Taylor Hicks received an Idol’s welcome on Friday.

The Birmingham native spent the day in town visiting with family, giving interviews and receiving gifts from city and state officials. The same day, Katharine McPhee visited her high school in Los Angeles and Elliott Yamin led a parade and took batting practice in Richmond, Va.

Tonight, all three resume competition for the title of “American Idol.”

But before Hicks takes the stage, let’s take another look at his whirlwind hometown visit. Plenty of photos and video after the jump.

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Art on the Rocks, July 2005

When 3,000 young professionals gather tonight in Birmingham, they’ll be ready to party with Ivan Neville’s new band, drink cocktails and mingle with 20- and 30somethings. They’ll dine on gourmet appetizers and taking part in a scavenger hunt to win a painting. Even “American Idol” finalist Taylor Hicks will be dropping by.

This isn’t a trendy Lakeview nightclub holding its grand opening. This is a museum.

Launched in April 2005, Art on the Rocks is an after-hours monthly party at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Its runaway success has inspired city arts organizations to pursue young professionals for their cachet and their cash. The movement is transforming the arts scene and the way companies view this hot demographic group.

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The Soul Man is heading home.

Not to worry. Birmingham native Taylor Hicks advanced to the final three this week on “American Idol,” facing a singing showdown with Katharine McPhee and Elliott Yamin for the title to be announced May 24.

But before the competition resumes Tuesday, the finalists are making promotional stops in their respective hometowns Friday. Yamin returns to Richmond, Va., and McPhee, well, she’s stuck in her hometown of Los Angeles.

Updated schedule.

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Redneck zombies are coming to redecorate your living room.

In blood.

“Hide and Creep,” the 2004 horror comedy, will air at 6 p.m. Thursday on Sci Fi. The movie, filmed around Birmingham, premiered at Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival and now makes its television debut.

And I’m telling you this, not because I’m in it as an unpaid extra, and not because I’m paid to do PR for the flick, but because it’s the best redneck zombie horror comedy you’ll ever see.

But don’t take my somewhat biased word for it: Join us at Base Camp on Southside for a viewing party in which the undead shall rise and receive drink specials.

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The “American Idol” final four took a roadtrip to Graceland to prepare to become Elvis impersonators for a night. Along the way, they met Priscilla Presley and record exec Tommy Mottola (but no fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, sad). Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks took on two classics … with mixed results.

Recap after the jump …

Updated with video, elimination.

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Five finalists fight it out with an “American Idol” Tuesday twofer, a song from birth year and from current charts. And Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks shows his playful side and his soulful side in songs older than most of the audience.

Recap after the jump …

Updated with audio, elimination.

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Whether it’s a (fictional) neighborhood bar in Boston or a gay bar in rural Mississippi, sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.

That’s the refrain of “Small Town Gay Bar,” a documentary that premiered in January at Sundance. The film looks at such bars past and present, and the colorful characters who frequent these joints. Heart and humor carry the story, as we witness the challenges from indifferent — and often intolerant — Southern communities.

The movie kicked off Birmingham Shout Friday night to a sold-out house at WorkPlay.

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Prison ain’t a picnic. But for those convicts in the gray area of gender identity, hard time becomes harder.

Should transgender felons be put in men’s prison or women’s prison? Should they be matched by their genitals or their gender identities?

Those are a couple of the thorny questions raised in “Cruel and Unusual,” the riveting, sometimes shocking, documentary that examines where transgender individuals fit in, both in and out of prison.

The film is part of the Birmingham Shout lineup for Saturday.

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Festival season is upon us. The newest of the spring crop is Birmingham Shout, a two-day showcase of films with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender themes. So far, so good: Friday’s opening night film/party is already sold out, and Saturday’s lineup looks intriguing.

What can you expect? Dramas, documentaries and dancing. And likely, a few surprises.

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The flavors of hip-hop continue to multiply. Old school, Dirty South, gangsta rap, crunk, East Coast, West Coast, hardcore, trip-hop.

And now, homo-hop.

The 2005 documentary “Pick Up the Mic” attempts to put down queer stereotypes (gays can be rappers, too!) while introducing various pioneers of the form. While steady in its all-inclusive approach, the film feels almost quaint in presenting another look at Artists Who Happen to Be Gay and Who May or May Not Want Their Orientation to Color Their Message.

It’s part of Saturday’s lineup at the inaugural Birmingham Shout film festival.

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Springtime, and a young Idol finalist’s fancy turns to love songs. Gushy singer Andrea Bocelli and gushy songwriter David Foster were there to help put the six finalists in the mood. Did Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks feel the love?

Recap after the jump …

Updated with video, elimination.

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Birmingham native and super-Friend TV multimillionaire Courteney Cox has popped up in town again, this time on a billboard campaign for the Ronald McDonald House. No, that’s not where the fast-food clown prince goes to recover after a special sauce bender — it’s a great charity that provides housing to families in town with children undergoing medical treatments.

But because we’re incredibly shallow people, all we care about is our CeCe.

Love that arty shot. Black-and-white photo = classy. But clown nose = lame. And the “nose” pun, ugh. We’d like to think nostril humor has still has flare, but maybe it’s mucus to your ears. Those corny billboards … looks like we’ll just have to septum for what they are.

(Get it???)

Join us as we look at Courteney’s past campaigns in the world of advertising …

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For those who think “American Idol” lacks standards, we counted at least seven tonight. Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks and the other six finalists took their shot at the classics, with a helping hand from Rod Stewart.

And the competition just got a little tougher.

Recap after the jump …

Updated with video, elimination.

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Can Queen, a band with such a dynamic presence and catalog, liven up the “American Idol” competition? And would Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks emerge as a champion … or just go crazy?

Recap after the jump …

Updated with multimedia, elimination.

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Taylor Hicks kicked off country night on “American Idol.” Even with Kenny Rogers’ help, could the soul man get his twang on?

Recap after the jump …

Updated with video, elimination.

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