Pop Stand

Morning Links: John Travolta in Bahamas for extortion trial

John Travolta is back in the Bahamas, where his son Jett died, to testify in the trial of a paramedic accused of trying to extort $25 million from the actor. Paramedic Tarino Lightbourn responded to the scene and treated Jett Travolta when he was found unresponsive. Lightbourn allegedly threatened to come forward with details of the treatment the teen received if Travolta didn't pay. Travolta will be the first witness in the trial, which is scheduled to begin today.

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Court records obtained by the L.A. Times show that a Los Angeles pharmacist refused to fill prescriptions for Anna Nicole Smith before her drug-related death, saying that her psychiatrist's list of drugs was 'pharmaceutical suicide.' Days after her son's death, Smith's psychiatrist faxed a prescription to the pharmacy which included "two  sedatives, 300 tablets of methadone, a muscle relaxer, an anti-inflammatory drug and four bottles of a painkiller nicknamed 'hospital heroin.' ” 

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Kate Gosselin, shy? At least at the taping of a pilot talk show for which she is being considered. Sources tell E! News that at the recording of the show this weekend, Gosselin was not as out-spoken as people expected, despite having some chemistry with her co-hosts. The show's panel, tentatively, consists of Gosselin; cooking maven Paula Deen; comedian Judy Gold; Rene Syler formerly of the CBS Early Show; and Lee Woodruff, wife of ABC newsman Bob Woodruff.

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American Idol winner Kris Allen debuted his first single yesterday on New York radio station Z100. The single, called "Live Like We're Dying," is off Allen's forthcoming album and is his first single since his Idol winning single "No Boundaries." Allen's single is available on iTunes next Tuesday, and his album is set to be released on November 17.

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Khloe Kardashian is headed down the aisle with boyfriend and NBA star Lamar Odom, according to her show's parent network E!. The two met over the summer and are planning to marry this Sunday. Friends have been notified by phone, with formal invitations to follow this week. 

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Singer Lucinda Williams was married onstage to boyfriend/manager Tom Overby at a Minneapolis club on Friday. The ceremony was a surprise to fans in attendance, but Williams said she wanted to share the happy occasion with fans, the way Hank Williams once did when her married his second wife onstage in New Orleans. 

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The Hoff is 'normal' according to his lawyer. After David Hasselhoff's emergency trip to a hospital for what people were calling acute intoxication, his lawyer says it was a negative reaction to prescription medication. Mel Goldsman tells E! that Hasselhoff 'was experiencing a side-effect from taking the antinausea drug Antivert and Antabuse, which is used by recovering alcoholics to create acute sensitivity to booze.' Goldsman says that Hasselhoff was released shortly after reaching the hospital.

-- Dave Valenzuela

Morning Links: Lindsay Lohan tweets a tirade against girlfriend Ronson over 'gross' remark

Usually when on-again, off-again lovers Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan fight, it's in person. But LiLo took to Twitter -- the most public forum of all -- with a multi-Tweet rant directed at SamRo but of course, visible to anyone following her. "I have FINALLY deserved just to cry myself to sleep with your cheats, errors, and thank you...for being a friend before a sell-out.." LiLo tweeted. Later, in response to a private message from Ronson, she replied publicly, "BUT YOU DID perform to her..you JUST told me that your friends are worth more than i am 2 your family & that i'm gross*thx."

• • •In her first interview after being named to replace Paula Abdul at the "American Idol" judges' table, Ellen DeGeneres told Ryan Seacrest that she hopes to provide a "compassionate" judging voice, and will confront fellow judge Simon Cowell when his comments cross the line. "I’ll tell him the same thing [I tell him when] he’s on [my] show, that he’s mean,” she says.  “I think you can be honest in a pretty kind way. I hope to be that compassionate person. That’s the one thing Paula did bring, that compassion.” Paula, on her Twitter page, said "I think Ellen will b a gr8 judge on Idol. She is wildly funny, talented and I wish her the best of luck!" Kara DioGuardi, who joined the show last season, said she was "completely ecstatic," and Randy Jackson said "Idol" "reached out [to Ellen] a little bit," and called her "mad cool."

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Other reaction to the unexpected pick of DeGeneres has been mixed. Sharon Osborne, of "America's Got Talent," said Ellen will be "a complete breath of fresh air," rather than a predictable singer such as J.Lo or Janet Jackson. "With Ellen, you've got someone who knows about entertaining, and everything that goes into it, which also speaks for the people," she said. Nick Cannon, host of "America's Got Talent," agreed, saying DeGeneres "knows how to have fun." But MJ Santilli, founder of the 'Idol" blog, MJsBigBlog.com, pointed out that DeGeneres was "awkward and unfunny when she guest-judged on ["So You Think You Can Dance"] ... so I hope that she brushes up on her skills between now and November." On Twitter, Samantha Ronson posted, "Ellen seems confident about replacing Paula but, I don't know, she's got some pretty big prescriptions to fill."

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Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards, already pretty glittery, have added some star power. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys will perform their new duet, "Empire State of Mind," and Eminem will make an appearance. Also expected to present awards are Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox, Shakira, Jack Black, 50 Cent, Andy Samberg, Jimmy Fallon, Kristin Cavallari, Pete Wentz, Gerard Butler, Tracy Morgan, Adam Brody, Alexa Chung and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. They join already announced Ne-Yo, Nelly Furtado, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester and Miranda Cosgrove. Brisih comedian Russell Brand will hosting the 26th annual show, which will include Janet Jackson's tribute to her brother Michael and performances by Beyoncé, Pink, Lady Gaga, Green Day, Taylor Swift and Muse. Also shown will be the trailer for the much-anticipated Michael Jackson documentary, "This is It," and an extended trailer for "New Moon," the second film in the "Twilight" series.

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   Katherine Heigl and her husband Josh Kelley are adopting a 10-month-old special-needs baby from Korea. "She was actually born the day before me in November, which I thought was really serendipitous and just kind of like a sign, Heigl said during an interview to air today on the Ellen DeGeneres show. "I realized just recently that I basically forfeited my birthday for the rest of my life." They plan to call the girl Naleigh,"after my mother and sister Nancy [and] Leigh." Heigl's sister Meg also was adopted from Korea.

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Katherine Jackson says that unlike Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole and Chris Brown, she will attend the gala tribute concert to her son Michael in Vienna. She got the wrong date when she said she'd attend Jermaine's extravaganza, but presumably somebody will set her straight. She and other relatives were originally said to be upset that Jermaine planned a star-studded concert in a city where Michael had no ties. Meanwhile, movers have started to clear out the rented Holmby Hills mansion where Michael Jackson died, with one truck arriving for property inside the house and another to pick up the cars.

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Officials of Colony Capital, which owns Jackson's longtime home, Neverland Ranch, have filed trademark paperwork protecting the name of the ranch and securing the rights to operate a museum or theme park there, print books and post cards, make toys and clothing. But Joe Jackson told TMZ.com, "Colony Capital cannot do this without our permission.

-- Anne Neville

Morning Links: Ellen DeGeneres will fill Paula Abdul's seat as permanent 'Idol' judge

Here's a surprise nobody saw coming: Ellen DeGeneres announced during the taping of her talk show today that she will fill Paula Abdul's seat on the "American Idol" judge table! She said she's been negotiating this in secret for a few weeks, and was "dying" to spill, but had to keep it a secret from everyone. What are her qualifications, you ask? Well, she loves music, hasn't missed an episode of "Idol" since it started, and "I'm not looking at it in a critical way from the music producer's mind, I'm looking at it as a person who's going to buy that music." Ellen says she'll continue with her talk show after she joins "Idol," which has had a group of fill-in judges during auditions. "I'm going to have a day job and a night job," she said. In a statement, Fox said, "DeGeneres will sit alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi and offer her own unique perspective to the contestants throughout the competition." What about our girl Paula? She says she's working on some kind of a deal, to do something or other.

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When Jon and Kate broke up, people had a lot of sympathy for the often-belittled Jon. But a series of really stupid movies have turned the tide of public opinion against him. Whether it's his constant cell-phone use while he's supposed to be spending time with his kids, his "soul mate" connection with 22-year-old Hailey Glassman or his new Mercedes SUV that seats five -- when he has eight kids -- the guy has shown us why Kate referred to him as "almost like a lame fish." His "Primetime: Family Secrets" appearance was no different. So Kate will cohost The View next week, and Jon gets grilled by Chris Cuomo.

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Mary J. Blige is the second big performer to deny that she will appear in the star-studded tribute concert for Michael Jackson being organized by his brother Jermaine in Vienna later this month. After Jermaine announced that Chris Brown would perform, Chris's spokesman said it wasn't true.

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Two years after he was severely injured in a car crash while Hulk Hogan's son, Nick Hogan Bollea, was at the wheel, John Graziano has been released from the veterans hospital. The 26-year-old Iraq War veteran will live with his mother, although he will still need 24-hour care due to paralysis and brain damage. Graziano's father, who is in jail on charges that he tried to hire someone to kill his estranged wife, Graziano's mother, expressed concern about her ability to care for him. Nick Bollea served five months in jail after being convicted of reckless driving.

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Lindsay Lohan has been named the artistic adviser of much-lauded fashion line Emanuel Ungaro, according to E!Online. The starlet will be collaborating with the label's newly appointed chief designer, Estrella Archs, to put together the looks for the 2010 spring/summer collection, which will be shown Oct. 4 at Paris Fashion Week. "Lindsay is a world consumer with a clear eye for fashion," said Mounir Moufarrige, president of Emanuel Ungaro worldwide. Lindsay says she plans to immerse herself in the work. "When I'm involved in a project, I give my all to it," she says. "I've always played a big part in what I wear, the costumes. ... To be in a position where I'm working with a fashion house in Paris sets it apart from every other celebrity brand."

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Hugh Hefner has filed for divorce from former Playmate Kimberly Conrad, from whom he has been separated since 1998. The pair have two sons together and all seemed well in their estrangement until Hef sold the house next to the Playboy Mansion where Conrad and their sons were living, and she sued him. Hefner told TMZ.com that that was the reason for the divorce, not that, as he was glad to share, she cheated on him early in the relationship. Documents filed with the court show that he pulls in $116,667 a month from Playboy, $121,099 from dividends and investments and (get this!) $1,869 in Social Security. He's worth more than $43 million, not counting his Playboy stock.

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 Brad Paisley, reigning Country Music Association male vocalist of the year, was re-nominated in that category and five others,leading the pack with the most nominations. Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Jamey Johnson, George Strait and Zac Brown Band each received four nominations. Teenage sensation Swift was nominated for female vocalist of the year, as well as for the top award, entertainer of the year --  pitting her against Kenny Chesney, Strait, Paisley and Urban. Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are nominated for female vocalist of the year.The 43rd Annual CMA Awards will be held in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 11, and be broadcast on ABC.

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Just days before the anniversary of Sept. 12, 1953 -- the day Jacqueline Lee Bouvier married into the Kennedy clan -- Life magazine has published a series of 20 never-before-seen photos of Jackie, on her wedding day, as a young mother, and at state events with her husband. The photos include an eerie one in which the president and his wife sit in an open car, three years before he was assassinated in Dallas.

-- Anne Neville

Morning Links: Joe Jonas, Kelly Clarkson to sit in Abdul's 'Idol" chair

A Jonas brother and the original "Idol" winner, Kelly Clarkson, have joined the mix of celebrity fill-ins for Paula Abdul on the "American Idol" panel. Joe Jonas, 20, will serve as a guest judge on the panel Monday in Dallas as the judges revisit audition cities to tape their reactions to the lucky contestants who got sent through, and Clarkson will judge in another unnamed city. Already taking Paula's seat as her negotiations with "Idol" powers-that-be remain at an impasse are Mary J. Blige, Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry and Shania Twain.

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Also stepping up for a reality TV competition show is Nicole Kidman, who will make a cameo on the two-hour "Project Runway: All-Star Challenge" show. set to be aired before the sixth season premiere of Project Runway Thursday. She'll join returning designers that include Santino Rice and Jeffrey Sebelia. Meanwhile, guests for the actual show, which will be aired starting at 10 p.m. Thursday, are Lindsay Lohan, Eva Longoria Parker and Christina Aguilera.

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The former choreographer for "So You Think You Can Dance" who was charged in April and then not prosecuted for sexually assaulting dance students whom he met through his studio was re-arrested Tuesday in his Hollywood home on basically the same charges. The April charges against Alex Da Silva were not pursued after prosecutors said they needed to investigate the matter further.

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Michael Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, has posted a video on YouTube thanking all his friends and supporters for their messages. Murray says he has been afraid to use his phone or email to communicate "because of all that is going on," but urges his friends not to worry. "As long as I keep God in my heart and you in my life, I will be fine. I have done all I could do. I told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail. God bless you and thank you." Murray also posted contact information for 14 of his patients who would say good things about him.

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Richard Hatch, who was the first winner of "Survivor" and was later jailed for income tax evasion after  he somehow failed to declare his winnings of the most publicized $1 million in the world that year, says he was imprisoned because he is gay. Hatch, who will serve the rest of his 51-month sentence under home confinement, says both the prosecutor and the judge were biased against him. Hatch also told Matt Lauer of his prison term, "Imagine the financial devastation." 

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Three weeks after Kim Kardashian and Saint Reggie Bush amicably split, the two were "all smiles" as they met to dine together at a steakhouse in New Orleans, where Bush is in training camp. Kardashian had a long-scheduled commitment to attend a Dress for Success charity event in the city.

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Celine Dion's long-awaited second pregnancy is the result of a second round of treatments at a Manhattan fertility clinic that froze embryos after their first child was born eight years ago. In 2007, Dion told People that her main goal in life is "to be a mom." Son Rene-Charles is said to be looking forward to having a little sister, although his sibling's sex has not been determined.

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Things seem to be over -- for good this time -- for Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn, who have twice dropped divorce actions. Wright Penn filed for divorce in mid-August, and in the September issue of the magazine More, she said, "I have no regrets. I, we, have two amazing children we raised together."

-- Anne Neville

Morning Links: Hailey Glassman calls dad-of-eight Jon Gosselin her 'first love'

Hailey Glassman, the 22-year-old daughter of the surgeon who did Kate Gosselin's tummy tuck, says Kate's estranged husband, Jon, is her "first love." Their epic romance -- somewhat tarnished by the appearance of Kate Major, who is being called "Kate 2.0," and by Jon's announcement that he's "single," began when Jon holed up in her parents' house in May after Kate 1.0 tossed him out. "He was living in my house, the person I joked around with. He was sad and bored, I was home and bored," she tells EOnline. As for the second Kate, Hailey isn't worried: "I know what Jon tells me and I know him...but she's cuckoo, cuckoo, you know?" Hailey also says, "I'm not some fame whore," and adds, "take my 15 minutes, you can have it back. Please take it back!"

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Last month, Bob Dylan was detained by two police officers who didn't recognize him after someone called to report a weirdo prowling around a house in Long Branch, N.J., "wearing black sweatpants tucked into black rain boots, and two raincoats with the hood pulled down over his head." He told the officers he was Bob Dylan, in town to do a concert with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, but since he had no ID, they were skeptical. A 24-year-old officer later said, "I've seen pictures of Bob Dylan from a long time ago and he didn't look like Bob Dylan to me at all. ... We see a lot of people on our beat, and I wasn't sure if he came from one of our hospitals or something." They drove him back to his hotel where he produced some identification and "he was really nice" about the whole thing, the officer said.

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Victoria Beckham, the woman who wears a perpetual frown, is being told to lighten up and smile more as she fills in as a guest judge on "American Idol" early rounds. Sources say that her usual pouty face might come off as icy and wooden, and Simon Cowell, a friend of Posh and her soccer-playing husband David, is encouraging her to have more fun as she sits in for Paula Abdul.

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Speaking of Paula, TMZ.com is now reporting that she wants back on "Idol" and is willing to move from her stated pay figure of $10 million. She is said to be resisting signing with "Dancing With the Stars" because she wants to be able to rejoin "Idol" after the audition rounds if a deal is made. She is also said to be annoyed that the producers of "Ugly Betty" for leaking the news that she would appear on the show, and canceled her plans to do that.

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Mariah Carey has been rescheduling some appearances, but her publicist denies anything is wrong with the singer. She had been scheduled to receive a star on the the Hollywood Walk of Fame Aug. 25, perform on the Today show pn Aug. 28, and tape an episode of VH1's "Storyteller,s" but everything has been put off until late September, when her new album, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," will be released.

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Brad Pitt wasn't shy about his joint-rolling abilities back in the day, but tells Bill Maher his days of being a dope-smoker are over. "I'm a dad now; you want to be alert," he says.

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Michael Jackson isn't buried yet. His body is said to be in a freezer at Forest Lawn while the family continues to argue over his final resting place. Jermaine is said to be the sole relative holding out for burial at Neverland, which MJ fled after his child molestation trial. The King of Pop's mother has reportedly visited her son's temporary tomb several times.

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Actress Alyssa Milano tied the knot with agent David Bugliari on Saturday in a traditional ceremony at his family's New Jersey estate, her rep told People. After the ceremony, a dinner, served family style at farmhouse tables, evoked the Milano clan's weekend get-togethers, she said. "My Italian family still eats Sunday dinner together every week," Milano said. "We wanted to capture the same feeling with people passing around beautiful bowls of food and talking and laughing." The two met in 2006.

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Olympic ice-skating champ Scott Hamilton, who has battled cancer twice, will return to the ice in Cleveland Nov. 7 as part of his annual cancer fund-raiser. Nearly a year of workouts and training has helped him shed 15 pounds and build muscle for his performance, which will be backed by a live performance from his favorite rock band, Cheap Trick, and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. Before he began the regimen, he says, "I had lost all my muscle tone and endurance and I looked like a bag pipe."

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In car-crash news about celebs named Michael, George Michael says he was "stone cold sober" when he rammed his Range Rover into the back of a truck in London Friday, but Michael Phelps admitted he'd had a beer just over an hour before his Cadillac Escalade smashed into the car of a Maryland woman in downtown Baltimore. Neither was charged with operating while under the influence.

-- Anne Neville

Morning Links: Paula Abdul announces 'Idol' departure via Twitter

'American Idol' judge Paula Abdul announced via Twitter last night that she has decided to quit the show.

Abdul writes: "With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to [American Idol]. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day1become an international phenomenon."

"What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me. It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month. I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all."

Abdul was said to be in negotiations late into last night before deciding to leave the show. ABC's Good Morning America said that she was believed to be making $5 million last season, and was offered "eight figures" before turning it down.

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Rihanna has asked to have the order of protection lifted that now bars ex-boyfriend Chris Brown from coming within 50 yards of each other except if they happen to walk near each other at music industry events. Rihanna, who was battered by Brown on Feb. 8 after a party before the Grammys,  is willing to be protected only by a "level-one order," which, says her attorney Donald Etra, "would prevent Chris from annoying, molesting or harassing her." But the attorney says this is no change: Rihanna's position from the beginning is that there was no need for that level of protective order."

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Beyonce and Lady Gaga have a good chance of collecting multiple MTV Video Music Award nominations, according to People. The two singers each won nine nominations, both competing in the "Video of the Year," "Best Female Video," "Best Pop Video," as well as awards for special effects, art direction, direction, editing and cinematography. Beyonce said, "I'm excited and honored to be tied for most nominated for the VMAs. I've been blessed this year to have 'Single Ladies' become a video people really connected with and responded to."  Both Eminem and Kanye West received four VMA nominations, in the same four categories.The VMAs will be held Sept. 13 at several locations around New York City, including Radio City Music Hall. The winners will be decided by fan vote, collected at VMA.MTV.com.

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The Hollywood hot spot Katsuya hosted both newly single Jessica Simpson and and her ex John Mayer over the weekend -- but on different nights, sources tell People.com. Just the thought of the two meeting up again got the online gossip mill buzzing, but sources close to Simpson say nope. A friend of Mayer says he and Simpson have exchanged text messages since her split from NFL star Tony Romo, but, "they haven't met up. They're friendly but that's it."

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This is strange: In the September issue of Glamour, Jessica Simpson talks about the pain of ending a relationship -- in an interview done before her breakup with Tony Romo happened. Comparing a breakup to "a death in the family," she said, "If this article comes out and we're not together, I'd still love him, and he'd still be a huge part of who I am today."

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"Gossip Girl" star Kelly Rutherford and her estranged husband, German businessman Daniel Giersch, have reached a temporary settlement in the custody battle over their children, Hermes, 2, and Helena, 2 months. The two will live separately on the two coasts to accommodate her filming schedule, in the New York area from July until April, then move to Los Angeles after "Gossip Girl" shooting ends. Rutherford filed for divorce when she was two months pregnant with Helena.

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Sharon Osborne says being ugly -- specifically "being short, fat and hairy," is what made her a success. She says because of her lack of beauty,  she had to "develop a brain and personality and be fun and smart and learn to get on with people and make deals." The "X Factor" judge, who became famous with her family when they filmed "The Osbournes," met husband-to-be Ozzy when she was working with her father, rock manager Don Arden.

-- Anne Neville and Dave Valenzuela

Orlando 'Idol' tryouts draw 10 from local voice studio

Ten students, several parents and voice coach Debbie Bello of Bello Voice Studio in Orchard Park are headed to Orlando for "American Idol" auditions next week.

Three students who take lessons at the studio have already auditioned in other cities, and Bello says one of them has gotten a golden ticket to Hollywood, where she will sing for judges Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Kara DioGuardi. Under the rules of the competition, Bello is not allowed to reveal the singer's name.

The singers who will try out July 9 in Amway Arena are: Nicole Radon of Hamburg, Janelle Barry of Orchard Park, Avian Haviv of Long Island, a student at UB, Brianna Cormier of West Seneca, Garrett Shea of East Aurora, Johnny Juarez of Hamburg, Glenn Hillman of Cambria , Sarah Panzica of East Aurora, Shaine D’Andrea of Lockport , and Tess DeFlyer of East Aurora.

The group will stand in line at the arena on July 7 for wristbands and return on July 9 to perform before producers. In between, says Bello, they will go to Disney World and compete in the Idol Experience show, the winner of which will receive a "Dream Ticket," giving the singer VIP treatment at the Idol tryouts on July 9.

Have you auditioned for Idol in another city already and either made it through or gotten the cut? How was your experience? Post below to give us the update on how the Idol audition process is working out this year.

-- Anne Neville 

'American Idol' auditions announced -- first one is in Boston

Dates and places for auditions for Season 9 of "American Idol" have just been announced!

The closest ones are in Boston, and they are also the first, so if you want to be in on Season 9, make your travel plans now. Here are the specifics:

Boston auditions are Sunday, June 14, at Gillette Stadium, followed by Atlanta on June 18, Los Angeles on June 30, Orlando on July 9, Denver on July 14, and Chicago and Dallas on dates to be announced.

Applicants must be between ages 16 and 28 on June 12, 2009, and be eligible to work in the United States.

In Boston, wristbands will be distributed starting at 7 a.m. on Friday, June 12. Auditioners will not be permitted to camp out. Once auditioners obtain their wristbands, they will be asked to return to Gillette Stadium by 5 a.m. on audition day, June 14.

Let me know if you're going, and if you do go, let us know how you do! Good luck!

-- Anne Neville

Re-read the live chat from the 'American Idol' finale

Tonight's the night we find out whether Adam Lambert or Kris Allen will wear the "American Idol" crown for season 8. Besides bragging rights, this doesn;t make as big a difference as it did in the early seasons -- both will probably be signed to 19 Entertainment contracts and both will have professional singing careers, although Adam, if he's runner-up, will certain headline on Broadway rather than be an understudy in a touring musical.

Join us back here tonight at 8 p.m. to comment as the two-hour show entertains and exasperates us as we wait for the results, which will certainly be announced right at 10 p.m. or slightly afterward. Note to people using TiVo or DVR for later viewing -- if your recorder clicks off at 10:00, you will certainly miss the results!

See you later as we wrap up the season!

=============UPDATE: SPOILER======================

If you missed this finale, you missed the best show all season. Bikini Girl and Kara went head-to-head in a singing competition, with Kara ripping open her dress at the last minute to flash her own bikini body to win money for charity. Stars ranged from Jason Mraz and Keith Urban to KISS (Adam sang for them) and Queen -- Adam and Kris both sang "We Are the Champions." But at the end, after nearly 100 million votes, there was only one winner, and it was Kris Allen, who looked and sounded the most shocked of anybody in the room.

What do you think of the outcome? Was it a surprise? Did Adam deserve it more?

-- Anne Neville

American idol: Re-read the live chat from the Final 2 performance show -- and Idol Bingo!

Tonight's the final performance show of Season 8 of "American Idol." Tonight Adam Lambert, the longtime favorite, and Kris Allen, who emerged from the pack of the final 13, will each sing three songs.

First the contestant each chooses a previously performed song, which is said to possibly be "Mad World" "with a twist" for Adam and either last week's "Heartless" or "Falling Slowly" for Kris Allen. Next up is a song chosen for each contestant by "Idol" creator Simon Fuller, a task formerly performed by music industry exec Clive Davis. The third song will be the the traditional "Idol" victory song, which will be released as the winner's first single. "No Boundaries," written by Kara DioGuardi, Cathy Dennis and Mitch Allen. The winner's performance of the song will stream live at 10 p.m. Wednesday at AOL's pop culture news site, PopEater.com. 

Tonight we also play Idol Bingo! Print out your board and join us back here a few minutes before 8 p.m.!

-- Anne Neville