AI Aftermath: 3rd place finishers
Welcome back to “AI Aftermath,” where we explore Idol’s past. Each installment, as one more American Idol hopeful is eliminated from the competition, we take a look back at contestants past who were eliminated at the same point. We’ll examine how they did on the show and what they’ve been up to since their eliminations. In honor of Syesha Mercado’s elimination this week, we’ll be looking at other fourth place finishers.
This week: 3rd place finishers, featuring featuring Nikki McKibbin (Season One), Kimberly Locke (Season Two), Jasmine Trias (Season Three), Vonzell Solomon (Season Four), Elliott Yamin (Season Five) and Melinda Doolittle (Season Six).
NIKKI MCKIBBIN - SEASON ONE
For several years after her solid run on the first season of Idol, McKibbin ran and operated her own karaoke business (I’m sure Simon would have loved that). In 2005, she sold that business to focus on a career in professional music. She was lambasted on the show for making it further than Tamyra Gray, who most considered the more polished singer, but there was something raw and real about McKibbin that couldn’t be denied. In going back and listening to these tracks again, the girl was good.
While she had originally signed with 19 and RCA after Idol, they couldn’t agree on a direction for her album; management wanted her to go country while she wanted to stay “rocker.” After she dropped her karaoke gig, she climbed into the spotlight by appearing on various reality shows throughout 2005 including Fear Factor, Battle of the Network Reality Stars and Kill Reality, in which she created and starred in a made-for-TV movie.
She spent several years working on a debut album, signed for awhile with Astral Records before ultimately switching to her manager/producers label, Chenoa Records. Finally, in May 2007 with the band Rivethead, she released Unleashed which is currently for sale via iTunes. Her manager has reported via her MySpace page that there is now bubbling interest from major record labels to pick up and revamp McKibbin’s CD and get it major physical distribution.
Here’s her recent official music video for the single “The Lie”:
On Idol with “Mary Jane”:
And finally, in her Idol days, Nikki rocked “Black Velvet”:
[via Wikipedia, MySpace, NikkiMcKibbin.com]
KIMBERLY LOCKE - SEASON TWO
In what was considered by many one of the toughest competitive seasons of American Idol, Kimberly Locke came in behind only the juggernaut duo of Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken on the show’s second run. She’s performed again on the show back in Season 3 and most recently during this past season. After her finish, she was quickly scooped up by Curb Records and released One Love in 2004. Her debut single “8th World Wonder”debuted at #1 on the singles charts and got tons of radio air play, and she continued to garner success on the Adult Contemporary Charts with subsequent single releases.
In 2006, Locke was a featured contestant on Celebrity Fit Club, where she had a high profile ongoing feud with former child star Dustin Diamond (Saved by the Bell). Their shenanigans both raised her public profile tremendously and lead to the show’s highest ratings to date with that year’s finale. As an additional benefit, Locke lost some weight and got into better shape, which she showed off this year on her Idol appearance. She’s achieved her weight loss goals of 140 lbs., and has received accolades from the industry for her determination and success.
She released two different Christmas singles in 2005 and 2006, respectively, with both rising to the top of the AC charts. So last year, she released a full Chritmas album digitally. In May of last year, Locke’s sophomore album, Based on a True Story, came out. After a faltering start, Curb Records refocused their promotional effort and her third single from the album, “Band of Gold,” became an AC Top 10 hit. She’s had a string of hits on both the Adult Contemporary and Hot Dance Club charts and doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon.
The video for “Change”:
Here’s the video for her first hit single “8th World Wonder”:
Ambitiously taking on “My Heart Will Go On” back on Idol:
[via Wikipedia, MySpace and more!]
JASMINE TRIAS - SEASON THREE
Hawaiian native Jasmine Trias’ impressive finish on American Idol made her an instant star in The Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and other Asian regions. She was a huge inspiration for this season’s Ramiele Malubay as well, who wanted to better Trias’ Idol success. Missing that mark, she’d be hard pressed to match her success in Filipino markets as Trias has been involved in major marketing campaigns there and is pretty much a household name at this point.
In 2005, she released her self-titled debut album in the US under Clockwork Entertainment, where it sold a respectable 20,000 units and under Universal Records in the Philippines where it’s already gone platinum. She has since parted ways with Clockwork, though she remains with Universal Philippines. Trias is currently hard at work on her sophomore effort, tentatively eying a 2008 debut.
Jamming her single “Excuses”:
Here’s a video for “Sana Lagi.” I can’t understand a word of it, but she sure looks pretty singing it *grin*:
Back on Idol with “Inseperable”:
[via Wikipedia, MySpace, JasmineTrais.net and more!]
VONZELL SOLOMON - SEASON FOUR
Vonzell has the disappointing record of being the highest finishing Idol contestant to not get picked up by a record label. She’s struck back by being the CEO of her own independent label, Melodic Records. After several bumps in the road, her debut album My Struggle finally dropped in digital form in January 2007. She also performed in Simply Ballroom with fellow finalist Anthony Federov last year, though I’m not sure if she’s still involved or not.
In fact, I’m not going to stand by any of this as there’s a ton of conflicting data out there. The bottom line appears to be that Baby V is still at it trying to get things going on her musical career, but hasn’t yet achieved her goals. I guess her strategy of flying under the radar, though she did have some impressive vocals throughout, is now backfiring on her as people have just kind of forgotten her.
Performing “Time After Time” in Simply Ballroom:
Singing “O Come All Ye Faithful” On Good Morning America:
Back on Idol with “How Do I Live”:
[via Wikipedia, MySpace and more!]
ELLIOTT YAMIN - SEASON FIVE
Yamin was one of the strongest vocals in all of Season Five, with many thinking he had just as much chance to pull off a win as either Katharine McPhee or eventual winner Taylor Hicks. Some thing he was a more dynamic and talented performer than either of the Top 2 finalists. Regardless, like many of the Season Five contestants, Yamin had no trouble picking up a recording contract. His self-titled debut dropped March 2007 and sold 90,000 copies in its first week, shortly thereafter going gold. The album became the highest new artist debut on an independent label in SoundScan history.
His debut single “Wait for You” has achieved solid success and airplay as well. Yamin has been traveling and touring the world in support of the album throughout the past year. His mother, who was one of his most visible supporters during his Idol run, passed away earlier this year and Yamin dedicated his performance of “Free” during this year’s American Idol to her.
As a Type 1 diabetic, Yamin is a spokesperson for the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and advocate for many different organizations in support of diabetic research. Yamin’s most recent release is on a duet with fellow Season Five finalist Katharine McPhee called “Real Love” on Randy Jackson’s Music Club, Vol. 1. The song has been released to radio airplay as of late last month. He’s also in the studio working on his follow-up album, seeking a Fall 2008 release date.
The videos just a fan-made slide show, but you can hear the “Real Love” duet here:
Performing his single “Wait for You” live:
Proving that there wasn’t anything he couldn’t sing, here he is with “Trouble”:
[via Wikipedia, MySpace and more!]
MELINDA DOOLITTLE - SEASON SIX
Like Elliott the year before, many people considered Doolittle the strongest vocalist and inevitable winner of Season Six. She’s spent the last several months since the wrap of the American Idol tour working on her soul album. In February, her first single was released; a cover of “My Funny Valentine.” She’s hoping for and shooting for a June release on the album.
She’s heavily involved in Malaria No More, a charity organization that provides nets for mosquito and Malaria ravaged regions of Africa. She most recently participated in an Edy’s Ice Cream promotion with fellow finalist Chris Richardson, which included tours of Wal-Mart. Melinda is basically still fresh off of Idol so her career options are still bright and positive.
Here’s that single “My Funny Valentine,” as performed back on Idol:
Here she is with “I Believe In You and Me”:
Doing a little something different on “Since You’ve Been Gone”:
[via Wikipedia, MySpace and more!]
SYESHA MERCADO - SEASON SEVEN
It’s pretty good company, and I think it’s more a statement of the Davids than a statement on Syesha that she’s wound up here in third place. She proved herself a versatile and impressive performer, and she improved tremendously as she became more and more comfortable up on that stage. I agree with a lot of people who say she’d be a tremendous asset to Broadway, but I don’t know if I’d be so quick to dismiss her as a potentially viable pop artist. Regardless, she’s talented and beautiful and should be able to turn this exposure into something if she plays her cards right.
NEXT TIME ON AI AFTERMATH
We take a look at the second place finishers, including Justin Guarini, Clay Aiken, Diana DeGarmo, Bo Bice, Katharine McPhee and Blake Lewis. See you there!
ABC to Wipe Out with new reality show
If you love America’s Funniest Home Videos — and I know a lot of you do because the show’s been running since 1989 — you’re the likely target audience for something new from the network. ABC plans to produce Wipe Out, a new reality competition from producer Matt Kunitz (Fear Factor).
The idea for the show is to create — rather than collect a la AFHV — spills, splats, crashes and wipe outs ever seen on TV. Endemol USA (Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, 1 vs. 100) is producing the show for ABC.
The goal will be chuckles, not broken bones, but you never know what’ll happen when 24 contestants vie against each other in a progressively more complicated and difficult obstacle course. The number is eventually narrowed down to four combatants who enter the Wipe Out Zone, a variation of the Thunderdome (without the threat of death). He or she that emerges from the Zone will win $50,000. That’s at the end of every episode.
John Anderson, a familiar face from ESPN’s SportsCenter has been tapped at the host alongside Jill Wagner. Jill, by the way, is an actress. She played Larrin on Stargate: Atlantis and Krista Starr on Blade: The Series.
George Clooney Goes To The ER
George Clooney Goes To The ER
It’s always interesting when life imitates art that imitates life. Ironically, George Clooney, who rose to fame during his tenure on NBC drama “ER”, ended up spending some time in the real life emergency room, himself.
The Ocean’s Thirteen stud landed himself and his new girlfriend, Fear Factor’s Sarah Larson, in the hospital after a nasty motorcycle crash in New Jersey.
The good news is that they were able to get in and out of the emergency room in about an hour, hence the injuries were not life-threatening.
The bad news is that Larson received a facial cut and some broken toes. Clooney was treated for a hairline fracture to his rib and both of them had road rash.
According to George’s rep, “George said he was driving to the right of a car when the other driver signaled for a left turn. All of a sudden, the driver changed his mind, turned right, and ran into George.”
But driver Albert Sciancalepore has a different take on the event. “It was his fault. He was behind me making a right turn in a single lane and he tried to cut me off from my right side.”
And if police Sgt. Sean Kelly is right, then it may end up being the “O Brother Where Art Thou” actor’s fault. “It’s a ‘he-said, she-said’ right now. But you can’t pass on the right in Weehawken or anywhere in Jersey.”
According to a witness, Larson seemed to be the one most hurt in the crash. “She seemed really hurt. She had a cut on her face. He was saying, ‘It’ll be all right. Don’t move.’ He seems to really care about her.”
Ali Landry Biography
Ali Landry (born July 21, 1973) is an actress best known as a spokesperson for Doritos, for whom she appeared in celebrated commercials aired during the 1998 and 1999 Super Bowls. A trained gymnast, she still required hours of takes to get the seconds of footage doing acrobatic stunts for the commercials. She got national fame after winning the 1996 Miss USA pageant, as the contestant from Louisiana. In later years she has hosted the pageant.
Ali Landry grew up in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA. Ali is of French descent.
She has participated in the show Fear Factor, and was runner up. An avid athlete, she also participated in the Boston Marathon.
Starting in 2003 she played in the UPN sitcom Eve.
She married longtime boyfriend Mario Lopez in 2004, and two weeks after marriage, filed for divorce because she claims that he cheated on her during his bachelor party.
Engaged to director Alejandro Monteverde on Memorial Day, 2005.
Ali Landry: Facts & Stats
Full Name: Ali Landry
Height: 5′ 8″
Measurements: 36C-24-34
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Miss Louisiana Teen USA (1990)
Miss Teen USA Semi-finalist (1990)
Miss Louisiana USA (1996)
Miss USA (1996)
Miss Universe Top 6 Finalist (1996)
Named by “People” magazine as one of 50 most beautiful people in the world (1998)
She is from the southwestern region of Louisiana, also referred to as “Acadiana,” the heart of Cajun country
Ali Landry: Quotes
“Sex outdoors is great. I’m not an exhibitionist, but I love the possibility that people might be able to see.”
“I didn’t know what my goal was, but I knew I had to get out and do something exciting.”
“I don’t date guys that I just meet randomly. I don’t feel comfortable meeting strangers.”