Michael Jackson Party With His Less Affluent Fans

After a $3,500-a-head gala the day before, Michael Jackson attended another party in Tokyo for his less affluent fans, more than 1,000 of whom crowded a popular nightclub Friday for an evening with the reclusive pop star.

Tickets for Friday's party went for $130, a fraction of the $3,500 that several hundred fans and business people paid for a chance to meet and greet Jackson the night before at a dinner held in his honor.

Jackson offered only brief remarks at the end of that six-hour party and did not perform.

At Friday's party, guests - most in the 20s or 30s - were treated to a stage show of gospel singers, Michael Jackson impersonators, but were not given the one-on-one opportunity that "premium" ticket partygoers got the night before. Jackson watched the show from a second-floor VIP room.

Japan remains one of Jackson's strongest fan bases, and Jackson fans have been out in force since his arrival in Tokyo on Sunday.

A screaming mob greeted him at the airport and more crowded outside a popular electronics shop that gave him the run of the store after-hours the following day. Before leaving Japan, Jackson was also scheduled to tour a U.S. Army base just south of Tokyo on Saturday.

Jackson, one of the bestselling artists of all time, had lived abroad since his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges, forsaking his Neverland Ranch in California for Bahrain, France and a castle in Ireland. He now lives in Las Vegas.

This is Jackson's second trip to Tokyo in less than a year.

"Japan is one of my favourite places to visit in the world," Jackson told the crowd Thursday, reading from a statement. "I want to thank all of you for making me the biggest-selling artist in Japan."

In comments to The Associated Press, Jackson said he is happy with his career, which he is trying to revive after his 2005 acquittal and a series of other legal battles over his personal finances.

"I've been in the entertainment industry since I was six years old," he told AP. "As Charles Dickens says, 'It's been the best of times, the worst of times.' But I would not change my career."

Jackson, 48, said he was not bitter over his succession of difficulties.

"While some have made deliberate attempts to hurt me, I take it in stride because I have a loving family, a strong faith and wonderful friends and fans who have, and continue, to support me," he said.

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'American Idol' 4 Down 12 To Go

"American Idol" slimmed down the competition Thursday night, leaving 12 finalists to compete for the ultimate prize -- a record contract.

Antonella Barba, Sabrina Sloan, Jared Cotter and Jason "Sundance" Head were cast off by the viewer voting, which drew about 37 million calls and text messages.

The performers who made the cut were Blake Lewis, LaKisha Jones, Chris Sligh, Jordin Sparks, Phil Stacey, Melinda Doolittle, Brandon Rogers, Gina Glocksen, Chris Richardson, Stephanie Edwards, Haley Scarnato and Sanjaya Malakar.

The show's tense final moments belonged to Malakar and Head, who were waiting to find out who would take the competition's 12th spot -- and who would go home. Judge Paula Abdul was stunned to hear that Malakar, who is not exactly a judge favorite, was staying.

"I'm speechless," Abdul said. "This is a singing competition, and Sundance, you've been one of our finest." (EW: What the heck was America thinking?external link)

How'd this happen? "The volume was turned down," quipped Simon Cowell, who has criticized Malakar, 17, of Federal Way, Washington, for his "weird" stage presence.

"Somebody give me a job," the 28-year-old Head, from Porter, Texas, said before leaving the stage. "I need a job."

The elimination of the talented Sloan, 27, from Los Angeles, was another letdown for the judges. "Sabrina should be in that top 12, dawg," lamented Randy Jackson, who said "America got that one wrong."

None of the judges was complaining when Barba, the focus of recent attention over some racy Internet photos, was shown the door. Each week, Cowell could be counted on to tell the 20-year-old Jersey girl that she wasn't good enough to be in the talent contest.

Cotter, a strapping 25-year-old from Kew Gardens, New York, told Ryan Seacrest he was "very" surprised to be leaving the show. Cowell had another opinion: "You're a good-looking guy, you've got to work on your vocals," he said.

After the show, the finalists made their debut before a bank of TV cameras and reporters, walking a mini-red carpet at an event in West Hollywood, California.

Among the women, some of the highest praise from judges and observers has gone to Jones. Asked how it feels to be dubbed a front-runner, the former bank employee replied with a modest smile.

"Have I? I haven't been paying attention," Jones said.

Many have said the female contestants have been stronger vocally than the men this season. "I think it's a girl's one to lose this year," Jackson said. "May the best girl win."

But the men had mixed reactions to comments about the opposing gender's talent.

"I'm a little tired of it, actually," Rogers said.

"Yeah," Lewis chimed in. "The girls have got powerful voices but I think the guys have been holding it down."

Stacey, however, conceded "the women are smoking us," but added he expected the men to step it up.

Thursday's show also featured a performance by "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood, who recently snagged a Grammy for best new artist. She sang "Wasted," a song from her hit country music album "Some Hearts."

So far this season, the show's sixth, men and women have been competing separately, with viewers voting off two of each sex weekly. When the dozen finalists return Tuesday, the sexes will be blended, with one singer voted off each week. The winner will be chosen in May.

"American Idol" continues to dominate the ratings, attracting between 27 million and 37 million viewers per telecast this season.

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American Idol 6' reveals Top 12 finalists, Antonella Barba sent home

Christopher Rocchio,

The sixth season of American Idol revealed its 12 finalists during last night's live results show, which also saw 20-year-old Point Pleasant, NJ native Antonella Barba finally be sent home by viewers.

Along with Barba, the other three semifinalists eliminated were Jared Cotter, a 25-year-old from Kew Gardens, NY; Sundance Head, a 28-year-old from Porter, TX; and Sabrina Sloan, a 27-year-old from Studio City, CA. While Head and Sloan's eliminations were surprising, the elimination of Barba -- considered to be a less talented singer -- was the most noteworthy. Barba had remained as a semifinalist in the competition despite both poor singing performances as well as the emergence of numerous provocative photos that captured viewers' attention over the past three weeks.

Barba sang "Put Your Records On" during Wednesday night's live performance episode, after which judge Simon Cowell predicted an end to her Idol journey. Upon being eliminated, Idol host Ryan Seacrest told Barba she had "grown up a lot" since she first auditioned for the reality competition series last fall. Seacrest also asked what memories Barba will take from her Idol experience.

"So many... too many. I can't even think about it right now," said a tearful Barba. "Great ones, but..."

Cowell and fellow judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson were more surprised with the eliminations of Head and Sloan than those of Barba and Cotter. On Tuesday night's performance episode, Head sang "Jeremy." While the judges thought it wasn't his best performance, they seemed to anticipate the elimination of 17-year-old Federal Way, WA native Sanjaya Malakar instead of Head.

"I'm speechless. I am. This is a singing competition and Sundance, you've been one of our finest. It's mind boggling," said Abdul upon learning of Head's elimination. Following Head's first audition for the sixth season of Idol, in which he sang "Stormy Monday," Cowell had commented, "I'm going to be amazed if you don't make the finals." When the votes were revealed and Head was sent packing, Cowell did look amazed.

"Simon, what happened?" Seacrest asked Cowell, who answered, "the volume was turned down," accusing viewers of not voting based on Head's vocal performances. Added Jackson, "It's crazy... wild night." Head used his final moments on Idol to make his case.

"Aright, somebody give me a job. I need a job," he said.

Like with Head and Malakar, the judges seemed to anticipate the elimination of 24-year-old San Antonio, TX native Haley Scarnato instead of Sloan, who sang "Don't Let Go" during Wednesday night's performance episode.

"Sabrina should be in the Top 12 dog... she definitely put it down. America got that one wrong I think," said Jackson.

Cotter sang "If You Really Love Me" during Tuesday night's performance episode, and upon being eliminated, he said he was "very" surprised but assured Seacrest he was "still gonna do [his] thing."

"Well obviously you've proved you're very talented... and you've certainly won a lot of fans here," Abdul told Cotter after she gave him a standing ovation. "So I think it's time for you to continue your dream." Commented Cowell, "You're a good looking guy, but you've got to work on your vocals. That's why you're not in the Top 12." Jackson thought Cotter needed to better distinguish himself from others to succeed in the music industry.

"Originality baby. Find out what makes you different from all of the other ones... originality, that's what you need," said Jackson.

Last night was also a milestone of sorts for American Idol, as it marked the reality competition series' 200th episode. To celebrate, American Idol 4 winner Carriew Underwood performed "Wasted," the fourth single from her debut album "Some Hearts." Idol Gives Back was also revealed last night. Raising awareness and funds for organizations that provide relief programs to help children and young people in extreme poverty in America and Africa, the two-night special is scheduled to air Tuesday, April 24 at 8PM ET and Wednesday, April 25 at 8PM ET.

Almost 37 million votes came in to determine the Top 12 hopefuls, one of which will eventually be named the sixth season American Idol. Fox will air a special two-hour performance episode live next Tuesday, March 13 at 8PM ET, when the finalists will celebrate the music of Diana Ross. The following night beginning at 9PM ET, Ross will perform and one finalist will be eliminated from the competition on the live results show.

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