American Idol

Abdul rolled over to the really fancy ... and really expensive ... Lloyd Klein House of Couture yesterday, where she reportedly picked out an outfit for Simon Cowell's big send-off.

FYI -- Lloyd Klein has designed red carpet dresses for some of the biggest stars in the world, like Eva Longoria, Kate Beckinsale and Renee Zellweger.

Hopefully, Paula won't just let her dress do the talking during the show.

With the country about to anoint a new winner this week, can you believe it's been seven years since the 31-year-old father of one lost to Ruben Studdard on "American Idol?"

The gambling experts at BoDog.com have decided that Lee's odds to win the show are 1/2 -- while Crystal Bowersox is at 3/2.

Translation -- a $2 bet would pay back $3 on Lee (the favorite) and $5 on Crystal (the underdog).

Seacrest was 9 when he locked his bedroom door, put on what looks to us like Playtex gloves and did the most awful rendition of "I'd Die for You" ever recorded.

We found the "performance" on a tape of his TV show, "On-Air with Ryan Seacrest." When we watched the tape, we doubled the average viewership of that show.

According to the legal doc -- a copy of which was filed in court because a contestant was a minor -- the contestants promise the following: "Neither I nor any members of my family or my friends will enter into any personal, social, business, and or financial relationships with any of the judges, host(s), guest stars ..." The prohibition runs for the duration of the show and 6 months thereafter.

But the way we see it ... there's no way the contract can bind family or friends. Nonetheless, it's a good threat, because according to the doc, a contestant will be disqualified for violating the rule and forfeit any prize money.

And in the money department ... here's the way it breaks down.

The married 24-year-old showed off his buff and mostly smooth torso while on vacation in the Bahamas this weekend.

After getting through his first set without any hardware malfunctions, the "American Idol" champ returned to the stage at the end of the show to perform "Hey Jude" -- with his zipper down.

It went down in a parking lot after an "A.I." show. In front of several people, Crystal told Ryan she couldn't handle the competition.... she said she hated the attention and said to Seacrest, "What's the point?"

Crystal said she was going back to Ohio to be with her family, whom she missed terribly.

Ryan told Crystal that being on "Idol" was like starting a business, and if she won she'd get a recording contract and become a millionaire.

Seacrest sealed the deal by telling her, "The greatest thing I ever did was make enough money so I could buy my mom a house. You can buy your mom a house."

TMZ has learned "American Idol" musical director Rickey Minor will become the new Kevin Eubanks on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

We're told the announcement is supposed to be made tomorrow.

Minor has worked as a musical director for Beyonce, Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston and many others. He was also musical director for the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl.

Eubanks is leaving the show late next month... exactly the same time "Idol" goes on hiatus.

UPDATE: NBC has officially confirmed TMZ's story ... Minor will debut on "The Tonight Show" on June 7.

"American Idol" reject Chikezie Eze owes Bank of America more than $17,000 ... which in Neiman Marcus terms is 28 bottles of cologne.

You'll recall Mr. Eze was charged last Friday with attempting to buy 2 bottles of really, really expensive cologne at Neiman's using fraudulent credit cards. Neiman's, which charges more than $1,200 for the two bottles of cologne has not been charged with highway robbery -- so far.

In the B of A civil lawsuit, the bank claims Eze overdrew funds from his account and owes $17,433.63.

One of them is wearing matching earrings.

We're just sayin'.

A finalist from season 6 of "American Idol" was arrested in Georgia last night after cops say they had to rip her out of a ferocious girl-on-girl brawl.

The perp is 22-year-old Stephanie Edwards who finished in 11th place behind Jordin Sparks back in 2007.

According to the Chatham County Sheriff's Dept, Edwards was busted in Savannah around 10:00 PM after cops noticed the singer and another woman "fighting in the middle of the street." Cops say they broke up the fight and arrested both women.

Edwards told police she had gone to the other woman's home to confront her about "harassing phone calls" -- and that's when things got violent.

Both women were transported to a nearby jail. Edwards has since been released.

As for who won the fight -- cops say Edwards had a couple of scratches on her face and chest, but the other woman had a bruised up right eye ... so, sounds like a draw.

TMZ has learned Chikezie Eze did not pass the smell test with the L.A. County District Attorney, who has charged the "American Idol" castoff with the crime of attempted grand theft for allegedly trying to buy two bottles of cologne with fraudulent credit info.

Chikezie was arrested last February after trying to buy cologne at Neiman Marcus .... prosecutors say he fraudulently tried using credit information from a man named Willem Grandia.

And only at Neiman's would two bottles of cologne constitute grand theft -- the tab was $1,289.57.

In addition to the misdemeanor grand theft charge, the D.A. is prosecuting Chikezie for misdemeanor identity theft.