David Archuleta's NEW Album!

AOL Music is streaming David Archuleta's full album today (before its release tomorrow). Here's the link:

http://music.aol.com/songs/new_releases_full_cds

Fall 2008 American Idol

Well, apparently the American Idol auditions came through Salt Lake City a few weeks ago. I was out of town but I heard it was quite the event. I have a few friends who have talked about trying out, but I don't think any actually went. I hope Utah contestants do well by our great state and don't cause too much embarrassment. :)

Can't wait for the new season to begin, for the David Archuletta album to come out and to see if David Cook's album is as good as expected.

American Idol - Postage Stamps!

American Idol is giving back to the community by putting your favorite contestants on postage stamps. Each Thursday, Ryan Seacrest announces which former winner graces the next American Idol Gives Back stamp, but PopEater has your exclusive sneak peek every Tuesday.

This week PopEater has Taylor Hicks, Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard!

The stamps, which can be used for actual postage, all benefit Idol Gives Back, a program helping the less fortunate around the world. For each stamp purchased, $10 is given to the charity. Only 2,000 stamps will be printed for each winner in each of the 50 states, so the stamps will likely dramatically increase in value. You can purchase them at www.photostamps.com.

BYU grad finalist in 'Idol' song contest

Vote for a great song to be the American Idol theme -- written by a BYU graduate -- the song is very well done. Read about the story and listen to the song at the Deseret News.

Farewell to Kristy Lee Cook!

So it was goodbye to Kristy Lee this week. I think with time as she refines her performing skills, she'll still do well in the industry if she chooses to pursue it. And congratulations on her engagement.

Huge American Idol "Shocker"

Well, I have to say I was absolutely shocked that Michael Johns was sent home tonight. I thought for sure he would be sent to safety and either Carly or Syesha would be sent packing. But no, our cute Australian friend is going home. Very much a surprise -- and not just to us, but to him as well. I think everyone was stunned. I think because he had never been in the bottom three, people must have taken it forgranted and not actively voted for him as much as some of the others.

Well, that's the fun of American Idol -- you never can get quite comfortable with what is to come.

TiVo predicts Syesha Mercado the next 'American Idol' finalist booted

By Christopher Rocchio, 04/10/2008

If you listen to TiVo -- or the viewers who subscribe to it -- American Idol seventh-season finalist Syesha Mercado is in trouble.

TiVo Inc. has announced that since Idol's seventh-season finals began four weeks ago, the company has been using its "second-by-second audience measurement to determine which performers had the highest and lowest viewership."

"It turns out, this information -- especially among viewers who are watching on a timeshifted basis -- is predictive of which contestant will be voted off. Viewers tend to rewind and watch their favorite performances multiple times, while fast-forwarding through the ones they don't like. These viewing preferences correlate with voting patterns (for each week TiVo has measured)," said TiVo in a Thursday statement.

"For the past four weeks running, the person with the lowest viewership as recorded by TiVo subscribers has been voted to go home."

Since TiVo's research has been spot on so far, that doesn't bode well for Mercado -- the 21-year-old Floridian who sang "I Believe" during Tuesday night's performance episode broadcast.

"Two American Idol finalists at opposite ends of the viewership spectrum as evaluated by TiVo: David Archuleta ranked in the highest audience numbers during his performance. Syesha Mercado was the lowest on the totem pole this week, with the fewest viewers sticking around for her performance," said the company in the statement.

TiVo claims it identified Mercado's low viewership "in the early hours of Wednesday," however decided against releasing the information until Thursday morning so it wouldn't "disturb" last night's second annual Idol Gives Back charity event.

TiVo's audience measurement analysis is based on anonymous aggregated data from a sample of approximately 20,000 anonymous households that subscribe to the service.