Simon Leaves American Idol Latest
- Simon Cowell confirmed today that he’s leaving American Idol at the end of this season. He’ll be launching the U.S. version of The X Factor and sources say he’s convinced a familiar face to join him on the judges’ panel.
- “We reached an agreement formally at about half past 10 this morning,” said Cowell. “Where we have come to and agreed is that X Factor will launch in America in 2011, with me judging the show and exec producing the show. Because of that this will be my last season on American Idol, this year.” [Variety]
- Did Paula Abdul sign a $4.5 million contract to appear on the U.S. version of X Factor? “Simon flew Paula to London and wined and dined her relentlessly over the course of several days, even introducing her to everyone who works on X Factor,” a source says. “But what really clinched the deal was Simon’s pledge that she wouldn’t have to deal with all the nonsense and infighting that she hated on Idol.” Did Paula really need that much convincing? [Perez]
- Howie Mandel will replace David Hasselhoff as a judge on America’s Got Talent. [E!]
- Jerry Hall may be dating So You Think You Can Dance host Nigel Lythgoe. “Jerry and Nigel have been pals for a long time. But it’s blossomed into something much more recently,” said a source. “They kept bumping into each other at various social functions around London over the last year and always ended up making a beeline for each other. One thing led to another and they started dating in October.” [The Sun]
- If you’ve been dreaming of a confrontation between Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston since their non-showdown at the Oscars last year, you’re out of luck: Brangelina is not attending the Golden Globes. “They’re not going because he’s not nominated individually,” said Angie’s stylist. “Inglourious Basterds is, but not him.” Brads manager confirmed that they are not going. [E!]
- Set your DVRs: Oprah Winfrey will interview Lady Gaga on Friday’s show, according to a Tweet from one of the show’s producers. [Perez]
- If you heard Taylor Lautner died of a cocaine overdose, it’s not true. Once again, Internet death hoaxes = not cool. [E!]
- When the paparazzi asked Conan O’Brien about the future of his show on Sunday he said, “You never know, you never know what’s going to happen. I want you guys to have a good day, I want you to enjoy yourselves, I want you to use SPF 50.” [Radar]
- Natasha Lyonne was in court today trying to get an order of protection against her dad, who she says abandoned her as a child. [N.Y. Post]
- Uma Thurman was spotted on what looked like a date with her ex-fiance Arpad Busson. They announced that they were breaking up last month. [Daily Mail]
- Kristen Cavallari says of Jersey Shore, “I love it. Is that bad that I love it?” It’s probably not as bad as loving The Hills. [People]
- All seven Jersey Shore cast members have said they’d head back to the beach house for a second season, but MTV’s head of programming says, “It’s a little early to tell… If we do go forward, I’d like to see [the current cast] returning. I’d love to bring back the kids the fans love.” [People]
- If you pay Snooki $10K to attend your party, she’ll deliver: She was spotted pole dancing at a party in Florida this weekend. [TMZ]
- Radar reported yesterday that Casey Johnson was laid to rest in New Brunswick, New Jersey yesterday, but a source says she still hasn’t been buried. [N.Y. Post]
- The Jets dedicated their playoff win this weekend to owner Woody Johnson, Casey Johnson‘s father. After attending the game Johnson said, “It’s a very difficult time for us, but we felt it was important to be here today.” [N.Y. Daily News]
- Supposedly Amy Winehouse told a “pal” that she and Blake Fielder-Civil will remarry in the Caribbean as soon as he finishes drug rehab. [Mirror]
- Today, attorneys for Michael Jackson‘s estate asked a judge to increase “the family allowance to the children.” They didn’t publicly reveal how much they want or what the money is for. [Radar Online]
- Jon Gosselin‘s attorney says he’s pursuing charges against Hailey Glassman for allegedly ransacking his apartment. [ET]
- Kate Gosselin took her hairdresser and new extensions out to lunch at a Pennsylvania restaurant. [Radar]
- Josh Duhamel said of renewing his vows with Fergie for their first wedding anniversary, “We want to do it every year. We got the idea from Heidi Klum and Seal. They do that. … I thought it was a great idea.” [People]
- Olivia Newton-John will guest star on Glee. She’ll perform “Physical” with Sue Sylvester. [ET]
- FOX is renewing Glee. for a second season and creating a Glee reality show. The network is holding a casting call to fill three new roles on the show and the auditions will be broadcast as part of a “multipart special” that will air before the show comes back in the fall. [The Wrap]
- If you heard (or care) that Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick are engaged, it’s not true. “They are not engaged to be married,” said Kim Kardashian. “I don’t think Kourtney really is thinking about that right now. She’s not really focused on getting married. I don’t think she wants that responsibility right now. She’s just having a good time loving being a mom. And I think she’s just going to stick with that for right now. [People]
- Check out Richard Heene‘s new mug shot, which was taken today when he reported to jail to start serving his 90-day sentence. [TMZ]
- Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean proposed to his girlfriend Rochelle Deanna Karidis onstage at a Las Vegas nightclub on Friday night. “He got up on stage and the DJ turned the music off. He asked her to come up on stage and he got down on his knee and she squatted down with him,” said an eyewitness. “He asked her and she said yes and hugged him. He took the ring out of his pocket and put it on her hand.” [People]
- Sisqo has been ordered to pay child support to a 25-year-old woman for their 11-year-old son Ian. (Yes, that means she was 14 when Sisqo impregnated her.) The anonymous woman said that over the years, “Ian often saw his father on TV. He’s very proud of him. It’s up to his father to prove he’s right to be proud.” [Perez]
- David Beckham changed his shorts on the field during a soccer match this weekend, and later took his shirt off to celebrate his team’s victory. [Radar]
- When Avril Lavigne filed for divorce from Deryck Whibley he was producing her album Pink Crust. It’s 75 percent done, but now they can’t agree on a production schedule. “The uglier it gets in court, the uglier it gets in the studio,” said a music agent. [Radar]
- Dannii Minogue‘s rep says the rumors that she’s pregnant are not true. [Perez]
- Carmen Electra and Rob Patterson have been engaged for two years but they’re not planning to marry anytime soon. “We’re happy the way things are,” she said, “If we decide [to get married], then we will get married, but we’re just happy being together.” [People]
- On The Real World: D.C. Andrew Woods bragged about being fired from Colorado State University’s newspaper for “purposely trying to offend women and lesbians.” Radar says the cartoons in question show his animated persona joking about raping drunk women and laughing about being one of the pedophiles caught on To Catch A Predator. Charming. [Radar]
- Adam Levine was pulled over in L.A. for not having license plates on his Aston Martin. He was previously pulled over for the same thing in 2008, and both times he got off with just a warning. [TMZ]
- Mark McGwire admitted today that he took steroids during the 1998 season when he hit 70 home runs. “I wish I had never touched steroids,” he said. “It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.” [TMZ]
- Shannen Doherty is being sued by City National Bank for failing to pay off a $90,000 loan. [Radar Online]
- Kenny Chesney bought a $9.2 million mansion in Nashville. [Radar Online]
- Megan Fox bought at $3 million mansion in L.A. [TMZ]
- Nick Nolte: No Exit, a short documentary in which Nolte interviews himself, recently premiered on Sundance channel on-demand. [N.Y. Magazine]
- Andrew Lloyd Webber is cancer-free after undergoing surgery to remove his prostate gland. “It is the hugest relief. We have arrived – at the end of a long journey – at the best possible outcome. In my case, I will be 62 next year and I have five children. Most importantly, I am alive, my children have a father,” he said. [Contact Music]
- Nicole Richie, whose daughter Harlow turned 2 today, Tweeted this morning, “Up super early sneaking around the house in the dark setting up surprises for when my birthday girl wakes up!” [Perez]
- When asked for her thoughts on her ex Marilyn Manson‘s engagement to Evan Rachel Wood, Dita Von Teese said, “I can’t believe you asked me that,” and walked out of an interview. [Daily Express]
- Alan Cumming, who recently became an officer of the British Empire was asked if his husband gets to add an O.B.E. after his name as well now. Cumming said, “I think that’s really interesting; but if you’re a mixed-sex couple, if one is knighted, the other becomes Lady something, and I don’t think there is an equivalent for the man. So I was thinking if it was, say, Sir Brian and Lady Fiona, you become that. But if it’s two men, what does the other one become? Or if it’s two lesbians, Dame somebody – Dame Lesbian, and what’s her girlfriend called, or her partner, or her wife? I think it’s an interesting thing about etiquette, if there’s sort of a new, uh, thing in the British etiquette system.” [N.Y. Magazine]
- “I feel sorry for Tiger Woods,” says Mel Gibson. “Why are we talking about this when we’re sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan? You’ve got this history-changing event going on and we’re talking about Tiger’s private life and golf injuries. He’s being used as a diversion and it just drives me crazy.” [E!]
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