David Osmond Brings Family’s Musical Legacy To American Idol

Source: People

On Wednesday, season 8’s audition rounds reached Salt Lake City, home of fan favorite David Archuleta. It’s also home base of the large and melodious Osmond show-biz clan — which delivered the show its most famous unknown yet.

David Osmond is the 29-year-old son — one of eight — of Alan Osmond, the oldest brother in the original singing act that gave us Donny and Marie. Both father and son suffer from multiple sclerosis — David seems to be in a period of remission, but admits he can’t know when the disease might worsen again. A performer since the age of 4, he has sung with the family and understudied his uncle Donny in a national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His singing and videos can be streamed on his website.

Is he too accomplished? He has a great, touching story, and a good voice — although Simon didn’t think he was terribly contemporary. He got his ticket to Hollywood anyway — “so genuine,” said Kara — along with several other voices who seemed to have the judges genuinely excited. “Salt Lake was on fire,” Randy told Ryan. Here are some other standout auditions:

Taylor Vaifanua, 16. Randy compared her to Jordin Sparks, who was also 16 when she won. “Really good potential … one of the best vocals.”

Megan Corkrey, 23. An on-the-cusp single mother (she’s getting divorced from the father of her son, not yet 2). She had maybe the most distinctive voice yet from this season’s auditions — wiry, jazzy. Paula: “I think I’m loving you.” Simon: “You are one of the few I’m going to remember.”

Rose Flack, 17. She lost both parents by the time she was 15. An excellent voice — and the stylists in L.A. will be thrilled to get her out of that tie-dye dress. Simon: “You’ve got something special about you, and I don’t know what it is … but you’re one of the few I’m going to remember.”

So we know he’ll recognize at least Megan and Rose next week in Hollywood.

Thursday, the auditions wrap in Puerto Rico and New York City.

Fox Reality Channel developing new series, “Househusbands of Hollywood”, to premiere in August

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Fox Reality Channel has ordered a new series that puts an attention-getting gender twist on the trophy-spouse reality genre.

The network has ordered nine hours of “Househusbands of Hollywood,” which follows a collection of stay-at-home spouses of successful L.A. women.

The cast includes Tempestt Bledsoe (“The Cosby Show”) and husband Darryl M. Bell (“A Different World”), Jillian Reynolds (formerly Barberie, from “Good Day LA”) and her husband Grant and former Los Angeles Dodger Billy Ashley, among others.

The project produced by Marilyn Wilson Prods. represents a different kind of reality show for the cable channel, which is dominated by off-network acquisitions, original competition series and the occasional docudrama.

“Househusbands,” set to bow in August, falls into an ensemble soap category that’s provided ample fruit for such high-profile cable players as Bravo, VH1 and E!

“We believe ‘Househusbands’ could be a breakthrough for us,” said Bob Boden, Fox Reality senior vp programming. “It’s an amusing, poignant and fascinating look at a world that has not been covered yet in reality. It’s obviously an outgrowth of a trend that’s been working in reality about docusoaps, with interesting characters with unique relationships.”

Fox Reality hopes to find a new audience with the series and, if successful, expand the “Househusbands” brand beyond a single series (not unlike a certain group of “Real Housewives” on Bravo).

“The concept offers many possibilities,” Boden said. “It could lead to a spinoff with a certain cast member or expansion to other cities.”

Fox Reality’s highest-rated series is the psychological endurance test “Solitary.” Also, the synergistic “American Idol Extra” will return to coincide with the reality hit’s eighth season.