blake lewis

I know this is going back to last year's American Idol, but in a recent radio interview, runner-up Blake Lewis blasted Sanjaya Malakar, saying the singer more famous for his hair than his voice should have never been on the show. In fact, he went on to say, "He had already gotten cut. [The judges were] like, 'You suck. You shouldn't be on the show. Then the producer [Nigel Lythgoe] put him back on." In fact, Lewis said he only made it to Hollywood because his sister did; Shyamali Malakar got cut there. If this is true, does this speak to the integrity of the selection process? I realize it's a reality show as well as a competition so personalities are cast as well as talent, but wouldn't you still want the best singers represented? I guess not.

Every year there is criticism when certain contestants advance ahead of others, but as far as I can tell this is the first time a former contestant has come out and said much the same. "I got pissed every week because my buddies that are super-talented are going home and he's [still there]," he said about Sanjaya's improbable run to seventh place. Of course, once they hit the stage it's our choice, and our fault, how long they stay. But are the showrunners intentionally putting in sub-par performers to try and drum up press and controversy like they had last year with Sanjaya?

(S07E19) Thank god it's the end of three-times-a-week Idol. Tonight, we lost four more contestants to the ether and said hello to our Top 12. It's been a long road coming, and while I can't say I agree 100% with the Top 12, I will agree that most of the contestants in it deserve to be there.

Honestly, I think the Idol team accomplished their goal of creating the most talented Top 12 in Idol history. Say what you want about their professional pedigree and the lack of true amateurs in this group because in the end it won't really matter. What they will bring is a better more consistent product to the screen. Sure there's early favorites, but who can honestly predict the winner at this point (I know some of you are very certain you know who it will be)? Can you even predict the Top 12?

In what seems a natural progression, word has come down the line that this week's American Idol theme is hits from the '80s. I think this may prove to be our best week yet, from the contestants' perspective. Some of the contestants were even alive in the '80s and may have some real connection to and love for the music. I think it was a disconnect and unfamiliarity with the '60s and '70s tunes that hurt some of them these past two weeks.

In keeping with the '80s theme, it makes sense to bring in last season's runner up Blake Lewis to debut his new single "How Many Words" on Thursday's results show. After all, he proclaimed the sounds of the '80s a huge influence in the creation of his debut album, Audio Day Dream. And American Idol always loves to trumpet in past contestants to try and help their albums sell. And they do have an hour to fill. I think we can expect to see more Idol alumni this year than ever before.

While last season is considered by some to have been a major disappointment, you can't deny the rising star of winner Jordin Sparks. Her debut single "Tattoo" is hanging steady in Billboard's Top 10 while her follow-up "No Air," performed with Chris Brown, is rising fast. She got rave reviews for her rendition of the national anthem at this year's Super Bowl, which she followed up with an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist. And now she's announced that she will be the opening act on Alicia Keys' highly anticipated "As I Am" tour.

The thirty-date tour runs through June 18, so she'll be on tour still when the Idol finale this year comes around. I'm sure she'll catch a red-eye to make the show, though, you can't buy that kind of exposure! I'm glad to see her opening for a bigger act rather than going out ego-first and trying to headline on one album as some artists have done. She has the potential to build herself a nice little pop career, she just needs to nurture it along slowly and carefully.

Not every American Idol winner or runner-up has the massive success of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. In just the last three weeks, Sony BMG has dropped three AI contestants/winners from its record label.

The latest to be dropped is season five runner-up Katharine McPhee. She released an album in 2006 that has only sold about 365,000 copies, according to MTV news.

Call it what you will -- the downfall of pop music or its savior -- there's no denying that 'American Idol' is a fickle god-maker.

Some winners have found great success (hello, Kelly!), some have been dumped by their labels (so sorry, Ruben and Taylor), while some also-rans have gone on to bigger and better things.

We check in on 30 'AI' alums and fill you in on which ones are in trouble with the law, which are still giving it their best shot ... and which have fallen off the radar.

'American Idol''s are usually easy on the ears.

But occasionally, the show finds contestants who aren't too bad on the eyes, either, making each season that much more enjoyable to watch.

AOL users recently nominated their picks for the sexiest 'Idol' ever, and we're counting down the top 10.

Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog.

Today on TV Squad Daily:

• Carson Daly is restarting production of his late night show, despite the continued WGA strike.
• A special segment: "I was wrong."
• Let's over-analyze whether or not musicians need to request underwear being thrown at them!

The video's embedded below, or you can subscribe to this podcast via our feed. Plus, you can also download the file directly.

Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog.

Today on TV Squad Daily, it's a bad day for headlines. For example:

• Blake Lewis is prepared to catch your underpants.
  
• K-fed is your daddy.
  
• You knew it was coming eventually: Celebrity Rehab. Now you know exactly when it's coming: in January.
  

The video's embedded below, or you can subscribe to this podcast via our feed. Plus, you can also download the file directly.

American Idol's season six winner Jordin Sparks and first runner-up Blake Lewis are hitting the studios to record their individual debut albums. With possible release dates as early as Thanksgiving, America will learn soon enough if the latest batch of Idols are "turkeys" or not.

Jordin said, "I'm trying to mix everything together. I'm loving all the songs I'm recording, so hopefully that will come off the album when you listen to it and you'll be able to feel the emotion."

What would the Fourth of July be without hot dogs, fireworks, and Blake's beatboxing?

American Idol finalist Blake Lewis will be joining third place finisher Melinda Doolittle, as well as this year's reigning champ Jordin Sparks for Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC. The special will be hosted by Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber from NBC's Today Show. Country singer Martina McBride will also be on hand to perform "Anyway."

NBC says the fireworks display "will feature nearly 35,000 brilliant shells exploding over New York City" in the country's largest Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza. The one-hour Spectacular will be televised at 9PM from New York.

(S06E41) I am exhausted, truly exhausted. TV should be relaxing. But American Idol's two hour event shows are emotionally-draining. They wear me out. And tonight's show was especially BIG. I'm surprised Ryan didn't call it the "biggest show ever." It actually ran over 2 hours by about eight minutes.

But everything between 8:00 and 10:05 was just filler or commercials. We came here tonight to crown the next American Idol. The judges give their final thoughts. Randy says, "It's Jordin, baby." Paula is just proud of everyone. She congratulates them both. Simon congratulates Jordin (his pick based on the last song Tuesday night).

74 million votes were cast Tuesday night (for a combined total of 609 million votes cast over the season) and this year's American Idol is ...

(S06E40) In honor of the American Idol two-part season finale, there's going to be a live chat during the show so you can post your thoughts and comments immediately.

Will Blake beatbox his way to glory? Or will Jordin sparkle her way to the top?

Click here to join the chat.

A full recap will be IS NOW posted after the jump later tonight.

Honestly, I have no idea who is going to win this year's American Idol.

And neither does Simon Cowell. Mr. Opinionated was uncharacteristically at a loss for a definitive prediction, telling reporters: "I can't call it at this stage. For Blake, he's a brilliant entertainer, but the negative is he's not a fantastic singer. The advantage for Jordin is she is a great singer and the negative is she hasn't done one performance yet which I can remember as a 'wow."'

Several weeks ago, I decided that Jordin Sparks was definitely a shoo-in as this year's winner. And both Ryan Seacrest and the odds makers agreed with me, making me that much more confident in my pick. But after last week's results, I'm no longer so sure.