The tenth season premiere of aging juggernaut “American Idol” fell 13 percent among total viewers and 18 percent in the ad-coveted demographic of 18-49-year olds, according to preliminary data from Nielsen. The much-hyped two-hour opener, featuring new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, was watched by 26.1 million viewers with a 9.7 in the demo.
Last year’s premiere — which kicked off the final year of Simon Cowell, considered by many observers to be the show’s linchpin — was watched by 29.9 million viewers and averaged an 11.8 demo rating. That was down slightly compared to the 2009 premiere, which averaged 30.4 million viewers and an 11.7 rating in the demo.
“American Idol” has been declining since the 2007 season when the premiere installment attracted a high of 37.4 million viewers with a 15.8 in the demo.
Last night’s decline is not entirely surprising given the shows age and this year’s makeover. But the premiere most likely benefited from a curiosity factor ratings boost. So the true test of “Idol’s” staying power – and Lopez and Tyler’s success as judges — will come as the season wears on.
I watched about half of the show, and I have to say – I think it’s doomed. It wasn’t that interesting at all. Without Simon Cowell, I think the show is going to bomb. I was annoyed with Steven singing along with the contestants – I was annoyed with how much Jennifer kept saying “This is so hard!” – and annoyed with Randy Jackson – just in general. I don’t think the three of them have good chemistry, and I really was very disappointed! I don’t think it’s going to survive without Simon. Did you watch it? What did you think?
Lady Gaga premiered a remixed track from her forthcoming album ‘Born This Way’ for the Mugler men’s fashion show in Paris on Wednesday, and we have the exclusive video premiere — thanks to our friends at StyleList.
Nicola Formichetti, creative director at Mugler, featured the tune in a short film directed by fashion photographer Mariano Vivanco. The video features clips from the runway show and of Formichetti’s muse, Rick Genest, who has had his entire body tattooed to look like a skeleton.
Formichetti, a longtime Gaga collaborator who also serves as fashion director for her Haus of Gaga, is responsible for some of Gaga’s most outrageous looks, including the meat dress, hair dress and the “scarecrow.”
The show is his first collection for Mugler (formerly known as ’80s French powerhouse label Thierry Mugler) and was featured during men’s fall-winter ready-to-wear Fashion Week. Prior to the show, Gaga expressed her excitement about the collection. “MUGLER PARIS SHOW begins in 2 hours. I am so excited my fashion bones are rattling. The garments + music are poetic intoxication,” she wrote on Twitter.
This isn’t the first time Gaga presented new music at a fashion show. She premiered ‘Bad Romance’ in 2009 at the Alexander McQueen show.
How is it possible that she’s 45!? This means that when she played highschool student Dionne on ‘Clueless’ – she was 29! She was born on this day – in 1966!
Marie Caro, mother of anorexic model Isabelle Caro who passed away late last year, has committed suicide, the Daily Mail writes.
Isabelle was best-known for her image used in a shock Italian ad campaign (which you can see here) conceived by photographer Olivier Toscani in 2007 under the headline “No Anorexia.” She more recently appeared on Jessica Simpson’s “The Price of Beauty.” She had suffered from the eating disorder since she was 13 and usually blamed her difficult childhood.
Christian Caro, Isabelle’s stepfather spoke with Swiss newspaper 20 minutes about both deaths. He blames the Bichat Hospital in Paris for Isabelle’s passing:
“She was hospitalized on November 16, 2010 for a stomach ache. My wife requested that she be taken to Bichat and she told doctors what was happening and told them about her illness. The doctors said they’d run some tests but they’d put Isabelle to sleep so she’d be less disturbed. They should have never done that. Isabelle died the 17th at the beginning of the afternoon. She died because they disconnected her from the machines. Two doctors took my wife and I separately and said, “You know, in any case, your daughter didn’t want to live.” They shortened it all. They wanted to do it quickly because there were a lot of people waiting.”
Christian added that he filed a complaint with the prosecutor in Paris for manslaughter. Of his wife, Marie, he said:
“My wife…she felt guilty for sending my daughter to the hospital in Bichat. [....] She had that weight on her head, a huge guilt. And this was in addition to the press, above all an interview with Toscani that she succeeded in viewing, although I tried to keep it from her. And she couldn’t tolerate it. She already couldn’t bear the death of her daughter.”
20 Minutes reports that Christian is now working on a music project, the profits of which will go to the association Isabelle created to help people suffering from anorexia. A single will be out by the end of the month.
James told People.com, “So honored that [Kat] said ‘yes.’ Growing old with her is going to be a f—-n’ blast!”
Last night, Kat was sporting a large ring on her wedding finger during an event at an art gallery in L.A. … the same ring she’s been sporting since September. But when we asked if the jewelery was an “engagement ring” …. Kat’s lips were sealed.
