Image Credit: Michael Becker/FoxFolks, I’ll be toning down the snarkiness a bit for this on-the-scene recap. It’s impossible (as well as inappropriate) to make fun of Idol Gives Back itself, for here’s a TV program that admirably uses its staggering fan base to improve the lives of others. Furthermore, the nearly two-and-a-half-hour show was impeccably constructed, combining memorable performances (most notably from Mary J. Blige and her all-star band), solid comedy (thanks to George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Russell Brand, and Jonah Hill), and some genuinely moving stories. I was in the Idoldome, where Blige and Alicia Keys sang, while Nicholas White was on hand at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to take in Sir Elton John, the Black Eyed Peas, Jeff Beck and Joss Stone, and Carrie Underwood. Nicholas will post his own recap later today, but for now, let’s proceed with all of the happenings from my vantage point. READ FULL STORY »

Image Credit: Michael Becker/FoxWe interrupt this on-the-scene recap to report this breaking news: Drops of water are falling from the sky in Los Angeles. Motorists, please proceed to drive your vehicles at 1/10 their normal speed. Pedestrians — all 13 of you — please madly run for cover as if each droplet of rain contained the DNA of Carrot Top. Coffee shop patrons, please congratulate yourselves for being at a place that serves hot drinks while something cold is happening outside. And American Idol audience members, please pretend this is like one of those rainy days in elementary school when you got to have recess inside. Ooo, how exciting! READ FULL STORY »

It’s night two of my initiation into the art of writing on-the-scene recaps for Idol, and I am already noticing the symptoms of Idol overload syndrome, which includes getting a Justin Bieber song stuck in your head. See, while last night’s results show may have only lasted an hour for you, who were resting on your insanely comfortable couch while eating these treats while having this cat curled up beside you, I was in the Idoldome for more than four hours. The reason? Usher’s performance of “OMG” was taped (twice) before the live show, and after the show, 16-monthyear-old Justin Bieber shot a two-song concert, which will air during a future Idol episode. While it was definitely a long haul, the evening luckily was stuffed with many memorable moments, including a Bieber fan who was tackled by security and what appeared to be some sort of altercation between Crystal and Andrew during the Sean Combs/Puff Daddy/P. Diddy/Diddy/Diddy Dirty Money thingamajig. READ FULL STORY »

Image Credit: Michael Becker/PictureGroupAs Aunt Whittlz and Adam “The Beav” Vary previously revealed, I’m the Idol on-the-scene newbie. This was the first time I’ve ever stepped inside the Idoldome, which is not so much a dome as a futuristic black box, and let me tell you, I had a blast. As I walked up the stairs to my seat, I couldn’t help but feel a slight tingle on the back on my neck as I caught a glance of the neon American Idol logo. Oh, this place really does exist! The thing is, on television, Idol takes on an almost mythic quality — you watch knowing that you’re one of the 20 million viewers tuning in. But in the Idoldome, it’s just you, the judges, and 1,000 or so fellow human beings, including the 7-year-old girl sitting next to me (Crystal’s stilettos had nothing on this girl’s pink hippopotamus shoes). Simply put, I’ve been to Sigur Rós concerts larger than this, and they don’t even sing in English. Ah, but there goes a camera crane whizzing by, capturing this medium-sized concert and zapping it to TV after TV after TV. That little girl instinctually knew to wave at the camera, and if I wasn’t waving, it was only because I was furiously jotting down notes.
READ FULL STORY »