By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Monday, August 10, 2015
Scott Borchetta, the Big Machine Record executive who helped turn Taylor Swift into a superstar, is returning as mentor for the final season of "American Idol."
Besides his slicked back black hair and ridiculously shiny red jackets, he didn't really stand out to me as a mentor except when he clearly wanted Clark Beckham to stop singing old-school R&B classics and do something vaguely modern. (Clark? Never!)
Overall, I preferred Jimmy Iovine as a mentor (let's not remind anybody that Randy Jackson did this season 13) but he is a bit old school. Having someone with Borchetta's currency is smart. Did I mention that Borchetta more or less discovered Taylor Swift? He can take that one to his grave!
So it appears "Idol" has locked in its season 14 host (Ryan Seacrest), judges (Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, Harry Connick Jr.) and now mentor.
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Last week, during the Television Critics Association presentation, Fox only mentioned "American Idol" in passing.
As MJ noted: Fox TV Group chairman-CEOs Gary Newman and Dana Walden did promise that the final outing for the once mighty competition reality show is being viewed "as the farewell tour of a performing act." According to Walden. There will be plenty of celebratory moments, including the return of the stars Idol helped create. However, Walden added, "producers feel very committed to finding the 15th Idol and not letting the search for that (winner) be lost in the celebratory elements of the show."
Walden also tried to excuse the dismal failure of the Seacrest-hosted mess of a show "Knock Knock Live" as a timing issue, saying it should have run during the regular season when they could promote it better. But a turd is a turd is a turd no matter when it airs.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Jordin Sparks' third album "Right Here Right Now" comes out August 21. She hasn't released a new album in six years. Her first single "Double Tap" didn't leave much of an impression. She has released several other cuts already online.
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And because this is a compilation of "American Idol," I have to include a Kelly Clarkson cover while she's on tour. In Minneapolis last week (where I had family attend the concert), she covered "Purple Rain" in Prince's home town. "No pressure," she joked as the first notes began to play.
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Chart update:
Kelly Clarkson's "Invincible" is stuck at 11 on the Hot AC chart.
Adam Lambert's 'Ghost Town" is jammed at 16 on Hot AC and and edges up to 24 from 25 on top 40.
Nick Fradiani's "Beautiful Life' edges up to 27 from 29 on Hot AC
Singles by both Colton Dixon ("Through All Of It") and Danny Gokey ("More Than You Think I Am") are losing airplay on the Christian charts, now in the teens.
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Fradiani sings the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium:
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Some dude named Guy Williams in Australia sings Adam Lambert's songs and has Adam lip sync along. The twist: the guy can't sing. That's the joke. And you thought James Corden and Jimmy Fallon would have thought this up before this talk show down under! It's funny nonetheless:
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