Articles from CTV and others, re-read and re-live the moments

[idolfever24]

May 6, 2004

Canadian Idol Returns June 1 on CTV

Toronto, Ontario (May 6, 2004) - Last September, almost 6.5 million viewers tuned in to watch Ryan Malcolm take the Canadian Idol crown.

Now, the show that Canada has been waiting for is finally back. CTV announced today that its highly anticipated summer series will return with one-hour episodes on three consecutive nights, Tuesday, June 1, Wednesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 3 at 8 p.m. ET (check local listings) on CTV.

"Made by Canadians, starring Canadians and for Canadians, Canadian Idol is much more than a television series," said Susanne Boyce, CTV President of Programming and Chair of the Media Group. "It has become a unique cultural experience for all Canadians. We can't wait for the magic to begin again."

The premiere episode gives viewers their first look at the next wave of aspiring Canadian Idol hopefuls from Ottawa and Toronto. Episode Two showcases auditions in Halifax, St. John's and Montreal with Episode Three focusing on auditions in Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton and Vancouver. In the second week, viewers will watch the drama unfold as Canadian Idol's "Top 155" is reduced to the "Top 32" over the course of two, hour-long, nail-biting episodes, airing Wednesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 10 at 8 p.m. ET (check local listings) on CTV. The first "Top 32" performance show will air Wednesday, June 16, again at 8 p.m. ET, with the first "Top 10" finalists to be revealed live on Thursday, June 17 at 8 p.m. ET (check local listings).

CTV also announced today it has expanded the series to 33 episodes, seven more than last year. The expansion allows for an increase in the semi-final group to 32 competitors. Four groups of eight will now compete over four weeks (instead of three groups of 10), with an additional Wild Card week. As well, CTV has expanded the "Top 10" format to allow only one competitor to be eliminated each week (see schedule below).

Music magistrates Farley Flex, Jake Gold, Sass Jordan and Zack Werner return, as opinionated as ever, to offer criticism, compliments and everything in between. The foursome endured almost one thousand auditions across the country before sending 155 "Gold Ticket" winners to Toronto. The panel faces the tough decision of further reducing the ranks of competitors to a "Top 32" next week in Toronto. After that, it's up to Canadian Idol viewers to decide the rest.

Host Ben Mulroney, "big brother" to the competitors and friendly foe to the judging panel, also returns, along with comedic correspondent Jon Dore.

The series will unfold as follows (subject to change):

Episodes 1-3
Madness, mayhem and the audition process... The Canadian Idol judging panel sifts through thousands of hopefuls across nine Canadian cities: Ottawa and Toronto (Episode One); Halifax, St. John's, Montreal (Episode Two); and Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton and Vancouver (Episode Three).

Episodes 4-5
A combined total of 155 competitors advance to Toronto where they face the next round of elimination. Over a four-day period, judges eliminate up to 40 each day in an exhaustive audition process in which the competitors perform alone, in groups and in duos. In Episode Five, the "Top 32" is revealed. One of these competitors will be the next Canadian Idol.

Episodes 6-13
Now, it's time for the viewing audience to take over. For the next four weeks (eight episodes), a separate group of eight performers will hit the stage. Following each "Performance Episode", viewers will vote for their favourite two competitors, who are announced in a live show the following evening. A total of eight competitors after four weeks advance to the "Top 10."

Episodes 14-15
During Episode 13, an additional eight competitors are announced who will compete for the chance to become the show's two Wild Card finalists in Episode 14. In Episode 15, the winners are revealed, joining the other eight to become the final "Top 10" finalists.

Episodes 16-31
During these eight weeks, each "Top 10" finalist will perform live in themed "genre" shows before a studio audience and broadcast live on CTV. Competitors will be voted off by the home viewing audience, announced live the following evening, until there are nine (9), eight (8), seven (7), six (6), five (5), four (4), three (3), then ultimately, two (2) left.

Episodes 32-33
In the live, two-part grand finale, the final two semi-finalists will perform selected numbers in an exhausting, nail-biting duel. For each of them, it's the last chance to win the hearts of viewers everywhere. Once part one of the finale wraps, it's time for the biggest vote of the series. The results will be revealed live in the grand finale the very next night on CTV and, for one former unknown, it's a dream realized, instant stardom, the title of Canadian Idol and the promise of a lucrative recording contract with BMG.

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Mon June 7

This Week's 2-Part Nail-biter

Canadian Idol's regular twice-a-week run begins this week on Wed., June 9 and Thurs., June 10 at 8pm ET.

In this week's two-part nail-biter, the 155 competitors who received "Gold Tickets" at the cross-country regional auditions travel to Toronto to compete for a spot in the coveted "Top 32" to advance to the "Group of 8" semi-finals. Over the course of an exhaustive, four-day audition process, the Canadian Idol judges eliminate up to 40 competitors each day until the "Top 32" is revealed at the end of Thursday's episode.

The Canadian Idol Top 155 features competitors from Fogo Island, Newfoundland to Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia and all points in between. The provincial breakdown of the Top 155 is: Newfoundland (9), Prince Edward Island (1), Nova Scotia (11), New Brunswick (2), Quebec (18), Ontario (59), Manitoba (14), Saskatchewan (8), Alberta (19) and British Columbia (14).

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The Judges Have Spoken: Now Canada Decides. CTV Introduces Canadian Idol's Top 32

Toronto, Ontario (June 10, 2004) - The hunt for Canada's next Canadian Idol is now down to 32 competitors. On tonight's broadcast of CTV's Canadian Idol, judges Farley Flex, Jake Gold, Sass Jordan and Zack Werner revealed their final choices for the exclusive Top 32.


From Vancouver, British Columbia and Medicine Hat, Alberta to Saint-Jerome, Quebec and Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland, the Canadian Idol Top 32 is a snapshot of Canadian youth.

Ranging in age from 16 to 27, the semi-finalists represent Canada's diverse ethnic population, regional distinctions and rich history of talented performers. Among the 16 men and 16 women are a perogy salesman, pipe-fitter, cosmetician, chicken farmer, teacher, credit counsellor and carpenter. One of them will become the next Canadian Idol.

The semi-finalists have beaten almost 9,000 competitors and survived seven rounds of auditions in front of Canadian Idol's four-member judging panel. Their fate now, however, lies in the hands of the voting public. Starting next Wednesday, June 16, Canadians will vote to determine which of the Top 32 will advance to the Top 10.

The Top 32 have been divided into four groups of eight. Each group will perform over four consecutive Wednesday nights (June 16, 23, 30 and July 7) at 8 p.m. ET on CTV, after which Canadians will vote for their favourite performers (voting details to be announced soon). During a live, half-hour show on Thursday nights (June 17, 24 and July 1, 8) at 8 p.m. ET (tape delayed in the West) on CTV, the two competitors with the most votes each week will advance to the Top 10. The final two Top 10 competitors will be determined in a Wild Card show on July 14 and the first of nine, live Top 10 shows will begin July 21.

Meet the Canadian Idol Top 32:

Performing June 16:

-Brandy Callahan, Halifax, NS, 24, hairstylist
-Andrae Ennis, Toronto, ON, 24, singer
-Annie Lefebvre, Gatineau, QC, 21, hairdresser
-Anabelle Lumayag, Vancouver, BC, 20, community living counsellor / student
-Jessica Mitchell, London, ON, 20, singer
-Raj Ramawad, Brampton, ON, 25, accounting clerk / student
-Kyla Sandulak, Edmonton, AB (native of Lashburn, SK), 23, singer / songwriter
-Joshua Seller, Brigden, ON, 23, sales associate / waiter

Performing June 23:

-Anna Cyzon, Toronto, ON, 20, student
-Elena Juatco, Vancouver, BC (studies in Kingston, ON), 19, student
-Mohanza Kelly, Toronto, ON, 19, student / chef
-Mark Levesque, Regina, SK, 22, dental student
-Filomena Pasqua, Ottawa, ON, 20, student
-Kalan Porter, Medicine Hat, AB, 18, student
-Kaleb Simmonds, Dartmouth, NS, 21, singer / carpet layer
-Liz Titan, Montreal, QC, 17, student

Performing June 30:

-Diane Archer, Woodstock, ON, 21, student
-Constant Bernard, Rockland, ON, 20, student
-Andrew Broderick, Sharon, ON, 17, student
-Jacob Hoggard, Abbotsford, BC, 19, apprentice carpenter
-Valérie Jalbert, Saint-Jerome, QC, 19, cosmetician
-Bernard Quilala, Edmonton, AB, 22, nursing student
-Jerrica Santos, Surrey, BC, 16, student
-Theresa Sokyrka, Saskatoon, SK, 23, musician

Performing July 7:

-Rebecca Abbott, Ottawa, ON, 19, vocal coach / waitress
-Danielle Falco, Hamilton, ON, 18, student
-Jason Greeley, Upper Island Cove, NL, 27, musician
-Brock Groombridge, Schomberg, ON, 16, student / chicken farmer
-Manoah Hartmann, Regina, SK, 25, teacher
-Jermaine Richards, Toronto, ON, 24, credit counsellor / student
-Ted Senécal, Calgary, AB (raised in Cranbrook, BC), 25, apprentice pipe-fitter
-Shane Wiebe, Abbotsford, BC, 21, perogy salesman

Canadian Idol returned last week to CTV with record audiences. After three episodes, the series is attracting an average of two million viewers (AMA, 2+). The first two episodes achieved a 15 per cent increase in viewers compared to the first two episodes of last season.

Canadian Idol is produced in association with CTV by Insight Productions, along with Atlantic Canada-based Rink Rat Productions and Alberta-based Aquila Productions. John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby are Executive Producers. Ed Robinson is Senior Vice-President, Comedy, Variety and Talk, CTV Inc. Rick Lewchuk is Senior Vice-President, Program Planning and Promotion, CTV Inc. Susanne Boyce is CTV President of Programming and Chair of the Media Group.

L'Oreal Paris is a major broadcast sponsor of Canadian Idol. L'Oréal Paris is a division of L'Oréal Canada, the leader in the Canadian cosmetics market. A wholly owned subsidiary of L'Oréal Group, the world's leading cosmetics company, L'Oreal offers its customers a wide range of choices with its diverse portfolio of brands and encompasses all aspects of beauty.

FremantleMedia, formerly known as Pearson Television, is one of the largest international producers of entertainment programmes in the world, producing more than 260 programmes in over 40 territories a year. FremantleMedia's international distribution division distributes more than 19,000 hours of programmes to 150 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is the content business production arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, with interest in 23 television channels and 22 radio stations in nine European countries. RTL Group is part of Bertelsmann AG, an integrated media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the world's major media markets. For further information please see FremantleMedia's website www.fremantlemedia.com.

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It boasts the number-one national newscast, CTV News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTV owns 21 conventional television stations across Canada and has interests in 14 specialty channels, including the number-one Canadian specialty channel, TSN. CTV is owned by Bell Globemedia, Canada's premier multi-media company. More information about CTV may be found on the company Web site at www.ctv.ca.

Visit the Canadian Idol Web site at www.idol.ctv.ca.

[idolfever24]

June 30th, 2004

Eight More Competitors Mark Halfway Point in Canadian Idol Top 32 Showdown, June 30 on CTV


Sixteen down. Sixteen to go. At the halfway point of Top 32 performances, Canadian Idol fever continues to sweep the country. Now, the third Group of Eight take a shot at Top 10 status this Wednesday, June 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.


The competitors - representing British Columbia (Surrey and Abbotsford), Alberta (Edmonton), Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), Ontario (Woodstock, Toronto and Rockland) and Quebec (Saint-Jerome) – take to the stage in an hour-long, musical battle royale.

Following the show, Canadians will vote by text messaging and toll-free telephone, with the results to be announced live (tape delayed in the West) the next night, Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV. Voting details can be found on the Canadian Idol Web site at idol.ctv.ca.

Last week, millions watched and millions voted as the second Group of Eight performed for the nation. Nielsen Media Research confirms that 1.7 million viewers (AMA, 2+) watched last Thursday night as Kalan Porter and Kaleb Simmonds advanced to the elite Canadian Idol Top 10. The number is a whopping 85 per cent increase among the coveted Adults 18-34 demographic compared to the previous week. Now, another eight competitors vie for two more spots up for grabs in the Top 10.

Meet Canadian Idol’s third Group of Eight:

· Diane Archer, Woodstock, ON, 21, College/University Student
A multitalented musician who plays drums, bass and trumpet, Archer received her first piano at the age of 10. She attends Conestoga College and also studies music and psychology at the University of Guelph.

· Constant Bernard, Rockland, ON, 20, University Student
Bernard may be familiar to viewers as a Top 100 competitor from the first season of Canadian Idol. Influenced by Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé, Bernard studies theatre at the University of Ottawa.

· Andrew Broderick, Sharon, ON, 17, High School Student
Broderick loves to be on stage and performs with a school jazz group. A perfectionist, Broderick describes himself as a “deep thinker” who can also be “goofy and silly.” He idolizes singers like Usher and Beyoncé Knowles.

· Jacob Hoggard, Abbotsford, BC, 19, Apprentice Carpenter
Hoggard is an apprentice carpenter who likes to sing on the job. Hoggard likens himself to Matthew Good and identifies with Dave Matthews. He lists his other talents as “eating and sleeping.”

· Valérie Jalbert, Saint-Jerome, QC, 19, Cosmetician
Jalbert is a cosmetician who is a great admirer of superstar Celine Dion. Jalbert has been singing since she was five and made it to the Top 30 in Star Académie, although she was not chosen to appear on television.

· Bernard Quilala, Edmonton, AB, 22, Nursing Student
Quilala is a nursing student at Grant MacEwan College who has performed in a number of different talent competitions. His biggest influence is Elvis Presley and he points to his parents as inspiration for his singing career.

· Jerrica Santos, Surrey, BC, 16, High School Student
Turning 16 just one week before the cut-off date, Santos is the youngest competitor in Canadian Idol. Classically trained, Santos also plays the piano, guitar and clarinet, composes music and is a Polynesian dancer.

· Theresa Sokyrka, Saskatoon, SK, 23, Musician
Sokyrka began singing in church and went on to study music at Red Deer College. She plays violin and guitar and feels more at ease being on stage than not. A songwriter since the age of four, Theresa “lives and breathes music.”

[idolfever24]

July 1, 2004

O Canada! Jacob Hoggard and Theresa Sokyrka Stand on Guard for Thee in the Canadian Idol Top 10


The residents of Abbotsford, B.C. and Saskatoon, SK have a special reason to celebrate this Canada Day: their home-town heroes have just advanced to the Canadian Idol Top 10.


Toronto, Ontario (July 1, 2004) – As announced live on CTV this evening, Abbotsford’s Jacob Hoggard, 19, and Saskatoon’s Theresa Sokyrka, 23, were picked by Canadian voters over the six others who performed in a fiercely fought musical battle last night. Over 1.3 million votes were received by text messaging and toll-free telephone.

In tonight’s live broadcast, host Ben Mulroney announced that Hoggard, Sokyrka and Edmonton’s Bernard Quilala were the top three vote-getters. But it was Sokyrka with her rendition of George Gershwin’s Summertime, and Hoggard with his performance of Billy Joel’s Only The Good Die Young, which struck a chord with viewers, sending them into the elite Canadian Idol Top 10.

Four additional Top 10 competitors will be decided by the Canadian public over the next two weeks. Hoggard and Sokyrka return to Canadian Idol with their eight co-finalists on Wednesday, July 21 in the first live, Top 10 performance show.

The other six competitors eliminated tonight still have a shot at the Top 10. Two spots in the July 14 Wild Card episode that will determine the final two positions are still up for grabs. Wild Card competitors will be announced on July 8. Canadian Idol’s fourth group of Top 32 competitors takes to the stage next Wednesday, July 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

Canadian Idol is Canada’s most-watched show. BBM confirms that last Thursday’s results show was watched by 1.9 million people (AMA 2+).

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July 15, 2004

And Then There Were Ten: Jason Greeley and Elena Juatco Are Canadian Idol's Final Top 10 Competitors

Toronto, Ontario (July 15, 2004) – Almost 9,000 auditioned. Now, only 10 remain. The final positions in the Canadian Idol Top 10 were filled tonight when it was announced live on CTV that Newfoundland's Jason Greeley and Vancouver's Elena Juatco had advanced.

The two competitors both placed third in previous rounds - just missing the Top 10 cut - but received a second chance on Wednesday night's Wild Card show. Having survived nine rounds of auditions, they now move forward as the final two competitors in the Canadian Idol Top 10.

Nielsen Media Research confirms that, once again, Canadian Idol attracted over two million viewers with last night’s performance show (AMA, 2+). The episode was followed by record voting, with 1.6 million votes cast – the most so far this season.

In tonight's live broadcast, host Ben Mulroney brought three of the eight Wild Card competitors to centre stage as the top vote-getters: Greeley, 27, a musician from Upper Island Cove, NL; Vancouver's Juatco, 19, a student at Kingston's Queen's University; and Ted Senécal, 25, an apprentice pipefitter from Calgary, AB. Mulroney first announced that Greeley had received the most votes for his performance of Elton John's "Sad Songs." Mulroney then announced that the final competitor advancing to the Top 10 was Juatco – for her rendition of "What I Did For Love" from A Chorus Line – sending Senécal back to the competitor couch.

Next week, Jason and Elena and their Top 10 co-finalists will perform live in front of an audience of 1,000 screaming fans at Toronto’s John Bassett Theatre in the first of nine, Top 10 performance shows. The first Top 10 show is an expanded 90-minute special, airing Wednesday, July 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.


Meet the Canadian Idol Top 10:

· Brandy Callahan, 24, Halifax, NS
· Jason Greeley, 27, Upper Island Cover, NL
· Manoah Hartmann, 25, Regina, SK
· Jacob Hoggard, 20, Abbotsford, BC
· Elena Juatco, 19, Vancouver, BC
· Kalan Porter, 18, Medicine Hat, AB
· Joshua Seller, 23, Brigden, ON
· Kaleb Simmonds, 21, Dartmouth, NS
· Theresa Sokyrka, 23, Saskatoon, SK
· Shane Wiebe, 21, Abbotsford, BC

[idolfever24]

July 21, 2004

Idol Top 10 kicks off with Canadian tribute

From Paul Anka and Alanis Morissette to Leonard Cohen and Deborah Cox, Canadian Idol's Top 10 finalists paid tribute to some of our brightest stars Wednesday night, kicking off the final round of live performances to determine who will come out on top.

Amidst screaming fans inside Toronto's John Bassett Theatre, the ten Idol contenders quickly got down to business, crooning and rocking to Canadian hits, each hoping to win over legions of fans who hold the keys to their future.

As the first finalist to crack the Top 10, 23-year-old Joshua Seller began the evening with his rendition of Blue Rodeo's "Try". The Brigden, Ont. native received a mix of good and bad marks from the judges, beginning with Jake Gold, who thought the singer "played it safe" by choosing a song they had heard before. Farley Flex, however, complimented Seller for keeping his composure and for doing a good job -- a thought which Zack Werner echoed by saying, "nice and mediocre lives to fight another day."

Halifax's Brandy Callahan chose to bring out her Gospel-tinged voice with an R&B tune from Deborah Cox. Her song, "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" also got mixed reviews from the judges. Though Sass Jordan acknowledged Callahan's gifted voice, she felt she was only getting half of the singer's potential. Gold, on the other hand, was impressed by Callahan. "I thought you were great," he said.

Shane Wiebe and Manoah Hartmann, finalists from group four, were up next.

Wiebe, who hails from Abbotsford, B.C., sang Glass Tiger's "My Song" - a choice that, unfortunately, did not sit well with the judges. "I'm surprised that you lived through [the song] because you couldn't even breathe through the whole thing, thus you were flat," Werner snapped. Taking the diplomatic approach, Gold passed on giving his comment and handed off to Flex who felt the singer did not step up to the "play-offs."

Regina's Hartmann, who took on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," also got slammed by Werner who threatened to change the channel if "someone good doesn't come out real soon." Gold and Flex, meanwhile, were satisfied with Hartmann's passionate performance and song choice - a point with which Jordan disagreed.

Wild card Jason Greeley picked the Bryan Adams tune, "Cuts like a Knife," to show off his rock sensibility. With arm-raising and hand-clapping movements, Greeley clearly entertained the crowd and the judges. "As far as performing goes, you're the best we've got," Gold said. With a play on the song title, Jordan remarked, "You don't cut like a knife, you shine like a star."

Continuing with the rock sound, the seemingly-shy Kalan Porter showed some edge with Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild", garnering rave reviews across the panel. Flex called the 19-year-old "a superstar in the making." Werner agreed with Flex's prediction and said, "You and me, we'd get out of here, we'd go make you rich and famous in a real hurry."

Saskatoon's Theresa Sokyrka switched gears with Jann Arden's sentimental song, "Good Mother," captivating Jordan with her performance.

Teasing Sokyrka by claiming to "channel his inner-"Cowell", Werner only had pleasant thoughts in mind. "I don't really feel qualified to pass judgment on that. That was wonderful," Werner concluded. Moreover, Gold praised her performance and called it "spine-tingling."

The unanimous praise from the judges continued after Kaleb Simmonds' performance of Bryan Adams' hit song, "Everything I Do."

Known for his unique renditions, the 21-year-old from Dartmouth, N.S., drew compliments from Gold who applauded him for having "such tone and such style." Meanwhile, Flex, who seemed to be at a loss for words, just shrugged his shoulders and said, "You've got too much soul."

Wild card winner Elena Juatco followed up with a song from her own Canadian idol, Alanis Morissette. Singing the lesser-known tune, "Mary Jane," Juatco managed to leave a favourable impression on the judges. Flex was pleased with her ability to balance emotion and presentation and Jordan felt Juatco seized the "Star Search" moments in the song.

But the surprise performance of the night came from Jacob Hoggard.

Exchanging his trademark punk-rock look for a retro-preppy ensemble complete with an argyle sweater-vest and tight brown trousers, Hoggard captivated the crowd with his crooner rendition of Paul Anka's sappy 1959 tune, "Put Your Head on my Shoulder."

With the sound of screaming girls as home-made signs waved in the air, the performance became reminiscent of vintage concert footage featuring teenage heartthrobs.

Standing up from his chair, Flex gave Hoggard respect for his "sense of entertainment." And while Werner said he thought the performance was "ridiculous," he quickly added, "I loved it. I absolutely loved it."

The Top 10 will be reduced to nine competitors as the singer who receives the lowest number of votes will be eliminated from the competition.

Eye on Idol

[idolfever24]

July 22, 2004

Brandy Callahan is the First Finalist Eliminated from Canadian Idol

Toronto, Ontario (July 22, 2004) – Brandy Callahan is going home. As announced live on tonight's Canadian Idol results show on CTV, the 24-year-old hairstylist from Halifax, NS, has been eliminated from the competition.

Callahan received the least amount of votes following Wednesday night's spirited Canadian Idol performance episode, broadcast live in front of a sold-out audience at Toronto's John Bassett Theatre. In all, 2.1 million votes were tallied following the show, the most so far this season. Callahan leaves behind nine finalists to compete for the Canadian Idol crown.

Last night's special 90-minute episode, dedicated to "Canadian Hits," was once again watched by over two million viewers (2+) -- not including the 1,000 screaming fans packed inside the theatre. The show peaked at 2.2 million viewers during the last half-hour. *

In tonight's live episode, host Ben Mulroney revealed the three competitors who had received the least amount of votes: Callahan; Brigden, Ontario's Joshua Seller, 23; and Regina, Saskatchewan’s Manoah Hartmann, 25. But ultimately it was Callahan who did not connect with voters on Wednesday night following her performance of Deborah Cox's "Nobody’s Supposed to be Here."

Seller and Hartmann return next week to perform in Canadian Idol's "British Invasion" themed show featuring the biggest hits from the United Kingdom. In addition to Seller and Hartmann, the remaining finalists are: Jason Greeley, 27, Upper Island Cover, NL; Jacob Hoggard, 20, Abbotsford, BC; Elena Juatco, 19, Vancouver, BC; Kalan Porter, 18, Medicine Hat, AB; Kaleb Simmonds, 21, Dartmouth, NS; Theresa Sokyrka, 23, Saskatoon, SK; and Shane Wiebe, 21, Abbotsford, BC.

[idolfever24]

July 28, 2004

Idols battle it out with 'British Invasion' hits

Bridging the generation gap and the wide waters of the Atlantic, the "Top 9" stormed the stage Wednesday night belting out U.K hits during Canadian Idol's second themed show, "British Invasion."

Armed with tunes from pioneers of the British rock movement -- The Animals, Herman's Hermits -- and pop icons David Bowie, Elton John and the Eurythmics, the Idols battled it out on television to try to win enough votes to stay alive.

Regina's Manoah Hartmann probably wished she had stayed at home in the Idol mansion Wednesday night after her rendition of "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics drew sour remarks from the judges.

Sass Jordan said she "didn't love the singing," although she appreciated Hartmann's theatrics clad in a pin-stripe suit and a burgundy fedora.

Zack Werner thought it was bad and Farley Flex, who maintains he's never been a fan of Hartmann's, remarked, "I'm hoping you'll convince me one day that you can sing."

But it was definitely Jacob Hoggard's night to hit the town as he blew away the crowd at the John Bassett Theatre with his show-stopping performance of David Bowie's classic song, "Space Oddity."

Decked out in a body-clinging metallic-blue jumpsuit, Hoggard revived Bowie's glam rock image, completing the look with matching blue eye shadow and nail polish.

"Nobody has ever used props and taken it the way you have to a performance level," Jake Gold said. "David Bowie would've been really proud that you sang his song."

On the other hand, Theresa Sokyrka's wholesome performance of Herman's Hermits' "There's A Kind of Hush" came off as bland and according to Jordan, "muted" and "uninspired", following Hoggard's flamboyant presentation.

"You've got what it takes. Don't choke. Don't choose the wrong song," Werner reprimanded Sokyrka who claimed she sang the tune for her mother.

But for Medicine Hat's Kalan Porter, choosing a tried and tested song clearly paid off. His rendition of The Animals' "House of the Rising Sun" got the crowd on its feet and impressed the judges for the second time. Porter got a gold ticket after singing the song at his auditions in Edmonton.

"The clarity of your tone and the passion of your delivery add up to one word: winner," Jordan concluded.

Becoming a part of last week's "bottom three" may have pushed Joshua Seller to add something extra to his performance. With his signature curly locks straightened out, Seller rocked to U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," emulating Bono's running and hopping on stage.

"You definitely upped your game in the entertainment side. Good on you," Flex said.

Though Werner didn't think Seller was the best singer in the competition, he had kind words for the 23-year-old. "You really showed some heart there and I appreciate that."

Other singers who gave solid performances during the evening were Kaleb Simmonds, who beat-boxed the intro to Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," garnering praises from the judges and Jason Greeley, who cranked up the energy with the Elton John song, "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting." Though Werner wasn't convinced that Greeley was "real", the other three judges quickly defended the singer's authenticity.

Elena Juatco, on the other hand, split the judges into two camps with her version of Cat Stevens' "The First Cut is the Deepest." Jordan and Werner weren't impressed but Gold and Flex were sold on her performance. "When it comes to finding the Star Search moments, and there weren't many there, you're an astrologer, baby," Flex said.

Shane Wiebe may have redeemed himself with his take on Elton John's "Something about the Way You Look Tonight." Unlike last week, Wiebe was spared the verbal assaults from the judges, even impressing the tough-as-nails Werner.

[idolfever24]

July 29, 2004

Manoah Hartmann is the Next to Go on Canadian Idol

Toronto, Ontario (July 29, 2004) – School's out for Regina teacher Manoah Hartmann. The 25-year-old Victoria native was eliminated from Canadian Idol on tonight's live results show on CTV.

Hartmann received the least amount of votes following Wednesday's live performance episode, which was once again watched by over two million viewers.* In all, over 2.2 million votes were received via text-messaging and toll-free telephone.

With Union Jacks waving madly among a wildly enthusiastic theatre audience of over 1,000 screaming fans, the music of the British Isles was celebrated in last night's "British Invasion" episode. Tonight, the Canadian Idol Top Nine opened the show with a fiery medley – literally - of British hits from Manfred Mann ("Do Wa Diddy"), Dusty Springfield ("Wishin' and Hopin'"), The Rolling Stones ("I Can't Get No Satisfaction") and The Kinks ("You Really Got Me").

Then it was down to business as host Ben Mulroney revealed the three competitors who had received the least amount of votes last night: Hartmann, who narrowly escaped elimination last week when she found herself in the Bottom Two; Shane Wiebe, 21, from Abbotsford, BC; and Kaleb Simmonds, 21, from Dartmouth, NS. Placing in the Bottom Three for the first time, Wiebe and Simmonds ultimately returned to the competitor couch, leaving Hartmann to say goodbye.

Wiebe and Simmonds will join the rest of the Top Eight this weekend on a pilgrimage to Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in preparation for next week's live shows. The "Rock and Roll" themed episodes, featuring highlights from the trip and song selections from the genre, air next Wednesday, August 4 and Thursday, August 5 on CTV. In addition to Wiebe and Simmonds, the remaining finalists are: Jason Greeley, 27, Upper Island Cove, NL; Jacob Hoggard, 20, Abbotsford, BC; Elena Juatco, 19, Vancouver, BC; Kalan Porter, 18, Medicine Hat, AB; Joshua Seller, 23, Brigden, ON; and Theresa Sokyrka, 23, Saskatoon, SK.

[idolfever24]

Aug 4, 2004

Idols rock hard to stay alive

Inspired by a recent pilgrimage to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Canadian Idol's Top 8 jammed to some of rock's biggest hits Wednesday night.

But despite receiving spiritual blessings within the hallowed halls, the Idols were given a tall order by the rock gods to protect the sanctity of their hard-hitting sound and larger-than-life personas.

Kaleb Simmonds may have been possessed by the spirit of The King, Elvis Presley, after delivering a unique rendition of "Hound Dog." With a 50s-rock-meets-hip-hop vibe, Simmonds' tone was a hit with the judges, who, along with the audience, gave the Dartmouth-native a standing ovation.

"Elvis is always the hardest thing to sing because people know there's only one Elvis. But now there's only one Kaleb," Jake Gold declared.

"Elvis knew where rock and roll really was so he went to the gospel churches to find it. You just showed why," Farley Flex added.

Simmonds wasn't the only one the rock gods were looking after. Abbotsford, B.C.'s Jacob Hoggard also brought the house down, this time showcasing his voice with a toned-down power ballad entitled, "Everything" by Lifehouse.

Ripping off his black biker jacket and clutching the microphone, Hoggard moved on stage like a seasoned front-man. And for the third week in a row, the 19-year-old got the crowd on its feet.

"How can I sit here in front of you and not be moved by you?" Sass Jordan mused.

"You don't even have to open your mouth to be rock and roll," Jake Gold observed. "You are rock and roll."

But for Theresa Sokyrka, the evening would prove challenging.

Judging by the panel's grim reaction, Sokyrka may have offended some rock purists with her hum-drum take on Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart."

Though the Saskatoon singer had the look of a 60s rock star - a sheer brown tunic and matching suede boots - she didn't have the thunderous delivery needed to sell Joplin's signature song.

Jordan, who once played the troubled rock star on Broadway said, "It's not you."

Werner, who appeared frustrated, pleaded with the melodically-mismatched Sokyrka, "Please survive long enough to show us who you are."

Not only were the Idols faced with selecting the right rock songs, they also had to deal with the issue of authenticity - a notion that played heavily in the minds of the judges.

Though Flex was entertained by Elena Juatco's performance of Etta James' "I Just Want to Make Love to You," the other judges were not sold on the singer's mature bluesy vibe.

Jordan thought the song was "a little old" for the 19-year-old Vancouver-native who was elegantly attired in a black dress and high heels.

"Baby, you ain't never had the blues, let me tell you," Werner summed up.

Shane Wiebe, who tried to shed his squeaky-clean image by sporting a beard and playing air guitar to the high-octane song, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by The Darkness, was also criticized by Werner.

"While it might have been wonderful, jokey karaoke for your friends, dude, that was just repulsive," Werner commented.

The crowd, on the other hand, appreciated Wiebe's efforts and followed Gold in giving the singer a standing ovation.

Joshua Seller, who sang the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris", and Jason Greeley, who kicked off the show with "Proud Mary", both received mixed reviews from the judges.

While Werner thought Seller picked the right tune, Gold didn't share the same opinion.

"It may have been a good vocal performance, but that song has never been rock and roll and neither is the performance," Gold said.

As for Greeley, his energetic stage presence seemed to have lost its whiz-bang appeal with the judges who had hoped to hear more of Greeley's singing and see less of his antics.

"It's just a little one-trick pony for me here. That's what's happening," Jordan explained.

Crowd favourite Kalan Porter, who's often wowed all four judges, failed to do so with his rendition of the Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black".

Though Jordan and Flex continued to be impressed by Porter, Werner was not keen on his performance.

"It still feels to me like everybody's kind of faking it, including you," expressed Werner who thought it bizarre to hear the Stones' tune on the teen-dominated show.

With rock and roll proving to be a tough genre for the eight hopefuls, it may also prove tough for voters to choose the best singers of the night. Find out who will rock on as results are revealed live Thursday on CTV.

Eye on Idol

[idolfever24]

August 5, 2004

Joshua Seller is Eliminated from Canadian Idol

Toronto, Ontario (August 5, 2004) - Joshua Seller has become the next competitor to be eliminated from Canadian Idol, it was announced live on CTV tonight.

Seller, 23, received the least amount of votes out of a record 2.3 million cast after Wednesday night's performance episode. Yesterday's Rock and Roll themed episode was the most-watched performance episode yet, with 2.2 million viewers tuning in during the second half-hour of the broadcast, an increase of 14 per cent compared to the season-to-date average.* Seller, the first competitor to reach the Top 10, will return to his hometown of Brigden, ON.

Feeding on the electric energy from last night's show, the Canadian Idol Top Eight continued to rock Toronto's John Bassett Theatre, filled to capacity with over 1,000 raucous fans including South African Idol winner Heinz Winckler. The competitors kicked off the show with a killer rock medley, including Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll," Queen's "We Will Rock You" and "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

The party atmosphere changed dramatically when host Ben Mulroney revealed the names of the three competitors who had received the least amount of votes last night: Seller, who placed in the Bottom Three two weeks ago; Shane Wiebe, 21 from Abbotsford, BC, who was in last week's Bottom Two; and Vancouver's Elena Juatco, 19, who was making her first appearance in the Bottom Three.

After Mulroney sent Juatco back to the safety of the competitor couch, Seller and Wiebe were left waiting for the final judgment. Ultimately, Wiebe escaped again and Seller became the third competitor to be eliminated from the Top 10. Seller closed the show with a reprise of his Wednesday night performance of the Goo Goo Doll's "Iris."

Juatco and Wiebe will return to perform in next week's tribute to the music of the legendary Lionel Richie, airing Wednesday, August 11 on CTV. Lionel Richie will perform live as part of the following night's results show, airing Thursday, August 12 on CTV. In addition to Wiebe and Juatco, the remaining finalists are: Jason Greeley, 27, Upper Island Cove, NL; Jacob Hoggard, 20, Abbotsford, BC; Kalan Porter, 18, Medicine Hat, AB; Kaleb Simmonds, 21, Dartmouth, NS; and Theresa Sokyrka, 23, Saskatoon, SK.

[idolfever24]

Aug 11, 2004

Idols show soul with Lionel Richie hits

After weathering the storm of criticism during last week's Rock and Roll showdown, the Idols found refuge in the soulful rhythms of Lionel Richie, wooing the judges and viewers Wednesday night with their own versions of the legendary singer's classic songs.

While Richie is most known for his string of hit ballads in the 1980s, his musical roots in funk as the founding member of 70s giant crossover band, The Commodores, suggests a greater depth in his style and repertoire.

With an infusion of funk, soul and pop, Richie's sound may be anything but "easy" -- to borrow one of his song titles -- for the young Idol hopefuls to embody.

However, after receiving some one-on-one time with the five-time Grammy winner, the Top Seven injected their own flavour into their handpicked hits, overcoming issues of song selection and authenticity that had plagued last week's performances.

With some dim lights and a stool, Kalan Porter created a smooth start to the evening with a sultry rendition of The Commodores' 1980 release, "Still".

The 18-year-old struck gold with the judges once again by returning to one of the singer's ballads – the same formula that got him into the Top 10 with the Richie-penned "Lady".

Farley Flex expressed his satisfaction with alliteration, "Still. Sex-symbol. Superstar. Success."

Zack Werner, who believed Porter possessed an old soul, thanked him for an honest and wonderful performance.

After receiving Richie's stamp of approval, Theresa Sokyrka broke her string of bad song choices with her rendition of the 1983 hit, "Hello."

Slipping some jazzy scats into the saccharine love song, Sokyrka won praises from Sass Jordan and Flex, while Werner and Jake Gold applauded the emotion and vulnerability the Saskatoon singer portrayed.

"It was just beautiful," Gold said.

Meanwhile, last week's rock star Jacob Hoggard seemed to have flunked in the funk department with his take on The Commodores' 1977 classic, "Brick House".

Despite his 70s-inspired look -- brown applejack hat and printed shirt -- Hoggard's booty-shaking failed to move the judges.

Gold found the performance "a little too campy." Flex thought Hoggard needed to sing more. Werner, on the other hand, was blunt. "It wasn’t even that great."

Elena Juatco, however, had better luck with another Commodores' funk tune, "Fancy Dancer."

Heeding Richie's advice of "make it yours," Juatco poured youthful energy into the song, impressing the judges, especially the critical Jordan who thought the performance was "terrific".

"That's the first time since your wacko audition in Vancouver that I actually thought you did something that represented who I thought you were in the first place," Werner said.

Despite facing elimination two weeks in a row, Shane Wiebe continued to stake his claim in the competition, choosing the up-tempo song, "Angel" to show off some dance moves and his full vocal range.

Richie's appreciation of Wiebe's mature vocals may have rubbed off on the judges who were pleased with the 21-year-old's rendition.

"You nailed that," Flex said.

Kaleb Simmonds' "quiet fire" – as coined by Richie – continued to burn for the judges after his performance of the singer's first solo chart-topper, "Truly."

Though Werner didn't think it was Simmonds' strongest performance, it didn’t matter to the judge who said, "I love you anyway."

Newfoundland's Jason Greeley fared no worse with his tried and tested rendition of "Easy" – a song he says he has sung for the last 10 years.

While Flex found Greeley's laid-back vocals "underwhelming," the rest of the panel gave the singer a thumb's up.

"I think tonight's gonna be slim pickings for who goes home," Werner said. "It's a matter of who has the least star power. And it ain’t you."

With inspired performances by the Top 7, choosing the singer with the "least star power" may prove more difficult than ever before. Find out who moves on and who goes home Thursday 8 p.m. ET on CTV.

Eye on Idol

[idolfever24]

August 12, 2004

Voters Eliminate Kaleb Simmonds from Canadian Idol

Toronto, Ontario (August 12, 2004) – There were some familiar faces on the Canadian Idol chopping block tonight: for the second week in a row, voters sent Shane Wiebe and Elena Juatco into the Bottom Three. But ultimately, it was 21-year-old Dartmouth, NS, native Kaleb Simmonds who had to say good bye.

As announced live on CTV tonight, Simmonds received the least amount of votes following his performance of Lionel Richie's "Truly" and was eliminated from the competition.

"Thank you to Canadian Idol for giving me this opportunity," said Simmonds following his elimination. Simmonds ended the show with a reprise of his performance of "Truly" from last night.

With a record 2.7 million votes cast (an increase of 17 per cent), last night's performance episode was watched by over 2 million people for the fifth week in a row, attracting 2.2 million viewers.* Canadian Idol continues to be the most-watched show in Canada.

Last night, the Canadian Idol Top Seven sang selections from the songbook of music superstar Lionel Richie. At the top of the tonight's show, the competitors continued their tribute to the legendary performer with a medley of his hits, including "Running with the Night" and "Dancing on the Ceiling." Richie himself then took to the Idol stage, leading the competitors in a crowd-pleasing rendition of his hit song "All Night Long," followed by a solo performance of his latest hit, "Just For You."

Then it was down to business as host Ben Mulroney brought the three competitors who had received the least amount of votes to centre stage: Simmonds; Wiebe, 21, a perogy salesman from Abbotsford, BC and Vancouver's Elena Juatco, 19, a student at Queen's University in Kingston.

Mulroney then sent Wiebe back to competitor couch, leaving Juatco and Simmonds to sweat it out as they awaited the voters' final verdict. Ultimately, Juatco was spared again and Simmonds became the fourth competitor to be eliminated from the Top 10.

Wiebe and Juatco will return to perform in next week's tribute to the music of Canadian music icon Gordon Lightfoot, airing Wednesday, August 18 on CTV. The following night, airing Thursday, August 19 on CTV, the Canadian Idol results show expands to one hour and features a special performance by 2003 Canadian Idol finalist Billy Klippert. In addition to Wiebe and Juatco, the remaining finalists are: Jason Greeley, 27, Upper Island Cove, NL; Jacob Hoggard, 20, Abbotsford, BC; Kalan Porter, 18, Medicine Hat, AB; and Theresa Sokyrka, 23, Saskatoon, SK.

[idolfever24]

Aug 18, 2004

Idols put own spin to Lightfoot's classics

From Lionel Richie to Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian Idol's six hopefuls have received an education from legendary artists on the fine art of music making that most singers could only dream of.

With keen notes from Canada's highly-acclaimed and treasured artist, the Idols delivered Lightfoot's timeless songs with a delicate balance between their own fresh sounds and that of the folk laureate's enduring voice.

Lightfoot, whose poetic lyrics often tell stories of a personal nature, told the young hopefuls during their one-on-one workshops, "My stuff is not your normal kind of stuff…It requires a special kind of attention this material."

Presented with a unique challenge, the Idols sought to impress their teacher, who sat among the crowd and listened, as the new crop of singers eagerly presented their individual interpretations of Lightfoot's classics.

Putting away the stiletto boots, Vancouver's Elena Juatco opted for a more natural look with her gentle performance of Lightfoot's 1966 tune, "Early Morning Rain."

Singing barefoot on stage, Juatco captivated the judges with her slightly-altered but Lightfoot-approved delivery of the song made famous by 60s group, Peter, Paul and Mary.

Impressed with the technical aspects of Juatco's vocals, Sass Jordan said: "That's one of the best performances I've seen from you."

Farley Flex forgave the 19-year-old for her "minor weaknesses," clearly won over by Juatco's emotionally expressive rendition.

Meanwhile, Kalan Porter, whose mere name incited riotous screams from the female audience, continued his streak of solid performances.

His version of the 1970 hit, "If You Could Read My Mind" won unanimous praises from the judges.

Zack Werner, who thought Porter's delivery had a "touch of immaturity", described the performance as "genius", while Jake Gold found maturity in the way the 18-year-old vocalized the song.

But for Jacob Hoggard -- the other fan favourite among females – his take on Lightfoot's 1974 song, "Sundown," only garnered mixed reviews from the judges.

While Jordan said it wasn't her favourite performance, she softened the blow by saying, "I still love watching you," to which Hoggard responded with a slight crinkle of the lips that barely resembled a smile.

"I'm not gonna pretend for a moment that wasn't a real horror show," Werner commented.

Gold and Flex, however, came to Hoggard's defense. "There were parts of that I truly, truly enjoyed," Flex said.

With a country twang miles away from Memphis, Jason Greeley performed "Rainy Day People".

Greeley's breezy yet toned down delivery of Lightfoot's 1975 hit single satisfied most of the judges who thought the song fit his style. Werner, on the other hand, found the laid-back performance "really boring" and thought the singer looked uncomfortable.

Two hopefuls who appeared to be on the upswing were Theresa Sokyrka and Shane Wiebe.

Sokyrka's wistful rendition of the slow-tempo tune, "Song for a Winter's Night," recently popularized by Sarah McLachlan, restored the judges' faith in the singer's performing prowess.

"That was definitely the best I've heard you sing in a long time," Jordan said.

Shane Wiebe, who may be capitalizing on the momentum from his last performance, struck a home run with the judges with his technically-sound rendition of "The Way I Feel".

Listening to Lightfoot's advice, Wiebe increased his energy and maintained the intensity of his delivery, thus receiving a slew of compliments from all four judges.

"You actually can sing anything," Gold said.

Despite solid performances, the Top 6 will be whittled down to only five competitors. The one-hour results show, in which the hopefuls play their instruments in a first ever Idol musical jam session, will air live Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on CTV.

Eye on Idol

[idolfever24]

Aug 19, 2004

Elena Juatco Eliminated as Canadian Idol Jam Session Salutes Gordon Lightfoot

Toronto, Ontario (August 19, 2004) - She made it to the Top 10 as a Wild Card, but Elena Juatco was dealt her final hand tonight when it was announced live on CTV that she has been eliminated from Canadian Idol.

In the tightest contest yet, the 19-year-old Queen's University student from Vancouver, B.C. received the least amount of votes out of a season-high 3 million cast.

With four more weeks of the competition still to go, Canadian Idol momentum continues to build. Voting is up almost 30 per cent from last year and is on track to top the record 3.3 million votes received for last season's finale ahead of schedule. And despite wall-to-wall television coverage of the Summer Olympics, last night's episode was the most-watched performance episode this season. In all, over 2.2 million viewers (2+) tuned in to the six-song tribute to Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot, achieving growth in all key demos.*

Lightfoot continued to be celebrated in tonight's live Canadian Idol broadcast. In a world first for the Idol franchise, the six remaining competitors started the show by accompanying themselves on musical instruments for Lightfoot's classic song "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." The performance featured Jason Greeley and Jacob Hoggard on guitar, Juatco on piano, Kalan Porter on fiddle, Theresa Sokyrka on mandolin and Shane Wiebe on bass. Following the performance, Lightfoot took to the stage and received a standing ovation from the sold-out audience of over 1,000.

Expanded to one-hour, tonight's episode also featured a performance by 2003 Canadian Idol Top Three finalist Billy Klippert and his band. Klippert performance "Again" from his new self-titled CD.

When it was finally time to get down to business, host Ben Mulroney revealed that it was the "B.C. Three" who had received the least amount of votes: Juatco; apprentice carpenter Jacob Hoggard, 19, from Abbotsford, BC; and ex-perogy salesman Shane Wiebe, 21, also from Abbotsford. But it was Hoggard and Juatco who were left to sweat it out waiting for the final verdict after Wiebe was spared yet again and sent back to the safety of the competitor couch.

Before the final announcement, Hoggard and Juatco performed the Gordon Lightfoot songs they sang in competition last night - "Sundown" by Hoggard and "Early Morning Rain" by Juatco. Then, Mulroney announced that Juatco had become the fifth finalist to be eliminated, leaving four men and one woman left in the running to become Canada's next Canadian Idol.

In addition to Wiebe and Hoggard, the remaining finalists are: Jason Greeley, 27, Upper Island Cove, NL; Kalan Porter, 18, Medicine Hat, AB; and Theresa Sokyrka, 23, Saskatoon, SK.

Next week, the Top Five take to the stage in an episode inspired by the music of summer. "Summertime Hits," airing Wednesday, August 25 on CTV, features the remaining finalists as they enjoy summer fun at the Canadian National Exhibition (the competitors will perform at a free, hour-long concert this coming Monday, August 23 at the CNE). The following night, airing Thursday, August 26 on CTV, the one-hour results show features 2003 Canadian Idol runner-up Gary Beals performing "Summer Nights," the first single from his recently released debut album.