Jesse McCartney Playing to Sell-Out Crowds on US Tour

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 7:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (119)

Jesse McCartney is the Other McCartney, the young one that's not a Beatle, but one that's likely to become a household name soon enough.

Jesse, a New York native, was only 9 when he performed on Broadway and in the touring company of "The King and I," and two years later played the young Scrooge in Roger Daltrey's "A Christmas Carol" at Madison Square Garden. After that came an acting gig n "All My Children" before enjoying success in the groups Sugar Beats and Dream Street. Aaaand, he's also a star of The WB's "Summerland" show. And add pop star to that too.
, He just turned 18 a few weeks ago and he's spending his off time from "Summerland" to tour as a solo performing artist. He's already playing to sell-out crowds on just begun "Beautiful Soul" US tour to back up the album. J-Mac co-wrote four of the songs on his hit album which has sold more than 1 million copies. And The heartthrob did himself all right by recruiting help from a bunch of pros: Producer/songwriters Matthew Gerrard (Hilary Duff, Kelly Clarkson); Robbie Nevil (Destiny's Child); Andreas Carlson (Britney Spears) and Desmond Child (Aerosmith).

Watch videos and check for concert dates at the Jesse McCartney website sponsored by Hollywood Records. (It's a pretty cool site for his fans.)

Continue reading ...

Stephenie is Voted off "Survivor." So Long to the Last Ulong

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The tribe has spoken and the mighty have fallen. The invincible Survivor: Palau player Stephenie LaGrossa, the last Ulong member left in the game, failed to win the immunity she needed, and was soundly and unanimously voted off by her old rival, the evil tribe Koror.

Well, phooey. The 25-year-old pharmaceutical sales rep from Philadelphia said of her vanquished torch and long run: "I was outnumbered by an entire tribe. I'm actually really proud." She didn't mention that she was out-coconut tossed, and out-knifed in the back, but that's the reason she's a gonner. She lost any hope for immunity and was subject to the groupthink mentality that saw her as a threat to the micro island society.

And yet ... even though Steph was the 12th castaway voted out of Survivor Palau, she will now serve on the Jury that will ultimately decide who wins the title of Sole Survivor. Oooo, pay back time is gonna be a bitch!

Prosecution's Case Falls Apart at Jacko Trial

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

After all, it is California. We shouldn't be surprised that the star witness for the prosecution turned out to be an excellent cheerleader for the defense team, as Debbie Rowe took the stand for the second day yesterday at Michael Jackson's trial in Santa Monica.

She was such a true friend to the defense, in fact, that she was seen hours later having dinner at the fabulous Four Seasons hotel ... with the Defense Lawyers!
, Her testimony during her two-days in the witness stand was patty-cake and was in no way dangerous to the "Bad" singer and his case. The prosecution of the child molestation case has been so inept that the defense has likely won before they even have presented their witnesses who will try to defend Jackson. Don't be surprise if Jackson walks after all is said and done.

Rowe made it clear in her testimony that she still is fond of Jackson and hopes that they'll one day be reunited as friends. Asked whether she still considers him a friend, Rowe said, "Yeah. If he'd talk to me." Then she looked at Jackson and said: "Sorry."

She also said that the pop singer was easily manipulated by "opportunistic vultures" in his own inner circle who wanted to make millions from his troubles.

Rowe stated that she hasn't seen the couple's two children since their divorce when she gave up her parental rights and is petitioning a court for visitation rights. She may get what she wants too, now that she's proved she is watching Michael's back.

Continue reading ...

Tom Cruise and his Latest Flame, Katie Holmes

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

The latest gossip on serial dater Tom Cruise, 42, is that he has moved on to another Hollywood starlet, this time it's former "Dawson Creek" hottie Katie Holmes, 26.

He was photographed with her in Rome recently where he will receive a lifetime achievement award at the Italian equivalent of the Academy Awards, the David di Donatello Awards. His sister and publicist Lee Anne Devette has confirmed that the two are dating.

Continue reading ...

California Libraries To Be Swamped with Junk Music

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 9:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're a fan of Jessica Simpson or Ricky Martin and you live in California, you can expect to pick up a couple of their CDs for cheap-cheap at the end of summer when libraries will have their 50-cent bin sales. Cuz they can't wait to dump on you what's just been dumped on them.

As part of a class-action lawsuit settlement with music companies for price-fixing, nearly 700,000 junk CDs are being shipped out to California public schools and libraries. Many library officials are claiming that the record companies are cleaning out their warehouses and are unloading large quantities of CDs in order to satisfy the legal obligation.

California schools and libraries are expected to receive $9 million worth of CDs but each is valued at an over-inflated price of $13.50. "Most of the CDs we're getting wouldn't sell for $1," one representative said. "I think the state of California just got ripped off by about $8 million dollars.", One librarian, Steve Sloan, wryly observed that his library's shipment included 16 copies each of Martin's Sound Loaded and Everclear's Songs From an American Movie, Vol. Two, 14 copies of Simpson's Irresistible and 9 copies of Christina Aguilera's 2000 Christmas album. "It's like what you'd see if you walked into a used-CD store and went to the dollar bin. It seems like the record companies are going through their warehouses and donating what won't sell."

Sloan was particularly puzzled by the 16 copies of albums by Samantha Mumba and Mark Wills that he's scheduled to receive. "I buy do all the CDs for the library and I've never heard of these singers," he said and added, "We already have 3 copies of the Ricky Martin album. Do we really need to have 19 now?"

This type of dumping of low quality CDs on educational institutions has happened before. One school district in Washington received 1,300 copies of Whitney Houston's recording of the "Star-Spangled Banner" last year.

California is trying to ensure that libraries aren't flooded with obscure albums or a mass of duplicates by requiring that all pop albums must have spent at least 26 weeks on the Billboard chart in 2003. But don't be impressed. It translates into a ton of CDs by Oleander, 98 Degrees and Eagle-Eye Cherry.

Another library official was rolling his eyes at his district's big catch: "With 405 copies of Ricky Martin, now we'll have plenty to go around." (Sarcasm noted.)

Story from mtv.com.

Continue reading ...

Constantine Maroulis is Bounced from American Idol in a Shocker

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 8:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

In a shocker that left the audience surprised and annoyed -- and Paula Abdul inconsolable -- strong fan favorite Constantine Maroulis was eliminated from American Idol Wednesday night.

When Ryan Seacrest announced the voting results, Paula broke down like a member of her family had just been run over. She turned and, unprofessionally, sobbed in the arms of Constantine's mama in a ridiculous over-the-top display. Was this for TV? We know she's been denying rumors that she's drugged out, yet she continues to alarm people with her odd behavior. She told Constantine: "I can't even speak – I'm so shocked. I think you're such a star."

, Whatever the results Constantine bowed out graciously. He knows his two months spent on American Idol singing weekly in front of millions of potential fans has done more for his career than anything else he could have done - a point that Constantine seems to already know. "I have no regrets. I'm gonna keep rockin'," he said. "Crazier things have happened in my life, and I'm just really blessed to have gotten this far."

Something wierd is going on with American Idol voting. We have seen some potential star performers such as Nikko Smith, Nadia Turner, Anwar Robinson and and now Constantine sent packing, while Scott Savol and Anthony Federov keep hanging on.

But Constantine may have the last laugh. His band, Pray for the Soul of Betty, inked a deal with Koch Records a while back and the album, which was finished months before Constantine auditioned for the show, will be on sale in stores on May 10. Good timing, dude.

Continue reading ...

Who's Your Daddy? Ex-wife may Reveal ALL at Jacko's trial

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who really sired those blonde-haired, blue-eyed kids that belong to pop star Michael Jackson? Today is "D-Day," or "Debbie Day" for the prosecution's case in the pop star's child molestation trial.

Debbie Rowe, the singer's ex-wife and mother of his two older kids, will be on the stand and could do some real damage to the singer's reputation. It's being speculated that she could let "slip" the identity of the real father of Prince, 8, and Paris, 7.

Sources have been saying all along that Debbie was artificially inseminated for her two pregnancies and the children were not conceived in the usual grunt and thanks way with Jacko. London tabloids published that rumor last year and it's been said that Debbie has also admitted as much to her friends, as well as other juicy tidbits about her (non) marriage to Jackson ...

American Idol Behind-the-Scenes. Hotter than What's on the Stage.

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 9:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There's news that Corey Clark, a former "American Idol" contestant, has written a book proposal where he claims that he had an affair with show judge Paula Abdul, and that she promised to help him pick tunes to sing during the competition and to spend $2 million to promote his career.

Oh, and Clark is preparing to release his first album by the way, so any publicity -- even bad publicity -- is good publicity for Corey Clark.

It also comes right in time for a new ABC special called "Fallen Idol" which is scheduled to air next week on May 4. The "Primetime Live" exclusive supposedly has some earth-shattering dirt on what goes on behind the scenes. It's supposed to be damaging to the Idol's integrity by claiming that the producers and judges somehow manipulate the show's outcome.
, Fox network owner, the uber rich Rupert Murdoch, is outraged by the special and says that ABC is trying to "destroy" the nation's most-watched series as it nears it's final competition.

The special is also believed to investigate Paula, who they think picks certain singers (like Corey) to help and gives tips to. But the show's creator, Simon Cowell, says it ain't so. He told the TV show EXTRA on Tuesday evening: "Paula, to be fair to her, will spend more time backstage with the contestants giving encouragement and everything else. But, that’s not a bad
thing!"

Continue reading ...

Attention. If You're a Rock Star Over 35, Your Grave is Ready.

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Someone with a lot of time on their hands did a webpage (overtly religious) that shows how rockers tend to die at half the age of regular folks.

Not that it's much of a surprise. In a lifestyle where booze, drugs, car crashes, suicide, murder and choking on vomit while unconscious are the top ways to go -- yeah, then it would be common to flame out at a young age. According to their stats:

The average age of an American at death: 75.8 years
The average age of a rock star at death: 36.9 years

Click on the link below and scroll through the list of dead rock stars to see the age when they died and what caused it. You might get a jolt from some of the entries -- You mean the guy from Blind Melon is dead?!? Even though it is a long list it doesn't look complete or updated. Like that dude that sang for Alice in Chains isn't on the list -- Layne Staley, and a couple of rappers I could mention. And isn't calling Stu Sutcliff a Beatle a bit of a stretch?

Read it and weep -- Dead Rock Stars.

They Have Gnomes in Turkey? Highlights from the Amazing Race 7

Posted by Fara Kearnes at 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, Ron & Kelly are at each other's throats again. Boston Rob was finally bested at something and his reaction was "Incredible!" There was occasional racing, the usual backstabbing, and the odd bit of luck continues for the old couple. The teams stormed a fortress in Istanbul and took a few globe-trotting garden gnomes along for a ride.

The race began with Rob & Amber and Ron & Kelly all hanging out together at the airport in Jodhpur dissing Uchenna & Joyce and Merideth & Gretchen. They had a good laugh, saying that it was the "blind leading the blind" for those two groups to team up and help each other. Kelly chimed in, "Yeah, Uchenna’s a leech for information." HA! Completely unaware that they were in last place, an over-confident Rob remarked, "They just coast the whole game. They are stupid."

Now who's laughing? Once they reached Istanbul Rob figured out that the other two "stupid" teams had actually found an earlier flight out of Jodhpur, India, and arrived in Turkey TWO HOURS before Rob's plane did. The look on his face was Classic.

Continue reading ...