American Idol

Now pictures are surfacing from B.R. (that's "Before Rehab" for you folks outside the Thirty Mile Zone), and Tara looks like she loves the nightlife. Check out this pic taken Sept. 1 of this year, where Tara does her best Tara Reid impression in Manhattan, with "American Idol" reject Constantine Maroulis and "Six Degrees" star Jay Hernandez.

Dreams really do come true. If you can meet their price, you can party with your favorite "American Idol."

According to the New York Post, the going rate for the reality show's castoffs, finalists and winners ranges from pocket change to big bucks. It all depends on whether you want them to sing their little hearts out or just show up and pretend they care.

So who makes the most? Ruben Studdard gets anywhere from $30K-$75K for three songs; Taylor Hicks sells his soul for $150K; and Kelly Clarkson is worth $300K. Meanwhile, a lowly castoff like Kimberly Caldwell -- wait, who? -- only charges $2,000.

There'll be no swanky swag at the Oscars or Golden Globes, courtesy of altruistic Edward Norton. The awards have scrapped giving out gift bags -- which are usually worth up to $100K -- because the actor complained so much, and the IRS got wind of the extent of the freebies. Norton tells New York magazine: "Picking through $35,000 gift baskets is disgusting and shameful. My suggestion was to have the Academy commit to [charitable] contributions in the name of the winners." Yeah, right. Look for Ed sitting alone during this year's festivities.

How does he do it? Howard Stern had Martha Stewart talking dirty during his show last week. The usually stuffy domestic diva told Stern she owns a $1,200 vibrator, which she called "a very good tool," reports the New York Post. She also dished on her short-lived relationships with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and actor Anthony Hopkins. "I couldn't get past the Lechter thing," she said. "Do you want someone eating your brain while you are sitting in your beautiful dining room in Maine?" Fair enough.

Steven Spielberg is jumping on the reality TV bandwagon. The Oscar-winning director is developing a show about the fashion world featuring supermodel Christy Turlington ... PEOPLE reports "Apprentice" winner Bill Rancic and E! News' Giuliana DePandi are engaged. The couple met when she interviewed him on E! two years ago ... Michael Jackson is charging Japanese fans $3,500 a pop to shake his hand and snap a photo. The "Premium VIP Party" takes place March 8.

Unlike most of today's artists, who rarely produce a track alone, Katharine is giving us 100 percent McPhee; there are no collaborations. Distancing herself from her giggly American Idol image may be just what the highly-tressed songstress needs to make her career soar. It worked for Kelly Clarkson!

The sultry siren's album is set to drop January 30.

Who cares if Jennifer Hudson didn't win "American Idol"? With her performance as Effie White in "Dreamgirls," the big-voiced diva is getting enough critical acclaim to send her Grammy-winning co-star, the fabulous Beyoncé, over the edge with envy.

The film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical was supposed to be Beyoncé's star vehicle, but it's Hudson who's getting the Oscar buzz. Oh no she dit-n't!

Entertainment Weekly believes Jennifer's a shoo-in for a Best Supporting Actress nod, and New York Times reporter David Carr flat out says that Hudson "steals the show." Even Oprah called up the songstress and told her it was a "transcendent performance." If you thought Beyoncé was angry before -- somebody better ring the alarm!

See for yourself as a star is born; "Dreamgirls", with Jennifer Hudson, opens December 15.

At last night's Country Music Awards, the "American Idol" warbler took home Female Vocalist of the Year -- and nobody was apparently more shocked than fellow nominee Faith Hill, who was shown waiting backstage when the announcement was made; looking angry and yelling "WHAT?!" into the camera before storming off!

Her manager claims she was just joking around. In a statement, Miss Hill tells TMZ, "The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me. For this to become a focus of attention given the talent gathered is utterly ridiculous. Carrie is a talented and deserving Female Vocalist of The Year." Ain't she country?!

A warning to every other show on television: "American Idol" is coming back to rule the airwaves.

The FOX singfest starts its sixth season on January 16 and 17 at 8PM ET/PT, with two hours each night. After that, the show will air Tuesday nights at 8PM ET/PT and Wednesday nights at 9PM ET/PT. Set your Tivos!

The first three weeks will feature audition cities Los Angeles, San Antonio, Birmingham, Memphis, Minneapolis, New York City and Seattle. Aussie canary Olivia Newton John, singer/songwriter Carol Bayer Sager and yodeller Jewel will appear as guest judges during the audition rounds. The semifinal rounds will air February 6-7 and 13-14.

Taylor Hicks was crowned "American Idol" last season. Previous winners were Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia and Carrie Underwood.

Simon Cowell and his cronies at "American Idol" are already promising some really, really terrible contestants this year – and there's one audition spot that was especially unbearable.

"Seattle is going to be known for something other than coffee this year. They had the worst bunch of miserable singers that I've ever met in my life. It was two days of total misery," says Cowell to USA Today. "And the weather was bad, as well." But it wasn't just Seattle, according to executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, who says we can look forward in January to "some of the worst (singers) we've ever had." Otherwise, Cowell says that so far this year, the women and the younger singers are the standouts. The series begins its seemingly inexorable run again on Jan. 16

A British adoption authority says that Madonna's adoption of the Malawian David could be "disastrous" for the over 4,000 children living in Britain in desperate need of adoption every year, as potential parents flock to foreign countries to find their little bundle of joy. David Holmes, the chief executive of the British Association on Adoption and Fostering, tells the UK's Independent that the public's perception of adoption and related issues has been "distorted" by the Material Mom's recent actions.

Meanwhile, religion-wise, Madonna's got everyone confused. First, she can't stop talking about Kabbalah and slaps one of those red bracelets on her adopted baby's wrist. Then, she tells everyone from Meredith Vieira to the BBC that she believes in Jesus. So, Madge, which is it? Whichever it is, as MSNBC points out, Madonna intends to raise baby David in her own way. "I believe in Jesus and I study Kabbalah, so I don't see why he can't too," said Madonna several times last week.

It's very very niiiiiice for Borat this morning, as the wacky Kazakh reporter (aka Sacha Baron Cohen) took in a stunning $26.4 million over the weekend after opening in only 837 theaters across the country, averaging $31,511 per theater. By contrast, the second-place finisher, Tim Allen's "The Santa Clause 3," raked in $20 million, though it opened on 3,458 cinemas, for an average of $5,784 per theater. "Borat's" huge success – as evidenced in Manhattan, for instance, by long lines even for Sunday's late show – calls into some question the strategy of its studio, Fox, in giving it such a limited release. DreamWorks' "Flushed Away," came in third place with $19.1 million. In any case, looks like Borat will not be "execute in his home country."

Foxy Brown's definitely had a tough year – temporary hearing loss, convicted of assaulting a manicurist, book deal nixed – and now, she might be dropped from her record label altogether. As Page Six reports, her "comeback" album was meant to be released in December, but Foxy's boss, Jay-Z, is "furious at Foxy's lack of productivity," according to a source. And as a result, the rap mogul hasn't been returning her calls or taking meetings with the troubled Brown, leading insiders to speculate that he's going to drop her altogether. Friends say that everything with the album is "fine."

Rapper-loudmouth Eminem scolded Mariah Carey for denying that they ever had a relationship, reports MSNBC, even though he claims they went out for several months. He also called her a "diva" on his Sirius radio channel ... Tom Ford tells Page Six that he's quite happy to go sans underwear, whenever, though his mom wishes he'd stop telling people that ... After a tepid debut last week, Fox has decided to move "The O.C." back to Wednesdays and away from the "Grey's" - "CSI" fray.

The November issue of Details magazine features the latest edition of their wildly popular quiz, which this month asks if a face in a particular picture is an "Idol" contestant giving it their all on the concert stage or a porn star giving, or taking as the case may be, their X-rated all on the set.

See if you can tell if a particular contorted facial expression is showcasing Kelly Clarkson's vocal talents or an adult film star's oral expertise.

Check out Details.com to find out the answers to who is hitting the high notes.

Katharine McPhee traded the "American Idol" stage for the fashion runway at Dina Bar-El's show on Tuesday during LA Fashion Week.

McPhee dazzled the crowd as she pranced down the catwalk with Bar-El at her side, while her rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" played in the background during the finale of the show.

The McPheever was in top form after a tumultuous summer which saw the songbird fracture her foot, suffer from bouts of bronchitis and laryngitis and reveal she was once bulimic.

Kat glowed in a beige gown which featured a beaded halter empire waist and floating chiffon bottom.

McPhee and Bar-El have been friends ever since the designer created gowns for the budding popstar during "American Idol."

When not channeling her inner supermodel, Katharine has been busy recording her debut album which is due out in November 28.

Taylor Hicks may be an "American Idol," but, apparently, Paula Abdul is Nevada's!

The former Laker Girl, choreographer and "A.I." judge has been named the Nevada Ballet Theater's 2007 "Woman of the Year."

The illustrious award honors luminaries of the stage and screen who have a special connection to dance and musical theater. Bickering with Simon Cowell is a plus.

Past "Woman of the Year' recipients include Megawatt A-list Hollywood super-duper stars like Rita Rudner, Chita Rivera and Carol Channing.

A rep for the Theater said Paula's "warm personality and talent have touched every aspect of the arts and entertainment world. Paula exemplifies the qualities we look for in an honoree."

We couldn't agree more. I mean, who doesn't admire glazed looks, incoherent outbursts and canoodling with contestants?!

Ms. Abdul, and all her fabulous womanhood, will be feted at the Ballet's annual Black and White Ball on January 27 at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Our new favorite train wreck, Chyna Doll, has officially joined Tara Reid and Brandon Davis in the I-can't-get-into-Hyde club.

After leaving Shag, another club in Hollywood, the wrestler-turned-Playboy model-turned-walking disaster showed up at trendy Hyde with porn star Mary Carey and their entourage, expecting to waltz right in. The group had no reservation, of course, and was quickly denied admittance.

Stuck behind the velvet rope, Carey tried to make friends with "American Idol" contestant Chris Daughtry, who told the wild bunch, "wish I could help you, sorry," before sliding in with all his friends.

Last night the victims of the wrath of Simon Cowell came out to celebrate the show that changed their lives forever and promote a new "Idol"-based project at the exclusive Spyder Club in Hollywood. Fremantle Media, the company behind "A. I.", has just announced the creation of a new show called, "American Idol Rewind" which gives viewers a never-before-seen look into "American Idol."

Cameras rolled as the former cast-offs rolled in to the party, which featured a live performance from Justin Guarini. The poofy haired singer serenaded the crowd with a few cuts from his soon-to-be-released album, "Stranger Things Have Happened."

So if you're anything like us and crave those pop-culture flashbacks, check out "American Idol Rewind" which airs in syndication starting September 30.

Leave it to Simon Cowell to put down a guy on Paxil.

When commenting on Clay Aiken's recent admittance that he takes the anti-depressant to deal with the fame that came with "American Idol," Cowell definitely didn't hold back.

"Oh give me a break. Let me have a choice, I'm going to work in a coal mine for 14 hours a day or I'm going to be a runner-up on 'American Idol.' Give me a break, idiot."

And while judge Paula Abdul and celebrity guest judge Olivia Newton-John both stuck up for the season two runner-up, Cowell kept the insults rolling.

"They're not working for a living, they're becoming famous ... no one's put a gun to their head ... Clay, whatever he may have said, would not swap what he's got now for what he had three years ago."

Way to be sympathetic Simon!

Clearly, "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino didn't write an entire book without some help. Now her ghostwriter wants some credit.

According to Radar Magazine, Kim Green, the ghostwriter for Barrino's memoir "Life is Not a Fairy Tale" is fuming over the lack of recognition she's received for a book that made the New York Times' best-seller list.

Green claims she was paid $45,000 for a book which sold more than 48,000 copies and has received no credit, even though it was obviously not written by the "Idol" winner.

The breaking point for Green was when she received no compensation for the Lifetime film based on the book she had written. She tells Radar, "Nobody even called me to say 'Do you have any insights? Do you want to tell us some anecdotes?'" adding, "I found it to be so appalling that nobody thought, 'Oh, we should call Kim Green.'"

This new controversy comes just a day after Barrino's father, Joseph, filed a $10 million libel suit against the book's publishers, Simon & Shuster, for printing "false, exaggerated, sensational, intentional and malicious untruths." In a strange twist, the lawsuit also alleges Barrino's grandmother Addie Collins, not Green, was the ghostwriter for the book.

When asked, point blank, by Diane Sawyer whether he was going to come out in the interview, Aiken gave an odd shrieky cackle, then said that he wouldn't address the speculation. And, with some nervousness, he called the speculation into his sexuality "invasive" and "rude." Finally, when asked by Diane Sawyer if it was "misleading" for him to talk about liking women in interviews just after his run on "American Idol," Aiken responded by saying he was "naive."

Aiken also said that he isn't unduly curious about other celebrities' (or people's) lives -- except for the "whole Jen and Angelina" thing.

eBay is auctioning off an all inclusive trip for two to meet the "American Idol" judge in all her incoherent glory.

The VIP package includes first class airfare to Los Angeles, transportation via limousine, accommodations at the 5-star Peninsula Hotel, two $1000 Am Ex gift cards and tickets to a live taping of "American Idol" followed by a meet and greet with the pint size TV personality.

Bids are starting at $25,000 with all proceeds going towards The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. The auction ends September 24.

But be forewarned, the winner will be required to sign a waiver "absolving all parties of liability for potential injuries, loss or harm which may be incurred."

We've always thought Paula was a little bit scary, but apparently she's even more dangerous than we ever imagined!