A 14-year-old girl was strapped to a lie detector and asked on air about her sexual history at the urging of the teen’s mother.  As if that’s not bad enough (you can’t ask a minor about sex, especially on the radio!), the poor girl ended up revealing that she was raped when she was just 12 years old.

Network Ten programming boss David Mott has decided that Sandilands can no longer continue to work on the singing competition.  "Australian Idol is very much a family program and its appeal is very much right across the board, and we’d like to think that all families can enjoy the program in front of the TV” he said. "We thank Kyle for his contribution to Australian Idol over the last four years, but it has become increasingly clear that as Idol has remained a family-focused show, even more so this year with the 6.30pm Sunday time slot, his radio persona has taken on a more controversial position over this period which is not in the interest of the show… the recent controversy surrounding Kyle’s radio program has highlighted more than ever the conflicting attitude of the two careers.”

Sandilands had the following response: "I’m disappointed at Channel 10’s decision to remove me from Australian Idol. I have truly loved being a part of the show and wish everyone involved all of the success for this coming season.”

The worst part is that Sandilands may not even get to keep his radio show.  The station owner, Austereo, has put the show on hold indefinitely but I think that they are just as much to blame.  Australia normally has a delay on radio programs so that the station has enough time to censor content that might be deemed inappropriate.  Certainly, this would be one of those times.

Australian Idol returns on August 9, 2009.  Sandilands will be featured in the first three episodes (auditions that were filmed earlier) but replacements will be brought in when the show goes to live performances on August 24, 2009.

Post from: Idol Stalker

If you aren’t familiar with Guy, you should give him a chance because I think he’s got a great voice and I love his energy.  I found the video for the title track “Like It Like That” so check it out and tell me what you think.

Post from: Idol Stalker

There are 12 songs in all.  Here’s the tracklisting:

1. She’s So Sorry
2. 2 1
3. Trip
4. For the Nights I Can’t Remember
5. Never Too Late
6. Gunnin
7. On My Own
8. Bone Shatter
9. Old School
10. Narcissist
11. Hand Grenade
12. Dying to Live Again

image: Amazon

Post from: Idol Stalker

Like his American Idol counterpart, Ryan Seacrest, Ben will be hosting a new nationally syndicated radio show called “ETalk20” which will go along with his work as a co-host on the ETalk television program.

The show will start this weekend and will be broadcast in 11 cities across Canada.  Mulroney will talk about entertainment news, do celebrity interviews and do a weekly countdown of Canada’s hit music.  I think this is a great idea!

Here’s a list of the cities/channels:

• KOOL FM 107.3 FM in Victoria, BC on Sundays at 10pm
• CFBT FM 94.5 FM in Vancouver, BC on Sundays at 10pm
• CKCE FM 101.5 FM in Calgary, AB on Sundays at 10pm
• CHBN FM 91.7 FM in Edmonton, AB on Sundays at 6pm
• CHTM 610 AM in Thompson, MB on Sundays at 6pm
• CFJR FM 104.9 FM in Brockville, ON on Saturdays at 6pm and Sundays at 3pm 
• CFLY FM 98.3 FM in Kingston, ON on Sundays at 10pm
• CKPT FM 99.7 FM in Peterborough, ON on Sundays at 6pm
• CHUM FM 104.5 FM in Toronto, ON on Sundays at 10pm
• C100 FM 100 FM in Halifax, NS on Saturdays at 10pm and Sundays at 6pm 
• CHOZ FM 94.7 FM in St. Johns, NFLD on Sundays at 8pm

image: Newscom

Post from: Idol Stalker

Voici la teasing de la septième saison de Nouvelle Star/watch a teaser for the seventh season of Nouvelle Star:

You can find the official website now at http://nouvellestar.m6.fr/.

Post from: Idol Stalker

At last month’s NRJ Awards, Julien came out to perform his song “Les Limites” (see the original video here) and clearly mimicked Britney Spears’ 2001 Video Music Awards performance of “I’m a Slave 4 U.”

Watch the performance here.  I adore him for being so unusual.

image: Newscom

Post from: Idol Stalker

Metro News reported that Zack said that he was always aware that the show was “prohibitively expensive” to produce and that it had always been a “hard sell” with Canadian advertisers.  He also talked about the fact that CTV paid $100 million for the Olympics and would have to sell the advertising for that (read more on that in the whole article).

More importantly, Zack said that, times are bleak (understatement of the year) and cancelling the show show sends the “worst possible message” because it makes it seem like kids shouldn’t dare to dream anymore.  He felt the show demonstrated that people can work hard and have options which, of course, is something we all need to see.  I’ve felt discouraged this year and, while I’m not sure Canadian Idol would exactly make me feel better or inspired, I do get Zack’s point. 

What do you think?  Is it bad to take a show like Canadian Idol off the air?

image: CTV

Post from: Idol Stalker

It’s an entirely worthy cause.  Watch their performances here:

Brian Melo Sings “Emily”

Eva Avila – “No More Coming Back” & “How Come You Don’t Call ME?”

Kalan Porter “Hurray”

See more of Kalan’s performances: Down in Heaven and The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

Post from: Idol Stalker

WOW!  It’s official – there will be no Canadian Idol for 2009.  The National Post is reporting that CTV released the following statement: “as a result of the current economic climate, production of Canadian Idol will rest for the 2009 year.”

From what I’ve seen, it doesn’t look like the show is totally cancelled but it is being put on hold.  I’m really surprised but I’m not out of hope.  The article also pointed out that other Idol shows have taken year-long breaks and come back which was the case in Germany, Russia and the Netherlands.

image: CTV

Post from: Idol Stalker

I wasn’t surprised to see Hedley on the list which is fronted by former Idol finalist, Jacob Hoggard, but I wasn’t expecting to see Carly Rae Jepsen, Jaydee Bixby and Tara Oram.  Good for them!

Here are the categories featuring former Idol contestants as nominees:

MAINSTREAM Adult Contemporary:  
Carly Rae Jepsen – "Sunshine on my Shoulders"
Julie Crochetiere – "Precious Love"
Kreesha Turner – "Don’t Call Me Baby"
Lights – "Drive my Soul"
Simon Collins – "Unconditional"

Country:
Crystal Shawanda – "You Can Let Go"
Jaydee Bixby – "Old Fashioned Girl"
Ridley Bent – "Heartland Heartbreak"
Tara Oram – "Fly Girl"
The Higgins – "Flower Child"

Fan’s Choice:
Hedley
Finger Eleven
Kreesha Turner
State Of Shock
Theory of a Deadman

S.A.C. Song of the Year
Hedley – "For the Nights I Can’t Remember"
Finger Eleven – "I’ll Keep your Memory Vague"
Avril Lavigne – "Hot"
Kreesha Turner – "Don’t Call me Baby"
Kardinal Offishall – "Dangerous"

image: CTV

Post from: Idol Stalker