Former Reality Show Contestants

Thanks Abrahammy. I really do mean what I said. I am glad for you, the GB fan who still has her head on her shoulders and her eyes open, but can't help continuing to like him.

FC, I will readily admit that I wanted him to pay not only for his treatment of everyone, but also because he sat on his ass for two years, smoked pot and rode that D-list train to the end. I wanted him to pay for being cocky and letting opportunity after opportunity slip through his fingers. I don't know who lit the fire under him to finally, actually do some real work, but they must be EXHAUSTED.

Oh, and I meant to comment about Kelly. I have not heard one good story of a relative newcomer thinking they know what's best for their career, firing the people who got them to superstardom, and doing their own thing. Not one good story. I was really hoping Kelly wouldn't fall into the trap of thinking that no matter what she did, people would buy it. That's not how it works. You can have an album where you explore all the things you want, but at least have 3 or 4 successful albums under your belt. Even then, you're taking a risk. Put out that album, and one you know the fans love if you're dying to "express yourself".

Hi y'all. Summer is kicking my ass. It finally got BLAZING hot here and both my kids had outdoor sports camps this week and I was out watching them for a couple of hours.

I just let them watch the GLY video from yesterday because of its location on Hollywood Blvd. (we were just there in February), and also because their uncle was there (although we never saw him).

I thought the video was, of course, quite cheesy, but the song comes off as fun, although not my usual type of music.

I found myself yelling at the TV (what a nerd) the past couple days during some of the lines C said regarding how Rick is treating Phoebe badly. I'm surprised a crack of lightning didn't hit the set!

So, on the subject of Kelly and her record label, just thought I'd mention this. I've been taking my class for a few weeks now - the professor is a VERY cool guy. He's late 50s, wears t-shirts, jeans, and Converse; has long curly hair in a ponytail. Listens to ALL kinds of good music. Was blasting the Clash from his Ipod on the first day we came in. Used to work for, among others, Arista Records in LA. Knows Clive Davis and worked for him. Said he is a genius (and this teacher has very good, cool taste in music.) We talked about Kelly and he said that if Clive didn't hear a hit, and/or didn't like what he heard, she needed to listen to Clive. She has nowhere near enough experience to think she knows better than Clive Davis.

I was really surprised by his opinion, because I've been led to believe that Clive is the devil. But I guess if you want to be "mainstream" that's someone that you need to listen to and not cross.

OK, I'll start with "Clive is the Devil". There is a book out about record moguls, I believe the title is "Hit-men", and I guess there is talk of Clive. Supposedly stuff like he is arrogant, has to have his way, will break you if you cross him, etc. Now, I have not read the book and I have no idea if what is in there is true, but I tend to think it is. Clive certainly used to have his finger on the pulse of music at one time - for a long time, but I think that time is passed. He made Clay, Barry and Rod record covers. MADE THEM. Barry and Rod admitted they did not want to do them. Especially Rod. These cover CDs have great opening weeks, and then they tumble fast.

Now, all that said, I think it is true that he knows a hit off a CD. If he doesn't hear one on Kelly's he may be right. I also agree that it is too early in her career to try to take complete control, and possible make enemies with the likes of Clive. I think Clive wanted another "Breakaway" with lots of radio friendly songs and Kelly to stay his perfect pop princess. Kelly wants to be "Miss Rawker Chick". Two trains colliding. For whatever reason, Clive gave in and let Kelly have "her CD her way". Now we wait and see where the chips fall. As I said before, I already know I will not like this CD the way I did Breakaway. I love songbird Kelly - not Yelly Kelly. I will have to think awhile before I commit to buying this CD.

Can you believe as much as I enjoyed yesterday's B&B that I totally forgot about it today I got busy with all the boys in my daycare and lost track of time! I'll have to wait for a You Tube to show up later.

GE, I totally get where you are coming from. If he was stinking up the joint and the CD sucked, I would have felt he got what he deserved. For whatever reason the fire was lite and I think he is making the most of what he has happening right now. It will be interesting to see how he looks and acts at The Daytime Emmys tomorrow night!

Abrahammy, good Clay times indeed. I still watch him get that AMA at least once a week. I was so sure my boy was gonna be a "Super Star". BUT, I do agree that he has a career for as long as he wants it. I can't wait to see whatever pix you get at the concert.

Speaking of Clay, concerts and international fans - since Clay doesn't travel out of the country to his fans, his international fans come to him. I am about to post the cutest pic of a group of his fans that are flying over from Japan to see him this summer, in the Clay thread! They are adorable!

Austin, good to see you! Sorry you've been so busy. We have had heat in the 90s most of this week. It can sure get to you!!

WOW! Speaking for Kelly - she just canceled her big summer tour !!

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"I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to getting out there to perform for y'all. In the craziness of the music business, performing is what I look forward to doing the most, so it really is disappointing for me to have to tell you that I won't be coming out to tour this summer. The fact is that touring is just too much too soon.

But I promise you that we're going to get back out there as soon as is humanly possible to give you a show that will be even better.

Thanks for all of your love and continued support."

— Kelly

Tickets for the tour can be refunded at the point of purchase.

In addition, as future concert dates become available, current ticket holders will be invited via email, mail or phone notification, to purchase tickets through an exclusive presale, which will take place prior to the general on sale date for each concert.

Source: http://kellyclarkson

I had read ticket sales were poor.

Something tells me Kelly is learning a very valuable lesson and her head has been shrunk a couple of sizes.

Buck up, Kelly. America loves a come-back story. Here's hoping you can find a way to balance what the public wants with what you want.

More on the cancellation!

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CLARKSON TOUR OFF… FOR NOW
Summer Tour Shelved…To Be Rescheduled for Smaller Venues

June 14, 2007

The Kelly Clarkson summer tour, which was rumored to be on the ropes, has been shelved “for now” as “the singer and her team re-evaluate her show’s size and scope—a decision made even more difficult by the impending release of her album, My December, June 24.”

Earlier this week, the very first Idol winner split with her manager, The Firm’s Jeff Kwatinetz, amid the media controversy swirling over the direction of the new disc, penned mostly by Clarkson herself, which started with the tepid radio reception to the first single, “Never Again.”

The tour was to have started July 11 in Portland. Clarkson is still scheduled to perform at the historic Live Earth Show July 7 performance at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.

In a statement on her website, Kelly wrote: "I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to getting out there to perform for y'all. In the craziness of the music business, performing is what I look forward to doing the most, so it really is disappointing for me to have to tell you that I won't be coming out to tour this summer. The fact is that touring is just too much too soon. But I promise you that we're going to get back out there as soon as is humanly possible to give you a show that will be even better. Thanks for all of your love and continued support."

Said LiveNation CEO Michael Rapino, who was promoting the tour: “It is mind-blowing when you stop to think about what Kelly Clarkson has achieved during her young career. But ticket sales have not been what we anticipated and we came to the realization that we had bit off more than we could chew. In the end, we are in the Kelly Clarkson business and for that reason we believe that this decision will only benefit her and her fans in the long run.”

Added Another Planet CEO Gregg Perloff: “Kelly is a spectacular artist and an incredible performer who undoubtedly has what it takes to sustain a long and prosperous career. The day when she will play in sold-out arenas is, no doubt, coming, but for now her fans should look forward to seeing her in a more intimate concert environment. Kelly deserves a tremendous amount of praise for her courage in not only being a part of, but in supporting, this difficult decision.”

Tickets for the tour can be refunded at the point of purchase.

In addition, as future concert dates become available, current ticket holders will be invited via e-mail, mail or phone notification, to purchase tickets through an exclusive presale, which will take place prior to the general on sale date for each concert.

For more official Kelly Clarkson news and information, see www.kellyclarkson.com.

I feel bad for her and the fans. This tour was suppose to start in a few days. There are ladies at The Clack House who had tix for them and their daughters and already have airline tix. What a shame.

Yeah, a lot of artists get the idea that they are responsible for the success they've achieved. They're wrong.

Take...say...Tom Cruise. This man was a TOP BOX OFFICE DRAW! I mean, if he was starring in the movie, especially an action-adventure flick, it was a guaranteed hit. He had a successful franchise. He had a studio totally behind him and a blank check.

Then he fired his PR person.

Now he's gone from leading man god to a joke! He's lost all credibility, his studio, everything. It's going to take a lot to get his reputation back, and who knows if he even will. He did amazing amounts of damage to an over 20 year extremely successful career in a very short time.

Take note, Kelly.

I think Tom sunk his career with his OTT antics with his religion and Katie. Also those arguments with interviewers and Brooke Shields. He just came across as a nut-job, and not a very likable nut-job

I think Kelly really believes she is the great "artiste" and that her songwriting is better than it really is. She is very young and achieved a lot of success very young. Seems a lot of people don't handle that early success that well. She needed some better guidance I think about how to handle this upcoming CD, and just what power in the biz she really has/had. Live and Learn Kelly. Sometimes you get to take a few lumps. For the last few years she seemed to have a charmed career.

I was just reading on TMZ that the manager told her to go AGAINST Clive and pursue what she wanted

"Kelly Clarkson has fired her manager Jeff Kwatinetz, reports Page Six, because she "can't fire Clive [Davis]," so she decided to give Kwatinetz the ax instead. It was Kwatinetz who apparently convinced Kelly to turn her back on Davis' musical suggestions for her new album. The manager-mogul is said to be "shocked.""

That's what I meant about Tom. That he thought he was untouchable. That he could do whatever he wanted and he would continue to be successful, no matter what. When these stars fire the people who got them to where they are, or defy them, that's when everything goes to hell. They start to believe they're charmed. That's why they commit crimes and laugh them off, etc.

Enough people around you saying that you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, and you start to believe it, that's a recipe for disaster. The most extreme of this is, of course, Michael Jackson, who still believes the people calling him a freak are in the minority and really just don't understand him.

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FC, I will readily admit that I wanted him to pay not only for his treatment of everyone, but also because he sat on his ass for two years, smoked pot and rode that D-list train to the end. I wanted him to pay for being cocky and letting opportunity after opportunity slip through his fingers. I don't know who lit the fire under him to finally, actually do some real work, but they must be EXHAUSTED.

Well, yeah, GreenEyez, that made me very angry too, for some time. I had the same reaction to his self-aggrandizing sense of entitlement and the fact that he let a crucial moment in his life slip through his fingers.

I think failure lit the fire. I think losing everything he thought was going to get handed to him lit the fire. And it's paid off. When he sat on his butt, his life fell apart. When he got off his butt and tried to make things happen for himself, they did. I think it really says something about the guy that he was able to put himself in a position where he got a second chance. That doesn't happen for a lot of people. I'm proud of him.

And yeah, he still treats his women like dog poop. Mental note to self: Don't date him. PHOEBE, RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


On to more pleasant people: Clay and Kelly. I have to say I'm not enamoured of Clive Davis. He seems to be very hit and miss regarding these Idols. He did great work with Daughtry, and horrific work with Taylor. Measure of a Man was OK pop; the covers album he forced down Clay's throat was a trainwreck and I am still upset about it.

Has anybody even heard Kelly's album yet? Is it actually bad? Has it even been released? How can it be a flop if we don't even know what it sounds like? Or is all the bad publicity doing her in?

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Live and Learn Kelly. Sometimes you get to take a few lumps. For the last few years she seemed to have a charmed career.

Well, you know, Clay has taken some lumps lately, too. I think it's just really hard to have a multiplatinum album. That's why, when it happens, it's such a big deal. These things seem to ebb and flow, and celebrities have down times and comeback - Mariah Carey comes to mind. Nothing is as capricious and fleeting as fame.

Maybe that's the biggest problem with American Idol. We make these people into stars, so we feel their successes and failures are something in which we have a personal stake. But all stars have flops and things that go wrong. Fame is very hard. Nothing is guarenteed. Who knows where Daughtry will be this time next year. Will he be firing his staff and blowing up while Bucky cleans up at the Country Music Awards?

Kelly's CD was leaked. I put a link on a previous page where you could listen to the whole CD. The songs are very dark. She starts them in a real nice voice and they build to "yelly Kelly". She does try some different things with her voice. I give her credit for that. It is just not very "catchy" and it is hard to find something that seems like it would go over big on radio. Also, I sure don't see her tweeny fanbase getting into all this dark songs. Also, her ticket prices for this tour were double her previous tour and way to high for her younger fans who come with their folks.

Clay had a full year of taking lumps I am trying to put 2006 out of my memory. Well, all but some of his wonderful TV appearances!

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I think failure lit the fire. I think losing everything he thought was going to get handed to him lit the fire. And it's paid off. When he sat on his butt, his life fell apart. When he got off his butt and tried to make things happen for himself, they did. I think it really says something about the guy that he was able to put himself in a position where he got a second chance. That doesn't happen for a lot of people. I'm proud of him.

Well, Abrahammy, if that's true. If he REALLY had an epiphany. If he actually realized that he needed to actually do some work in order to get a paying gig, well then I will (kicking and screaming, yeah) give him that. I never felt that he thought his life fell apart. I never felt he thought he hit bottom. I really felt he bought, lock stock and barrel, what his ever-shrinking fan base was saying.

Here's why: He was rude to FANS. People who were not mean to him. People who loved him and cared about him. He talked to them so horribly. He lost PEN as a fan. That girl was die hard. It seemed he didn't care who he pissed off. That's why I truly didn't think he'd ever EVER get any sort of realization.

As for Kelly, I'm judging her on the same terms I would any successful sophmore artist. I'm not just saying the things I do because she was on AI, etc. etc. I'm saying that yeah, big stars do make mistakes, and the reason is, more often than not, firing the people who got them there and thinking too soon in their career that they can do it all on their own and they know better than people who have been in the business for as long as they've been alive (or longer).

I can understand her wanting to stretch a bit more. Fine. Do it with someone who understands your vision and knows how to guide you. Don't freakin' do it all by yourself! You will lose!

I'm sorry, but Clay's fanbase is VERY loyal and he can weather storms much better than Kelly. It could be the fact that he's not trying to become this huge international superstar like she is. I'll tell you what. My mom had written off Clay's career. I throw it in her face constantly that I had faith he would revive himself. That the boy is a fighter. We even made a bet. I told her Clay had better not find out she lost faith!

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I'm sorry, but Clay's fanbase is VERY loyal and he can weather storms much better than Kelly. It could be the fact that he's not trying to become this huge international superstar like she is. I'll tell you what. My mom had written off Clay's career. I throw it in her face constantly that I had faith he would revive himself. That the boy is a fighter. We even made a bet. I told her Clay had better not find out she lost faith!

?

Has Clay rebounded? Maybe I am out of the loop. I was aware that his album went belly-up, and then he went to Afghanistan and came home to Jimmy Kimmel riding a horse. And now he's coming to pay me a visit. I mean, it's cool that he's touring, but is his career looking better than it was after his album died? I'd love to be able to cheer on some new good news.

I think maybe GE means that even through all the tabloid crap and the "not so successful cover CD", he is having his second very well selling tour since the CD release. He doesn't play arenas like Kelly was trying to, but he is selling extremely well in most of the venues that hold 4 or 5 thousand. So no, not a big international superstar like Justin Timberlake, but a thriving artist. AND Claymates are chomping at the bit to buy any and all tour merchandise, which is where he makes a boatload of money. AND he is working on a new CD. So I think the fact that he can still have another successful tour and record another CD, after the tabloids tried their damnedest to destroy him, and a relatively low selling CD, shows his career is still doing pretty well. Also, ratings for shows always go up when Clay appears. Mike and Juliet's highest rating show to date was when Clay co-hosted. TPTB notice those things.

I also just want to point out that I saw an article about gold and platinum selling CDs. Clay's latest only went gold, but in this article they broke down the numbers of CDs released last year (something like 60,000) and the number of those that sold platinum or gold was extremely small. Literally a handful. So to record labels right now gold is pretty damn good. I guess it is due to downloading or iTunes or something, but I was really stunned to see how few artists achieved gold status.

About yesterday's B&B, somebody PLEASE cut that boys hair - or at least comb it!! His acting was just fine, but that mess on his head was soooo distracting!! Why isn't someone making it pretty like it was on AI?????

Well I listened to Kelly's cd and liked it. BUT I only like Rock music so...
Clive Davis is a relic . As far as him being able to spot a hit I'm sure he can. But I never like anything on top 40 radio so he is not to my taste. Rod Stewart is ruined for me and I used to love him.
To me Clay is a star EVERYONE knows him. not everyone knows or remembers GB . That was two seasons ago and the most people remember are Carrie and Bo. I will be surprised if his cd sells well. But that's just me.

Hi Aerwin! Yes, you are a rocker girl! You guys, Aerwin knows more about rock music and groups than anyone I know!! I'm glad you like Kelly's CD. I have always loved the girl. I am going to give it another listen. I will probably buy it. It's a way I can support her at this time, and I am sure I'll like enough songs to make it worth the $$$. I'll probably not play it to death like I did Breakaway.

I also wanted to say to Abrahammy that most recording artists are only on TV to promote their new CD. Then you don't see much of them. Clay finished promoting ATDW in Oct. The fact that Kimmel even had him on his show 7 mos. after, with no product to support, says he knows Clay is a draw even when there is no product. Whether he is on a horse or not

BTW, Clay blogged last night that he and Jaymes are leaving for London to talk with producers for the new CD.

ETA: I just read that JC Chavez's new CD was just canned. It is a tough time for a lot of recording artists right now.

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So I think the fact that he can still have another successful tour and record another CD, after the tabloids tried their damnedest to destroy him, and a relatively low selling CD, shows his career is still doing pretty well. Also, ratings for shows always go up when Clay appears. Mike and Juliet's highest rating show to date was when Clay co-hosted. TPTB notice those things.

Well, see, that's why I said I think he's an established star and he'll have a career for the rest of his life. And yes, I know gold selling albums are extremely rare. It's just that when you go on American Idol, the perception seems to be that you are a huge honking failure unless you go platinum (see also Hicks, Taylor) and folks expect you to perform miracles without any support. Or worse yet, they want you to fail, so they give Daughtry support but not Clay and Taylor, and then say it is the fault of the artist.

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not everyone knows or remembers GB . That was two seasons ago and the most people remember are Carrie and Bo. I will be surprised if his cd sells well. But that's just me.

I have absolutely no idea what B&B is going to do for Constantine. I have no data at all on the effectiveness of that as a promotional tool. If it's not effective, then yes, the album will probably flop.

Being on a soap did wonders for record sales for Rick Springfield and Jack Wagner. David Hasslehoff had HUGE record sales in Europe after he was on Young and Restless. Never did anything in the USA recording wise.

I don't know if the B&B gig will garner Con huge sales, but he sure as heck will sell more than he would have without it. If it were not for the B&B gig I wonder what kind of promo he would have been able do? If there would have been any big time appearances?

I agree Abrahammy. AIers are expected to have huge sales, and I know for Clay less than platinum is considered a failure. I'm sure in his heart he felt ATDW was a failure too. Sadly poor Taylor is looked at as a big failure even though his CD sold way more than the majority of CDs that have come out this year. For an AI winner it really was shockingly low.

I am afraid the Daughtry promotion over the Clay/Taylor promotion is a sore subject with me, and probably a huge reason why I have not purchased the CD. When I look at the cover I cannot get pass all the great treatment he got compared to Clay - a proven big seller, and Taylor was the first AI winner who did not get a "real" video. Same with Clay. No video for his new singles. It is not Daughtry's fault, but Clive just ain't getting my money for that CD. Yes, there is something about AI that brings out the bitter bitch in people!

OK, "My December" hasn't even dropped yet and she is talking about "the next" CD? What is going on with this girl? There has been such bad and weird promo for "My December"

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PopEater Music Blog
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Kelly Clarkson's Next Album Goes Country

In her exclusive AIM interview, Kelly Clarkson reveals that she has already begun work on her next album, which she says will be "country meets blues meets rock."

"I love country music. It's fun and sweet and the melodies are usually killer," she says.

Kelly had no problem dominating the pop and rock genres, so we predict country fans will effortlessly embrace her as well. Just look at the crowd reaction to her performance with Reba McEntire at the ACMs! The girl is simply unstoppable.

Read the full Kelly Clarkson AIM interview

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Being on a soap did wonders for record sales for Rick Springfield and Jack Wagner. David Hasslehoff had HUGE record sales in Europe after he was on Young and Restless. Never did anything in the USA recording wise.

Well then. This might just work. At the very least, it might make him some money. The nice thing about Constantine's situation, he does not need to go platinum to be successful; since it's self-produced, once he's paid the people who worked with him he gets to keep the rest.

In the Kelly news... maybe she realizes My December isn't going to work out? Maybe she decided she wants to be Carrie Underwood when she grows up?

Heck, I'd like to be Carrie Underwood when I grow up!! Ah, those long legs! Short little ole me is soooo jealous of tall gorgeous Carrie (but I love her anyway!!)

Well, if Kelly does better at Carrie's genre than Carrie, nobody will be more thrilled than I will. I think Carrie is worried about cracking that pretty face of hers with an actual expression, whereas Kelly is so real. I love that she just says whatever she wants and damn the consequences. That she doesn't always have to have 10 pounds of make-up, hair coiffed. oh, and lose so much weight she's practically skeletal, just to be seen in public. Those hotpants Carrie wore on SNL? :cringe:

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So I think the fact that he can still have another successful tour and record another CD, after the tabloids tried their damnedest to destroy him, and a relatively low selling CD, shows his career is still doing pretty well. Also, ratings for shows always go up when Clay appears. Mike and Juliet's highest rating show to date was when Clay co-hosted. TPTB notice those things.

Yes! Clay has a ready-made audience no matter where he goes. He still has a career and like you said, everyone knows his name. GB is like "oh yeah, that guy on AI". You don't have late-night hosts using him in their monologues because nobody knows his name.

I love that he didn't make a comment and didn't crawl into a hole. That boy is all class.

Aw GE, yes Clay is all class! So sweet of you to say that!

Yes, I love all those things about Kelly too! Carrie, I LOVE her voice. I don't really follow her. She did get too thin and I agree on the hot pants I do think she is a beautiful girl though.

OK, Con just presented the emmy to Genie Francis!!! Genie freaking Francis finally won an emmy!!!!!!!!!!!!! I about jumped 3 feet!! I don't watch General Hospital anymore - haven't for about 8 years, but in my youth I adored Luke and Laura!! Tony has won several emmys, but never Genie. I am so freaking happy for her. 31 years is a long time to wait to win!