LOS ANGELES – Will new "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi halt the show's slide in the ratings? Not if history repeats itself.
Back in July 2006, DioGuardi was the female judge in an "Idol" rip-off show called "The One: Making a Music Star." It was given primetime position on ABC and was heavily promoted by the network as the ultimate summer show, which was not only seeking the next big star but also documented the contestants' trials and tribulations while living together at a music academy.
However, the show debuted with the second-lowest rating ever for a premiere on a major American network and was abruptly canceled after just two weeks. No fanfare, no goodbye — it simply vanished, leaving the aspiring performers heartbroken. Interestingly, any mention of the show is omitted from DioGuardi’s official Web site and most of her Internet biographies.
That said, DioGuardi has an amazing resume as a writer/producer, working with everyone from Celine Dion to Christina Aguilera to Carrie Underwood to Miley Cyrus. And "Idol" judge Randy Jackson seems to think she'll only be a plus for the show.
"'Idol' season 8 is off to a roaring start; it’s fantastic," he told Pop Tarts at Nike’s the Human Race charity run on Sunday. "Little different — we’ve got a new addition to the family. Kara is in the house and she’s been amazing. The extra girl power is good."
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 'Sexy Snaps' Stolen
After a week-long vacation in the Caribbean together, Prince William and girlfriend Kate Middleton returned to London to face the headache of having had their camera stolen.
According to British paper the Sun, the camera was reported stolen on Friday and within hours two men using false names contacted the publication with an offer to sell the "sexy snaps."
A reporter met with the two men (who claim to have stumbled across the memory card in a gutter) but later handed the snaps over to police. A 25-year-old man was arrested and officials are still searching for the second suspect.
A royal rep declined to comment on the incident.
Diddy Gets Mad at John McCain
According to Sean "Diddy" Combs, there are no black people living in Alaska, nor are there any crackheads or criminals.
In his second personalized video in less than a week, the hip-hop mogul voices his belief that Sarah Palin isn’t qualified to be John McCain’s running mate.
"I don’t even understand what planet you are on now," Combs told McCain in his video blog. "C’mon man, I don’t even know if there are any black people in Alaska. Sarah Palin? You are completely irresponsible. John, you are bugging the f--- out."
Click here to watch (WARNING: Explicit Language).
On a nicer note, Diddy praises the Republican presidential candidate for being a war hero and hopes he lives until he’s 110.
Lohan Skips Grandpa's Funeral … to Be With a Guy
When it comes to Lindsay Lohan, blood is obviously not thicker than water.
The "Mean Girls" starlet was spotted out and about with a guy friend in New York on Monday while her father’s side of the family attended the funeral of her grandpa. Looks like Linds is still super-mad at daddy, Michael Lohan, over his recent appearance on "The Billy Bush Show" in which he said her relationship with gal pal Samantha Ronson is "toxic."
"Lindsay doesn’t want anything to do with him [Michael] and she won’t go near him for anything," a Lohan pal told Pop Tarts on Monday night. "She’ll mourn her grandfather in her own time."
Would You Work With Orlando Bloom?
Looks like Orlando Bloom wants to take the next step in his career and he used Nakheel and Donald Trump’s recent swanky soiree to get things moving.
"I just went to the Dubai film festival and I was there a few years ago and so when I got a call about this party, I figured there is such a developing market in Dubai and I’m trying to get movies that I want to get made together," the actor told Pop Tarts. "I’m interested to meet some people in the room and see if there are people wanting to maybe make movies with Orlando Bloom in Dubai."
Bloom worked the crowd without his supermodel girlfriend, Miranda Kerr, who has been busy working in her homeland Down Under.
While Kerr normally plays coy on her private life, when asked by Sydney’s radio shock jocks Kyle & Jackie O last week if she had done anything naughty in an inappropriate place, she gave them a surprising confirmation.
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