From Broadway To Hollywood: Andrew Lloyd Webber To Mentor American Idol Contestants

On last night's broadcast of American Idol, it was announced that West End/Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (along with Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, and Mariah Carey) will serve as a "celebrity mentor" on the hit Fox TV show this season. It's a bit of a surprise, considering judge Simon Cowell frequently uses the phrase "Too Broadway!" as a slam to contestants whose singing sounds more legit than pop. And Lloyd Webber of course has had multiple hits on Broadway, including Evita, Cats, and the still-running Broadway phenomenon The Phantom of the Opera. But maybe Cowell decided to make an exception for a fellow Brit? In any case, Andrew Lloyd Webber's appearance on the show is bound to be a "Broadway week", giving the nation exposure to some (hopefully) terrific Broadway tunes.