news articles 14 April

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ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Idols’ put up a great show
Sharifah Arfah

Apr 14:
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‘Pop Idol’ Gareth Gates and ‘Australian Idol’ Guy Sebastian bowled the crowd over at a recent concert with their repertoire and showmanship. SHARIFAH ARFAH writes.

EVEN being an idol has its ups and downs. At least, this is what British teen sensation and Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates says. In an interview two days before his recent concert in Kuala Lumpur, Gates says his speech impediment (he stammers) has made coping with fame an uphill task.

"There are times when I find it difficult. My stammer makes it difficult for me to face certain situations, such as being in front of the crowd, the camera and the media," he said.

He also became uncomfortable when a tactless media member questioned the pattern of his past relationships, especially to British model Jordan. (If you must know, he’s available, because, he stressed, the only woman in his life right now is his mum!)

But who cares about the stammer and personal goings-on, especially when his musical talent speaks volumes? Teens, parents and even families were seen at the Bukit Kiara Indoor Arena in Kuala Lumpur last week to catch Gates in the concert billed Gareth Gates — Go Your Own Way Tour 2004.

The audience had only one thing in mind — they wanted to see their "Idols" in action as the opening act was none other than Klang-born Australian Idol Guy Sebastian.

So, how did they fare in front of a Malaysian audience?

The concert, which started at 8.30pm, kicked off with Sebastian’s When Doves Cry, a song made popular by Prince. It was rendered with a little bit of funk and soul in the musical arrangement. Sebastian delivered it flawlessly with his satiny vocals.

R&B and soul are clearly Sebastian’s strength and his rendition of All I Need Is You — his latest, self-penned single — and hat a Wonderful World (the Louis Armstrong classic he sang in World Idol early this year) attested to that. He also evoked great sensitivity in the ballads Climb Every Mountain (from The Sound of Music) and his hit Angels Brought Me Here.

It was a very pleasant opening act and it ended with the hope that Sebastian would one day do a full-fledged concert here.

Then, came Gates. With the fans (mostly girls, of course) chanting "We Want Gareth!" over and over, he came on stage at exactly 8.55pm.

Accompanied by a five-piece band, he opened the show with Unchained Melody, made popular by the Righteous Brothers.

He sang a few other covers such as Frankie Valli’s Grease and Human League’s Human. He also sang Chicago’s Hard to Say I’m Sorry while playing the piano.

Grease and Human were less suited for Gates’ vocals, but his great showmanship made up for the inadequacy.

Compared to Sebastian’s collected composure, which appeals to a more mature crowd, Gates’ fresh and youthful image drove the female teens to a frenzy, especially as he kept blowing kisses and saying "I love you" throughout the night.

Gates’ ability to play different musical instruments also thrilled the crowd. Apart from the piano, Gates had a mean jamming session on the guitar with guitarist Pete. He also sent the crowd wild when he sang rock and roll-tinged number Enough of Me. When the drummer playfully went on strike, Gates hit the drums like a seasoned musician.

The other songs that he sang included Soul Affection, Sunshine, I Get Sentimental and Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake) — the song that "launched my career in Asia"— which he duetted with a member of the audience, before ending the evening with Say It Isn’t So.

All in, it was a great show by both the "Idols", so much so that the audience didn’t feel the clock ticking.



www.emedia.com.my/Current_News/NST/ Wednesday/Features/20040414081606/Article/indexb_html

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Shannon's Anzac gig
By Jonathon Moran
April 14, 2004


Shannon can't wait to thank the fans at home.

AUSTRALIAN Idol runner-up Shannon Noll will take his national tour home to Condobolin for a special Anzac Day performance.

Shannon can't wait to thank the fans at home.

Noll will perform the concert on April 25 "as a way of saying thanks to fans and supporters".

"I'm really looking forward to saying thanks to the fans at home," Noll said.

"I always said I'd do it and now it's happening I'm excited. I'm hoping to see everyone there."

Noll will donate all proceeds from the concert to local charities including the western NSW town's St Joseph Catholic Primary School which was damaged recently in a fire.

Organisers are expecting up to 10,000 people to attend the concert at the Condobolin Showground.

Lachlan Shire Council Deputy Mayor Des Manwaring said the concert would provide a great boost to the community.

"The talent of this young fellow is so broad the concert will appeal to all ages," he said.

"Mums and dads will be able to bring the kids, a rug and a couple of chairs and have a great night out on the magnificent grassed fields of the Condobolin Showground."

Tickets for the event are $15 pre-purchased or $20 at the gate.

Noll shot to national stardom after coming second to Guy Sebastian in the hit TV series Australian Idol in November last year.

The pair secured recording contracts with record label BMG Australia with Noll's album, That's What I'm Talking About, hitting four times platinum.

AAP

entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,9276393%5E10431%5E%5Enbv,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Popstars album fizzles
By Cameron Adams
April 14, 2004


THE ailing Popstars Live has been dealt another blow.
In its first big test on the charts, the Popstars Live group single Stand Up Next to Me sold just under 1000 copies nationally to debut at No. 47.

And the Popstars Live finalists' album sold 1003 copies to debut at an appalling No. 61.

By comparison, the week's No. 1 album - Pete Murray's Feeler - sold 12,016 copies.

Commercial radio, which has played singles by all previous Popstars winners as well as Australian Idol talent, has avoided the Popstars record.

Despite the abysmal sales, both Stand Up Next to Me and the finalists' albums have been awarded gold status, which represents 35,000 sales.

The Australian Record Industry Association assigns gold status according to how many CDs are sent to stores, not how many are actually sold.

Popstars Live has been dogged by controversy with mentor Tania Doko last week claiming jilted judge John Paul Young and Christine Anu were scapegoats and she accused Molly Meldrum of bullying.

Herald Sun

entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,9276165%255E10431%255E%255Enbv,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Eddie's Idol days are over
14 April 2004
By MELANIE FEISST

Coromandel's New Zealand Idol contestant Eddie Gaiger is looking for "Somebody to Love" him after a poor rendition of the Queen song on Sunday had him voted off the show.


The 25-year-old petrol pump attendant never thought he'd win the contest, but was on the show looking to attract the attention of someone from the music industry, according to foster mum Dianne Balemi.

This morning his foster father Rick Balemi said he'd always had a rock background and didn't cross easily into the other genres.

On the "bit of Brit" show on Sunday he was criticised by guest Australian Idol judge Ian Dickson for having a very ordinary voice despite his boy-next-door appeal. Hamilton's Camillia Temple, 28, also did an ordinary version of Jamelia's Superstar.

"It wasn't a shock; Eddie had been on the (eviction) seat a few times, and he had expected to go last week. It's all a bit pie-in-the-sky, but it looks like he's going to go further. He's definitely been spotted by more than one in the industry.

"Can't say too much yet, but basically he's going to be able to pursue a career," Rick said.

Since first appearing on the show, Eddie has belted out Uncle Cracker's remake of Drift Away, Creed's One Last Breath, Che Fu's Misty Frequencies (instead of his first choice of Crowded House's Don't Dream it's Over), Stevie Wonder's Superstition, Phil Collins' Against All Odds and Queen's Somebody to Love.

Eddie returns home tomorrow for a few days rest with girlfriend of four months, Rebecca Voykovich, 34.

The two remaining Waikato singers: Temple and 17-year-old Michael Murphy from Taupo are the favourites on the NZ Idol website message board.

They will be taking on Aucklanders Ben Lummis, 24, and Dave Houma, 28, and Luke Whaanga, 20, from Lower Hutt.

www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2873967a1860,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Ratings headaches for Seven and Nine

The Channel Changer
TV addict


Channel Nine dominance is slowly being eroded in the one TV genre that gives it credibility - news and current affairs, while Seven is being slaughtered in the evenings. Crikey's Channel Changer reports on the networks' ratings black holes.


14 April 2004

It’s the “night of nights” this Sunday for the wasteland Australians call television. The Logies are on the Nine Network, which will be preceeded by the 2004 premiere of the blockbusting reno series The Block. Great times and ratings for Nine and misery for the others.

Well, yes and no. Certainly Sunday night will be Nine's night, and the network's spinners will go all out to let us know.

But they will be less than forthcoming about an emerging black hole in the most important hour of the weekly prime time TV schedule, just as the Seven Network is less than frank about its own black hole, which have become one of the biggest stories in TV this year.

Each week when the Seven Network puts out its interpretation of the previous week's Oztam ratings, there's a curious omission that sums up where the Seven Network is at the moment, and the likely chances of its recovery.

And, each week when the dominant Nine Network puts out its version of yet another week of triumphs, it too skates over a problem area, one that perhaps masks the biggest story so far this year in teleland.

And what are these 'sins of omission’ and what is their import?

Well, the Seven Network breaks down its performance into various blocks described as, alternatively, Early Morning, Morning, Afternoons, Early Evenings and sometimes Late Nights.

These are based on bands of one to two hours, with the most important being Early Evenings, from 5pm to 7.30 pm, when there's news and current affairs and soaps, in which Seven is doing OK. Seven then highlights how it went in the Late Nights segment, from 10.30 pm to 1am.

Naturally, Seven's performance is highlighted against Nine (in the Early Mornings) or Nine and Ten in other slots. Mostly it’s not a bad story to tell, especially with the improvements in Sunrise and in the News and Today Tonight (more of which later).

But omitted is any discussion of Seven's performance in the three hour block, 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm. In fact it’s downright embarrassing. On most nights Seven is a distant afterthought, third behind Nine and Ten, sometimes fourth after the ABC.

And that's the big problem for David Leckie and the programming guru, John Stevens, who also came from Nine. He has no direct influence on the schedule because sandwiched between the two, is Seven Veteran, Tim Worner, the man left in place by Leckie after the takeover. Worner, according to Seven Network insiders, is responsible for the push into reality television that has basically stalled, hence Leckie's remarks last month that Seven would be heading towards "observational" series.

It’s the gap between 7.30pm and 10.30 pm where Seven has been dying this year with its plethora of poor reality style programmes from here and overseas and moderately performing dramas. Nine's strength in drama, mostly from the US, has been its ratings powerhouse this year. It is three hours of failure, or at best three hours of underperformance, with Leckie's brave promise of ratings guarantees during the 2004 ad rate negotiations, now a revenue liability.

Across at Nine the omission is a more complex one, based on a rightful triumph across the schedule being used to underplay or omit discussion of the most serious problem Nine has had for a while.

While the 7 pm to 10.30pm time slot for Nine is strong, the losses in audience in the vital 6 pm to 7 pm has been glossed over by the Network, while the disaster in the mornings with Today in the doldrums against a rampant Sunrise on Seven, is barely acknowledged in a Monty Pythonism way (Don't Mention The Mornings).

Take the Today-Sunrise battle. For the past two weeks, the Seven press release had trumpeted "Sunrise defeats Today".

Week 14, the week before Easter saw the Sunrise audience up 55% and the Today audience down 24%. A week later and the Sunrise audience was up 10%, the Today audience on Nine was down 10%. From Nine, the response has been muted.

And that's not an improvement for Nine. A year ago the Koch factor was starting to gather pace and the Sunrise audience figures are now being compared to those boosted by his impact last year. It's only the comparative effect making Nine's audience losses look better. Nine is claiming solace in these but they can't find anything to crow about, Nine's audience is off 100,000 viewers some mornings. This collapse in the early moring audience for Nine has been highly damaging, leading to longtime EP, Steve Wood being replaced by a younger Darren Wick, who continues to struggle. Uncertainty about who would front Today and technical problems over the Christmas-New Year and into the ratings period haven't helped Nine either.

But the real damage to Nine is happening in the News-A Current Affair hour between 6 and 7 pm Monday to Friday. While the top rating programme in the country is the Sunday 6pm News on Nine, the audience figures (nationally) drop by around four to five hundred thousand during the average of the weeknights. It is one of the great oddities of television, but is not doing Mark Ferguson any harm in Sydney in his ambition to replace Jim Waley as the main Network News anchor

Despite what Nine might claim there has been a leakage of audience to Seven, as well as away from TV as a whole with total viewing numbers off by around 8 per cent so far this year.

Nationally Seven News is up, Nine is down, while Today Tonight is marking time or doing a fraction better, ACA is off last year's figures. The damage is happening in Sydney where in week 15 (the week up to Easter), Today Tonight in Sydney was up 13%, while ACA was down 7%.

Seven News in Sydney (where Ian Ross is the new reader) was up 9% last week, while Nine was off 7%. And while Seven and Nine are sort of close in Brisbane, Nine Melbourne is powering ahead, especially in the news. The damage is happening in Sydney, which is the most important market in television, besides the one where the owners (Packer and Stokes) can easily tune in during the day.

But Nine insiders point to one other factor. The Today Show, News, ACA, Sunday and Business Sunday is where the year-old regime of News and Current Affairs boss, Jim Rudder, has been concentrated in re-design or people changes.

Sunday and Business Sunday do not matter in ratings terms ( Sunday was the 151st top rating show last week for example).

It's all about News, ACA, with the early morning (6am to 9am) a battle because of the importance Kerry Packer places on the slot. He drove the introduction of the Today Show (along with 60 Minutes and Sunday) in the 1977-82 period. So the early morning matters internally at Nine and at PBL.

Rudder's renovations haven't had the same impact on the programmes that the Block has on Nine's figures. In fact there's no comparsion. Viewers haven't stayed with Today, News and ACA, but so far that hasn't hurt Nine later in the night because of Seven's poor performance.
But Nine insiders point out the shows doing well in the three hours from 7.30 are all relics of the Leckie regime at Nine. Friends, Malcolm in the Middle, CSI, ER, the Footie Show (although it has lost viewers so far in Sydney this year), McLeods Daughters and Backyard Blitz and of course, 60 Minutes.

The Block, which starts this Sunday is the only success of the new regime at Nine, and it's certainly been a ratings killer.

But it will be a nervous time at Nine from Sunday onwards. Will the Block's figures hold up compared to last year? Can it do to the other Networks what it did last year? Ten has Big Brother, the other proto-type reality programme starting sometime in the next six to eight weeks, and Australian Idol later in the year. That 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm slot might still be owned by Nine, but ownership is going to cost more in coming months.

But the hype and publicity around the Block, BB and Seven's struggles will allow Nine to omit any discussion of the slow erosion in the one TV genre that gives it credibility. Working to restore that situation is the reality of television at Nine this year


www.crikey.com.au/media/2004/04/14-0002.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Roshani soars through Idol heats
By Matt Adams
Wednesday, 14 April 2004

YOU only have to listen to the lyrical voicemail message on her mobile phone to know why Roshani Priddis will be getting the opportunity to sing in front of the Australian Idol judges today.

The 16-year-old will now join about 150 hopefuls selected during the first round of Australian Idol auditions held in Tamworth yesterday after making it through the gruelling audition process to gain a red card from the executive producers.

Singing Search for the Hero, Roshani will be up early again today when she performs in front of Australian Idol judges Marcia Hines, Ian "Dicko" Dickson and Mark Holden in the third part of the audition process.

"I'm still in shock I think," Roshani said.

"I'm totally freaking out.

"It was really hard when I came out of the auditions seeing so many people just devastated at not getting through and here's me jumping out of my skin with excitement.

"One of my friends went in before me and I think she's a great singer, but when I saw the look on her face when she came out I knew she wouldn't be going through.

"It was a very nerve-racking process to have to go through and it was a lot of waiting around, five hours until I knew I was coming back to sing for the judges.

"I've got to do it all again today and I think I'm more nervous than yesterday."

If Roshani does in fact impress the judges away with her powerful, but angelic voice and have Marcia resurrect her catch cry "That's What I'm Talkin Bout", she will be on her way to Sydney with hopefuls from the other audition venues throughout Australia.


tamworth.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=299859&y=2004&m=4

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Gong busters over the Logies
By Robert Fidgeon
14apr04

EACH year we are told this TV Week Logies telecast will be the best yet, but there's every chance that Sunday's telecast may well live up to the boast.

The budget for the telecast leaves little change out of $1.5 million as the biggest names in Australian television gather in Melbourne for the industry's night of nights.
The glamorous, star-studded telecast usually features two production numbers. This year the show will have five.

Australian Idol duo Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll will kick off the night with a show-stopper, along with US pop singer Anastacia and Canadian crooner Michael Buble.

A highlight will be the spectacular offering by world-renowned Cirque du Soleil, who for only the second time since their creation are putting together a one-off performance especially for the night.









"It's going to be a big night, there's no doubt about it," says Eddie McGuire, who will be hosting his second Logies.

"As much as the night is all about rewarding members of the television industry through public and peer awards, this one in particular will be a huge night for those watching at home.

"The production numbers will be absolute stunners."

Executive producer Peter Wynne says that Sunday's 46th Logie Awards will have high-voltage entertainment and pace.

The telecast will feature an incredible 115 performers, comprising singers, dancers and musicians.

"I think we've put together a terrific package. I'm very excited about the night," he says.

"We are featuring not only our own local but also some of the biggest international names.

"The only other time Cirque du Soleil have put together and performed a one-off performance for television was for the Academy Awards."

GMA music guru John Foreman is musical director for his second year running and will oversee the 25-piece Logie orchestra.

All this week Foreman is busy with orchestra run-throughs and rehearsals with the performers, leading to a full rehearsal on Saturday.

"John's contribution last year was stunning and showed what an extraordinary talent he is," Wynne says.

Bert Newton, absent from the presenter stage last year after Logie organisers declined his request for a $46,000 appearance package, will be back to present the gold.

"It's terrific to have him aboard, especially when you look at the demands on Bert's time over this weekend," Wynne says.

"He's got the opening night of his stage show The Producers on Saturday, a matinee performance of the show, and has to be up at 5am on Monday to record a couple of GMAs."

McGuire says his approach to the hosting role will be the same this year as last.

"I'm not a song-and-dance man and I'm not a comic," he says. "I'm simply the host -- the link around which it all happens.

"I'm also a journalist, so I trust the interviews with guest presenters, such as Mel Brooks, will provide an insight or two."

Delta Goodrem is the hot tip to take out the gold and she will be one of the guest presenters. However, Blue Heelers veteran John Wood remains a sentimental favourite with those who are eager to see him win his first gold award after eight nominations.

"It's a very special night," McGuire says. "Despite all the supposed network rivalry, it's one night when we all get together and have a hell of a lot of fun."



www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,9259457%5E2902,00.html