Mash together elements of "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" and you get Bravo's latest reality competition show "Platinum Hit (10 tonight)."
This time the contestants want to be songwriters, well, kinda. Like one of the guest judges, Jermaine Dupri, they already seem sick of toiling in the background and are ready for center stage.
That's why you get one guy who proclaiming himself 'a musical genius,' and another who says "I sing for the widow, I sing for the orphan." For real.
"American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery will be honored in a "gala motorcade" at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, on Monday.
Scotty will ride with Mickey Mouse in a sports car from the park's entrance down Hollywood Blvd to the "American Idol Experience" attraction. Scotty will take the stage to talk about winning "Idol" and will pose for pictures with Mickey and Minnie.
The motorcade event takes place at 10 a.m.
There's no indication right now that any of this is televised or broadcast on any of Disney's channels, but if you're desperate to see it, you might try checking the Disney Parks blog or googling some Orlando TV station websites Monday afternoon.
Disney says the motorcade plans are subject to change if there's inclement weather, so follow @WaltDisneyWorld on Twitter for any updates.
All of the "Idol" Top 5 finishers will visit the "American Idol Experience" attraction at Disney World on Sunday, but it's unclear if there will be any type of performance or special event for them.
Wake County Schools Superintendent Tony Tata singled out "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery for praise today.
During his weekly news briefing, Tata congratulated McCreery, 17, a Garner High School junior, for Wednesday night's win. Tata also took the opportunity to get in some praise for the school system's music programs.
"We’re all very proud of Scotty and all that he represents," Tata said. "He’s a role model for all of our students and indeed for all of us as he has demonstrated poise, courage and talent under pressure. Scotty’s success is just another example of how our music and arts programs, as well as our athletic programs, afford opportunities to all of our children so they can aspire to achieve their dreams."
The talk show rounds begin!
Scotty McCreery will be a guest tonight on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
UPDATED - There has been a scheduling change and "Idol" runner-up Lauren Alaina will be on "Leno" tonight without Scotty, but Scotty will hit the show soon. We'll keep you updated here as soon as "The Tonight Show" releases that info. Sorry for anyone who unnecessarily DVRs "Leno" -- we know how painful that can be. But you still get Lauren!
Scotty is also slated to appear on "Live with Regis & Kelly" on Tuesday, May 31. That show airs on WTVD at 9 a.m.
Next Thursday (June 2) Scotty and Lauren will both sing for the "Today" show Summer Concert Series. "Today" starts at 7 a.m. on NBC and goes until 11 a.m.
We'll post it here if we learn of any other appearances. I'm sure he'll be on the "Ellen" show at some point.
We have several galleries of photos from last night's "American Idol" finale, viewing parties, and just Scotty in general. Click below for more photos and links.
It was brought to my attention that perhaps my recap of last night's show was a little biased toward Garner's Scotty McCreery.
Here is my perfectly reasoned response to that allegation: I don't care.
That's sort of my attitude tonight, too. I hope Scotty wins and I think he deserves to win, especially in spite of 'Idol' shenanigans last night. If my recap reflects a little "homer" lean to it, then come on and lean with me, why don't you?
Tonight's show promises to be a real spectacle. In addition to Scotty and Lauren Alaina, we'll reportedly get to see U2, Spider-Man, Lady Gaga, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Tony Bennett, Judas Priest, and Jack Black. It's rumored that Aerosmith and Jennifer Lopez could also perform. Somewhere in there, someone (please be Scotty) will be crowned the next American Idol.
And it's showtime...
Here's a right nice addition to the concert schedule at the NC Museum of Art: alternative-country goddess Lucinda Williams will play there on July 27. As it happens, that's the same night the "American Idol" tour plays Raleigh's RBC Center, just a mile away. But somehow, I don't imagine that will be much of a conflict for most folks. Tickets for Lucinda go on sale Tuesday.
American Idol (8pm, Fox) - The winning singer is named tonight. Odds are that the winner will be Garner's own Scotty McCreery, but you just. never. know. Georgia's Lauren Alaina has been a strong contestant, too. Before the big moment, there will be a reunion of the Top 13 contestants from this season (I've already forgotten anyone past the Top 6) and the iconic rock band U2 will perform with actors from the "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" Broadway catastrophe. I mean show. Broadway show. One last time, Go Scotty!
The Middle (8pm, ABC) - It's finale night for all of ABC's Wednesday night sitcoms, even the very funny "Happy Endings," which just started a few weeks ago. On "The Middle," Axl hasn't completed his 30 days of community service and Sue has to prove she's never taken a sick day to get a perfect attendance award. On "Modern Family," Jay wants to spend his birthday fishing but his family wants a big party, which leads to Claire and Mitchell getting trapped in the yard of their childhood home and Cameron getting into trouble at the bakery. And in a one-hour finale for "Cougar Town," Travis moves to Hawaii and the gang uses that as an excuse to take a vacation there, though they're really on a mission to convince him to come home. On "Happy Endings," a surprise invitation to the wedding of an old slacker buddy leads Brad and Jane to uncover something disturbing about their marital status, and a depressed Penny asks Derrick to be her date and pretend they're engaged.
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (10pm, CBS) - This one didn't make it, so tonight's season finale is actually a series finale. In this last episode, a serial killer is shooting people in crowded places and Beth's life is threatened when she goes undercover with Prophet.
Law & Order: Los Angeles (10pm, NBC) - It's not a finale, but it's one of the few non-repeats on tonight. In this episode, the murder of a casino worker exposes an argument that occurred before the crime and an admission from the victim's girlfriend that complicates the case.
Back to live-blogging/live-recapping "American Idol" tonight. And man, the drama has already started. It's not even 8 p.m. and already Fox has America buzzing with the "news" that Lauren Alaina is being treated for laryngitis (here after known as Laurengitis) and may not be able to perform tonight.
If Lauren can't perform, last week's eliminated constestant, Haley Reinhart, will take her place to compete against Scotty McCreery.
Two things. First, I prefer Haley over Lauren anyway. By a wide margin. Sue me. So I'm fine with Haley filling in, except she doesn't really have a fair chance if she only has today to rehearse. Second, we all kinda know in our hearts that Scotty's gonna win anyway, so whatever. I just don't want an asterisk by his name.
EXCEPT ... if Lauren "soldiers through" and earns massive sympathy votes from America, pulling the upset over Scotty.
I'm a little ticked off right now.
Here we go...
This is just in from our Washington D.C. correspondent, Barb Barrett:
By Barbara Barrett
Washington correspondent
WASHINGTON – Scotty-mania hit Capitol Hill today, where North Carolina’s congressional delegation appears to agree that Scotty McCreery ought to win “American Idol” this week.
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, has invited the entire state delegation and their staffs to a watch party this evening at the home of one of her staff members. Hagan also called McCreery last week to congratulate him on coming so far in the contest.
Meanwhile GOP U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, whose 2nd District includes McCreery’s hometown of Garner, wanted to chat this afternoon about her famous constituent’s chances.
