memphis morphs into north carolina...

American Idol has added two new cities to its list of season five audition locations, replacing the Memphis location which was cancelled due to Katrina.

On Monday, Oct. 3, hopefuls can line up in Greensboro, North Carolina at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.  And on Monday, Oct. 10, the show will ride into Las Vegas, where auditions will be held in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

All of the other audition sites have been completed.

And as a note to my friend Kathi:  North Carolina is very CLOSE to YOU!  (I'll send you a just IDOLing along... t-shirt to wear if you want!!)

 

fitting end to season four...

Season four has officially concluded, as the top ten gang ended its summer tour with a benefit concert for Red Cross hurricane relief efforts, netting $280,000 during its Sunday performance.

Donna, from Foxes On Idol, was there for both shows.  And she's talking all about both of them here.

In other news, season three's George Huff, a native of New Orleans, will be a guest on Dr. Phil today (Tuesday).  George and the TV doc met up with each other when they were both touring the devastated city.

Check your local listings.

sunday in syracuse...

Bo Bice will be on hand with the rest of the Idol finalists for a special Sunday performance, their last of this tour's, to benefit the American Red Cross.  Bo, of course, has been off the tour since undergoing emergency surgery August 18 in Las Vegas.

And he will debut a song, We Can't Change This World, that he wrote in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Tickets are still available.

katrina knocks out memphis...

While most of us are fixated on the disaster and relief efforts in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, we might tend to forget that many states in the surrounding areas are also absorbing the brunt of the storm called Katrina, sending in help and welcoming those who've been left homeless.

And the storm has hit American Idol.  Auditions for season five, scheduled for Monday in Memphis, have been cancelled.  They will not be rescheduled, but a new audition city will be added to this season's roster.  Possibly they could fulfill the promise they made, then backed out of, to Alaska last year.

Denver will go as planned on Sept. 11 and Chicago is still on for Sept. 16.