This past season of “American Idol” is widely regarded as one of the show’s worst, and the corresponding Idol Live! tour might be the last nail in season nine’s coffin.
The tour, which features the final 10 contestants, has suffered poor ticket sales (example: at press time, Wednesday’s show at Jones Beach, right outside New York, featured front-row seats still available for just $13). Seven shows have been cancelled, and nine shows have been rescheduled.
A revised schedule released Tuesday by organizer LiveNation, shows the tour, which was originally scheduled to end Sept. 16 in Portland, Maine, is now slated to end Aug. 31 in Indianapolis.
Is there an explanation for the lack of interest, or worry on the part of the “Idol” brass? Reps for “Idol” won’t say, other than to comment, “At this time, other than confirming that some shows on the IDOL LIVE! 2010 tour itinerary have been moved and/or canceled, we are not issuing any comment or statement.”
A source close to the production had a little bit more to say about the sad state of the Idol Live tour.
“No one was very optimistic about the success of the Idols tour this summer,” said one well-placed “Idol” source. “They knew they didn’t have big stars on their hands, and really, ‘American Idol’s’ focus isn’t about creating a successful tour, it’s about creating a successful show, week to week. But unfortunately, the tour (not doing well) reflects badly on the show, especially since there’s the ‘who will replace Simon’ situation to contend with this year.”
A tepid tour won’t halt progress, though. “American Idol” begins auditioning for new hopefuls, as scheduled, July 17 in Nashville, Tenn.
Etheridge ex speaks out about ‘other woman’
Details about the Melissa Etheridge-Tammy Michaels split continue to come out. This time, a source close to Michaels is identifying the “other woman” in the relationship: Etheridge’s music.
According to Us Weekly, Etheridge would “hole up in the studio for days and not even call Tammy,” said a source close to the singer, who filed to end her five-year domestic partnership with Michaels on July 2 (although they announced their separation in April).
And though Etheridge has said the breakup was “as mutual as those things can be,” Michaels, who once had a role on “The L Word,” took to her blog a day later to lash out at Etheridge: “I gave up my managers, agents, contacts, all that good stuff . . . while She with the Guitar focused on her guitar.”
Tiger's mistress lies low in HamptonsTiger Woods’ onetime mistress Rachel Uchitel is slowly getting back into the social scene, but she is staying mum about Woods.
Sources say Uchitel arrived at the AXE Lounge in Southampton, N.Y., just after midnight on Sunday with three female friends in tow. She refused to pose for pictures, and the group proceeded to meet up with some other people at a table.
Though other patrons noticed Uchitel, they left her alone as she danced near the DJ booth and drank champagne. She left with the same girlfriends she came with.
“It was a girls night out,” said a source at the lounge.
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