Classic Idol Video

It's time for another classic Idol video. All season Randy Jackson has been saying how amazing Jordin Sparks is for a 17-year-old. Let's not forget another youngster with a Big Voice: Season 3 runner-up Diana DeGarmo, who was 16 the year she appeared on "Idol." That voice has taken her all the way to Broadway. Here, she is singing "Don't Cry Out Loud." The way she holds that last note is amazing.



YOU'RE SO VAIN

andPOP says that British pop sensation Mika has fuelled speculation that his debut single "Grace Kelly" was written about music mogul Simon Cowell.

The 24-year-old, Lebanese-born Michael Holbrook Penniman (mother Lebanese, father American) is aLondon-based singer who has a contract with Casablanca Records and Universal Music. Mika struggled to get a record deal and was rejected until he was signed in a collaboration deal between Universal Motown and Island. His song "Grace Kelly" (hear it here) released by digital download on January 8 this year, reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on Jan. 21.

Since the song topped the charts, it has been rumored that it is a veiled attack on Cowell, with the lyrics "Why don't you like me, why don't you like me without making me try?" A source for Universal Music said, "No one knows for sure who the track is about; however there has been a rumor for a while it is Simon Cowell."

But fametastic reports that in Attitude magazine Mika not only confirmed he was knocked back by Cowell, he also said he didn’t much want to work with the Idol judge, either. "I had a meeting with Simon a few years back. He said my songs weren't very good and I wasn't a songwriter. Then I spotted a gold disc for the Teletubbies single to the left of him and thought, 'This is possibly not the man for me'."

Cowell, on being questioned about the meeting with Mika, says, "Do you know what, I don't even remember meeting him."

PAULA FINALLY GET REAL

Paula Abdul's reality series, "Hey Paula!" has been put on Bravo's summer schedule. The show documents Paula's personal and professional life and will follow the Idol judge as she works on the Bratz movie, develops her own line of perfume and cosmetics, expands her jewelry line, markets her clothing line and makes personal appearances.

"It's a hectic time in my life right now with several projects in television, film and fashion," said the 44-year-old Idol judge/recording artist/choreographer/business woman/producer. "I'm excited to open the doors to Bravo and have all my fans see the other sides to me, beyond what they see on American Idol."

BRIAN DUNKLEMAN SITING

Every year at this time, as "Idol" blows away everything else in sight on TV, someone inevitably asks the question "Whatever happened to Brian Dunkleman," who resigned as co-host of America's No. 1 TV series after Idol's first season because he "wanted a bigger career." Yeah, well, that didn't quite happen for "The Dunk." The Ventura County Star reports that the 35-year-old, who now hosts "American Idol Rewind," remains philosophical about his appallingly bad decision.

"I have what a lot of people refer to as 'poor judgment,' " said Dunkleman, who lives in Los Angeles. "I thought it would run two seasons!"

Since Dunkleman's departure, the show has made megastars out of Ryan Seacrest (he now hosts radio's "American Top 40" and television's "E! News") and judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Not to mention contestants Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry.

Dunkleman decided to leave to pursue a comedic acting career. "I've been doing a lot of stand-up, going on tour every six weeks," he recently said on the phone as he drove to play a morning round of golf. "I've shot six pilots. You know, they say the seventh one's a charm."

Do they? "I don't know. I hope so. It wasn't the third."

Since his "Idol" departure in 2002, he has struggled to find small- and big-screen work in L.A. He recently filmed "Comedy Hell," an independent thriller he calls a "horr-omedy." His co-star in it is Hollywood veteran Eric Roberts, now most famous as Julia Roberts' brother. Then, last year, "Idol" producers called. They wanted Dunkleman to host "American Idol Rewind," a syndicated recap series that covers highlights of the show's first season. It was bittersweet, as Dunkleman no longer watches the show.

"It's like getting a divorce from someone and then hanging out with the person two or three times a week," he explained. But he took the gig and was grateful for the work.

"I'm opening up myself to the hosting world," admits Dunkleman, though he says his dream job would be film acting. "It's an amazing way to live, and I'd love to get another gig."

"The acting game has changed," he says, adding that the competition for roles has gotten out of control. "Holly Hunter is doing a TV show. You've got Oscar winners on TV!"

As for "Idol," even though that ship has sailed for him, Dunkleman predicts there'll be no clouds on the horizon for the show. "I thought it was kind of peaking last year, but it doesn't slow down at all," he said. "I think the only hope is nuclear annihilation."

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