American Idol – Looking Ahead

American Idol just ended, and already we have a lot to look forward to. We already know about the tour and stuff like that, but there seems to be more news every day!

Kelly’s CD release of “A Moment Like This” and “Before Your Love” is available for order and the release date has been moved up to September 17. The pre-order the American Idol "Greatest Hits" CD and the DVD have been available for order for a little while now, and, of course, the book is already out (you can read my review of it here). But there will be more – so very very much more.

Kelly, of course, isn’t the only one with a record deal. Tamyra will get one, as will Justin – both of whom will be managed by Simon Cowell. However, Simon has indicated that he will not be giving on to Christina Christian, the contestant he confessed to having a “crush” on during the competition. I guess he really was upset to learn that she was engaged…

The New York Post’s Page Six has also said that R.J. Helton has been in talks with Christian music labels and Ryan Starr was also in talks with a label – though one can probably guess that she’s not talking to those same Christian ones.

One other American Idol participant will also be making a new album – Paula Abdul. She has said that she is writing and recording a new dance record. As of yet, we don’t know what label she will be on, but it will not be Simon’s, who was quoted in the New York Post as saying, "I'll repeat what I've said before. It's about quality.” Ouch.

Besides albums, we can look forward to even more American Idol exposure. The show’s creator, Simon Fuller, said that he is also developing a feature film for Kelly and Justin, which will be a combination of their real-life journey and additional scripted segments. One can only hope the scripted segments are written by somebody other than whoever wrote the Ford Focus and Coca Cola bits for the show, which featured such hilarious bits as Ryan Seacrest delivering pizza and not being allowed into the studio lot. Hoo-boy, those were laugh-riots.

It was previously announced that Simon would have a book out soon on “The X-Factor” that he so often talks about, but as of now, it cannot yet be found on Amazon.com. However, Simon definitely will be back on the next American Idol, which will probably begin airing in January or February of 2003. It is not yet known if Randy Jackson will return, but Paula Abdul almost certainly will not. Reports have indicated that producers contacted former teen popstar Debbie Gibson to take her place at the judge’s table, but no word on whether she accepted.

Also, Kelly and several of the other American Idol folks will be appearing on Fox's Mad TV.

It is safe to say that American Idol fans will have plenty to keep them occupied in the coming months. Reports have indicated there will be an American Idol computer game, and I would be surprised if there is not a calendar (or more than one). Heck, there will probably be Justin bobble-head dolls, “American Idol Barbie,” posters, and more!

As always, keep checking back with us at RealityNewsOnline and at Foxes On Idol, and we’ll keep you up to date with any news we hear about.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline, and can be reached at rno@pobox.com.

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