Blog Posts by Lyndsey Parker

"American Idol" has been nominated for an Outstanding Reality-Competition Emmy nine times, ever since the category was first introduced. But, despite being one of the most popular reality shows of all time, it has never won. It's in the running again this year, and the ninth time may be the charm--which means, ironically, that the show just may win for the one season that didn't feature the man who made it such a hit: star judge Simon Cowell, who walked away from "Idol" last year in one of the biggest career gambles in TV history.

But Simon is making it clear: If "American Idol" does win the Emmy this Sunday, he still deserves a statuette for his own mantel.

"I'd find it very amusing that after all these years, that the year I wasn't on it, it would win the Emmy. I think that would make me laugh. So it probably will," Simon chucklingly told reporters during a September 13 press tele-conference to promote his new Fox show, "The X Factor."

"I don't see it as threatening; I think it

The countdown to Simon Cowell's ultra-hyped new reality venture "The X Factor USA" continued this Sunday with a new eight-minute promo, featuring the first two contestant auditions to air in their entirety. Simon has made a big to-do about "The X Factor's" wider age range (unlike his former show "American Idol's" limit of 15 to 28), and the two contestants featured in this extended preview prove his point: When it comes to talent, age ain't nothing but a number.

Of course, the new clip includes the requisite montage of cringeworthy auditions that'll likely give Simon some William Hung flashbacks: an attitudinal instigator named Xander, a reject who leaves judge Nicole Scherzinger feeling "violated" after he drops his trousers onstage, and one guy who's so terrible, judge L.A. Reid coldly demands he be escorted from the premises. But it's 13-year-old Rachel Crow and 42-year-Stacy Francis, representing opposite ends of the "X Factor" age spectrum, that give the judges, and viewers, real

So much changed in pop culture following the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Back then, in the aftermath of the tragedy, Americans were floundering--feeling lost, frightened, insecure, unsafe. Almost instantly, dozens movies and shows were shelved or drastically re-edited, and more than 100 potentially offensive songs were yanked from radio playlists. This was a time when Americans didn't want "edgy" entertainment, but familiar, cozy fare that would make them feel hopeful and encouraged--the televised equivalent of comfort food.

Into that landscape of fear, in June 2002, came "American Idol," a cute little talent competition that was reminiscent of the variety and game shows of a charming bygone era, from "Queen For A Day" to "The Gong Show" to "Star Search." Despite all of breakout "AI" star's Simon Cowell's snark and venom, the real appeal of this new program was the heart-gladdening idea that a regular, wholesome, all-American unknown could make all his or her

Bravo TV viewers may be familiar with Jes Hudak for her star turn on Kara DioGuardi's songwriting competition "Platinum Hit" (she bucked the odds and placed second), but true reality junkies will also recognize Jes from her earlier appearances on "American Idol" and "Rock Star: INXS," and well as from her dynamic duo Powerfox & Ponymane with equally awesome "Idol" alum (and Yahoo! favorite) Jackie Tohn. The woman is a formidable talent with an impressive résumé on- and offscreen, and frankly, it's kind of bizarre that the doe-eyed songstress has had to work the reality-TV circuit to make inroads in the music business. Why is Jes Hudak not a major superstar with many platinum hits to her credit already?

Never mind all that. "Platinum Hit" has thankfully opened many doors for Jes, and we here at Yahoo! Music were delighted to open our doors for her when she recently came by to perform some of her original songs. And once again, she shined onscreen.

You may recognize "Home For Me (Free),"

After weeks of rumor-milling, Wind-Up Records has officially announced that it's giving metal a chance. Yes, Durbinators, it's true: Scarf-tailed "American Idol" rocker James Durbin has finally been signed! This makes James the fifth Season 10 "Idol" contestant to land a record deal (after Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, of course, followed by Pia Toscano and Haley Reinhart), although he's the first S10 alum to seal a deal outside of Jimmy Iovine's Universal Records empire, going with Wind-Up instead.

I think James will be much better off taking the Wind-Up route. The rebellious metalhead, who covered Judas Priest and the Heavy Metal movie theme on "Idol" and sang Guns N' Roses on tour (and wanted to cover Dio, Motley Crue, and Skid Row), has made it clear that he hopes to follow in the motorcycle-booted footsteps of fellow fourth-place "Idol" rocker Chris Daughtry--that is, he DOESN'T want to go pop. So Wind-Up, the label of major crossover rock acts like Evanescence, Seether,

Following the last-minute cancellation of the previous weekend's Sunset Junction street fair due to poor planning and unpaid city fees, L.A.'s FYF Fest arrived on September 3, just in time for all the hipster Angelenos who'd been robbed of their annual opportunity to check out some fantastic indie rock smack-dab in the middle of urban Los Angeles. And considering FYF's very humble beginnings seven years ago, it was utterly amazing just how well-organized this year's FYF Fest was. Shockingly short lines for EVERYTHING (entrance, booze, food, port-a-potties, the VIP tattoo parlor backstage)! Set times set in stone! A local train with extended hours to accommodate commuting concertgoers! If Sunset Junction does get its street permit renewed in 2012, hopefully its planners were at FYF this year, taking detailed notes. Because this was a festival done right.

The first FYF took place as a free event in 2004, founded by a then-18-year-old music fan with a dream named Sean Carlson. Back then

Season 8 "American Idol" contestant Megan Joy is one smart lady. She knows cat videos are all the rage on the Interweb these days. She also knows that reality fans are addicted, no pun intended, to TV shows like "Celebrity Rehab" and "Intervention." So she's combined both phenoms into one zeitgeist-capturing, instantly viral cat classic, her totally Joyously bizarre music video, "Never Never."

Yes, the Idol once famous for her "Rockin' Robin" birdcall is now getting catty, in a compulsively watchable clip that reveals just what goes on behind the scenes of a CA (Catnippers Anonymous) meeting...and what happens when a bunch of very bad kitties fall off the wagon and dip their claws into the forbidden green stuff.

The wonderfully twisted video, which Megan says was inspired by avant L.A. band Little Dragon, showcases the goofy and quirky side of the real Megan that, sadly, "Idol" viewers rarely got to see (since "AI" stylists seemed so dead-set on turning the sleeve-tattooed indie chick

After months of unauthorized song leakage, an official new single by original Idol Kelly Clarkson--from her upcoming, way-overdue fifth album, Stronger--has fiiiinallly premiered. Kelly in fact introduced the tune herself, via an adorably chatty Livestream broadcast on her website this Tuesday afternoon, just to let us all know it's legit.

The long-awaited single, "Mr. Know It All," traffics in the same "raining on boys' parades" revenge fantasies that made Kelly's "Never Again," "Walk Away," "Miss Independent," and of course "Since U Been Gone" such fist-pumping, girl-powered fun. Sample lyrics, which earlier appeared on Kelly's website scrawled in her own girlish hand, include: "Mr. Play Your Games/Only got yourself to blame/When you want me back again/But I ain't fallin' back again...Let's be clear, baby/This is goodbye."

Upon first listen, "Mr. Know It All" admittedly doesn't quite pack the oomph of Kelly's aforementioned empowerment anthems, or even of one of her recent rumored