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American Idol 2010 Interviews
American Idol 2010 Tour Interviews
The American Idol Tour in 2009 made Portland the first stop on the trip. The buzz and excitement of Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta hitting the stage for the first time was palpable. This time around the American Idol Tour hits Portland as it is winding down. Rather than have all ten of the 2010 American Idol Finalists come out and talk to journalists, they picked five to represent the American Idol Tour experience.
The five interviews include Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Casey James, Aaron Kelly and Tim Urban. Interestingly, the topic of a country album came up with many of the Idols (with Aaron Kelly on the road to making a country album and Casey James signed to Sony Country). Acting was also on the minds of a few of the American Idols, with Didi Benami and Tim Urban both considering careers in film and television. Read more…
Interview with Josh Kornbluth – Ben Franklin Unplugged
Josh Korbluth in Portland
In 2002 I picked up a copy of the film Haiku Tunnel. It was described to me as "Office Space" if Woody Allen had directed it rather than Mike Judge (a pretty spot on description). It was hilarious. Since then I've followed the career of Josh Kornbluth (the star of the film), as he's established himself as one of the nation's most sought after monologists.
Over the years, through Josh's email list, I'd hear about his many shows in Berkley, California and wonder what it would take to get him to perform in Portland? When Portland Center Stage announced that Josh was bringing his show Ben Franklin: Unplugged to Portland for a seven week run, I couldn't contain my excitement.
Josh Kornbluth's monologues are a unique mix of history, biographiy and observations. His disarming style sucks you into his world and leads you along on a fantastic trip.
Josh Korbluth's Ben Franklin: Unplugged runs at Portland Center Stage September 29 to November 22, 2009. It's a rare opportunity to see one of the nation's best monologists in one of his most acclaimed works.
Watch On Portland's Interview with Josh Kornbluth:
Josh Kornbluth on Ben Franklin Unplugged from On Portland on Vimeo.
For more information on Josh Kornbluth:
Professional Bull Riders in Portland Interview – Ross Coleman
Professional Bull Riders in Portland
It takes a lot of guts to be a professional bull rider. Over a season with 30+ stops a bull rider takes a tremendous amount of physical damage (including broken bones, dislocated shoulders and a ton of bashes and bruises). Somehow these bull riders pick themselves up and hop back on those bulls for another ride.
On Portland had the opportunity to speak with Ross Coleman, a 12 year vet of the sport, from Molalla Oregon who is set to ride this weekend as Professional Bull Riding comes to Portland in the Professional Bull Riders Godaddy.com Invitational (Friday Oct. 2nd & Saturday Oct 3rd).
Ross gives some insight into what it's like being a bull rider and what it takes to tame some of those monstrous beasts.
Watch our interview:
If you needed other enticement, Go Daddy Girl, Erin Kalin will be singing the National Anthem at the event. Tickets start as low as $10.
For more info on Professional Bull Riding in Oregon:
Mike Daisey Interview – The Last Cargo Cult
Mike Daisey
Mike Daisey is a breath of fresh air. In an era where there is so much derivative work appearing on stage (look no further than Shrek The Musical, Legally Blonde or Xanadu),Daisey reminds us why we go to live theater in the first place – to see something happen, in the moment.
Unlike many other notable monologists, Mike Daisey does all his performance extemporaneously. His monologues are never rehearsed and the only guide he uses is a set of notes which he amends at the end of every performance.
I've had the opportunity to see Mike Daisey perform on three occasions: 21 Dog Years (doing time at Amazon.com) in 2005, Monopoly! and If You See Something, Say Something which Daisey performed at the 2009 TBA festival. It's been an amazing experience to see Daisey grow as a performer, and so I was extremely excited to discover that PICA was bringing him back to Portland to workshop his latest work The Last Cargo Cult (which he performs on August 1st at 8pm in the Wieden + Kennedy Atrium 224 NW 13th Ave)
Here's our interview with Mike Daisey where he talks about the process of creating his monologues, The Last Cargo Cult, and why Portland has such a deep connection with his work:
Here's Part 2 of the Mike Daisey Interview:
For more information on Mike Daisey:
American Idol Live in Portland Video Interviews
The 8th installment of American Idol Live makes its first stop at The Rose Garden on July 5th. On Portland had the opportunity to sit down and talk to the top 10 American Idol performers (in batches of two).
Reporters were given just 5 mins to ask questions and with two idols to cover it was tough to try to fit a lot in. Meeting the Idols in person I was struck by how closely they mirrored their 'personas' on the screen. What you saw on TV is pretty much what you see when you talk to them in person. Of the group I enjoyed Allison Iraheta's rambunctious humor, Adam Lambert's ultimate humility and Anoop Desai who seemed to have the best take on the event.
The biggest surprise was Megan Joy who talked about the challenges she faced during the show. She was a much more grounded and down to earth person than I had expected and her playfullness with Matt Giraud was fun to watch.
The thing that stuck me the most was how exhausted the Idols seemed. It was clear that they've been working extremely hard to prepare the tour and I'll be interested to see the results of all that effort.
Here are the interviews:
Kris Allen and Anoop Desai
Adam Lambert and Lil Rounds and
Danny Gokey and Michael Sarver:
Allison Iraheta and Scott MacIntyre
Matt Giraud and Megan Joy
For more information about American Idol Live see:
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