On March 11, 2010, I sat dumbfounded in front of my television as American Idol fan favorite and Texas native Alex Lambert, 19, was eliminated from making it to the final twelve. The cast off was such a shock that media outlets, fans, and celebrities took to the web to share their opinion; Lambert even became a trending topic on Twitter.
Soon after his elimination, a fan by the name of Jessica Bongiorno started an online petition to bring Lambert back on the show. Over 19,000 people including celebrities like Demi Moore, signed this petition. But back at home, Lambert didn’t let his elimination get him down. He continued to work on his music and began to develop a strategy on how he could find his way out of his small apartment he shared with his mother and brothers in Texas and get back to Los Angeles.
With all great underdog Hollywood stories (the kind that movies or reality shows are based on!), Lambert’s phone rang and Los Angeles was calling. American Idol’s executive producer Simon Fuller was so impressed by the outpouring of fan support that he offered to give Lambert a second chance with the new web-based reality show If I Can Dream. Fuller’s reality show is a mix between American Idol, The Real World and Big Brother, and features six housemates living with 56 in-house cameras streaming live on the web. The show documents the twenty-somethings as they pursue their dreams of making it in the entertainment industry.
I was a little nervous about interviewing Alex Lambert, who is known for lacking confidence and being a little shy. To my surprise, Lambert was a fantastic interview. He was relaxed, cool, and most of all, honest. I found him refreshing and immediately knew why his fans are so passionate to see him succeed. In a lot of ways, Lambert reminds me of a younger Kris Allen. Allen and Lambert both possess a chill vibe that is embodied with thankfulness.
Does Lambert have a long way to go? Yes, but that’s the fun of it. If we didn’t have the journey, we wouldn’t have growth. Lambert is building a solid personal and professional foundation and we are lucky because we get to witness it and cheer him on. I hope you enjoy my interview of one young man’s amazing second chance. Just let me know when I can pre-order his album!
| Posted by Josh on April 28, 2010 @ 7:49 PM |  |
Awesome interview. Thanks Josh for giving Alex a chance to open up and shine. Love you, Alex. We all do believe that success is just a matter of time for you.
Comment by pipi — April 28, 2010 @ 8:38 PM
Another great interview! I think Alex Lambert is great and I hope he gets every chance to live his dream. Thank you Josh for such a cool site. Where’s your TV show? Would you want to live in the If I Can Dream house?
Comment by Jenn — April 28, 2010 @ 9:16 PM
This is a really good article. Josh needs to go out there and interviews more ! :)
Comment by alexandercanfly — April 29, 2010 @ 8:48 AM
Wow, that’s great! I totally agree that Josh should be in the If I Can Dream house! Would love to see how the hosting world works and he just seems like a good person.
Comment by Jane — April 29, 2010 @ 10:06 AM
That’s an interesting concept. I like the idea of having a host in the Dream house and then they can get rid of those lame VLOG’s and have Skinner interview them but we can watch his journey too. VERY GOOD INTERVIEW. Alex is going to be a star. His voice is unique and praying he stays grounded.
Comment by Brad — April 29, 2010 @ 12:58 PM
Haha! If Skinner went shirtless like the other boys in the dream house Id watch that! BTW, awesome Alex interview
Comment by Tiffa — April 29, 2010 @ 2:43 PM
Wow! You`re with all your excellent performance of ever but more!!!, i´m trying to watch it but my connection is down now!(the effects of this hole world of Latin America, he!), well, if it has problems i´ll be watching LatinAmerican idols, now, he!
But in serious, It`s incredible, you`re so beauty like ever but with more escencial beauty spirit!!!!!! you`re so fluid.
Love you ever!!!!
Comment by Dhenice — April 29, 2010 @ 3:27 PM
Alex is so so so very inspirational. I absolutely love everything about him. I love his attitude: he works so hard, and he knows that life has given him opportunities, and he is not wasting them. He is generous in spirit, sharing his passion with world, allowing everyone to say what they will, critique as they want, but he is still focused and humble through it all–in L.A.! I mean, others would be taking many more breaks than he is, and if he does, then he would not be at fault in the least. He deserves it. (Alex, we love the “business in the front, party in the back” vibe we get from you! Anyone who can rock the mullet has personality, class, strength, humor, and is someone I want to hang around and hear music from. I think you are wise beyond your years, and I adore you)
Alex is my personal inspiration. I am very happy because I got to watch this interview. I just want to say to Alex that the bigger you get, the more haters there will be. But that’s ok, ’cause you are YOU…and that makes all the difference in the world.
Comment by ohmira — April 30, 2010 @ 8:15 AM
GREAT interview!!! Alex is talented and never deserved to be eliminated from idol. I’ll never understand how that happened!!! Idol lost a lot of money when Alex got booted. Look on itunes…people reviewed his music way more than the other idols. That’s really the true test: Which songs will you put on your ipod and which ones will become your favorites?! All three of Alex’s are brilliant. I wanted MORE MORE MORE! Maybe I can purchase “Butterflies” soon. Can’t wait!!!!!!! Well it’s refreshing to see down to earth people like Alex (and Josh!!!!) getting great opportunities. They deserve it!!! I prefer talented down to earth over fake confidence any day. I agree with Josh!! Alex was my favorite talent on idol. Good luck to Alex and Josh!!!! Keep us posted and keep the brilliant music coming!!!!!!
Comment by Eileen H — April 30, 2010 @ 2:37 PM
It IS nice not to hear phony answers to phony interview questions!!! Alex portrays his honesty as an important value that propels him forward. Alex Lambert is a genuine and talented musician. ….Ask Fiona B.!!!!!
Comment by andy O — April 30, 2010 @ 5:49 PM
i love it!!!! he`s a good boy. you`re sooo good with your performance!
Comment by woody — May 1, 2010 @ 7:59 AM
Josh, thank you for a GREAT Interview. It is refreshing to finally see a sincere interviewor with a non phony interviewee.
Thanks again
Comment by richiej — May 1, 2010 @ 9:48 AM
Thank you for this great interview! I honestly find the If I Can Dream a little boring and wish they’d focus more time on Alex. Hope Josh gets to go back in the house and maybe stir it up a bit. I’d like to see someone who’s actually been working hard to make something happen for themselves make it. Just my thoughts. Alex, we love you! Josh, Keep it up! You both will have your big breaks.
Comment by Shelly — May 3, 2010 @ 3:24 PM
You put all your hosting experience here! It’s really good!!!!!
Comment by Tin@ — May 5, 2010 @ 1:39 PM
No doubt, I was waiting for this performance for many time ago!, many congratulations, Josh!!!! I imagine how important it`s for you; and sorry for dont write with more details days ago(you know that my english is a bit brute, specially in the conversation!!/i´ve a delete in the traslate!), but i need that you know how important it was for me too. He`s cool, and he seems a boy with talent (although i must confesse that your others interviews are great, too, and perhaps others celebrities attracted me more, not cause he`s bad, i supposse that it`s cause I enjoyed so much some interviews like “ducktales, hoo-ooo-ooh!”or Glozell), but this interview is important for me cause i watched to one mature hoster. You born for it, really, it`snt one courteous, it`s the truth. When you said:”i´m live in this interview” i said me:”Oh, perhaps he was nervous”, but when i watched (Yeah, I look to you, Precious man!) you i said:”He sn`t nervous, he`s secure of himself, he`s making it in the better way never watched for me”. And, although i wasn´t enjoyed it in special way for the artist front you, i was enjoyed it cause i watched you solid, concrete, secure. You made it in live like if you would be making it ever in live!
Your fans are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo satisfied with your work; we`re sure that you´ll be make it better everyday, but today, i watched a Mature Josh. You gained that i was astonished when i watched you. I trust in you, but it was one cool surprise to see you so skilful like fish in the water! You`ve so determination in every part of your interview. You`ve all the credit in this interview: every perfect body lenguage of you, every word, every ask, your times, your looks to camera, all things was exact, perfects, harmonycs in all detail; really.You`re a heap of brillant things: you`re prudent in every conversation.You`re exemplary, elocuent, splendid.You possess one incredible talent; and you know it!
I´m sure that it`s your most better performance on withjosh.com, and i´m so happy to watch you in this way. Sorry Ryan Seacrest, Larry King, and others, cause This incredible, talent and fantastic Man is the better, and he`s more better than you!
Josh: you`re a sexy man, a favoulous hoster, but specially you`re a good, good person, and your fans are so happy to meet you.
Respect your appearance: you`re so, so, so beautiful in red, you melt me!
Alex seems so spontaneous, specially when he talks bout his life, his experiences and his past in Texas. Here exist a great climate of talk cause you make it good.
Comment by dheniss — May 7, 2010 @ 8:02 AM
He’s my favorite singer of all the American Idols. Thanx Josh for this interview.
Comment by sofi — May 7, 2010 @ 8:04 AM
I watched your interview, it was a good performance. Very great! you’re a genious!
Comment by Kary — May 7, 2010 @ 8:05 AM
Wow, Josh!
thanx for remember my b-day, again!
Congrats for your interesant interview with Alex. We`ve a great energy!
Comment by B-yonce — May 7, 2010 @ 8:07 AM
Fantastic! He’s fun! I love this interview
Comment by Romix — May 10, 2010 @ 1:31 PM
I love American Idol because it’s a great show. Congratulation for your interview Josh Skinner.
Comment by DIEGO — May 10, 2010 @ 1:33 PM
I love him, he’s the best american idol.
Comment by Sunny — May 10, 2010 @ 1:34 PM
you’re a tasty boy!
Comment by GIGI — May 10, 2010 @ 1:36 PM
I like the interview, but much more Josh, sure!!!
Comment by Mandy — May 12, 2010 @ 1:03 PM
Very amazing. I love the show!
Comment by fany — May 12, 2010 @ 1:15 PM
Josh, GREAT interview!!! You truly made Alex feel at ease!! Loved your interviewing style. I am one of the many proud fans who has supported him from day 1 on Idol and I continue to support him everyday on ificandream.com Alex has raw talent and a voice of gold.. He is going to go far in life. Thanks for taking the time to let Alex’s voice be heard and to let him address his fans!!!!! LOVE YOU ALEX!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep singin’ those beautiful songs and keep crackin me up! ;) :) :) :)
Comment by denise2424 — May 13, 2010 @ 9:53 PM
Good, here i must write!!!!
Hey Wonderful Joshito, i love you so much; you`re perfect, but Alex Lambert is so sexy too; i want his cellphone-number!!!!!
Comment by Marian — May 14, 2010 @ 8:36 AM
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed it!
Comment by Anonymous — May 19, 2010 @ 9:44 PM
What a sweet down to earth boy and a sweet down to earth honest interview. Great job Josh!
Comment by justjamie — May 31, 2010 @ 1:02 PM
i vote alex lambert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by kate — October 31, 2010 @ 9:31 PM
“I didn’t know” is the best AI Artist Song
Comment by richiej — November 1, 2010 @ 2:54 AM
hot damn alex lambert,hot damn.u so yummy!
Comment by kate — November 3, 2010 @ 6:59 PM