American Idol

We caught up with Hernandez on his way into town, and when we pressed him about his tryout, all he would say was that he was auditioning for a show called "Lease." ("Lease" ... "Rent" ... Is he really making a "Team America: World Police" ref? You decide.)

Arizona Dave also seemed a little bewildered by the big city, prodding random strangers for help finding a car and asking a Hasidic Jew whether he was a "Pilgrim."

The bangin' blonde has her own sandwich to tempt the tummys of the locals. With the way the judges are respoding to her performances, she may be back to slingin' these specials soon!

Photogs shouted questions about Seacrest's sexuality, Paula's kissability and his own chest hair. Despite the papstorm, Simon made a point to bring up Seal's "freak out" at TMZ's photog earlier this week -- calling it "very funny."

Though maybe it was a little bit TMI.

David Archuleta's dad, Jeff, is a piece of work.

Sources close to "Star Search" tell TMZ that when David was a contestant back in the day, Jeff's behavior was so bad, he was eventually barred from the lot! The guards actually had a picture of Jeff's mug hanging in the guard shack in case he tried sneaking in.

We're also told the father of the year harassed Tiffany Evans, his "Star Search" rival, lurking outside her practices, even trying to coerce her into drinking milk before a show to ruin her voice. She didn't listen (obviously) and went on to win.

Sources also tell us Daddy Dearest sometimes screamed at his son and has even withheld water during rehearsals, even bringing his son to tears.

At the end of the show, just before the voting began, Ryan Seacrest threw to a tape with highlights from the contestants. Michael Johns actually seemed better than when he sang earlier in the show. Fact is, it was better, because producers used Johns performance from his rehearsal earlier in the day.

Interestingly, after Johns performed live on the air, Paula remarked that she heard Johns during rehearsal and he had been a lot better then. So voters were left with the impression Johns was better than he actually was.

Ditto David Archuleta the week before, when he forgot the lyrics to "We Can Work it Out." When "A.I." played the highlight tape at the end of the show, David was seen during his rehearsal, when he was much better.

"Idol" tells us the entire montage at the end of the show is of rehearsal footage -- they simply don't have the time to turn around that video using live performances.

If you're looking to get a lot of attention at an "American Idol" taping you should be a contestant or a celebrity -- unfortunately for Rumer Willis, she is considered neither!

TMZ spies tell us the 19-year-old celebuspawn went virtually unnoticed at last night's "A.I." taping. Do you know who my parents are?!

While former "Saved by the Bell" and "90210" star Tiffani Amber Thiessen -- who was also in attendance -- and wannabes like Kristy Lee Cook received lots of screams and autograph requests last night, we're told Bruce & Demi's firstborn was unrecognized and left completely alone.

Even massacring a Beatles song is a bigger accomplishment than just being born!

The "American Idol" kids might be all aw-shucks on the air, but they're a lot more oh-no-you-didn't when the cameras stop rolling!

This year's crop of "Idol" finalists, according to spies at the apartment complex where they're all sequestered, "act like they're stars already" and are definitely "not nice" to the staff at the building -- and complain a lot about things like a little construction going on at the complex. "They're always hiding like they're special," we're told, and they're very aloof, especially compared to last year's crew, which was much nicer.

But after laying down the track, the "A.I" wannabe tried his hand at Barry's Bootcamp in West Hollywood, where regulars include Jake Gyllenhaal, Teri Hatcher, and Nicollette Sheridan. But when it came to the fitness ass-kicking, according to Barry, the Aussie just laid down -- and couldn't keep up with the workout.

Wait 'til Simon finds out about this.

The petite performer is singing aboard Rosie O'Donnell's "R Family Vacations" cruise.
Show tunes for everyone!

Thankfully, she doesn't murder the song, a la "Eight Days a Week."

Think of the children!

Marty tells TMZ when Kristy was 16, she called Marty (then her manager) to get tickets to an Oregon country fair where Tanya was performing. Marty did Kristy one better -- she talked Tanya into letting Kristy sing a couple of songs on stage! Tanya then took Kristy and her family backstage to hang out.

Marty, who's still friends with Tanya, told her about Kristy being on "American Idol" -- so Tanya got Kristy's number and called her last night. Tanya told Kristy that she was pretty, had a great voice and to just go out there and be herself!

The advice is great -- but Tanya might wanna vote next week.