A Diamond Weekend

Ever since they announced it's Neil Diamond Week coming up on the next Idol, "Sweet Caroline," cannot escape my head. Damn you, Diamond! I'm kinda hoping for a big can of Cheese Whiz in the form of David Cook rocking a modern "Love On The Rocks." And I'm assuming, Seyesha will ignore the Diamond factor and chose the Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Look for rasta-dreaded Castro to take on "Red Red Wine," and Brooke to hopefully, wisely tackle a 60's or 70's Neil, not an 80's one.

BABY MAMA's getting pretty good reviews: a great one in USA Today and kind ones in NY Post and NY Times. I'll be there. Tina Fey (pic) and Amy Pohler make me laugh no matter what. Speaking of Fey, "30 Rock," last night? So many great one-liners, I was reminded that I always have to watch it twice. Of course Doctor Mike, (who doesn't watch it) commented, "It's so over-the-top!" Indeed.

HELEN HUNT directed THEN SHE FOUND ME - a lil' indy n theaters today also receiving some nice reviews. I'll be there because, I genuinely like small films and well, I'm gay, and Bette Midler's in it - and getting great notices.

It's official! Madonna's face isn't moving. Have you seen her this week? Amazing body, good skin, good facial features but her facial muscles are immovable! She takes over for Nicki Kidman, who can't Botox due to her pregnancy.

A text from Laine last night: "I just gave $100 to PBS for the Olivia Newton John Live in Australia DVD." If you know Laine, you're laughing.

So 30 ROCK, THE OFFICE, UG BETTY, GREY'S, LOST, (and SURVIVOR) all on TV last night. I only caught Rock & Office so guess what I'm doing this weekend? Saw the first 10 minutes of BETTY, and I have to say, if you're not watching this, you are missing out on the funniest, most touching, over-the-top, well-acted, well-written, entertaining comedy-soap on TV. Essentially, the best hour on TV in my book.

And thus begins my Birthday Weekend...

As If I Never Said Goodbye

Forgive me! To all of my dozen readers, please forgive me. It's been a week and I apologize. I've been busy and have really been unmoved to write. But after looking back over my last week, I realized there are a few things to note --- along with an Idol re-cap. So, here we go...

First up: Mariah's "E=MC2" album is really damn good; just as good as "Mimi," though I don't know if I'd say "better." Here's the thing with MC, you either worship her, really like her music (and not so much her), or just can't stand. I'm between the first two. I don't worship her, but I do enjoy her sometimes borderline Paula Abdul-like nuttiness, and I love a comeback. And from what I hear, before she released "Mimi," her reps at the label and management had a major "come to Jesus" chat with her urging her to drop the heavy hip hop sounds with no melodies seen in her previous 2 flop albums and ride the line between hip hop & pop thus bringing back catchy choruses. She listened. And I love that it was so apparent as she delivered "Mimi," with numerous hit singles. So, I ask you to sample Touch My Body, Loving You Long Time, I'm That Chick, and the future inescapable #1 I Stay In Love. (Please release that one. There's an odd misstep I feel in the label issuing the current "Bye Bye," as single #2. We'll see.)

Uhm, I've heard Madonna's CD. And at risk of losing friends, I'll opt out on writing a review and will just say, she'll have a couple of nice singles from "Hard Candy," and that's all I can say without having a hitman at my door.

I saw "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." While not as good as "Knocked Up" or the genius of "Superbad," it was enjoyable, not boring, funny, entertaining and showed that the creator/star, Jason Segel, could be a future Will Farrell, Mila Kunis should be a huge movie star, and that between Kunis and Kristen Bell on the screen, there is an overload of beauty to counter-balance the the not so hotness of the male co-stars. Who knew that the short-lived NBC series "Freaks & Geeks" would begat so many millions of dollars in feature films. Rent the series on DVD. If you grew up in the 70's-80's, it's painfully real and hysterical.

The Music of the Night: Here we go... AL Webber night on Idol was a doozie right? I will continue to go on record to say, "there will be three." Three dudes left standing. Our first top 3 and our first top 2 men competing since Aiken & Studdard 5 years ago. The producers want it too; so much that they staged the David-Squared visual at the top of the show last night standing them side-by-side for the vote off. Both were safe. Shocker. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Lemme run through a recap of the performances. I find myself now watching the show not thinking who will win or who will sell records when signed, but whose recording will I buy at iTunes this week. This week I'm buying Baby D's "Think Of Me." Being a King of Adult Contemporary myself, I thought his rendition was sweet, accessible, current, and more daring than any of the soulful yet milquetoast choices he's had previously. With inspirational songs abound in Webber's "Jesus Christ" and "Joseph," I was also surprised by his "Phantom" choice. David Cook let it slip that he had theatre experience in his clip. Then he tackled one of the most popular Webber tunes, "The Music of the Night." I was impressed with his performance and loved it even more when he explained on the vote-off night that he decided by doing the predictable, original arrangement, that it'd be unpredictable coming from him. Bravo. That said, he sounded so at-home, so "broadway," so clear-toned (except for one raspy rocker note at the end), that it made me feel that his Daughtry'esque'ness is a bit of a put on. Say what you will, but I feel even Daughtry and perhaps Michael Johns would have gone for an obvious "Jesus" tune and rocked it out. I cringed when Cook chose "Music," because it's from my least favorite Webber musical (thought I don't like many). But then I thought, "Damn, he picked the most popular, longest running musical kept alive by rabid women who find it the most romantic story ever told." And his phones rang. Smart Cookie. So, a few more: Sayesha? Cool performance. Tamyra Gray should be nervous. And that's about it. Castro? Worst song choice in history (but I'd still sign him). Brooke? F**ked up the lyrics, her personality is grating and while completely marketable (and I would indeed sign her), I say, again, she is not for this competition. She is Carole King/Sheryl Crow.

Which brings us to Carly Smithson. Michael Slesak at ew.com summed it up, so I'll quote here, "Carly's tattoos, her unwavering delight in showing off said body art, her husband's tattooed face, her desperate desire to please Simon Cowell, her angsty facial expressions, the pre-season brouhaha about her failed 2001 major-label CD, her sometimes off-putting stage banter, her occasional vocal inconsistency (see ''Idol Gives Back'' week), and even the fact that she's from Ireland, well, they were all warning lights that combined to spell a simple, disconcerting message: 'For a limited time only.'" And I will add that her wavering song choices, saying to us, essentially, "I'm the next Celine," one week to "I'm the next Heart," the next, she was inconsistent in her image, her vocal style and thus confused us as to what kind of artist we'd expect her to be. It's as if she wants to be Pink, but her mature, near soccer-mom face, boring hair, frumpy but better-than-it-started body - and song choices like "Without You," on Mariah night and her original choice of "All I Ask Of You," this week, was not leading us to think she'll be Pink or Kelly Clarkson for that matter. Just because she pours beer and has a tattooed sleeve and extremely tattooed husband doesn't mean she fits a rocker mold of Pink or the late Amanda Overmeyer. We were afraid of Amanda and would run from her on an empty street. We want to braid Carly's hair and make her Chamomile tea. So, would I sign her? No. Not to be crass, but just like (the unmarketable and now invisible, yet wonderful vocalist), Melinda Doolittle, she's just not f**kable. The harsh truth, albeit unfair, is that you just HAVE to be. It doesn't matter if you've been around (Gwen, Madonna) or are a newer act (Fergie, Leona Lewis), in order to be a STAR, you have to be f**kable. Sex sells. Sex gives you longevity in your career. Trust me. You'll see this when Sarah Barielles, Colbie Caliat, Winehouse, Lily Allen will make critically acclaimed records that will win awards, maybe go Gold (likely not) and have no hit singles. That said, I think Idol is looking for the next Pop star. I too, would look for the next pop star. I'd want the next Madonna, Beyonce or Mariah. They write, they listen to their guides, but yet are in-charge as well. They sell tickets and albums. And will continue to do so for the next decade. Carly? She'd get signed. Have an AC hit and a club remix, then disappear. Believe me, I know from AC and Club remixes and there's no dough in it per se. And I have a feeling, just like Carly thinks she's Pink, I think she thinks she's an "artiste," and will push for that. And faster than you can say "Tamyra Gray," (who famously fought to co-write her cd to then be dropped), Carly, within 2 years, will be in the touring production of Mamma Mia... playing the mother. In closing, I leave you with this: Linda Ronstadt was the most f**kable pop singer of the 70's. But by recording those Nelson Riddle albums too early in her career, well, no one wants to f**k the broad in the ballroom-prom gown singing "I've Got A Crush On You," thus ending a respectable career and gaining 50 pounds. Just sayin'!

SIDEBAR: My favorite AL Webber musical is "Sunset Blvd.," not represented this week on Idol. I would have had Brooke or Castro sing an acoustic (with a bit of a strumming tempo) version of "As If We Never Said Goodbye." Hey, I thought HBO was making this musical into a TV movie with Glenn Close? While I prefer LuPone (as most do) over Close, I still think this should get made. Though if they re-cast Cher, Streisand, or Meryl as Norma Desmond, I'd probably implode.

Final Webber Note: No one loves Andrew Lloyd Webber more than Andrew Lloyd Webber. What an ego! I could smell it through the TV!

BEAUTY NOTE: Loreal For Men Daily Thickening Shampoo really DOES make your hair thicker... for those of you with thinning hair. Not me, clearly, right? Though I do believe in PREVENTION and have discovered first-hand that this stuff works!

E=MC2 on Idol

And so it was this season's "innovator," the Cook, who took charge of Mariah's "Always Be My Baby," and turned it into a stalker-like darker rocker tune. And it was Brooke Smith who didn't listen to this writers hopefully subliminal message to turn "Baby" into an acoustic lil' ditty. Instead, she once again sat a the piano, solo, singing one of the top 3 Mariah signature songs, "Hero." Yawn. I love her. I'd sign her. But she's this Carole King/Sheryl Crow singer/songwriter - not a pop diva chanteuse. Mariah has had 18 #1's and probably 40 top 10 singles. And so, of course, Syesha picks a little-known album cut from MC's debut called "Vanishing." And therefore, I think she'll will be doing so tonight. Yes, I should fault KL Cook for doing the non-single "Until Forever," but unlike "Vanishing," it is a song that SHOULD have been a single. And just like Mariah thought, it could be a hit today - some ten years later. I'm not a fan of the pageant-like KL Cook, but I thought she was really very good last night. Baby D cannot stay away from a message song or a ballad! I was extremely frustrated nearly by all of their song choices (all ballads), but Baby D doing the cartoon theme, "When You Believe," made me a lil mad. Just a lil cuz he's so damn good and so terribly cute. His vocals were wonderful, but yes, "Make It Happen," would have been a better choice. On that note, "Happen," "Emotions," "Someday," even "Shake it Off," would have been great up-tempo choices. Alas, it was the Cook's "Baby," and Castro's "I Don't Wanna Cry," that I'll be purchasing at iTunes. I still go on record to say that it'll be Baby D, The Cook and Castro in the top 3. I feel Baby D will take it but if he doesn't, he'll be the bigger star. If Cook wins, he'll go the way of Taylor Hicks, because as much as he has consistently delivered great performances, we already have Daughtry (who's hotter and I predict a better song writer than Cook). And if I had the chance, I'd sign Castro, who has the potential to be a Pop/Rock/Grammy-darling a la John Mayer/Rob Thomas. I think he's got the "artiste" in him. I love MC's clips of her coaching btw. So cute and helpful. She's on tonight!

BRANDY has jumped Atlantic Records to sign with Epic. I love Brandy. She has delivered consistent cool and melodic R&B albums. Her "Never Say Never," and "Full Moon," albums are among the best R&B of the last decade. Often underrated she is still always Grammy nominated for each release, including Best R&B Album. Her tragedy of the car accident aside - key word "accident," - I hope she will rise above, that the media will not sensationalize it, and that she's back on top again.

I've happily fallen into "The Comeback" hole recently. I just watch the whole short season on DVD again. It pains me that it only lasted one season -- and kills me more so that Lisa Kudrow (pic) was robbed of an Emmy that year. I have recently said that if I won a crap-load of money in the lottery, I'd pay to produce another season, just for my own enjoyment. Come back to the Five & Dime, Valerie Cherish, Valerie Cherish.

E=MC2=More Hits!

Quick Bits Today: It's Mariah night on IDOL. She's got a great catalogue no doubt. But I hope they don't try to imitate and do indeed "make it their own." Never one to shy away fro a message song, I'm hoping Baby D tackles "Make It Happen," as he is so in-need of an up-tempo ditty. Brooke White on an acoustic "Always Be My Baby," would be great and Carly being actually happy on "Someday" would be cool. I honestly can hear David Cook turning one of her big ballads into a rocker as he did with Lionel Richie's "Hello." "Vision of Love" anyone? And NO ONE should be doing one of the covers Mariah covered (IE "Without You," Open Arms," "I'll Be There," etc.)

Saw "Smart People." Good, cute, indy-like. Dennis Quaid channeled his best Nicholson as a cantankerous university professor who falls for Sarah Jessica. And I got the vibe that we'll have a lifetime of Ellen Page playing a sharp-tongue sassy youth in every film she does. It gets a "B."

Mariah's E=MC2 is out today. Here's the thing: if you like her, you'll love it. It is amazing. I loved her "Mimi" album and she has not broken that mold, which is a damn smart move. Highlights are I Stay In Love, I'm That Chick, and I'll Be Loving You. It's a perfect spring/summer jam CD and I expect at least 5 top 10 singles coming from it.

PLEASE BUY: Go to iTunes and download a "Fall" dance mix by Kimberley Locke. They're REALLY good.

No More Tears (Enough is Enough)

Well, I welled-up a couple of times last night. Last night watching IDOL GIVES BACK, the Annie Lennox piece tore me apart, partly because she is so genuine and partly because when she sang, it was both moving and jaw-dropping. Her voice, if possible, is stronger than it was over 20 years ago when she first came on the scene. With her last two original albums not being too overwhelmingly wonderful as her "Diva" CD, I fear that, much like Stevie Nicks, she is becoming overlooked and under appreciated as one of the great contributors of Pop and Rock music. With her apparent exit from Clive Davis' label after a career-long run, I can only hope that her new label will encourage a return to melodies & choruses combined with thought-provoking lyrics. Again, her "Diva" is the best album of the 90's in my book. Do you notice a Brooke White resemblance in the picture here? Fergie kicked ass on her solo tune and her "Barracuda" with Heart. I immediately went to buy "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You," by Heart - one of their last (and funniest) pop hits. And as expected, Miss Carrie's "Praying For Time," killed me! I'm hoping she records a studio version with a little more pop/country flair (add some acoustic guitars) so it'll become a hit the way her "I'll Stand By You" did. So, that's what I enjoyed. Here's the other end: please put Robin Williams out of MY misery. Two songs from Miley? I get it. She's huge. But for Fox to give-way to a Disney and ABC star is quite astounding. Gloria Estefan. I noticed her weight-loss and fresh face. Did you? Regardless, I fear that Gloria will be remembered for her "Conga," and "Get on Your Feet" schlock and not the wonderful pure pop ballads like "Words Get In The way," "Cuts Both Ways," "Anything For You," and many more. Never known as a fabulous singer, that woman wrote some damn-good ballads.

NOTE: 30 ROCK and THE OFFICE return tonight! Sheer joy! (IDOL results air tonight as well.)

My other cry of the night? Damn you Diane Sawyer and your "Primetime" special on Randy Pausch! Randy, a college professor, gave an uplifting and inspiring speech which was later posted for students who didn't have the chance to see it. Millions and millions of views later, his logical proverbs and motivating stories have become a book, "The Last Lecture," as well as a quiet movement. Pausch was diagnosed with cancer and a prognosis of 6 months to live. He's on his seventh month and will ultimately leave his wife and 3 children (under 6) very shortly. Therefore my tears were combined of sorrow and inspiration indeed. Get the book or watch his speech for free at You Tube.

Lack of Inspiration

Inspired? InTIRED! --- Something you might not know about me: I love inspirational music. Bebe & Cece Winans are amazing and made incredible albums together with some of the most hookiest melodies in pop and R&B. That said, from the obvious ("You've Got A Friend") to the WTF (Our Lady Of Peace's "Innocence"), I really wish there was a job at Idol to be the contestants A&R guy. I want that job. But alas, the kids have to pick their own songs. Coaches advise them but cannot give them their "final answer." Here's what I shouted out last night to the TV: "If you're on American Idol, after 7 seasons and are singing a song that was not a top 20 or top 10 smash, you're an idiot and you're singing for yourself - not for 'the win' and not for the viewers." This exclamation was prompted by both Carly's Queen choice and David Cook's Innocence song. You are boring me. You're boring America. And with that, I offer some other choices that would have been better: Baby D (in need of an up-tempo tune) would have killed on Natasha Beddingfield's "Unwritten." It's a no-brainer. It's one of the most popular songs of the decade and would have catapulted him to the top again (because he would have "made it his own" by merely being a guy singing a girl's song.) I have an "UpLifting" playlist. Below is just a sample of the 100 song collection I've made. These would have been amazing by anyone on the show last night. While there is a Broadway night soon, the choices of something no one know but will kill, such as Sondheim's "Sunday," would have put whoever sung it, on the pedestal of Fantasia's "Summertime" performance 4 years ago.

NO MORE DRAMA (Mary J Blige)
YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE (New Radicals)
LET YOUR SOUL BE YOUR PILOT (Sting)
I MADE IT THROUGH THE RAIN (Manilow - a redo by D Cook coulda killed!)
ANYTIME YOU NEED A FRIEND & MAKE IT HAPPEN (Mariah)
NEW ATTITUDE (LaBelle)
SWEET FREEDOM (Michael McDonald)
FRIENDS (Bette Midler)
DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE (Streisand)
STEP BY STEP (Whitney)

That's just a sample. While I'm glad no one chose "Bridge Over Troubled Water" or "Wind Beneath My Wings / From A Distance," the choices of "I Believe" and "You've Got A Friend," showed what I knew: Seyesha has no deep catalogue of songs in her iPod and when pushed to be obvious, Brooke steps up and delivers. Yawn. Seyesha? BYEsha! Kristy Lee Cook? Kristy Lee BOOK your flight home. They need to go next. Seyesha's got balls! Whitney one week and an Idol winners song the next!?

I hear that IDOL GIVES BACK is going to be wonderful tonight. I read that performances by Annie Lennox and Fergie shine. Just as she did last year, I expect Carrie Underwood's cover for the telethon this year will again become a #1 download. Last year, it was a pared-down Pretenders "I'll Stand By You." This year: George Michael's "Praying for Time." Someone knows how to choose inspirational songs! The telethon stars at 7:30P tonight with the results show bumped to Thursday.

It's official! Spring is here and final 5 must go! The final 5 pounds that is! So if I seem more cantankerous than usual, please have pity as I'll be trying my best to be carb-free and booze-free. Close your awe-shocked mouths. I said "trying." Lord knows I'll pass over a loaf of bread to get to my wine! It's all about portion control... not seen in my 2 bowls of pasta with turkey sausage last night. 38 is weeks away. BRING IT ON!

Bleeding Love: LeLe Lewis Debuts

Leona Lewis' debut CD drops today. For those of you completely out-of-it, she won Simon Cowell's "X-Factor" series in the UK and was immediately signed by Clive Davis. She's been dubbed the second coming of Mariah and Whitney. Judging by her vocals and first single (the inescapable #1 "Bleeding Love,") she certainly sounds it. USA Today seems ho-hum on the full album but I have high hopes that her blend of Pop & R+B (not hip-hop) will be a welcome debut for her and welcome return to melodies for us. Fingers crossed. "You cut me up and then I keep bleeding love." Great lyric.

The Sex & the City stars attended the Point Foundation benefit the other night (pic). It made me think, we're just 8 Fridays away from the film in theatres and made me happy that they lent their time to the charity which helps disowned gay teens with housing and college scholarships. Yeah Carrie & Co.!

Read a piece on the very funny Rachel Dratch in the NY Times regarding the comediane being the forgotten SNL female. She really should be working. Reminds me that these other fine funny ladies should be seen more as well: Cheri O'Teri, Nora Dunn and Jan Hooks... the last two and their Sweeny Sisters makes me laugh out loud just typing it.

Have you seen the "Maid of Honnor" commercials? The film is about a best friend (Patrick Dempsey) realizing he's in love with his best girlfriend just as she asks him to her maid of honor for her wedding. Isn't this the reverse of Julia Roberts (the best friend) realizing she's in love with the groom-to-be in "My Best Friend's Wedding"? Where are the new ideas, Hollywood?

Happy IDOL Tuesday! My favorite day of the week!

Zac Attack!

I'll be taking in THE RUINS this weekend, which every time I say it, I think "the runs." Gross and juvenile, I know. I can't find any reviews of the film which doesn't bode well though, so I may back-out.

Spring Jams: Jordin Sparks NO AIR, Chris Brown WITH YOU (an Irreplaceable rip-off with "boo" lyrics), Madonna 4 MINUTES (great on the treadmill), Mariah TOUCH MY BODY (now my favorite song of the year so far), Carly Smithson HERE YOU COME AGAIN (love this slow full single version from iTunes), Ryan Cabrera SAY, and wait till you kids here the dance remixes of Kimberley Locke's FALL - coming 4/15 @ iTunes.

Hot Damn! My high school crush Zac Efron (pic) is filming 17 AGAIN (which is very "BIG" like). (A) He's hot. (B) He plays basket ball in the film and (C) I'm hoping a guy covers the great Eurythmic's song for the film (cue Rob Thomas, John Mayer, Daughtry). Check out some scenes: http://movies.aol.com//movie/seventeen-again/33126/video/clip-no-1/2100265

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS is officially picked up by NBC. It won't return until winter which gives you time to watch the DVD's. Add it to your Netflix. I promise, it's worth it! Another DVD series on your list should be THE DAMAGES.

I've gotten sucked into seasons 2 of DIRT and THE RICHES and they're still so juicy and good. My concern is that they only filmed 8 each before the strike and didn't resume production which could mean FX pulled the plug. Damn it!

I love Renee Zellweger. Great actress. But her new face (botox, restalyne?) combined with her squinty eyes and pursed lips just looks so unnatural its sad. Why do some of these ladies do this?

Happy Birthday Brett! 52 never looked so good!

Dolly & My IDOL Day

"Here I Come Again" to paraphrase Miss Dolly. I know, it's been a week! But I'm back! So, I'll start with Dolly night. Dolly is a genius, a national treasure, a true talent. That said, with the exception of Whitney, no one but Dolly should sing Dolly songs. It's kind of the equivalent of having a Joni Mitchell night. Get it? Anyway, Carly, Booke, Cook, John Michaels and Baby D stood out. Carly finally gave her best performance of the season. Interesting that the Cook gets praised for his stolen arrangements but no one mentioned the Tatted-Arm belter's ballad version of one of the most peppy-happy-pop songs ever recorded (Here You Come Again)??? Castro was good but still needs to kick it up a notch. "Hallelujah" was a month ago, Dreddie. But yet I feel, based on voting, we could see Baby D, Castro and Cook in the top three... in that order. I do love that loppy-Paula is BACK! She starts her sentances with absolutely no idea where the hell she's going or how to end them. And her jumping on Simon so loudly with every disagreement is waning. Speaking of talking back: Carly & Brooke - put yourself in Shut-Down mode! (Dolly note: Yes, I'll be seeing "9 to 5," the musical in Pasadena later this year!)


My IDOL Day: Last Wednesday, when Kimberley returned to IDOL, it was a quite surreal yet comical day for me. It started with picking her up and getting a phone call from Christian Siriano that he had landed and could not check into the Mondrian as his room wasn't ready. Nice job, Mondrian. I dropped her at IDOL then drove to pick up the dress. I wanted to meet Christian yet was on a time-clock and had to get back to the set quickly. However, C decided to cutely hem-n-haw over whether he should come with me to CBS at that moment because he wanted to fit Kim in the dress as had to be there for his Craig Ferguson appearance (the same time IDOL tapes). Eventually, I convinced him he could shower in Kim's large dressing room so he rolled out a piece of luggage as large as my Jeep and we were on our way. I said , "Lady, that thing's the size of four of you!" He said drone-like, "It's got wheelssssss." Aside from being very talented, he is a quick-wit, very sweet and very appreciative of his new-found stardom.

So, between him getting ready - yes, I witnessed the hair process of C's 'do - and Kim getting all dolled up with her make up and hair guy, complete with C taping down her own two "Idols," it was quite a comical scene. Just before Kim's appearance, we were brought to holding room where all the kids were. Being a fan of Baby D (a much better nickname than Archie), I kept my eye on him to see if he's a sweet kid, the way he seems on TV. And well, he is. I kept noticing him looking for a moment to talk to talk with Kimberley as if Mariah were in the room. Shades of me at age 16 looking longingly at Liza Minnelli for a chance to enter her conversation so I can say "I love 'The World Goes Round.'" (True story.) They lined the kids up to bring them on-stage, all passing Kim. And Baby D jumps at his chance. With a big grin and his lil' hand out-reached, he says "I love your song 'Change.' It's my favorite." To which I almost wept-over it's cuteness and Kim gratefully beamed for him saying "Change" and not "8th World Wonder." Chatty-Kathy, Carly talked us-up because she knew some of Kim's co-writers from her "True Story" album. Being very business-like, I could immediately tell this girl has been put through the wringer by the record biz but still knows how to schmooze at the drop of a CD. (Shades of me: 4 record deals with no release by age 30.) Others who made their way to chat-it-up with Kim include a very flirty Chikeze (who later asked me if Kim was single - a very bold brotha), Brooke (sweet as pie with her compliments of Kim's singing) and KL Cook (who noted Kim's country cover of the Clay Walker song "Fall.") And yes, Castro seemed to be 4-joints-into his day and I wanted Michael Johns to ask me for my number.

Tomorrow I'll start to get back to other things non-Idol. But for now, I'm happy to have these 20 minutes back every morning for coffee and typing! Happy April!