He was the reason David Cook auditioned for a little show called “American Idol” in the first place, and became the inspiration for the singer to keep competing week after week until he claimed the title last season. Today, David Cook is mourning the loss of his brother Adam, who battled brain cancer for 10 years.
Reigning “American Idol” champ David Cook stunned the crowd at today’s Race for Hope 5K in downtown D.C. by announcing his brother died the night before of a brain tumor — the cause that got him involved in the annual fundraiser.
Adam Cook, 36, a lawyer with a wife and children, had battled the tumor for more than a decade before dying in Terre Haute, Ind. David Cook joined 9,000 other runners this morning — finishing the 3.1 mile course in 28 minutes, he later said — before taking the stage. This year’s race, the 12th annual, raised $2 million for brain cancer research.
“I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else right now,” Cook said, getting briefly choked up and wiping away tears. “I’ve lost one but I’ve gained 9,000 ….. I will be here every year that they will have me.”
Rumors that Adam’s condition had taken a turn for the worse started a couple of weeks ago when David suddenly canceled some tour dates. Fans of the show and of David know that the “AC” initials adorning David’s guitar all last season stand for Adam Cook. And when David made it to the American Idol finale, his brother’s friends raised money so Adam could fly to Los Angeles in a medically-equipped plane in order to see him perform and win. It’s a heartbreaking loss for David and his family.
McCain’s first skit on SNL, which was a hit. His second skit, below, wasn’t quite as effective
After a serious ten straight minutes of political commercials, Saturday Night Live finally kicked off with John McCain and Sarah Palin. The real McCain, but not the real Sarah Palin. Tina Fey was back with what will be, if she sticks to her word, her final performance on the Saturday show as the Alaska Governor.
McCain and “Palin” were on QVC on the skit, in rebuttal to Obama’s Wednesday night 30-minute ad, because the time came cheap as long as they would hawk a few products. As Tina-as-Palin explained as she stroked her lovely, designer jacket, running a Presidential campaign is expensive.
Senator McCain announced the pair’s first product, a 10-piece collector’s set representing the ten town hall meetings the Senators McCain and Obama had. He stepped over to reveal ten blank, white plates, because, as he explained, Obama refused to do town hall meetings.
The second product was presented by Palin, a complete set of Joe action figures, plumber, six pack, and Biden. Her favorite being the Biden doll, whose string you could pull and he would talk for 45-minutes straight.
McCain then took the opportunity to talk about the crossroads in American history we all find ourselves in this election year… until Palin interrupted to announce that there were only two minutes left to order the Washington Outsider jewelry!
Which brought McCain to his “Fine Gold” line of jewelry, presented by Cindy McCain. That joke wrote itself. The next one had to reach a bit further, Sarah Palin’s Ayers Freshners, to plug in when “sumthin’ doesn’t quite smell right.” Plus, as Tina said, it keeps on reminding you of William Ayers!
The final official product was John McCain Pork Knives, to “cut the pork out.”
Then Tina’s Palin goes rogue, taking the camera to the side with “PALIN in 2012″ t-shirts, “just wait til after Tuesday to wear them.” Whether they win or not, she says, Palin isn’t going anywhere, she’s either going to be in the White House or be White Oprah.
From off camera, McCain asks, “What’s going on over there, Sarah?”
“Oh, just talkin’ ’bout taxes.”
Before the Senator delivers the obligatory line for opening Saturday Night Live, he tells the QVC audience that he is a true Maverick, a Republican without money, so had no choice but to go on QVC. And unlike Barack Obama, he doesn’t have Hollywood connections, his only showbiz supporters are John Voight and Heidi from the Hills.
He closed with, “When you go to the polls remember “Country First”, and as a reminder, all undergarments are unrefundable.”
John McCain was as willing and funny as I knew he would be. He really seems to have a sense of humor, it’s just been markedly missing, or strangely askew, for the past couple weeks. He got plenty of laughs and alot of applause. He seemed to be a hit.
But then he came on Weekend Update. There was actual booing when he was introduced. Senator McCain delivered an interesting array of “last minute strategies.” The “Reverse Maverick”: where he does whatever anybody tells him. The “Double Maverick”: going totally berserker and freak everybody out. The “Sad Grandpa”: Obama has a lot of time left to run for president, voters should give him a chance. People laughed at his bad ideas, but not in the good way. When Seth Myers asked which he was going to use, McCain got serious for a minute and said he was going to stick with his basic strategy… connect with the voters, stand by his record, etc. And if that doesn’t work, probably the Double Maverick.
One sketch too many, Senator.
Ben Affleck was not as good as I’d hoped he’d be. He had a couple of funny moments, but more than not, he was disappointing. Singer David Cook, on the other hand was excellent.
Update by Celebitchy: Here’s Ben Affleck as Keith Olbermann, and as Alec Baldwin stopping by The View. (Thanks daisy424!)
2008 American Idol winner David Cook finally has a release date for his debut album. The as of yet untitled album will drop November 18th according to Cook’s label 19 Recording/RCA Records. Coincidently (not so coincidently?) runner up David Archuleta’s first album was already scheduled to be released in November, and now, sources tell E! that he’ll probably set the same date. Oh, the drama continues!
Both Cook and Archuleta have been recording and touring with the American Idols Live! Tour since the May season 7 American Idol finale. Cook has been working with producer, Rob Cavallo, on his more rock than pop album. Rob Cavallo has worked with Green Day, Kid Rock, My Chemical Romance, Goo Goo Dolls and Alanis Morissette, among others. Am I giving myself away as a “Cook-ie”, or whatever the hell the cutesy name is always given to AI fans, when I say I think this record is going to ROCK?
Archuleta’s album, also untitled, has already released a single, “Crush”, in August. Evidently it debuted at #2 on Billboards Hot 100, the highest debut of 2008, but until I looked it up on YouTube, I’d never heard it. It’s surprising too, it’s pretty good and you would have thought it would get some radio play.
It looks like David Archuleta’s family isn’t taking his recent second-place finish on “American Idol” behind David Cook. The 17-year-old singer’s dad has already been been grabbing headlines for his pushy, controlling antics on the set of the reality show, but now young David’s mom is shooting off her mouth about David Cook’s victory, saying that the voting was rigged.
And you thought David Archuleta’s dad was a problem?
His mom blasted the show as being “fixed” moments after David Cook took home the title of “American Idol.”
“She said her son was the clear favorite, and it was obvious that the voting was fixed so David Cook would win.” said an insider who spoke to Lupe Archeleta. “She said Clive Davis was going to sign her son to a huge recording deal anyway. She was very resentful that David Cook got the title, and she wasn’t shy about letting people know how she felt about it.”
Lupe even took issue with the bright green Ford Escape Hybrid SUV her son won for being in the finals.
“My David can’t drive that car!” she told the insider. “We’re from Salt Lake City – if he drove that car around our town, people would recognize him everywhere!”
[From The National Enquirer print version, June 9, 2008]
Ugh, what an ungrateful cow this woman is. It’s amazing to me that David Archuleta manages to portray himself as such a good-natured, conscientious kid, since both is parents come off as pushy, greedy stage parents from hell. As for her concern that David will be mobbed by fans if he drives his new free car- don’t worry. Two words: Justin Guarini.
In other ‘Idol’ news, if you watched the finale, you may have caught a glimpse of David Cook’s brother, Adam, who is battling terminal brain cancer. Adam wasn’t scheduled to be at the show, but The Enquirer says that an anonymous benefactor stepped forward to help the family pay for Adam’s travel and medical care while he’s in L.A.
A mystery donor contributed more than $80,000 at the last minute so that “American Idol” winner David Cook ‘s terminally ill half brother could fly to the season finale in Los Angeles.
The generous gift gave David’s gutsy sibling, Adam, 36, what he values most – more time with his family before he dies.
Earlier this season, Adam was able to attend a taping of the show when friends arranged for a chartered medical jet to fly him to L.A. after doctors had forbidden him to take a commercial airline flight. But it didn’t appear that Adam would be able to make a return trip because of the cost.
At the last minute, an anonymous donor came forward to pay for the private medical jet that flew the ailing attorney and his wife Kendra from their home in the Midwest.
[From The National Enquirer print version, June 9, 2008]
My money’s on Simon Cowell as the benefactor. He’s been doing all kinds of under-the-radar charity lately. In March, Cowell donated $162,000 to a family who fell into a financial crisis after their daughter was diagnosed with cancer.
David Archuleta and David Cook are shown on The Today Show on 5/29/08. Thanks to WENN.
This year’s American Idol finale was watched by more viewer’s than last year’s Jordin Sparks vs. that beatbox kid finale- at least, the last five minutes of the broadcast. In what many are calling an upset victory, former bartender and crossword puzzle enthusiast David Cook beat the odds-on favorite David Archuleta for the crown.
More than 40 million people tuned into to watch the results of the David vs. David battle on American Idol Wednesday night.
The rest of the two-hour show saw an audience of 31.6 million.
(This year’s finale also beat 2007′s Jordin Sparks vs. Blake Lewis showdown, which 30 million turned in to watch.)
In a surprise victory, rocker David Cook beat baby-faced David Archuleta for the title — despite Simon Cowell predicting it would go the other way.
But Archuleta told Usmagazine.com after the show that he “was pretty sure Cook was going to win anyway!”
“You know, he’s such a great guy,” Archuleta, 17, added. “I’m so glad that people really appreciate what he’d been doing because he put a lot of work into this.”
After Wednesday night’s teary announcement that Cook had won (watch the video here), the Missouri native was at a loss for words.
“This is amazing — thank you!” he said.
[From Us Weekly]
Archuleta was heavily touted and featured prominently by the show’s producers and editors from his very first audition. Many felt he was the judges’ “Chosen one,” and that the competition was kind of pointless, since he was such a shoo-in. But the voters proved the producers and the judges wrong – David Cook won by 12 million votes. Not since Carrie Underwood’s victory has there been such a landslide. Archuleta gave his best performances on the Tuesday night broadcast, making it clear that he was in it to win- but in the end it was David Cook’s rocker edge and ability to mix up the arrangements on some very popular songs that gave him the win. Archuleta was gracious, however, to his rival.
David Archuleta says he wasn’t shocked when his name wasn’t called on Wednesday’s American Idol finale.
“Oh, I was pretty sure Cook was going to win anyway!” he told Usmagazine.com after the show. “You know, he’s such a great guy. I’m so glad that people really appreciate what he’d been doing because he put a lot of work into this.
“He’s been my role model,” Archuleta added. “Just a great person to look up to. He’s been my big brother through this.”
After Cook won, “I just said I’m so proud of him, that he’d earned it,” Archuleta said.
What did Cook say to him?
“He just said, ‘I love you,’” Archuleta said.
Awww. Ain’t that sweet? As for Archuleta’s stage dad from hell, David said his father was proud of him. Because if he didn’t he would probably be locked in the basement until the American Idol tour starts.
Archuleta also said his father, Jeff — who has been portrayed by some media outlets as a demanding stage dad — was pleased with his second place finish.
“My dad just let me know he’s so proud of me,” he said. “He’s really happy too.
“He was just always there to remind me what music meant, the real depth to music and what it does to reach people’s lives,” he added. “And my whole family has helped me stay who I am, helped me not change through this.”
Archuleta – who will perform in the Idol tour this summer – said he thanks “all the fans who helped me make it this far. I didn’t think I’d even make it past the first round! This has been such a blessing.”
All in all, I’m glad it’s over. There were a few spectacular train wreck performances (mostly by Paula Abdul), and some clearly talented contestants, in addition to the final two, including Syesha Mercado, the third place finalist, and the oft-bashed but supremely talented Carly Smithson. But don’t expect me to buy tickets to the concert. That’s where I draw the line, people.
Top 9 “American Idol” contestant David Cook was rushed to the hospital with heart palpitations and dangerously high blood pressure after his performance on the show yesterday.
Cook has been lauded by judges for his risk-taking and strong performances, and performed his own arrangement of Dolly Parton’s “Little Sparrow” last night. Dolly Parton praised his voice and talent during rehearsals.
Cook really nailed the performance and looked at ease on stage. All the judges praised him, with Simon tempering it a little by saying it wasn’t as good as his last performance. Cook was taken to the hospital shortly after the show. He has high blood pressure and the stress sent it skyrocketing. Cook was treated by a private physician, given blood pressure medication and released.
Cook’s brother has cancer and suffered a medical setback recently, and that is said to have contributed to his high level of stress. Hopefully he’s ok now and will be able to find ways to keep his blood pressure down.
Meanwhile dancer Derek Hough, Shannon Elizabeth’s professional partner on “Dancing With The Stars” wrenched his neck during rehearsals yesterday and was taken to the hospital. He recovered, and was back to work.
It’s not an easy job having to preform new material in front of millions of people every week.
Here’s David Cook performing “Little Sparrow” last night. You would never know he was having a problem, and maybe he felt ok until after his performance:
And here’s Derek Hough doing the jive with Shannon Elizabeth on Monday. You can see how he might throw something out with all those moves he’s doing.
