Cook triumphs over Archuleta on 'American Idol'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For an "American Idol" season so flat and lifeless, the end sure rocked: Ex-bartender David Cook virtually body-slammed teen prodigy David Archuleta in a surprising landslide Wednesday night, capping an energized finale studded with some of music's biggest stars.

All that, and the imperious Simon Cowell was reduced to apologizing to Cook for casting him as an also-ran to Archuleta the night before.

Turns out Cowell's critique of Tuesday's performances had limited influence: Cook, 25, from Blue Springs, Mo., swamped Archuleta, 17, of Murray, Utah, by a margin of 12 million votes out of the record 97.5 million cast by viewers.

Cook was overcome with emotion, bending toward the stage after his name was announced. When he stood up, his eyes were filled with tears, the second time in as many nights that the scruffy, grainy-voiced belter had broken down.

"The ride here has been pretty nuts," Cook said to a roomful of reporters backstage. "You couldn't write this — or maybe you can."

For the final performances Tuesday, Cook refused to bow to the conventional during his three-song set, with Collective Soul's "The World I Know" as his pick for a closing song. He also sang U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and the power ballad "Dream Big," his choice from the songwriting competition's non-winning finalists.

Judge Simon Cowell declared that those choices had sunk him, and told Archuleta that he'd scored a "knockout" in the boxing-themed performance finale.

But just before the winner was announced, Cowell uncharacteristically backtracked. He offered Cook an apology and said that the competition "wasn't quite so clear cut as we called it" — even letting on that, for the first time, he felt either finalist would have been a worthy winner.

Watchers had complained all season that, while the talent was solid this year, the entertainment quotient dropped — and ratings had too, for a season average of about 8 percent. But the final contest turned that tide, with viewership for Tuesday's show up 3 percent over last year, the network said Wednesday.

That provoked a frenzy with a record 97.5 million audience votes cast by phone and text. Last year's total vote count was 74 million.

While Archuleta was showered with praise by the judges all season, online bookies and observers kept the faith with Cook. One Web site, which tracks busy signals on the separate phone lines dedicated to each contestant, projected him the winner correctly Wednesday morning.

By strict "Idol" standards, being rebellious turned out to be worth the gamble for Cook, whose hip and scruffy style and ability to work the camera with a soulful gaze also proved to have overwhelming appeal.

Archuleta was the prodigy who consistently dazzled the show's judges and thrilled screaming young fans. He would have been the youngest-"Idol" ever if he'd won, beating last year's winner Jordin Sparks by mere days.

The teenager seemed to find the attention the show brought him overwhelming, often appearing to be speechless in the face of praise, but he was consistently professional onstage, with dulcet tones and poise that belied his shyness and tender age. He also became the focus of controversy when his father, Jeff, was reportedly getting too heavily involved in his son's rehearsals and asked by the show's producers to back off.

Archuleta made the most of his smooth voice Tuesday with Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," the inspirational ballad "In This Moment" and a reprise from earlier in the season of John Lennon's "Imagine."

Judge Randy Jackson exclaimed to Archuleta, "Dude, you are so good tonight. You are exactly what this show is about." And Cowell told the teenager: "You came out here tonight to win, and what we have witnessed is a knockout."

During the show, viewers got songs from runners-up including Syesha Mercado, who dueted with Seal on his song "Waiting for You," and a solo on "Hallelujah" by dreadlocked Jason Castro.

Other "Idol" contestant and name-brand pairings: Cook with ZZ Top, Archuleta with OneRepublic, Bryan Adams with the top six male singers and Brooke White with Graham Nash.

"Brooke looks so much better than Crosby," Nash quipped backstage, referring to bandmate David Crosby.

The Jonas Brothers got the stage to themselves for a performance.

"American Idol" also celebrated the awfulness that is part of the show, usually confined to the early auditions, with a performance by failed contestant Reynaldo Lapuz that threw in University of Southern California cheerleaders and marching band members.

In Utah, Archuleta fans who gathered to watch the finale took the loss like a collective kick. Mouths dropped, eyes widened and several teenage girls hugged and cried at a live viewing party at EnergySolutions arena in Salt Lake City.

"Did you feel that?" said Skippy Jessop, 30, his homemade sign now headed for the trash bin. "It felt like a punch in the gut. We all just stood there with our mouths hanging open."

But fans say this won't be the last note from Utah's newest favorite son.

"He's still a winner for sure," said Cecily Estrada, 19, who attended Murray High School with Archuleta. "He's gonna be big no matter what."

Cook said it was an honor to share the stage with Archuleta, who Cook said has more talent at 17 "than I know what to do with at 25."

What does Cook think the "Idol" win will bring him?

"I actually walked into this with no expectations and I'm walking out of it with no expectations. This show is a springboard," he said, "but it's still a crapshoot."

AP entertainment writer Derrik J. Lang in Los Angeles and AP writer Jennifer Dobner in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.

Dina and Ali Lohan Say Good Morning America

With less than a week until their new reality show “Living With the Lohans” debuts, Dina and Ali Lohan have been busy on the promotional trail.

Earlier this week, the mother-daughter duo taped a segment for The View, and this morning the paparazzi caught up with them on their way to an appearance on Good Morning America.
In a recent interview, momager Dina discussed her eldest daughter Lindsay’s past year of turmoil, noting that she doesn’t feel personally responsible for her misadventures.
She told press, “She’s 21 years old. We all make mistakes. It’s not a blame game. It’s not her mom’s fault or her friends’ fault It’s the general personal choices you make. And you have to be careful about the choices you make when you’re in the public eye.”

As for her motives for doing the reality show, Dina said, “I did this to defuse the rumors about my family. The media has just been so horrific to us over the past two years. I just want to get the message across that we are a normal family.”

But don’t expect even a glimpse of LiLo. “I told Lindsay I don’t want her on the show right now. Doing reality TV would almost be taking a step backward as far as her career.”

Celebrity News

Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron Dish High School Musical 3

While the first two High School Musical movies were both huge successes for Disney, neither film was screened theatrically.

That’s all going to change when Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, and the rest of the gang hit the big screen in High School Musical 3: Senior Year this October.
It looks like in HSM3, the characters will mature and have to face some harder decisions than in the previous ones.
“You see the characters grow up a lot more so than ever before,” explained Vanessa Hudgens in an interview with ABC News. ”You know, you have college, you have your relationships, and just trying to figure out which path to take is tough.”
“Troy usually has a pretty big decision to make in every film. And in this movie, you see Troy struggling with these decisions … whether to, you know, pursue basketball or pursue theater. And it’s a pretty big one for him. It’s pretty cool,” said co-star Zac Efron.
Efron admitted that he arrived at rehearsals late and had to pay for it the hard way.“It was tough catching up with everybody,” he admitted. “Vanessa’s tough to keep up with, man!”
”I’m still hurting. We’re all kind of limping around,” Hudgens added.

Jamie Lynn Spears’ Baby Bump: Holy Crap!

This photo of Jamie Lynn Spears’ baby bump pretty much speaks for itself. Man, that baby bump is frickin’ huge - and growing every time we see it!
Let this be a lesson to all you teenage girls out there.
The next time you think about letting your boyfriend hit that (as Casey Aldridge did), remember that those 45 seconds of bliss may have lasting consequences.
Make him use a condom. Otherwise, you could look like this …

Source >>

Rihanna & Chris Brown Offered Free KFC

Lovers Rihanna and Chris Brown have been offered a free meal at KFC - after they inadvertently promoted the fast food company when they were caught kissing in one of its Florida chains.The couple finally went public with their romance when the two young hitmakers were photographed kissing and cuddling in the Miami restaurant earlier this month.
And now the firm's chief marketing officer, James O'Reilly, has sent Rihanna a letter offering the couple a free meal, reports New York gossip column PageSix.
It reads: "Clearly, like our founder Colonel Sanders, you two know how to kick it up a few degrees. We could feel the heat - literally - in our restaurant that night. So much so that we'd like to invite you and Chris back to any KFC for a free meal."
And O'Reilly vows that if the couple repeat their show of affection he will make a donation to their favourite children's charity, Believe.

Miley Cyrus Has Got Milk

When Miley Cyrus isn’t straddling Thomas Sturges, she’s straddling the worlds of adulthood and innocence.

Yesterday, we were disgusted to learn that this teen role model has been hanging out with sex tape star Kim Kardashian. We wish Miley would keep better company.
Today, though, we’re proud to present a photo that shows Cyrus going back to her youthful roots. The singer/actress is encouraging fans to drink milk and focus on their calcium intake. Check it out:

The text on the ad reads:

Actress by day. Rocker by night. I’ve got to keep fit to keep up. So I drink milk. Some studies suggest that teens who choose milk instead of sugary drinks tend to be leaner and the protein helps build muscle. It’s the best of both worlds.

There you go, Miley Cyrus! Those are the worlds you need to be focusing on.

Selena Gomez to Sign Record Deal

Wizards of Waverly Place star Selena Gomez really is becoming the new (hopefully cleaner) Miley Cyrus. She’s rumored to be joining Hollywood Records, Miley’s music label.
“Hollywood Records really wants Selena,” a source said. “Nothing’s signed yet, but they’re going after her in a strong way.”
Cyrus currently has a four-album deal with Hollywood Records. Her sophomore CD, Breakout, is set for a summer release.

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Teen style icons

Just take a moment to think back to your own teen style. Well, as for me, I can’t look at some of my teenage pics. They’re awful! Especially the one featuring me in that purple dress I put on for my best friend’s birthday. Yuck! Anyway, most teens face similar clothing problems. Teenagehood is the time you start looking for your style, it’s the time you make fashion mistakes and learn the right things about your style preferences. It’s the time of stylish ups and downs.

When it concerns stars, and teen stars in particular, they are short of time for thinking: they need to rush to the red carpet! These teens can feel no shame looking back on their teen style. Let’s check out some under - aged celebrities who can be taken for style icons:

Let’s take Harry Potter cutie Emma Watson. She’s only 17 but it’s obvious she’s got an eye for couture that turned her into a real princess of style.

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens, 19, can’t do without super glam gowns.

We must not forget 19-year old superstar Rihanna. She’s young but promising. She’s got a musical ear (thank you Jay-Z for showing her to the world!) and a huge sense of style (I just wonder is it her stylist or her parents I should thank for it?)

Teen heartthrobs The Jonas Brothers never miss. These siblings seem to be able to teach teens a thing or two about fashion. They should have used the chance to teach Mr. George W. Bush as well when visiting the White House.

Queen of the teen scene, Miley Cyrus, 15, loves to play dress-up on the red carpet and already favors some of the world’s top designers.

Chris Brown, 18, likes to mix hip-hop street style and high fashion. Well, he has to be up to the level: Rihanna has a great sense of style.

See more teen fashion >>

What Does A Prom Committee Do?

Are you interested in doing more with prom than simply attending? Look into joining the school prom committee. It requires minimal time, yet gives you maximum responsibility. The prom committee has a hand in everything from the location to the decoration theme to the DJ, so you will have a voice in every decision related to your special night.

Choose a location

While some proms take place in school gymnasiums or auditoriums, others are able to hold their proms at off-grounds locations. Look into ballrooms, riverboats, convention centers, hotels, and large fancy restaurants. Let your creativity inspire you - as long as you have the school leaders on your side, the possibilities are limitless.

Decide on a decoration theme

Choosing the theme of your decorations is one of the most influential decisions on how your prom plays out.
With dazzling, impressive decs, the enthusiasm and excitement will be infectious. The best route is to order a variety of party decoration catalogs. There are infinite themes available, so access your options, pitch in a handful ideas, then have the entire committee vote on one collective prom motif.

Select invitations

Although students won't be basing their decision to attend prom on how tempting the invitations look, the formal invite is a very sentimental element of prom, especially for the departing senior class. The prom committee inspects hundreds of varieties, finally settling on the chosen one that is both unique and worth holding on to.

Choose the DJ or band

The music truly sets the mood for the entire evening of prom, and it's on the shoulders of the committee members to find the perfect soundtrack. A DJ specializing in '80s tunes may be the go-to guy for a certain clientele, but those tunes were in heavy rotation before we knew how to spell Timberlake. When it comes to getting the prom party started, look for DJs or bands that play a variety of Top 40 hits with a nice infusion of dance party classics.

Plan the menu

Whether you do an entire sit-down dinner or simply hors d'oeuvres, prom-goers like to get the bang for their buck. It's up to you to create a crowd-pleasing menu, so focus on foods that are widely-adored: chicken, good... tofu, bad; an assortment of cupcakes, good... German chocolate cake, bad.

Order party favors

After months of planning the perfect prom, you owe it to yourself - and your classmates - to have a festive party favor at the end of the night. The committee should put their heads together to find something memorable, celebratory, and above all budget-friendly. Most prom catalogs include favors that coordinate with the theme, but think outside the box and consider local goods (baked goods, candles, candy, et cetera).