This week from Israel

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on January 28, 2013

Kardashian, Rimes, Cougar Wives & American Idol

By Ilana Angel
Published on January 17, 2013

Donna Summer memories

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on May 17, 2012

Israel’s ‘American Idol’: The contest and the winner

Published on March 20, 2012

Adam Kleinberg has the rock star look and sound down pat. With a coif of heavy, brown dreadlocks, and dressed mostly in black and leather, this 22-year-old Mexican Jew has a powerful voice with deep range.

Reality Rants

By Ilana Angel
Published on March 16, 2012

Adam Lambert says ‘lesson learned’ after arrest

Published on December 22, 2011

Former "American Idol" finalist Adam Lambert brushed off his arrest in Finland on Thursday, blaming his bad behavior on travel, booze and "irrational confusion" and adding "lesson learned" on Twitter.

Adam Lambert keeps his lips to himself at last night’s AMA awards

By Lauren Bottner
Published on November 21, 2011

Adam Lambert’s legal woes

By Lauren Bottner
Published on November 8, 2011

Israeli “idol” judge indicted in strongarm case

Published on August 29, 2011

Israel's "Kochav Nolad" ("A Star is Born") TV singing competition has a new reality spinoff -- a criminal case against one of its judges, accused of using strongarm tactics to ensure she got a cut of a former contestant's earnings.

Sunday Drive with a Howler Monkey

By Ilana Angel
Published on August 29, 2011

Harel Skaat, an Israeli pop “Idol” comes to the Ford Amphitheatre

By Orit Arfa
Published on August 24, 2011

One way to describe Israeli pop star Harel Skaat to American pop aficionados is to call him the Israeli “Clay Aiken”—a comparison Skaat might not like, considering he shies away from comparisons lest they smear his individuality.

Casey Abrams’ ‘American Idol’ chutzpah

By Orit Arfa
Published on June 28, 2011

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Casey Abrams was the one for Jews to watch during the 10th season of “American Idol.” His reddish-brown beard was the constant butt of jokes on the show and the most talked-about “Idol” hair growth since Sanjaya Malakar. (Remember Malakar from the sixth season? His frizzy up-dos put Jew-fros to shame). For a pre-performance sketch about Abrams, fellow finalists donned a fake beard piece and blew into a red melodica while klezmer music played in the background.

Boston Rob, Scotty McCreery, John Rich & Jesus Are Reality TV Stars

By Ilana Angel
Published on May 16, 2011

Best Career Move Ever as Jennifer Lopez Bares Heart and Soul on Idol

By Misha Henckel
Published on February 24, 2011

Miley Cyrus’ Dad, Charlie Sheen and Bernie Madoff: Truth, Lies and Desperation…

By Misha Henckel
Published on February 18, 2011

Adam Lambert:  The Jewish Mother Interview

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on October 14, 2009

American Idol’s Adam Lambert sings “The Prayer”

By Danielle Berrin
Published on May 1, 2009

The Next American-Israeli Idol

By Orit Arfa
Published on April 27, 2009

Last week a handful of yordim (Israelis who “descended” to America) were given the rare opportunity to make aliyah; that is, to rise back up to Israel--and to stardom. Kochav Nolad (“A Star is Born”), Israel’s “American Idol” knock-off, came to Hollywood, literally, to scout talent for its seventh season.

VIDEO: Paula Abdul talks about being Jewish

Published on July 6, 2007

Everyone's favorite Laker girl, American Idol's Paul Abdul, talks about being Jewish

Tour Keeps ‘American Idol’ Runner-up on the Run

By Keren Engelberg
Published on August 10, 2006

Elliott Yamin is on the summer road trip of his life, but it's no vacation. The second runner-up on the most recent "American Idol" has been performing as part of the "American Idols Live Tour 2006" since early July.

A Celestial Tour

By Orit Arfa
Published on June 1, 2006

If "American Idol" runner-up Katherine McPhee can enjoy even half the success achieved by Shiri Maimon, runner-up of the first season of Israel's version of the show -- dubbed "A Star Is Born" -- then she will be lucky. With a powerful voice and Britney-esque looks and videos, Maimon, 25, has become one of Israel's most sought-after and popular pop stars since winning fourth place in the Eurovision singing competition last year, representing Israel with the moving ballad, "Sheket She'nishar."

Songs of the South

By Keren Engelberg
Published on March 16, 2006

It appears Fox TV's "American Idol" has a Jewish contestant heading to the finals. Twenty-seven-year-old Elliott Yamin from Virginia, auditioned for the pop star search and singing competition in Boston, and has gone on to make it into the top 24, and then, on March 9, into the top 12.