Larry Platt Tells "The View" Hosts Origin Of "Pants On The Ground"

"Pants on the Ground" Gains More Ground, With "General" Larry Platt On "The View"


Would-be "American Idol" contestant turned Internet sensation "General" Larry Platt performed his hit song "Pants on the Ground" on "The View" Monday morning.

"Wow, that was so amazing," said co-host Sherri Shepard, as Platt, a 63-year-old civil rights activist from Atlanta, warbled the tune made famous when he sampled a bit of it for "Idol" judges, including the sharp-tongued cynic Simon Cowell, while auditioning for the show.

"Pants on the ground, pants on the ground, lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground," Platt crooned.

When he finished the number, the "General" busted out some signature dynamic dance moves, including splits, push-ups and sit-ups for the cheering audience at the ABC chatfest.

In the house was Platt's nephew. He expressed pride for his uncle and said he was an inspiration.

Asked by Shepard about the song's inspiration, Platt explained that he "was walking one day, and [saw] a guy with a baby bottle in his mouth, and he had his pants on the ground. And that's what gave me the inspiration."

"You know, I have a horrible feeling that song could be a hit," Cowell said about the song when he heard it on "Idol."

He was right.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre has become a "Pants" follower. "The View" showed a clip of Favre and his teammates chanting "Pants on the Ground" after beating the Dallas Cowboys into the ground with a 34 to 3 victory on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Usatoday.com reports that Marshall Manning, another would-be "Idol" who didn't make the cut, has done a silky rap-happy riff on "Pants on the Ground." It's called "Pants Up."



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Sources: American Idol, Fox, ABC, The View, NY Daily News, Youtube, Google Maps

Fantasia Barrino Starts Over, Has New VH1 Show

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

Fantasia Is Rebuilding Her Post American Idol Life



"American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino gets her house back in order on the first episode of her VH1 reality series, debuting at 10 p.m. tonight.

Despite a successful autobiography, a made-for-TV movie, a Broadway role in "The Color Purple" and a platinum album, Barrino fell into money problems after moving from High Point to Charlotte following her "Idol" win in 2004.

Liens were filed against her first home, in Piper Glen in south Charlotte, over unpaid homeowner association fees. Creditors filed suit for her $240,000 Mercedes. And her second home, a $1.2 million mansion off Elm Lane, was saved from auction after fees were paid on back taxes in 2009.

In the first episode of the VH1 series, "Fantasia For Real," Barrino, 25 acknowledges having her extended family of six living with her can be a financial burden, and moves to get things back on track.

"I think I created a monster for letting it go on so long," Barrino said in an interview with the Observer last week. "I kind of spoiled them, always handing things out... It took me a long time to stand up because I have such a soft spot in my heart."

In the series, which began taping in June, she confronts her brother, Joseph "Teeny" Barrino, for overspending and demolishing the interior of the home's pool house to put in a recording studio. At the same time, she tries to revive her career with a new song, "Move on Me."

Barrino and her mother lived in Charlotte when she was in the ninth grade and decided to move back to the city after "Idol" because she loved the area and knew her mother would be comfortable here.

Barrino said in the interview that her financial problems stemmed from poor management after she hit the spotlight.

"I wasn't handled the way I should have been and I lost a lot of shows because of management. When someone realizes you're green, new to the game, they can easily take advantage of you.

"Now that I'm getting older I know what to look for," she said. "If I don't understand it, then doggone it, somebody needs to break it down."

Barrino said she regrets not being more involved with the direction of her career after her win on "Idol." But the bad press about debts and struggles with money have taught her valuable lessons about show business, and given her some harsh life experience.

"You won't be able to do good music if you don't go through some things," she said. "I had to come back swinging."






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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, Charlotte Observer, Youtube, VH1, Google Maps

Simon Cowell Prepares To Leave "American Idol"

Simon's Out Of American Idol



Simon Cowell is preparing to announce that he's leaving "American Idol" after the end of next season, according to someone very close to him -- his brother.

And radio host Tony Cowell didn't mince words on his weekly radio show, "Fame Game."

"Meanwhile, Simon prepares for a new season of 'Idol,' or should I say his last season of 'Idol' -- OK, I will [say it], because it is," Tony Cowell said in a podcast recording of the show.

"As I sit here in the sunny Caribbean with my family, a press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everyone expected: Simon will leave 'Idol' at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of 'The X Factor' to US TV in 2011."

Tony Cowell, 59, is extremely close to Simon and co-wrote Simon's memoirs, "I Don't Mean to be Rude, but . . ."

He hosts his "Fame Game" show on ABC Radio Network and is also a columnist and "X Factor" correspondent for Women's Own magazine.

He also contributes to the "Cowell Confidential" radio show in the UK.

His remarks on "The Fame Game" about Simon leaving "Idol" bolster The Post report last week, based on a story in the Times of London.

The future of "Idol" would appear to be in doubt if Cowell leaves the show.

Fox is reportedly close to signing "X Factor" and Cowell to a new deal. And while it's possible, the network might replace Simon with a new judge and air both shows at different times of year, it seems more probable that Fox would end its relationship with "Idol."



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Sources: NY Post, Google Maps