TV ALERT: ROCK WEEK ON AMERICAN IDOL

Show: American Idol
Premiere Dates: Tuesday, May 5, at 8PM and Wednesday, May 6, at 9PM
Channel: Fox
It’s Rock Week on American Idol! And, tonight, the final four contestants—Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen—will be mentored by the one and only Slash! Yes, the guitar great (ex-Guns N’ Roses/Velvet Revolver) with the mop top will be sharing his musical knowledge with the young singers.

Then, tomorrow night, former AI contestant Chris Daughtry returns to the Idol stage to debut his brand new tune “No Surprise.” The song is the first single from the band Daughtry’s as-yet-untitled sophomore effort, which is slated to come out July 14 via 19 Recordings/RCA. "American Idol fans have been so loyal to this band, we wanted to give them the first listen to our new single," Chris says. Also, on Wednesday, the recently reunited No Doubt will perform!


For more on American Idol, click here.

BROADWAY NEEDS AMERICAN IDOLS...LIKE CONSTANTINE MAROULIS!

It’s no secret that Broadway is in trouble. Nine shows have already closed this year—and we’re only less than three weeks into 2009! More shows will surely be shut down in upcoming weeks.

On last night’s Saturday Night Live, they even aired a fresh, funny and relevant sketch on the problems plaguing Broadway:

And, in today’s New York Post, they pose the question: “Can an American Idol belter save Broadway?” Specifically, MusikBLITZ fave Constantine Maroulis.

The Post article is about how many former American Idol contestants have made big impacts on Broadway.

Personally, I’ve seen Tamyra Gray do a fantastic job in Rent as Mimi, the super-hot Ace Young play a dashing Kenickie in Grease and the fabulous Maroulis in both The Wedding Singer and one of my favorite productions ever, the off-Broadway show Rock Of Ages. Other contestants who have graced the Broadway stage include Fantasia Barrino (The Color Purple), Taylor Hicks (Grease) and Clay Aiken (Spamalot). It seems like the New York stage is the perfect place for Idol graduates to go.

Rock Of Ages is set to move to the big Broadway stage in March and, although Maroulis has yet to be confirmed for the Great White Way production, the Post (and MusikBLITZ!) believe if he does, he can help save Broadway.

“When we met Constantine, we instantly liked him and knew he would be perfect for Rock Of Ages,” says the show’s producers Matt Weaver and Carl Levin. “He has a real rock sensibility.” So where is the news that he will make the leap to Broadway? (Or star in the musical's film version, which MusikBLITZ previously reported on.)

Maroulis is Rock Of Age’s Drew…the charming busboy with dreams of becoming a big rock star in this super show about a Hollywood club in the '80s and all the characters who walk through its doors (all set to '80s hard rock classics).  He is vital because he appeals to both young and old fans, women and men (the women want him; the men want to be him). He can be cute (in that boy-next-door way) and sexy (in that bad boy way) at the same time. And, most importantly, he's got the big, melodic vocals to proudly sing all of the production's songs.

Wonder which American Idol will be the first to win a Tony?