I probably would have stopped by Six Flags last night if I didn’t have a midterm to take.

But WSB-TV stopped by and here’s some video from his performance..

A shot of the crowd showed it wasn’t close to a full house though I bet most concerts there aren’t close to a full house. (All paid attendees into the park had the option to see him.)

“I’ve been touring since I’ve been 19 years old,” he told wsbtv.com. “It’s helped to weather me a little bit for this lifestyle.”

His memoir is coming out July 10 “Heart Full of Soul.” He’ll be at the Barnes & Noble off Cobb Parkway and Akers Mill on July 24. Last week, his second single “Heaven Knows” was spun by 32 radio stations nationwide 206 times on soft rock stations, none in Atlanta.

I checked with the local promoter who had originally booked Elliott Yamin and he says he still hasn’t gotten a make-up date for the day Yamin cancelled to perform on “Idol.”

And the dude who gets all the sales Ken Barnes at Idol Chatter noted that all “Idol” contestants saw sales drop last week.. Total sales so far: Daughtry at 2.82 mil, Carrie at 5.69 mil, Elliott at 283K, Bucky at 187K, Fantasia at 419K and Kellie Pickler at 565K. Off the top 200, Kelly Clarkson’s second CD sold another 7K and is at 5.8 mil, Taylor is at 689K, Paris is at 16K, Ruben at 229K, Kimberley at 12K, and Clay at 513K. And yes, Ayla Brown’s CD sales dropped from 11 two weeks ago to 6 this past week. Ken also asked about Jon Peter Lewis’ CD (yes he has a CD out. Who knew? Not many!). He sold five CDs last week. Yes, five. He has sold a total of 900.

I also heard that Kelly Clarkson’s next single is “Sober,” a downbeat song without a major pop hook. I bet it won’t do much better than the angry, non-hooky “Never Again,” which didn’t even hit the top 20 (though it has sold more than 600K downloads). Her CD, “My December,” which came out this past Tuesday is projected by Hitsdailydouble.com to sell 325K to 350K, a very solid figure but it will be battling for no. 1 with Miley Cyrus’ “Hannah Montana” soundtrack. The story reports Clive Davis and RCA are giving it a strong promotional push. (“Breakaway” actually opened at only 250K but strong radio performances of its songs pushed the song to 5.8 million.)

So far, “Sober” so far is getting very little airplay and has not been added by any stations in Atlanta.

A reminder: Taylor Hicks performs at 7 p.m. Thursday June 28 at Six Flags Over Georgia as part of the entry fee. Having just seen him three months ago and with a midterm on my schedule, I won’t be there. But if anybody goes, please post your review here!

Here’s that Jennifer Hudson/Jennifer Holliday duet on the BET Awards from Tuesday night..

Blake has started recording his CD.

And yes, Carrie Underwood has been named sexiest female vegetarian by the kind folks of PETA.

Also, Diane Werts of Newsday apes my earlier comments about that snoozefest called “Hey Paula” on Bravo..

Paula Abdul wasn’t available to talk with me about her new Bravo show, which debuts Thursday. (I’ve only spoken to her once, briefly, during season three auditions in Atlanta four years ago. She was very sweet.)

But show Cori Abraham, Bravo’s director of development and production, was available to gab on her behalf.

Abraham emphasized how Paula is a “regular girl who happens to have success” and “she’s not just that girl behind the Coke glass” on “Idol.”

The show’s cameras followed the choreographer and former pop singer around from January to March of 2007, but there won’t be scenes of her backstage at “Idol” or spending tons of time with Simon, Ryan and Randy. Rather, Abraham said the intention was to show her life outside the show.

Tomorrow, you’ll see her picking out a dress for an awards show, trying to find her limo and complaining that her assistants didn’t bring her sweatpants so she could fly to Philly in comfort before selling jewelry on QVC. She jokes around with her long-time makeup artist and hairstylist, who treats her like a sibling.

“The really amazing thing about Paula is although she’s a celebrity, she is really an accessible relatable person who has ups and downs in life,” Abraham said with no irony. “She’s a regular person who lives and functions and doesn’t go out of her way to be secretive. She is who she is.”

There won’t be shots of Paula dating because “she wasn’t actively dating while we shot,” Abraham said. “It doesn’t mean we wouldn’t have followed her if she was.”

She said there were no restrictions, no manipulations of reality. “She was pretty open and accessible in doing whatever made sense.”

And no, she never saw Paula popping tons of pain pills. “It’s a normal gal witih a different lifestyle,” Abraham said. “She’s a real person with real feelings. The press has scrutinized her. That has repercussions. She really feels the pain when something is written about her or said about her that is not accurate or not true.”

There will be seven episodes. Abraham’s favorite scene to prove she’s just a regular gal? Paula at one point is stuck in a hotel room during a snow storm and bored, does a joke on her assistants. “She does this without any warning. It’s a fun, lighthearted practical joke.”

Maria Elena Fernandez, a former AJC reporter and now at the L.A. Times notes that attempts by her newspaper to interview Paula about her show since January “have been unsuccessful, mostly because she has fired her varous publicists several times during that period. That left the people who worked with her on the reality show to explain why Abdul, who has arguably been overexposed throughout her ‘Idol’ tenure, would possibly want to subject herself to more criticism or ridicule.”

The L.A. Times got to see three episodes and apparently we get to view the behind-the-scenes goings on when she did that January Fox affiliate interview marathon in which she heard two affiliates at once and looks loopy.

Although I wasn’t bowled over by the first episode, I’ll stick around for the sake of this blog. In other words, I’ll watch so you don’t have to!

The reviews are in and they aren’t awful. They aren’t great, either. Lots of comparisons to Alanis Morissette and Pat Benatar. Everyone, including the New York Times, loves the last cut “Irvine.”

The Newsday reviewer says it “isn’t as good as her intentions.”

The New York Post gives it two out of four stars and apes what Simon might say: “it’s just okay” and “more of the same.”

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram doesn’t agree with the Post and says “it’s not a carbon copy” of “Breakaway.” And how about this for faint praise? It “isn’t a wretched misfire.” This reviewer gave it three out of five stars and suggested a few pop hooks would have helped us swallow the anger a bit easier. (I agree!)

But as the Boston Globe noted, “Clarkson isn’t feeling very hooky, and the need to share her feelings was her guiding principle.”

Sarah Rodman at the Globe wrote a more positive take overall: ” ‘My December’ offers an appealing if uneven snapshot of a girl with a big voice and big emotions who’s in transition, looking to express herself as she experiences the final four stages of grief over the death of a romantic relationship.”

The Los Angeles Times provided the most intelligent piece I’ve seen about the controversy, defending Kelly as an artist, that all this din over her clashes with the label cloud the actual quality of the CD and raises the question whether a male artist would face similar scrutiny. Here’s the story.

The key graf:

This mess also, frankly, reeks of sexism. Casting Clarkson as a deluded ingénue and Davis as a father figure gone ballistic — not to mention the inevitable speculation about her weight — conceals other relevant issues. “My December” is a rock record, but rock radio plays barely any female artists. And there’s a history of women trying to evolve and facing resistance: consider Lauryn Hill, Joan Osborne, Macy Gray, Paula Cole, even Sheryl Crow. Men experiment and they’re applauded, or at least indulged; women do so and it’s assumed that a boyfriend has led them astray.

For the first time since season three, Atlanta will be a site for “American Idol” auditions August 14. It will likely be at the Georgia Dome (Contracts aren’t finalized.) Idol likes to feed stuff to USA Today and they got the scoop. More details at www.americanido.com.

This is the first time San Diego, Charleston, S.C., Philadelphia and Omaha, Neb. have gotten the nod.

Atlanta was an audition site the first three seasons. Season one was at AmericasMart and Tamyra Gray, R.J Helton and EJay Day all came out for that one. (We at the AJC didn’t cover the audition that year partly because nobody knew what the show was and it also happened to fall on the same weekend as Music Midtown.) Season two at AmericasMart featured runnerup Clay Aiken. And “Idol’ discovered Fantasia Barrino at the Georgia Dome in August 2003. She almost missed her audition but a sympathetic security guard let her in. (The story is recounted in her Lifetime biopic about her.) Snellville’s Diana DeGarmo actually audtioned in Hawaii that year.

The age eligibility is the same as before: 16 to 28 as of July 28, 2007. (In other words, your birthday has to be between July 29, 1978 and July 28, 1991.)

Don’t expect to see Paula, Simon and Randy that first day. They won’t be there. Ryan Seacrest will be around, though. You’ll have to go through at least three rounds with producers before you face them on a different date in a different location. (Season two, for instance, they held the Paula/Simon/Randy portion of the auditions at Callanwolde Fine Arts Cetner.)

Of the thousands who try out, Paula, Simon and Randy may see only about 120 people in each city.

Season 7 auditions schedule:

July 30, San Diego (Qualcomm Stadium)

Aug. 6, Dallas (Texas Stadium)

Aug. 10, Omaha (Qwest Center)

Aug. 14, Atlanta (most likely, the Georgia Dome)

Aug. 18, Charleston, S.C. (North Charleston Coliseum)

Aug. 22, Miami (AmericanAirlines Arena)

Aug. 27, Philadelphia (Wachovia Center

With so much bad buzz emanating about Kelly’s “My December,” here’s a spot where you can hear the entire CD to decide for yourself.. Tell me what y’all think!

Here are my quick takes on the 13 cuts. I can now see why Clive Davis was concerned. Not a “Since U Been Gone” or even “Behind These Hazel Eyes” in sight. It’s more like lots of “Walk Away” type tunes. I really don’t love it and it seems a bit overly obsessed with heartbreak and pain. It’s clearly narrower in appeal than her previous two CDs.

“Never Again” — We already know this was the first single that bombed. It lacks the carthartic feel of “Since U Been Gone.” It just feels angry and misses the mark melodically.

“One Minute” — Again, this has a rock feel, similar in vein to “Never Again.” It’s actually better than “Never Again.” There’s a propelling urgency about the song, especially the chorus.

“Hole” — More of that anger! Speaking of anger, I can picture Clive Davis’s face contorting into a sneer as he gets to this cut.

“Sober” — Ah… a break from the hard guitars and driving percussion. Just a soft acoustic guitar and a sad-sounding Kelly dong a ballad. She is exceptional at these types of songs though it’s more subtle than the likes of “Because of You.”

“Don’t Waste Your Time” - Finally a song that has a really decent hook! And it actually feels like a happier tune even though lyrically, it’s yet another bitter breakup song.

“Judas” - Another song about betrayal and distrust with Kelly belting the chorus like she was part of Evanescence. Morrissey would find this depressing!

“Haunted” - “Shocked, broken, I’m dying inside,” she sings. This time, she’s not the one doing the breaking up. She envelopes the song with a shroud of sadness. Quite effective but man, I need to pull out a razor blade! And we’re only halfway through the CD.

“Be Still” - This is the first song that seems to convey some sense of hope. It’s got a slightly jazzy feel and is not really top 40 material but shows maturity and grace.

“Maybe” - The second song in a row that’s, ulp, positive. But it’s atmospherically dark, and a bit languid.

“How I Feel” - Hmm… another breakup song! This one at least has some pep in its step, the one I’d pick for the next single if I were Kelly & Co.

“Yeah” - This is the first song with even a smidgen of horns and a chorus that has a bit of gospel feel. She sings in a syncopated whisper during some of the verses.

“Can I Have a Kiss” - I love the way she says “kiss.” But again, this is a breakup song and the chorus is all angst-filled.

“Irvine” - She’s not screaming at all this time around and it’s almost a relief. I really like this tune. It possesses a warm feel that’s lacking on much of the album.

NASCAR, which can’t be too happy about all this downbeat news, will break a new campaign with pop singing sensation Kelly Clarkson on TNT during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. (Sunday, June 24, 2 p.m., ET)

The Wall Street Journal (subscription only) even weighed in Friday about her. Since I can’t really link to the story, here’s a summary:

They did a narrative story using a lot of anonymous sources basically confirming everything we’ve heard so far. Yes, she wanted to make her own version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska.” RCA were “aghast” she wanted to write her own stuff. Clive suggested three songs from other songwriters she rejected (one had been on a Lindsay Lohan album!). Problems over the album’s direction delayed its release from the spring. Davis seemed down about the CD at a meeting with top Sony BMG execs. “Does this look like a hit?” he rhetorically asked as a project displayed lyrics to one of Clarkson’s compositions.

We saw Davis slightly snub Kelly at the “Idol Gives Back” show. People involved with the tour and observers wondered why she was so overambitious trying to headline arenas after struggling to fill smaller amphitheaters last year. And wouldn’t it have been smarter to target smaller, more intimate venues if the CD was purposely her “Nebraska”? One interesting thing: the promoter was unusually candid about why the tour was cancelled last week: poor sales. Some wanted to invent an excuse but they chose honesty.

Good morning everybody! I’m now 38 years old. For my birthday, I attended the Cyndi Lauper/Erasure/Debbie Harry True Colors concert last night at Chastain. Loved it!

As usual, Idol sales are updated by Idol Chatter. And it was a decent week although nobody made the top 10. Daughtry, rank: 12 (56K for the week); 2.78 mil total; Carrie rank: 22 (41K) total: 5.66 mil; Bucky, 57 (14K) 172K; Elliott 70 (12K), 274K; Fantasia 117 (7,100), 413K; Kellie 122 (6,700), 559K; Kelly Clarkson 7,300, total: 5.8 mil; Kat 2,300, 339K, Taylor 1,700, 688K; Paris: 800, 18K; Ruben, 700, 229K; Kimberley Locke, 600, 12K; Clay, 400, 513K; Ayla Brown (11, yes, 11 copies), with 2,700 total.

And a sampling of download sales: Kelly Clarkson’s download sales of “Never Again” total so far: 566K; Since U Been Gone: 1.67 mil Carrie’s “Before He Cheats”: 1.47 mil, Wasted: 331K; Jesus Take the Wheel: 990K Daughtry: “Home”: 756K; “It’s Not Over”: 1.33 mil Elliott: “Wait For Me”: 248K Blake’s ” You Give Love a Bad Name”: 172K He’s going to beat Jordin Spark’s DOA download of “This is My Now!”: just 162K downloads. Bucky’s “A Different World”: 84K Fantasia’s “When I See U”: 72K Kellie’s “I Wonder”: 88K

Kelly Clarkson’s people are denying rumors some random blogger began spreading earlier this week that she would be joining the “Idols Live!” tour. I saw the rumor and saw how flimsy it was so I didn’t even post it. I had a friend tonight who isn’t that much of an “Idol” fan who even bring it up so it’s obviously got around.

Here’s a {fun story about Blake](http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=247465). Warning: a couple of expletives since this is some alternative publication.

The Fremantle employee who sued Mario Vazquez of sexual harassment has had his case moved to arbitration per his contract, making the chances of him getting a big payday go down, according to this E! story.

I decided to just post a new blog entry here for my interview with William Hung because well, why not?

Here is Hung with Syrus Yarbrough (“Real World: New York”), Billy Kemp (casting for “American Idol” and dozens of other reality shows) and Kristen Johnson (“Fear Factor,” “Treasure Hunters”). I know, I know. Kristen who??? CREDIT: Rodney Ho

As an Asian-American male, I’ve always had mixed feelings about Mr. Hung. It’s not really his fault but for some reason, there are no popular Asian American singers. As a result, if you asked the average person, they could probably only come up with Hung. That’s sad.

Hung appeared on season three and is the most memorable entity from that year except for Fantasia thanks to his bizarrely bad take on “She Bangs” and his earnest response to the criticisms. In the end, he has managed to carve out quite a career as a side-show curiosity. He didn’t dispute Randy Jackson’s contention earlier this year that Hung has made more than $1 million from commercial endorsements, corporate gigs (he did a Microsoft party in Atlanta in 2004), random event appearances (like his time at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2004) and three CDs which have in total outsold most “Idol” contestants. His first two CDs moved more than 400,000 copies total, but third one in 2005, not so much.

As most of you know, the basic joke is Hung can’t really sing particularly well. He can’t dance well. He’s not Brad Pitt. He’s dorky. But he’s got an endearing innocence about him. And he hasn’t really lost that despite this odd C-list fame he’s achieved.

He’s now 24 years old, a bit heavier than he was in 2004 but visually the same. At the press conference, he wore a Hawaiian shirt, khakis and slightly slicked back hair.

He still lives with his parents, Henry and Stella Hung, in Los Angeles. As his manager and agent, they book his gigs and negotiate his contracts, basically running William Hung Inc. His mom even flew to the press conference today with him to promote the “Dreams N2 Reality” seminar he’ll be attending in August 4 at Philips Arena. She didn’t want to be interviewed but I did see her talking to the organizer about how they were going to get paid. (Half for coming to the press conference, half when he comes to Atlanta in August.) When I asked what they did for a living before “Idol,” he said, “They want to be private. Let’s talk entertainment.”

I get the impression his big paydays are well behind him, that there’s diminishing returns being William Hung, “Idol” reject 2004. I tried to get specifics about his recent gigs and upcoming gigs. He said he has done some “regional” commercials for Hollywood Tan and Mitsubishi. And the only example of a public appearance (beyond this seminar) he could scrounge up is an upcoming event judging a talent contest at a horse park in Oklahoma City called Remington Park. Here’s the press release with this breathless lead sentence: “The buzz continues to build in anticipation of William Hung and his performance on Karaoke Championship Night at Remington Park on June 28.”

His Web site has not had an updated “upcoming appearance” since January 2007, though I’m not sure if that means anything. He said he doesn’t have a basic rate, that everything is negotiable. So if you want him at your wedding or summer pool party, feel free to email him!

Shockingly, when he does play judge at these talent contests, “some people want me to be Simon but I’ll never be Simon. I’m more like Randy. I’m not going to say anything meanspirited.” (I can’t imagine anything meanspirited coming out of his mouth, actually.)

He still has to sing “She Bangs” a lot but he really enjoys “Achy Breaky Heart.” (Take that, Billy Ray Cyrus!) He said he performed it on “Larry King Live” earlier this year. Dang. I missed that!

Hung isn’t a man of stupendous observations. I asked him, for instance, about Sanjaya. “He’s very unique,” Hung said. “It’s hard to describe him.” Hard to describe Sanjaya?

As for changing his look or fixing his overbite, Hung said he has no plans to do so. “I don’t really need to change,” he said. “The record company [Koch Records, which released his three CDs] likes the way I am. And I like the way I am.”

He’s not dating and hasn’t had any serious girlfriends despite the fame. “I’m still a little shy,” he said. (I can’t imagine living with his parents helps him in this category.)

“I want a relationship that lasts,” he added. “I’m a little conservative. I just want someone who really understands me.”

As for the issue of him perpetuating negative Asian stereotypes, he demurs. “Of course not! That’s terrible. I tell kids the same thing: ‘Never give up. Believe in your dreams!’ I believe I’ve become an inspirational symbol. That’s not a negative stereotype.”

Then Hung said what I thought was his most true statement when I asked, “Do you think there is a point where you won’t be able to sustain yourself as a celebrity?”

“Not yet. But there is a natural cycle in the entertainment business. So if I have to stop, I can get my degree [he was a junior at Berkeley pursuing a civil engineering degree when he tried out for “Idol”] and choose another goal in my life.”

William Hung, this generation’s Tiny Tim and the most successful “American Idol” failure ever, showed up in Atlanta for a press conference promoting a reality-show seminar called “Dreams N2 Reality,” set at Philips Arena August 4. Casting directors and previous reality show contestants will be there and you’ll have a chance to be cast on various reality shows.

“The’re trying to find diamonds in the rough,” said organizer Steve Graham, who says the same people are showing up at the Los Angeles auditions.

Billy Kemp, who works for Fremantle and has cast for “American Idol,” “America’s Got Talent” and “American Inventor,” said he will give tips on how to make a video submission pop. He says you have to know what your character is, what your personality is and you have to play it up. “The point of being on television: it doesn’t matter if you are if nobody remembers who you are.” Kemp is currently seeking a replacement for Bob Barker on “The Price is Right.”

Here’s what Hung looks like now, three years after his infamous “SheBangs” audition that propelled him into pseudo-stardom:

I may try to talk to Hung afterwards and get more details but during a press conference, he reviewed the three albums he released in 2004 and 2005 and the Hong Kong movie he did. I’ll try to ply him with sort of events he’s doing now. I can’t imagine he’s getting the money he did back in 2004, when the Atlanta Motor Speedway paid him $7,500 to pop up and sing a couple of songs and sign autographs.

Details of this event are at www.dreamsN2reality.net.

I’ll be posting a new item later today from a press conference featuring… William Hung! Yes. I will be meeting Mr. Hung later today for a second time. I’ll explain why later!

In the interim, here are my thoughts on another reality show with three judges and occasional bad singing:

NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” a mix of the old “Star Search” and “American Idol” works perfectly as a summer show and pulls in more viewers than anything else. Why? It’s like the leftover repository of weird acts that wouldn’t qualify for other shows. The early audition episodes, before America starts voting, is far more entertaining, a buffet of the bold and the beautifully bizarre.

Last year, however, I cringed as I watched what America voted through. I couldn’t believe my ears last year when the most annoyingly precocious 12 year old girl on Earth, Bianca Ryan, won. And those quick-change artists were truly one-trick ponies that inexplicably made it to the finals. But who can forget rappin’ granny or that hot clogging group that should have won!

This year, I anticipate more of the same. But the elements are an upgrade. I actually enjoy goofball Jerry Springer more as host than Regis last year. His dorkiness shines through. And Sharon Obsorne brings a bit more oddball appeal than Brandy did a year ago. As usual, Piers is the Simon copycat and the Hof is just, well, the Hof.

The third episode in Chicago was great fun, a sampling of what makes this show so much fun. Or maybe it’s like a box of melted chocolates in the hot sun. You really never know what sort of hot icky mess you’re going to get.

Among the untalented: A mime who sings. A Hillary Clinton lookalike who did a high-pitched Gregorian chant followed by a worse jazz number and a hopeless blues number. And the ugliest male Shakira impersonator ever who inexplicably made it through to Vegas despite needing to be on “The Biggest Loser.” David Hasselhoff is so upset, he hides in his dressing room for awhile.

Then there’s the talent. A stupendous shirtless martial arts dance group dubbed Sideswipe. They are guaranteed finalists. A shockingly amazing ventriquolist act who can do a great version of Etta James’ “At Last.” A surprisingly entertaining 311-like reggae guitarist who sings the Police’s “Walking On the Moon.”

The judges were enamored by a 21-year-old beat boxer, a gal who goes by Butterscotch. They heap praise on her but she simply isn’t as good as even Blake Lewis. Or maybe I’m just sick of beat boxing!

And I’m not 100% sold on the four dudes on stilts who made it through. It’s one of those acts I can mildly enjoy for about 15 seconds but no more. And the magician who created the Charlie Chaplin was kinda dull.

My guiltiest pleasure: the dude who can break pencils and rulers with his butt cheeks to the song “Baby Got Back.” “I’ve traveled thousands of miles, given up seeing my kids for three months. Made a number of sacrifices to as Simon Cowell put it, find America’ s next great superstar. I get you. You are a ridiculous waste of space.”

“All I can say is butt out!” David says.

At the very end, the dorky guy doing Bollywood dancing in office clothing was oddly endearing despite the fact he’s not exactly going to make it on “So You Think You Cand Dance.” “It kind of mesmerized the audience,” David noted.

With so many former “Idol” contestants doing or having done Broadway (Anthony Fedorov, Fantasia, Diana DeGarmo, Constantine Maroulis, Frenchie Davis and Tamyra Gray, to name a few), it’s inevitable someone has come up with “Idol: The Musical.”

From the description, it sounds like a bit of a goof, especially of Clay Aiken fans.

Here’s the link.

The musical, which was tested in Syracuse, NY June 1 and June 8, is scheduled to begin previews at Off-Broadway’s 45th Street Theatre July 5. Todd Ellis is producing the Manhattan engagement of Idol, which will be directed by Bill Boland.

Donna Reynolds, an Idol columnist for www.foxesonidol.com, said she heard it was entertaining but missed it because she had to work.

Here’s a review from syracuse.com

“The numbers are never less than serviceable, and several are quite appealing,” the reviewer Chuck Klaus wrote.

Idol: The Musical, according to press notes, is described as “a satirical musical comedy that focuses on the outrageous and delusional fan base of the hit television show. The musical takes place in Steubenville, Ohio where a group of dork-like students are preparing for their high school graduation after which they are determined to drag themselves out of the dregs of the middle-of-nowhere.

“There are eight of them; all belonging to the same cult-like club that meets daily in a barn that doubles as a shrine to Clay Aiken. They are actively ridiculed by the rest of Steubenville; a humiliating situation that doesn’t deter their quest for all things Clay. They are victims of A.D.D., Ritalin, their misguided obsessions and their innocent longing for their elusive ‘15 minutes.’

I actually talked with former Norcross resident and season one “Idol” finalist Tamyra Gray more than two weeks ago in New York. Sorry it took me so long to actually write this.

She was extremely friendly, looking fab at the Starbucks off 42nd Street, right down the street from the theater showing “Rent.” She didn’t exactly break any news or shock me with what she said. The basic summary is she’s loving her Broadway gig as Mimi Marquez in “Rent” and she’s very happily married to former Color Me Badd singer Sam Watters.

Her Broadway character has AIDS, is a drug addict and works at a strip club. “She celebrates life despite all that she has to deal with,” Tamyra said. “Her philosophy is live life now and die later.”

She said she first saw “Rent” in New York City nine years earlier working for Coke. She said she caught seven different Broadway shows att he time. Her favorite: Aida. But she also enjoyed “Rent.” “It’s a real life show. There’s no sugarcoating.”

The biggest difference singing on Broadway vs. pop is “you have to use your vibratto more. That infuses the songs with energy.” And though she has to do eight shows a week, she doesn’t mind. “I work two, two and a half hours a day. I tend to think I have it easy!”

She said she took time off after her CD didn’t take off to plan for her wedding with Watters and “work on my personal life, get myself better for my career.” Her wedding in Italy last year was even better than she imagined. “It was literally my dream.” But now she’s back trying to find the right producers and label to jumpstart the performance part of her career.

Tamyra has had more success acting on several TV shows (“Boston Public,” “What I Like About You,” to name a couple), film (“The Gospel”) and songwriting (Fantasia’s “I Believe.”). “I’ve made more money writing and acting,” she said.

Tamyra still keeps tabls on Kelly Clarkson, Christina Christian and former Cumming resident R.J. Helton. She and Helton, in fact, both live in San Franciso now. She’s not in touch with Justin Guarini.

Clarkson, who Tamyra had lunch with recently in Los Angeles, “has earned the right to make an album she wants. She’s a strong cookie.”

Here’s the Taylor Hicks national anthem before Game Four of the NBA finals.. It’s not a great audio and he does a strange thing with his mike during the word “wave.” The crowd treats him with respect.

And iTunes is offering more package deals for “Idol” songs you may or may not want go buy.

Plus, Ken Barnes of Idol Chatter fame offers up this week’s sales chart, the first week in which no “Idol” was in the top 10!. Kat dropped off the top 200 last week with 336K. Daughtry total sales: 2.72 mil. Carrie: 5.62. Kelly Clarkson: 5.8 mil. Elliott: 262K. Kellie Pickler: 553K. Fantasia: 405K. Taylor is at 686K, Clay at 513K, Paris at 15K and Kimberley Locke at 11K.

Kelly Clarkson seemed to lead a charmed life, at least after “From Justin to Kelly.” She came across as the sweet gal next door who loved to utter “Cool beans!” She wasn’t stick thin. She had natural enthusiasm, a seemingly wicked sense of humor and an incredible voice.

She had the only genuinely decent “victory” song with “A Moment Like This.” Her first CD sold almost 3 million copies and generated four big hits including “Miss Independent.” Her follow-up CD solidifed her reputation as a great songstress thanks to “Because of You,” “Walk Away,” “Breakaway,” “Behind These Hazel Eyes” and the big career-making song, “Since U Been Gone.” She generated millions touring, even making it to arena status last year.

Sean Ross, a radio analys at Horizon Media, writes how tough it can be to match or exceed a massive hit. He references how Fleetwood Mac bombed after “Rumors” thanks to the single off the next CD “Tusk.” Or more locally, the B-52s not quite reaching “Love Shack” status with the single “Good Stuff” on the next CD. Or Pink’s “Trouble” following “Get the Party Started.” All were songs that texturally fit the group yet failed to ignite radio.

That’s what happened with Kelly and “Never Again.” Ross dubs it the “moment of truth” single that didn’t quite make it. I think it was simply too strident and a wee bit too unstructured to warm the ears of top 40 radio listeners.

He notes some that have succeeded in solidifying an act’s career: Prince’s “When Doves Cry” after the “1999” album. Then there’s Madonna’s second CD single “Like a Virgin.” And Janet Jackson’s Miss You Much” worked as a followup to her first breakthrough CD “Control.” Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” ultimately eclipsed his first CD “The Dance.” And Justin Timberlake took a major chance with “Sexyback” and somehow came out on top. (When I first heard “Sexyback,” I thought Justin had lost his noggin, yet there it went, right up to No. 1!)

Indeed, Kelly shouldn’t necessarily despair. Here are two aritsts that recovered from first singles that didn’t quite hit: Christina Aguilera’s “Dirrty” failed to work on radio at first but once “Beautiful” became a monstrous hit, radio went back and played “Dirrty” a lot. See Star 94, for instance. And Gwen Stefani’s “What You Waiting For” didn’t do that well but then “Rich Girl” and “Hollaback Girl” just rocked her into the stratosphere.

Here’s the story.

More trouble has arrived in Kelly Clarkson land: promoters have scrapped her summer tour due to slow sales.

So folks who bought tickets to her August 28 date at Gwinnett Arena are going to have to get refunds. (I just checked ticketmaster, which has yet to pull the plug on sales as of 4:15 p.m. and you can still get really great seats.) Presumably, she’ll return in the fall at smaller venues. The last tour, she came to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre.

Clarkson also fired her manager earlier this week. And her single “Never Again” basically bombed at top 40 radio. Plus, Clive Davis hated [her latest CD “My December,”[(http://www.amazon.com/My-December-Kelly-Clarkson/dp/B000QFAJ7S/ref=pdbbssr_1/105-2293104-6372464?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1181854190&sr=8-1) which is due out June 26 and was mostly written by Clarkson without benefit of the songwriters who did “Since U Been Gone” and the like.

Here’s more info about her problems..

Read her statement on her Web site.

And here’s a summary of her Elle interview, in which she said she declined an offer of $10 million from Clive (!!!) to swap out five songs on “My December” for more radio-friendly tunes.

Bucky Covington, the most successful eighth-place finisher on “Idol” so far, hits Wild Bill’s country nightclub in Duluth on Friday night. His hit “A Different World” is now a top 20 hit on country radio and his CD has sold more than 150,000 copies, more than Justin Guarini, Diana DeGarmo or Tamyra Gray, to name a few.

More info here. $12 presale GA, $25 table, $16 GA at door, VIP mezz $75, $100 VIP side stage.

Anyone following “Hell’s Kitchen”? Eddie from Atlanta, the short dude with the kidney transplants was surprisingly cut last night ahead of whiny chubawub Aaron. He supposedly ruined the spaghetti and the risotta but he claimed to me today someone was conspiring to mess him up. And he said he didn’t make any real friends among the competitors. Oh, well.

Here’s the most interesting item of the day. (Believe me: slooow day!) Things were getting so nasty at a Clay Aiken fan web site, they shut down the boards for a time, though they came back on board Monday.

Here’s more info. And the site in questions.

A radio station agreed to an interview with Kat McPhee as long as they didn’t ask any “personal” questions. Huh? What kind of condition is that? I wouldn’t accept it. (She’s one contestant I have yet to interview from last year.)

When they did ask her a personal question about her much older boyfriend, she got angry and her fans deluged the station with complaints. Egads, Kat. You’re a public figure. Deal with questions about your private life with a light brushoff. It’s not that hard. Celebs do it all the time!

Here’s the item on www.msnbc.com. It’s the second item below some odd item in which Ryan Seacrest supposedly “blames” SImon for the slight slippage in ratings. That makes even less sense!

And check out Fantasia on the Tony Awards last night.

Only three people sent me essays so I am giving them first dibs on the prizes. (Sorry for changing the rules but, hey, this is my giveaway!). Linny-Kat grabbed the Entertainment Weekly and Shay gets the T-shirt. Bill Johnson requested the Taylor autographed CD and since he actually sent in an essay, I have to give it to him. I have about 18 other people who have requested stuff (mostly Taylor-related). I’ll figure out how to disseminate it based on a combination of who emailed me first, how well I know you and what you asked for. In other worse, I’m just makin’ it up as I go along. :)

Here are their essays by the way in no particular order:

Rodney,

I must say that should I be lucky enough to win a CD I need you to use the pseudonym “Bill Johnson.” I’m a 30 year old male and I take enough ribbing from my friends for just watching the show. If they knew I was reading Idol blogs or entering contests, I would never hear the end of it. My Man Card would be permanently taken from me.

I am one of the “lurkers” you were referring to. I read your blog daily and it has been my main/only source of Idol news. You have something fresh and interesting every single day. I even bookmarked the link so I don’t have to take the time to ajc.com and navigate there. You have fed my craving for all things Sanjaya, Antonella, Blake, and Jordin for months now and I am saddened that it is coming to an end. Thank you.

Bill Johnson

Although most people will give the pageant response to this question, the fact is, this blog is a “family” to me now. It goes far beyond discussions of just AI. It is an opportunity for a lot of us to just talk about every day problems we all face. Its funny, but when you think about all the different backgrounds on here, it would take a “special” group like us to make this blog work, and we manage to do it every day! It saddens me that the season is over, as I know some will not be with us next season, but it also makes me happy that we have made it yet another successful season of Al. So, I just want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you and to let you know that you are all loved!

Shay

Rodney Ho’s American Idol Buzz, better known to its denizens as the “Blawgpound” is much more than a source of American Idol facts and stats. Rodney has opened up a place where people from the most incredibly diverse backgrounds come together because of a common interest in American Idol — in American Pop Music, basically — and find opinions ranging from the sublime to the absurd — about American Idol, the contestants, the judges, and [to the dismay of some visitors] about almost anything in the world. Friendships through blogging have come about; many new things have been taught and learned; sources and resources have been shared; and a sense of community has been extended — all because Rodney is interested in what we think. The Blawgpound is more than a blog, it’s like an electronic “neighborhood café” where friends can meet and agree — or disagree — comfortably. Thanks!

Linny-kat ,,,=^..^=,,,

Since that contest I did a few weeks ago for Taylor and Kat autographed stuff was a bit of a bust, I’m just going to open it up now. Be first to email me your name and address and a request of what you want and it’s yours. First come, first serve. As always, I won’t reveal the winners’ real names but may mention who got what by handle later on.

This is reward for all of you who are sticking around offseason! :)

Taylor and Kat autographed posters (relatively small—like 11 by 17).

Autographed Taylor Hicks CD.

A Taylor Hicks CD (nonautographed) with a press kit.

A Kat McPhee CD (nonautographed) with a press kit and lots of pretty pictures of her.

An extra copy of the Entertainment Weekly special collector’s edition with Jordin on the cover.

If you want to improve your singing, I have “Idol” vocal coach Debra Byrd’s “Vocal Help Now!” DVD featuring Anthony Fedorov and Kelly Clarkson.

“Idol” Happy Meal toys

A “Best of American Idol seasons one, two and three” DVD

An “American Idol” T-shirt circa 2003 with iron-on transfers, a fabric marker and an “Idol button.

Oh, and a tiny, cheap “Idol” FM radio.

You request, I’ll try to serve!

I have to say the new best guilty pleasure of summer reality shows is the celebrity impersonator show “The Next Best Thing” on ABC on Wednesday nights. (Ratings went up the second week, a good sign.) Besides the mix of good and bad impressions of Donald Trump, Madonna, Cher, Celine Dion and Elvis, the judges are hilarious. They really make the show with their amusing punny putdowns, especially Elon Gold and Jeffrey Ross. Just don’t forget the cymbal.

Ross to an awful Bruce Willis impersonator: “You just died hard. I see dead judges.”

Gold to a mediocre Tina Turner; “That was more like Proud Scary.”

Ross to a Reba McEntire impersonator: “Your act is Reba McEntired.”’

Gold to a Sinatra impersonator: “Start spreading the noose and put it over your head!”

Ross after one guy tried to do, in succession, Rod Serling, Johnny Carson and Jack Nicholson: “Cal the Geneva Convention. This is torture!”

Ross to a Chris Rock impersonator: “It’s unanimous. Everybody hates Chris.”

Ross to a Rock impersonator: “Rocky Balblowa!”

Is there much of a shelf life to this thing? No way. But it’s worth a chuckle while it lasts. Perfect summer fodder.

From last Wednesday, the Roseanne, Howard Stern and Madonna impressions were the best. No clue why they let the Gloria Estefan or Kenny Chesney impersonators through though. Neither were terribly good.