An Idol Tracker's journey ends

Forgive me for interrupting regularly scheduled Idol news with some personal business, but I have an announcement to make to Idol Tracker readers. Tuesday will be my last day with the L.A. Times and thus my stint as the L.A. Times' Idol Tracker comes to an end.

It has been an amazing three years covering the most important spectacle in the history of the world.  Three years ago, when we started the Show Tracker blog, I volunteered to write the occasional review of the occasional episode of "Idol," never imagining my life would disappear down the "Idol" rabbit hole.  But then I came face to face with the incredible stories of these young people, these warriors of song, who every year risked the worst fate any of us can imagine -- public humiliation before tens of millions -- all for a shot at their dreams.  I also got to meet the incredibly talented group of people who put the show together and on so many occasions was allowed to peek backstage at what goes into creating a goliath like "Idol."

So many memories from three years on the "Idol" beat.  Come with me now on a little stroll down Memory Boulevard, as we visit an Idol Tracker's greatest days, with a few of the pictures and videos I've snapped over the years.  Ah, yes, I remember it well ....

On finale eve, Idols of years past gather and compare notes

Every May as the world convenes in front of TV sets to choose our new pop despot, a certain college of cardinals gathers around the main stage. For the 80-some singers who have stood on the "Idol" stage before, finale time is like a giant family reunion, a time to reconnect with their comrades in arms, with whom one, two or six years ago they fought through a bloody season and toured the nation before being scattered to the four winds to seek their fates in the swirling tides of contemporary music.

On finals eve, the gathering place of this fabled fraternity was in a off-the-map basement on the opposite edge of downtown from the Nokia. On Monday night, the Edison bar was the scene of the most intimate of "Idol" conclaves as about two dozen Idols past gathered for a party thrown by Fox Radio to celebrate the finals.

Into a quiet alley, down a long stairwell, one found a cozy little gathering where Kimberley Locke and Bo Bice, Diana DiGarmo and Hayly Scarnato, Melinda Doolittle and Jason Castro hobnobbed with those few who have walked the lonely path of the American Idol. And talking with them, one gets a sense of the many directions a post-"Idol" career can go.

Hippie heartthrob Jason Castro wants to chat with you

Alert the dreadheads!

Season 7 hippie heartthrob Jason Castro wants to bond with his fans, so at 7 p.m. (Eastern time) Wednesday, April 29, he is taking to his website.

Jason will chat with fans in a live forum. Got a burning question — like how he got his mane like that — or just want to congratulate him on his recently announced deal with Atlantic Records?

You can Twitter him with your comments or questions now, and he will address them Wednesday. As we all remember from his "American Idol" days, Jason hates interviews, so he must really love his fans to be doing this.

And because Jason seems like a man of simpler pleasures — and not the Twitter/webchat type — we popped over to his Twitter to see what the songbird has been tweeting about.

His last two tweets show that he's still the same ol' Jason:

1. Having the most amazing some sort of like corn soup! Mmm so good!

2. That was a little confusing.... Haha good corn soup!

Related: ‘American Idol’: Jason Castro’s wacky gift

—Stephanie Lysaght

Photo: WireImage

Kara DioGuardi plays the crazy ex-girlfriend

With all the rumors swirling about Season 8 "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi teaming up with Season 7 finalist Jason Castro on a song, we decided to pop over to DioGuardi's website to dig for more clues. No word there on the alleged Castro-DioGuardi collaboration, however we did discover that the intrepid judge recently had her acting debut in a "Theory of a Deadman" music video. DioGuardi plays the love interest in the video for "Not Meant to Be." She also co-wrote the ditty with "Theory of a Deadman's" Tyler Connolly.

So now DioGuardi is a singer-songwriter-judge-actress. Single-space that resume, girl, or you'll never be able to fit all your accomplishments.

Between updating her blog, posting to her YouTube channel, appearing on "American Idol," co-writing Kelly Clarkson's new single "I Do Not Hook Up" and this rumored collaboration with Castro, when does this woman sleep?

So, back to the video, in which DioGuardi breaks stuff, storms out her boyfriend's house, and then, of course, cruises away in her convertible wearing her sunglasses. Her ex is very upset and burns her photograph. Watch the video, and let us know what you think in the comments section.

-- Stephanie Lysaght

Related:

Simon Cowell to Kara DioGuardi: Zip it!
Paula Abdul 'thrilled' with Kara DioGuardi

Photo credit: WireImage

Jason Castro teams up with little bro, Michael, at Texas A&M

Remember Jason Castro's little brother, Michael, and the way he charmed Kara DioGuardi and company at "American Idol" auditions earlier this season?

"You're a kind of ballsy dude," DioGuardi mused after Michael auditioned with Gavin DeGraw's "In Love With a Girl." "You have this kind of, 'I have a secret' kind of vibe about you."

Well, the younger Castro didn't make it as far as his brother in the competition, but that doesn't mean he's giving up on the music thing.

Michael Castro opened for Jason Castro at Texas A&M University last weekend, and his MySpace page features recordings from the jam-packed concert.

Michael may be almost 21 now, but fear not: the infectious, youthful braggadocio he used to charm DioGuardi shows no signs of abating. On his MySpace music page, Michael says his music "Sounds like: way awesome!"

— Stephanie Lysaght

Photo credit: Betsy Castro

Related:

Jason Castro: The 'American Idol' torch is passed!

Jason Castro says 'Hallelujah' in Santa Barbara

There has been a lot of news for the Castro family lately.  While younger brother Michael was seen last week giving a very strong audition and passing through to Hollywood (check out more of Michael at his MySpace page here), Season 7 favorite Jason Castro has been closing in on his future plans and was doing a live performance at the Santa Barbara film festival.

The fest premiered the Mexican/Colombian film "Amar a Morir," featuring Jason's star-making rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" on the soundtrack.  Check out this article for the full background on how the filmmakers, looking for a suitable version of the song, came upon Jason's.  As the film's producer and co-writer Harrison Reiner told the SB Independent, "I entered the word 'Hallelujah' – I didn’t know what would come up. And suddenly I see the face of this guy with dreads and I listened to him singing the song and thought, 'Oh my god, this is amazing.' "

And enjoy the video above featuring Jason's Santa Barbara turn at his signature song.

-- Richard Rushfield

Jason Castro sings 'White Christmas'

Bing Crosby is now rolling his eyes in amazement somewhere at the sight of dreadlocked, ukelele-strumming Jason Castro doing this lovely rendition of "White Christmas" at his hometown Lake  Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas.  The video, recorded by the church, has been making the rounds on the Web feeding the insatiable dreadhead appetite for Jason material.

I reported a few weeks ago about Jason's recent video talking openly about his faith.  I wonder with the positive feedback he received from his fans (see, for instance, the comments section after that post) how much pull he'll feel to record specifically Christian music -- or in church settings -- versus non-spiritually themed material.

-- Richard Rushfield

'American Idol' Daily: What's on Jason Castro's mind

After nearly a week on hiatus from the "Idol" daily reports (spent preparing a big story, coming soon, about the future plans of one very special Season Seven contestant), I return to the beat to find my inbox flooded with more "Idol" news than any one humble tracker can hope to round up in one mere post.  Everything from Season Eight contestant spoilers, to Grammy nominations,  to Broadway shake-ups, to real estate news.

But to ease back in, here are some thoughts on  this video from Jason Castro just posted on the site iamsecond.com.  Shown speaking directly to the camera in a dark room, Jason shyly opens with the line, "This is a story.  Are you ready for a story?"  He continues, talking about one night on the "Idol" set, shot in a confessional style reminiscent of Vh1 Storytellers, or some indie-ish venue.  However, in what is a slightly jarring turn for those "Idol" viewers who don't know what is coming, he begins speaking very openly and honestly about that most taboo of prime-time TV subjects -- his faith and, in particular, his born-again Christian faith, talking about his devotion to Christ and how God animates his singing.

With many contestants on the show hailing from Christian backgrounds, and many who began their singing careers in the Christian community, the religious underpinnings of their craft is always a subtext on the "Idol" show.  But generally it remains a very deep sub-sub text, only rarely winked at, with contestants alluding to their faith in the most oblique ways. 

Religion  being the most personal and contentious of issues, "Idol" is no exception to the rule of prime-time programming, that any direct reference to particular beliefs can only  serve to alienate swaths of the broad public.  However, watching Jason speak so honestly, humbly and touchingly about how he is guided by faith, it is hard to imagine how any but the most committedly irreligious could be put off by such a testimony.   One would not wish the Idoldome to turn into a religious pulpit, but in spiritually neutering the contestants, one wonders how much of who they really are we lose.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section.  Does religion belong on the "Idol" stage? And to the non-Christians who watch this video, do Jason's sentiments offend you or make you appreciate him more?  Let's discuss!

-- Richard Rushfield

Photo: Fox

Jason Castro: The 'American Idol' torch is passed!

Happy news, Jason Castro junkies and die-hard dreadheads: Jason Castro�s little brother, Michael Castro, has auditioned for Season 8 of �American Idol.�

And according to fourth-place runner-up Jason, Michael is the real singer in the family. �He�d always outdo me,� Jason told Fox News reporter Jonathan Hunt of his brother Michael, as seen in this segment posted on You Tube. �Hold notes longer, hit higher notes, and I was always like, 'How do you do that?' Whatever!�

According to the Fox report, Michael auditioned in Kansas City, Mo., the final stop on the �Idol� audition tour. �When I first told [Jason], he thought I was joking,� Michael said with a chuckle. �He was like, �Don�t go make a fool out of yourself. You�re not gonna take it seriously.� � We�ll have to wait till January to find out whether Jason was right.

And in case you were wondering, no, Michael doesn�t have dreadlocks. But he does have a bright red mohawk. With a lot of loyalty and a little white-out, Jason's dreadheads will no doubt become the redheads in no time.   

-- Stephanie Lysaght