From the Victoria Times-Colonist:

• Island Idol hopefuls face next challenge tonight
  “Both Chang and Murray perform again this week on the CTV series. The next performances will be aired Monday and Tuesday at 9 p.m. The results will be broadcast Wednesday from 7:30 to 8 p.m.”

From Allena MacDonald of the Halifax Chronicle Herald:

• Idol crew films Tyler at home
  “Signs, lapel buttons and banners are bustin’ out all over in support of local Canadian Idol competitor Tyler Mullendore.”

From Christy Marsters of the Nova News Now:

• Hometown singer/songwriter shines at Canadian Idol

Alex Strachan of CanWest Media does a little more than reprint the CTV media release:

• ‘Idol’ producer lashes out at voters
  “In a recent interview with CanWest News, Idol judge Jake Gold suggested that Toronto is not alone: The major centres rarely do well in Idol voting. Gold noted that Vancouver and Montreal have also been traditionally under-represented on Idol’s national stage. Gold hypothesized that there are more cultural distractions in Canada’s big cities than in regional areas.”

Sofi Papamarko of Chart Attack recaps the results episodes:

• Canadian Idol Update: The First Cut Is The Deepest
  “Now that the top 22 Canadian Idol contestants have officially won the hearts of the nation, let’s get rid of a bunch of them.”

Leah Collins of the Victoria Times Colonist talks about the hometown contestants:

• Island singers continue on Canadian Idol
  “Victoria’s Liam Styles Chang, 17, and Port McNeill’s Clifton Murray, 27, received enough votes from viewers to continue to the next week of competition.”

The Abbotsford News follows the Fraser Valley contestants:

• Idols impress judges, fans vote both to Top-18
  “Jepsen and Abbotsford’s Greg Neufeld had an easy time of it during Wednesday’s results show. Both of them found out early on in the program that they were safe for another week.”

Jason Roessle of the Mission City Record talks to that city’s contestant:

• Jepsen learns to follow instinct
  “Carly Jepsen performed with the rest of the women June 26, belting out a rendition of Corinne Bailey Rae’s Put Your Records On.”

An odd media release from CTV:

Canadian Idol Alert: Executive Producer Responds to Toronto Eliminations

• Statement by John Brunton, Executive Producer, Canadian Idol

“Last night’s elimination of three competitors from this year’s Canadian Idol Top 22 is disgraceful. Toronto lost half of its competitors in one night, and 75% of the eliminated competitors were from our city. These were three great young singers – any one of which would have made a fantastic Top 10 competitor.

Each year, more people come out to audition in Toronto than in any other
city. Each year, Canadian Idol judges select more people from Toronto to be in the Top 22 than any other city. But no competitor from Toronto has made it to the Top 10 since Season One, four years ago, and that’s pathetic.

I’m not really supposed to do this. I’m supposed to be impartial. But as a born and bred Torontonian, I’m fed up with the lack of attention and respect paid to the bright, young singers from Toronto. They deserve more. It should not be a disadvantage to be a Canadian Idol competitor from Toronto.

While the rest of the country is buzzing about Canadian Idol and the success of their hometown heroes, Toronto is not paying attention. Toronto is not supporting the local talent found right in its own backyard.

This isn’t about regional voting. Each competitor needs the support of the entire country to move forward in the competition. But hometown pride also plays a huge role. To know that your hometown is cheering for you makes a difference.

There are three competitors left from Toronto – and one from Hamilton – and I hope everyone in this great city of ours does all that they can to support them next week.”