February 01, 2005 |
American Idol's Twin Twist
Last Tuesday on American Idol, Jersey boys JP and Rich Molfetta sparked the latest flare-up between the judges. The twin brothers, both (obviously) 27, crooned Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You," simultaneously earning Randy and Paula's praise and disdainful glares from Simon and guest judge Gene Simmons, who declared them too old to work the boy-band shtick. Then on Wednesday, Rich returned sans JP for another audition — and got greenlit for Hollywood! Is JP bitter? Here, TV Guide Online's Daniel R. Coleridge doubles his pleasure by ringing the rejected twin on his celly for the 411... TV Guide Online: I'm confused. Were you the hot twin in the sleeveless T-shirt?
JP Molfetta: [Laughs] No, I was in the Bert and Ernie shirt. That's because I didn't know the auditions were going to be a seven- to eight-day thing. So I had to buy something clean to wear, and they didn't have any fly gear at the Gap. I just went as an average American kid. TVGO: Your New Orleans audition took seven or eight days?
JP: I can't give behind-the-scenes details, but I will let you know that you go through a series of [auditions] before you even get to see Randy, Simon and Paula. You want to make an impression there, so that you'll get on TV. TVGO: Tell me the scoop on what we didn't see on screen.
JP: The true story is that Rich and I auditioned separately, but for the final round, all the twins were told we had to compete together — and that's the last thing we wanted. Then they separated us. Richard wound up singing three songs and I sang two or three, plus our song together. You didn't see that. That's why Randy and Paula got so angry and made such a hoopla — we had just sung for a good eight minutes, apparently to their liking, so it made no sense [for Simon] to put us through that exercise just to cut us again. TVGO: Is it true Rich went back to reaudition without your knowledge?
JP: No, that is not how it happened. When [we were eliminated] in New Orleans, we were so bummed, we didn't even think of going back. Then it just ate at us. I called him up while I was away on vacation in Greece — I'd had my trip planned for a year — and told Richard to go reaudition in Vegas. I told him, "Bro, we can't be grouped together if you go without me." TVGO: Did you at least have fun in Greece?
JP: My vacation was ruined. I'm a singer-songwriter, so I wrote a ton of songs 'cause I was emotionally distraught! [Laughs] TVGO: If your brother wins American Idol — or maybe becomes a finalist with a record deal — will you resent him?
JP: It would be natural. Had this happened maybe five years ago, I would be 100 percent beaten up about it. Yes, you're gonna get p---ed off, why not? But can I be honest with you? I'm sorta over that. At this stage of my life, I'm just looking for an opportunity we can seize. If it means me being in the background for a moment, that's what it means. His success is only going to allow me to be more successful. TVGO: If Rich gets rich and famous, you could kidnap him and steal his identity like on All My Children.
JP: [Laughs] Yes, I'm so absorbed with Rich that I'll just change my name and become Rich! TVGO: Have you two ever switched places?
JP: Yes, it is something we've done. Growing up, we used to break up with each other's girlfriends! You don't really get a chance to do that too much, though, because our friends would call us on it. TVGO: Would you ever audition for American Idol again yourself?
JP: That's a good question. I really can't comment on it, but if you stay tuned, you might find out what happens... TVGO: Oh, so you are coming back?
JP: [Coyly] I didn't say anything, 'cause you never know. I just said if you stay tuned, you may find out! TVGO: OK, well, if you appeared on the show again, would you make a better wardrobe choice?
JP: I would show up looking fly! You're never gonna see a Sesame Street shirt on me again. TVGO: By the way, what did you think of arrested auditioner Leroy Wells?
JP: Oh yeah, Captain Charisma. What you guys saw of Leroy was a toned-down version — he was over-the-top like that for five or six days! [Puts on a funny voice] I'm guessin' the crack cocaine runs through his veins kinda smoooooth. He had to be on something. |
Oprah Remembers Carson
Late-night legend Johnny Carson, who lulled America to sleep for nearly 30 years as host of NBC's Tonight Show, died Jan. 23 of emphysema at his Malibu, Calif., home. He was 79. The sad news caught his colleagues in the showbiz world off guard. Here, Oprah Winfrey — who sat on Carson's couch back in 1985, before she was a full-fledged talk-show queen — shares her fond memories of Johnny. TV Guide Online: Were you hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show at the time you did Tonight Show?
Oprah Winfrey: No, it was still called AM Chicago, and we were getting a lot of publicity for beating Donahue. So I was on [Tonight] for the first time then. TVGO: Was Carson proud of all your success?
Winfrey: No, no, no. The thing about it is, when you're sitting there during the commercial break, he normally just focuses on whatever is on his desk at the time. So you're sitting there thinking, "He hates me. Oh my God, I'm bombing, he hates me." But then he comes back from the commercial break and he's on again. You're [thinking], "Oh, what I talk to Carson about?" And he says, "I know how to do what I do." One of the things that I've admired most about him was he left — and he was gone. He didn't come back. He didn't try to do a sitcom. He didn't try to sing. TVGO: What else do you remember about appearing on Tonight?
Winfrey: Are you kidding? It's an out-of-body experience. You're standing behind the curtain, you hear the music and then you're like, "It's the curtain! It's the curtain!" I can't remember anything. TVGO: Did you ever think you'd end up being bigger than him on TV?
Winfrey: No, I don't think there's bigger. I think, for his time and what he represented, there is no bigger. There is different. Just like there will be people who will come after me who will be different. But I don't think anybody can say that they were bigger. There is no bigger. For more memories from Johnny Carson's celebrity contemporaries, come back and read tomorrow's Insider. |
Gilmore Kiss Makes History
After four flirtatious seasons, Luke and Lorelai finally shared their first kiss on Gilmore Girls last spring. Their much-anticipated liplock was exchanged on May 18, 2004, if you really wanna be exact. And this smooch was so damn good, it makes No. 18 on TV Guide's list of TV's 20 Hottest Kisses of All Time. But what took 'em so long? "We took our time," says GG creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. "We didn't rush it. [Viewers] got to watch Lorelai go through three or four different relationships. We got to see Luke go through a couple of different relationships. We got to really know who they were, and we got to see them grow as friends — friends make the best lovers. We saw them come to each other's rescue and be there for each other. [And] we knew he cared about Rory, which is all that Lorelai cares about." Ardent GG fans still feel a frisson every time we spot Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson waking up in bed together as Lorelai and Luke. Happily, the lovebirds aren't sick of each other yet — and more importantly, we're not sick of them. "One of the things we avoid successfully is moments that make you go [makes vomit sound]," Graham says. "You don't want it to be too saccharine. He's still kind of gruff, and they tease each other. You see them together in bed or you see them having more intimacy, but what [we] have always liked about their contentious friendship stays the same." "It's very important that Luke and Lorelai can still be Luke and Lorelai," Sherman-Palladino adds. "That's how we keep the relationship going. If, all of a sudden, it was this very soft, smushy [situation where] music swells, birds [are] flying by, flowers drifting... after a while, you're all like, "Ugh. What's on American Idol?" |
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