Nikki McKibbin Movies
A competitor in the first season of the Fox reality series American Idol (2002), vocalist Nikki McKibbin (born Katherine Nicole McKibbin) earns a historical footnote as the very first of the said program's contestants to sing gritty, unpolished hard rock; she drew praise from the judges for her original, unconventional approach but finished third in the running (losing to the very different Kelly Clarkson).A native of Grand Prairie, TX, McKibbin was reportedly a "born performer" from early childhood who loved to sing and dance and nurtured dreams of becoming a professional vocalist. She endured a difficult period in her late teens and early twenties that witnessed her surviving a challenging marriage, divorce, single motherhood, and economic hardship (at one point McKibbin supported herself as a strip-club dancer), but she eventually overcame these obstacles and actually competed as a singer on two competitive performance-based series: Popstars and Idol. The offer of an RCA recording contract materialized for McKibbin after Idol, but "creative differences" between the two parties (RCA wanted the diva to sing country, which she refused to do) failed to yield a workable album. McKibbin subsequently made appearances on additional reality series including Fear Factor and Kill Reality, and briefly joined the Dallas-area rock group Downside. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2008
Season two of the popular reality show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew begins with the same premise as the first season: to film the three week rehabilitation process of a group of celebrities, facilitated by widely respected internist and addiction medicine specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky. The celebrities seeking treatment in season two include Rodney King, Tawny Kitaen, and others, as well as the return of season one cast member Jeff Conway. Sober for 13 years, actor Gary Busey also appears as the group's sobriety coach. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Drew Pinsky
- 2002
Following the precedent established by the popular network game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, the Fox talent contest American Idol: The Search for a Superstar was afforded multiple weekly showings, telecast on both Tuesday and Wednesdays throughout it first season--and sweeping the ratings on both nights! Ryan Seacrest of course serves as host, sharing these duties during Season One with Brian Dunkelman. But as everyone knows, the real stars of the proceedings can be found on the three-person panel of judges: singer Paul Abdul, music producer Randy Jackson, and "Mr. Nasty" himself, the wickedly sardonic and brutally honest record executive Simon Cowell. The format is set up with admirable rapidity: dozens upon dozens of aspiring young pop singers, age 16 to 24, are audtioned throughout the nation in the opening episodes, with the best 30 aspirants remaining as "regulars" for the next three weeks; ultimately 10 semifinalists remain standing to strut their stuff for the balance of the season, as the viewers vote for their favorites via toll-free calls. The "judging" portion of takes place on the Tuesday telecast, with Wednesday given over to highlights and interviews and chats with the finalists--one of whom is eliminated at the end of each episode. And it isn't only their talent (or lack of same) that brings about the eliminations, as proven in the July 2002 episode wherein one of the semi-finalists is disqualified because he lied about his age (instead of 23, he was an old geezer of 29!) This, in fact, obliged the judges to bring forth a "wildcard" contestant from those who hadn't been selected by the viewers to bring to number up to ten again. From this point on, the contestants are judged according to their skills at interpreting different musical styles, ranging from Motown to middle-of-the-road. All of this is but prelude to the now-legendary Season One finale, originally telecast on September 4, 2002, in which the decision boils down to the two surviving semifinalists: Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ryan Seacrest, Brian Dunkleman, (more)
