American Idol

TMZ has been digging around for some juicy nuggets about the 12 'American Idol' finalists. From ex-girlfriends to ringtones, here's the 'A.I.' lowdown -- the things you don't know about the final dozen.

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• More 'American' Idol' on TMZ 
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"I wanted to be a performer, not someone who introduced other performers," Dunkleman told "Inside Edition" in an interview to be aired Wednesday. So he walked away from the hit reality show after its debut season in 2002.

Since then Seacrest has become practically a ubiquitous hosting presence, including sharing top billing with New Year's icon Dick Clark on this year's "New Year's Rockin' Eve" show.

THE RUMOR: Simon Cowell is replacing Regis on 'Live.'

HOW IT STARTED: A few months back, Simon met with several TV syndicators about wanting to host a 'Regis and Kelly'-type show. At the same time, there was talk that Regis might be leaving his gig.

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Cowell and Kelly's chemistry

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Simon Cowell now admits he's created problems for himself by telling 'A.I.' producers to record candid moments.

Last week Cowell went on 'Good Day LA' complaining that 'A.I.' producers aired partciularly nasty comments that he never thought would be shown on TV.

Simon says the remarks, that have gotten the Brit in a bit of hot water, were meant to be private -- between the judges.

Today, Cowell sang a different tune. 'EXTRA' correspondent Terri Seymour asked Simon about reports that he was upset at 'A.I.' for rolling tape after contestants left. Cowell told Seymour, "I was the one who initiated it in the first place." In other words, Simon says he told producers to keep the tape rolling and just forgot about it.

As for first "Idol" winner, recent Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson, "She would be like a stranger to me now," Cowell told The Associated Press Thursday.

In January, Cowell criticized Clarkson for not allowing the use of her songs by contestants on the fifth season of the high-rated show. She later changed her mind. Then, during Clarkson's Grammy acceptance speeches for best pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance, she never uttered the word "Idol."

"Look, she doesn't need to thank me and she doesn't need to thank 'American Idol,"' said Cowell. "She does need to thank the fans who voted for her on 'American Idol.' That's all."

On Wednesday's "Idol" episode, Cowell and fellow judges, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, chose the 24 semifinalists. Next week, the contestants will be divided by sex and the viewer-selected elimination process will begin.

Of the semifinalists, Cowell said only three "have got a chance in the music industry." When asked to comment on each semifinalist by name, Cowell couldn't recall most of them. However, he could remember what he thought of every "Idol" season except the first: "predictable."

"To me, it was absolutely crystal clear at this stage last year that Carrie Underwood would win the competition," said Cowell. "So it all felt a bit obvious. Whereas this year, I could argue the case for seven or eight of the contestants. I genuinely don't know who's gonna win. I've got a feeling who are gonna make the finals. But once you're in the finals, I think you're gonna have the most open competition you've ever seen, which for us and the viewers at home, that's a good thing."

Many factors have conspired to make the Turin Olympics -- through five days of competition -- less of a television event than past games. Probably the most significant is that other networks are putting up a fight with potent weapons.

NBC was knocked on its heels by the first night the Olympics went up against Fox's "American Idol" Tuesday. Based on preliminary Nielsen Media Research estimates, "Idol" doubled the Olympics audience when they went head-to-head again on Wednesday.

Wednesday is also likely to stand as the least-watched night of winter Olympics competition since at least 1988, according to Nielsen.

Besides "Idol," viewers who aren't slalom-inclined have also had new episodes of "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," "Survivor" and "Dancing With the Stars" to choose from.

TMZ is privy to the "exclusivity" clause that season five contestants have signed. It basically paralyzes contestants from doing anything showbiz related until three months after the grand finale. The contract prohibits contestants from entering into "...any talent management agreement, talent agency agreement, recording contract, songwriting contract, acting contract, modeling contract, sponsorship contract, or any merchandising contract ....until three months following the date of the first broadcast of the final episode announcing the winner of the competition."

The exclusivity clause goes on to say that if a contestant signs a deal in violation of the contract, 'A.I.' producers "shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief." Translation - a judge could quash the deal.

Fox's phenomenally successful contest crushed the Olympics in head-to-head competition on Tuesday night, 27 million viewers to 16.1 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The Olympics recovered a bit after "Idol" went off the air, but its overall audience of 18.6 million was the least-watched winter Olympics telecast since Nagano's closing ceremonies in 1998, Nielsen said.

Since its opening on Friday, the Turin games have been running well below the 2002 Salt Lake City games in viewership interest. Much of that was expected, but Tuesday's ratings was the first alarming sign for NBC that increased TV competition has taken a toll.

"The competition from 'Idol' is heavier than the Olympics has ever seen," said NBC Sports spokeswoman Alana Russo.

Kenneth Maccarone doesn't go down without a fight. On 'American Idol,' Ken stood up to Simon after giving his best rendition of Cher's 'Believe.' The bitter Brit told him his future was in women's clothing.

Ken didn't make it to Hollywood, but he did make it to TMZ. Ken does the chorus to four more Cher songs for us, and throws in a couple of other favorites. His grand finale -- what else? 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.'

Clarkson won two Grammys on Wednesday night in Los Angeles: best pop vocal album for "Breakaway" and female pop vocal performance for "Since U Been Gone."

Accepting those awards, the 23-year-old Clarkson thanked everyone from the musicians who performed on her album to radio itself. "American Idol," however, went unmentioned.

Backstage at the Staples Center, she defended the omission: "I did thank the fans, and that's 'American Idol.'"

That the prestigious Recording Academy would honor a former reality TV contestant surprised many, but also excited her fans.

"I think it's amazing. It validates the show," said "Idol" judge Randy Jackson during a party afterward. "I'm really happy for her. I think she's really over the moon because I think she thought she'd never win it."

Ironically, "American Idol" still got the best of Clarkson in a way. The Fox show ran Wednesday evening opposite CBS' Grammys broadcast.

Nearly twice as many people watched "American Idol" than the Grammy Awards Wednesday when the two music programs went head-to-head in prime time, according to preliminary estimates by Nielsen Media Research.

The "Idol" audience on Fox was 28.3 million while the Grammy Awards were being watched by 15.1 million people from 8 to 9 p.m. EST, Nielsen said.

Within that hour, featured performers on "music's biggest night" included Madonna, John Legend, Coldplay and U2. The Irish rockers were the big Grammy winners, earning album of the year and song of the year for "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own."

TMZ has learned 'American Idol' contestant Tatiana Ward, who is on her way to Hollywood after last night's audition, got into legal trouble on her way out of Macy's.

According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Ward was cited for shoplifting $24 in merchandise from the Macy's Department Store in Montgomery County, PA. The incident occurred on March 22, 2002.

Ward pled guilty to retail theft and was fined $135. View court records

Ward was also cited for carrying false ID. TMZ has learned she had a false New Jersey driver's license. Ward pled not guilty but Judge David Keightly begged to differ, fining her $187.50 for that offense. View court records

TMZ spoke with Judge Keightly today who is far from "Simon-esque." Judge Keightly said, "She's a very good singer and I hope she does well in the competition."

The Olympics, which open Friday from Turin, Italy on NBC, is a TV event that traditionally flattens opponents for the network that spent millions of dollars for the right to broadcast it. Other networks can either try to attract viewers not interested in ice dancing or give way and essentially close up shop.

But judging by its startling staying power, "American Idol" may steal the spotlight from the skiers and skaters.

"The Olympics aren't as daunting as people think they are," said Preston Beckman, Fox's executive vice president for strategic program planning and strategy.

Spoken like someone with Simon Cowell on his side.

Each of the six audition episodes of "American Idol" that have aired in the past three weeks has drawn more than 30 million viewers, and two hit the 35 million mark, according to Nielsen Media Research. Even Fox thought interest in "Idol" would start to wane in its fifth season, but it's picked up even more momentum.

Thompson was arrested and convicted of criminal trespass in 1998, and she tells TMZ it was "racial."

The incident occurred on Easter Sunday at the Golden Coral Restaurant in Eden, North Carolina. Thompson tells TMZ a waitress she knew seated her.

Thompson says another waitress came up to her and said the table was reserved for someone else and that she had to vacate. Thompson says her waitress friend seated her at another table, but five minutes later the manager came up and accused her of copping "an attitude" with the other waitress and asked her to leave. Thompson refused, and the police were called.

It would appear that every other man who takes the stage is sexually ambiguous. Is that just the luck of the draw or have producers intentionally set their sights on easy prey for judge Simon Cowell and company?

Simon has been widely criticized-- as a result of a TMZ article last week-- that chronicled a pattern of derisive, anti-gay comments. But the fact is, what Simon says doesn't automatically hit the air waves.

"It's easy enough for producers to take it (the offensive comments) out," says veteran TV producer Stu Billett. The initial audition shows, Billett notes, are not live and heavily edited.

Even if the producers like the fact that Simon tells one contestant to "shave off your beard and wear a dress" or bluntly questions the gender of another contestant, there's another critical layer before the comment makes air. "FOX looks at the show before it airs," Billett says. "It would be very easy for FOX to tell producers to take it out," he adds, "but they didn't." Quite the opposite, FOX has showcased some of Simon's outrageous comments in its promos for the show. It would seem, FOX has made a calculated decision that offensive comments about gender and sexual-orientation are low risk.