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CNN Larry King Live
"American Idol" Wrap-Up
Aired May 25, 2009 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RYAN SEACREST, GUEST HOST: Tonight, "American Idol" exclusive -- Kris, Adam and the rest answer your questions.
What were their biggest challenges?
Are they already rich?
Who sings in the shower?
Do they read about themselves online?
The "American Idol" contestants as you've never seen and heard them before -- until now. It's a "American Idol" exclusive your way.
This is LARRY KING LIVE.
Good evening.
I'm Ryan Seacrest in for Larry King.
We've got our "American Idol" exclusive -- the top 10 answering your questions here in Hollywood.
We're joined by "American Idol" winner Kris Allen; runner-up, Adam Lambert; Danny Gokey; Allison Iraheta; Matt Giraud, Anoop Desai, Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre, Meghan Joy and Michael Sarver.
Did I get you all?
(CROSSTALK)
SEACREST: Got it.
By the way, the American Idol Live Tour kicks off July 5th. It's going to kick off at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. The top 10 contestants from season eight will be there doing it all live for you -- 50 cities across the country.
Kris, are you ready for the tour with the whole group?
KRIS ALLEN, WINNER, "AMERICAN IDOL": Yes. It's going to be -- like I've been saying for a long time, it's going to be a blast.
SEACREST: It will be.
But let's take a look at that winning moment one more time.
Your "American Idol," Kris Allen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "AMERICAN IDOL," COURTESY FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA INC./19 TV LTD/FOX BROADCASTING COMPANY)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After the nationwide vote of nearly 100 million, the winner of "American Idol" 2009 is Kris Allen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEACREST: What has the group said to you now that you're the winner?
Have they changed?
Has the dynamic changed (INAUDIBLE)?
ALLEN: Yes. They don't talk to me anymore.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like, oh, we can't talk to you.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
ALLEN: They still treat me the same. Maybe a little bit different.
SEACREST: And do you treat them the same?
ALLEN: Yes, absolutely.
SEACREST: All right. So LARRY KING LIVE asked "Idol" viewers -- you guys watching -- fans, some questions for the entire top 10.
How do we get them?
CNN.com/larryking. We got them through Twitter, kingsthings and the CNN Facebook page.
We'll ask the questions throughout the entire hour. So let's have some fun here. A blog question for the group -- were you more competitive with each other at the beginning of the show or as the season progressed?
Adam?
ADAM LAMBERT, RUNNER-UP, "AMERICAN IDOL": I think -- I actually think the beginning felt more competitive for me because that's when we were trying to define ourselves on the show. And then as it -- as it continues, it's like your fan base builds and you get more support behind you. So I think it becomes less about your actual performance and more about just staying consistent.
SEACREST: Allison, what do you think?
ALLISON IRAHETA, FINALIST, "AMERICAN IDOL": Yes, I definitely agree with that. You know, it was more like that in the beginning, I guess because I didn't really know anyone and I was just like -- I was already having like issues with myself. So I was like, oh my gosh, I -- I've got do good and better than this dude and Danny Gokey and you know...
(LAUGHTER)
IRAHETA: I'm just joking.
SEACREST: I mean (INAUDIBLE) seem to me as one of the most competitive of all of you.
What about for you, Danny?
DANNY GOKEY, FINALIST, "AMERICAN IDOL": Yes, in the beginning I think -- I think everyone's (INAUDIBLE) because you don't anybody. When you build relationships, you start to leave the competitive side behind. But then you start competing with yourself. And, you know, I think -- you know, I had to compete with my own self every time I was on that stage because I was always...
SEACREST: Yes. I feel like you give yourself a hard time.
GOKEY: Yes. If you guys -- everyone who knows me, I analyze things and that's my...
SEACREST: Overanalyze things.
GOKEY: Yes, that's what I'm saying, overanalyze. And I go through things in my head so many times that I tend to destroy what I started so freshly, you know?
(LAUGHTER)
GOKEY: And it's -- it's been a weakness. But I think, hopefully, I can steer it in the right direction and start making good things happen.
SEACREST: And make it productive.
All right. This question was Tweeted to kingsthings: "What was it really like living in that mansion together?
Do you really hang out with each other?"
Let's see, Matt.
MATT GIRAUD, FINALIST, "AMERICAN IDOL": Yes?
SEACREST: What was it like living in that mansion?
GIRAUD: We -- we, actually, I think we only really liked it like in the first week or two.
(LAUGHTER)
GIRAUD: And I think that after a while it was like we've got -- wasn't it like we kind of missed the room service and people cleaning up after you at the hotels?
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I missed the room service, you know?
And honestly, like...
SEACREST: (INAUDIBLE) clear, there's room service in the mansion?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was no room service in the mansion.
SEACREST: All right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, but -- yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was cool. We actually did hang out together. And -- in the kitchen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, a lot of time in the kitchen. It was like the...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was like the gathering space. We would just like...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'd meet up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ...jump on the counter and lay down...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like, yo dude, what's up?
(LAUGHTER)
SEACREST: Michael, how about for you?
I mean we saw footage of your home -- where you used to live. Slightly -- about the size of a bedroom in the mansion.
What was it like for you?
MICHAEL SARVER, FINALIST, "AMERICAN IDOL": You know, personally, I prefer the smaller house. I'm looking for the four -- five bedroom with a lot of family in it versus -- it's -- It was so big, big enough to have its own zip code, really. And I mean it was huge. But it almost, at times, felt empty until, of course, we made it to the kitchen when it all came together.
SEACREST: Who was the sloppiest?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Danny -- Danny -- Danny and me were roommates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that (INAUDIBLE) was bad, dude.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Hold up. We had the smallest room, though, I think, the (INAUDIBLE). It helps -- it kind of helps when you have the small room and all our stuff is in there and...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's why everything was piled up on (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the fact that didn't clean our -- clean up after.
SEACREST: I want to know, then, what was the most awkward conversation between the two of you once you had to be -- you're living in that shoe box, that -- your bedroom in a huge mansion. But you're in close quarters as roommates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
DESAI: Well, I remember having a conversation like -- because we had -- we had sort of like a cleaning service come in, I guess, once every week or something like that. And they would -- and they would clean our room. And then less than 24 hours later, there was just every -- things everywhere. Like it looked like a hurricane just came through the room. But -- and so we -- we had a conversation one day...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) that Anoop would be the sloppiest to me because...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right?
You're the most studious.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's true.
SEACREST: You'd think that there would be neatness involved...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well...
SEACREST: And organization.
DESAI: Well, I know where everything is.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's all in figures.
DESAI: It's all in my brain.
(CROSSTALK)
DESAI: OK...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a sign of true genius.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's true.
SEACREST: Who was the bathroom hog?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Danny.
(LAUGHTER)
SEACREST: Adam raises his hand.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. In our -- in our bath -- we had a big bathroom...
(CROSSTALK)
SEACREST: Wait, so you are -- so you guys were roommates?
LAMBERT: Yes. And the bathroom was huge and there were two -- like two sides of it; you know, one side and a sink on the other side. And I always say, you know...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me about the counter top.
LAMBERT: Yes, Kris always -- Kris had like three things like just lined up in the corner. And I had like...
(CROSSTALK)
LAMBERT: I had just every product I could find, you know what I mean?
I love stuff, so...
(CROSSTALK)
LAMBERT: Yes. That's yet another thing I can put in my hair.
SEACREST: More pomade.
All right. Kris, a blog question for you.
ALLEN: OK.
SEACREST: What was the hardest genre or style you had to perform on "Idol?"
ALLEN: Oh, wow! I think the hardest -- oh. I think the hardest style was probably rock, because it -- because I felt like it had to be like crazy hard rock, you know? And, you know, I did The Beatles, but it was still like even -- it was rockier than like what The Beatles did and stuff. I think that was a little rough for me. And I knew that coming in.
SEACREST: The toughest genre for you, Lil Rounds?
LIL ROUNDS, FINALIST, "AMERICAN IDOL": Oh, the toughest genre for me probably country week. I picked an OK (INAUDIBLE) pretty good song. But it was just going into it, I was like, I don't know what to sing for country. I know one country song and that is it. And saw it in on a movie.
But I mean...
(LAUGHTER)
ROUNDS: But that might have been, you know, my hardest week.
SEACREST: And Megan?
MEGAN JOY, FINALIST, "AMERICAN IDOL": I had a rough time with Motown -- a hard time. I love Motown music, but I didn't know what I was doing.
(LAUGHTER)
SEACREST: I like the candor. I like the candor here tonight.
We'll be talking to Randy Jackson next, so stick around for more of this "American Idol" special edition of LARRY KING LIVE.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
SEACREST: All right. We are back.
Ryan Seacrest in for my friend, Larry King.
The "American Idol" special -- answering your questions from the Internet; also your Tweets. We'll get to those in a few.
First, I want to say hello to my dear friend, "Idol" judge, as he joins the top 10 now, Randy Jackson, from me for you from me for you from me, for you from me. RANDY JACKSON, JUDGE, "AMERICAN IDOL" (by telephone): Yo, what's up, man?
For me for you for the top 10, Rye.
SEACREST: Well, what were you -- what were you trying to say for you for me for me for you when we were talking about that -- playing that tape back in the finale?
JACKSON: Dude, I have to admit, it was so funny. I didn't even realize I said it that many times, man. It was just -- it was so hilarious to me.
But what I was saying was that, for me, for you, this is the dog in the house. Dude, come on. Let's go back to Tuesday nights, guys. It's not over. Let's go back. Come on.
SEACREST: So, Randy, were you happy with the outcome?
And give me your take on our winner and runner-up.
JACKSON: Yes. You know, listen, I mean, you know, Simon and I say this all the time, Ryan. You know we say this -- America never really gets it wrong. And I think -- look, I mean, look, so happy. This has been one of our best seasons yet. I mean it's an unbelievable season. I think, hands down, for the boys, it's the best season yet, I'll say. And I think, you know, listen, it coming down to a duel at the end, Kris and Adam, I mean it couldn't have been better.
And I mean you guys couldn't have been in more rare perfect form. I think, you know -- you know, Adam, you gave one of the performances of your night on -- of your life on Tuesday night and so did Kris. So I mean it's just -- hey, listen, this whole top 10, Ryan, never say this, but this whole top 10 has a shot to be hugely successful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
JACKSON: This whole top 10, dudes.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
JACKSON: You guys should give yourselves a round of applause, because I know it's hard facing us and America every week. But you guys stood up to the task every week. And I know a lot of you kind of held some comments under your breath probably.
SEACREST: Actually. We were just talking about all of those before you called in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SEACREST: All right. Let me pretend that I don't host the show for a second and ask you some questions that I've -- I've talked to you about before off the air.
What do you think about the Tweets?
What do you think about the fourth judge?
Did it work?
Didn't it work?
Was it good, bad, are you indifferent?
Randy?
JACKSON: No. Listen, I think that the Tweets were really, really good for us. I think the wild card thing was amazing, I mean loving that we could choose Matt, loving we used him. You know, listen, I think all of that was really great. I think, also, having Kara, she's really worked herself. And it started a little, you know, bumpy, you know, but it's always going to be that way, you know, when you bring somebody in at this point, after the show has been going for, you know, six or seven seasons like this.
So I think she's worked out tremendously well. Loved the look at the end, with her and bikini girl. Wow!
SEACREST: Careful. Your wife is close.
JACKSON: I know. But I'm saying, it was a great look.
I mean did you see Simon and I give a standing ovation to bikini girl?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my gosh.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I saw it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, of course.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think Simon's recovered yet.
JACKSON: Yes.
SEACREST: Danny, you watched "American Idol."
You see the show, right?
Did you -- did you watch it a lot before?
GOKEY: No. I just watched it the...
SEACREST: This was the first time you've seen it?
GOKEY: ...last year. Well, I saw bits and pieces of season one. But I took a job, I worked all evenings and finally got DVR and watched it last year.
SEACREST: OK. So you saw it last year. And you saw it with three judges. Now, the season you come on to compete, there's four judges.
How do you think that affects the contestants?
GOKEY: I think it worked in our favor, actually. I liked Kara's opinion on music. I really did. I think all the judges were -- were spectacular. And they each bring a different thing to the table. And I think -- I hope it stays four judges.
SEACREST: Scott, how important is the judges' support on "Idol?"
SCOTT MACINTYRE, FINALIST, "AMERICAN IDOL": You know, the judges' support is amazing. I mean, on that note, you really, as Anoop said earlier, you have to stay true to yourself. It's easy to get caught up in the comments week to week and say how can I -- how can I please Randy, how can I please Simon, Paula, Kara?
But their support means -- means so much. When you...
SEACREST: But when they're hard on you, can that help you in the voting?
MACINTYRE: Absolutely. And when -- and when...
SEACREST: But, in other words, can -- can there be a backlash to the voting?
So they're hard on you, America feels bad, they vote for you?
MACINTYRE: It can help you. It can go any which way. You know, it depends how you respond to it. And a lot of -- you know, a lot of people enjoyed, you know, our -- my bantering back and forth with the judges. And I enjoyed all of them. You know, I love them for their -- for their critiques and as people. And I just had a great time up there.
You know, it can be -- it can be a double-edged sword. But you definitely, when you get that positive review, it's -- it's awesome.
SEACREST: Randy?
JACKSON: And, Ryan, dude, let's just -- you know, you guys, it's great for you now because the season is over. I mean it's been, once again, an amazing season. I appreciate all of you guys for coming out and stuff.
But let's put that in perspective, the judging. Here is what is really key about it -- and hopefully you guys take this throughout the rest of your careers and the rest of your life.
What it really is, what we say, what we comment negatively about, if it is all negative -- it's just really a critique. It's never really negative. But we're actually trying to help to guide you and teach you and say, hey, you'd be better doing this or that or maybe wouldn't do that or this doesn't work for you, no matter what you think in your own world of things, as we look at it, completely objectively, because we have no ego about it, right?
SEACREST: And in the context of selling records, charting and everything else.
JACKSON: Yes. And in the context of we've all been doing this, you know...
SEACREST: Yes.
JACKSON: ...20, 25 years professionally, each of us. So...
(CROSSTALK)
JACKSON: ...at the top of the game. So -- Ryan -- at the top of the game. So I mean what it is, is that it's really trying to help you really, so that that next week maybe a little bit of that -- you know, you think, well, hmm, maybe I won't sing that kind of song. Maybe they're right, maybe I should do this and not do that, you know what I mean?
SEACREST: All right...
JACKSON: So that's what we're hoping to do, by the way.
SEACREST: Randy, hang. I have one more question for you before we let you go about next season and the following seasons -- the future of "American Idol."
We're back in 60 seconds with more of your questions.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SEACREST: We're back with your "American Idol" special -- your questions for the top 10. And Lambert critiquing himself with that last note.
LAMBERT: I sang the wrong thing. And I was singing the harmony that was above it that the background singers were singing.
SEACREST: You finessed so well. And then...
(LAUGHTER)
LAMBERT: I just -- I was singing the wrong notes.
SEACREST: Randy Jackson on the phone.
Did you -- did you hear a bum note there, Randy?
JACKSON: Yes. But, see, at least he knew what it was. I love that Adam (INAUDIBLE)...
SEACREST: But he (INAUDIBLE) within the first second when he got there, right?
Hey, Randy, I want to ask you about the future of the show. A lot of buzz about what's going to happen on "American Idol" -- the judging panel, will Simon stay, will Simon go?
What has he said to you?
What do you think is going to happen?
What do you want to see happen?
JACKSON: Listen, I think we'll all definitely be back for next season and it's going to be just a great, amazing crazy, wild season again, hopefully.
And, you know, the future, who knows?
I mean, you know, the future -- we'll see, Rye.
I think, you know, Ryan, is your contract up next year?
SEACREST: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
SEACREST: Can the show be successful without Simon?
JACKSON: You know, listen, I mean that's a -- that's a very, very tough question. I mean, you know -- I'd like to think that, organically, how the show grew is why it's so successful. I think if we all say we knew before the time that it happened, we're probably not really telling the complete truth.
So we organically are blessed with this great vehicle -- all these kids that you're talking to right now. And I think -- look, I don't know. I don't know what show will be without him. I don't know, because he's a big part of it. That's why I signed on in the beginning, because of him.
So I mean, I don't really know. It can still go on. I don't know if it will be as successful as it was.
SEACREST: But you call it everybody back for next season, right?
Yes?
JACKSON: Dude, come on, Rye.
Let's rock the house, baby.
What?
SEACREST: You are a terrific guy, a dear friend. We'll talk to you -- I'll call you later, all right?
JACKSON: Guys, I love you. I'll see you on tour, man. Continued success. Great look Holler at me. Let's get in the studio and make some music.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
(CROSSTALK)
SEACREST: We're going to holler at you after this break.
More of your questions.
Holler, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
SEACREST: That is your "Idol" exclusive -- the top 10 here answering your questions.
That was Kris Allen, the winner of "American Idol," doing "Heartless." Some say that was a -- or a lot of people, including, I think, you -- say that was a turning point for you.
ALLEN: Yes, I feel like it was. Absolutely.
SEACREST: And what did you think when Randy -- I remember that night Randy said it was better, in his opinion, than the original and better than The Fray.
ALLEN: Yes.
SEACREST: Another band who did a cover of that song. He said it was better that that, too.
ALLEN: I was like, oh, gosh, I hope Kanye is not mad at me.
(LAUGHTER)
SEACREST: But just the fact that you would know Kanye is kind of a cool thing, right?
ALLEN: No, I don't know Kanye.
SEACREST: Did you hear -- did you hear from Kanye?
ALLEN: I haven't heard from him personally, but I have heard that he did like it, so that's really cool.
SEACREST: All right. We appreciate all your questions via Twitter and also online and Facebook.
Let's go to this one. The winner's single, "No Boundaries" -- this is a viewer question. It was co-written by Kara DioGuardi. What were the challenges of the song?
We'll start with you, Kris.
ALLEN: It's hard to sing. It's -- you know, it like stays up in the upper register for a long time and it's hard to breathe. And Adam and I talking about it a lot.
SEACREST: (INAUDIBLE) any words in?
LAMBERT: There's a lot of words.
ALLEN: A lot of words.
LAMBERT: A lot of words to the song. A lot of words.
ALLEN: It's -- there's a lot of words. And I think I even -- I think I even forgot the words on the show. I don't know if it was caught or not, but I think I did. And so...
SEACREST: In that moment, do you feel a flash of heat down your spine, when you for -- when you forget something on national television and you're being judged?
ALLEN: I don't -- I think I did it and I was like, OK. And then I just kept on singing so I couldn't...
(CROSSTALK)
LAMBERT: Yes. I forgot the words during dress rehearsal and I got really flustered.
ALLEN: Yes.
LAMBERT: And I was like, oh, God, I hope this doesn't happen later.
SEACREST: And, lyrically, what do you think about the song?
ALLEN: It's got a good message.
SEACREST: Yes?
ALLEN: You know, it -- it's talking about the mountains and the hurricanes and -- but, you know...
(LAUGHTER)
ALLEN: It's -- it's -- it is (INAUDIBLE)...
SEACREST: Adam, a mountain lover?
LAMBERT: I love climbing mountains.
SEACREST: Yes?
(LAUGHTER)
LAMBERT: I climb every mountain and I cross every stream.
SEACREST: This...
(CROSSTALK)
SEACREST: This question is via CNN's Facebook page for any of the "Idol" finalists: "How far in advance do you know the theme for a week?"
Anoop?
DESAI: We -- it -- it really depends. We normally got about three themes at a time. But, you know, we were so focused on what we were doing that week that, you know, sometimes when we picked what song we were doing, the Thursday after, you know, the previous week.
So it was -- you know, we, on a normal week, maybe four or five days to prepare a song for -- for that week.
SEACREST: And, Matt, the song can make or break you. Give us some insight in terms of how you go about picking it and when you go back and forth. It's tough to make a decision sometimes.
GIRAUD: Yes. You know, before this I was a dueling piano player, as you know. And I know tons of songs. So it was kind of hard to, like, really -- which one is good for you?
I can do tons of songs, but which one can I do that makes me, you know, sound good or perform well?
Because some songs just don't do anything for your vocals. So, you know, some people knew exactly what they wanted to do every week. But some people -- I think like me and Danny, I think the Song Clear -- like the Clear Song people, or whatever they're called -- they were like chasing around for song choices.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, no.
GIRAUD: And we were like, no, I don't want to pick yet. I don't want to pick.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
GIRAUD: I would tell her songs to clear that I didn't even really want to do.
(LAUGHTER)
SEACREST: What happens when somebody gets your favorite?
There's a song that you want and somebody else gets it?
How -- how does that work, Michael?
SARVER: Oh, we draw out of a box.
SEACREST: Is that right?
SARVER: Yes. And we -- it's from blank pieces of paper and one piece of paper has the title of the song. And whoever gets it keeps it.
SEACREST: And that's it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know how that feels.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's brutal.
SEACREST: I know how...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right, Danny?
SARVER: I actually know how it feels to win three times.
(LAUGHTER)
SARVER: Three times.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come rain or come shine.
(CROSSTALK)
SEACREST: What's the beef here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Huh?
SEACREST: What's the...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No beef.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No beef -- there's no beef.
SEACREST: Well, you could have fooled us.
(LAUGHTER)
SARVER: The two 23-year-olds pianists kept taking the mike.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I can imagine.
SARVER: They would always pick the same songs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People think so small.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was funny. SEACREST: For those who don't know, Scott is visually impaired.
Scott, how -- how -- can you see anything?
What can you see?
MACINTYRE: I can...
SEACREST: (INAUDIBLE)?
MACINTYRE: When I'm facing toward you right -- right now, I can only see like a little tiny part of your face -- and because it's good lighting. So I only see -- I can't really see much detail from this distance, but I can kind of see a little part of your nose or your forehead.
SEACREST: Right. Well, I'm 6'10," 240 and I used to play ball.
MACINTYRE: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
SEACREST: Let's scrimmage.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my gosh.
MACINTYRE: You know, but it's crazy.
SEACREST: But, seriously, how difficult was it for you being on the show?
MACINTYRE: It's -- it's pretty -- it's pretty weird sometimes, because as soon as, you know, the lights are shining in my eyes and everything, I have no visual reference whatsoever. So, actually, you know, some -- a lot of the people don't know, I would run to the -- you know, the edge of their -- just jump a little forward to the edge of the stage during some of the...
SEACREST: Well, I mean...
MACINTYRE: ...the group numbers.
SEACREST: But let me be honest...
MACINTYRE: And...
SEACREST: ...were you ever worried about walking off the edge of the stage?
MACINTYRE: Well, it didn't happen yet, so I'm...
(LAUGHTER)
MACINTYRE: You know, and they've been great about helping me around. But, honestly, there's a little -- there's a little grid where the floor monitors are so we can hear what we're singing, right at the edge of the stage.
SEACREST: Yes.
MACINTYRE: And I could feel the difference with my feet. And all -- you know, a lot of these guys did a great job of -- of, you know, offering to help me around during those. And we built a lot of that it into the choreography. So it really was definitely an adventure. But it worked out well.
SEACREST: The adventure here continues with your questions here on LARRY KING LIVE after this break.
Stay here.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SEACREST: I mean, it looks like the cast of a scripted show there. "American Idol's" live tour hitting 50 cities across the country. You have to support this top ten. They earned a lot of peoples' votes over the course of our season.
Back now with your questions on LARRY KING LIVE. Let's see. How about this one? From the blog, Adam, "how did you get to be so fabulous?"
LAMBERT: I don't know exactly what that means.
ALLEN: I was born that way.
LAMBERT: No. I was not born fabulous at all.
SEACREST: You looked very different in high school.
LAMBERT: Yes. My 20s here in L.A. have been an eye-opening experience. I have a lot of eccentric friends and I know a lot of artists and designers and people that inspire me. And that's kind of where I get my ideas from.
SEACREST: How often a week do you have to darken your hair?
LAMBERT: It's not weekly. A couple of times -- maybe once or twice a month.
SEACREST: Monthly. For Lil Rounds here, will you return to Memphis after the tour? Or do you plan to move in order to pursue your music career?
ROUNDS: I believe that I will go back home, go back to Memphis after the tour. And if I do come back out to California, I have a family and I've heard and I've seen that they're a bit more expensive out here than in Memphis. So, you know, I just want to make sure that I'll be able to afford coming back out to California.
SEACREST: That's a good thing to think through. ROUNDS: Yes.
SEACREST: All right. Here's a question we got from viewers. Albums, who's got record deals? Who's got album plans? I know Kris did.
ALLEN: Yes.
SEACREST: Scott, what were you going to say?
MACINTYRE: I was going to say, obviously Kris does. But I think for me I'm already -- you know, a lot of that -- we can't discuss yet because they will lock in soon or during or after the tour. But -- and a number of things can happen that we're talking about. But for me, I've started conceptualizing it.
SEACREST: Do you have a deal?
MACINTYRE: Well, we are all signed to, you know, 19 right now.
SEACREST: Nineteen is the management company.
MACINTYRE: And the record deal for all of our singles on iTunes. And as soon as that goes away, they either keep some of us on or we go out of the deal. And they facilitate a lot of other stuff and just kind of -- we have to talk through that.
SEACREST: So politically correct. I love it.
MACINTYRE: But I have -- I have plans. I'm not going anywhere.
SEACREST: Yes. Not going anywhere. Adam, being the runner up, how about for you?
LAMBERT: We are working it out right now. It looks good.
SEACREST: What do you want to do?
LAMBERT: I want to do an album. That's my first goal. I don't know, something kind of, you know, pop, rock. Like an electronic production kind of edge to it. Something kind of new. I want to do something different.
SEACREST: Any truth to the rumor that Queen offered you the gig as lead singer?
LAMBERT: I think that they were interested in maybe me coming out and joining them here and there.
SEACREST: They had a conversation with you?
LAMBERT: Yes.
SEACREST: They did?
LAMBERT: Yes, yes. SEACREST: What did you say?
LAMBERT: You know, obviously, we have to work it all out.
SEACREST: Look at me. Look at me.
LAMBERT: There's a lot --
SEACREST: What did you say when they said, do you want to be the lead singer of Queen?
LAMBERT: They didn't say do you want to be the lead singer of Queen. They said, would you like to come out -- yes, of course, that would be amazing. They said, we would love to see you out and come out with us and sing with us.
SEACREST: You said, yes?
LAMBERT: I said I would love to, yes.
SEACREST: How do you do that with the Idols' Live tour?
LAMBERT: That's exactly why I'm kind of hemming and hawing for an answer here, because I'm not sure exactly how that would work.
GIRAUD: They asked me too. I said I would think about it.
SEACREST: What kind of record are you going to make, Matt? Have you thought it through?
GIRAUD: I'd like to get back to piano, a band around me. I imagine myself, you know, doing some rock, some soul stuff and just getting back to performing. I can't wait to get back on the road and gig like that. I want to make a good album. I'm talking to a lot of people that I've met about writing songs together and -- people out there.
SEACREST: Well-known names?
GIRAUD: Yes.
SEACREST: Give us one.
GIRAUD: I can't do that yet. Come on. I can't give it all away. I can't give it all away. I'm just talking right now. It's the time right after the show pushing you out of the nest a little bit. Like, what do I do now?
SEACREST: Allison, you are in school right now. You have to have a tutor every day, right, for school? You will be on the Idols' live tour. How will your day be different than the others? Do you know?
IRAHETA: Well, I mean, I don't know how tour's going to be yet. I mean, it's obviously going to be crazy. But all I know is that it's probably going to be like -- it's going to be probably the same as when we were in the show as to like -- all right, Allison, you have to wake up at 7:00 a.m. You guys have to wake up at 10:00 a.m. See you guys later.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'd all give her a little --
IRAHETA: Here's the thing. Here's the thing. Here's the cruel thing for me, when they did -- they would be like, all right, rehearsal. They would be like -- I was like, see you, guys. I'm in school.
LAMBERT: Bye, guys. See you next week.
IRAHETA: Hey, what did I say, I didn't want to look like an idiot in this thing.
SEACREST: We are going to come back. More LARRY KING LIVE. The Idol special continues with your questions after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEACREST: There they are. Your Idol top ten group is here. The "American Idol's" live tour kicks off and 50 cities. By the way, what do you know? What do you know about the tour? Do you know anything about it?
DESAI: Just that it's going to be a fantastic experience. Yes. I was talking to David Cook and his family. And they just said, you know, pack underwear and socks, as many as you can, because you're not going to be able to stop.
SEACREST: That is such profound advice.
DESAI: Yes. I know. That's what I told him, too. I was really grateful for that. Just that it's going to be a really intense experience, but really fun because I think we are all looking forward to the opportunity of performing without, you know, four people sitting in front of us.
SEACREST: Are there big numbers?
(CROSS TALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Going to be like the Idol show kicked up a notch. More lights, more everything, more people. I cannot wait.
SEACREST: Don't forget the name of the city you are in. Have you ever been to a concert and someone comes out and they're like, hello, Nashville? Ugh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good advice. SEACREST: The viewer questions here. Let's see. Danny and Allison, will you guys be doing a duet on the tour?
GOKEY: I wouldn't mind.
IRAHETA: I wouldn't mind either.
SEACREST: So that's a yes.
GOKEY: Can you imagine two super like soulful voices?
IRAHETA: We were talking about.
GOKEY: Our voices have a vocal punch to them.
IRAHETA: How we both sort of sound like guys.
SEACREST: Danny admitted to that?
GOKEY: Thanks, Ryan. One more time.
IRAHETA: Anyways.
SEACREST: What's the perfect song for you two?
IRAHETA: I don't know. No! Not -- what?
GOKEY: Soul -- very soulish, soul/rock song, because we both have a lot of soul in us.
IRAHETA: Do you want to do "Dream On?"
GOKEY: No. I want her to show me the scream at the end maybe.
SEACREST: Allison has an amazing voice. Incredible, your voice, the power in your voice.
GOKEY: I'm a fan.
SEACREST: Here's a Tweet. Do you guys earn money during the "American Idol" tour? Is that how you pay them?
ALLEN: No. We're doing it for free.
SEACREST: All right. Now, how much?
ALLEN: It's nice. It's very, very generous.
SEACREST: Everybody getting paid the same?
(CROSS TALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Matt negotiated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I made the rate. SEACREST: During the show, as well. This is news. So you do get paid. It is a good gig. And what happens after the tour? You don't know?
(CROSS TALK)
SEACREST: You may or may not be on your own at that point.
GOKEY: Everything's in limbo right now. Right now, we are just waiting to see what they're going to do, because we're -- really that's what we're waiting on, waiting on them.
SEACREST: Do you make anything from iTune sales?
GOKEY: Yes.
ALLEN: Absolutely.
SEACREST: Write down the number. Anoop, blog question. Do you have any interest in acting?
DESAI: You know, it's something that I -- I did when I was in high school and stuff like that. I mean, I -- I would love to. But, you know, my music is first, I mean, in my mind. I'm a singer first. And, you know, I would love to experiment with stuff. I mean, that's --
SEACREST: Sounds like you're losing your southern accent.
DESAI: I didn't know I had one.
GOKEY: You had an accent?
IRAHETA: He never had one.
SEACREST: Just like it comes in and out.
DESAI: It comes out when I meet people from North Carolina and then it --
(CROSS TALK)
SEACREST: We're back in 60 seconds with more of your questions here on LARRY KING LIVE.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SEACREST: We are back. Your "American Idol" exclusive here with the top ten and your questions. Let's see. Another Tweet for the group. Do you think the judges are too much of the focus on "American Idol?" Lil Rounds.
ROUNDS: Too much of the focus? I think that they play a good role, as far as, you know, they do take a bit of focus. But I don't think not as much as the contestants. I mean, of course, it is still about who's on there. It is about the talent. It's about what you are doing.
And the judges, they give they critiques. They give -- they think you did a good job or not. And I think America does listen to them. But I don't think they get all of the focus, no.
SEACREST: Kris, did it bother you when sometimes you looked down and you see the judges trying to strangle each other and push each other and tease each other?
ALLEN: Sometimes I don't feel like they're paying attention enough. For the most part --
SEACREST: Do you see that when you're singing?
ALLEN: When I'm singing. I think, for me, personally, when I'm singing, I don't see a thing. I'm focused in on what I'm trying to do and I get lost in when's going on.
SEACREST: Did you dread hearing from any of the judges at any point, Adam? Probably not you. But was there one that you felt like you didn't connect with as much as the others?
LAMBERT: Well, I mean Simon's always the one you're like, did he like it? With the others, I could tell on their faces what was coming.
SEACREST: Yes.
LAMBERT: With Simon, he always likes to keep you guessing.
SEACREST: Yes. He like it is suspense. Anoop, there was a point during the season, I recall, where you and Cara had a bit of friction. There was a moment there. What happened?
DESAI: Yes. Well, it was after I sang "Caught Up." And she said something -- she was, it seemed like your frat friends dared you to get on stage and sing that. And then I saw a camera in front of my four friends that were there, one of whom is an accountant, one of whom is a consultant, a doctoral student in music, and one is going into PR.
And I thought it was an unfair characterization of me and my friends to say that -- I mean, I was never in a frat to begin with.
SEACREST: You took it personally?
DESAI: I mean, you know, I can deal with that. We got into this process and know we're in the spotlight. And I can deal with people saying things to me. But when, you know, you bring my friends into -- I was a little, you know, annoyed at that. But we -- Cara and I talked through it. It's fine. We have a fine relationship.
SEACREST: A fine relationship. Always such the perfect word to describe. It's fine. You look fine.
LAMBERT: I want to say something real quick about Cara. We haven't really covered it. We got to work with her in the studio. And she is absolutely incredible, very creative, very, very giving person. And I don't know. I think she is a little bit unfairly judged in like the press and stuff. I don't know why everybody was so hard on her.
ALLEN: She's great.
LAMBERT: I think her critiques were most of the time spot on. She had really good advice. I don't understand why everybody was so hard on her.
SEACREST: I think it's just there is somebody new and different, it takes a second to get a thought. What people should know, and if you don't, this woman has been a part of hugely successful songs, hit records with big talents and has an amazing ability to, what you are saying, sit down and really understand an artist, bring out the best in an artist.
She's done it with a lot of people that we know. I can't remember who she's working with.
LAMBERT: She's worked with Pink, Christina.
(CROSS TALK)
MACINTYRE: I was so excited to when she came on the show, because, you know, I kind of thought in the back of my head, because I'm a songwriter, it would be really cool to meet this person. And she brings a whole element that the other judges don't really touch on. She is always saying with the right song, you could do that. She looks at it from an industry perspective.
SEACREST: Unless she gives you a negative critique. And then we actually feel a little bit differently that week. Right? Unless she grills you on the air.
DESAI: She is a genuine -- you know? she'll -- even if she gives you a negative critique --
SEACREST: Would you ever date her?
DESAI: Would I ever. She went to Duke, so --
SEACREST: We'll be back with the Idols. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEACREST: Oh, to watch the group numbers. Back with the top ten on "American Idol." I think some weeks they were more enthused than other weeks about those group numbers. Would that be accurate? GROUP: Yes.
MACINTYRE: That one was actually one of our favorites.
SEACREST: Was it? Why?
MACINTYRE: It was a great song. We had fun singing it.
SEACREST: Of course. That flat-top footage of randy in Journey. Before we get back to viewer questions, a lot of buzz about the show. Once you're in, it's on the radar. There are websites and blogs, some positive, some negative. How much does that affect you when you're a contestant on the show? Do you pay attention to it? Michael?
SARVER: I think it's actually up to you as an individual how much it affects you.
SEACREST: Did you? Did you read it?
SARVER: It didn't affect me much because I kept my nose out of it. You know, there's plenty of things for us to do in a day's time on "American Idol." To sit around and look at that, it's up to you. So if it affects you --
SEACREST: There's got to be a voice in your head that says, I want to know.
SARVER: Absolutely. I'm wondering all the time. I only looked at the fan ones. I didn't want anything to do with the negative ones.
(CROSS TALK)
SEACREST: How about Kris and Adam, you guys competing in the finale? It's a hugely, highly rated show, average 28 million people, two hours of television. You're under the microscope. How much of the headlines did you read, the blogging did you read, Kris?
ALLEN: I really tried to keep my nose out of it, especially the past -- or the final whatever.
LAMBERT: Yes.
ALLEN: Because I was, like, I don't want anything to mess me up. I'm not going to lie. I probably read some things.
SEACREST: Did you take it personally, Adam?
LAMBERT: No. I kind of checked out what people were saying early on, because I wanted to see what the response was. It actually helped me a little bit. It gave me a sense of, oh, there's support out there. People are liking what I'm doing.
I hate to say it, but there's a lot of negative stuff, too. I don't take it personally. We're in this business and it comes with the territory.
SEACREST: When they stop talking about you, you've got a problem.
LAMBERT: Exactly.
SEACREST: Another viewer question. This is good, is there a song that you would ban from Idol if you could? Is there something that sticks out? This is the worst song for us to have to sing in the competition?
LAMBERT: "Trouble" during hero week.
SEACREST: Why? Why is that a bad one?
LAMBERT: There were so many words. We were, like --
SEACREST: A lot of lyrics. It's risky because you might, what, stumble, forget them?
SARVER: It's hard to sing and spell at the same time.
GIRAUD: Some of the songs were so cool with one person singing them. And with, like, 13 people singing them, there's no way you can make it cool.
SEACREST: Allison, how about for you? Was there something that you cringed when you thought about or heard or wanted to avoid?
IRAHETA: Yes. I mean, I've got to agree with "Trouble." I think there was a point of the song where the camera was right on me and I was, like -- screwed up. It was trouble. It was terrible.
SEACREST: In that -- see, I'm always impressed, though, with each year, especially you guys, the contestants, you may stumble in rehearsal. You may completely blank out in rehearsal. And generally speaking, when you get on the air, in show mode, and you get there. Somehow you just get there. What happens when you get into that live show, Megan?
JOY: I don't know. It's kind of -- I mean, you can't even describe. Just something comes over you. And you just do it. And then all of a sudden you come out of it. You're, like, whoa, whoa, what did I just do?
SEACREST: Have any of you been in a song, and you're thinking, oh, god, here comes the hard part. Oh, I got through it. You're still -- half of your brain is saying that and the other half is still moving?
MACINTYRE: Yes. At a certain point, you have to just let go and hope that it comes out OK. But I've actually -- I've -- you know, when I used to play classical piano, I have actually fallen asleep playing a song before. I was day dreaming and then I wake up. Did I already do that part?
SEACREST: You just kind of --
MACINTYRE: There's something that kind of takes over sometimes. SARVER: For me, you know, there's a certain point in the evening when we're fixing to go on where I just let it go. I quit thinking about the lyrics. I quit trying to remember them and sing them to myself. There's got to be a time when you let go of that. Right.
SEACREST: When you just relax, and you can get there.
MACINTYRE: You think about the emotion.
SEACREST: We'll be back with more emotion, the top ten on LARRY KING LIVE, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SEACREST: The results are in. And America, you have chosen your top ten. Here they are. They're going out on tour, 50 cities. So check them out in your town. Last year LARRY KING LIVE did class superlatives for the other Idols for that group, for that class. So we should do them for this group, the new group of 2009. Who would be the class clown in this group?
GOKEY: Matt G.
(CROSS TALK)
GIRAUD: I'm a silly dude. There's a couple of us.
SEACREST: Class flirt?
IRAHETA: Matt.
GIRAUD: I'm going to take all the awards.
SEACREST: That's why he clowns. I got you.
SEACREST: Most stylish?
GIRAUD: Adam Lambert.
(CROSSTALK)
SEACREST: How do you choose which fingers to paint?
LAMBERT: I just started scraping them off when I was fidgeting.
SEACREST: Who's the class brain?
CROWD: Anoop.
SEACREST: He doesn't argue that. Who is the class rebel?
(CROSSTALK)
SEACREST: Ah, yes. What was the cuckooing that week?
ROUNDS: She said, I don't really care. LAMBERT: That's so cool.
SEACREST: Most likely to run for political office. Who would that be?
GOKEY: Anoop.
SEACREST: Anoop again.
DESAI: I'd like to.
SEACREST: Who would be voted the prom king and queen?
JOY: Lil and Kris.
IRAHETA: Lil and Kris.
SEACREST: That's a cute couple. Except they are both, I think, are taken.
(CROSSTALK)
SEACREST: Let's see. Final thought here. What do you think was the message of this season? Was there a theme when you sum up this season? Kris, I'll give it to you.
ALLEN: I think, seriously, like, we are really all different. And we have gotten along, like, amazingly. And so I seriously think that's a theme. You know, and society is dealing with weird stuff like that right now, you know. And you know, we need to pull together as a society.
SEACREST: So this should be an example?
ALLEN: Yes.
GIRAUD: Diversity.
SEACREST: You have been terrific. I'm proud of you, really proud of you. Congratulations. It's been a pleasure to have worked with you.
IRAHETA: Love you, Ryan.
SEACREST: We'll see you. Sorry to put you through those results shows, too.
ROUNDS: Oh, my god.
SEACREST: I know it's painful. The full hour. Thanks for joining us and thank you, Mr. Larry King, my friend, for letting me sit in tonight. More news now on CNN.
