American Idol

President Bush is about to meet the one guy who got more votes than he did – Taylor Hicks.

The White House announced Friday that the President would be hosting Hicks and the other finalists from "American Idol" in the Oval Office next week – and they might get the chance to bump into Tony Blair as well. The real question, though, is: Will Katharine McPhee show up?

"American Idol" judge Paula Abdul was met by a swarm of photographers Wednesday afternoon after grabbing a bite to eat with friends at LA's trendy Ivy restaurant in Beverly Hills. The superstar emerged from the restaurant to flashbulbs and a hoard of excited fans. But Paula's fashion choice is what really caught everyone off guard as everyone was focused on her... uh... dress.

Chris Daughtry was favored by many through most of this season's "American Idol" to win it all. In fact, when he was eliminated his 'Chrisaholic' fans smelled conspiracy. Like Bo Bice fans from the year before, Daughtry followers were dumbfounded when he left the show. Fans blamed everything from "low turnout" because they all felt he was safe to "phone malfunctions." Message boards and forums lit up with theories. Other fans were less conspiratorial and blamed the show's format, reminding their peers that the show is seeking a "pop" star and not a "rock" star.

Since the show, Chris has been in the news about the next steps of his career. He was offered, then turned down, the lead singer slot in the platinum-selling rock band Fuel who lost singer Brett Scallions to solo projects. While it may have been a good fit, Chris probably did the right thing there. I'm sure Clive Davis agrees.

Katharine McPhee is working so hard on her debut album that she' s hurting her voice, and sources tell TMZ that FOX is none too happy about it.

In fact, the "American Idol" runner-up has such severe brochitis and laryngitis that she missed the opening night of the Idols summer tour.

Taylor Hicks (and many others) showed up to Social Hollywood in LA on Tuesday night but it was all about Hicks. It seemed as though he was approached by one aspiring business partner after another - all wanting their own personal "Idol."

The "American Idol" winner was seen by TMZ's Josh Levine leaving the the Hollywood hotspot surrounded by paparazzi and possible future hook-ups ... er, business colleagues. At one point it got so bad that he needed a police escort back into the club while waiting for his car.

Grumblings are already reportedly coming from Taylor Hicks' camp about his first single "Do I Make You Proud." It was painfully obvious right away how bad the song is, which is of course not a reflection on Hicks since he didn't write it. Now, it seems Hicks may agree.

Hicks' former producer Will Smith of Baldwin Entertainment in Nashville tells In Touch Weekly magazine that Taylor wanted to release a song he wrote called "the Fall" instead of the tune written for him. Says Smith, "He wants to be known as a songwriter, not a karaoke singer."

Fashion designer Dina Bar-El has created outfits for "Desperate Housewives" and "The O.C.," but after having her dresses appear on a little show called "American Idol," Bar-El's phone has been ringing off the hook.

Bar-El designed all of the gorgeous gowns worn by "Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee on the finale.

NBC loved Bar-El's outfits so much that they have asked her to dress all the suitcase-holding models on the upcoming season of "Deal or No Deal."

Bar-El told TMZ that the 32 lovely ladies will all sport the same black gown McPhee wore on "Idol" pictured here.

Another show jumping on the Bar-El bandwagon is FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance." Dina will create outfits for the show's finalists and with the Emmys coming up in September, she expects to be dressing some of TV's finest.

Check out the answers to your burning questions!

4) Madeleine Has Just GOTTA KNOW: Did Sophia Bush ever host "Saturday Night Live?"

Unfortunately, Madeleine, "One Tree Hill" star Sophia Bush has yet to join the elite list of "Saturday Night Live" hosts. However, according to her reps, the 23-year-old would "love to at some point in the future." For more "I Just GOTTA KNOW" on Sophia, click here!

5) B.Rangel Has Just GOTTA KNOW: What is the significance of the black wrist band that Taylor Hicks wears?

Indeed, America's most recent "Idol" Taylor Hicks has been spotted on more than one occasion sporting a black band around his wrist, leaving many to ponder its meaning. Alas- the mystery remains. His reps let us know that Taylor keeps the wrist band's significance a secret, preferring to keep its meaning personal. Although we may be kept in the dark concerning the adornment on his wrist, the light has been shed onto his love life. Click here for the inside story!

6) Carla Has Just GOTTA KNOW: Where can I find more pictures of Dulce Maria?

Carla, you can get your Dulce Maria fix right here at TMZ.com. For those of you who may not be familiar with this Latin lovely, Maria has appeared in many Mexican venues -- both television and musical -- helping to make her become one of the most talented and successful performers in Mexico. For Dulce Maria's photo gallery, click here!

Taylor Hicks is back kickin' it in is home state of Alabama. The recently named "hottest bachelor" winner, is so hot that he got to drop some rhymes with none other than Snoop Dogg this past weekend.

Snoop was in 'Bama performing at Birmingham's City Stage Festival on Saturday. Hicks hopped up on stage to join Snoop on "Gin and Juice." Hicks played a little harmonica and busted a few dance moves as well. Don't worry Snoop, we won't tell anyone back in Compton.

Showing off his street cred, Hicks gave props to the D - O - Double G:

"I have the greatest respect for Snoop Dogg as an artist, but also as a family man, a businessman and an integral part of pop culture," Hicks said in an interview downtown Saturday afternoon. "Rap music has the most advanced lyricism there is. Rap is real; there's nothing pretentious about it. I'm very excited about appearing with Snoop. I think it's great."

The "American Idol" vixen must have gigs rolling in after her near-win, but Wednesday found herself as part of a christening for the newest ship in the Princess Cruise Lines, the Crown Princess. McPhee performed the National Anthem and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" before an audience which included domestic diva Martha Stewart.

"I didn't actually win "American Idol," McPhee says of her sun-soaked day. "but I was the last woman standing and I think that's a pretty big accomplishment, so I guess in the same kind of way I was crowned the princess of "American Idol." I get to hang out with the Crown Princess."

Hollywood is filled with bitter people who feel ripped off. I don't think there's been a single show on the air during the last ten years in which someone claimed they'd been had.

The fact is, TV is kinda like music -- there aren't all that many melodies, so a lot is derivations on a common theme. This business operates on pitch meetings. Day after day, studio execs meet with producers who claim they have the next big thing. The meetings start to blur, ideas collapse on top of each other, something gets on the air and feelings are hurt.

Stu Billett, the man who created reality television by producing "The People's Court" 25 years ago, once told me that the suits at studios do pilfer ideas and that it's really part of their job. As he put it, referring to the execs: "They're like scorpions. They don't mean to kill. It's just their nature."

The fact is, anyone relying on an oral promise -- as was allegedly the case with "So You Think You Can Dance" -- is dreaming; it's not worth the paper it's written on. Stu once said something funny: "If someone stole my show, I wouldn't sue. I'd look like a schmuck because I didn't protect myself."

As for the "So You Think You Can Dance" lawsuit, the plaintiffs list similarities between their show and the one on FOX, including: a 60 minute television show, the Concept recruits contestants from various cities, professional dancers instruct contestants, a panel of professional judges evaluate performances, the competition is an elimination style, yada yada yada. Sounds like ten other shows.

TMZ has obtained a lawsuit claiming that Fox Broadcasting and Dick Clark Productions ripped off the TV show, "So You Think You Can Dance."The plaintiffs, John Cassese, Mark Wolfe, Maria Lamagra and Brian Nelson, claim in May, 2003 they registered "So You Think You Can Dance'" with the Writers Guild of America. The plaintiffs alleged in July, 2003, they met with reps from Martin Erlichman Associates, Inc. to discuss pitching the show.

According to the lawsuit, filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, the plaintiffs struck an oral agreement with Erlichman Associates to pitch the show. They say the deal was -- they would be paid to write, direct and produce it.

The plaintiffs say Erlichman Associates contacted the Creative Artists Agency to help pitch the show and CAA "did not say no" to the idea.

The suit claims by September, 2005, the Erlichman company froze the plaintiffs out and refused to return their calls.

In July, 2005, "So You Think You Can Dance" debuted on FOX.

The suit claims the format of the show is uncannily similar to the plaintiffs' treatment, including "contestant dancers (who) are challenged by various means including pairing the contestants with complete strangers" and "a panel of judges."

19 Entertainment, Inc., which also produces "American Idol," is also named as a defendant.

The suit seeks unspecified damages.

The 29-year-old silver-haired crooner tops People's list in the magazine's new issue, on newsstands Friday. But the "Idol" winner says he'd happily give up his bachelor days.

"There's been no time," Hicks says of his dating life. "Now,I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life with the right woman."

Hicks also wants to find a woman he exchanged glances with on a recent airline flight. Of the mystery blonde, he says, "We waved and did a double-take look. It seemed like something out of a movie."

The magazine has set up e-mail and mailing addresses for the mystery woman to contact Hicks. The singer will also perform the song "Possibilities" in a new commercial for the Ford Motor Co., it was announced Wednesday.

Jamie Foxx, Gavin Rossdale and Laurence Fishburne were just some of the stars who came out last night to celebrate the launch of British fashion design sensation Ozwald Boateng's new Sundance Channel reality show "House of Boateng."

Foxx became a fan of Boateng's sharp duds while working on the upcoming film "Miami Vice." Boateng was the costume designer on the movie and Foxx admits "Every time I walked out in "Vice" even the extras would see the suit and go 'wow, what is that?'"

Boateng has dressed some of Hollywood's most stylish men. "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks even sported one of the designer's shirts underneath that now infamous purple velvet blazer.

TMZ talked with Hollywood's heavy hitters Thursday night at The Recording Academy Honors to find out when was the moment they knew -- without a doubt -- they had officially made it to the big time. Randy Jackson, Bow Wow and 'X-Men: The Last Stand' director Brett Ratner revealed their defining moments.