American Idol

TMZ has learned ... one of the key players who made "American ldol" a success was so pissed last night after the show, he chewed out "A.I." producers backstage.

Rickey Minor -- who has been the bandleader for 6 seasons -- is leaving A.I. to head up Jay Leno's band on "The Tonight Show."

Minor was fit to be tied after no one thanked him or wished him well -- hell, they didn't even acknowledge him during last night's finale.

Our "A.I." spies tell us ... when the show was over Minor went off on producers, angrily telling them how insulted he was by their silent dis.

Minor refused to go backstage for the champagne afterparty. But producers pleaded with him and then got Randy Jackson to try and smooth it over with an unprepared speech.

Minor then said a few words but we're told, "You could cut the bitterness with a knife."

Simon Cowell wasn't the only one who bid sayonara to "American Idol" last night.

Dorian Holley -- the Vocal Coach and Associate Musical Director -- said farewell last night as well, and he's heading for "The Tonight Show."

Holley was also the Vocal Director for Michael Jackson and was a key player in the London tour that never happened. He was with Jackson hours before he died.

Holley will become the lead singer in "The Tonight Show" band. And he's not the only "A.I." musical guru who's jumping ship -- Rickey Minor will take over Jay's band.

It all went down after the show, when the two met up for a few backstage pics (the one above is from Bret's own camera).

Bret's people tell us before they separated, Bret dished out the following nugget of wisdom -- "Everyone is nervous before they hit the stage. What separates the ones who make it and [the ones that] don't is how they channel that energy."

We're not saying Bret stole that line from a fortune cookie, but he also told Lee that his lucky numbers are 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42.

Flanked by hired muscle, the two singers were all smiles outside the Mondrian hotel on Sunset Blvd. -- posing for fans and even giving some final thoughts on Simon Cowell and Bret Michaels.

Neither had a wardrobe malfunction last night.

Our "Idol" spies tell us Michaels is at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. and will make a cameo tonight. We don't know what he'll do on stage, but hey ... anything's possible.

UPDATE: Bret just performed -- and we're told he kicked ass. According to our inside sources, the rocker got the biggest applause so far.

UPDATE #2: Here's the video -- it's awesome!

Both Crystal and Lee will each sing 3 songs. The first song is their choice, the second was chosen by Simon Fuller and the third song is the one that will be released by the winner.

Crystal chose "Me and Bobby McGee" for her first song. Fuller had her sing "Black Velvet." As for the song she'll release ... it's called "Up to the Mountain." Crystal stopped dead in her tracks in the middle of the song and started over.

As for Lee, he chose, "The Boxer," and Fuller selected "Everybody Hurts." As for the song he'll release if he wins ... it's called, "Beautiful Day."

As Lee finished "Beautiful Day," a violinist accidentally hit him in the body with his bow. Lee was upset and walked off the stage .... even before the pretend judges could weigh in.

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.