"Smash" babe Katharine McPhee and "30 Rock" starlet Katrina Bowden both made nice at an event in NYC on Thursday.

Question is ...

"American Idol" alum Katharine McPhee just broke a cardinal rule in the sky --  turning on her cell phone at 36,000 feet ... and even worse, she bragged about it afterward!



McPhee caught a flight yesterday ... and after the plane took off, she tweeted, "I love illegally turning on my phone when I'm still in the air ... makes me feel powerful! A tweet from the sky. Hello Atlanta!"

It's a big FCC no-no to turn on your phone after take off -- the penalties include a hefty fine and suspension of her cellular service.

UPDATE: McPhee's rep tells us, "She posted when we landed in Atlanta. She was trying to be funny but obviously some people missed the humor."

Joking about airplane safety -- always a good laugh ...

"American Idol" wannabeen Katharine McPhee took a break from making music nobody listens to and picked up the peroxide and a pair of scissors.


The fifth season runner-up debuted her new blond bob last night at the Ann Taylor runway show in NYC.

It's the most exciting thing she's done since finishing second place to Taylor Hicks.

Hiding beneath a lampshade, 23-year-old former "American Idol" wannabeen Katharine McPhee was snapped on her Hawaiian honeymoon on Monday -- with her 42-year-old daddy husband, Nick Cokas.

She may not have a record label, but she got her man.

TMZ cameras caught a 62-year-old, never-changing Loni Anderson at Barneys in Beverly Hills yesterday -- and dayum, she looked great! What an amazing piece of work!


Loni wasn't the only hottie at the swank store -- cameras also snapped "American Idol" wannabeen Katharine McPhee, and Rose McGowan with a terrible new hair color gettin' her lip gloss on. Nicky Hilton popped up as well as a Santa-ish Jon Voight, wishing paps a Merry Christmas.

All this and more in today's "Barney is not just a purple dinosaur" edition of Star Catcher.

Despite being born with gorgeous good looks, former "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee still needs to go out and buy good jeans!


While shopping at Robertson Blvd.'s trendy Paige Premium Denim on Friday, the recently engaged 23-year-old got swarmed by paps. Does Taylor Hicks gets this treatment too?!

With her new purchases in tow, Kat gave photogs a glimpse of her new ring. Ok, we're over it!

George Hamilton and Donatella Versace have inducted a new member in their race of Oompa Loompas -- Neil Sedaka!

The 68-year-old legendary singer/songwriter was honored at an event this weekend, and posed with "Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee -- which only accentuated his amber hue!

"American Idol" also-ran, Katharine McPhee, graces the cover of October's Atlanta Peach Magazine. Although Kat looks hot, she's starting to look a bit like Real doll "Celine."

The vacant look in the eyes, sculpted makeup and slightly open orifice say, "I'm not quite listening but ready for anything." She's every straight man's dream!

Idolicious Katharine McPhee was spotted catching a flight at LAX -- in her sexy new geek-chic eyewear -- and carrying her Chihuahua in a bag.

Miss McPhee had been seen a few weeks ago by a myopic TMZ spy at Optical Connection in Studio City, where she picked up the Bulgari face hardware.

Kat and her dog caught a redeye to D.C, where she's playing at City Center Lot tonight.

Leggy "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee strutted out of a rehearsal studio in Burbank yesterday in a tight black tank, short shorts and platform heels. Idolicious!

While it's rumored that she was rehearsing with an African children's choir for an "American Idol" appearance with Josh Groban, TMZ contacted a FOX rep who denied that Kat will be on tonight's show. We'll see!

Sadly, America has voted on Kat's new single, and they're "Over It."

Seems like Haley Scarnato isn't the only "American Idol" wannabe borrowing things from Katharine McPhee!

An artist by the name of Fastu has given Season Six wavy brunette shrieker, Sanjaya Malakar, a case of the McPheever, super-imposing him onto Kat's crotchety Flashdance-inspired album cover -- and the results are absolutely hair-raising!

For once, it's not Sanjaya's singing that will have you laughing out loud.