or


[03/18/09 - 09:01 PM]
Alexis Grace Is Eliminated from the "American Idol" Competition
FOX details the latest "American Idol" elimination.

[via press release from FOX]

ALEXIS GRACE IS ELIMINATED FROM THE "AMERICAN IDOL" COMPETITION

NEXT WEEK'S "AMERICAN IDOL" SHOWS TO AIR ON SPECIAL NIGHTS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, AND THURSDAY, MARCH 26, ON FOX

SMOKEY ROBINSON AND BERRY GORDY TO HELP CELEBRATE "50 YEARS OF MOTOWN" WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

Smokey Robinson and Ruben Studdard to Perform Thursday, March 26

Finalist Alexis Grace was eliminated tonight from AMERICAN IDOL after she received the fewest of America's over 31 million votes. On Tuesday's show, finalists performed songs popularized by members of The Grand Ole Opry, and Grace, 21, from Memphis, TN, sang "Jolene" by Dolly Parton.

On a special Wednesday, March 25 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) performance show, the Top 10 finalists (Kris Allen, Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Megan Joy, Adam Lambert, Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds and Michael Sarver) will return to the IDOL stage to celebrate and pay tribute to "50 Years of Motown" as well as perform classic Motown songs.

Tune in the following night Thursday, March 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) to find out if the judges use their save or if America sends another finalist home. Also, Smokey Robinson will perform, and AMERICAN IDOL winner Ruben Studdard will return to the IDOL stage to perform his new single, "Together."

Smokey Robinson has been synonymous with the Motown sound since the late 1950s when he first met Motown founder Berry Gordy in Detroit. Gordy took Robinson and The Miracles under his wing, and in 1960, signed them to Motown. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles began turning out a string of hits in the early 1960s, including "Shop Around," "You Really Got a Hold on Me," "Ooo Baby Baby" and "I Second That Emotion." Robinson quickly became involved in every facet of Motown's operations, writing and producing his own work as well as that of Mary Wells & the Supremes, and he helped establish The Temptations. Robinson left The Miracles in 1971 to concentrate on his role as Vice President of Motown, and the following year, he launched his solo career. Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. A familiar face on the IDOL stage, he performed a medley of his hits with the Top 6 male finalists on the AMERICAN IDOL Season Six finale.

Songwriter, producer, director and entrepreneur Berry Gordy is the man behind the Motown sound and acts such as Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Lionel Richie & the Commodores, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas and Gladys Knight & the Pips, Chris Clark, Rick James and Teena Marie. Under his leadership, Motown achieved one of the most significant musical accomplishments and stunning success stories of the 20th century by creating music that broke down barriers in a segregated country, touching all people, regardless of color. Starting out in a house that came to be known as Hitsville, USA, he built Motown into a record company with one of the most impressive rosters of artists in the history of pop music. In the 1960s, Gordy booked his artists on television shows including "American Bandstand" and "The Ed Sullivan Show" and in clubs such as New York's Copacabana, paving the way for other Motown artists and R&B acts. What Berry Gordy and Motown accomplished in music, television and film had never been achieved before; their contributions to music past, present and future are truly immeasurable.

The distinctive, upbeat and uplifting music of Motown Records brought together pop and soul, white and black, old and young, like never before and continues to this day. Motown broke down racial prejudice by becoming the most successful independent record company in history and the most successful African-American owned business in America. Today, the label is part of the Universal Music Group, with its classic recorded music catalog managed by Universal Music Enterprises, and the timeless songs of Motown from 1959 to 1985 are represented by EMI Music Publishing. Through the end of 2009, Universal Music Group and EMI Music Publishing will mark the 50th anniversary of the historic Detroit label's musical achievements with a series of initiatives, including monthly music releases.

Since winning the second season of AMERICAN IDOL in 2003, Ruben Studdard's impact on the music charts has been impressive. His single "Flying Without Wings" debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100, and his version of "Superstar" peaked at No. 2 on the R&B chart. In December 2003, his first album, "Soulful," had advance orders of over a million copies, which automatically qualified it for platinum certification and allowed the record to enter The Billboard 200 at No. 1. His follow-up single, "Sorry 2004," reached No. 9 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B chart. Studdard's new album, "Love IS," helmed by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, is scheduled for release on May 19 through a joint venture with Hickory Records and 19 Recordings. The album is a collection of love songs featuring original recording as well as covers of classic hits.

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America; and Ken Warwick, executive producer, FremantleMedia North America.

Visit americanidol.com for exclusive videos, interviews and photos of the finalists as well as special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: LIE TO ME is preempted on Wednesday, March 25, and BONES is preempted on Thursday, March 26, for those nights only.]





  [march 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· BONES (FOX)
· LIE TO ME (FOX)





[07/23/25 - 01:52 PM]
ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Schedule Update: Chicago Cubs Visit St. Louis Cardinals as Historic Rivalry Continues August 10
"Sunday Night Baseball" on ESPN is averaging 1.71 million viewers in 2025, making it the most-watched season of the franchise in eight years, since 2017, according to Nielsen.

[07/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Brandy Norwood Joins Lifetime Holiday Family with Real Life Daughter Sy'Rai in "Christmas Everyday"
Norwood portrays Francine "Fancy" Ballantine, a devoted fashion designer juggling family obligations and career ambitions.

[07/23/25 - 11:33 AM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art Debut - "Ralph Barbosa: Planet Bosa"
The special premieres Friday, August 8 on Hulu.

[07/23/25 - 11:15 AM]
Apple's Sports Comedy "Stick" Tees Off for Season Two with Owen Wilson
"I think we all had a great time making it," said star and executive producer Owen Wilson. "It's really nice to see the show connecting with people and to know that we get a chance to continue the story!"

[07/23/25 - 11:02 AM]
Video: "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
Join NFL MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills for the new season, premiering August 5 on HBO Max.

[07/23/25 - 10:46 AM]
Paramount Global and Park County Extend Overall Deal
The deal with "South Park" co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone is for five years, including 50 new episodes, all 26 previous season episodes and extending "South Park" on Comedy Central and Paramount+ around the world.

[07/23/25 - 10:06 AM]
Bravo's "Top Chef" Heads to the Carolinas for Season 23
Season 23 will be centered in the emerging and diverse culinary hub of Charlotte, North Carolina, with several episodes in Greenville, South Carolina.

[07/23/25 - 10:00 AM]
The CW Network Strikes Multi-Year Agreement with Professional Bull Riders to Broadcast Saturday and Sunday Teams League Events
PBR on The CW kicks off on Saturday, August 9 (6:30-8:00pm ET) and Sunday, August 10 (2:00-4:30pm ET) live from Sunrise, Florida.

[07/23/25 - 09:06 AM]
Apple Original Films Announces New Documentary Feature "Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost"
From Emmy and DGA Award-winning director, producer and son Ben Stiller, the film features the inspiring story of comedy icons Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, and is set to premiere in select theaters October 17, and stream on Apple TV+ October 24.

[07/23/25 - 09:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Expedition X" Premieres Wednesday, August 20 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
In the two-part season premiere airing over two consecutive weeks, Josh Gates and Heather Amaro venture into the haunted ruins of Spike Island, once Ireland's most infamous, brutal prison.

[07/23/25 - 08:04 AM]
Hulu Original Series "Only Murders in the Building" Season Five Premieres Tuesday, September 9
Your favorite crime-solving trio is back for another killer case!

[07/23/25 - 06:46 AM]
Bring on More Torture: Netflix Renews "Wednesday" for Season 3 Ahead of Season 2 Debut
"Wednesday" originally premiered on Netflix on November 23, 2022 and currently holds the record for Netflix's most-popular English language show of all time with 252.1M views in 91 days.

[07/23/25 - 06:01 AM]
Apple TV+ Unveils First Look at "The Savant," Starring and Executive Produced by Jessica Chastain
The suspenseful, high-stakes series will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, September 26 followed by new episodes every Friday through November 7.

[07/22/25 - 04:01 PM]
Production of YA Zombie Series "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2 Is Now Underway
Based on the legendary webtoon by Joo Dong-geun, the first season was an international success, amassing over 560M viewing hours within 28 days of its premiere.

[07/22/25 - 03:03 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Adults 18-49, Leading CBS' "After Midnight" and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" in the Demo for the 6th Consecutive Week
"Nightline" posted week-to-week increases in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, hitting a 4-week high in the key Adult news demo.