American Idol

While Sanjaya's vocal talents have people calling him the next Antonella Barba (minus the scantily clad pics--we hope), there's no denying the 17-year-old has Halle's Oscar-winning tousled brown locks. Best Performance by a Singer with a Curling Iron.

If "Idol" doesn't work out for the budding singer, and producers decide to exhume the "Catwoman" franchise, they've got their, er, man!

Hudson reacted to Simon Cowell's criticism of her for not thanking "American Idol" in her Oscar speech. She reportedly snapped back, "If I'd been any better at my job when I was at Burger King in my middle teens, I wouldn't be here either, so should I thank them, too?" Hudson worked at the BK on East 87th and State Street in Chicago. Burger King was her first job at age 16, where she worked with her sister, who claims she sang while working the drive-thru and flipping burgers.

In an exclusive statement to TMZ, Burger King responded to Hudson's beef, assuring her that no thanks is necessary, and awarded her with BK for life:

"...In response to Jennifer's recent comments in which she asked if she should be thanking Burger King, we say thanks, but no thanks are necessary. Burger King Corporation is proud of Jennifer's success and while we never like to lose employees, in this case, our loss is the entertainment industry's gain ... To further show our support for Jennifer, and make sure she never has to sing for her supper again, Burger King Corporation is giving her a pre-paid BK Crown Card that will be automatically reloaded for life."

"They're really encouraging me to just not get battered by nonsense that doesn't matter and that's not relevant to the competition," Barba told Ryan Seacrest this morning on his KIIS-FM show. The fallen slut-ebrity added that the whole situation was "hard to deal with" and an "unnecessary distraction." Yes, it was distracting for many!

Barba revealed she'll probably stick around L.A. for a bit to see what offers come her way, saying she'd like to keep singing (ack!), act, or even model. Looks like "Girls Gone Wild" may get their wish.

And while fellow rejectee Sundance Head spilled details on a behind-the-scenes brat, Barba played dumb and wisely kept her mouth shut ... for once.

The rejected singer was on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM morning show, where he said one of the guys remaining on the show -- whose name he wouldn't mention -- thinks he already has the competition in the bag.

Sundance also confessed he was shocked he was kicked off -- as the pseudo-vocal stylings of Sanjaya Malakar remained in the Top 12 -- saying, "I had not prepared myself for that ... I was a little angry ... at this point I'm just bitter this morning."

Former American Idol champ, Carrie Underwood, made her triumphant return to the show last night, looking like some weight had been taken off her shoulders ... and her arms ... and her face, since her big, pressure-packed moment on the Season 4 finale. What do you think?

TMZ has learned that an adult video company has joined the check danglers who are offering "American Idol's" controversial competitor major dough, as they attempt to cash-in on her newfound slut-ebrity status.

SugarDVD, the largest renter of adult DVDs online, tells TMZ they've offered Antonella Barba a whopping $500,000 to become their new spokesperson. Last month, the same company offered $1 million to Kim Kardashian, which she refused.

If Barba signs, Sugar CEO "Jax" claims that her first gig would be hosting a launch party for their new video-on-demand service. Jax said he welcomed a bidding war, telling TMZ, "You saw her photos online, she's smokin'. We will not lose because of money." Neither will Antonella.

Alleged singer Antonella Barba takes it to her MySpace page to clear up any confusion there might be -- surrounding alleged racy photos circulating the Internet. Barba's display name is "I just look like her" and the photo caption reads, "Keep talking, you're making me famous." It ain't the talk, hon.

According to Barba, she just really looks a lot like this girl. And if you're not buying it, well, she sent another message in one of her uploaded pics, thanking "Idol" viewers.

Although you have to be added as a friend to see her page, that doesn't mean that all of her "friends" are fans. Some show some love, but nearly half of "Antonella's" MySpace is smeared with comments left by other MySpacers telling Miss Barba just how talentless they think she is ... and that she should be kicked off the show.

Adding more fuel to TV's newest burning rivalry, "American Idol" executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe, phoned into "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" this morning, and dragged Randy Jackson's plus-size stature into the raging dawgfight.

During the call, Lythgoe called Rosie "utterly crazy" for accusing "Idol" of being racist and "weightest," saying "look at our past contestants, Ruben for instance, Randy Jackson himself ... these are not small people!" That's gotta make Randy feel good.

Lythgoe added, "Once you get into a situation where you can have a view and then put it on television ... that comes with responsibility and that responsibility is you think before you open your mouth."

Your move, Ro.

Rosie O'Donnell has just a couple words for "American Idol's" Nigel Lythgoe: Whatever, dude.

That, in effect, was Rosie's response to Lythgoe's stinging criticism, just a couple of hours after the "Idol" honcho called her remarks about his show "absurd," "ridiculous," "self-promotional" and "without thought or knowledge." On her blog at rosie.com, "The View's" resident firestarter had this to say [warning: spellings unchanged] --

what can u say really
from the coca-cola red couch

i call it as i see it
nigel l - sam r
same same same
1985 - 2007
blah blah blah blha
blha blha blah blha

Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of "American Idol," has just released a statement in response to criticism made against the show by "View" host Rosie O'Donnell. It reads:

"Without wishing to add to the obvious self-promotion of Ms. O'Donnell, I feel as though I must refute her absurd and ridiculous claims that 'American Idol' is racist and/or weightist.

"Ms. O'Donnell has, once again, spoken without thought or knowledge. Viewers need only look at the show tonight to realize that 'American Idol' constantly confirms to America that talent has nothing to do with weight or color."

It was Rosie's comments on Tuesday's episode of "The View" that drew "Idol's" ire. Rosie called the show "weightist and racist" over the way it has handled the Antonella Barba photo scandal this season, as opposed to when it booted contestant Frenchie Davis for the same thing. Although an "Idol" spy tells us that the difference is that Frenchie was paid for her pre-Idol porn, while Antonella's photos were private, and published without her knowledge or permission.

"Idol" has also banned "The View" from using clips from the show.

What's up for Antonella once she gets the "Idol" boot? TMZ has found one offer already on the table: Girls Gone Wild!

Joe Francis, the guy behind the GGW empire, has already offered the saucy Idolette a $250,000 contract to appear in a video as a celebrity host!

Francis tells TMZ, "We have reached out to Antonella Barba through her family and are trying to reach her directly in order to offer her a hosting job for one of our upcoming video projects. Just like the American Idol judges, we at Girls Gone Wild are looking for a girl next door, with sexiness, attitude, a carefree spirit and a presence that will command the attention of the Nation."

Hudson was in her hometown yesterday as Mayor Richard Daley proclaimed it Jennifer Hudson Day. When Hudson broke into song, she looked to the crowd to sing along with her. "Y'all want to help me out?" she asked. Apparently the answer was "No."

Antonella Barba, 20-year-old "American Idol" hopeful, has allegedly been seen in various racy photos circulating on the web, but the burning question remains: What will she do after the AI circus is finished? Wagerweb.com has some ideas ... that you can bet on.

Here are the odds on some of Barba's potential next moves:

She will appear nude in Playboy: 5 to 1
She will have an affair with Paula Abdul: 90 to 1
She will have an affair with Simon Cowell: 100 to 1
She will be photographed drunk with Paris Hilton: 12 to 1
She will shave her head: 20 to 1

This isn't the first time this time "American Idol" has dealt with nude pix. In 2003, the show dumped contestant Franchelle "Frenchie" Davis after it was revealed that she posed topless for an Internet porn site.

After "EXTRA" dug up several clips of Simon continually praising the Oscar winner during her run on the show, the acid-tongued judge had a surprising reaction, saying "Does she owe me an apology? No. I wouldn't expect an apology, funny enough."

But Cowell does expect Hudson to show some love for the people that helped her blow up. "I'd say thank your lucky stars, you've had two breaks in your life, "American Idol" and "Dreamgirls," doesn't get any better than that."

Sources have revealed to TMZ that there's a feud a brewin' backstage at "American Idol."

According to our spy, some of the religious female contestants are none too fond of one Miss Antonella Barba, since racy photos of the off-key idol began popping up on the net.

No confrontation has erupted, but it's been downright chilly behind the scenes, with the idolettes now waiting to see if America decides to keep the photogenic Barba around for another week, heaven forbid!

When contacted, reps for "Idol" had no comment.

Jennifer Hudson has been trash-talking "American Idol" and dissing on Simon Cowell. But the video evidence makes it clear -- the Dreamgirl is dreaming it all up.

"EXTRA" rolled back the tapes of Hudson on "Idol," and Simon clearly gave her props throughout the season, saying that she was a "front-runner" and calling her "great" multiple times -- high praise from the often harsh Cowell.