Fox all access

The Leverage season finale airs tonight on TNT.   Now at the end of its third season, the show has found a loyal audience, and has rejuvenated the career of the show’s lead actor, Academy Award Winner Timothy Hutton.

If Sara Bareilles is going to sing a song, she wants to make it her own — even if it’s somebody else’s.  So when the singer, who scored a Number 1 hit with “Love Song” and is currently on the charts with “King Of Anything,” was asked by Billboard magazine to perform a cover tune, she responded with a completely different-sounding version of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).”  Do you like Sara’s spin?  Or is it impossible to beat Beyonce’s original?

We’ve heard the rumors for a while, but now it’s official, Kara DioGuardi is stepping down as an “American Idol” judge.  At the moment, that leaves the show with just one confirmed judge, Randy Jackson, who is one lonely dawg on the pannel right now. Here’s the official announcement from FOX that was released just moments ago:

Kara DioGuardi is stepping down from her role as a judge on AMERICAN IDOL. DioGuardi joined AMERICAN IDOL as a judge in the series’ eighth season.

 “I felt like I won the lottery when I joined AMERICAN IDOL two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave IDOL,” said DioGuardi. “I am very proud to have been associated with AMERICAN IDOL – it has truly been an amazing experience. I am grateful to FOX, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, as well as the cast, crew and contestants, for all they have given to me. I look forward to my next challenge, and want to thank everyone who has supported me. All the best to everyone on Season 10!” 

“Kara was a great addition to our IDOL family,” said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “I’ve been fortunate to get to know her well, and have always been amazed by her eye for talent and her commitment to developing and mentoring artists. She will be missed, and we wish her continued success.”

 “Kara is one of the world’s best songwriters,” stated IDOL creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “She has been passionate and committed to IDOL over the last two seasons. I will miss having her on the show, but I look forward to working with her in music for many years to come.”

 “As one of the most proclaimed songwriters in the U.S., Kara brought a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to AMERICAN IDOL,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, IDOL executive producer. “We are very grateful for the time she spent on the show, and we wish her nothing but the best in all her future endeavors.”

 “Anyone who knows Kara knows that she brings an unbelievable amount of passion, creativity and humility to everything she does,” added IDOL executive producer Ken Warwick. “It has been a joy working with her on IDOL for the past two seasons, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next.”

As final auditions approach, the big question now becomes, “Who is going to fill those empty seats?”  Rumors continue to flow that JLo and Steven Tyler are on deck, but nothing has been announced YET.  We’re thinking that’s going to follow pretty quickly.  What do you think? Are Steven and JLo good choices? Are you betting on someone else? Or are you just over it?

It’s hard to believe that it has been seven years since Clay Aiken was on American Idol.  Since then, Aiken has released albums, toured, and has starred on Broadway.  He just wrapped up his tour with his American Idol buddy, Ruben Studdard.

Through all of his different endeavors, Clay Aiken’s fans have been among the most loyal you can find.  When Aiken is asked about the loyalty and support from his fans, he is speechless.  (Click on the audio player to hear Clay Aiken)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Going The Distance

Premise: A couple who try to maintain a long-distance relationship (Justin Long & Drew Barrymore), as one lives on the East Coast and the other on the West Coast.

Fox All Access Recommendation: While we are big fans of Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, this movie is very over the top and vulgar.  If you like that type of humor, then this flick might be for you.  The movie has a great cast, but the script is week. Save this for a rental- if you must. 

Machete

Premise: A former Federale seeks revenge for the killing of his family. The film comes from a trailer that was in the 2007 movie Grindhouse.

Fox All Access Recommendation:  We thought this was a fun movie to end the Summer movie season.  It is worth the price of admission.  Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez and Jessica Alba are great in this film, which also stars Robert Deniro, Don Johnson, and Steven Seagal.  Note: Lindsay Lohan has a small role where she appears topless and doing drugs, which works within the story (as opposed to her real life)!

Yes, the movie “Machete” is based on the infamous trailer that ran during 2007’s “Grindhouse,” but the film’s origins go back much further than that.  In an exclusive interview with Fox All Access, director Robert Rodriguez and Danny Trejo discuss the development of the character, while co-stars Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez explain why they think “Machete” is the most fun you’ll have in a theater all summer!  “Machete” opens in theaters nationwide tomorrow, and watch for  Danny Trejo as he makes as a special appearance on Fox’s “The Good Guys” on October 6^th.

Posted by: Ari Fischbach