The boys kick off the live shows... as Jennifer Lopez and Steve Tyler experience what American Idol is really about

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

On trial: It wasn't just the contestants who got to perform live for the first time, it was also a first for new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez on tonight's American Idol


After the long rounds of auditions and the drawn out knock out stages, the final 12 male contestants finally got the chance to perform for America tonight.

After months of vying to win over the judges, suddenly it was all about the viewer at home, as contestants including Casey Abrams, Scotty McCreery and Jacob Lusk sang their hearts out.

But it wasn't just their dreams on the line.

For the first time viewers got the chance to see the new judges in action, unedited. And their personalities shone through, with Steve Tyler keeping producers on their toes, bleeping out his colourful language.


First time experience: The judges got chance to comment on performances from the top 12 boys in the competition


Jennifer Lopez was equally passionate, although kept her comments suitable for a family audience.

But while opinionated, both seemed reluctant to criticise their hand-picked contestants, leaving Randy Jackson to take on the role of the bad guy, to much booing from the crowd.

But there were some contestants that even Lopez and Tyler had to let down, however gently.

First up was Clint Jun Gamboa who kicked off the show with Stevie Wonder's Superstition


Thumbs up: Clint Jun Gamboa got the show off to a good start with Stevie Wonder's Superstition; the judges praised him, although said he looked a little 'jittery'


With his round glasses and cheeky smile he won a big cheer from the audience, although seemed a little nervous.

But the judges couldn't have been more positive.

Jackson praised him, adding: 'There's no karaoke singer in the world that's got that kind of vocal talent. This is a singing competition and that was brilliant.'


Heartthrobs: Jovany Barreto was next to take to the stage, before Jordan Dorsey performed Usher's OMG

Daunting: The live show was the first time many of the contestants have performed in such a large audience


Lopez said she hoped the audience could see what a talent he was, adding: 'You must have felt good, you got it out.'

Not getting as positive a reception was Jovany Barreto, the former port worker who sang Edwin McCain's I'll Be.

Lopez loved it. 'People got to see you I think for the first time, I mean really really see what you can do, and you know what you did it,' she said excitedly.
But Barreto was brought back down to earth to Jackson.


Getting ready: Tim Halperin chats to host Ryan Seacrest ahead of his performance


Impressive: Tim won praise from the judges for his rendition of Rob Thomas' Streetcorner Serenade
'For me it felt very karaoke,' he said bluntly. 'The thing about doing cover songs is that you can bring whatever you want to it but it doesn't sound as good as the original.'


Angry Lopez responded, telling him: 'You should be very, very proud.'
But Jackson replied: 'You've had to many biscuits.'

Next up was Jordan Dorsey, who performed Usher's O.M.G.
The judges seemed unanimous in their dislike of the song choice.

Lopez told him: 'You know I love you, I do, and I have from the beginning. But I'm not sure that's who you really are. Is that who you want to be?'

After Dorsey admitted that the song didn't suit him, she finished: 'It didn't show off your voice, the voice that we know you have.'


He then told host Ryan Seacrest: ''I had to act because it's an Usher song and he moves a lot. I had to add some extra.'

Next up was Tim Halperin, who distinguished himself throughout the audition process with his use of instruments.

But tonight it was just his voice on show as he sang Rob Thomas's Streetcorner Symphony (Come On Over).

The judges missed his individual style.

To boos from the audience Tyler told him: 'Tim, I'm not sure if that song did you any justice man. I've heard you sing so many other better songs behind the piano.'

Lopez backed him up: 'It's not that you didn't do it well, you did do it well, but it didn't show America who you are as an artist.'

'That song is a cool, song but that's what I wouldn't equate you with,' finished Jackson. 'It really wasn't the best try today.'

But the criticism didn't dent Halperin's confidence: 'I felt it went pretty good to me and I hope America would agree with that.'

Following him on stage was the undeniably individual Brett Loewenstern.


Tossing his red curls around he bounced around the stage singing The Doors' classic Light My Fire.

Tyler loved it: 'You brought it home man you were on fire.'

And Lopez was impressed: 'That was like more hair tossing than me and Beyonce over the last ten years!'

Jackson had been counting.

'There were 14 hair shakes, that's a lot man. The things that were cool about that was that you were definitely fun and definitely bold.'

Next up was James Durbin who brought a new level of energy to the stage as he rocked the room with the unexpected choice of Judas Priest's Got Another Thing Coming. He also added the unusual touch of a zebra print scarf trailing behind him like a tail.

Tyler was thrilled, with the censors jumping into action to bleep out his dirty language.

'I think that's the first Judas Priest song that we've had on the show, ever,' he said.

Equally impressed was Lopez: 'I love the way you perform. I love the way you sing, where it comes from, it's organic it's real. You do it so naturally, it's insane.'

Jackson thought the performance should inspire the other performers.
'This is right here how you do it,' he told him. 'That was great man.'


Here comes Brett: Brett Loewenstern, the last boy to make it through to the top 24, sang The Doors' Light My Fire


Robbie Rosen performed Sarah McLachlan's Angel and with his puppy dog eyes and thick hair seemed designed to appeal to a female audience.

Tyler told him: 'Beautiful. Everyone right in the audience was hearing right what I'm hearing.'

Lopez agreed: 'I've said to you before that when you sing songs you have to tell a story and you do.'


Judgement time: Brett nervously awaits his comments from the judges, but received only praise from the judges


Young stars: James Durbin (left) and Robbie Rosen impressed the judges with their performances


Lopez agreed: 'There are just some people who are born to do something. You're born to sing country music.'

And Jackson found nothing to criticise.

'You know what's cool about you, you're like a throwback country boy. You're not trying to crossover. You're pure country.'

McCreery was the only one without a thing to say. 'It's been a dream,' he said. 'But I don't even know man, what in the world!'


Country strong: Scotty McCreery, who was voted through on account of his astonishingly low voice, impressed yet again


Stefano Langone couldn't have been a bigger change as he belted out Bruno Mars' Just the Way You Are.

Jackson loved it, despite the occasional duff high note.

'This kid could be on the radio right now and that's what we're looking for. A real star,' he told him.

And Langone was looking for extra votes as he told Seacrest: 'That song it was for all the ladies out there. I love all you jut the way you are.'


Taking on a modern hit: Stefano Langone took a risk by performing one of the biggest hits of last year - Bruno Mars' Just The Way You Are


Paul McDonald chose Rod Stewart's Maggie May.

Tyler was impressed: 'The way you shake it off and just are, I love that character in you.'

As were his fellow contestants, with Lopez saying: 'You have real character in the way you move.

'That smile you have it lights up the whole place. I love someone who smiles when they are singing.'


Rocking out: McDonald impressed the judges with his rendition of Rod Stewart's Maggie May


Jacob Lusk then added some soul to the proceedings with Luther Vandross' A House Is Not a Home, which frequent viewers will remember from the audition stage.

It was clear he was Lopez's favourite, as she led the judges in comparing him to Luther Vandross: 'He's gone, but now we have you.'

Ending the show was Casey Abrams, the contestant who nearly dropped out of Idol this week when he was hospitalised.


The new Luther Vandross: Jacob Lusk floored the judges with his performance of Luther Vandross' A House Is Not A Home


With anticipation for his performance heightened, he belted out I Put A Spell On You, flirting with Lopez throughout with little smiles.

He was the first contestant of the night to get the audience on their feet for a standing ovation, ending the show on a high note.

'Girls, what do you think about this man?' asked Tyler, to screams from the audience. 'As good as it get's, crazy good.'

Lopez told him: 'Casey, you're sexy Casey. I don't have to tell you, they told you.
'You took it, you ate it. I loved it, I loved it.'


Belting it out: Casey Abrams sings his heart out as he performs I Put A Spell On You; he was hospitalised earlier in the week with stomach problems, putting his appearance on the show in doubt


After his performance Seacrest questioned him about his hospitalisation.
'My stomach just wasn't in the right place,' Abrams admitted, honestly.

The girls will perform on Wednesday at 8pm before the final 12 are revealed on Thursday night's show.

Ten finalists will be voted for by the public, with another two selected as 'wild cards' by the judges.


American Idol Scotty McCreery March 1, 2011


American Idol Jordan Dorsey March 1, 2011


American Idol 2011 Top 12 Guys Perform - Brett Loewenstern (Light My Fire)


American Idol Jovany Barreto March 1, 2011


American Idol Casey Abrams March 1, 2011


American Idol 2011 Top 12 Guys Perform - Tim Halperin (Sweet Corner Symphony)


source: dailymail

Jason Gardiner slams Dancing on Ice viewers for sympathy votes after Vanilla Ice is booted off the show

By GEORGINA LITTLEJOHN

Shock exit: Vanilla Ice and his skating partner Katie Stainsby were voted off Dancing On Ice this weekend which judge Jason Gardiner blamed the viewers for


Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner has slammed viewers of the show for putting contestants through on sympathy votes.

The outspoken choreographer hit out at the voting public after Vanilla Ice was voted off ahead of fellow celebrity contestants Johnson Beharry and Denise Welch.

Gardiner said the rapper - real name Robert Matthew Van Winkle - was 'much better' than the other two and blamed the viewers for putting him and Laura Hamilton, who topped the leaderboard last week, in the skate-off.


And he said the viewers' voting was 'frustrating' for the judges who were left to make 'soul destroying' decisions about contestants they want to keep in.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'It does a real disservice to the competition.

'It really angers me that people like Denise and Johnson are getting through on sympathy votes or popularity when we're losing someone who really should not have left.



Gracious in defeat: Vanilla Ice was resigned to his fate after he was voted out unanimously by the judges


Seductive: Vanilla Ice and partner Katie Stainsby performed a sexy Flamenco to Justin Timberlake's Like I Love You


'It's a crying shame he did. he's so much better than those two.'

And he hit out at the viewers again for wanting a 'mediocre' outcome to the ice skating talent show.

The 38-year-old added: 'If viewers want a lacklustre, mediocre, less-than-average final, they should keep voting for Johnson and Denise.'

Denise, who scored just 14.5 and was told that her routine was as painful as 'an MRI scan' by Gardiner, and Johnson, who received the same score, are safe to skate again next week.

But the judges were left aghast when Vanilla Ice, who scored 21.5, and Laura, who got 24.5, were given the lowest votes.

Gardiner said: This is where it gets heartbreaking for us. It's frustrating when we don't want either of them to go.'



Soul-destroying: Gardiner blamed the public for leaving the judges to vote between two of the strongest performers


High score: But her mark of 24.5 wasn't enough for the public to put Laura Hamilton in the skate-off


And he said he thinks that TV presenter Laura was voted into the skate-off because she's not as well known as the other celebrities, despite her outstanding routines and high marks week in week out.

He added: 'If we lost her, we'd end up with a clear frontrunner, Sam Attwater.
'I don't want that - I want them neck-and neck all the way to the final. It will be thrilling.'


Safe: Johnson Beharry VC and partner Jodeyne Higgins were kept in by the public despite being told they had no chemistry


MRI scan: Denise Welch performed a Carnival-style Brazilian Samba with Matt Evers which kept her in despite being told the routine was 'painful'


DOI: Vanilla Ice out


source: dailymail

Oh, mother! Madonna embarrasses Lourdes as she brandishes her bottom on red carpet at the Vanity Fair Oscars party

By BAZ BAMIGBOYE

Spot the teen: Lourdes Leon, 14, was out with her mother Madonna at the Vanity Fair Oscar party last night - and guess who was dressed the most outrageously...


It's every 14-year-old's worst nightmare. You get a ticket to the coolest party in town, but then your mother spoils it by tagging along wearing inappropriate clothing and what's worse, exposes her behind to all and sundry.

On the red carpet, that's just what happened when 52-year-old Madonna left daughter Lourdes blushing with embarrassment on the red carpet of the Vanity Fair party last night.

The Material Girl had gone out wearing little more than a black leotard and a few scraps of lace and the mortified teen was heard pleading: 'Mum, do you have to?!’ every time her popstar parent struck a pose and poked out her posterior for the waiting cameras.


All smiles: Raven-haired Lourdes appeared to have beaten her embarrassment as she grinned for the photographers


'Is that my mom's butt..? I hope my dress isn't that short': Lourdes catches sight of her mother's behind before self-consciously pulling her own dress down


She told Access Hollywood: '(My mom) does actually (borrow my clothes). I go into her closet - I'm not supposed to take things without asking, but she's always taking things without asking.

'I mean, she gets mad at me when I take things without asking her, but... she has such amazing like clothes, so it's like kind of annoying sometimes... She wears my shoes a lot and she wears my accessories.'


And the winner is...Natalie Portman hands over her Oscar for Best Actress to get engraved with her name at the Governor's Ball


Grub's up: Wolfgang Puck arrives with a tray of Oscar-themed food that was being served at the ball


Across town meanwhile, the official Academy Awards afterparty, the Governor's Ball was taking place.

The catering meanwhile was being delivered by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, who's been in charge of the menus there for the past 17 years.

Puck said ahead of the event: ‘For the main course, we have English sole with a confit of tomatoes and a paella. This is a vegetarian paella because I know Natalie Portman is a vegan – so she’s going to have a big bowl of that!'


Proud: Colin Firth poses with his Best Actor Oscar at the Governor's Ball


Say hello to my little friend: Firth has no qualms about letting fans hold his Oscar as he parties the night away


However, before the pregnant star could tuck into her dinner, there was the important job of getting a certain gold statuette inscribed with her name...

She wasn't the only winner making a beeline to the inscription table either.

Best Actor winner Colin Firth was one of the first inline and after graciously posing for photos with his, got out his own phone to take a few snaps of it.

Kathryn Schwarz, the Academy's official keeper of the Oscars, said: 'It's a little something special to have your name on it.'


Take your mama out: Russell Brand took hus mother Barbara to the Governor's Ball


Couple's night: Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had scrubbed up well for their night out too


Awards regulars: Oscar winner Helen Mirren was also at the ball with her film producer husband Taylor Hackford



Touching: Amy Adams, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, cuddles up to fiance Darren Legallo


Madonna Bares Bum at Oscar Bash


source: dailymail

Oscars 2011: Natalie Portman triumphs as best actress but the night belongs to best film, The King's Speech, with honours to Colin Firth, director

By LIZZIE SMITH and BAZ BAMIGBOYE

I did it! Natalie Portman wipes away a tear as she accepts her award for best actress for her role in Black Swan at the OScars


The King's Speech wins best film and best director

Christian Bale named best supporting actor for The Fighter

Melissa Leo apologises after using F-word as she accepts best supporting actress for The Fighter


Wiping tears from her eyes, pregnant Natalie Portman dedicated her best actress Oscar for Black Swan to her family, and fiancé, last night.

But while her delight was obvious the night belonged to another small budget, independent movie that was a labour of love.

The King’s Speech and its star Colin Firth were the toast of Hollywood, winning best film, best actor, best director and best original screenplay.

Few in the UK wanted to back the film, but a band of producers and film-makers slashed their usual rates to get it made.


Congratulations: Dancer Benjamin Millepied embraces his fiancé Natalie as her win is announced


With Film 4 and BBC Films both refusing funding, the UK Film Council put up a large part of the money, along with London-based Momentum Pictures and Harvey Weinstein's Weinstein film company.

As Academy Awards host James Franco noted ‘The King’s Speech has now become part of Oscar history’.

Black Swan star Portman had showed off her bump in her flowing Rodarte gown as she walked to the stage to give her acceptance speech.


Now for her next role: With her first child on the way, Natalie said she wasn't sure whether she would ever work on another movie like Black Swan


'I want to thank my parents,' she said. 'First and foremost for giving me my life. And for the opportunity to work at such a young age.'

The pregnant actress wiped away a tear as she also thanked her fiancé, who she met while filming Black Swan, and with whom she is now expecting her first child.

'My beautiful love Benjamin Millepied who choreographed the film and has now given me my most important role of my life.'

Portman said backstage that she was ‘still in a dream-like state’.


'My career has peaked': Colin Firth had the audience laughing as he picked up his Oscar for best actor


A kiss for the wife: Firth is congratulated by Livia Giuggioli


She joked that the baby she is carrying started kicking during the show when the nominated songs were being sung.

Someone asked her if she would be naming her baby Oscar and she replied that most certainly would not be happening.

Asked how her pregnancy would affect her future movie choices, she said: ’It’s one of the most exciting things of being pregnant. I’m just accepting that I have no idea, it’s accepting what people go through every day.'


The Oscar winners: Best supporting actor Christian Bale, best actress Portman, best supporting actress Leo and best actor Firth
It was a big night for British film as Firth took the best actor award for his role in The King's Speech.


Firth was nominated last year for Tom Ford’s film A Single Man but lost to Jeff Bridges.

But now it was Firth’s turn to triumph over his once-again nominated rival.
'I’ve a feeling my career’s just peaked,' he joked.

Firth thanked, 'all the people who have been routing for me back home,' and his wife, 'Livia, for putting up with my fleeting delusions of royalty.'


The cast and crew of The King's Speech, (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers), celebrates their trophy for Best Picture


The crowd of Oscar nominees and winners watch as Firth gives his thank you speech


Although it was pretty much a given that Firth was going to collect an Oscar for his powerful portrait of King George VI, and that David Seidler would win for best original screenplay, the wins for best director and best film weren’t as assured as people believed.

Seidler dedicated his award to 'all the stutterers around the world,' and thanked 'Her Majesty The Queen for not putting me in the Tower for using the F word.'

Halfway through the ceremony when The Social Network won for best editing, one of the King’s Speech team exclaimed, ’well that’s it, we’ve lost it’.


Group effort: Geoffrey Rush congratulates Tom Hooper as he accepts the Oscar for best achievement in directing


Tom Hooper accepts his Oscar for best director as David Seidler accepts best original screenplay; both for The King's Speech


That’s because the best editing win is often, but clearly, not always, seen as a signal to which film will win best film.

But as the evening wore on Tom Hooper The King’s Speech’s 38-year-old director beat rival David Fincher for best director. He dedicated the prestigious gong to his mother.

It was she, he revealed, who first suggested he make the movie, after watching a script read through of the stage version.


Your honour: Melissa bows to Kirk Douglas as she joins the 94-year-old screen icon onstage


The win surprised many, who had predicted that David Fincher would win for The Social Network.

Later Gareth Unwin, one of the three producers with Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, joked that it was his good luck charm, a Union Jack pocket square, that helped them win.

He admitted he ‘borrowed’ the silk square from a table centre piece at the BAFTA awards in London two weeks ago.

‘It felt lucky so I took it’, Unwin joked.


No hard feelings: Amy Adams congratulates Melissa Leo after The Fighter star won the Oscar for best actress


Shock: Melissa holds her face in horror after realising she has sworn onstage as Kirk Douglas holds her Oscar


The King’s Speech didn’t achieve the sweep that some had hoped, it was up for twelve Oscars, but best picture is a pretty nice trophy to take home.

Helena Bonham Carter missed out on the best supporting actress Oscar as Melissa Leo won for her work on The Fighter.

The actress kept her disappointment in check as she applauded Leo, alongside fellow nominee, 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld.

Leo's gong was presented to her by 94-year-old screen legend Kirk Douglas, who happily eked out his moment in the spotlight, having never won himself.

'You pinch me?' Leo asked him, not sure if she was dreaming.

Leo, nominated for a second time, had shook as she took to the stage, before accidentally blurting out a swear word, which was removed by editors.

'Oh wow, really truly wow,' she gasped. 'I know there's a lot of real lovely people who've said a lot of nice things to me for several months but I'm just shaking in my boots right now.'



The show: Hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway speak onstage at the Kodak Theatre


Cross dressers: Anne Hathaway and James Franco swap outfits; Franco joked that he had received a text from Charlie Sheen


Also winning for The Fighter was Christian Bale, named best supporting actor.

Bale thanked Dicky Eklund, who he played in the movie, asking the retired fighter to take a bow in the audience.

He also referred to his co-star's slip up, saying: 'I'm not going to drop the F-bomb like she did. I've done that plenty before.'


British singer Florence Welch performs If I Rise from the motion picture 127 Hours, a nominee for best original song


Nominees: Mandy Moore and Gwyneth Paltrow perform tracks nominated for best original song


The Social Network took its first Oscar for best adapted screenplay - handed to Aaron Sorkin for his adaptation of the book The Accidental Billionaire by Ben Mezrich.

The film also picked up an award for best original score, presented to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross by Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Inception's Gary A Rizzo & Ed Novick won an Oscar for best sound mixing and the film also won for best sound editing for the work of Richard King. The film took a third for best cinematography, going to Wally Pfister.

The Oscar for best foreign film went to the movie In a Better World, from Denmark, while the Oscar for makeup went to The Wolfman.


Winner for best foreign language Film, Susan Bier accepts her award for her Danish movie In A Better World


The first award, for art direction, was presented by Tom Hanks to Robert Stromberg (production design) and Karen O'Hara (set decoration) for their work on the 3D movie Alice in Wonderland.

Hanks, a double winner himself, also presented the Oscar for costume design to Colleen Atwood, for her work on the Tim Burton directed movie.

The winner for best animated short film was The Lost Thing, while the animated film Oscar was awarded to the considerably bigger budget Toy Story 3.


'I'm a married man': Presenters Russell Brand and Helen Mirren joke around onstage, with Brand implying that Mirren has a crush on him


Presenter Josh Brolin dances with fellow presenter Javier Bardem as they make their way onto stage


Toy Story also won original song for We Belong Together, Music and Lyric by Randy Newman.

Missing out an an award was British graffiti artist Banksy, for his film Exit Through The Gift Shop. Instead the Oscar for best documentary feature went to Inside Job.

The show opened with co-hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco inserted into a montage scenes from best-picture nominees, built as a series of dream sequences a la Oscar contender Inception.

Hathaway and Franco joked about the criticism over their appointment as hosts.

'You look so lovely and so hip,' Anne told James. 'You look very appealing to a younger demographic as well, ' he replied.


Presenter Steven Speilberg, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, producers of The King's Speech


There was also some comic relief from the audience as Franco's grandmother shouted out: 'I just saw Marky Mark.'

She was of course referring to Mark Wahlberg, nominated for an Oscar for his role in The Fighter.

The actor has made every effort to distance himself from his cheesy past as an 80s pop star.

At one stage Franco appeared on stage dressed as Marilyn Monroe.

'I just got a text message from Charlie Sheen,' he remarked, referring to the troubled actor.


One to treasure: Rick Baker, left, and Dave Elsey pose with presenter Cate Blanchett after receiving the Oscar for achievement in makeup for The Wolfman


We've got Oscars! Lora Hirschberg, Ed Novick, Gary A Rizzo and presenters Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson pose backstage after Hirschberg, Novick and Rizzo win the Oscar for achievement in sound mixing for Inception





Melissa Leo's X-rated Oscars speech


Colin Firth's Oscar speech


source: dailymail