbane, auditioned for Australian Idol in 2003 but failed to make the cut. Two years later, Spillane believes he has what it takes to win the competition. "(Judge) Mark (Holden) said to me, `your breathing (song phrasing) was everywhere and you look like an accountant - come back and show me a contestant image'," he said. "A lot of people could walk away and shrug that off as harsh criticism. But I listened to that." Spillane said despite having a goatie, he was not trying to emulate Shannon Noll's look. "I suppose that I like Shannon Noll. I respect him," he said.
"But the idea of the facial hair was to cover my baby face once I left real estate."

South African born singer Jade-Lori Crompton, who moved to Australia when she was four and now lives in Perth, grew up singing in churches. The 22-year-old said she looked up to previous American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, who is also black and a single mother. "But I don't ever want to be the mum of the competition," Crompton said, adding that she hoped viewers would not play the race card with her either. However, someone the aspiring star would like to emulate is singing diva Beyonce. "Oh my God, I love Beyonce," Crompton said.
"I always wanted to be like her."

Brisbane punk rocker Tarni Stephens has a unique style and says she's proud of it. "I think it's important to be original," the 27-year-old with peroxide blonde hair said. "Someone said to me last night that when we were watching ... you know every time you're on TV, you don't have to look for you because the hair stands out. "I just hope people like me for who I am and not just think I'm trying to be different."

Wed Aug 10 2005
AAP

ex-X Factor contestant in the Top 30

2005-08-11T18:31:00.000+09:30

It's been bugging me...........I thought Victoria McGee looked familiar!

"Kate Ceberano's Dream Team The 16-24's
Kate and her dream team got tough and the first casualty was the yodelling girl from Newcastle, Victoria McGee. Safely through is the ever confident Jacob Butler and the lovely Vincent Harder. This leaves Gemma Purdy (who is steadily growing on us here at the Gossip desk) and cheeky little Jack Byrnes. Will Kate prove what we already know about her penchant for younger members of the male species and go for a trio of likely young lads to lead her into the finals?"

Top 150 Part 2

2005-08-11T16:58:00.000+09:30

Learning the words to a whole song proved to be too much for many of the contestants in their group auditions. Maybe if as much time was spent learning words as was spent begging to be let thru.........who knows.

I guess the combination of little time, a song that isn't your choice and being put in a group with others that you may not get on with is too much for some. Another important factor, I believe, is age. I think 16 is probably too young for a competition such as this, and a couple of the 16 year olds spectatcularly crashed and burned under the pressure.

The group performances spanned the whole range of god-awful and embarrassing (Michael Barry, Deanna Kapese, Jesikah Reed) to impressive and professional (I can't remember because the program focusses so much on the poor performances).

By contrast, the individual performances by those who survived the group auditions were impressive. Standouts were ex-Wiggle Chris Ludy (Sign Your Name) and Milly Edwards (A Fool In Love).

The feeling of the judges was that this years top 30 is better than last year's, but I'm not so sure.....its early days yet and we'll see.

Top 150 Part 1

2005-08-09T22:09:00.000+09:30

150 of Australia's best talent bravely battling and giving their all for a spot in the top 30.............

That wasn't the show I watched last night.

How hard is it to remember a single verse of a song? To hard for some. At least that made it easy for the judges to eliminate contestants that they shouldn't have put thru in the first place (metal head Lachlan!!!!!????).

I guess a mix of talentless gits (Jeremy Bourke) , X-Factor rejects (Jacob Butler) and true talent (we'll see) makes for the best ratings.

I hope James Mathison ditches the Kermit impersonation in future, and I also hope that John Foreman isn't given the same adulation & exposure he got last year.

Tomorrow we get to see how hard it is to learn the words to a whole song!

Idol promoting animal cruelty: RSPCA

2005-08-09T21:56:00.000+09:30

THE RSPCA has accused reality TV show Australian Idol of glorifying animal cruelty by airing the mock stabbing of a feral pig.The program, which aired on Tuesday 26/7/2005, showed Weipa contestant Shaye Biancha (Biancha) using judge Kyle Sandilands to demonstrate the way she would stab a feral pig to death, and later drag it to her ute.

In a letter to Grundy Television, which produces Australian Idol for the Ten Network, RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the animal welfare group had been inundated with complaints about the segment.

He said what made the incident even more disturbing was that it was not live television.

"The so called 'highlights' had been edited," he said.
"Obviously you thought it hilarious and demanded inclusion."

But Mr Beatty said the RSPCA thought the whole incident far from funny.
"Let's make this easy for you Australian Idol," he said.
"Animal cruelty is not hilarious. It is not funny. The links between animal cruelty and other forms of abuse are quite clear and very frightening."

Mr Beatty said the RSPCA's mobile education unit travelled thousands of kilometres every year to teach children about animal welfare and humane values.

"In one episode of Australian Idol you've broadcast a message that not only condones animal cruelty, but supports it," he said.

But an Australian Idol spokeswoman said the show had simply showcased a different – and legal – side of rural life.

"Shaye Biancha's hobby of bush hunting is considered a legitimate activity in Far North Queensland, where feral pigs are declared pests under Queensland legislation," she said.
"Shaye's mock re-enactment of hunting a pig with Kyle Sandilands was not done in a serious manner."

The spokeswoman said the Ten Network did not condone or encourage cruelty to animals.

NEWS.COM.AU (AAP) 28/7/2005

We're all watching again

2005-08-05T13:26:00.000+09:30

Idol still a big hit
REALITY talent quest Australian Idol is as popular as ever, despite initial anxieties its appeal may be wavering.

Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - Jul 30, 2005

How to get thru the first round

2005-08-05T13:24:00.000+09:30

Here it is, your guarantee to Idol success!
Well at least get thru the first round........

Didn't make it this year, or want to try out next year?
Want to know how to get past the 1st round?
Downloadable e-book reveals strategies to get past the judges.

The Final 150, er 149

2005-08-05T12:51:00.000+09:30

Here is the breakdown of successful auditionees by state:
Qld: 41
Vic/Tas: 33
WA: 8
SA: 23
NSW: 44

Um......it only ads up to 149 tho.