Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey fail to boost 'American Idol' audience

LOS ANGELES - The audience for "American Idol" slumped 19 percent to 17.9 million viewers, its lowest season opener, despite the debut of judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban, according to early ratings data released on Thursday.

The two-hour premiere of the show's 12th season on Fox television also lost 19 percent of the 18-49 age group most coveted by advertisers, Nielsen figures showed. Total viewers dropped to 17.9 million from 21.9 million in 2012.

Despite the drop, "American Idol" was still the most watched show by a huge margin on US television Wednesday night, beating all shows combined in the 18-49 demographic on the three other biggest TV networks.

Fox executives also noted that "Idol" beat the 2012 September premiere of NBC singing show rival "The Voice" by some 46 percent in total viewers.

"American Idol," long a ratings juggernaut for Fox, lost its eight-year crown as the most watched show on US television last year to "Sunday Night Football."

Singers Carey, Minaj and country artist Keith Urban joined the show as judges after Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler left last year.

Fox is a unit of News Corp.

source: interaksyon.com

Fil-Am group campaigns for votes to save Jessica Sanchez

MANILA, Philippines – Spread the word: "Vote for Jessica!"

The Washington-based Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) on Saturday asked Filipinos all over the world to vote for Jessica Sanchez on-line after the Filipino-American born finalist in the ongoing American Idol was almost eliminated from the popular American television show. She was “saved” only because the three judges exercised their one-time vote privilege to retain her in the hotly-contested program last Wednesday.

MHC is a non-profit, service-oriented organization run by Filipino immigrants in the United States based in Washington, D.C.

Miss Grace Valera, MHC executive director, in an urgent e-mail, appealed to all Filipinos here and abroad to cast their votes for Jessica Sanchez for her to win the coveted American Idol 2012.

Valera’s e-mail said:

“Dear Kababayan, family, friends, friends of friends. . . Our dear JESSICA SANCHEZ almost got eliminated from AMERICAN IDOL tonight (THURS.,12 APRIL 2012) had the Judges not saved her… Kababayans, pls vote for her every Wednesday night...right after the show...all of your cellphones (500x), landline (500 x), ONLINE facebook (50x). http://www.americanidol.com/vote/.

“Please help us campaign to everyone ‘to vote for her.’ It’s only a once-a-week sacrifice for a truly deserving, multi-talented kababayan. We cannot be overconfident on just a few votes. It’s NOT the judges deciding on their own. It’s America! Unfortunately, Judges can only save a contestant ‘once’ so this now depends on all of us NOW on how to save her in the coming weeks... VOTE FOR JESSICA SANCHEZ!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKOo_2q4_CM. MARAMING SALAMAT PO.”

In the episode last April 11, Sanchez got the fewest home viewers’ votes from among the seven finalists.

However, Sanchez was allowed to remain in the show when the judges decided to use their one-time “The Judges’ Save” privilege.

"Give me that [microphone]! This is crazy! Yes, we're using 'the save!' You're not going home. Go sit down, go sit down," Idol judge Jennifer Lopez told Sanchez after she ran onstage.

"We are saving Jessica without any doubt," another judge, Randy Jackson, said.

"Let me just say this for myself. This girl (Jessica) is one of the best singers in America -- ever. Are you kidding me?! Please everybody, please vote for the best. It's about finding the best. I mean, come on," the third judge, Steven Tyler, said.

The 16-year-old Sanchez was stunned by the decision of the three judges.

Sanchez blurted out: “I don't expect anything. I just do what I do and whatever happens, happens. I just want people to know I've been working hard my whole life."

With Sanchez remaining in contention, hopes are high she could bag the American Idol and become the first ever Filipino-American to win the prestigious award, although some quarters believe the judges’ “strong show of bias” may turn off the audience and even doom Jessica in further voting.

article source: interaksyon.com

Sanchez Bounces Back On 'Idol,' Reclaims Judges' Nods

MANILA, Philippines — Jessica Sanchez once again earned a standing ovation – her third – from “American Idol” judges, coming from last week’s not so impressive performance.

The Filipino-Mexican contestant performed “Everybody Has A Dream” during Top 10’s Billy Joel Night, March 21 (March 22, Manila time).

It was a defining moment for the 16-year-old singer from San Diego who made the cut to the show’s Top 9 with Hollie Cavanagh, Skylar Laine, Elise Testone, Joshua Ledet, Colton Dixon, Philip Phillips, DeAndre Brackensick and Heejun Han.

Erika Van Pelt was voted off from her season 11’s journey.

Just like her previous standing ovation performances of Jennifer Hudson’s “Love You I Do” and Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” Sanchez’s rendition of the Billy Joel song left judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson mesmerized.

Tyler told Sanchez, “You’ve gone way past my judging.”

“When God was giving out vocal cords, you were so at the front of the line. I’ve got nothing to say except for thank you for letting me hear you sing, baby,” he added.

Lopez, on the other hand, thought of Sanchez’s piece to be a fitting choice, like it was her own.

“That song was, like, written for you… Like [Billy Joel] wrote that song for you a long time ago.

“That was a defining moment for you, for me… a defining song because I really feel like that’s you. That’s you. You have this dream and you’re here and you’re seizing the moment and you’re living it in every second and we all get to feel that and that’s a beautiful thing,” she said.

Jackson took note of Sanchez’s consistency and described her performance flawless and perfect.

“It takes consistency to win and you have a moment every time you step on that stage… Every time you step up every week, you have to have a moment. You have a moment every time you step on that stage and I love it. You are flawless, it was perfect.”

He even commended “Idol’s” resident mentor Jimmy Iovine, image adviser Tommy Hilfiger and guest mentor Sean “Diddy” Combs. “Yo, Jimmy, Diddy, Tommy, everybody was right on. Excellent!”

Prior to Sanchez’s well-lauded performance, Diddy told the young singer during rehearsals, “I don’t believe you.”

“To be honest with you, I don’t believe you. I just think that you’re over singing the song. I just want to believe that you have that dream… If you hold back on the showing off tricks… Tricks are not going to get you to that superstar level,” Combs suggested to Sanchez.

Taking Diddy’s advice, Sanchez proved that she can sing in a more restrained manner while looking straight at him, turning Diddy into a believer.

Sanchez’s take on “Everybody Has A Dream” was one of the standouts on Wednesday’s performance night. As per judges’ verdict, same raves went to Colton Dixon and Elise Testone. Being the youngest contender left, Sanchez is considered as one of the frontrunners this “Idol” season.

The latest “Power Rankings” of Entertainment Weekly had Sanchez on the third spot coming after Phillip Phillips Jr. and Hollie Cavanagh.

source: mb.com.ph