Simon Cowell is Leaving Idol

Paula Abdul, we could handle. But Simon Cowell?!

American Idol could be one season away from jumping the shark as evidence continues to mount that the show’s signature barb slinger is preparing to bail.

Cowell’s own brother, Tony, is the latest harbinger of doom for Fox’s singing contest, announcing in his podcast, The Cowell Factor, that his little sibling is as good as gone.

“A press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave Idolat the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of X Factor to U.S. TV in 2011,” Tony says in this week’s installment.

The X Factor is Simon Cowell’s hit U.K. series that, like Idol, uses viewer votes to find new singing talent, most notably Leona Lewis. It even led to a legal battle between Cowell and Idol producer Simon Fullerthat was eventually settled.

Full Story.

Social media-powered show to hit Web

Simon Fuller's New Reality Show Online

VatorNews – Social media-powered show to hit Web.

This sort of project was bound to happen – a show that will make use of the real-time Web and social media, completely bypassing television but incorporating the traditional narrative and storytelling style we have grown so accustomed to consuming on traditional TV.

If I Can Dream was thought up by the Simon Fuller, who created the hit television show American Idol.  It will be supported by Pepsi and Ford.  The show will follow the lives of five aspiring actors and musicians who will set out to try and make it in Hollywood.  Sounds like a typical story we’re familiar with, but where it differs will be in its use of social media and the real-time Web. (Read more…)

Singapore Top Model on That’s A Star

That’s A Star had the honor of having Singapore top model, Mr. Ritesh Menon, on the set during the last day of filmed auditions.

Ritesh has the following to say about Singapore’s entertainment industry, online videos, and That’s A Star:

“The current status of entertainment in Singapore… has a long way to go… because the number of talented artistes out there is huge, but the number of them being actually featured is very small.

A podcast concept will… launched off in a very big way… it gives all the underdogs an opportunity to actually come out and feature what they have.

Being one of the pioneers in the industry… which is what That’s A Star is all about… will catch a very big wave … as people start migrating from watching TV to spending a lot more time on the internet… which is where the trend is heading.

If you’re gonna look for undiscovered artistes… really talented artistes… hidden gems in Asia… or around the world… you’re gonna be paying a lot of attention on the internet and people who are featured on the internet.

…you’re gonna find hundreds of artistes featured in the next couple of months that are gonna blow you away… Keep watching That’s A Star.”

Kallang Roar Star, Mr. Santhanaram on That’s A Star

Mr. Santhanaram Jayaram (Ram) goes to the set of That’s A Star to give us an interview, promote his upcoming movie, Kallang Roar, and give support to the upcoming artistes of That’s A Star.

About Kallang Roar, the movie:
Battling the onslaught of a life threatening stage of diabetics, an entire board of unsupportive officials ready to oust him, a record of 12 years of Malaysian football supremacy, Uncle Choo defiantly returns to Singapore football scene in 1977 for one last short at restoring Nationalistic pride.

Uncle Choo was one unorthodox gem of a coach, regimental, courageous, determined and very imposing. He was bold, quietly confident: always believing that he and his nurtured team can accomplish milestone though with limited resources in every department. His undying love for the game and his role as a coach whom, few will would ever understand.

Armed with legendary players like Quah Kim Song, Rajagopal, Samad, Mat Noh, Dollah Kassim, uncle sets out an impossible journey to remind his fellow countrymen of what it meant to be Singaporean.

This is a tale about sheer grit, unbreakable will and his deep passion, unyielding struggle with society and oneself, to finally achieve glory for one’s nation through football and coined one legacy unwittingly, known to all as ‘The Kallang Roar’ which is of nothing to himself at the end of it.

Final Day of Auditions: That’s A Star – Singapore

This is the conclusion of the series of filmed auditions which That’s A Star held at *scape Youth Centre. More than 30 aspiring artistes passed the auditions, and they will be groomed and trained to shape Singapore’s entertainment scene.

Although the filmed auditions is over, That’s A Star is continuously looking for talented and passionate people who wants to have a career in show business in and around Singapore.