Raindrops keep fallin'...

The much-anticipated sit-down interview with Bucky is now available at his official site, Bucky Covington Online--and it's a joy to read. (Funny, witty and sweet, just like you'd expect.) There's also a beautiful audio surprise waiting for you there--go now, okay? I'll be here, thunderstorms permitting...

Kathy at Team Covington has a fun video find for you, too--a link to a Fox interview with the Idols, in which one of Bucky's celebrity supporters gets a cute shout-out. (She's also in the midst of putting together a brand new Bucky fan site, and with her mad graphics skills, you know that's going to be a pleasure to behold.)

Speaking of video, here's what's taken the place of the presale information on the Pop-Tarts Idol page:

Catch the Top Ten Idols on tour! Exclusive Backstage Video Access Pass

Starting June 15th... check in weekly at poptarts.com to check out exclusive webisodes that take you backstage with the stars of the hottest concert tour of the summer.

All righty, then. I have the distinct feeling these "webisodes" will involve more of the Crazy Good Promotional silliness events (karaoke, dancing contests, posing for photos with a cardboard standup of the Idols--photos which you will never show anyone in your lifetime out of sheer mortification) and less of what we really want to see. (That'd be a fly's-eye view of those buses, of course. C'mon...Bucky, Taylor, Elliott, Chris and Ace on the road? That has the potential to be a hit buddy-comedy feature film, never mind a "webisode".)

Or worse, the webisodes will be sigh-inducing "Hey! We just happened to catch your Idols enjoying some delicious frozen Pop-Tarts...how do you like those, fellas?" commericallettes. (See also: the VIP Lounge Bucky e-card.)

On the other hand, they'll be giving away frozen mint chocolate chip Tarts at the arenas, and if there's one guilty pleasure you might consider giving yourself, free frozen mint chocolate chip anything in the middle of a hot summer could be it. (Of course, this summer we get more than one. Ahem. Cheesefest '06, here we come. Whoo!)

If you're curious about what's happening before the tour bus begins to roll, Entertainment Tonight usually has "exclusive!" [insert swooshing logo here] coverage of the tour rehearsals beginning in mid-June, after the singers enjoy a well-earned rest. Bookmark and stay tuned...

Yesterday's post had a link to an informal "favorite performance for each finalist" discussion at USA Today--there's also one going on at Idolforums as we speak, with a slick alternate compilation cover, to boot. Enjoy!

More later, between storms...