American Idol

The two have become fast friends, with the older, and let's face it, more talented Lakisha often heard giving pep talks to the struggling 17-year-old, along with performance advice like, "Do your thing and just be yourself out there" and "Don't listen to what people have to say." But love the hair, dawg!

While Timberlake wannabes Blake and Chris R. have also become BFFs, it's Lakisha and Sanjaya's friendship that has most surprised the on-set staff. Sources tell TMZ that Lakisha is genuinely lookin' out for Sanjaya, and has become somewhat of a role model for him.

And from the looks of it, Sanjaya is also taking Lakisha's hairstyling advice, as clearly evidenced by last week's flatiron blowout weave!

It's amazing that the kinetic ball of energy could sit still long enough for a photo, but here's the proof!

And he's still a babe!

TMZ found Malakar's MySpace page, where his pics reveal the many faces of the pretty warbler.

There's one constant: those perfectly plucked eyebrows! Luscious!

While his singing doesn't seem to be winning any praises (except, perhaps, when he stops), on Tuesday night, Randy was all about Sanjaya's do, dawg.

Diana Ross gave a mind-numbingly horrific and off-key, shrieking, wobbly performance on "American Idol" last night, that left even Simon Cowell staring in disbelief.

From her opening spotlight, the wild-wigged diva seemed to totter, and then, in a big "American Idol" no-no, she slurred the lyric to her song. Instead of saying, "I know you feel the same way too," she 'sang,' "I know you spiel the same way too." Upside down!

After Diana almost hit several hollered notes, a stunned Simon's eyes widened as he took a sip of his Coke. The song seemed never-ending -- until Miss Ross appeared to mercifully wave at the band to quit playing.

Moments before a performance by front-runner Melinda Doolittle in her four-inch heels, Seacrest asked Cowell if he had any advice for her wearing the high heels, to which Simon replied, "You should know, Ryan." Seacrest then set himself up big-time by saying, "Stay out of my closet," leading to the inevitable "Come out!" from Cowell! Ryan then countered with, "This is about the Top 12, not your wishes!"

This isn't the first time the two have, er, exchanged blows over sexuality. Last season, GLAAD reached out to the show to discuss their "concerns and the concerns of community members and allies."

He's snappily dressed and always ready with a snappy comeback, oh that Ryan Seacrest!

Now you can give that smiling smarm a thumping from your middle finger!

Yes, it's the Ryan Seacrest Bobble Head, in all its highlighted, plucked, polished, polyresin glory -- just like the real Ryan! Now ready for bids on eBay! Seacrest, out!

Former "American Idol" finalist Mario Vasquez is facing accusations that he tried to masturbate in front of a male employee in a bathroom on the set of the hit show in February 2005.

Shortly thereafter, Vasquez mysteriously dropped out of "Idol," citing personal reasons.

According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and obtained by TMZ, Vazquez allegedly "sexually harassed" Magdaleno Olmos, assistant accountant for Fremantle Media, the company that produces American Idol.

In the lawsuit, Olmos claims "Vazquez stared lasciviously, smiled lasciviously ... and on one occasion followed him into a bathroom ... knocked on the door of the plaintiff's stall and made eye contact through the space in the stall door."

The lawsuit alleges that Vazquez "started to rub his genitals over his pants. Attempting to leave the bathroom, Olmos opened the door of the stall and saw Vazquez standing in front of him with his pants down masturbating."

According to the documents, Vazquez pushed Olmos "further into the stall and continued masturbating with one hand and trying to pull down Olmos' pants with another hand."

Olmos claims that he tried to "cover his body with his hands" but Vazquez touched his "chest and stomach underneath his shirt, and Olmos' "genitals" as Vazquez "attempted to unzip" Olmos' pants.

Vazquez then allegedly asked Olmos "if he wanted oral sex."

In the lawsuit, Olmos claims that as he "managed to get out of the stall, and attempted to leave the bathroom," Vazquez, grabbed his arm "in an effort to stop him." Vazquez continued to call Olmos to come back as Vazquez "stood in the bathroom with his pants still down."

In the suit, Olmos claims that he tried to report the incident to a superior named Eric LaPointe, who allegedly responded by telling Olmos that "he was crazy" and "repeatedly threatening to fire" him. A few months after the incident, Olmos claims he was "terminated."

In addition to suing Vazquez, Olmos has named FOX Entertainment and Fremantle Media as defendants in his lawsuit for wrongful termination.

Reps from FOX tell TMZ, "We haven't been served, but we wouldn't comment on pending litigation."

Calls to Vazquez's attorney, and reps from "American Idol" on behalf of the defendants, have not yet been returned.

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.