h Moore: 'Idol' singers face so much pressure
h Moore: 'Idol' singersface so much pressure
NEW YORK -- Mandy Moore says she isn't among those who criticize "American Idol" contestants for wanting instant stardom.
Moore plays a singer with diva-like aspirations in the new movie "American Dreamz," directed by Paul Weitz. The film also stars Dennis Quaid, Willem Dafoe and Hugh Grant, whose character hosts an "American Idol"-type TV talent show.
"I think they work so hard overcoming all of these obstacles just to get on the show in the first place, and then every week they're judged in front of all of America," the 22-year-old singer-actress told reporters, according to AP Radio. "It must be overwhelming, all the pressure."
"I give them complete credit for getting up on stage," she said. "I think I would crumble under that kind of pressure, so, no, I think they deserve all the success that they get."
Fieri beats competitionon Food Network show
SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- The Food Network has a new star -- Guy Fieri, who beat out the competition in "The Next Food Network Star."
Fieri's spicy food and attitude beat out fellow finalist Reggie Southerland, a baker from Los Angeles. The reality TV episode was televised Sunday evening.
"This is like hitting the nitrous button on a food career. This is full throttle," Fieri said from New York.
Fieri is a 38-year-old graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas who moved to Santa Rosa from Southern California and opened Johnny Garlic's with a partner in 1996.
They later opened Russell Ramsey's Chop House and Tex Wasabi's Rock-N-Roll Sushi BBQ in downtown Santa Rosa.
Fieri will have a run of six cooking shows starring himself.
"This is beyond what I ever imagined would happened," Fieri said. "The only thing that I can compare this to, even though it doesn't quite compare, is the birth of my sons."
Billy Joel concertoto debut at festival
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- A concerto drawn from Billy Joel's 2001 classical album, "Fantasies & amp; Delusions," will debut in June at the Eastern Music Festival.
Jeffrey Biegel, who arranged the piano section at Joel's request, will perform the "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" on June 24 with the EMF faculty orchestra.
Stuart Malina, who shared a 2003 Tony Award with Joel for the hit Broadway musical "Movin' Out," will conduct. Malina, who leads the symphony in Harrisburg, Pa., is the former music director of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.
"With a piece like this and an artist like this, it is a huge deal for us," said EMF President and CEO Tom Philion.
Philion said he and Biegel discussed the concerto months ago, but he expected the piece to premiere somewhere else.
Notable deaths
William P. Gottlieb, whose photographs of such jazz greats as Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong are recognizable worldwide, died Sunday at his home of a stroke, his family said. He was 89.
Florence Mars, whose 1977 book "Witness in Philadelphia" about the 1964 slayings of three civil-rights workers won praise from many but made her the target of the Ku Klux Klan, has died, a relative said Monday. She was 84.
Phil Walden, the Capricorn Records founder who launched the careers of Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers Band, has died after a long battle with cancer, a family friend said Monday. He was 66.
Today's birthdays
Actress-comedian Carol Burnett is 73. Rhythm-and-blues singer Maurice Williams is 68. Songwriter-musician Duane Eddy is 68. Singer Bobby Rydell is 64. Actress Claudine Auger is 64. Rock musician Gary Wright is 63. Rock musician Roger Taylor (Duran Duran) is 46. Actress Joan Chen is 45. Actor-singer Michael Damian is 44. Actor Jet Li is 43. Actor-comedian Kevin James is 41. Actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste is 39. Rapper T-Boz (TLC) is 36. Country musician Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flats) is 35. Rock musician Jose Pasillas (Incubus) is 30. Actress Jordana Brewster is 26. Actress Marnette Patterson is 26. Actor Aaron Weeks is 20.