American Idol

The buxom 50-year-old showed off his interestingly manscaped torso in the south of France this weekend.

According to docs obtained by WCNC, Paula Cook filed for child support against her estranged husband Antwaun Cook last week and cited an alleged affair between Cook and Barrino. She claims the two met at a T-Mobile store and, beginning in August 2009, began their "covert adulterous affair."

Cook goes on to claim, "Throughout the course of their adulterous affair ... Defendant/Husband and Ms. Barrino have at times recorded their illicit activity."

Rumors of an affair between Barrino and Cook have been around for months -- and Barrino has always denied them.

Victor Willis tells TMZ he'd be the "best choice" to replace Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell because he was "the original idol judge for the selection of the Village People talent" back in 1977.

As we previously reported, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are slated to take the judges table once their contracts are worked out -- but just in case it doesn't work out with them, Willis claims, "I reminded the [American Idol] representative that I was a judge for the selection of talent for the most iconic group of characters of all time."

He added, "The show’s response was that they’re very much aware of this and that I’m considered a serious dark horse candidate."

While promoting her new reality/hunting show "Goin' Country," Cook -- who placed 7th on "Idol" in 2008 -- recently said, "I never used to like killing animals until I got out and experienced it. It's the food chain. Animals are here for us to eat."

Obviously, the statement didn't sit well with the group In Defense of Animals, who see things a little differently ... saying, "Contrary to Kristy Lee's beliefs, animals are meant to live out their lives in peace, not to be killed for our enjoyment."

UPDATE: "Idol" executives are being far more coy than Tyler -- because they told reporters today that "no one has signed a deal on either side of the camera who wasn't on the show last year."

Sources close to production tell TMZ there was "serious talk" of a clean sweep of the judge's panel ... but we're told "Idol" brass wanted to keep a connection to the original judge's table, so Randy was spared.

As we previously reported, Simon Cowell left for "The X Factor," Ellen DeGeneres stepped down after one season and Kara DioGuardi was let go -- leaving Randy as the only remaining judge.

Aerosmith is currently in the middle of a nationwide tour aptly named "Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock!" -- and the tour is scheduled to roll through the end of September ... long after production begins on "Idol."

A rep for the band still won't confirm that Tyler is locked up for "Idol" -- but she did tell us that no matter what, "The Aerosmith tour will continue on for its full scheduled run with Steven Tyler."

Wednesday night on "So You Think You Can Dance" Nigel seemed to forget which set he was working on at that moment.

We're told the show will be going back to a three-judge format and assuming all deals are finalized, the judge's panel will consist of Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

We're told the only way Kara could get a reprieve is if the J-Lo deal falls apart -- but we're told that deal is done.

Ellen DeGeneres announced earlier Thursday that she was leaving the show after just one season.

As we previously reported, Tyler is expected to fill the spot -- along with Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez -- once the deals are finalized.

In the police report, filed yesterday and obtained by TMZ -- Benardo claims he's received "numerous phone calls and emails from restricted and blocked numbers threatening his life."

Benardo tells TMZ, he's been getting 5-10 threatening phone calls an hour -- from people threatening to slit his throat and calling him "the biggest embarrassment to our country" and a "cancer to the world."

According to Benardo, one caller even said he "can't wait for him to die of AIDS."

Ellen just tweeted, "Dim the lights ... I've voted myself off American Idol."

Ellen claims she came to her decision, "a couple months ago" -- and admits, "It was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings."

She concludes, "I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be."

We're told "Idol" is expected to make an official announcement regarding the judge situation sometime around the beginning of September.

TMZ ran into Ian Benardo in New York where he also berated a "bum" for asking him for directions -- before continuing to preach about how words can be hurtful.