Castro's Dreaded Goodbye...

BOO! Well, Castro was cut. I still feel in my gut, he'll be the biggest selling act from this season. I don't know why, but if he goes a Rob Thomas/John Mayer route and NOT a Jack Johnson/Dave Matthews route, he'll be the biggest loser - like Daughtry! Now, let me explain my statements of Seyesha not being a superstar. It's just that she, along with Carly, were just missing an IT Factor, a lil' sparkle. I knew the first time I saw Daughtry on Idol he was a Star - a Rock Star who would not win Idol, but if given the chance can be HUGE. I feel that in Brooke and Castro this season. There's just something there - there seems to be artistry there. I think Cook is good - damn good. But he's so much like Daughtry, it'll be really dicey to deliver a better CD. And you know I love Baby D, but it's gonna be tough to mass-market him and NOT make him Josh Groban (whom I also love). But Groban's fans are not the 12-18 year old girls dialing for Archuletta. So it's quite a quandary for a label to decide what type of record he should make. If the pop Backstreet Boys sound were still around, it'd be simple. But young male artists now (like Chris Brown) are in R&B where singing sophisticated lyrics are acceptable, I don't know if hearing Baby D, 17, singing adult-leaning lyrics will fly. It'll be very interesting.

Another note: Miss Alicia Keys did indeed wear braids all throughout her first album, up to the Grammy's even. But it was with her second and third albums that she broke EVEN bigger, crossing over more, selling more and booking larger venues... when she debuted her straightened hair (pic). Either way it works -- her face is gorgeous, voice is 10x better than it was when it started whether she is braided, dred-locked or Farah Fawcett'ed. She is a star - a true talent - an 'artiste' - an IT Factor as SOON as she came on the scene. Seyesha & Carly were not.

All of this IDOL talk of who will win or who is a STAR is almost becoming worthless. I mean, after season 4 has it been anything but an interesting pop-culture variety TV show?

Have you seen the Adam Sandler movie trailer for YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN? It looks pretty stupid, silly hilarious. Much more than the up-coming LOVE GURU with Mike Meyers. Go to adamsandler.com to watch the preview. His character's obsession with Mariah Carey t-shirts is worth it.

Is no one watching SAMANTHA WHO? It's really good. Very funny. Jean Smart needs a nomination as does Christina Applegate. Melissa McCarthy who played the best friend on Gilmore Girls is the best friend again and she is HYSTERICAL. And Barry Watson from 7th Heaven is the super-hot, straight guy you'd want your sister to marry.

The Bacon Club Chalupa Taco commercial for Taco Bell where the girl has one in her purse at a bar to lure men is pretty genius. I think I'll try it. Hell, I'd FALL for it!

AMERICAN I'DULL

Rock N Roll YAWN of Fame: It's official: my mind and the mind of EW writer Michael Slezak are basically "samesies." So, please read his post www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20007164_20171835_20198220,00.html

Right down to him mentioning his love for Baby D's black-vee with seagulls to his honest review of Seyesha, the guy is dead-on. So let me add, as I've said in the beginning, Seyesha is a really good singer. And as I always say with most of the african american girls on the show, she is that GREAT backup singer who gets a solo spotlight at a Sting concert and you think "damn, was she hot!" But alas, she's just not a superstar. If she steps into the studio to record a Beyonce/Alicia-like album (see LaToya London), it'll bomb. Is she better than Vonzelle, Latoya, Tamyra, Jen Hud, Melinda? No. Better or just as good as Paris, Lakesha, Mandissa? Maybe. Now, look back at that list of ladies. Superstars? Perhaps just one... for winning an Oscar! I'm going to offer up a controversial statement or theory here: notice how the tide turned for Seyesha once she left her 'fro behind and went for the Alicia Keys straightening? Just a theory. And don't scream "racist" because Alicia, Beyonce, Halle, Oprah, Whitney - ALL straighten their hair (or wigs)! Kim Locke was on the cover of USA Today the night after she debuted her straightened hair on Idol. The cover. I do feel that the judges bashing and Castro's not-so-hot performances will still have him be in the top 3 and see Seyesha, BYE'esha. And she should immediately make a standards album (Natalie Cole) and have a life on Broadway (a great Dorothy for The Wiz). That's all I really have for Idol this week. Kinda getting yawn-like for me - especially when it's nearly predictable or has been since day one. If you note, from the first time they were down to top 12, I called Cook, Castro & Baby D in top 3 - and I might be right. We'll see tonight.

IRON MAN: Better than all the Spider Man films and right up there with the X-Men. I loved it and I love that Downey now has a whole new life, a new chapter to quite a shaky Hollywood storybook life.

MADONNA: The album sold 287,000 and enters at #1 - much less than MC. Yes they're both diva superstars, but MC appeals more to Urban radio than M does of course giving her the edge of more album sales. The choice cuts for me from Maddy: 4 Minutes, Give It To Me, Incredible, Miles Away, and Beat Goes On (w/ Kanye) -- all great for the gym.

CHER opened at Caesars in Vegas last night. Legend. Right up there with Tina Turner, nothing can keep her down (or away from the spotlight). Look for Cher & Tina on Oprah this Thursday! It'll be forever on my DVR for sure.

BROTHERS & SISTERS: I love love love it! Sally Field? Please! Anyway, the storyline of the gay couple getting engaged has me in tears the other night. Such a sap. But such a nice, real, non-homophobe, not stereotypical portrayal of a gay couple on TV. Amen!

DEXTER: Caught up on all of season one and now will watch season two on DVD this summer. So good and creepy!