A middling debut of less than 94,000 albums sold. Came in at #4 and
behind Madonna, a Toby Keith Greatest Hits Package and the man
everyone complained was too over the hill for American Idol, Neil
Diamond, who opened at the top of the chart with his new album.

From the NYT-

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/arts/16arts-REDGRAVESNEW_BRF.html?_r=1&oref=sl...

"Taylor Hicks, the 2006 “American Idol” winner and captain of the so-
called soul patrol, will step into the role of Teen Angel from June 6
to Sept. 7."

Taylor Hicks is going from "Idol" to "Angel."

The "American Idol" alum will join the Broadway cast of "Grease" on June
6, playing Teen Angel in the revival of the popular musical.

The gray-haired singer =3F whose "Idol" fan base was called "The Soul
Patrol" =3F said he plans to add "soulful flavor" to his performance of
"Beauty School Dropout." The flashy role, he said, is "a classic fit for
a classic performer."

"It's a big number, and, you know, I've made some pretty grand entrances
before," Hicks told The Associated Press on Thursday. "And this one is
probably the grandest entrance I've had in my career."

Well, besides "Idol." Hicks, 31, took home the title in the fifth season
of the top-rated Fox show =3F the biggest stage on television.

He later lost his record deal with J Records, a label within Sony-BMG,
which signs the show's singers, and had been looking for the perfect
part to make his debut on The Great White Way.

"If you're gonna be a great entertainer and you're gonna be a great
performer, than these are the things that you have to do to season
yourself in that manner," said Hicks, who views this "opportunity of a
lifetime" as a way to improve his "Idol"-tested skills.

http://mjsbigblog.com/top-3-idols-first-impressions-of-each-other-ai-extra-video...#more-4839

See? This is the fun part. :P

It was very clear for me last Tuesday that Simon made his mind to make
David Cook to win it all while the Randy decided to support David A
and neutralize Simon's efforts.

What is the deal?

For example Simon attacked David A songs, almost all of them (couldn't
be very negative in the first one) although the last one he sang very
well and he was not the one to pick the long (producers did).

Why is it getting dirty now?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24617833/

Ok, that's both crazy and cool. Like, I know how to hang glide? And I like
doing it when I get the chance, but...jet wings are skeery. A kite isn't
going to drop you to the ground barring massive weirdness, but jet wings are
rocks strapped to your bod.

However, this is STILL amazingly cool!

Why yes, I don't feel like working tonight. Why do you ask? :P

http://www.dailymotion.com/mjsbigblog/video/x5ftix_syesha-mercado-pt-1-ai-extra_...

If anyone doesn't get it and wants to watch.

Remember how David A. took some heat here for crying when he met the
hometown fans? Did you notice on last night's recaps that Syesha and David
C. also cried after meeting their hometown fans?

Anyone know why iTunes has put up for download only one out of the three
songs each contestant sang this week?

They have the videos for all nine songs available but only the audio
versions of Longer (Archuleta), Armageddon (Cook) and If I Ain't Got You
(Mercado).

I was hoping to get Fever but it's not there.

Just got done watching American Idol Extra and I must say for the first
time David Archuleta seemed comfortable answering questions and he actually
responded to the questions asked.

His answers were succinct and insightful.

I wonder if reducing the amount of hovering that his dad Jeff can do made
David feel more at ease.