TMZ'S LESLIE HARRIS: Idol Finale

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TMZ's Leslie Harris talks about the American Idol Finale and result, along with reaction from judge Randy Jackson.

Catch Leslie on TMZ TV - Weekdays at 6 on Channel 38 - The CW.

From TMZ:

"In the shocking finale last night, Kris Allen beat out Adam Glambert for "American Idol" -- and according to Randy Jackson, 'America gets it right every time, dawg.'"

RALPHIE REPORT: Daughtry Talks Idol, New CD

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Chris Daughtry calls up The Ralphie Radio Show to chat about his new single/CD, a possible tour, and this season of American Idol - and he isn't pleased with the favortism shown to Idol finalist Adam Lambert.

Read Ralphie's exclusive report on Chris's Idol criticism here.
Leave This Town drops July 14.
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You might be able to count Chris Daughtry among those surprised that Kris Allen won American Idol last week. In a pre-taped interview on "The Ralphie Radio Show", Daughtry seemed baffled at the amount of media attention and bias directed toward Idol contestant Adam Lambert.

"I thought it was pretty incredible that all of the sudden, Adam is on the cover of a magazine. That people are wearing his name... it seems a little weird to me, because I know how strict it was when I was on the show," said Daughtry. He publicly supported Allen, although refrained from using the Idol performance stage as a venue to voice his opinion. "(Favortism) was definitely frowned upon, and now, I don't know."

A question regarding Katy Perry's outright support of Lambert, with Adam's name embroidered on her cape, elicited the comment. TMZ reported Idol producers edited out this detail when the performance posted to iTunes and the Internet.

The American Idol Season 5 alum concurred with my assessment that the media already anointed Lambert this year's winner, albeit prematurely. Although I admitted to Chris that my coverage of "Idol" is limited, I feel as if the media covered Lambert as if it assumed he already won.

"It's kind of like Adam has already been crowned the winner, and everybody's just kind of going along with that," I commented to Chris.

"That's exactly the way it feels to me too," Daughtry responded. "But yunno, it is what it is, and good luck to both of them."

The North Carolina rocker’s band just released a song to radio, “No Surprise”, with a new LP, “Leave This Town”, out on July 14.

Daughtry, who performed the new track on Idol, noted that all the finalists seemed like great people, but he could relate to Allen on a number of different levels.

“I guess he reminds me a little bit of myself where, he’s on the show – this is all new to him – he’s married… When I hear his voice, I kind of see where that goes, on the radio.”

Allen didn’t ask Daughtry for any advice, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t receive any.

“I basically told him what to be prepared for, for the next two years of his life. Be strong, and stay with your wife.”

Words of wisdom from an Idol contestant who didn’t have the luxury of on stage endorsements or an Idol crown – yet went on to drop a debut LP that sold over six million copies. Daughtry assures fans that the band didn’t deviate from its trademark sound, but did test some new sounds on the one CD – likening one track to something that would draw out glow sticks if Timbaland got a hold of it.

“We tried to branch out a little bit on this record and experiment on some different things, without totally going far left field.”

Daughtry’s band is in the planning stages of a tour that would kick off this fall, in support of the new album.
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Listen to Ralphie Aversa weekdays from 5-10p on 97 BHT.

THE TING TINGS IN STUDIO!!!

So excited about this!!!

Join The Ting Tings live in the 97 BHT studios with Ralphie on Friday, June 5 for food, fun, and a special acoustic performance!

Keep it locked right here for the 411 on how to win your way in!

Powered by Columbia Records & 97 BHT!

SUMMER JAM 2009!

97 BHT & SLP Concerts Present Summer Jam 2009 - Saturday June 6, 2009 - F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre - Starring The Veronicas - With Ticket Prices As Low As $9.71!

Also featuring: Lesley Roy, Safetysuit, Jada, Lovesick Radio, Carney, and The Pretty Reckless (featuring Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen) - with DJ Woogie in the mix all night long!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS FOR
97 BHT'S "SUMMER JAM 2009"

Tickets are also on-sale at The F.M. Kirby Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone 1-800-745-3000

EXCLUSIVE: Doug Brown of SafetySuit

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The lead singer of SafetySuit called up to chat about the band's song, "Stay" and the group's set at 97 BHT's Summer Jam 2009!

Click here for Summer Jam details...

DAILY DOWNLOAD: Tina Parol - Who's Got Your Money?

05.19.09 : Tina Parol - Who's Got Your Money?

Ralphie & Tina speak... in the back of a rental car...


About the BMI Award she won (GaGa won it the year before), plus working with Britney Spears

Check out the video here.

DAILY DOWNLOAD: Ida Maria - I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked

05.14.09 : Ida Maria - I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked
Ida calls in to The Ralphie Radio Show from Norway!
On the song:

Career goals, her LP, touring & traveling in the States:

By now, you might have read about or seen Ida Maria (pronounced EEE-DA). The 24 year-old grew up in a town of about 2,000 in Norway. Now, she’s signed to a major record label, touring the globe, and playing every festival and late night show under the sun.

Maria called up The Ralphie Radio Show last Thursday to chat about her success, her CD, and her new song that is catching everyone’s attention, “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked.”

“I think there’s too few songs that really talk about the male body and how beautiful it is, so I took the responsibility on my shoulders,” touted Maria, half in jest… I think.

The singer/songwriter did joke that she lost count of the number of men she’s seen naked “a long time ago.” Maria says her CD, “Fortress Round My Heart,” is filled with fun, simple songs. Another track on the LP, “Oh My God,” is featured on this season’s Gossip Girl promos. But even with the network cameos and festival performance, the Norwegian artist only admits to one career goal.

“My goal is to see Iggy Pop in his underpants,” revealed Maria – striking a dead serious tone. “If I do, I’m gonna retire after that.”

TMZ'S LESLIE HARRIS: DMX Free, For Now

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DMX is a free man, for the time being. TMZ's Leslie Harris talks about his latest incarceration on The Ralphie Radio Show.

Catch Leslie on TMZ TV - Weekdays at 6 on Channel 38 - The CW.


From TMZ:

"DMX was released from the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona this morning -- and, surprisingly enough, he hasn't been arrested for anything yet. Emphasis on "yet."

X was sprung from his home away from home at around 4 AM after serving 90 days in jail -- the minimum sentence for pleading guilty to the following: cruelty to animals, possession of narcotic drugs, theft and possession of marijuana."

WINGMAN WEDNESDAY: Hierarchy of Bar Help

The Wingman breaks helps Dustin attempt to pick up a worker at a bar... plus, a special guest checks in...

Initial Wingman Story:

Reaction #1:

Louis Vanaria from "A Bronx Tale" calls up:

Visit The Wingman on MySpace.

EXCLUSIVE: Jess from The Veronicas...

Jess of The Veronicas calls up The Ralphie Radio Show to chat about 90210, the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in The World list, "Take Me On The Floor", and headlining 97 BHT's "Summer Jam 2009".

Part 1: "90210", Summer Jam, Drunk Dialing/Texting

Part 2: "Take Me On The Floor", FHM 100 Sexiest Women

More about Summer Jam here.

FHM calls her one of the most sexiest women in the world. In her home country of Australia, the singer's personal life creates as many headlines as the music she makes with her twin sister, Lisa. And you don't have to travel any further than the duo's latest single to pick up on the bisexual tendacies. 

Jess Origliasso comprises one half of the power-pop group The Veronicas. The Australian-imports will headline 97 BHT's Summer Jam 2009 on June 6 - coincidentally enough, my 24th birthday.

"You're a younger man than me!" Jess exclaimed after I informed her how old I'd be turning. Of course, Origliasso isn't that much my elder - her birthday is on December 25, 1984. I immediately rebuffed that our age difference is not notable.

"You can prove me wrong when we see you babe," the singer responded - as I immediately began to wonder if Jess flirted with all radio DJs like this.

Anyways, what is notable is The Veronicas current run in America - they haven't gained this much attention in the states since Lisa dated Ryan Cabrera. "Untouched", the first single from Hook Me Up, gained a solid amount of radio airplay across the nation, and suddenly the group became relevant again, sans the rumored relationships.

Now the sisters are touring the country and popping up on television, with a recent cameo on The CW's 90210.

"We were doing a show in Ohio, and they had the TV's on while we were on stage," Jess said. "(The cameo) came on as we were on stage." 

Speaking of female-friendly TV shows, The Veronicas currently have The Pretty Reckless opening up for them. TPR, also on the Summer Jam bill, is fronted by Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen.

"She's a really cool chick," Jess commented on Momsen. "We're always giving support and power to women in music."

But the ladies tour and support the fellas too - most recently The White Tie Affair. When I spoke with lead singer Chris Wallace a few weeks ago, the Chicago-native insisted I bring up his name during the interview.

"We drunk text each other all the time," revealed Origliasso. "We have lovely drunk text conversations."

Jess didn't elaborate, although if you listened or read about my interview with TWTA, I could only imagine what those messages entailed. 

I suppose all of the aforementioned comes with the territory when you and your sister are named the second most beautiful women in the world by FHM. If you're wondering, the ladies lost out on the top spot to actress Megan Fox.

"She's pretty sexy," said Origliasso of The Transformers star. I immediately responded that it sounded as if she had a crush on Fox. "She's gorgeous, who wouldn't?"

Yup, let the rumors begin.

EXCLUSIVE: Daughtry Criticizes Idol Favortism Toward Adam Lambert

In a pre-taped interview that will air tonight on "The Ralphie Radio Show", Chris Daughtry seemed baffled at the amount of media attention and bias directed toward American Idol contestant Adam Lambert.

"I thought it was pretty incredible that all of the sudden, Adam is on the cover of a magazine. That people are wearing his name... it seems a little weird to me, because I know how strict it was when I was on the show," Daughtry, who is a fan of Idol finalist Kris Allen, said. "(Favortism) was definitely frowned upon, and now, I don't know."

A question regarding Katy Perry's outright support of Lambert, with Adam's name embroidered on her cape, elicited the comment. TMZ reported Idol producers edited out this detail when the performance posted to iTunes and the Internet.

The American Idol Season 5 alum concurred with my assessment that the media already anointed Lambert this year's winner. Although I admitted to Chris that my coverage of "Idol" is limited, I feel as if the media is covering Lambert as if it is assumed that he already won.

"It's kind of like Adam has already been crowned the winner, and everybody's just kind of going along with that," I commented to Chris.

"That's exactly the way it feels to me too," Daughtry responded. "But yunno, it is what it is, and good luck to both of them."

Listen to the audio here.

The interview, in its entirety, will be posted later tonight.

TMZ'S LESLIE HARRIS: "The Office" Star Craig Robinson Catches a Break

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Good news for Dunder-Mifflin employee "Daryl" came via a judge in Los Angeles. TMZ's Leslie Harris explains how Robinson may be rewarded for his work - and it doesn't involve a pat on the back from Michael Scott (although I'm sure he'd be proud).

Catch Leslie on TMZ TV - Weekdays at 6 on Channel 38 - The CW.

From TMZ:

"Craig Robinson, one of the stars of "The Office," got a gold star today from the judge in his drug case. The headline -- his felony drug conviction will be dismissed.

Robinson was busted in 2008. Cops say he had meth and ecstasy in his car and coke in his system. His lawyer, Blair Berk, says he was busted for driving "while large and Black."

The judge today was impressed Robinson completed his drug ed class, so the felony charge will be dismissed next February."

RALPHIE REWIND: Why's My Watch 5 Minutes Ahead?

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Ralphie noticed something interesting: after his friend Dina set his watch to the correct time/date - it read 5 minutes fast. Was Dina trying to drop a hint to Ralphie?

DAILY DOWNLOAD - New FOB, Jonas Brothers...

05.12.09 : Fall Out Boy - Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown... (Originally featured in Oct. '08)

05.11.09 : Jonas Brothers - Paranoid

FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS w/ Ralphie!

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Forever The Sickest Kids chat with Ralphie on their tour bus in Allentown about the incident regarding Philadelphia Police and upcoming projects.

Read Ralphie's report on the Philadelphia incident here.
Check out Ralphie's 2008 FTSK Warped Tour interview here.

Band and crew members of We The Kings and Forever The Sickest Kids were involved in an alleged altercation with the Philadelphia Police Department on Sunday night, following the Bamboozle Road Show at The Theater of the Living Arts. According to Twitter updates from both band's camps, three people were taken in to custody, some beaten with nightsticks by police who were "abusing their power." However, a spokesperson for the PPD denied the incident on The Ralphie Radio Show.

What is agreed on by all parties involved is that police were called to the venue after the conclusion of the show to prevent any disorderly conduct from concert-goers. Furthermore, Philly enforces a curfew for people under the age of 18, so authorities arrived at the venue to ensure that teens complied with the law.

The similarities in the stories end there. According to an officer in the PPD's Public Affairs Office, the involvement of the patrollers ended there. However, Twitter updates by We The Kings front man Travis Clark and Forever The Sickest Kids guitarist Caleb Turman, along with a disturbing online video, paint a drastically different picture.

"Philadelphia cops just beat us up for nothing!" typed Clark on his Twitter account at approximately 8:13 PM. He updated ten minutes later, "Chris V is bleeding from his head, every cop is completely abusing their power!! This is so messed up!"

"Chris V" handles merchandise for WTK. In a video posted to MySpace by production company Artist Approach, Chris is shown face down on the ground, surrounded by police officers. The video ends with a still photograph of the “merch guy” looking up, his upper face covered in blood.

Forever The Sickest Kids' Turman also "tweeted" during and immediately after the alleged incident, attempting to update fans and build a case against the officers.

"Everyone tweet about the #phillycops and how they wrongfully assaulted us!" wrote the guitarist. "Philly cops just assaulted ftsk and we the kings!"

According to the aforementioned MySpace video, Turman and WTK Road Manager Trevor Fair were the original reasons why police entered the venue. Text in the video states that after cops arrived to clear the crowd, an officer wrote a parking ticket for a trailer belonging to the band Mercy Mercedes. Turman went outside to see what the commotion was about, and a cop immediately withdrew his baton and ordered him back in the building. Fair then followed, only to be forced back inside as well. After Fair repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempted to open the door, officers entered the venue to arrest him for disorderly conduct. As police dragged Fair out of the venue, "Chris V" can be heard yelling, "Are you kidding me?! F*** you bro, f*** you. What's your f***ing badge number?" to an officer. Police then attacked the merch handler to subdue him.

WTK lead man Clark updated his Twitter on Monday, assuring fans that all parties involved were okay and out of jail, and that there'd be no interruptions in commitments. Some of the bands on tour attended Monday night's Phillies game to relax.

None of the three bands involved have released any formal statement – and Philadelphia Police continue to deny such an incident even occurred.

THE WHITE TIE AFFAIR w/ Ralphie

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After playing 97 BHT's "High School Hookup 2009" at Riverside - The White Tie Affair met up with Ralphie at T.G.I. Friday's, and you could tell that they weren't speaking in front of a high school anymore.

Check out photos from "High School Hookup 2009" here.

It felt like a bunch of my old friends I grew up with comprised The White Tie Affair, a pop-rock band from Chicago. Sitting at a table at T.G.I. Friday’s in Wilkes-Barre, the fellas and I chatted candidly about porn videos, gossip, and (alleged) sexual escapades with or by friends and tour mates.

Then, I turned on the microphone and began the interview. If you think the band tamed the lingo – well, you thought incorrectly. In between dishing on the group’s next MTV cameo (in a couple weeks on The Hills) and Lady GaGa (they opened for GaGa on “The Fame Ball”), TWTA jumped at every spare moment to change the subject. The guys constantly mentioned premature ejaculation (or as guitarist Sean P. commonly referred to it: premature evacuation) and Daryl Strawberry.

“A lot of times what happens, there’s like premature evacuation going on and you don’t want to be embarrassed by the way you evacuate due to weather,” the guitarist all-but-blurted out. I didn’t care to inquire as to the origin of the inside joke, but the constant references to the former baseball player Strawberry peaked my curiosity.

“Was Daryl Strawberry there?” keyboardist Ryan McClain asked after a question about the group keeping up with the storylines of The Hills. “Candle (Sick and Tired)” first gained notoriety after the show featured the track and TWTA.

After a few more mentions of the former Yankees and Mets outfielder, lead singer Chris Wallace attempted to shed some light on the joke.

“We did this event in New York at CitiField, the Mets new stadium, and we heard Daryl Strawberry was gonna be there,” said Wallace.

“I’m a huge fan,” continued McClain. “Apparently, he had some problems back in the day.”

Those problems were alluded to early in the interview, when Wallace abruptly speculated that he heard Strawberry, “could no longer smell.”

Perhaps a lack of sleep could be attributed to the meandering of the interview. Wallace wrote the next day on the band’s MySpace blog that TWTA pulled an all-nighter – driving from Rochester, N.Y. to Wilkes-Barre. The next stop: Riverside High School, where Wallace and his crew performed for 97 BHT’s High School Hookup 2009, complete with a few of the group’s own tracks and covers of GaGa and Kanye West.

Anyways, the interview moved on, or at least I attempted to move it on – asking the guys about touring with the aforementioned GaGa.

“Let’s just say, she’s very polite and very generous with her ‘givings’,” Sean P noted. He couldn’t elaborate any further without inciting an FCC fine, however the guitarist did revert to a familiar topic in the conversation.

“If you were to run a city and there was a hurricane to come, you don’t want to be caught up premature evacuating even though it’s safer, and you get what you get done, I would never want to say that I premature evacuated a city when a tornado was coming.”

And on that note, I did not find anything premature about exiting the interview – after all, I knew the “tornado” of an editing task that awaited me before I could air the conversation.

RICARDO/E&R ENTERTAINMENT ON LIL' WAYNE'S ARTIST RIDER

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E&R Entertainment's CEO, Ricardo, chats about Lil' Wayne's artist rider, which leaked on to the Internet. Ricardo brought Weezy to the Wachovia Arena last fall.

E and R Entertainment is also bringing "The Terrific Teen Tour featuring Mitchel Musso" to the Wachovia Arena on Thursday, July 9th.

- Lil' Wayne's Wilkes-Barre Concert
- E and R Entertainment
- Lil' Wayne's Rider

TMZ'S LESLIE HARRIS: Manny Being Manny... or Barry?

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TMZ's Leslie Harris talks about the reaction from Los Angeles after MLB suspended former Red Sox/current Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez for 50 games after he failed a drug test.

Catch Leslie on TMZ TV - Weekdays at 6 on Channel 38 - The CW.

Ramirez released the following statement:

"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me.

Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy, that mistake is now my responsibility. I've been advised not to say anything more for now.

I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past 5 seasons. 

I want to apologize to Mr. McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, Mr. Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. L.A. is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation."

WINGMAN WEDNESDAY: The Wedding Date-Crasher

The Wingman's wedding date didn't work out as originally planned, so he made the best of the night... until the date awoke to an unpleasant surprise.

Initial Wingman Story:

The Wedding Date Calls Up!:

The Wingman's Mother's Day Plans:

Visit The Wingman on MySpace.

RALPHIE REWIND: Coldplay Copyright Infringement?

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Yet another artist comes forth to claim that Coldplay copied a melody for the song, "Viva La Vida." Hear both tracks in this clip and judge for yourself...

From Reuters:

"Singer-songwriter Cat Stevens agreed on Monday that the Coldplay song, "Viva La Vida," sounds like one of his 1973 songs, but he stopped short of saying he would sue for plagiarism.

"My son brought it to my attention and said: 'Doesn't that sound like 'Foreigner Suite?'" the musician, now known as Yusuf Islam, told Reuters.

"The song definitely sounds like it," he said of his song. "It has such logical chords and the melody has to be what it is..."

Read the full story here.