This story is from contactmusic.com:

Pop superstar PRINCE kept tense producers of AMERICAN IDOL guessing after failing to show for his surprise performance during the talent show's finale on Wednesday (24MAY06) until the last minute. Show host RYAN SEACREST feared he'd have to fill in for the pop star when he still hadn't arrived at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood for his live performance as the big reveal started. The US TV personality even stated, "No more surprises," just in case Prince failed to show - but then the singer walked onto the stage and wowed the crowd and millions of TV viewers. Seacrest recalls, "We're in a commercial break just before the surprise of Prince and he wasn't at the Kodak Theatre, so what do we do? "He walked on the stage 30 seconds before he was to go live, sings and was in his car before I toss to the next commercial break. He was there for a total of five-and-a-half minutes."

Too cool.

DAMN!

Prince, you badass,pimp-daddy, motherfucker.

Pimp shit.....

i love it!

GOOD!
So he used AI for what it is...a commercial for '3121' and he left. GOOD!

Screw it...AI is really against everything Prince is about. BUT...you can't ignore a viewership of 45 million. Having said that, he could have released the SNL Version of 'FUry' and got as much of a buzz...

goku said:

i posted this on the main AI thread before i saw this one, but i think it fits the essence of this nicely:

28. Prince sings his new song. Prince dances with his two backup singers. Prince pouts and combs his hair and casts withering sex glances at America. Prince disappears from stage before Seacrest can catch him. Prince has won the battle of wills, getting his way and showing up without ever having to touch or see or talk to any of the contestants, Seacrest, or the judges. What you didn’t see was the cleverly concealed tube of his own personal oxygen that doctors inserted directly into his lungs so he wouldn’t have to breathe the same air as everyone else in the Kodak Theater.

from theadvocate.com

madartista said:

Both Barnes & Noble, the local BestBuy and the Starbucks outlets that last week had several copies of 3121, were today all SOLD OUT - Mission accomplished!
I'm looking forward to seeing the album chart next week.

To perform on National TV in front of 30mil ppl without having to meet anyone or pretend to be nice to an annoying host = RESPECT! And he didn't even play his latest single...! Even cooler

From the "locked thread"

Well, according to comments Ryan said on an entertainment magazine (maybe Access Hollywood?) he said that five minutes of the live finale were up in the air up until the last second. Staffers and stagehands were srambling, that is what Ryan said what he said right before Prince came on. Ryan didn't even know for sure.

"That does it for all of the guest stars this evening. No more surprises; that was fun huh? Did you enjoy that ladies and gentlmen? Good stuff. Now we move into the big part of the show, the results portion. Your American Idol this year. Who is it going to be? One more time let me hear you loud here in Hollywood!"

According to what Ryan Seacrest found out, Prince was no where in sight, and then his limo pulled up at the last moment. Basically Prince got out of the limo, American Idol staffers clammored over Prince saying "you have to go on now." And Prince takes his time and casually walks from the limo through the backstage and right to the main stage floor. I guess the instrumental tape/DAT was given to the AI staffers as well, and the music started right that second.

Then after Prince and The Twinz were finished, Prince walks off stage and through the backstage and back into the limo. That's why Ryan Seacrest only mentioned Prince's name at the end of the two-song set. He was amazed as everyone else.

HA!! That's right!! Wham! Bam! Thank ya Ma'am!!! He hit it and quit it!!!

quick n'dirty...but not quite quick n'dirty enough. five and a half minutes is a half-minute too long, 'specially if yer on some tripe like ai. i woulda been outta that mofo in like 3 minutes instead.





guinness world record edit
[Edited 5/26/06 12:37pm]

I see what you doing Prince

and its called pimpin'

and it's a wonderful thing

Too bad he didn't miss it.

P is the baddest MF to walk the stage!
A True Pimp.
Show up , do your than...and get the hell out!!
Let me hear ya'll say....

Moonbeam said:

istillsayheshouldatriedtomakeitsuper-duper-brief!heshouldapulledafionaapple-typestuntinstead...

"americanidolisbullpoopie!!!"

thepope2the9s said:

Very amusing...I like that idea. That's how everyone should make an entrance. Well, no. I take it back. Then it would get boring.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Theshowsuckstoomuch!

Hmmm...

...on one hand I like this report because it at least appears that even Prince thought AI was beneath him... (It SO was.)


...on the other hand, it makes him look like a complete prick (which we fans know he is quite frequently), but to the general public it could appear as though he never outgrew the impetuous brat image he garnered in the 80s.



Still don't like that he was on AI, but at least he made 'em sweat til the absolute last minute...

Moonbeam said:

yeah,true...butitwouldamadetheshowcoolforjustafleetingmomentifhedid!

"Ladies and Gentlemen.... Prince has left the building" From a King to a Prince!

okay. if all this is true, prince has won some major redemption points with me.

so this is what the scripture meant

flee from Idols

If you're going to appear on a tired show, that's the way to do it. Do your thing, don't associate with none of those dead suckers, and get the hell out of there. He should have given them the finger as he left.

Faboo.
Fucking FABOO.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Som'n that Sly did at the Grammies...

http://www.curlio.com/new...&page=last





Sounds like he had some spare time.