As the number of surviving celebrities is narrowed down to three tonight on NBC’s hit summer reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, the show’s co-host Damien Fahey, is already thinking about his dream cast for a future season.
"I would love to see Paris Hilton survive in the jungle for four weeks," Damien tells OK! by phone. "Lindsay Lohan, Dave Coulier from Full House, Clay Aiken — all would be great casting.”
Looking back at this first wild season in the jungles of Costa Rica, Damien now believes that — more than the snakes, bugs and bad weather, the mental aspect of the game has been more difficult for contestants.
“Surviving on rations of beans and rice the size of your fist, and not being able to e-mail or Twitter," he explains. "I think that’s the toughest.”
Though America still has another day to decide the show’s ultimate winner, Damien’s already got his three faves selected. “I think Lou Diamond Phillips, Sanjaya and Patti Blagojevich are my top three” he says. “But it’s anyone’s game at this point.”
As for the show’s most controversial celebs, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, who quit the show on repeated occasions, only to come crawling back. “They were a real pain when they first started," Damien admits. "And then when they came back they seemed quite friendly… It will be interesting to see which version shows up.”
Don’t forget to watch tonight’s elimination and tomorrow’s live finale, where one celebrity is crowned king or queen of the jungle on NBC starting at 8pm ET.
Last week, former American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken found himself with foot planted firmly in mouth after he took to his personal blog to critique Adam Lambert, the show’s latest second-place finisher.
In the post, the singer mentioned that he "thought my ears would bleed," while he watched Adam perform. He also called the controversial contestant, "Contrived, awful, and slightly frightening! I wasn’t really a fan and found myself surprised whenever folks told me that they liked him."
In order to quell the storm of negative feedback he’s gotten in the wake of these comments, Clay once again sat down and blogged an apology… of sorts.
"I’ll be the first to admit that my opinion is just that, only my opinion," he writes on ClayOnline.com. "I never assumed my opinion mattered so much! I guess I may have been wrong."
Clay continues, "I am sure that some were upset by my choice of words describing my opinion of a performance I heard from Adam Lambert. I hope no one actually believed that blood truly poured forth from my ears when I heard him. I obviously meant it as a colorful statement to imply that I did not enjoy what I heard."
The singer also states that he didn’t intend to hurt or offend anyone with his original post. "I would not venture to make judgements on the personality or demeanor of anyone I don’t know, so none of what I said in my previous blog was directed as a ’slam’ on Adam as a person. At the same time, I wouldn’t dream of slamming him as an entertainer," explains Clay. "He does what he does, because he enjoys it, and he obviously has many fans who enjoy it as well. If what i said in my previous blog regarding my impression of a single performance from Adam upset or offended any of his fans, I expect that the mature ones will realize that it was simply a poorly worded metaphor describing my personal tastes. The only person I would really dream of apologizing to is Adam. And the irony is, if he’s smart he couldn’t give a crap what I think of his ‘Ring of Fire’ performance… I hope he can forgive me. I imagine he doesn’t give a damn!
Clay Aiken knows what it’s like to come in second on American Idol, but that doesn’t mean he’s got much love for this year’s runner-up, Adam Lambert.
"Now that it’s all over, and for the record…. I couldn’t be happier about the way AI ended this year," he writes on his members-only subscription site, ClayOnline.com. "I only turn the show on once a season, and only to see what the set looks like each year. This year, I happened to turn it during the minute that Adam Lambert was singing ‘Ring of Fire’ and, at that moment, thought my ears would bleed. Contrived, awful, and slightly frightening! I wasn’t really a fan and found myself surprised whenever folks told me that they liked him."
Ouch!
Clay goes on to say that he thinks Kris Allen was very likeable, and that it all comes down to personal taste of the voters, as when he and Ruben Studdard competed in the final two.
"This year, there was an obvious bias. Not even having watched the show, I can tell you that I was WELL aware of the bias from the judges as to who should win. In my opinion, that is awfully unattractive," writes Clay. " In my opinion, it all often comes down to that last night of voting. Until the finale, folks are voting for the contestant that they want to see continue. But, I believe that on that last night, the dynamic changes. No longer forced to choose one person that they want to see win, the audience can effectively vote AGAINST the person that they don’t want to see win."
"Somewhere along the way, AI stopped being about real people," adds Clay.
When Clay Aiken announced he was about to be a father along with friend Jaymes Foster, some might have been skeptical of their decision.
But now that baby Parker Foster Aiken has arrived (conceived by in-vitro fertilization), Jaymes’ brother music producer David Foster says they’re just a happy family in a "very normal situation."
”She’s very close with Clay, they’re best friends," David tells AP Radio. "It made perfect sense to me that he’d want to have a child with his best friend.”
Although he might be a bit biased, David says Clay is a "spectacular father" and Jaymes is "a natural mother," who ”always wanted a child, so it kind of worked out.”
As for their plans raising Parker together, David’s a bit unsure, adding, "They’re working it out. I don’t know quite how. It’s a bicoastal thing.”
After a paltry 159,000 copies of his 2008 release On My Way Here, Clay Aiken and his record label, RCA, have parted ways, according to Billboard.
To compare numbers, his 2003 debut sold around 2.78 million copies. Ouch!
The American Idol alum hadn’t even been with the label for more than a few months, a source tells Billboard.
No news yet as to where he’ll hang his cap next, but Clay will be on an April 8 episode of America’s Next Top Model, no doubt to share his tips for making that perfect, non-weird face for the camera every single time.
All seven American Idols descend on Disney’s Hollywood Studios for The American Idol Experience opening held Thursday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
It’s the first time the winning superstars have ever been together!
It’s certainly a cause for celebration: Carrie Underwood and David Cook duet on Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way during the show, which features a handful of real-life competitors vying for the prized ticket. “Carrie looks amazing and I’m just stoked to be here,” David says. Watch OK!’s exclusive video!
What advice would Carrie give wannabe contestants?
“Do whatever you love,” the All-American Girl singer says. “Sometimes the judges may tell you you shouldn’t do it for living, but if that’s what you love, you shouldn’t give it up. So no matter what happens, if you get the magic ticket, the fast-track ticket, use it — even if you don’t, still sing.
One thing Carrie won’t be trying? Her hockey-playing boyfriend Mike Fisher’s sport. (He swings for the Ottawa Senators.) “I can’t play hockey at all,” she laughs. “I can’t even fake.”
Kelly Clarkson — who tells me her slim physique can be attributed to wearing black and not white — gives the attraction her stamp of approval.
“This is pretty cool,” the My Life Would Suck Without You singer says, turning her attention away from Michael Johns. “It’s the first time we’ve actually all been together, so it’s like a family reunion.”
Jordin Sparks can’t believe her eyes. “It’s really creepy how close to the show the attraction actually is,” she says. “It’s got the lights and the fog and the music and the judges. It’s really, really weird, but it was a lot of fun.”
What’s something the No Air singer has lost? Her love for Chris Brown, who likely ended his career by messing up OK! darling Rihanna. “It’s pretty much gone now,” she tells me.
Meanwhile, Paula Abdul has one regret tonight. “I just wish they would all sing,” she says. “It would’ve been fun to hear it.” She adds, “There’s a lot of déjà vu going on. I got a kick out of watching the success of the Idols.”
What tunes would Phil Stacey suggest picking for this attraction?
“You should definitely choose a Celine Dion song or a Whitney Houston song,” he says. “No, I’m kidding. You should do Disney songs. You should get up there and do Can You Feel The Love Tonight or A Whole New World. You’re at Disney World! You’re only going to get the opportunity to do that once.”
Although Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Simon Cowell send regrets, the sizeable Idol turnout also includes a giggly David Archuleta, purple-haired Diana DeGarmo, newlywed Ruben Studdard, tan-and-fit Taylor Hicks, talkative Bo Bice, friendly Ryan Seacrest, jovial Justin Guarini, shy Fantasia Barrino, Idol alum-turned-Rascal Flatts songwriter Chris Schleich, tattooed Carly Smithson, Aussie Michael Johns, chatty Ace Young, dreadlocked Jason Castro, Southern gentleman Josh Gracin, zany Sanjaya, slimmed-down Mandisa and mom LaKisha Jones.
Woo-hoo! David Cook, David Archuleta, Fantasia, Sanjaya and Jason take a spin on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster during the afterparty held on Sunset Boulevard. No lines, no waiting!
As Kat DeLuna’s Whine Up plays, Idols enjoy blue martinis, chicken, steak, garlic mashed potatoes, sushi and the signature American Idol dessert.
Disney certainly treats its Idols well: Ace (and girlfriend Allison Fischer) “hit every ride in about seven hours, and then hit the rides we liked again.” Phil took his five-year-old daughter Chloe on Space Mountain. “It’s intense, and she actually tried it,” he says. “It was frightening for me, but she wasn’t crying at all. She loved it.” LaKisha’s five-year-old daughter Brionne would ride Space Mountain the following day. “She can’t wait to get on it. She’s a little daredevil.”
Still, some might call singing in front of hundreds of people in The American Idol Experience daring.
“I think anybody who gets a chance should absolutely do it,” David Cook says.
Bonus: I worked at Disney Hollywood Studios as part of the Walt Disney College Program, so this is quite a homecoming! I could be found sweeping Sunset Boulevard, the street on which this party is held. It is incredible – and the uniforms are still the same.
Twilight: In OK!’s official New Moon collector’s edition, check out everything from a timeline of Robert and Kristen’s romance – including photos of the two meeting each other’s parents and holding hands in Paris – to OK”s Ultimate Twi-hard Quiz.
Taylor Swift: Country’s new golden girl scoops up four CMA Awards and becomes the youngest artist ever to win Entertainer of the Year. Read Taylor’s response, and commentary from country icons.
Britney Spears: The singer takes a yacht trip with her two sons, Sean and Jayden, and her boyfriend/manager, Jason Trawick. See OK!’s photos of the developing happy family.
Lindsay Lohan: After her wild week of partying and disheveled appearance out shopping in L.A., friends say Lindsay may be in danger of self-destructing.
As the number of surviving celebrities is narrowed down to three tonight on NBC’s hit summer reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, the show’s co-host Damien Fahey, is already thinking about his dream cast for a future season.
Last week, former American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken found himself with foot planted firmly in mouth after he took to his personal blog to critique Adam Lambert, the show’s latest second-place finisher. ' class='wp-smiley' /> God knows he shouldn’t. :-)"</p>
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<p><em>The American Idol Experience is now open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.</em></p>
<p><em>*Video production by Chris Morran. </em></p>
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