Tag: American Idol

  • Emmy-winning director Bruce Gowers passes away at 82

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON DC: Emmy award-winning director of ‘American Idol: The Search for a Superstar’ and the original video for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ Bruce Gowers passed away aged 82 on January 15 in his Santa Monica home after suffering from an acute respiratory infection.

    His family members confirmed the news of his demise to Variety, a US-based news outlet.

    According to Variety, over the span of eight seasons from 2002 to 2011, Gowers directed 234 episodes of “American Idol,” earning him five Grammy nominations and one win for outstanding directing on a variety, music, or comedy series in 2009.

    For his work on the television special “Fleetwood Mac: The Dance” in 1997, Gowers was nominated for the same Emmy award that year. In 1985, he was nominated for best videotape editing for a limited series or special along with the editors of “The Fifth International Guinness Book of World Records.”

    Gowers, born in New Kilbride, Scotland, started his career in London while enrolled at the BBC Training College. In the end, Gowers agreed to work for networks like Rediffusion and London Weekend Television, where he would be directing and producing employees.

    In the control room, which he would frequently inhabit as a director for television programmes and music videos, Gowers was “happiest,” according to his family.

    After serving as the director of the renowned music video for Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 1975, Gowers found himself overnight in the limelight. Gowers had numerous opportunities to collaborate with musicians throughout the years, including the Rolling Stones, 10cc, Rod Stewart, the Bee Gees, Alice Cooper, Journey, Supertramp, Michael Jackson, Rush, Santana, Prince, REO Speedwagon, Toto, John Mellencamp, and others.

    Gowers moved to California later in the 1970s, where he continued to create and direct important award ceremonies like the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Billboard Awards, and the MTV Awards.

    Gowers received his MTV Award for his contribution to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and later won a Director’s Guild of America Award for “Genius: A Night for Ray Charles” in 2004. The seasoned director was also honoured with a Grammy in 1986 for helming the long-form music video for “The Heart of Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Huey Lewis and the News.

    His wife Carol Rosenstein, daughter Katharine Polk, son Sean Gowers, and four grandchildren, Sean Jr., Robert, Charlotte, and Layla survive the ‘American Idol’ veteran.

    WASHINGTON DC: Emmy award-winning director of ‘American Idol: The Search for a Superstar’ and the original video for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ Bruce Gowers passed away aged 82 on January 15 in his Santa Monica home after suffering from an acute respiratory infection.

    His family members confirmed the news of his demise to Variety, a US-based news outlet.

    According to Variety, over the span of eight seasons from 2002 to 2011, Gowers directed 234 episodes of “American Idol,” earning him five Grammy nominations and one win for outstanding directing on a variety, music, or comedy series in 2009.

    For his work on the television special “Fleetwood Mac: The Dance” in 1997, Gowers was nominated for the same Emmy award that year. In 1985, he was nominated for best videotape editing for a limited series or special along with the editors of “The Fifth International Guinness Book of World Records.”

    Gowers, born in New Kilbride, Scotland, started his career in London while enrolled at the BBC Training College. In the end, Gowers agreed to work for networks like Rediffusion and London Weekend Television, where he would be directing and producing employees.

    In the control room, which he would frequently inhabit as a director for television programmes and music videos, Gowers was “happiest,” according to his family.

    After serving as the director of the renowned music video for Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 1975, Gowers found himself overnight in the limelight. Gowers had numerous opportunities to collaborate with musicians throughout the years, including the Rolling Stones, 10cc, Rod Stewart, the Bee Gees, Alice Cooper, Journey, Supertramp, Michael Jackson, Rush, Santana, Prince, REO Speedwagon, Toto, John Mellencamp, and others.

    Gowers moved to California later in the 1970s, where he continued to create and direct important award ceremonies like the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Billboard Awards, and the MTV Awards.

    Gowers received his MTV Award for his contribution to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and later won a Director’s Guild of America Award for “Genius: A Night for Ray Charles” in 2004. The seasoned director was also honoured with a Grammy in 1986 for helming the long-form music video for “The Heart of Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Huey Lewis and the News.

    His wife Carol Rosenstein, daughter Katharine Polk, son Sean Gowers, and four grandchildren, Sean Jr., Robert, Charlotte, and Layla survive the ‘American Idol’ veteran.

  • People were really mean to us: Kelly Clarkson recalls ‘American Idol’ days

    By ANI
    WASHINGTON: American singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson recently opened up about entering the limelight via ‘American Idol’ in 2002 when she was crowned the show’s inaugural champ. According to Fox News, during Thursday’s (local time) episode of her daytime talk show, the 38-year-old star shared her experience of the singing reality show, in a chat with actor Jennifer Love Hewitt.

    The singer recalled meeting Hewitt when Clarkson was first coming on to the scene with a few of her fellow contestants. “You probably don’t remember this, but it stuck with me so long, like for almost 20 years now … it was at some kind of MTV Awards or VMA [Awards], I don’t know what it was, but you ran up to me and it was right when [we were down to] the final three of ‘Idol’. We were just so slammed and everything was happening in a whirlwind,” Clarkson said.

    The ‘Since U Been Gone’ singer then revealed that “people were really mean to us because we’re from a talent show and it was the first season”. She reiterated that “everyone was so rude” including people on the red carpet and at the show itself.

    “It was so bad. It was a horrible experience. You came up to me and ran up to me out of nowhere and were like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m really rooting for you’,” Clarkson admitted, but interaction with Hewitt helped to ease the pain.

    “You told me: ‘Please keep the ones you love so close and it’ll end up being about a few people in your life, unfortunately, but this business can be really hard and just remember to keep those people that really love you.”

    Clarkson remembered the advice for being “really, really kind in such an unkind time for me personally.” “It meant the world to me. You were so nice and I’ve been looking forward to interviewing you,” she gushed.

    As per Fox News, since her days on ‘Idol,’ Clarkson has sold 25 million albums and 45 million singles worldwide, according to TV Guide and has had 29 songs hit the Billboard Hot 100 in just 19 years. Three titles hit No. 1. She’s also racked up three Grammy Awards and 15 nominations.

    Like Clarkson, Hewitt got her start in showbiz early, rising to fame after appearing on a handful of high-profile TV shows, including ‘Party of Five.’