By tom

May 19, 2006 7:15 PM | Link to this

… he has connections with Fox and has had influence over Kat’s rise to the final two

What could he possibly offer anybody -that counts- to influence them?

Do you think in that Contest, with all the money involved, they would advance Kat because they liked her dad? Whats his leverage supposed to be.

By karen g

May 19, 2006 8:05 PM | Link to this

Kat is gifted with golden vocal cords. She deserves to win! Either way, runners-up can do just as well as the winner!

By judge4u2

May 19, 2006 8:11 PM | Link to this

Simon’s apology for his previous critique was the appropriate thing to do. I was so bothered by the criticism of her performance that particular night. However, the judges have not cut her any slack since. They have been very cruel at times when undeserving. I however, remember once that Simon praised her when I thought is was not right. Her father’s position at Fox should have not affect on her ability to sing and perform. She is good, she just needs to pick great songs to perform.

By Chuck

May 19, 2006 8:17 PM | Link to this

Wow Rodney…with the hate that has spewed for Kat the last week or so (since Chris left) I am surprised you opened this up for comments! And I’m VERY surprised that there are so few comments thus far…. All in all, the story sounds verrrry shaky….did Mike S put you up to this? :)

By Eric

May 19, 2006 8:28 PM | Link to this

This is where selling crappy movies pays off lol! I wholesale that movie for a whopping $4. Believe me the Return of the Incredible Hulk is not getting anybody influence with anything. If you really want to see his handy work lol you can go to spinningdiscdirect.com. But, I fail to see how he could influence Kat’s rise. She has a great voice, she is beautiful and she has that Idol winning personality. I think next week will be a contrast in styles and pretty much whomever’s fans vote most will win. Either way I say congrats to both of them as they will both be successful!

By tennismom

May 19, 2006 8:32 PM | Link to this

That is so fricking stupid. Paris’ family had influences too. Obviously, she is a remarkable singer and her voice has carried her through this process.

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

May 19, 2006 8:34 PM | Link to this

i don’t see any conflict of interest…kat made the auditions…got chosen by the judges…and since the final 24 has been voted (not out) by the voters…so how can this affect her making it to the finals? you’d have to buy into a fraudulent conspiracy that actually doesn’t count the votes of scazillions of people (even figuring that some people/organizations use fast dial computers to vote, there are still an awful lot of “just people” dialing and texting their votes)

just because she is related to someone in hollywood who’s “in the business” (not music, but production) doesn’t get you a fast track in past a certain point ANYway… i would bet the people doing the initial auditions only knew people by name and number and connections didn’t matter then.

i’m much more interested in the story about kat’s high school days, perhaps a bit of a chub, not in the “cool group” … with only her voice to make her “special” in a society where EVERYONE is related to SOMEONE in the “Business” — i can sympathize with her insecurity, and perhaps that DOES explain a great deal of what people have considered aloofness.

an anecdote… when i was a young teen, people thought i was stuck up, a snob… turns out i REALLY needed glasses, and i didn’t speak to people because they had to be right up in my face for me to recognize them!!! it made a HUGE impact on my personality to simply get a pair of glasses at the age of 14! I’d somehow managed to survive by sitting in the front of classes, listening REALLY carefully to teachers etc. Twirling a baton was easy, because i controlled where it went, didn’t have to “see” it… but other than that, i really had no exposure to other teens.

Rodney … are you going to be able to post your take on both interviews? we were all looking forward to that!!! and i hope you vicariously enjoyed the girls’ celebration of Ken’s job offer… the “party” was fun, and a HUGE release of tension for everyone, i think.

we missed you grin

linny-kat

By russ

May 19, 2006 8:46 PM | Link to this

I don’t know about nepotism in this case, but I do know something interesting. I’m in a fantasy sports league with Meat Loaf and he told our group about 4 weeks ago that he was going to sing a duet with Kat in the finals. However, I do believe she belongs there.

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

May 19, 2006 8:51 PM | Link to this

well… that comment COULD have been predicated on her arriving into the finals… remember there was talk of LIVE playing the finale if Chris was there…

By American Mother

May 19, 2006 8:54 PM | Link to this

nah!!!!!

By chassie

May 19, 2006 9:18 PM | Link to this

i think that is pathetic how much time people have on their hands to come up with such nonsense. reguardless if kat’s dad is a hollywood figure or not, it is apperant to anyone with half a brain that she is incrediably talented and deserves to be where she is today. all of the judges have agreed that she has given the best performance of the season as i would guess so would most of america.

By drdawg

May 19, 2006 9:27 PM | Link to this

The point has no point.

By Deirdre

May 19, 2006 9:32 PM | Link to this

I’m soooo proud of all of you. Two weeks ago, Rodney’s blog would have started a flood of anti-Kat conspiracy theories. Congrats on rising above the rhetoric. I think Kat is terrific and I think Taylor is terrific. My best wishes go out to both of them. And I hope they both enter Tuesday night’s sing-off in top form, with few mistakes. Let’s make this a real competition so that we actually have to sit and think before we start dialing those phones. May the best singer win, whichever one that may be.

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

May 19, 2006 9:34 PM | Link to this

hey D {{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}} i agree… with only a couple of negative hints, everyone else has chimed in with good stuff…

i really enjoyed this afternoon laugh what a change from the past couple of weeks!!!! hope your cyber credit card is self-refilling!!!!!

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

May 19, 2006 9:36 PM | Link to this

p.s. the aspirin musta worked, no headache ~¿@

By JJ

May 19, 2006 9:43 PM | Link to this

IF HE HAD CONNECTIONS SHE WOULD NOT HAVE TO EVEN BE ON IDOL.SHE WOULD HAVE A RECORD DEAL NO DOUBT………… THE FINALS ARE A TOSS UP

By Deirdre

May 19, 2006 9:44 PM | Link to this

Didn’t you know, linny, cyber-aspirin ALWAYS works with cyber-champagne! Night everyone, have a great weekend.

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

May 19, 2006 9:44 PM | Link to this

laughs

niters everyone

linny~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OUT!

By Rigged

May 19, 2006 9:51 PM | Link to this

Kat gives one good performance and she has people falling at her feet. At least Taylor has been consistently entertaining. I wouldn’t go across the street to see Kat, but I would go across the state to see Taylor!

By Lindy

May 19, 2006 10:14 PM | Link to this

Who really cares? There were better performers turned away at the auditions! And, it would be great if Taylor won - then all the special education kids would have a role model.

By Mike

May 19, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

Boy, rumors get out of hand. Kat’s dad does not have a position at Fox as one person who commented mentioned. it appears that he has been involved in some projects - including one that Fox decided to pick up but other then that there is no working for Fox. That really gives him NO influence. Katherine is a very talented singer and performer as Taylor Hicks is. It is amazing how rumors start. There was another rumor that he owned a telemarketing company and influenced the vote. Katherine has been picked by the viewers, as has Taylor Hicks. End of story.

By Thogwummpy

May 19, 2006 10:47 PM | Link to this

I’d be shocked if Kat doesn’t win…I predicted this weeks ago. Thirty years of conditioning of every school child in America that “white males are evil”; will probably prevent one from every winning American Idol. Kat should have been booted weeks ago, but superior talent keeps getting rejected while she remains. I may be wrong, but I don’t think it’s possible in this twisted culture to ever reward a white man on his merit, when the public has it’s say. Never forget the demographic equation in Idol voting! Go Taylor——but dude, you’re the wrong sex and color in America.

By cherokeedawg

May 19, 2006 10:57 PM | Link to this

Sorry, but I don’t think Producing “The Incredible Hulk Returns” is too impressive and makes him a power player in Hollywood. I think Taylor’s dad had a part in “The Dukes of Hazzard Reunion Special” 10 years ago, so that might explain his presence in the finals.

Even if Kat did try to name drop her dad, she would have probably forgotten his name like she does everything else.

Taylor wins this year with some sort of “shockingly close vote” that Fox will manufacture.

By From the 'net

May 19, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this

http://www.bestsexycelebs.com/katharine_mcphee/

Biography Katharine Hope McPhee is an American singer who is a finalist in the fifth season of American Idol.

McPhee has been singing since the age of two. Her mother, Peisha McPhee, a vocal coach and accomplished cabaret singer, recognized a talent for music in her daughter and started training her. Her father, Daniel McPhee, is a producer who has worked on numerous television series and other projects. Katharine graduated from Notre Dame High School in 2002. She then attended the Boston Conservatory of Music. At the Cabrillo Music Theater in Thousand Oaks, California, she performed the title role in a musical theatre production of Annie Get Your Gun, for which she was nominated for a 2005 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation award for Best Actress.

McPhee has an older sister, named Adrianna, and lists Whitney Houston and Brian McKnight as her favorite artists.

In June 2005 she played Anna Muir in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, a musical by Scott DeTurk and Bill Francoeur, based on the book by R.A. Dick at NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood, California.

During her initial audition for American Idol in San Francisco, she sang “God Bless the Child.” Judge Randy Jackson said she was the best voice he had yet heard that season, judge Paula Abdul praised her looks, and judge Simon Cowell said she was amazing and “current.” However, McPhee’s mother had gone with Katharine to the audition, and Cowell made a comment about the possibility that the elder McPhee was a stage mother.

In the final cut-down show for the Top 24, she was the first to be put through and, in excitement, kissed all three judges on the lips. She cried both when she passed her initial audition and when she made it into the Top 24.

In the first round of the semi-finals, she sang Barbra Streisand’s “Since I Fell for You,” again earning high praises as Cowell said that out of the four “very, very good vocalists” of the night, she was the best.

During the week leading to the third round of the semi-finals, where Katharine sang Aretha Franklin’s “Think,” she was rumored to be quitting due to pregnancy. However, during the performance show on March 7, 2006, she denied this accusation, later attributing it to a poor choice of clothing. Host Ryan Seacrest, with tongue-in-cheek, asked about her and fellow idol contestant Kevin Covais.

On the March 29, 2006 results show Katharine was in the bottom three with Ace Young and Lisa Tucker. She ended up in the bottom two with Lisa, but was not eliminated.

By jaybee

May 19, 2006 11:16 PM | Link to this

Kat is better than those that have been voted off. I have no problem with her being where she is now.

Sing to me McPhee.

By nona

May 19, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this

If FOX can favor one Idol over another, then it puts the entire concept in jeopardy. The winners and losers are supposedly selected by a public voting policy. Are we Americans being scammed by yet another entity? Get a life and stop the silly rumor and innuendo mill. It’s bad enough that more Americans vote for their Idol choice than vote for president.

By Jeremy

May 19, 2006 11:57 PM | Link to this

AFTER READING SOME OF THE ABOVE CRAP MAYBE A FEW OF YOU SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THINGS IN THIS WORLD THAT MATTER. JUST PICK ANY TOPIC OF IMPORTANCE AND LEARN AS MUCH ABOUT IT AS YOU DO ABOUT THIS STUPID SHOW! PERHAPS THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE.

By Debbie

May 20, 2006 12:01 AM | Link to this

The possibility of something like this happening is even more the reason they should go to a more legitimate voting system.

Why not set it up as One Vote per Phone Number! Then everyone would vote for the real favorite, and not vote 10, 20, 30, etc. times for the underdog they don’t want off that week. (One woman called into Star94 and said she voted for Kelly, when she was still on, 179 times in the two hours!!)

It just seems like such a simple solution to all the voting problems.

By carol

May 22, 2006 8:43 AM | Link to this

Everyone should understand that it’s whom you know that counts, that can absolutely have a huge effect.

Kat is definitely not as good as others who have been voted off. And as for me, her screeching and her Floor Singing make my toes curl.

Go Taylor.

By Idiot

May 22, 2006 3:44 PM | Link to this

Kitty Kat looks and sounds pretty.

By The First "Kat"

May 23, 2006 8:26 AM | Link to this

You think your votes count? Too important an issue for the public to make the decision. I think blogs like this show that. Marketability is what they want. Katherine can charm the camera and probably record in a studio with all the extras ok. I don’t think she can perform live consistently though. Her nerves really show too much to be at this stage with her background. Taylor I think can entertain a crowd. He is always smiling(real) and seems to enjoy it. That is important. Enjoy it. Not the fame, not the money but enjoy what you are doing and you will relax. He feels the music.

Now…who will THEY choose? We will see tomorrow night but whoever it is…it will be controversial. There will be excuses for the one who didn’t make it but look at Bo. He got everything Carrie did except the commercial ads and the private jet card. Runnerup is not all that bad he just hasn’t produced records sells (units) and his behavior has not been the best recently in public. Other than that…he had the same chances to make it big. Look what Clay did.

By Lisa

May 23, 2006 9:37 AM | Link to this

If these stories about Kat’s dad are true…It should be just like any other contest nationwide…. with the rule that no one that works for or family works for that company should not be allowed to enter the contest. In 95% of most contests the rules state that no employee or immediate family of employee are not allowed to enter…

By Robyn

May 23, 2006 1:10 PM | Link to this

GO TAYLOR!

Katherine does have great vocal chords, the best money can buy. I have a problem with someone being taught a talent, as good as the talent is, as opposed to someone being a great star because they care about the music they are signing.

Taylor is very humble, Katherine is not.

I agree with Lisa above stating that if her dad works for OR EVEN WITH Fox, no employee or family member can participate.

By yvonne

May 23, 2006 9:43 PM | Link to this

Why not charge a dollar a call for the voting? Or 50 cents? People would hardly vote 179 times then…and it would make it more fair for those who want to vote but can’t because the lines are hogged by a group of fans that vote over and over again. Then the money that is made from the calls…give it to charity…New Orleans for example!

By Robyn

May 24, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

WELL NEW ORLEANS LOVES TAYLOR!!!! TAKE IT FROM ME!

By lori5

May 25, 2006 8:40 AM | Link to this

Did anyone notice on Tuesday’s show when they showed Kat’s family & Friends - Tori Spelling was among them?????

By sus

May 25, 2006 11:29 PM | Link to this

I am not sure what the info about the Meatloaf duet suggests. 12 weeks ago they knew Mcphee would be singing at the finale no matter where she placed. I did not see any favoring of McPhee. Seemed to me like they were trying to steer the audience away from her. The original final song they gave her was the nail in the coffin. Why did the contestants not have the same final song like last year. That would certainly be a fairer way to let the audience evaluate the singer instead of the song.
Also didn’t Taylor get to sing an extra song at the request of the celebrity audience member? Does that strike anyone else as unbalanced. The show will never be unbiased because the same group markets the winner. I admire her class and tenaciousness. It must have been difficult to have people hate her because the voters kept her longer than Chris or Elliot. Also, Taylor being prematurely proclaimed the winner was callous. It also seemed like a stupid move for ratings. Wouldn’t you think they would want to give the audience the impression that it is too close to call?

By sus

May 25, 2006 11:29 PM | Link to this

I am not sure what the info about the Meatloaf duet suggests. 12 weeks ago they knew Mcphee would be singing at the finale no matter where she placed. I did not see any favoring of McPhee. Seemed to me like they were trying to steer the audience away from her. The original final song they gave her was the nail in the coffin. Why did the contestants not have the same final song like last year. That would certainly be a fairer way to let the audience evaluate the singer instead of the song.
Also didn’t Taylor get to sing an extra song at the request of the celebrity audience member? Does that strike anyone else as unbalanced. The show will never be unbiased because the same group markets the winner. I admire her class and tenaciousness. It must have been difficult to have people hate her because the voters kept her longer than Chris or Elliot. Also, Taylor being prematurely proclaimed the winner was callous. It also seemed like a stupid move for ratings. Wouldn’t you think they would want to give the audience the impression that it is too close to call?

By Brittany

May 26, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this

I am so mad at Taylor for winning. I know Katharine will become a big singer, but she still should have won. I voted for her 13 times on Tuesday. I would have voted more, but I had to go to bed to get up for school the next day. Yes I go to school. I am 11 and in the 6th grade, but I will be 12 in 4 days(from Friday May 26, 2006 to Tuesday May 30, 2006). So yeah…KATHARINE SHOULD HAVE WON!! WE ALL STILL LOVE YOU KATHARINE!!!!! <3