Of course, the final chapter on season 10 is about to be written as Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery face off for a country showdown next week at the Nokia Theater. Needless to say, second runner-up Haley Reinhart looked absolutely crushed as Ryan Seacrest delivered the results. Those tears and many more on our second-to-last installment of what you didn’t see…
First, a glimpse from outside the studio — the craft services tent, to be exact, where most of the Top 10 has gathered. A minder struggles to get their attention and bring them inside, where they’re needed for an on camera shot, but is also dealing with constant holdups, like when Casey Abrams and Paul McDonald see Haley’s dad Harry Reinhart and stop for a hug.
Once inside, musical director Ray Chew poses for a photo with his band members. The newly installed band leader really wants an Emmy, and I have a feeling this picture will end up as part of the campaign.
The top 10 file in. A towering Brad Garrett is behind them followed by Lauren’s mom whose hair is looking extra Kate Gosselin on this elimination night.
The judges come out to deafening cheers, but Steven Tyler isn’t satisfied and eggs on the crowd for more volume.
After the top 3 make their entrance, they head over to the couch to watch their video segment with JJ Abrams. Haley and Scotty turn around to face the giant screen on stage while Lauren fixes her sight on the screen across the studio.
Elle Fanning is adorable and nobody believes that more than Jennifer Lopez, who is grinning from ear-to-ear as a Scotty crush is revealed.
Time for the first commercial break and to bring out the golden stools. With the props comes Jay the warm-up guy, who’s, frankly, no match for Cory. Jay announces that the Top 13 will all be present at Simon Fuller’s Hollywood Walk of Fame induction on Monday. Of course, you Idol Worshipers already knew that…
With 30 seconds until the show is back on air, Haley gets some last minute denim adjustments.
First up on the hometown visits video package is Haley, an ominous sign already. Seeing herself on screen, while seated on the stool with Ryan Seacrest to her right, she throws up her hands at her limo faux pas – meaning she had no idea the ginormous ride was for her.
Bodygaurd Aaron is plucked from the crowd by stage manager Debbie Williams signaling some sort of onstage cameo. Sure enough, a box of Kleenex is brought out seconds later. Who knew this burly dude was such a joker? I can barely get him to smile on most days.
Commercial break two is upon us. As Aaron steps down from the stage, Idol exec producer Nigel Lythgoe jokingly hands him a 20-dollar bill. Meanwhile, 20 string players are quickly assembled on the stage.
The Italian Jo Bros Il Volo take the stage, and upon realizing their proximity of the judges’ table, look stunned.
The three tenors are a Ron Fair-Jimmy Iovine discovery, if you’re wondering how they managed to score such a key booking. Anyway, their “O Sole Mio” is well-received by contestant and audience member alike. Haley is doing a little cha cha from the couch while Ryan Seacrest’s mom seems to know all the words.
The post-performance commercial break calls for hugs (Il Volo with the Top 3) and lots of pictures (mostly with the judges).
Before returning from a break, Steven Tyler throws out a handful of T-shirts to the crowd below.
It’s Scotty’s turn at the hometown segment. He begins to watch from the stage then is led by Debbie down to the crowd with Ryan. The judges, meanwhile, are clearly in his corner. When the video package plays Scotty’s declaration that he’s going to “win this thing,” both Jennifer and Randy clap their hands and look towards him with a nod of support.
The studio remains dark as a pre-tape of Nicole Scherzinger and 50 Cent is played next and Scotty, Randy and Steven huddle at the judges table talking intently about something. With a fist bump, Scotty then returns to the couch.
Taking advantage of every possible moment of free time, the judges are asked to tape a promo for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during the break. Jennifer goes first and nails the read within a couple takes. Randy Jackson is next, but fumbles on the word “progressive” so many times that it’s pushed to the next break. Grabbing the microphone from his hand, Ryan exclaims, “It ain’t so easy, is it?!”
Lauren’s hometown package is extra emotional as she visits tornado-ravaged areas near her hometown of Rossville, Georgia. Fighting back tears while watching the screen, Ryan, a fellow Georgian, gives Lauren a shoulder to lean on.
There’s no escaping the red lights, so the time has come. Lauren’s and Haley’s dads hug it out as Ryan grabs his cue cards. Alas, it’s only a tease and they’ll have to wait another four minutes.
“Ryan, you are a bad boy,” Debbie scolds over the P.A. as the Top 10 are shown out. Randy gives the PSA another go and nails it this time.
With 10 seconds to air, Stefano Langone and Jacob Lusk sprint for the exit as Scotty makes his way towards center stage.
Back from break and Scotty is given the first bit of good news – he’s going to the finale next week. Although no one is surprised, the room erupts, the judges clap and Scotty simply shakes his head in disbelief.
The next minute is bad news for Haley who looks completely stone-faced as the verdict is handed down. The judges stand up for the second runner-up and applause – Randy even blows kisses her way.
For Haley’s exit video, the top 3 turn around to watch, then it’s time for her swan song, “Bennie and the Jets.”
Never one to let a defeat get her down, as we saw countless times when we landed in the bottom three, Haley delivers an energetic reprise that has everyone in the studio — including the Top 10 — on their feet.
The sassy Haley throws the judges’ names into the mix to their delight. Making her way through the crowd, she gets a slap on the butt from Top 13 finalist Naima Adedapo and a huge embrace from her father, who charges across the floor towards his daughter.
As the closing credits roll, Lauren can barely contain her excitement and jumps in place while Jennifer offer some last words of advice and congratulations. Steven and Randy, meanwhile, are consoling Haley, who doesn’t look nearly as distraught as some of her fellow season 10 hopefuls.
The last order of business, before releasing the Idols so they can rehearse for the finale, is the matter of the coin toss and Scotty’s hair. Of the latter, Debbie cracks, “Scotty is thinking of shaving his hair for the finale, but only if Jennifer shaves it.”
The coin features Scotty’s face on one side and Lauren’s on the other. Whoever’s face it lands on will have the choice of going first. “Ryan’s not so good at tossing,” Debbie remarks. “We’ve lost many coins.” Well, not this one, which lands on Scotty’s face. Ever the gentleman, he gives Lauren the choice — she decides to go second, no doubt knowing that it’s a position of advantage.

The tenth chapter in Idol’s history will be written next week as these two teens go head to head in a country showdown. Of course, Idol Worship has all your finale needs covered, as we’ll be on hand for the pre-show activities, live blogging the show and reporting from the after-parties. Check back here and often.
source:hollywoodreporter

CNN anchor Don Lemon reveals in his new memoir, Transparent, that he is gay.

“I think it would be great if everybody could be out,” he says in an interview with the New York Times. “But it’s such a personal choice. People have to do it at their own speed. I respect that. I do have to say that the more people who come out, the better it is for everyone, certainly for the Tyler Clementis of the world.”

Clementis is the Rutgers University student who jumped off New York City’s George Washington Bridge after a sexual encounter with another male in his dorm room was taped by fellow students and broadcast online.

“I think if I had seen more people like me who are out and proud, it wouldn’t have taken me 45 years to say it, to walk in the truth,” Lemon said.

Still, it wasn’t easy for Lemon to open up about his sexuality.

“I’m scared. I’m talking about something that people might shun me for, ostracize me for,” he told the Times.

He notes there could be ramifications for his TV career, as well as race issues.

“It’s quite different for an African-American male,” he said. “It’s about the worst thing you can be in black culture. You’re taught you have to be a man; you have to be masculine. In the black community they think you can pray the gay away.”

“You’re afraid that black women will say the same things they do about how black men should be dating black women,” he went on. “I guess this makes me a double minority now.”

Lemon was approached by a publisher to write a book several years ago after speaking on a panel called “The Black Man in the Age of Obama.”

“It was supposed to be a little pamphlet,” he said. “You know: say your prayers; have a good, hearty handshake; say good morning to your boss.”

But as he was writing, he realized he wanted to tell his whole story, including how he was molested as a child. Later, he had second thoughts about revealing so many personal details, but then decided to go forward with his deeply personal memoir.

“But as I started to read it back, I said, no, leave it,” he told the Times. “I abhor hypocrisy. I think if you’re going to be in the business of news, and telling people the truth, of trying to shed light in dark places, then you’ve got to be honest. You’ve got to have the same rules for yourself as you do for everyone else.”

CNN has booked him Monday on daytime show CNN Newsroom and Joy Behar’s show on sister channel HLN to promote his new book.

Networks may have been having the case of the Mondays.

ABC won the night in the key demographic with a two-hour Dancing With the Stars (20.2 million total viewers, 4.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic) and top-rated scripted telecast Castle (12.6 million, 3.1) at 10 p.m. Even though DWTS was down 9 percent, it still maintained a strong hold over its competitors, ranking as the highest-rated program of the night.

Fox placed a distant second, with House (7.8 million, 2.9) flat from its previous original and freshman drama The Chicago Code (5.7 million, 1.7) up 6 percent. Fox just renewed House for an eighth season, after talks between the studio and network were prolonged; the fate of Code, however, is up in the air.

Elsewhere, programs sank or tied series lows. CBS’ entire lineup — save for a rerun of Two and a Half Men — dropped: How I Met Your Mother (6.4 million, 2.5) tied a low, and rookie comedy Mad Love (5.1 million, 1.8), Mike & Molly (7.5 million, 2.2) and Hawaii Five-0 (9.2 million, 2.3) set new series lows.

But the Tiffany network wasn’t the only one feeling the grind. NBC’s struggling dramas Chuck (4.1 million, 1.3) and The Event (3.8 million, 1.1) hit lows, and a revamped Law & Order: LA (5 million, 1.2) dipped 14 percent.

The CW’s 90210 (1.5 million, 0.7) and Gossip Girl (1.2 million, 0.6), returning in the fall, were both down a tick.
source: hollywoodreporter

Not blessed with natural grace (she admitted to have done little dancing in her life aside from shakin’ it in various clubs), Kendra spent the first part of the season looking uncomfortable on stage, and appearing whiny and irritable when critiqued. Her attitude was so poor that her generally pleasant partner Louis Van Amstel felt the need to call her out. But things slowly improved, and her last two performances in particular were quite acceptable. Kendra might not be “the best mom,” as she claimed in her final remarks, but she’s at least not the worst dancer. Season 12 will now have to proceed with a lot fewer slang terms for breasts from Len Goodman.

Kendra’s departure means we’re not going to have a Bristol Palin-type controversy in the finals this season, as everyone remaining has shown themselves capable of a strong effort – even Kirstie Alley, who is surviving at this point more on her comedy chops and underdog appeal than on her erratic dancing. But we still haven’t identified an obvious favorite either, which means that those dancers who were least well known coming into the season, Romeo and Chelsea Kane, could have trouble making it through these next two weeks prior to the finals.

The rest of the results show featured the latest DWTS attempt at grabbing some of that Black Swan heat, as teenage ballerina Patricia Zhou put on a spectacular show. James Blunt emerged from his post-“You’re Beautiful” witness protection program and sang something we’ll never hear again. And in less sublime news, Wayne Brady treated us to a medley of James Brown songs. Everything about that previous sentence was about as random as you can get.

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Reese Witherspoon talks about her love scene with Pattinson

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Casual sex is ‘bad idea’, says Justin Timberlake

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