CBS was tops in the ratings last week, thanks mostly to its most-watched program, ‘NCIS,’ which nabbed more than 19 million viewers and the number one slot. The Eye Network also had three of the top six programs, including ‘NCIS: Los Angeles.’ ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and other hits were in repeats.

Despite a lower-than-usual Spring start, ABC’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ did well with more than 17 million viewers, besting both editions of FOX’s ‘American Idol’ by several million viewers. That show averaged 12.94 and 11.93 million viewers on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Remember the da...

This week on “American Idol” the eight remaining singers perform the songs of not just Motown but of the Motor City Detroit. Joining Jimmy Iovine to mentor the singers is the Grammy Award winning legend Smokey Robinson who gave the Idols a master class in Motown and then joined Jimmy in the studio.

Along with the eight solo performances, the Idols will join together for some group acts.

Candice got the night started with the Marvin Gaye hit “I Heard it Through the Gapevine” in a performance the judges called 'really good', 'great', 'in control', and 'fantastic.'

Kree and Janelle joined f...

Phillip Phillips' hit Home has surpassed Kelly Clarkson's Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) as the bestselling single by an American Idol star.

Just two weeks ago, the 22 year old returned to the Idol stage to sing his new single, Gone, Gone, Gone, and after his performance, judge Randy Jackson presented Phillips with a four-time platinum plaque for his hit coronation song, Home.

And now the tune has become the bestselling single ever released by a former contestant of the singing competition. Selling 4,262,000 digital copies, Home surpasses the reigning bestseller, Stronger (What Doesn'...

There’s one thing very certain about this season so far. It’s not that a girl is going to win. It’s not that the competition is stacked in the female’s favor. It’s not that this is the worst season for talent since the Jordin Sparks year. It’s none of that. No, the biggest certainty this year is that Mariah Carey is the worst judge on this show since Ellen.

It’s not that what she says is wrong. It’s that she doesn’t say anything. The hardest part about writing this column this season is trying to pick a sound byte out of Mariah’s insipid ramblings. She just never comments on the contestant...

After Idol Mentor Jimmy Iovine gave his remarks on the singer's performances and revealed that Lazaro did NOT make a last minute song change; host Ryan Seacrest announced that it was time for some results but after calling Amber's name he told her that she would have to wait for a little while.

The first performance of the night came from the guys with "Got to Get You Back in My Life." After the song, Ryan called Paul over to announce that the mayor had proclaimed March, 16 Paul Jolley day. Ryan then announced that Paul was the first singer in the bottom three.

Bass playing Idol alum Case...

At what point do we, as a nation, collective rise up in one voice and loudly proclaim, “Enough with The Beatles on ‘American Idol’”?

Every year they bring out the Lennon/McCartney catalog (more so the producers can show off their coup of a rights-holding than anything else) and every year the whole bloody thing gets slugged through the dreck more so than when Michael Jackson bought it and licensed it at will.

It’s never quite so bad on the actual performance night, mostly because ignoring the garbage performances is easy in favor of the few gems the contestants are able to wring out of an...

There’s a lot to be excited about based on last night’s ‘American Idol’ and it doesn’t have anything to do with the members of the final nine.

Why would we care about them when we get to see a brand new song by Carly Rae Jepsen in just a short two months time? We even get to help her write the lyrics. And if her entire album (yes, there is one) is any indication of the types of songs this Canadian pixie likes to record, then aspiring lyricists should mention the previous evening and their desire to either kiss or hold hands with a potential lover. It’s all set.

Sadly, that news couldn’t b...

You can't go one week without hearing a ridiculous story involving some of your favorite celebrities. Thankfully, the Starpulse Rumor Patrol is here to sort out what's real and what's fake.

Jennifer Aniston's Wedding: Jen is getting married in Hawaii... or in Pennsylvania at her Grandmother's House. Jen is purposely waiting for Angelina Jolie to announce her wedding date so she can have hers on the same day.

Verdict: All False. As with any celebrity wedding, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux' nuptials are a big focus in the tabloids. Jennifer's rep told RumorFix she isn't getting marrie...

One week in and the producers’ definitely got their wish.

This season it’s very apparent that the creators of ‘Idol’ and all concerned behind the scenes are desperate to get off the Cute Guy With Guitar treadmill and finally get a female back to the top of ‘Idol’ mountain for the first time since Jordin Sparks beat that beat box guy so many years ago.

The producers only had one real problem in their quest for a winner without a Y Chromone: Curtis Finch, Jr. – the best male singer by far. His smooth soul voice and slick stage presence may have been enough to spoil the ladies’ party, and th...

Nicki Minaj got a little emotional when her favorite act on 'American Idol' was sent home on March 14.

The 29 year old "Starships" singer/rapper, who is currently on the judging panel of season 12 of 'American Idol' alongside Randy Jackson, Keith Urban and Mariah Carey, was shocked and angered when her favorite contestant, Curtis Finch Jr, was eliminated from the show.

"I definitely think Curtis should not be in the bottom two. I mean, I love Devin [Velez] but I think that Curtis, if you look at every one of his performances, I mean - come on, America, are you kidding me?" Nicki  complain...

Tonight should have been the ‘American Idol’ producers’ dream come true.

Was every performance spectacular? No. Did they manage to book a huge special guest? No way. Did Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell reveal they’d secretly been having an affair this entire time? Not even that.

No! Nicki Minaj was late! That means they had the opportunity do what this show does best: fill, Fill, FILL!

The possibilities were endless. Ryan could have recited a poem about each contestant, Randy could have seen how many women he could call “dude” consecutively, Keith and Mariah could have a competition to sa...

This year will be ‘Idol’s’ hardest to handicap in half-a-decade. Without a cute guy playing an acoustic guitar poorly on which to rely, this year’s power rankings promises to be as topsy as it is turvy. In other words, this should be the most exciting completion in years, if it weren’t for the fact that there isn’t really a standout performer that’s worth feeling excitement about.

Oh well, at least it will be changeable.

But before we get to the power rankings, there’s the matter of last night’s 90-minute results show travesty to discuss. Even worse, one recappers ill-fated decision to wa...

The judges have made their choices for the top 20 - 10 girls and 10 guys - singers and finally Idol fans will have a say in who moves on as they choose the top 10 this week. For the first time in several seasons, the finals will start with just 10 singers - five girls and five guys - who will compete for the title of season 12 and go on the summer tour.

While some of the singers gave stellar performances, the buzz words of the week were marketability, saleability, and having the right look; rather than praising their actual singing talent.

This season fans will have a new way to cast thei...

The guys of this season’s ‘American Idol’ need no introduction, mostly because they don’t deserve an introduction. They’re just a bunch of mediocre talents with one standout. None of whom the producers particularly want to win.

So who was the best of the worst? Read on to find out.

Elijah Liu Sang “Stay” by Rihanna

Keith Said: I thought that was a really great start to the show.

Nicki Said: I think I would be willing to stay.

Randy Said: It never left first gear. It just lay there flat.

Mariah Said: I liked this a lot. I felt it was one of your better performances.

The Verdict:

He...

It’s clear this year that the producers want a girl to win. They’re craving it. They’re desperate for it. They’re so in need of a girl to snap the cute guy with guitar streak that there isn’t even a cute guy with a guitar to be seen this year! Or even one with much talent.

That leaves last night’s performers with the staunch task of justifying the producers’ stacking this season’s lineup in the females’ favor. So who answered the producers calls and who left them hanging?

Let’s find out, shall we?

Zoanette Sang “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” by Tina Turner

Keith Said: I love the way y...

This performing every night thing is fun, but it is tiring. Let’s just get to the recap.

Mathenee Treco Sang “A Little Less Conversation” by Elvis Presley

Keith Said: Don’t underestimate the power of your voice. You can make a connection – the entertainment gets so assaulting.

Nicki Said: It felt very cheesy and karaoke.

Randy Said: I don’t know what kind of an artist you are.

Mariah Said: There’s a quality about you that’s like a real person.

The Verdict:

I can tell you one thing. Nobody in the world likes this performance as much as Mathenee does. His confidence goes past arrogance...

The remaining girls return on "American Idol" for round three of Sudden Death in Las Vegas before a live audience at the Mirage. By the end of the night; Randy, Keith, Mariah, and Nicki would have pared the 10 singers down to only five.

Melinda got the night started off that Keith thought was great but his fellow judges didn't quite agree with him.

Making a return visit to Idol Candice gave a performance that had the judges proclaiming that while it wasn't her best performance, she is a natural born singer.

Fifteen year old Juliana played guitar as she sang in a performance. While Mariah...

Really, everything I write, and everything that happened last night, is just a prelude to Zoanette. So let's not waste any more time and get right to it.

Melinda Ademi Sang “Nobody’s Perfect” by Jessie J

Keith Said: I really loved that performance.

Nicki Said: All I could think of was Angela’s performance. I liked it. I didn’t love it.

Randy Said: I don’t know if you had enough big moments in there.

Mariah Said: I didn’t think you found your voice, but I know what you can do.

The Verdict:

So Melinda comes out in anoutfit out of an 80s aerobics class with the boots of a dominatrix and...

10 Guys. 10 Girls. 20 Performances. One technical glitch that put all of it onto one post the next day. This mammoth ‘American Idol’ recap can suffer no further delays or it may burst the 5,000-word bubble. So let’s get to it.

Jenny Beth Willis Sang “Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love” by Trisha Yearwood

Keith Said: Great way to start the show, but not thinking that was the best song for you.

Nicki Said: I liked your voice, but I didn’t feel like you came alive until the end.

Randy Said: Felt jerky. You never got in sync with the band.

Mariah Said: You could be more dynamic vocall...

This week “American Idol” moves to Las Vegas for the first ever Sudden Death round. For the next few weeks 10 singers will perform each night with half of them going home at the end of the night. First up were 10 of the girls. Idol mentor Jimmy Iovine was on hand to serve as a tiebreaker if needed.

For the sudden death round the singers may choose any song from any genre. Many of the first performances were of less familiar songs; unlike in the past when the singers took on diva songs.

Jenny Beth got the night started off that Keith said was a great way to start the show but his fellow ju...

This year, American Idol has given us a lot to love and a lot to hate.

Sometimes, that has been embodied by one person all at once. That person is, of course, Nicki Minaj. The simultaneously irritating and indispensible, she’s the only judge of any consequence this season and fits perfectly with a show filled with so much to love and hate.

Be it hating the guys’ Hollywood week or loving the girls’. Hating some changes while loving others. Wondering why Keith Urban and Mariah Carey are there. It’s been a season of disparate feelings that just need to come out on this special day.

So, in h...

Finally, a real Hollywood week.

After last week’s dramaless debacle with the guys, the girls came through in just the way needed to: A classic estrogen-drenched hormone battle over who was going to have the biggest meltdown captured by the backstage cameras.

Yes. There was some singing too, but for the first time this year, the competition backed up the reality show aspect of ‘American Idol’. Finally, we were back in the fights, the hysterical illnesses and the sleeplessness that’s supposed to dominate this part of the show. We got to pick sides in each battle and use this as a vehicle to...

 

After torpedoing group week, the producers had more changes in store for the final solo elimination for the boys. This time the results weren’t quite as decimating.

Normally, this would be a night for the elevator of death. Or the hallway of fire. Or the walk into the weird water room in Vegas. However it was done, this was the most drama the show could ratchet before Seacrest delights in telling people their fates on live television.

Last night, the cuts were much swifter and decisive. A group of eight sings individually and then immediately gets either the good or bad news. It made f...

So far this season has been essentially a typical one for ‘American Idol.’

Despite the promise of revolutionary and wholesale changes from the producers running into the season, we’ve essentially seen nothing new thus far except for the new judges. Yes, that could be considered a big change, but really it’s been the same nonsense as any previous season – the same type of auditions, the same bickering, and the only real difference being determining whether or not Keith Urban is actually a living human being or a tattoo practice mannequin with a bad wig.

Last night, we saw our first big wri...

Former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi is a new mother after welcoming her first child via surrogate.

The songwriter and her husband Mike McCuddy are now the proud parents of little Greyson James Carroll McCuddy.

A gestational surrogate gave birth to the baby boy in Los Angeles on Thursday, DioGuardi tells People.com.

The 42-year-old star gave her son the middle name Carroll in honor of her late mother.

DioGuardi turned to a surrogate following a series of fertility issues and failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts, and she recently praised the unidentified woman, insisting...

Something tells me this will be the last time ‘American Idol’ brings its movable circus to Oklahoma City.

This year, the auditions have been pretty solid if not spectacular. A few so far have been dynamite enough for me to want to put them at the top of my power rankings. A lot of that got lost in the anti-climactic sparring between judges, but this has been a top-level talent search so far that has me looking forward to what these kids are going to put together onstage.

Then Oklahoma City happened.

Last night, undid just about all the good we’d seen so far in auditions. An hour of torpi...

 

With no fighting to write about, I’m having trouble with these introductions. Suddenly this is a singing show again, with good auditions, bad auditions and auditions that last an entire act break while a duo refuses to leave despite being rejected continuously. Leading to these bits from the judges:

Randy: I’m trying to save your lives here.

Mariah: Here’s a basic rule of harmonizing: So the other person can stay on pitch also.

That’s about all the sniping we got tonight, I’m afraid. Let’s just get to the auditions.

The Three Best Auditions

Savannah

This was the single mom who came...

Singer Kelly Clarkson has been crowned the highest-earning American Idol contestant, according to Forbes magazine.

Clarkson, who was the talent show's first winner in 2002, came out on top of a success list after pulling in a whopping $8 million over a 12-month period, beginning in May, 2011.

Fellow champion Carrie Underwood shared second place with rocker Chris Daughtry with earnings of $5 million, while country singer Scotty McCreery came in third with $4 million.

Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson was fourth after surprisingly only raking in $3 million and Jordin Sparks rounded out th...

American Idol boss Nigel Lythgoe has fired back at allegations of racism on the show following the threat of a lawsuit from former contestants.

Lawyer James H. Freeman has submitted a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking permission to sue producers behind the hit talent show on behalf of nine clients, all black men who have previously auditioned on the program.

In the document, which has been obtained by editors at TMZ.com, Freeman claims producers set out to humiliate the contestants by making them audition and then disqualifying them due to their criminal reco...

Finally, a night that was just about the singing.

So much of this season’s drama has come from a focus on the spats between the judges that it’s been easy to forget that this show is actually a singing competition. Sure, the singers have been there with their mish-mash of good and bad auditions, but they’ve mainly served as the side dish to the judge-fight main course.

Last night, it was all about the singing in Baton Rouge. A tight hour of mostly good auditions devoid of the drama, danger and fun of previous episodes.

Wait. Did I say finally in the lead line? I meant, sadly.

The Three ...