Janet Jackson at the BET Awards

A Michael Jackson Tribute Concert?

The Jackson family, including Janet, may perform in a tribute to Michael next year. AllGood Entertainment had signed the Jacksons to perform a one-off reunion concert on July 3 next year, and was in litigation with Michael, whose manager had also signed the King of Pop up to appear at the concert.

The problem was that, according to the New Jersey based promoter, the agreement included a non-competition clause barring Michael from performing prior to or three months after the single day event. AllGood was seeking to stop the singer from performing in his This Is It concert tour, which was due to begin on July 13 and asking for $20 million in damages.

The reunion concert was set to be a 150-minute show in Texas reuniting all nine Jacksons that would be available on pay-per-view. With Michael gone, it remains to be seen whether the concert will go ahead and whether it will become a tribute to the King of Pop.

Michael Jackson's Unreleased Tracks & Video

A Michael Jackson biographer is claiming today that the singer recorded more than 100 tracks for his kids that may now be released, and while that remains to be seen, there are unreleased Michael Jackson tracks that are probably sitting in a vault at Sony Music, and I'm sure we'll be hearing about them soon.

In a 1992 story in Rolling Stone, the magazine reported that Michael had recorded about 60 songs for his album Dangerous, working with producers including L.A. Reid and Babyface. Additionally, writer J. Randy Taraborrelli claimed in his 2004 book, The Magic and the Madness, that Michael and Quincy Jones recorded more than 300 tracks for Thriller (only nine ended up on the album).

Michael had battled with Sony over his album Invincible and reportedly owed the label millions, so execs at Sony will no doubt see these unreleased tracks as a way to recoup their losses. I just hope they let Quincy Jones take the helm on the release of these tracks as I'd hate to see Michael's musical legacy tarnished by the release of substandard work.

In addition to the music, we might end up seeing a video of Michael's last performance, filmed the night before he died. Michael was in rehearsals for his tour, This Is It, that was set to begin in London on July 13, and according to TheWrap.com, his rehearsal on Wednesday night was recorded in multi-camera, high-definition video and multi-track audio and could be released as an album and DVD (sadly titled "This Is It").

One exec from concert promoter AEG boasted, “We have a live album in the can.” But I wouldn't be so sure about that. Magician Ed Alonzo, who was working on the tour, and was present at the rehearsal on Wednesday night, told US magazine that Michael had throat problems. "He said, 'I'm not going to sing this full-out because I have this laryngitis.'"

However, Ed said Michael was in a good mood that night, and was dancing in his trademark style and joking around with the crew. "There was a cameraman on stage ... that was a foot away from him that was kind of crouched down and Michael said some kind of funny gesture like, ‘Oh you're very close, look how close you are.' And he reached down and touched the cameraman on the top of the head in a joking manner," Ed told Us magazine. "You could see on the screen how big Michael's image was on these projection screens. He was playful and light-hearted."

Kenny Ortega, who was producing and directing the This Is It concert tour, sent the following message out via Twitter on Saturday: "You are not alone in the desire to see Michael celebrated with a Tribute that honors his final work TII We are working to make that real."

Michael Jackson: Troubled Genius

John Mayer asked an interesting question today on Twitter: In the case of "troubled genius," which comes first, the trouble or the genius?

He was referring, of course, to Michael Jackson, but he could have been talking about countless other celebrities, from Judy Garland to Elvis Presley to Janis Joplin.

While it will be many weeks until the final results of Michael’s autopsy reveal whether prescription drugs played a part in his death yesterday at the age of 50, Liza Minnelli (who was a close friend of Michael’s) voiced the thoughts of many on the Early Show. “I'm sure when the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose," she said. "So thank God we're celebrating him now."

And while I spent today watching video after video on MTV Jams, celebrating the legendary talent that was Michael Jackson’s legacy, it was hard not to think about the darker side of fame.

They say that the brightest stars burn out the quickest. But in the world of entertainment, those who are the brightest and shiniest often end up victims of the dark hangers-on who, like vampires, feed on their talent and suck them dry.

John Mayer alluded to the dark side on Twitter today when he mentioned blues guitarist Robert Johnson, who according to legend sold his soul to the devil in exchange for the ability to sing and play guitar like no one else on earth.

But I believe the devil in Michael Jackson’s life was the specter of a lost childhood—and the ripple effects played a significant role in the rest of his life. We’ve all heard about the abuse that Michael suffered at the hands of his father, Joe. Michael lamented the loss of his innocence and the chance to be a carefree kid in the song “Childhood.”

“No one understands me / They view it as such strange eccentricities / Cause I keep kidding around / Like a child, but pardon me,” Michael wrote. “People say I'm not okay/ Cause I love such elementary things / It's been my fate to compensate / for the childhood / I've never known.”

He sought to make up for those lost years in the company of children, and that led to allegations of child abuse. He paid a multimillion-dollar settlement in 1993 to a 13-year-old boy he allegedly abused (charges were never filed).

The damage was done. Michael turned to prescription drugs like Valium and Xanax to deal with the pressure of the allegations.

When asked about his relationships with children in an interview with journalist Martin Bashir in 2003, Michael said he sometimes slept on the floor while giving the children his bed, which he said was “not sexual, we’re going to sleep. I tuck them in...it’s very charming, it’s very sweet.”

"Why can't you share your bed?” he asked. “That's the most loving thing to do, to share your bed with someone.”

The interview opened the door to another investigation; this time it went to trial. Michael was found not guilty, but people seem to forget that.

Deepak Chopra described his friend as “pure” and “childlike” but the tabloids called him Wacko Jacko.

Sure, it was hard to look at Michael’s changing face over the years and not notice his lighter skin color and diminishing nose, but is what he did any different to countless other celebrities who had plastic surgery?

Lisa Marie Presley, who was married to Michael for two years, said today that Michael had told her he was afraid he’d end up like her father.

Like the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the King of Pop found himself isolated by his talent. Elvis resorted to booking out whole cinemas in order to go to the movies. But Michael didn’t.

His friend Gotham Chopra (son of Deepak) wrote today, “Michael was always envious when I told him about my adventures with my friends. More than a few times, he'd get dressed up—donning some sort of quasi-disguise—preparing to go with me, only to back down at the last minute or be held back by his security who would shake their heads and plainly say no to his misguided ambitions. Instead, he'd pour himself a tall glass of orange juice and settle in for the night to watch an old movie on TV.”

While TMZ talks about injections of Demerol, lawyer Brian Oxman speaks to anyone with a microphone about “enablers,” and people who hadn’t seen Michael Jackson in 15 years tell CNN that his death has left a hole in their heart, I am still trying to Moonwalk in my living room and hoping that up in heaven Michael Jackson is teaching everyone the steps to "Thriller" and smiling.

Farrah, You Will Not Be Forgotten

Poor Farrah Fawcett, who lost her brave three-year battle with cancer yesterday, has been pushed aside by the outpouring of grief over the loss of Michael Jackson.

RIP Farrah. I spent a lot of time in the 1970s trying to copy your iconic hairstyle, now it will be your determination to live and enjoy your life that will be my inspiration.

Paula Abdul to Choreograph Michael Jackson Tribute on SYTYCD?

I just saw the following Tweet from So You Think You Can Dance's Nigel Lythgoe to Paula Abdul:

"@PaulaAbdul along with@adammshankman I follow you too. Will you choreograph an MJ tribute for us this week?"

No!!!! It should be Wade Robson, who grew up idolizing MJ and knew him.



UPDATE: Paula has sent the following Tweet to Nigel: "Have your people call my people Nigel and let's do it! lol"

She also made clear to her Twitter followers that she had a close working relationship with Michael and the Jackson clan: "I started my career doing choreography for the Jackson family! I was honored and blessed to get to work with them.

"I was mesmerized every time I watched Michael rehearse& then transform on stage- he was a magical genius and his legend will live on forever.

"I worked w/ the whole family when they got ready for the Reunion tour,1st video was 'Torture' & did the Victory tour."

I sent her a Tweet asking her to work with Wade on the tribute.

Lisa Marie Presley: Michael Predicted He'd Die Young

Lisa Marie Presley, who was married to Michael Jackson for two years has posted the following on her My Space page.

When I was a kid I so wanted to be Lisa Marie, but now, not so much. And today, not at all. Heartbreaking.

Friday, June 26, 2009
He Knew.

Years ago Michael and I were having a deep conversation about life in general.

I can't recall the exact subject matter but he may have been questioning me about the circumstances of my Fathers Death.

At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, "I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did."

I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that.

14 years later I am sitting here watching on the news an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home, the big gates, the crowds outside the gates, the coverage, the crowds outside the hospital, the Cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me, as did the unstoppable tears.

A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened. The person I failed to help is being transferred right now to the LA County Coroners office for his Autopsy.

All of my indifference and detachment that I worked so hard to achieve over the years has just gone into the bowels of hell and right now I am gutted.

I am going to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once.

Our relationship was not "a sham" as is being reported in the press. It was an unusual relationship yes, where two unusual people who did not live or know a "Normal life" found a connection, perhaps with some suspect timing on his part. Nonetheless, I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much.

I wanted to "save him" I wanted to save him from the inevitable which is what has just happened.

His family and his loved ones also wanted to save him from this as well but didn't know how and this was 14 years ago.

We all worried that this would be the outcome then. At that time, In trying to save him, I almost lost myself.

He was an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated. When he used it for something good, It was the best and when he used it for something bad, It was really, REALLY bad.

Mediocrity was not a concept that would even for a second enter Michael Jackson's being or actions.

I became very ill and emotionally/ spiritually exhausted in my quest to save him from certain self-destructive behavior and from the awful vampires and leeches he would always manage to magnetize around him.

I was in over my head while trying. I had my children to care for, I had to make a decision.

The hardest decision I have ever had to make, which was to walk away and let his fate have him, even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow.

After the Divorce, I spent a few years obsessing about him and what I could have done different, in regret. Then I spent some angry years at the whole situation.

At some point, I truly became Indifferent, until now.

As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness, reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date, watching on the news almost play by play The exact Scenario I saw happen on August 16th, 1977 happening again right now with Michael (A sight I never wanted to see again) just as he predicted, I am truly, truly gutted.

Any ill experience or words I have felt towards him in the past has just died inside of me along with him.

He was an amazing person and I am lucky to have gotten as close to him as I did and to have had the many experiences and years that we had together.

I desperately hope that he can be relieved from his pain, pressure and turmoil now.

He deserves to be free from all of that and I hope he is in a better place or will be.

I also hope that anyone else who feels they have failed to help him can be set free because he hopefully finally is.

The World is in shock but somehow he knew exactly how his fate would be played out some day more than anyone else knew, and he was right.

I really needed to say this right now, thanks for listening.

~LMP

Paris Hilton Was Friends With Michael Jackson? Who Knew

Paris Hilton has been Twittering about Michael Jackson (as has just about everyone else in the world, celebs included). Turns out she knew him through her mom. Interesting.

"I'm still in shock about Michael. My mom grew up with him since they were teenagers and I've known him all my life. He was amazing, so sad," Paris said in a Tweet.

"Michael and his kids were just at my house a few months ago, I can't believe I will never see him again. He was such a kind and gentle soul."

She posted the pic above and the one below of her, her sister, Nicky, Nicole Richie and Michael.

I am not a Paris Hilton fan, but agree with her sentiment here: "Life is short and precious. Be good and true. Enjoy every moment like it's your last. You never know when it might be your time to go. Peace."

Michael Jackson + Herb Ritts + Naomi Campbell = Genius. "In the Closet"

One of my favorites. Coincidentally Herb Ritts also died at the age of 50.

Farewell, Michael Jackson

Today I lost a piece of my childhood. As a kid who grew up in the '70s, Michael Jackson was part of the fabric of my life.

In truth, I can't remember a time when I didn't know who he was. From watching the Jackson 5ive cartoon on Saturday mornings, to trying to copy his Moonwalk (and failing), to seeing him in concert twice, to wearing out my copy of Thriller, Michael Jackson was always there.

The first time he toured Australia, I had a friend whose sister was working as a maid at Michael’s hotel. She and some of her co-workers went to clean Michael’s suite and found the carpet had been pulled up and Michael in the center of the room working up a sweat, dancing. “Come and dance with me,” he said softly, smiling, “Come on.” They giggled and shook their heads, worried they would get into trouble if they did, but a voice in their heads was also saying, “Only a fool would try to dance with Michael Jackson.” It would have been like trying to take on Michael Phelps in the pool. But that image is one that has always stayed with me. A lonely guy isolated by his awe-inspiring talent.

He was a man who brought so much happiness to the world, and exhibited such exuberance and joy, but I don’t think Michael Jackson was a happy person. Robbed of his childhood and subjected to abuse by his father, it’s not surprising to me that when Michael grew up, he loved to spend time in the company of children. But that came at a cost. He paid a multimillion-dollar settlement in 1993 to a 13-year-old boy he allegedly abused (charged were never filed), but was acquitted of similar accusations in 2003. I think people tend to forget that he was found not guilty.

Michael began taking painkillers and sedatives like Valium and Xanax in the wake of the child abuse charges. And while he is said to have died of a cardiac arrest today, I fear that (like Elvis Presley) an autopsy will find that Michael died of complications from prescription drug abuse.

It’s hard not to draw comparisons between Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. The King of Pop and King of Rock and Roll had so many similarities beyond their talent. And their connections were solidified when Michael married Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie, in 1994, when Michael was reeling from the child abuse allegations and turning to drugs. “I didn’t believe he did it,” Lisa Marie said. “I wanted to save him. I felt like I could do it.”

But two years later they split and Michael Jackson’s downhill spiral continued. The following years saw the man who broke a record as “the first entertainer to earn 100 million dollars in one year” teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. (Coincidentally, Elvis reportedly had less than $1,000,000 when he died.)

In the same way that people of a certain age can tell you where they were when John F. Kennedy and Elvis died, in years to come, we’ll all remember where we were when Michael Jackson died. But rather than recall June 25, 2009, I will remember the music, the dancing, the man. Thanks for the memories, Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson - Remember The Time
by hushhush112

TMZ Claimed Michael Jackson Was Dead At Different Times

TMZ has a habit of backtiming their stories to look like they have got the exclusive on almost every celebrity news story.

The following story showed up on TMZ's website at 5:20 p.m. today.

Then a few minutes later, they backtimed the story to 4:00 p.m.

Realizing they might be in trouble for doing that (as we learned later from Jermaine Jackson that Michael only arrived at UCLA Medical Center at 3:14 and was worked on for an hour), they quickly switched back to 5:20 p.m. again.

Click on the pics to see enlarged versions of the page that clearly show the times.

Lame.

Breckin Meyer Responds To Perez Hilton

Love me some Breckin Meyer. I hope Perez realizes how ridiculous this week has been.

Breckin Meyer Responds to Perez Hilton - watch more funny videos

Hugh Jackman Meets With Miley Cyrus

The Daily Express is reporting that Hugh Jackman had a meeting with Miley Cyrus and her mom at Morton's Steakhouse in L.A.

"They had a few producer-type folks with them. It looked like some sort of business," a diner told the Daily Express.

OK, so here's my guess on what they were meeting about. Hugh is set to star in a film called Personal Security, playing a tough New York City cop who is forced to be a bodyguard for a spoiled heiress.

Miley as a spoiled heiress? Not much of a stretch is you ask me.

Jeremy Piven Slams I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here

Jeremy Piven is obviously feeling pretty good about his career at the moment.

He said on Twitter today: "Off the record I'm running lines so I don't have to eat blended dung beatles in the jungle for cash and prizes..."

Must be suffering from mercury-inspired short-term memory loss—he's obviously forgotten about the atomic fallout over his early departure from Speed the Plow on Broadway.

Jeremy, if you ask me, you are about one plate of sushi away from it. Entourage won't last forever, ya know.

And I'd avoid running into Lou Diamond Phillips in the future. He's looking lean and mean after eating all those dung beetles in the jungle. He could take you.

And I don't think he'll take you up on your offer to hug it out.

Adam Lambert On Glee

Perez Hilton just Tweeted that Adam Lambert has filmed a cameo on Glee, to air in the fall.

Perfect casting!

A former high school theater geek on a show about high school theater geeks.

Can't wait.

Time For A Makeover, Kate Gosselin

Now that the Gosselins have finally called it quits, you know what that means—it's time for Kate Gosselin to have a breakup makeover!

And the first thing I would start on is that heinous hair.

Thanks to ivillage.com, I can show Kate how much better she'd look if she tried on a celeb hairstyle.




She's about as well-liked as Sarah Palin.


Maybe she wants to take the style of a similarly named star, like Katie Holmes.


While, it wouldn't be much of a difference from her current hairstyle, there is nothing very Posh about Kate.


Somehow, I don't think Michelle Obama would be flattered.



Alas Kate is not a cool mom like Gwen Stefani.


Funnily enough, I think Paris Hilton's hairstyle suits her.


Hasn't Jennifer Aniston been through enough???

Separated at Birth? Johnny Depp & Elijah Wood

US Airlines Have The Worst Food In The World

It's official. Three US airlines have been voted as having the worst food in a poll conducted by SeatGuru.com. Participants said that American, United and US Airways had the worst meals, while Singapore Airlines had the best.

When it came to other categories, those three airlines didn't fare any better, also being voted as having the most uncomfortable economy and business class seats and the rudest flight attendants.

Now I know why I find the flights from the US to Australia so hellish!

When asked which celebrity couple they would most like to sit between, the respondents overwhelmingly said they didn't want to sit next to anyone (56%). Out of those who don't mind getting up close and personal with a star, the most popular choices were President Obama and the First Lady, followed by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the Beckhams, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, and Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen.

I'd rather sit next to Mini-Me. He wouldn't take up any room at all, I could easily climb over him to get to the bathroom and he'd probably get drunk straight away, fall asleep and not bother me for the rest of the flight.

Emma Watson Is Flawless In Teen Vogue

Wow! Talk about growing up right in front of our eyes! Emma Watson looks amazing in the new issue of Teen Vogue.

We initially met Emma when she was 9 years old in the first Harry Potter film; now she's 19! Boy, that makes me feel really old.

Emma plans to juggle filming the last Harry Potter movie with university, where is set to study
English literature and art and live in the freshman dorms with a roommate (which her co-star Daniel Radcliffe told her was crazy). But Emma claims, "I really want anonymity."

She says she's not sure about continuing her career in acting: "There's not, like, a burning passion in me that I have to act and I don't care what I do. Until something comes along that I feel as strongly about as I did Hermione—like, I felt that it was life or death—I don't want to act again."

Light Really Does Shine Out of Beyonce's Ass

Twilight's Edward Meets Buffy The Wampire Slayer

Brilliant.

Look-Alike Couples: Kelly Osbourne Is Turning Into Her Boyfriend Luke Worrall

Kelly Osbourne has been known to change her look now and then, but in her latest makeover she has morphed into her boyfriend, model Luke Worrall.

The couple was photographed at Milan Fashion Week with matching peroxided 'dos.

What is it about celeb couples that they feel the need to look like each other?

Is is the inner actor that feels they need to mirror their partner?

Kelly isn't the first one to do it and she won't be the last. Take a look at these celeb look-alike couples.

Brad Pitt is a serial look-alike offender.

It began with Gwyneth Paltrow, moved on to Jennifer Aniston (they got matching highlights for their wedding day) and then Angelina Jolie.

I find it cheesy. Kind of like dressing twins in matching outfits.

Tom Cruise couldn't pull it off with Nicole Kidman (her curly red hair probably got in the way), but he's managed to transform current wife Katie Holmes into a not-so-mini me.

Then Katie did played the look-alike card with their daughter, Suri.

But it didn't work out quite so successfully for J.Lo when she went ghetto for Diddy.

And Jessica Simpson really showed that she was a dumb blonde when she dyed her hair brown to match then-beau John Mayer's.

As if that was the key to a lasting relationship with that love rat.

Ashlee Simpson is following in her big sister's footsteps in more ways than one. She's sporting the same sideswept bangs as her rocker husband, Pete Wentz.

Does the couple that straightens together stay together? Maybe. As long as they don't fight over custody of the eyeliner.

iPhone Art: Ditch Your Paintbrush

OK, this might be the thing that makes me finally buy the iPhone.

You can use a program called Brushes to create mini works of art that make a video of the work in progress.

Brilliant!

The $4.99 program allows you to use different brush strokes, to zoom in and to erase and redraw. All with your finger!

Retired graphic artist Susan Murtaugh, who did the peony painting below, sells prints of her digital art (you can see her creations here) and Jorge Colombo recently used Brushes to create a cover image for the New Yorker magazine.

Check out the ABC News report on the phenomenon.



Here's a look at the creation of a mini masterpiece.

TMI on Twitter?

Attention celebrities. Remember how you have complained about your lack of privacy and the media’s constant presence in your lives?

Well, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t demand to be left alone and then tell the world about the minutiae of your life and wonder why the press and paparazzi are interested. It’s time to shut up already.

I am stunned and more than a little amused by the updates stars feel compelled to Tweet to their followers. Over the past few days, Dancing With the Stars’ Lacey Schwimmer told me she had boiled chicken and steamed vegetables for lunch and that she thought the new season of So You Think You Can Dance is “blah.” Al Roker told me that Bob Costas used a Clorox wipe to remove Mr. Goodbar from his white pants at the US Open. Kirstie Alley told me she was hungry. Sherri Shepherd told me she cried during her workout with her evil trainer. Jeremy Piven asked me to hang with him at a bar in Chicago. Hairspray director Adam Shankman told me he was missing his dogs and that he wouldn’t be home in L.A. for a while (burglars take note). Ryan Seacrest told me he had a meeting with Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay Lohan sent me a topless picture of herself, told me that Justin Timberlake was cheating on Jessica Biel and then claimed that her Twitter account had been hacked. And Jane Fonda showed me a picture of her naked knee before she had surgery on it.

While Twitter has demonstrated its usefulness as an information tool during the current Iran election protests, I find the compulsion that the famous and not-so-famous have to share everything on Twitter is reminiscent of a kid standing in the middle of the playground and shouting “Look at me! Look at me!”

Self-affirmation? Yes. Self-promotion? Definitely. Self-indulgent? Absolutely.

And, like watching a car crash or I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, I am mesmerized and powerless to look away.

Lacey Schwimmer Slams So You Think You Can Dance

Lacey Schwimmer, who didn't win So You Think You Can Dance, and is now a featured performer on Dancing With The Stars, is slamming the show that introduced her to the world via her Twitter account.

Her comments began on June 11, when the top 20 performed on the show, and she said, "Is at home watching a certain reality show....and is very disappointed :/"

But this week she followed it up with: "a certain reality show is starting to get on my nerves. no longer professionals....just generic...blah" and "uhhmm im sorry im beeing catty but im like gasping for air on how bad it is this season."

Then she responded to one Twitterer who was sad that Max was cut. Lacey said: "honestly hes no partner dancer....yuck"

Ouch!

And that's when people started to get a little annoyed. And I agree with them, who died and made Lacey Schwimmer the dancing queen?

But she snapped back and reminded us all: "maybe you forget i went to top 4 on sytycd? and have more qualifing dance credits than many." She want on to defend herself, saying,"i never said i wasnt greatful....infact i love it for what it has done for me and my brother and friends."

But the battle continued to rage and Lacey responded: "all 3 people who are not liking my opinion... relax....i know what dancing is. and im allowed an opinion...sorry you feel the need to attack."

I for one am looking forward to what she says this week. But if she criticizes Evan Kasprzak or Brandon Bryant, she'd better watch out!

Ryan Kasprzak's Season 6 Audition for SYTYCD

Yay! Ryan Kasprzak has made it to Vegas for the next season of So You Think You Can Dance.



Below, he explains the tattoo he and his brother Evan share.


He's even come up with a name for fans Kasprzaktivists.

In an interview with the Oakland Press, Ryan revealed that he there was an upside to being cut in season 5.

“If I had moved on, there would not be as much upside for me as there is for Evan,” he admits. “It’s a wonderful gift because now people are talking about me as a choreographer. If I was on the show as a dancer, that conversation wouldn’t be happening. I still get to be a part of the show because I’m still choreographing for Evan. For me it’s like having two seasons — one choreographing and next season I’ll be dancing. Yeah, I’m upset, but I understand, plus it’s really been a surprising gift.”

So even though Nigel Lythgoe said he wouldn't bring Ryan in as a choreographer this season, Ryan is getting to choreograph Evan's solo performances, which we'll get to see if (gasp) he ends up in the bottom three.

Simon Cowell Admits He Made Mistakes With Susan Boyle

Simon Cowell has admitted that he made mistakes over the handling of Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent.

In a candid first-person piece for the UK's Daily Mail, Simon responded to the criticism over his handling of some of the young contestants on the show (who ended up sobbing and in tears) and of the frumpy 48-year-old internet sensation (who ended up in a psychiatric hospital after losing the competition).

"Looking back on it all, it has become clear to me that we didn't handle the situation with Susan as well as we could have," he admitted. "Yet to be honest, when I analyse exactly what happened, I don't know that I could have done it any differently."

"I had never met Susan Boyle before she walked on to the stage in the Glasgow auditions. I remember vaguely thinking 'I hope she is not another singer', as we'd had so many that day. Then after she sang, I thought she had come over well, but not sensationally. I certainly didn't think: 'Here comes a phenomenon who is going to become the most famous woman in the world, I wonder if she can mentally cope with it?' I thought she looked a bit eccentric and certainly a character, but that was all.

"Then, several weeks later, after Susan had become a global sensation, we were on a satellite link to the Oprah show together. She seemed fine with all the attention - I thought she was utterly charming and really thrilled with what had happened. I thought - perhaps naively - that she was in control. When I asked her if she was enjoying herself, she replied: 'Simon, I am having the time of my life.' I was pleased. I thought whatever happens, we have changed this lady's life.

"Then, in the semi-finals, the pressure and her nerves were beginning to get the better of her. As the final approached, I started getting calls from the production team. It had become clear that Susan was finding the experience difficult to cope with. So I said, 'Make sure she has a friend with her all the time. Make sure she has any help that she needs.'

"Just before the final, I went to see her. She looked tired, but had one of her closest friends with her who was being a great support. I said: 'Susan, are you sure this is still all OK?' And again she said, yes, she was fine. I told her the most important thing was that she enjoyed the experience; that it had to be the best night of her life.

"Even then, I didn't pick up on any unduly troubling signs. She was nervous, yes, but...she understood the significance of the night. Then, during the final show, at the crucial point when the dance group Diversity won, I looked over at her face and thought: 'Christ, she doesn't know how to deal with not winning.'

"It was a bad moment. Afterwards, I went over and gave her a hug and tried to reassure her. 'Susan,' I said, 'my offer to record an album with you still stands.' And we agreed that we would work together; that it wasn't the end of the road for her.

"After that, I left the studio. I remember having a drink that night and trying to relax, but still feeling a bit strange. Something just didn't feel right. And sure enough, it wasn't. No need to repeat the details here - that wouldn't be fair to Susan.

"On a practical level, the question was whether she wanted to go ahead with the Britain's Got Talent live tour. I wasn't sure, so we gave her the opportunity of not taking part. But, after a few days at home in Scotland, Susan was determined that she wanted to do at least some of the dates.

"It was agreed that it would be under her terms, and whenever she felt it was too tiring she could choose not to participate. The nights she has performed have been incredible. There are still ups and downs, yes, but, when she does perform I am thrilled by the reception she gets. Suffice it to say that whatever happens in the weeks ahead, I will continue to support her.

"But the question remains: Should we have done things differently? Perhaps the ones who can best answer that are Susan Boyle's family. Last week, I met them in my London office and I asked them: 'Tell me honestly; did we do right or did we do wrong?'

"What I meant was, was it right to allow Susan to carry on performing in the show once it became clear that she was finding it stressful? And they said, unanimously, that we did the right thing. They said that Susan has always wanted to sing and had sat at home for years, wishing that she had a chance.

"We had given her that opportunity. Even so, all this has raised some serious issues about the show, primarily about who should be on it and who should not. Should someone like Susan Boyle, a woman who was naive dealing with fame and that kind of exposure, be on it? Should we impose a minimum entry age and introduce some form of stricter psychological screening for applicants?

"I'm not so sure. How could that work? There is no easy way of achieving fame, and no guaranteed or trusted way of dealing with it. Facing a series of public votes on a talent show is psychologically tough. Yet who has the right to ban Susan Boyle, or anyone like her, from trying to sing her way out of one life and into another? She is one of those people - and there are millions of them in this country - who simply need a break. Nobody pays them any attention.

"Now, for the first time in her life, people are looking at Susan Boyle. Yes, there have been problems, but overall I think it is a positive experience for her. I'm glad we gave her this opportunity and - more importantly - I think Susan is as well."

Did Ryan Seacrest Use Twitter to Hire Linday Lohan?

Casting agents of the world beware, you could be replaced by Twitter!

On Tuesday, Ryan Seacrest turned to Twitter with the following question: "I'm casting a new show that will help kids- schools-famalies I need a celeb anchor who was been given a second chance one u guys like???"

Two days later Ryan was spotted out in Hollywood with none other than Lindsay Lohan. And, lest it be seen by the world as a date, he and Lindsay Twittered on Friday about their meeting.

"Met with lindsay last night about a show idea I have for her..it helps people and gives others a second shot! Still putting it all together," Ryan revealed.

While Ryan said that he was still putting it all together, Lindsay clearly thought she already had the job, saying: "Working on a really great project for television- I am excited! Something meaningful like Extreme Home Makeover on ABC.. :)"

Happy 100th Birthday Errol Flynn

Swashbuckling action hero Errol Flynn would have turned 100 today. The Aussie best known for playing swordsman Robin Hood passed away in 1959 at the age of 50, but he crammed a lot of living into his short life.

"The only time he wasn't living was when he was asleep, and even then I think he dreamt well," said his second wife, Nora.

Larger than life onscreen, Errol's charm offscreen helped to make him a legendary ladies man. Charged but acquitted of statutory rape in the 1940s, he was mocked by the press and inspired the phrase "In Like Flynn."

Olivia DeHavilland starred in several films with Errol and their chemistry on screen was undeniable. The 92-year-old actress recently spoke to researchers from the Royal Society of Chemistry about her relationship with Errol, which has been speculated on for years.

"We were very attracted to each other," she admitted. "In his autobiography, My Wicked, Wicked Ways, he wrote about falling in love with me.

"Yes, we did fall in love and I believe that this is evident in the screen chemistry between us. But his circumstances at the time prevented the relationship going further [he was married to actress Lili Damita].

"I have not talked about it a great deal but the relationship was not consummated. Chemistry was there though. It was there."

While he was never nominated for an Oscar, there was no one like Errol Flynn on film, and there will never be anyone like him again.

To quote his former boss, Jack Warner, "He was all the heroes in one magnificent, sexy, animal package. I just wish we had someone around today half as good as Flynn."

Amen.

Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz Share Another Man

What is it with Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz?

They are like a couple of high school cheerleaders they way they share their boyfriends.

The stars have both dated John Mayer and Paul Sculfor, and now they have another man in common—Bradley Cooper.

I sincerely hope that there has been some serious condom usage going on here.



Jen and Bradley were spotted stepping out to dinner together this week, despite Bradley denying that they were a couple just last month.

In May, Bradley said, "I met her three times in my life. I'm very flattered. My mom loves it, but unfortunately it's not true."

What is wrong with Jennifer and Cameron? They seriously have built-in "crap man" detectors.

I mean, Bradley was married to Jennifer Esposito for just four months before she filed for divorce. Am I the only one who hears alarm bells ringing?

Didn't dating John Mayer teach Jennifer anything about love rats?

Maybe Jennifer Aniston just doesn't want to find her happily ever after.

SYTYCD Janette and Brandon Do Disco

So many great perfomances tonight on So You Think You Can Dance, but one of my favorites was this is fast, fast, supersonic fast disco number. Lil C, who'd hated Brandon Bryant almost as much as Mia Michaels did during the auditions, loved him tonight. Mia is choreographing the group number this week, let's see if she gives Brandon a hard time...
PS. Lil C talks so much crap. I thought it was funny at first, but now I'm kinda over him. Bring back Adam Shankman!!!!

New Fame Trailer

Debbie Allen is there, so is Kherington Payne, along with Bebe Neuwirth, Kelsey Grammer (Lilith and Frasier reunion!) and Megan Mullally. Can't wait till September!

Katie Holmes on So You Think You Can Dance: A Scientology Conspiracy!

Why is Katie Holmes preparing to kick up her heels on So You Think You Can Dance? There's something about this that is bugging me and I can’t stop thinking about it. After all, the show isn’t Dancing With the Stars! I think I see a Scientology conspiracy.

Here’s how it plays out in my fevered mind. Nigel Lythgoe, who executive produces So You Think You Can Dance, has been romantically linked to Priscilla Presley (a prominent Scientologist and former Dancing With the Stars contestant), Katie is also a Scientologist (thanks to her marriage to L. Ron Hubbard’s no. 1 disciple, Tom Cruise). Katie’s connection with Nigel obviously began a couple of months back, when she and daughter Suri suddenly appeared in the audience of American Idol (which Nigel also exec produces).

Another piece of the puzzle: ABC has committed to do a new celebrity dancing series, called Let’s Dance. Based on a BBC show, it will feature celebrities recreating iconic dance scenes (think Dirty Dancing, Footloose…), with viewers calling in to vote, and all the proceeds going to charity. It’s being produced by FremantleMedia, not Nigel Lythgoe’s 19 Entertainment.

Now we’ve learned that Katie is going to recreate Judy Garland’s famous "Get Happy" routine for So You Think You Can Dance.

So here’s my theory. Nigel is planning a competing show to Let’s Dance (which isn’t going to air until the end of the year). And it’s going to feature Scientologists dancing to great movie scenes. Coming soon? John Travolta recreates Gene Kelly’s Singing in the Rain routine.

You read it here first!

UPDATE: I am onto something here. Nigel reportedly met up with Katie at the Scientology Center in L.A. Here he is outside the center on June 5. Nigel a Scientologist???? They're everywhere!

Al Roker Hates Spencer and Heidi Pratt

Al Roker clearly doesn't like Spencer and Heidi Pratt. On the Today show this morning, he nailed Heidi on whether she was proud of their behavior on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here. She reluctantly said she was.

The couple then went on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and Heidi claimed she cried after the Today interview with Al, and said that women should "be careful around him because I feel like he definitely attacked me and I didn’t deserve that at all." Spencer, in typical style, complained about being interviewed by a weatherman when he thought he was going to talk to Matt Lauer. Al wasn't done, either, he Twittered that the Pratts showed, "Bad and vacuous behavior. I think we're at minute 11 of their 15." He is scheduled to be on Ryan Seacrest's show on Thursday to talk about Speidi.

Then the shameless pair were on The View, where Whoopi Goldberg made it clear that she thinks they are worse than dirt. They couldn't give straight answers to most of the questions they were asked, including whether they were paid to return to I'm A Celebrity after they left.

Joy Behar asked Heidi about her claim that she wants to be Mother Teresa, and how posing for Playboy fits into that. Heidi claims she meant a "modern" Mother Theresa.

Spencer then proclaimed that he is going to run for president with Sarah Palin, and Barbara Walters told Spencer she wouldn't vote for him.

Here's a link to The View interview.

Happy Birthday Boy George

Unsavory arrests, drug addiction and jail time aside, Boy George has (or had) a really beautiful voice. He turns 48 today.

Adam Lambert Says He Is Bi-curious

On 20/20 last night, Adam Lambert admitted that he's been known to make out with girls from time to time and said, "Who knows? Maybe it'll go further some day. I don't know." I guess he wants to keep his female friends hoping. I do wish that moms of gay teens could be as open and loving as his mom. And for those who are going to see Idol on tour, it looks as if Adam is singing David Bowie's "Fame."

Michael Phelps Really Wants To Be Like Mark Spitz

Either that or he's looking at a new career in porn.

Kristen Stewart Really Does Look Like Joan Jett

Amazing what a haircut and some black dye can do.

Catherine Zeta Jones Pregnant?

I think I spy a baby bump.

Today Alaska, Tomorrow Hollywood!

Alaska's Rat Island is finally rat-free, 229 years after a Japanese shipwreck spilled rampaging rodents onto the remote island, decimating the local bird population.

After dropping poison onto the island from helicopter-hoisted buckets for a week and a half last autumn, there are no signs of living rats and some birds have returned, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Next on the list for the Fish and Wildlife Service's rat eradication program? Tinseltown.

Watch out, Speidi!

Sarah Palin Is Totally Lacking The Humor Gene

Oh spare me. Sarah Palin has climbed back on her soapbox this week and is crying foul over a joke that David Letterman made about her daughter.
Letterman devoted his Top 10 earlier this week to the Palins’ visit to NYC and joked about them being at a baseball game where their daughter got knocked up by A-Rod.

I, like most other people, immediately assumed he was talking about Bristol, the 18-year-old who got knocked up by her boyfriend, had a baby and subsequently split with said baby daddy. And I laughed.

But I, like most other people, was wrong. It was one of the Palins' other daughters, Willow, 14, who was at the baseball game.

Honest mistake, if you ask me.

After all everyone knows the Palins have a daughter who’s a single mom, but what do we know about their other children, apart from one having Down’s Syndrome? Not so much.

And the two sisters look very much alike.

But Sarah doesn’t believe in excuses unless she’s the one making them up.

“Regardless of which daughter it was — inappropriate,” she said, calling it a “sexist, perverted joke.”

But she didn’t stop there. She claimed “it would be wise to keep Willow away from David Letterman.” Say what? The man made a joke, albeit one in somewhat poor taste, but that doesn’t make him a child molester. Jeez.

Then she told the Today show’s Matt Lauer that he is "extremely naive" if he believes Letterman's "convenient excuse" that his joke was directed at Bristol, claiming it took him several days to come up with that excuse. Lady, Letterman may be many things, but he’s definitely not slow.

While Letterman has addressed his comment, he hasn’t apologized outright. When Matt Lauer asked if she wanted an apology, Sarah said: "I would like to see him apologize to young women across the country for contributing to that, kind of that thread that is throughout our culture that makes it sound like it's OK to talk about young girls in that way. Where it's kind of OK, accepted, and funny to talk about statutory rape. It's not cool. It's not funny."

She also called on “people to start really rising up.” I can see it now, pitchforks and torches outside the Ed Sullivan Theater. Anyone who makes a joke should be shot on sight! We won’t tolerate humor in America!

Then here’s the bit that really peeved me, the governor of Alaska claimed that Letterman’s joke contributed to the “acceptance of abuse of young women.” I see abuse of a young woman here, but it’s her mother who is doing it. Sarah, who has complained about the liberal media’s intrusion into her family life, is pushing her 14-year-old daughter into the spotlight and subjecting her to derision all for the sake of publicity.

If you ask me, there should definitely be an apology, but it should be Sarah apologizing to Willow for selfishly using her to self-promote. To quote Sarah, “It’s not cool. It’s not funny.”

Nia Vardalos Talks Richard Dreyfuss, Jaws and More

I got to ask Nia Vardalos a few questions for my friend Erik's website uinterview.com.

Jason Glover & Caitlin Kinney Do Bollywood

I'm a huge Bollywood fan and loved this number.

Not to get too deep or anything, but it made me a little emotional that on the same day that a white supremacist went on a gun rampage at the Holocaust Museum on Washington D.C. this primetime show featured multicultural dances, like this Bollywood number, and teamed dancers of all colors together.

Can art change the world? I sincerely hope so.

Evan Kasprzak and Randi Strong-Evans 1st Dance

So smooth. Adam Shankman told Evan, "I see no style that you can't conquer."

Adam Lambert States The Obvious In Rolling Stone

Adam Lambert revealed the worst kept secret in the world to Rolling Stone: He's gay!
“I don’t think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I’m gay,” he says, stating the obvious.

“I’m proud of my sexuality,” Adam adds. “I embrace it. It’s just another part of me.”

He also admits that he thinks Idol winner Kris Allen is cute: "I was like, 'Oh, s–, they put me with the cute guy,' "Lambert recalls of bunking in the Idol mansion with Allen. "Distracting! He's the one guy that I found attractive in the whole group on the show: nice, nonchalant, pretty and totally my type – except that he has a wife. I mean, he's open-minded and liberal, but he's definitely 100 percent straight."

And he talks about his run on the show: "I was like, ‘I’m going to glue rhinestones on my eyelids, bitch!’"

Adam also takes another swipe at Clay Aiken (and People magazine), saying, “Right after the finale, I almost started talking about it to the reporters, but I thought, ‘I’m going to wait for Rolling Stone, that will be cooler. I didn’t want the Clay Aiken thing and the celebrity-magazine bullshit. I need to be able to explain myself in context.

And in what could be seen as a response to people like Perez Hilton who were trying to force him to come out in order to be a role model to young gays, Adam says, “I’m trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader.”

Check out what happened behind the scenes at the shoot.

Leave David Carradine Alone

The body of David Carradine was returned to the U.S. yesterday following his death last week in Thailand, and before his family has had a chance to lay the Kung Fu star to rest, two of his ex-wives have crawled out of the woodwork to claim that he was a sexual deviant.

One of them—his third wife, Gail Jensen—claimed David liked to tie himself up and "had his kinky moments" and but then she went on to declare that "he was the love of my life and he always will be." Oh really? I didn't know loving someone included telling the world about their unusual sexual proclivities after they died.

I guess there's a reason they were his EX wives.

To make things worse, David's last TV appearance, on the Fox TV show Mental, aired tonight. He played a catatonic professor who had been struck by lightning. I have to say I was kinda disturbed watching the motionless, speechless actor. It was sort of freaky.



The promos for the show didn't mention that he was in the episode and the producers' only concession was a brief In Memoriam note at the end of the episode. I guess they figured the unwarranted PR would result in a ratings bonanza for the fledgling show, but after watching Mental and its slow-moving plot, unnecessary histrionics from the lead character and poor production values, I won't be tuning in again.

I feel so sorry for David's family. They not only have to deal with his death, but with the publication of a photo of the death scene, and intrusive speculation about his sex life and the circumstances under which he died. It is sad when a person's death overshadows anything he might have worked hard to achieve in his life.

Rest in peace? I doubt that'll happen anytime soon for David Carradine.

A Flashmob With Hammer Pants

You are welcome.

Coolest Game Ever: Star Wars Force Trainer

This probably makes me some kind of supergeek, but a new game from Uncle Milton, called Star Wars Force Trainer uses your brain waves to move a ball. It comes out in July and I want one! It doesn't seem to be much of a game, but it's cool. Kind of reminds me when I did biofeedback for my migraines only cooler. Check it out:

Pete Wentz Is A Pig

Pete Wentz is so white trash!

Click here to read all about it.

Have Mercy! John Stamos Is Working on a Full House Movie

Just a couple of days ago I complained about Hollywood raping the 1980s for story ideas and now here comes word that John Stamos is working on a Full House movie.

Now I love, love, love John Stamos, and even was his publicist when he visited to Australia to promote Full House back in the day (yes, I am that old), but I have to shake my head at this one.

“I’m working on a movie idea, but it wouldn’t be us playing us,” he told the New York Daily News. “I’m not 100 percent sure, but it would probably take place in the first few years” of the series.
John said James Franco would make a great Uncle Jesse (sure, if he suddenly becomes a pothead) and added “I see Steve Carell as [Bob Saget's character] Danny Tanner and Tracy Morgan as [Dave Coulier’s] Joey Gladstone because he’s funny.”

While John says that he is still close to his castmates and sees them all the time, we shouldn't expect to see a Full House reunion on TV. "I don't see it happening anytime soon," he said.

Shame, cause the Olsens could probably still fit in their old wardrobe.