ITV

Tag: Taylor Hicks

  • Nick News explores the perils, pitfalls and pratfalls of adolescence

    Nick News explores the perils, pitfalls and pratfalls of adolescence

    MUMBAI: Who can forget braces, sweaty palms and awkward school dances? Adolescence? Arrrgh! Just as tweens head into a new school year, the next installment of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: The Worst Years of My Life? Surviving Middle School, on Nickelodeon, delves into all the slings and arrows of Middle School.

    Ellerbee listens to kids, and some Middle School survivors including Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart, Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City), Megan Mullally (Will & Grace), Taylor Hicks (American Idol), skateboarding star Tony Hawk, and Grammy Award-winning singers Jewel and Nelly Furtado, about that speed bump on the way to adulthood called Middle School, and what it takes to live through it.

    “Whether you call it Middle School or Junior High, it’s more than a place. It’s a time, a sometimes hilarious, often painful and always challenging time. You’re too young to be a grownup but you’re not quite a kid anymore. In this episode, we give kids on the Middle School frontline, and some well-known ex-kids, an opportunity to speak out, to remind all kids that when it comes to Middle School, you’re not crazy, you’re not alone, and this too shall pass,” said Ellerbee.

    Nick News discusses issues that kids encounter during this time: the fluctuating hormones; the realities of puberty (What is it like to be you in a brand new package?); the social insecurities (I must fit in somewhere!); the necessity of keeping up with increasingly harder school work; the pitfalls of renegotiating the relationship with your parents (They used to be so normal. When did they change?); and facing the difficult choices that no one else can make for you. The simple truth is: you’re too young for this and too old for that.

    Nick News also conducted an online poll on nicknews.com, in which kids were given the opportunity to share what they think is the hardest part of adolescence. For a majority of kids physical changes are the most difficult part of growing up with 19 per cent of respondents listing body changes as the hardest part of adolescence, followed by school work (14 per cent), fitting in (12 per cent) and romance (12 per cent). Other adolescent hardships making the list were feeling embarrassed a lot (10 per cent), peer pressure (nine per cent), parents (seven per cent), pressure to succeed (seven per cent), being comfortable with themselves (six per cent) and temptation to take risks (three per cent).

  • American Red Cross to benefit from sale of American Idol Taylor Hicks’ single

    American Red Cross to benefit from sale of American Idol Taylor Hicks’ single

    MUMBAI: As the ‘soul’ survivor of US broadcaster Fox’s music based reality show American Idol’s fifth season, the Alabama native, Taylor Hicks, had signed a record deal with 19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records.

    A portion of the proceeds from the sales of his single Do I Make You Proud will benefit the American Red Cross.For every CD sold, $0.25 will go to the American Red Cross, as well as $0.15 for every digital download sold, and $0.20 for every ringtone and ringback. The single to be released tomorrow 13 June marks the fourth American Idol single to provide financial support to the mission of the Red Cross and the people it serves. Sales of the past three recordings generated more than a quarter million dollars in donations.

    BMG US president and COO Charles Goldstuck says, “It has been a privilege these past three years to support the American Red Cross in their fundraising efforts and on behalf of the RCA Music Group and 19 Entertainment we are proud of our association with them.

    “With an active hurricane season predicted, what better time to continue support of their enormous efforts and everything they stand for.”19 Entertainment’s Simon Fuller says, “Great traditions are meant to be extended. It’s been a wonderful experience working with the American Red Cross over the years and 19 Entertainment is proud to continue helping those who need their services the most.”

  • America crowns Taylor Hicks its 5th ‘Idol’; viewership hits 35.4 million

    America crowns Taylor Hicks its 5th ‘Idol’; viewership hits 35.4 million

    MUMBAI: Twenty-nine-year old Taylor Hicks from Alabama beat LA gal Katharine McPhee to be crowned the American Idol in the finale of the fifth season. A whopping 63.4 million votes were cast and America made its choice. According to host Ryan Seacrest, Hicks took the majority of the fan votes, though he did not reveal how close McPhee came.

    Taylor Hicks — The winner takes it all!

    Hicks now joins the likes of Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino, who have been previous season winners. However, the result of fifth season of American Idol doesn’t come as a surprise as Hicks had wooed TV audiences with his raw singing style and boisterous personality.

    Hicks foisted the ubiquitous catchphrase “Soul Patrol!” on an unsuspecting audience and turned it into a national movement. What Hicks has won is an RCA recording contract and his first single will be Do I Make You Proud.

    Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks on judgement day
    As for the network that airs the show in the US – Fox, the two weekly Idol episodes remain the top-rated shows in the US, raking in tens of millions of dollars for the network.

    The American Idol seasons have been a ratings goldmine for Fox. The show has continued to rate high even in its fifth season and has given the network the biggest hit in prime time, propelling the broadcaster to first place this season in the ratings race for viewers aged 18 to 49.

    ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ FINALE DRAWS 35.4 MN VIEWERS

    It was not only Taylor Hicks that emerged winner on American Idol’s fifth season finale. Fox, too emerged as a major winner in terms of the ratings it clocked. According to Nielsen Media Research, the finale of Fox’s two-hour American Idol special was a big hit among viewers, drawing an audience of 35.4 million people.

    Idol opened at 8 pm with 27.4 million viewers, climbing steadily to a peak of 42.9 million in its final half-hour as Hicks edged past Katharine McPhee to take the crown.

    This makes it the second most-watched Idol finale ever behind 2003’s competition, which was watched by 38.1 million viewers. Last year’s contest won by Carrie Underwood was seen by 30.3 million.

    In Canada, CTV said the American Idol season finale peaked at 5.2 million viewers when Hicks was announced as winner.

    The American Idol TV audience was only about two million viewers shy of the Oscars for being the most-watched television event of the year after the Super Bowl.

    What has also added to the popularity and interest levels in American Idol through the seasons is the incessant coverage by the print, internet and television media.

    Shows like Entertainment Tonight and Saturday Night Live give constant updates on every twist and turn on Idol. Dedicated websites and blogs have also kept the interest levels high. On the other hand, producers of the show claim that the success of season five came from the fact that they had a particularly good batch of talent.

    The finale of the fifth season had plenty of star power with the likes of Ben Stiller, Heather Locklear, Mary J. Blige and David Hasselhoff. What’s more, the Baywatch star got all teary eyed when Hicks was announced the winner. Prince too made a surprise appearance on the show and performed.

    After the winner was announced, runner-up McPhee was reportedly quoted as saying that she hadn’t expected to win and didn’t have any regrets.

    McPhee said she planned to take a week’s break before heading for the American Idol tour with Hicks and the other finalists.

  • Star World to air ‘American Idol’ finale live on 25 May at 9 am

    Star World to air ‘American Idol’ finale live on 25 May at 9 am

    MUMBAI: Star World will telecast the performance finale of American Idol on 24 May at 8 pm, while the grand finale will be aired live on 25 May 2006 at 9 am.

    Finally, after months of gruelling competition, millions of votes and many favourites being knocked out, the fight is now between Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. As McPhee, a 21 year old born and raised in Los Angeles and Hicks, a 29 year old from Alabama battle it out, America will make the final call.

    No doubt the judges have their preferences but it’s no longer in their hands. The performance of the two finalists will determine who takes away the crown and an opportunity to work with some of the best music producers in the industry.

    Currently in its fifth season, it was named the highest-rated show in the history of American Idol. It also seems to have acquired an international appeal and fans anxiously await the announcement of America’s favourite, the release adds.

    A two hour special of the finale will be telecast live on 25 May at 9 am, with a prime time repeat at 8 pm. Repeats of this show will also be aired on 26 May at 1:30 am and10 am, respectively.