Author: Derrik J. Lang
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‘Halo: Reach’ aims to grab gamers again; local stores to open late tonight
Since fans lined up at midnight nearly three years ago for the release of the last “Halo” video game, a recession struck the economy, President Barack Obama took office and “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” became the best-selling shooter game of all time. When the prequel “Halo: Reach” debuts at midnight tonight, it will…
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How DeWyze won ‘American Idol’
Simon Cowell was granted his final wish on “American Idol.” Lee DeWyze, the bashful paint sales clerk championed early by the biting British judge on the Fox singing contest, was crowned “Idol” on Wednesday over single mother Crystal Bowersox. His victory was based on votes cast after Tuesday’s performances, which drew more acclaim from the…
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2 more ‘Idol’ contestants sent home; 7 remain
LOS ANGELES — “American Idol” viewers were cruel to Andrew Garcia and Katie Stevens. The 24-year-old musician from Moreno Valley, Calif., and the 17-year-old high school student from Middlebury, Conn., received the fewest viewer votes Wednesday on the Fox singing contest. Both failed to wow the judges with Elvis Presley tunes Tuesday. Stevens received a…
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Bowersox again wows ‘American Idol’ judges
LOS ANGELES — “American Idol” finalist Crystal Bowersox is on a roll. The 24-year-old musician and single mother of Toledo, Ohio, earned the judges’ highest praise on the Fox singing competition Tuesday for her traditional take on Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” — all from a homey carpet rolled out on the “Idol” stage.…
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‘Idol’ judges jeer male semifinalists
LOS ANGELES — Tim Urban tripped up his second shot at “American Idol” fame. The shaggy-haired 20-year-old singer, who served as a last-minute replacement for 25-year-old shoe salesman Chris Golightly in the top 24 semifinalists, was derided by the Fox singing contest’s judges for his screechy rendition of OneRepublic’s “Apologize” during Wednesday’s episode featuring performances…
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Fans delighted by DeGeneres’ ‘Idol’ debut
LOS ANGELES — Ellen DeGeneres hit the right notes with “American Idol” viewers. Fans took to the Internet to express their pleasant surprise over the 52-year-old funnylady’s debut as the singing competition’s fourth judge. DeGeneres assumed her judging panel post for Tuesday’s episode chronicling the first round of “Hollywood Week,” the cutthroat post-audition phase in…
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‘Night at the Museum’ tops ‘Terminator’
LOS ANGELES – “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” claimed a box office victory over “Terminator Salvation.” The live-action family comedy starring Ben Stiller won $70 million over the Memorial Day weekend, according to estimates from distributor 20th Century Fox. That put it well ahead of the first “Night at the Museum” movie,…
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Final 2 ‘American Idol’ singers selected
LOS ANGELES – Danny Gokey is dancing off “American Idol,” leaving showy Adam Lambert and twangy Kris Allen to duke it out in the finale of the popular Fox singing competition next week. Gokey, the bespectacled 29-year-old church music director and recent widower from Milwaukee, was revealed to have received the fewest viewer votes on…
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Another finalist thrown from ‘American Idol’
LOS ANGELES – There was no saving Matt Giraud this time on “American Idol.” The 23-year-old dueling piano player from Kalamazoo, Mich., was rescued by the show’s judges two weeks ago. But on Wednesday it was revealed that he received the fewest viewer votes on the Fox singing competition – just beneath this season’s most…
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Another ‘American Idol’ contestant booted
LOS ANGELES – There was no saving Alexis Grace on “American Idol.” The show’s four judges unanimously decided not to keep the soulful 21-year-old single mother from Memphis, Tenn., from being eliminated on the Fox singing competition after she received the least number of viewer voters Wednesday. The panel first teased they might veto her…