Justin time
Robert Philpot
Dallas-Ft. Worth Star, March 08, 2007
http://blogs.dfw.com/startle_grams/2007/03/justin_time.html
Sorry for the hackneyed headline, but in
this case, it really is Justin Guarini
time. The first Idol runner-up is doing
a lot of press for TV Guide Channel's
Idol Chat and Idol Tonight, for which
he's a special correspondent (the Idol
"pre-game show" premieres at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, with Rosanna Tavarez and
former Idoler Kimberly Caldwell as
co-hosts). He also just got back from
the United Kingdom, where he did some
work for his upcoming album, which he
describes as "funk-soul."
I chatted with him earlier today for a
story. A different version of this is
scheduled to run next week in the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram's print edition (and
the non-blog part of the online
edition), but here's some of what he
said
On how his hair is these days (sorry, I
had to ask): "Oh, it's great. Same as
always, you know? I think it's truly the
seat of my power."
On how passionate his (and Clay Aiken's)
fans are when a Pete a blogger says
something negative about them: "I think
American Idol gave us a chance to really
touch people. And touch people's lives,
and they feel like maybe they're
responsible for us, because they're the
ones that dialed in every week and voted
to have us stay on the show. So unlike
other reality shows, there seems to be
more of a personal relationship between
Idol and fans."
On Rosie O'Donnell's comments that the
show is weightist and racist: "Rosie is
Rosie, you know, what can you do? I
think the American Idol producers are
just trying to do their jobs, and that's
to make great television. People come
out and cry 'foul' every year about
something, and I think this latest
controversy, which in a week or so will
be water under the bridge, is just par
for the course."
On why they guys aren't bringin' it this
season: "I couldn't really begin to tell
you. The girls seem to, every year, be
very strong. I think the guys just need
to make adjustments in song choices, and
hopefully will see some people really
come out strong because right now, it
just looks like the girls are running
all over 'em.
On who's flying under the radar, but may
surprise people later: "I would say at
this point, Jordin Sparks is probably
somebody who I don't think has quite let
it all go. I mean, she's very good, but
you hear about Lakisha and Melinda.
That's so obvious. It's so in your face.
But I think Jordin Sparks could be very
interesting to watch, because she's
absolutely beautiful, she can sing well,
she has been consistently good
throughout the weeks. She's 17, she's
got it together, she can sing, she's got
great control for her age, and I think
she hasn't quite shown us everything
just yet."