American Idol Upheaval: Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi Out, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler In?

American Idol is apparently cleaning house.

Talk of who will fill Simon Cowell's vacant seat on the hit show's panel now shifts to who will replace the other two departing judges: Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi will not be returning next season either, according to reports.

DeGeneres, who joined the show in its ninth season earlier this year, confirmed in a statement that she told Fox it "didn’t feel like the right fit for me.”

“I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and would hold off until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next," she said. "It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for.”

The class act added: “I loved the experience working on Idol, am very grateful for the year I had, am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”

In the same statement, American Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller says, “I loved Ellen’s passion for the artists and her nurturing skills. She brought honesty and optimism to our judging panel and I will miss her greatly."

Next year's American Idol roster will look a lot different.

But here's where it gets interesting: TMZ reports that Kara DioGuardi has been fired from the program, which will return to a three-judge format.

Fox has not acknowledged Kara's departure in a statement, but it appears it's all but official. That leaves Randy Jackson as the last man standing.

The show will reportedly be going back to a three-judge panel of Randy and a couple of high-profile newcomers: Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

This so-called "nuclear option" of blowing up nearly the entire panel has been kicked around for months, but nevertheless comes as a surprise.

Stars ranging from Harry Connick, Jr., to Bret Michaels, Chris Isaak and even Jessica Simpson have been rumored to be negotiating for the job.

Looks like J. Lo and the Aerosmith frontman won out.

The only way Kara could be asked back would be if the Lopez deal fell apart, but TMZ's sources claim it is already a done deal. Crazy stuff!

Read More

Shaquille O'Neal and Justin Bieber: Unexpected Duet of the Day

Take this, Westboro Baptist Church!

You can call Justin Bieber a sinner and an affront to God all you'd like, but you can't hold the young singer down!

Instead of wallowing in such absurd insults, Bieber is moving ahead with his career, looking to expand his audience by appearing on season two of Shaq Vs.

In that reality show, the NBA legend takes on a variety of celebrities in their fields of expertise, from athletics to dancing to cooking. In Justin's case, of course, this means singing, something O'Neal attempts to do below, joining in with Bieber for a duet during the latter's concert rehearsal in Phoenix.

It's a great clip:

Shaq and Biebs Duet

Read More

Jersey Shore Season Two Premiere Recap: Gym, Tan, Smush, Huh?

The greatness/awfulness that is Jersey Shore is back. As advertised, Season 2 features a new shore (pity Miami Beach), but the same crazy. And then some.

We were concerned that the cast's celebrity status would diminish the show's luster, but the genuineness of these characters (for better or worse) was there.

So was the entertainment. While predictable, it was great to have The Situation, Snooki, Pauly D, J-Woww, Ronnie, Sammi, Vinny and that other girl back.

Here's The Hollywood Gossip's scientific plus-minus recap ...

En route to pick up the Sitch, Pauly D sums up Northeast winters: "Can't do nothin' in this weather. Can't tan, can't creep ... Girls stay in the house." Plus 5.

A dark brown Snooki laments that she no longer tans since "Obama put a 10% tax on tanning." Pretty sure that doesn't take effect until like 2014. Minus 4.

JWoww and Snooki ridicule Angelina's self-proclaimed "Kim Kardashian of Staten Island" moniker. "With what ass?" JWoww muses. A valid point. Plus 3.

No one expected Angelina Pivarnick back this season. She awkwardly greets Pauly D and The Situation, who reluctantly let her bunk with them. Minus 1.

Down south, Snooki discovers "life-changing" fried pickles. They did look good. Plus 2. That dude in the restaurant gets a Plus 1 for his fist-pump, too.

Ronnie and Sammi reunite. The tension is thick, lame and boring. This is totally going to be a drawn-out, painful Audrina-Justin kind of thing. Minus 7.

Pauly D does a quick pro-con on the Angelina situation: She's annoying and causes drama, but there could be a slow night with no chicks, so ... Plus 18.

While the guys are awkward but mostly tolerant of Angelina, the girls are ready to full-on brawl. Holy crap, JWoww needs to lay off the steroids. Minus 5.

As a general rule, it's hard not to smile at what a blast the guys are having with this show. The girls, meanwhile, just come off miserable and catty. Even.

Cons: Annoying drama queen. Pros: Easily accessible.

Lending a hand scrubbing in the sink after a DISASTER involving Sammi’s FAVORITE white shorts, Snooki says "I feel like a pilgrim from the freakin' '20s." Plus 6.

An intoxicated Ronnie calls Sammi an "ungrateful c**t" and says she will "never f*%king win." Win what, you effing moron? Get over yourself. Minus 13.

Vinny sums up the night: "Ronnie's obliviated at this point." Plus 6.

The Situation: "Ron is at the club hooking up with grenades, which is a bigger ugly chick, and land mines, which is a thinner ugly chick, and ... loving life." Plus 11.

Sure enough, Ronnie mauls one of each. Minus 8 for the nasty close-up.

An additional Plus 12 for the previews of future episodes. Wow.

Read More

Sarah Palin Rips Barack Obama Visit to The View

Yesterday's appearance by Barack Obama on The View was not warmly greeted by some of the President's critics who questioned the nature of the visit.

Chief among said critics: Sarah Palin. Ripping his decision to sit down for a light interview on daytime TV amid myriad national crises, Palin Twittered:

"President with no time to visit porous US/Mexican border to offer help to those risking life to secure us, but lotso’ time to chat on The View? ... I’m headed to border in near future. Let’s see how quickly his travel schedule will allow that border visit after all.”

It might be a compelling point, if it weren't Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin questions our President's commitment to public service.

The former Alaska Governor is referring to the region's drug wars and the debate over immigration in this country, and whether Obama should be on The View during such turbulent - or any - times is a subject many have raised, and not without validity.

With our nation burdened by two wars, immigration upheaval, rampant unemployment and the worst ecological disaster of all time, seeing our Commander-in-Chief chatting about Lindsay Lohan and Jay-Z is not as charming as it once was.

Let's not forget, though, that this criticism is coming from a woman who quit after less than a term as Alaska Governor to pursue lucrative, self-serving endeavors such as writing a memoir of her distinguished "career" and posing for In Touch Weekly.

That's her right, of course, and good for her. But for a woman clearly in love with her own celebrity and more interested in fulfilling Sarah Palin's every whim than in public service, criticism of one interview by the President is laughable.

Read More

Dina Lohan: Lindsay Treated Like a "Common Criminal" in the Slammer

If you were worried that Lindsay Lohan was getting the VIP treatment in prison, don't be. The star's mom Dina, who visited her yesterday, says it's not true.

Dina went to see Lindsay with her sister Ali Lohan and her ex, Samanthan Ronson, then slammed reports that the 24-year-old is enjoying perks behind bars.

"She doesn't have cell phone privileges, that's absurd," Dina said, referring to reports no one actually printed. "She doesn't even have a pillow to sleep on."

Aww. Sad. They can't even touch each other, either!

"I talk to her through glass. There's a phone and we put her on speaker. I can't even hug my daughter," Dina laments. "She's treated like a common criminal."

Which she is. One who drives drunk and recklessly, then can't even make it to one freaking alcohol education meeting a week. She got hers. Just saying.

Lindsay has the support of her mom and sister, who we expect will be in Lynwood Correctional Facility herself one day. [Photos: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

Dina acknowledged, however, that Lindsay is being treated well: "I have to say that the people inside have been pretty cool to her, guards and the inmates."

The Mean Girls star has been behind bars since July 20. The date of her release from jail is still unclear, although it is likely to be sooner rather than later.

Whenever she leaves, the star must report to rehab immediately. Her lawyer is trying to get her a temporary delay before checking in, but don't bet on it.

In any event, Lohan will likely be out of the slammer in under three weeks. Not bad for a 90-day jail sentence. Hopefully it's long enough to learn a lesson.

Read More

Angelina Jolie Drug Photos: Will They Drive Brad Pitt Away?!

Whether she's promoting Salt, spending time with her family or drawing attention humanitarian causes far and wide, Angelina Jolie has looked amazing.

But could a new set photos that show her looking anything but spell the end of her relationship with Brad Pitt? We doubt it, but that's what Star alleges.

Eight quote-unquote never-before-seen graphic Angelina Jolie drug photos - taken by a friend who the star often got high with - have been released.

They are images that probably aren't even real she would probably like to forget, and Brad probably already knows about may not be able to forgive.

PHOTOS THAT WILL (PROBABLY NOT) TEAR THEM APART: Not unlike reports of Brad's flings with Jennifer Aniston, it's a good read, but we don't see it happening.

In one photo, the mother of six has black tape over her nipples and a dog leash around her neck. Other shocking pics her during a 14-hour heroin-smoking bender.

Says biographer Andrew Morton, author of Angelina: An Unauthorized Biography:

"The photographs are a startling reminder to Angelina of a period in her life I’m sure she wants to forget, a shady piece of her history that she’s kept hidden away."

A history guarded, Morton claims, "Even from Brad."

We're convinced. Stick a fork in 'em, they're done.

Read More

Awesome Lindsay Lohan Fan Ambushes Lawyer

It's been a busy week at Lynwood Correctional Facility, the women's prison lucky enough to count Lindsay Lohan among its residents for 10 days and counting.

Yesterday, Lindsay's mom Dina visited with sister Ali, lamenting that her daughter is just a common criminal in the eyes of Lynwood guards and administrators.

She also met with lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley, and then things got interesting ... on Holley's way out, when she fielded questions from reporters.

One person she didn't expect to see? A protester claiming to be Lindsay's #1 superfan, wearing a "LINNOCENT" sweat shirt and screaming out "LOmania!!!!"

Boom box (?!) in hand, the fan asked LiLo's lawyer, "Do you represent public urination victims?" Holley responded by saying, "funnest jail parking lot ever."

Wholeheartedly agreed:

Crazed Lohan Fan

Read More