'American Idol' tour kicks off

For months, as the entertainment world revolved around them, as desperate fans speed-dialed voting lines, as celebrity-driven tabloids and websites fought in mortal combat for every scrap of information about them, as television, music and Broadway rebuilt their firmaments in their wake, the contestants of “American Idol” toiled in the show’s protective cocoon-like bubble. “We were in a white room for three months,” said Irish songstress Carly Smithson.

But now, at last, their duties on the show over, America’s Top 10 gladiators of competitive singing are leaving the bubble and taking their songs directly to the millions of “Idol” fans as they prepare for the 49-city “American Idols Live!” tour, which begins Tuesday in Glendale, Ariz.

“There’ll be no one to say you sang horrible,” said “Idol” finalist Ramiele Malubay, who, along with the other women of the Top 10 — Smithson, Brooke White, Syesha Mercado and Kristy Lee Cook (present, but silent on vocal rest) — took a break from tour rehearsals two weeks ago to sit down for a freewheeling conversation over dinner at West Hollywood’s One Sunset restaurant.

Is a 'Battlestar Galactica' TV movie deal nearly done?

Last month, Maureen Ryan was the first to report that as many as three "Battlestar Galactica" TV films were under discussion at the Sci Fi network. She noted that "it would make sense to make more 'Battlestar' TV movies while the show's creative team and actors are still all in one place."

Well, too late for that now -- the cast is being flung far and wide.

But! "I just heard about the first Battlestar movie being greenlit," said Grace Park, "Battlestar's" Cylon No. 8, yesterday by phone from Vancouver, Canada.

"A TV movie, but still! But this -- it's like, yeah, it's over but we're ready to move on but nobody's manager or agent has been called. It's supposed to start in August."

So, at the very least, the rumors aren't just flying on the Internet -- but on the set as well.

Tonight in Vancouver, the "Battlestar" cast will have its wrap party. On the shooting schedules in these final weeks, huge chunks of time have been blacked out to accommodate new jobs for Cylon and human character alike: No Mary McDonnell one day, no Tricia Helfer the next.

Park, for one, has been jetting off for her new job on the A&E series "The Cleaner," which stars Benjamin Bratt and shoots in Los Angeles; it premieres July 15.

The cast has so far seen most of the series' final episodes, which will air in (sigh!) 2009.

"There's one episode where everything is explained and I had to read it three times," Park said. "I had to sit down with [executive producer] Ron Moore and he had to break it down."

Among other tidbits (the interview with Park will run here on July 20), Park also confirmed the presence of a child actor on set -- one of the toddlers who plays her character Sharon "Athena" Agathon's daughter, the Cylon-human offspring Hera.

From over at the Sci Fi channel, we hear they'd "love to see the continuation of 'Battlestar' with a special event akin to Razor but the idea is still in the discussion stage."

For his part, Moore told The Times' Geoff Boucher and the audience of fans at the Arclight, who gathered for our series of Emmy panels, that he'd love to see it happen as well.

-- Choire Sicha

Eliminated 'America's Best Dance Crew' contestant shoots down sexual harassment rumor

We don't have to tell you that Digg serves up as much news as it does rumors and hoaxes.

An item about eliminated Sass x7 contestant Dominique Conti allegedly accusing "America's Best Dance Crew" judge and noted choreographer Shane Sparks of sexual harassment raised a red flag over here in Show Tracker headquarters on Friday.

According to the report in question, Conti allegedly claimed that Sparks promised Sass x7 could continue on the series if the contestant "accommodated" him. The unsourced entry penned by "ChChChChia" claimed that Conti's parents had allegedly hired a lawyer.

Reached at her parents' home in New Jersey on Friday, Conti said she had never heard of the claim and the report is "absolutely not true."

"My only interaction with Shane was when we were onstage and he was sitting at the judging table or in passing backstage," Conti said. "We all took a picture with him backstage before we were eliminated."

The report also quoted a line from this blog implying that we suggested there was more to Sass x7's staying power than met the eye:

How Sass x7 failed to get the boot from “America’s Best Dance Crew 2" and hang in through the first two episodes can only be explained as some kind of New Jersey juju.

-- L.A. Times

For clarification, we were alluding to Sass x7's positive impact on ratings and seeming viewer support in terms of votes. This is largely based on an interview we did with Lil Mama who suggested that other students found the college dance team appealing.

Conti said she was really proud that Sass x7 went out on such a high note, with a well-received performance of Britney Spears' "Slave 4 U."

"I only wish we had one more week so we could show everybody how good we are," Conti said.

-- Sheigh Crabtree

Robert Lloyd Review-o-rama: 'The Tenth Circle,' 'Factory,' 'Election Day'

Short reviews of coming distractions:

"The Tenth Circle" (Lifetime, Saturday, June 28, 9 p.m.) Family-based mystery (adultery, drugs, teenage strip poker, dead high school football star, skeletons in closet) with lashings of seriousness (references to Dante, Eskimo culture). Based on a novel by Jodi Picoult, reminding us once again that the phrase “New York Times Best-Seller” is meaningless in literary terms. Difficult to buy overall, and it loses focus, but there are some nicely handled moments, and the always-interesting but too-little-seen Ron Eldard is in it. Kelly Preston is fine as Eldard's wife, and Britt Robertson, who plays their possibly raped, potentially murderous daughter is very good, although the part bangs her around a little much, as she goes from reasonable to hysterical and back. The conclusion seems to be that the wages of inattentive mothering are disaster and death.

"Factory" (Spike, Sunday, June 29, 10 p.m.). A partly improvised comedy from Mitch Rouse, a creator of “Strangers with Candy,” which might lead you to expect this to be better than this is. Four factory workers, who come across as four improv comics in coveralls, try to avoid work as they grouse about or lie about the women in or out of their lives. Clearly flung at the Spike's male demo –- "Get More Action" is the network tagline, which implies a viewership not getting as much as it would like -- it has a slightly sour edge that some will just read as The Way Things Are. (The female characters aren't particularly happy, either; Ritalin takes off the edge.) I did like little round Mark Beltzman, who plays a shady used car salesman-cum-funeral director, and Christopher Allen Nelson (who seems to work more often as an SFX makeup artist) as the guy none of the principals like. It would be nice to see a show about factory workers, even a comedy, that took them seriously. First sitcom for Spike, a historic moment by definition.

"Election Day" reviewed after the jump. (It's good, so click on.)

'America's Best Dance Crew' Live Chat

Destination 'So You Think You Can Dance': Chelsea Traille, the morning after

During a conference call with the media this morning, recently eliminated "So You Think You Can Dance" contestant Chelsea Traille was ready to take up the issue of her alleged floral kleptomania.  "I'm Jamaican and I just love beautiful flowers!" she said, laughing. 

Of all of the choreographers on the show, Chelsea has a special place in her heart for Mia Michaels.  Long before SYTYCD, Chelsea was insecure about her dancing, and Mia set her straight.  Chelsea was at a dance event with Mia Michaels and hundreds of other girls.  "[Mia] actually called me up onto the stage," exclaimed Chelsea.  "She said, 'I want you to watch this girl walk.' . . . That really helped my confidence, even at a young age."

And anybody who watched Chelsea on the show knows she never appeared to be lacking in the confidence department. One thing Chelsea did learn on the show, however, "was how to go about working with people."

Another lesson Chelsea learned on SYTYCD came courtesy of Mia Michaels.  "I want you to bleed me dry of all the information I have for you," Mia told the dancers, adding, "I expect the best from every single one of you. Anything less is not sufficient."  Chelsea said that Mia's words really resonated with her.

So, how does Chelsea feel about her ouster?  From what I can tell, not at all regretful. "The one thing I find peace with is that I did everything I could possibly do," Chelsea said. "I felt that I shined in my own way."

-- Stephanie Lysaght

Destination 'So You Think You Can Dance': Chris Jarosz, the morning after

During a conference call with the media this morning, recently eliminated "So You Think You Can Dance" contestant Chris Jarosz was ebullient, and just generally grateful for his time on the series. 

He said that nothing on the show taught him quite as much as the "different personalities [and] different ways of life" of the various contestants.  The diverse dance styles on the show also helped Chris develop.  "My dancing, I think, has grown just because you have to be open to different styles," he explained.

But although dance is a central part of Chris' life, it's not the only thing he enjoys.  "I love to play tennis," he said.  Also, Chris was in a bowling league.  "People always say I'm a nerd for that," he chuckled.

But Chris won't be trading his dance shoes for bowling shoes any time soon.  For the moment, he's taking Adam Shankman's advice to heart.  "He was like, 'I can really see you out in New York. They would love you,' " revealed Chris.

So although Chris' time on SYTYCD is over, there are still big things in store for him, and although he got the boot, he has nothing but nice things to say about the remaining contemporary dancers.  "The ones that are left are super, super, super strong," Chris gushed.  "Twitch doing the Viennese Waltz, and he looked great." 

Despite his overwhelmingly positive attitude about the show, however, Chris did have one regret.  "I was expecting to get some better comments form the judges. I never got like, 'Oh my God! Awesome job!'… I was hoping to have Mary go crazy at some point."

-- Stephanie Lysaght

Destination 'So You Think You Can Dance': Can't they all just stay?

Cory the warm-up guy kicked off the show with guns blazing Friday night.  By the time I got to my seat at the "So You Think You Can Dance" studio, he was already orchestrating an elaborate singles game, involving four bachelors and one bachelorette.  Cory's microphone was about three times louder than usual, and he was sporting not one, but two wallet chains with his bright striped T-shirt. 

Cat Deeley emerged mopey and low, though gorgeous as ever.  "I hate Thursdays cause I have to say goodbye to somebody," she confessed to nobody in particular. "So hang in there with me, OK?"

The show began with a Mia Michaels-choreographed goth circus extravaganza. Then it was down to business. Chelsea Traille and Thayne Jasperson were revealed to be in the bottom three, and Mary Murphy tried to buoy their spirits.  "We're gonna take everything into account," she reminded the dancers.

Joshua Allen and Katee Shean -– obviously -– were safe, and they hugged their way off the stage, only to embrace again once they got into the pit. When Chelsie Hightower and Mark Kanemura were revealed to be safe as well, Joshua and Katee were waiting for them on the floor with open arms. There was a closeness among the contestants that far surpassed the mutual respect and admiration we've seen from them thus far.

 

'America's Best Dance Crew 2': Sass x7 eliminated, hair tossers bounce back to Jersey

How Sass x7 failed to get the boot from "America's Best Dance Crew 2" and hang in through the first two episodes can only be explained as some kind of New Jersey juju.

They hung on despite audience outrage after their victory over Shhh! on the live casting special. Then the cheerleaders escaped last week's distorted bottom two battle between Distorted X and Fanny Pak. Last night the axe finally fell and the spirit team's spell was broken.  New Jersey's finest didn't go into this week's competition thinking this was the end, though.

Here's a breakdown:

Super Cr3w: The video: Chris Brown - "Run It." The challenge: Krumping.  The Result: A standing ovation.  They can do no wrong (right now).  The b-boys took on a tough one, but they 'ran it,' surprising judge Shane Sparks who thought it'd be tougher for them because they're breakers. Pfft.

Fanny Pak: The video: Gwen Stefani - "Wind It Up." The challenge: Tricks (windmill). The results: Cuteness.  Doing knee floats in knee pads, the crew struggled with some of the trick elements, but standout member Glenda's athleticism with a backflip and 'assisted' head spin helped pull them out.

Supreme Soul: The video: Omarion - "Touch." The challnge: Gliding. The result: Pulled it off. Raul can't glide, but he and the group pulled off a smooth routine that showcased their flare.  JC was glad they "showed up," and Lil Mama commented on the fashion, saying a crew member's jacket was "fire!"

'So You Think You Can Dance': America was tough, the judges fair

The appearance of Chelsea Traille, Thayne Jasperson, Chris Jarosz and Comfort Fedoke was no surprise to the "So You Think You Can Dance" viewers at home: Both couples had been floundering on stage and in the judges' eyes the last few weeks.  Kourtni Lind and Matt Dorame, however, seemed like they had performed better on Wednesday night than to deserve being put in the bottom three couples.  Their flirty comic-book contemporary routine seemed made for them (Kourtni in particular).

However, Kourtni and Matt made it easy on the judges with their solo performances, which clearly stood out from the other four dancers'. Kourtni's seemed to define who she is as a dancer and as a person, similar to her audition piece.  Perhaps she needs to bring some more of that to her week-to-week performances. And Matt's, as Nigel put it, was simply brilliant.  While Chris' was solid and Thayne's seemed full of tricks (why did he not get called on this and Marquis Cunningham did the week before?) Matt's lines, movement and graceful strength were undeniably beautiful.