Randy Jackson Leaving ‘American Idol’

LOS ANGELES — Jackson out.  Randy Jackson, the lone original “American Idol” judge, says he won’t be returning to the Fox talent competition.

“To put all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on ‘American Idol,’ I have decided to leave after this season,” Jackson said in a statement Thursday.  “I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry.”

The 56-year-old record producer and bassist called the experience a “life-changing opportunity.” He said he’s leaving “Idol” to focus on his record label and other business opportunities.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130509/ENTERTAINMENT01/130509227/later-dawg-randy-jackson-leaving-american-idol-#full_story

Carousel At Pottstown Announces Winners Of Culinary Contest

POTTSTOWN – The board of directors of the Carousel at Pottstown have announced thewinners from the culinary contest held during the 9th Annual Carousel of Flavor restaurant festival Sept. 30.  The event, which is the nonprofit Carousel at Pottstown’s main annual fundraiser, raised $10,000 for the organization, which is in the process of renovating a building at 30 W. King St. to house a restored 1905 Philadelphia Toboggan Co. carousel.

Judging food entries from the 17 participating restaurants were Chef Christopher Allen Tanner, director of The Culinary Arts Institute of Montgomery County Community College, Career Coach Austin Hall, and culinary students Jackie Hill, Joe Bullock, Sean Collins, Kim Spuril, Chris Hatzai, Pedro Loero, Ameerah Williams, and Sandy Cumens.  Also awarded were the restaurant that raised the most money and the best-decorated booth.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-mercury/story/carousel-pottstown-announces-winners-culinary-contest/1

Christina Aguilera And Cee Lo Green Taking ‘Voice’ Hiatus; Shakira And Usher To Fill Their Chairs

You have to hand it to “The Voice. ” Last week, the show added a third Wednesday episode to ruin “The X Factor‘s” big premiere night.  And now, with the new “American Idol” and “X Factor” judges having had hardly any time to bask in their publicity, already “The Voice” is stealing both shows’ thunder once again–with breaking news that two new singularly named superstar judges, Shakira and Usher, will replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green for Season 4.  Both Christina and Cee Lo will be back for Season 5 in fall 2013, according to NBC.

Rumors have swirled for months that NBC’s overkill decision to air “The Voice” twice yearly would at least temporarily drive away some or all of the show’s regular judges, causing the lineup to be revamped for the spring 2013 season.  Apparently such is the downside of hiring judges who, you know, are still relevant hitmakers and have other important things to do with their time, like touring and recording, besides sitting on an NBC soundstage six months out of the year. (And this is why talent shows should consider hiring non-celebrity judges, but I digress.)  In fact, just last week when talking to Ryan Seacrest, Christina admitted that she’d first assumed her “Voice” gig would be “kind of like a side project…then it kind of took off, and there goes my free time!”

With Christina getting ready to release her comeback album, Lotus, in November (her new single, “Your Body,” debuted last week to positive reviews), and the ubiquitous Cee Lo working on a Christmas album and a new sitcom, it’s no surprise that they are the first “Voice” judges to take official leaves of absence.

Read more:  http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/reality-rocks/christina-aguilera-cee-lo-green-voice-hiatus-shaira-231943068.html

Katie Couric: ‘American Idol’ Judges Include Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, Randy Jackson

We don’t know how she knows, but Katie Couric, during the taping of Friday’s “Katie,” told former “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez who will be filling the panel in the singing competition’s upcoming season: Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson.

Bing: Katie’s new talk show draws big numbers

So far, only Carey has been confirmed by FOX, which has not responded to TheWrap’s request for comment or made any public announcement.

“What do you think about the new group of judges?” Couric asked Lopez, according to a Thursday morning press release from “Katie.”

Read more: http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=757303

Mariah Carey Joins ‘American Idol’

Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez and now … Mariah Carey.

Fox just made it official: Carey is the latest successful pop diva to join American Idol.  The 42-year-old will join the judges table for season 12.

As reported in this week’s issue of EW, Carey has been the leading contender to join the panel this summer, which has seen a flurry of celebrity names floated in the press as possible candidates.  Her salary is expected to be somewhere north of $12 million — the sum paid Jennifer Lopez during her first year on the show — and possibly as high as $17 million.

Previously, Simon Cowell was courting Carey as a mentor for X Factor’s second season, though it’s not clear if her Idol announcement precludes an appearance on Fox’s other show.

Read more: http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/07/23/mariah-carey-american-idol/

Jennifer Lopez Follows Tyler Off ‘American Idol’

Editor’s note:  I think Randy Jackson might start to get a complex, LOL!

LOS ANGELES — Jennifer Lopez is the second judge in two days to say she’s leaving “American Idol.”

Her representative, Mark Young, said Friday that Lopez is ending her time on television’s most popular show after two years. Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler said the same thing on Thursday.

Lopez broke the news to “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest on his radio show.

“I really was dreading this phone call with you,” she told him. “I honestly feel like the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I’ve put kind of on hold because I love ‘Idol’ so much.”

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120713/ENTERTAINMENT01/120719681/jennifer-lopez-follows-tyler-off-american-idol-

Steven Tyler Exiting As ‘American Idol’ Judge

Tyler leaving ‘American Idol‘ after 2 seasons; Lopez says his exit will affect her decision

NEW YORK – Steven Tyler says he’s exiting “American Idol” to put rock `n’ roll first.

Tyler said he’s leaving the hit show after two seasons to rededicate himself to Aerosmith, the band he fronts. The rock star said he loved every minute on the hit Fox singing contest but added, “it’s time to bring rock back.”

“After some long … hard … thoughts … I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress `American Idol’ before she boils my rabbit,” Tyler said in a statement, making a joking reference to the 1987 Michael Douglas-Glenn Close thriller “Fatal Attraction.”

“I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I’m back but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band.”

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=398721

Britney Spears, Demi Lovato Are New ‘X Factor’ Judges

REUTERS – Britney Spears and former Disney Channel star Demi Lovato will join talent show “The X Factor” as judges when the U.S. version of the contest returns to television in September, Fox television and the show’s creator Simon Cowell said on Monday.

Cowell said in a Twitter message that Spears, 30, the world’s biggest pop phenomenon of the 2000s, will join him on “X Factor,” which searches for a new pop star from tens of thousands of ordinary Americans.

Spears will be joined by singer and actress Lovato, 19, to fill the judge’s seats left by Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who were both fired by Cowell after a disappointing first season in 2011.

Cowell announced the news on Twitter, sending a photo of himself with record producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Spears and Lovato and saying “Can’t believe it’s finally happening. Very exciting!”

Read more: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/05/14/britneyspears-xfactor-idINDEE84D0KN20120514

American Idol Season 10

American Idol Season 10

UGH!

Election Day, Tuesday November 3rd

Tomorrow is Election Day!  If you are unhappy with how things are going in your corner of the world, GET OUT AND VOTE!  Otherwise, things won’t change.

Tomorrow’s elections are for municipal officials, school board seats, District judges, PA Superior Court judges, Commonweath Court judges and Common Pleas Court judges!

If you live in Pottstown SD (4 seats open) or Owen J Roberts SD (6 seats open) I hope you vote.  These elections will impact your wallet depending on who gets elected and what course of action each district will take as a result.

Four Pottstown Borough Council seats and Pottstown Mayor are up for grabs.  Again, if you don’t like the way things are going now is your chance to vote for change.  We need more people on Council who will move Pottstown forward!

The polls are open from 7 am until 8 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, November 3rd).   If you are not sure where to vote, you can go to the Pottstown Borough website, for example, and find out.  Pottstown lists polling places under About Pottstown, Voting Locations on their website:

http://www.pottstown.org/about_voting.htm/

If you don’t live in Pottstown, check your township or borough website for voting information.

Ellen DeGeneres Replacing Paula Abdul On American Idol!!!!!!

How weird. Ellen announced on her talk show that she will be replacing Paula Abdul as the 4th judge on American Idol. It’s a singing competition people! She’s a stand up comic and a talk show host. Not sure how that translates into a judge for a singing competition.

Aren’t there any more qualified people out there????? Nothing against Ellen but for cryin’ out loud!