I am making an open Chat invitation to anyone who runs a fan web site. Please click here for details. Please also pass this invitation on to everyone you know which an AI website or other fan website.
Scott
Monday December 22nd 2003
Follow-up: I am now playing a demo clip of Candice Coleman
titled "House of The Rising Sun". Everyday at 4PM Eastern Time on LibertyFeed.com.
The only thing more fun than voting for your favorite contestant is actually
playing their material on your streaming station to help promote them.
A record company who will remain nameless refused to let me promote one
of their clients who happens to be in the top 12 for 2003. If you figure
it out, "oh well"...
Image of the lovely Kimberley Locke taken in Fredericksburg Va. I would
just love to give her a big hug.
I also had the pleasure of talking briefly to Kimberly Caldwell. She seems so nice and asked me some questions too, which was very nice of her. I have pictures of her from the Tour in Richmond Va on this link. She was making a great effort to sign autographs for the fans.
I also talked briefly with Rickey Smith and learned that the "Hercules" routine is from the movie "The Nutty Professor".
I did not see Julia Demato afterwards but Corey Clark was having fun with the fans. It is good to see him back in operation.
With all that said I feel the need
to remind anyone reading this that while as a member of the press, which
simply means that I am a guest of the promoter, I have a lot of responsibilities
and restrictions. While fans can shoot video and most likely have done
audio recording I am limited to stills and I have to stay out of the way
of the guests and while I was able to meet the talent it was on a very
limited basis.
All in all this is a very stressful job that most people
would not tolerate very long. I covered this event, and the 2 Tour Venues
in Washington dc and Richmond Virginia and today like then I was quite
sick afterward, one of my family members said I looked pale and drained.
It is a lot of work and now I have to go through all those images and distribute
them and still work my regular jobs.
Scott
Fans take note: On Sunday the 28th of September: Kimberly Locke, Kimberly Caldwell, Julia DeMato, Rickey Smith and Corey Clark will be appearing at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds in Fredericksburg Virginia. There are only 300 seats available and they are going very fast, however at last check there are still tickets available. Secure your tickets by following this link. Which takes you to a website run by Motivation King. Please tell them that you saw it here!
Keep in mind that while they will not have the fantastic
special effects that they had on the Tour. What I predict that you will
see is the Idols have all the experience and practice from being on the
Tour but they will be fully rested after a month off. This should be quite
a show.
Scott
I am getting word from different sources (the phrase is: "it is getting back to me") that It is mis-understood why I have this page and other related pages dealing with American Idol. I will issue a statement shortly but for now here it is: I am a huge fan of the show, I like most of the contestants and think that they are some of the nicest people around and I would do anything I can from here to help them out using my technical knowledge with promotion or just good PR. I have no problem promoting the TV show and the tour. The people at BWR (their PR company) and 19 Entertainment have been very kind with granting interviews in the past and Photo-Opps at the Tour when it was in my area, I thank them. However If I am to continue this, then they need to hear some positive feedback from you the reader if people like me are to keep doing stories and interviews (I will post e-mail addresses shortly). I will make it no secret that I make information available here and on Libertypost.org (an electronic on line forum). I need to post my articles and interviews on my own pages as well at Liberty post.org or search engines like Google cannot pick them up due to technical problems with Google and CGI. I also need it to be known that I neither get nor want any compensation for doing this service other than the privilege of meeting (a few by phone and a few in person) the contestants and helping to promote them now and in the future. I have in the past criticized the Participants on the show and the Judges and I feel I would be trying to "re write history" if I edit that stuff out of this page to appease (there are other words for it) contestants that I may want to interview or want to be on their good side.
I hope to be of continued service to the staff and management at American Idol and the contestants. I will move this information to another page very shortly.
Contact information:
Los Angeles: B|W|R
9100 Wilshire Blvd.
Sixth Floor, West
Tower
Beverly Hills, CA
90212
Tel: 310-550-7776
Fax 310-550-1701
Larry Winokur, Paul
Baker
Co-Chief Executive
Officer
Tel: 310-248-6137
Fax: 310-550-1701
lwinokur@bwr-la.com
pbaker@bwr-la.com
Fox television mailto:askfox@fox.com
19 Entertainment
310-777-1940
Scott Meenen
Friday August 15 2003
Wednesday September 3rd 2003:
In a gesture of good faith I took all the images I had
featuring Kimberly Caldwell including one from another photographer and
mailed them to her parents in Katy TX. (I assume she is busy making rounds
and may not see this for some time) .
I just got back from the Tour in Richmond Virginia. I got a lot of good pictures, met Julia Demato and Ricky Smith, got some real good close-ups of Kimberly Caldwell (I didn't realize how small she is, TV makes her look bigger). She was running up and down this wall like a mouse catching whatever people would give her to sign. At one point she yelled "the pen doesn't work" so I threw her the marker out of my tool bag. Since the busses would leave at any time she had just so long to sign autographs. I think it is so neat to see her up front with the fans.
Message to Kimberly Caldwell: You look so different in these photos (compliment intended). That was really nice of you to sign as many autographs as you could in the short time you had. If you have any compliments or gripes please let me know.
Note: I have these images in much better quality. I will post them once I get some feedback good or bad.
I wish I had Pictures like this of all the Idols but there is only so much time and they all didn't come out, you can't have everything.
Much more to come...
I have just completed my interview with Candice Coleman. All I can say is "Wow!!!". She is quite a handful. Tuesday August 26 2003: I have pulled the Audio until further notice.
Note: Any information I may get from talking on the phone to contestants that is not posted in a transcribed interview is strictly "off the record" and will not be shared other than the fact that I have made contact.
To Katherine: I know you will read this page again. I want to publicly thank you for being so nice and polite. I know that fame and fortune will find you when you least expect it and sometimes certain favorable events have a way of happening at just the right time.
Scott Meenen
Note: Any information I may get from talking on the phone to contestants that is not posted in a transcribed interview or Audio is strictly "off the record" and will not be shared other than the fact that I have made contact.
Scott.
I have just completed my interview with Julia Demato. Mirror page. I have posted the transcript (click on link) and released the audio copy (25 minutes). I must say for the record that contrary to what you may have heard, in my opinion she is a real sweetie.
Thank you Julia.
Scott Meenen
Transcript of an interview with myself and Vanessa Olivarez. this is posted on Liberty Post News and audio copies are available. Email me with requests.
The competition is tough and grueling enough and the contestants don't need to be reminded that they screwed up, they know it. Maybe Carmen is too young for this competition but all in all she can perform very well.
Ricky Smith was eliminated this week I don't think it was due to his hat even though it was "awful" according to Simon. From here out I contend that the rest that are eliminated because their style or presentation doesn't fit the demographic of the voting audience and not because they are bad singers.
A lot has happened since I last updated this page. Frenchie Davis now has a career (I think) with Entertainment Tonight, Candice Coleman is performing her little heart out in Ohio and the big news today April 1 2003 is that Corey Clark got the boot for something he tried to keep secret from the producers.
Message to Corey: Get your life straightened out and keep your "nose clean". With that said: I personally know people who have had their lives ruined because the were either convicted of a crime they didn't commit or of a non crime. Corey: I can't give legal advice but if it was my situation I would have let the authorities do whatever they were going to do and then sue them in Civil Court. To anyone with questions about this please email me.
I have some shocking news for anyone thinking of performing or seeking a public position, there are sick people in this world who will find dirt on you and sit on it for as long as it takes and spring it on you when the time is ripe. Just as the contest gets moving and someone decides to dump this bomb not only does it mess up things for the contestants but it "throws a wrench in the works" as far as the producers are concerned because now they must keep the contestants that would have been voted off on Tuesday April 1st one more week or the whole operation would have been "thrown out of whack".
I also write news articles for this alternative news source http://www.libertypost.org keep a look out for Idol related surprises to appear in the Humor section.
Message to Simon: After watching tonight (Tuesday April 1st.) I am getting the impression that you are looking more for marketability than singing ability. I am thinking of putting a survey up where guests vote on the order that the contestants should be in based on whether or not we would have to watch them all the time or never see them, I bet the answers will be very different or America may not care as much as you do about "Apparent Marketability". I get the impression that you are not a big disco fan, I thought the show was a lot of fun, you can be such a "party-pooper". I understand you are funding the winner of the competition to do whatever it is that you will do after the series is over but consider that the acid test of marketability is how America Votes and the reaction of the audience. If you wish to argue be my guest.
Is it my imagination or does the group singing together make for a much better show than the performers individually? Every time I see the group performing together the first thing that comes to mind is "someone has been holding out on us". I would love to hear all the group songs produced into an album. I think it would really sell.
More to come...
Just for the record I am a hard working single white guy who thinks the little white gals are so cute and cuddly but still want to see Frenchie win and Kimberly Locke to join her. Maybe this way Kimberly Locke can win and Frenchie can join her and turn the industry upside down.
If I had known what I know now I would have matched the $250 that her classmates raised to send her to New. York. You hear that Fox.
On another note: Message to Simon: I agree with everything you have said so far in fact it is quite entertaining and well deserved, but how dare you say anything bad about Kimberly Locke, I have never met her but you will see me singing her praises every chance I get. You must have woken up on the wrong side of the world that day.
One of many messages to Kimberly Locke: My money is on
you to win or be a close second.
Scott Meenen
Laurel Maryland
Jan 28 2003:
I am fascinated by American Idol and the elimination process from
70,000 down to 1. I am overwhelmed by the numbers of contestants and I
love to hear Simon's blunt comments, thank you Simon! To Frenchie Davis
of Washington DC. I think you could put Whitney Houston to shame if you
sing "I have Nothing". I love the Two big gals from Texas with
the big voices Kimberly Caldwell (sp) and My Favorite Katherine Edmonson
(sp) of Austin who sang the Doris Day rendition of "Fever"[707KB]
(Right Click:Save as Play in Windows Media Player or Winamp or try this
link), thank you.
Jan 30 2003: Message to Katherine Edmonson I am sorry
to hear that you didn't make it. Rest assured that millions of people saw
you and hopefully someone will contact you to make sure that your talent
was not lost and I thought you were extremely polite. With today's technology
and some help you could put together some of your own work and publish
it at a very reasonable cost. Send me e-mail if you want to learn more.
If you should ever read this I would like to do an interview.
June 23 2003: To Katherine Edmonson
wherever you are: I have been contacted by a music writer who wants to
find you to help you with a career. I would still like to do an interview.
To anyone out there who knows where she is. I want to talk to you.
July 21 2003: This may change very
soon in a big way... Later on Monday July 21st 2003 I spent over 2 hours
talking to her. WOW!!!
Feb. 07 2003: To anyone who is interested: With today's
computers and some knowledge you can record and publish your own music
if you give it a try and seek the help of someone with some technical expertise.
Send
me email: if you have questions.
Jan 30 2003: I watched the elimination round and was disappointed with the lack of co-operation between certain contestants when it was so critical. I am disappointed but not surprised by a few of the guys going out for a "night on the town" and blowing the competition the next day.
I was blown away by Frenchie Davis from Washington Dc and Howard University and Kimberly Locke of Nashville Tn. singing their rendition of "Band Of Gold". [409 kb] (60 seconds) The sound is distorted because the sound tech did not anticipate the strong voices of these two gals and not because I had the recording level too high, the image on the oscilloscope looked good. At the 7.25 second mark on the clip when Kimberly sings "Now that you're gone" it sounds like the words just explode out of her. You rock girls!!! I love you both!
Message To Frenchie Davis: I think that if you are not the next American Idol you will have a singing career waiting for you when it is over. I want to be first in line to buy a copy of your first release. If you need help with promoting it let me know.
Message to Kimberly Locke: My mom
loves you... I believe that if you team up with Frenchie you can become
the next Pointer Sisters. I would love to hear you two sing "Heaven
Must Have Sent You" and "I'M so excited".
Jan 30 2003 edited Mar 19 2003 "My Picks so far:
Please sign my Guest book... It helps me to know who is visiting and any changes I can make. I love hearing from everyone everywhere.
If you were involved with the show I would be honored if you would please at least enter your name and hit send, more if you include a message.
Don't worry this form only sends information you enter
to my email and I have little time to post it here let alone around the
web but if you ask I will put it up.
I will not post any information unless you so request.
In my day life I play an HVAC mechanic and general Mr. Fixit. When I am not doing that I write stuff like this page. On Saturdays I play a sound engineer at a seminar I attend regularly and I am the engineer in a radio studio and I have done music recordings with the in-house talent.
I also write some articles for this news service http://www.libertypost.org Please check out the interview with Vanessa Olivarez in the Humor section.
I am making an open Chat invitation to anyone who runs a fan web site. Please click here for details. Please also pass this invitation on to everyone yo know which an AI website or other fan website.
Images
from the April 2003 Simon Mall Tour.
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