Jane Carrey who is actor/comedian Jim Carrey’s daughter auditioned on American Idol and made it through to Hollywood.

She seems kind of sweet, with an OK voice, heard better but also have heard worse. Jane is a 24 year old single mum, and waitress. I thought this was interesting considering her dad in the past has made $20 million a film that she does not have a trust fund or indeed went to college.

Having said that maybe she is such a sweetie because she has had to support herself.

News.com.au also raise the issue that she got special treatment at the auditions, that she did not have to queue. Personally I don’t have a problem with that.

A Queensland University has done a study on where you are placed to sing on talent reality can effect the voting patterns.

The news.com.au article states the study found the person who sang last had an advantage over the other contestants.

It states:

They found that even after accounting for a contestant’s talent, those who performed later in the show had an advantage over other contestants.

American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson regularly performed later and went second in the final show and has gone on to become arguably the world’s most successful Idol contestant.

Researcher Dr Katie Page said the later a contestant performed in a show, the more likely they were to not be in the bottom two in the following round.

Is this what academics do studies on these days? I thought universities are about intellectual rigour?  Any fan of the show would have been able to tell these researchers that the last spot is commonly known as the pimp spot, as that is where the producers will regularly put their favourites in to help keep them on the show. Remember which position Reece Mastin was put in the week after he landed in the bottom two in the last season of The X Factor Australia?

At least she acknowledged that where you perform is not pulled out of a hat, it is where the producers decide where you should sing.

The study also found contestants who performed first were more likely to be judged favourably than those who went second or third, which were found to be the worst positions to perform.

Apparently this has to do with memory of the voters, but I would also say that a lot viewers also can miss the first few songs as they not be settled in front of the TV yet.

Anyway I hope by the time my kids get to university this quango research has been replaced with some academic rigour, because I can just save the not inconsiderable fees and teach them this stuff at home when they are in fourth grade.

American Idol winner and now mega pop star has found out the hard way that it is only acceptable to endorse a US presidential candidate if he is a democrat.

At the previous US election celebrities were all over democrat candidate Barack Obama, however Kelly Clarkson has been villified by fans for coming out in support for Republican candidate Ron Perry. Clearly it is not as cool and probably for good reason. Republican candidates are traditionally pretty conservative and uncool.

The Daily Telegraph reports that fans are not happy with some racist and homophobic remarks Perry made some years ago. I would of thought all Republican candidates had views like that….

Kelly Clarkson has been backpedalling and saying she believed in equal rights, but liked that Ron Perry because he believed in “less Government” – is that code for lower taxes, no universal health care, decrease in welfare support and less gun control???

Anyway on the plus side for her her album sales increased the day after the endorsement.

American Idol again will be fast tracked on Fox 8 this year. It will kick off on Sunday 22 January at 6.30pm and then will be on each Thursday and Friday night.

The same judges as last year – Randy Jackson, JLo and Steve Tyler as well as the same host of Ryan Seacrest.

JLo was surprisingly good as a judge last year, in fact I think she ended up giving the best advice out of all of them.

Will a superstar be unearthed this year? The X Factor US final is next week, and it looks like we won’t be seeing that series on our screens here. Though having seen the craziness that went on last week, I am kind of glad we don’t get it.

In great news for American Idol fans living in Australia, Fox 8 are going to screen the finale live on Thursday morning 26 May at 10.00am.

This means Fox 8 will be screening the this week’s final performance show on Wednesday May 25 at 7.30pm.  Lauren Alaina who is 16, and 17-year-old Scotty McCreery will be battling it out for the title.

Who do you want to win?

Top Ten Reality meltdowns – I love these lists and Popcrunch has kindly come up with one called the top ten epic reality TV meltdowns.

Spoiler Alert from TV Tonight regarding an away challenge on My Kitchen Rules.

Great article with Rachel Zoe and how she became the Hollywood’s most powerful fashion player in Hollywood Reporter. Also great photos of the 37 week stylist.

Bethanny Frankel talks about her long time eating disorder which she says she got over in 2006. Quite frankly I still think she looks too thin. (Source: Baltimore Sun)

Celebrity Rehab alumni Mike Starr has died of an overdose. It would seem Dr Drew Pinsky was unable to save this troubled soul. His story was very moving on the show and it is tragic he could not overcome his addiction. TMZ has his last voice mail message where he was looking to score.

Richard Hatch he who is the original Survivor winner, and now a contestant on the latest Celebrity Apprentice will be going back to jail for another stint because of tax evasion. This guy is gold on Celebrity Apprentice. (Source: Zap2it)

Ashthon Jones was eliminated from American Idol. If you are wondering if this is a male or female it is a female. (Source: Huffington Post)

The show’s host Ryan Seacrest if putting those gay rumours to rest with news he has been seeing his current girlfriend Julianne Hough for over a year. (Source: Daily Mail)

I am not sure what I think about American Idol without Simon Cowell. Something is definitely lacking, and I am not talking about Steve Tyler’s facial movements. He has had so much work done he is looking younger than Jennifer Lopez.

Tonight it was the semi final for the top twelve guys, and it is the year of the geek. There are very few heart throb guys which I think could be a positive in the long run, as the talent might get through.

Clint Jun Gamboa -

This karaoke singer sange a great version of Superstition. He is no hottie but had some appeal. However I think he will struggle to get through due to being

Jovany Barreto – Oh this guy might have a six pack but hes song was extremely boring. But JLo looked like she was in raptures. Duller than Michael Buble. Randy and I were seeing eye to eye, he thought it was just OK.

Jordan Dorsey – Looked great but had dodgy vocals As Randy would say it was pitchy. But in the year where there were few hotties he might get through. But then throwing himself on the floor at the end of the song was over the top.

Of course Randy picked up the pitch problems. Jordan admitted it was not him and hinted the song had been foisted upon him.

Tim Halperin – who had that independent quirky thing going on . I think he has potential it just wasn’t shown in this song. The judges were saying it was not his best.

Brett Lowenstien – Oh God he is my favourite. This guy is the first one to show any star quality. His version of Fire was excellent. Steve Tyler said “you brought it home.” J LO “That was more head tossing that me and Beyonce have done in the last ten years.”  Randy said ” You are definitely fun and bold.”

James Durbin – who was hitting the notes but did not really do it for me. I more butch version of Adam Lambert perhaps?

Steve Tyler thought it was crazy good. But Steve judgement was poor all night.

Robbie Rosen – The NY Post were trying to drum up this guy as a heart throb. Um no not at all. He had a nice voice but thought the star quality was missing. Steve Tyler thought it was a “beautiful thing”.  Randy said “It was not a good performance.”

Scotty McCreery – who is the country boy of the competition and it did a nice job if you like that genre. It is popular in the US so he should get through to the top 12.

Stefane Langone – who was a bit of a cutie sang a nice rendition of “Amazing” which should see him voted through on a very weak night.

Paul McDonald OK this guy is quirky cute with blazing white teeth. But I could have done without the Rod Stewart song. However he has a nice voice, a rock star vibe, and looks good in skinny jeans so he has my vote.

Jacob Lusk – sang Luther Vandross, yes he it all the notes and will get into the top 12 – can he win? I don’t think so.

Casey Abrams – yes talented indeed. Will his nerdy bearded look bring in the votes? Yes for awhile but if he turns out to be one dimensional expect the voters to turn to someone else.

American Idol started last week and it is good to see the popular series can survive without Simon Cowell. In fact from the episode I watched last night it showcased the talent, and the judges personalities did not dominate as they have in previous years.

That could be because J Lo doesn’t have much of one…

Steve Tyler seems to have taken on the dippy, flamboyant role and he is fun. However parents lock up your daughters, as he does have an eye for the young ladies.

Anyway the two names that have emerged from this week’s auditions they are 15 year old Lauren Aliana and Chris Medina . Yes you read that right Lauren is  15, Idol producers have reduced the age to audition down a year. LA Times outline why they think she will be a contender here.

The producers are keen to push her as she had the lucky last pimp spot.

The other guy that got this spot this week was Chris Medina who currently is nursing his fiancee who has long term brain damage. Even though I knew the back story to the clip, I was still couldn’t hold back the tears. This guy can also sing.

See his audition below:

The Simon Cowell less American Idol will again be fast tracked from the US this year. It premieres on Thurs 20 January at 7.30pm on Fox 8. It is then followed up on Friday as well at 7.30pm.

American Idol has been totally changed with Simon Cowell going. The only original judge left is Randy Jackson. the two new judges are Steve Tyler from Aerosmith, and J-Lo.

However, Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, co-founder of Beats Audio and one of the world’s most successful and prolific music producers, will join American Idol as an in-house mentor.

Rumour has it that there will be more footage from the house to try and personalise the show a bit more.

I have to confess the new cast members are not filling me with enthusiasm. American Idol ratings dropped last year, but having said that it is still one of the highest rating shows on US TV.

Now rating period has ended for the free-to-air channels and all their decent shows have ceased, you must be wondering what you are going to be watching over the Summer season.

Don’t panic there are some good shows starting, but the bad news is most are on Pay TV.

This week Foxtel started to new reality shows. Dating in the Dark on Fox 8 (see review on it here) and Freshwater Blue on MTV.

Other shows to look out for over summer are:

• The always entertaining Come Dine With Me Australia (Season 3);
• American Idol with the new judging panel of Steve Tyler and J-Lo;
• Live To Dance with Andrew Gunsberg hosting will be fast tracked from the US;
• Also there is always a plethora of good stuff on Arena, with Top Chef finishing off, however Bethenny Is Getting Married, The Rachel Zoe Project, and Flipping Out are all entertaining.

If anyone sees a good reality show in the TV guide tell me about it so I can alert other reality TV fans.