Sightings: Sherri, Charlize and Tiger
BUTT OUT: Sherri Shepherd, trying out the Skorcher “butt machine” at On 3 Productions’ official gifting lounge of the Daytime Emmys at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
HANCOCK NATION: Will Smith, joining Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend for dinner at BLT Prime in New York City.
BIRTHDAY BOY: Randy Jackson, celebrating his 52nd birthday with dinner and late-night partying at Tao in Las Vegas with wife Erika, American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe and Rosario Dawson.
FULL HOUSE: Carmen Electra, hosting a party for Florida’s legalization of blackjack at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
GOLDEN HIGHLIGHTS: Elton John, picking up two gold rings and a bracelet from the Luz collection by Houman Omidifar while shopping at Neiman Marcus in Las Vegas.
INTO THE WOODS: Tiger Woods, drinking Dom Pérignon while hanging with some buddies at the Bank nightclub in Las Vegas.
COMING UP
SING-ALONG: Bonnie Somerville performs with singer Jake Walden at the Mint on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
So You Think You Can Dance Returns Tonight! Get Five Reasons to Watch
It’s baaack! And it’s about flippin’ time! So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD to those of us who are old friends) returns tonight, and not a moment too soon. (Where has all the good TV gone?)
If you have never watched SYTYCD or if you think you aren’t a dance-show kind of person, I urge you to give it a shot. This is outstanding television! Never seen it? Need some encouragement? Read on to find out why you must watch!
Five Reasons to Watch So You Think You Can Dance
1. Talent: Even the best Dancing With the Stars amateurs (and hell, some of the pros) have nothing on these kids. The So You Think You Can Dance contestants will make you weep they’re so good. Outside of Project Runway and, you know, Idol, I don’t think any other reality talent show on TV has such legitimately top-drawer talent in play.
2. Trials and Troubles: You want character-based drama? Tune in to SYTYCD for that, in the form of stoic Eastern European ballroom dancers learning how to pop and lock, hip-hop studs figuring out the foxtrot, and classically trained ballerinas getting humped on stage by their partners. It’s gold, people, I’m telling you.
3. Cat Deeley: You Brits out there know her well, as she’s been all over U.K. TV for 10 years, give or take, but you ’murricans might not be familiar with her general awesomeness. A mother hen to all her little dancer chicks, not to mention a smooth and smart host in the vein of Ryan Seacrest himself, Cat keeps the show centered and grounded when judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy are flying off the handle, and she’s certainly the warmest and sweetest personality on the show at any given time. All respect to crunchy-granola genius choreographer Mia Michaels, of course.
4. Mormon Mafia: Gotta love those LDS swing kids. According to Cat Deeley, Utah is America’s current world capital of dance, and certainly past SYTYCD stars like Benji, Lacey, Heidi and Allison would make the case that expelling all that sexual energy though dance is a great way to keep the kids celibate and the dance floor jumpin’. In other dance dynasty news, what are the chances that Denise Wall has another kid? Because after Travis Wall and Danny Tidwell, I’d love to see more from that clan!
5. Nigel: Love him or hate him, SYTYCD’s imperious dance master knows how to produce a damn fine television show. Now, click in to see some of his handiwork, in the form of a few of the best dances heretofore, and then pick your favorite season ever in the poll! (The correct answer is season two, but I’ll let you make your own call…)
Last but not least, tune in to the So You Think You Can Dance season premiere tonight on Fox at 8!
Blake McGrath solo, season one
“Ramalama (Bang Bang),” choreographed by Wade Robson, season two
“Poison,” choreographed by Shane Sparks, season two
Allison and Ivan contemporary, choreographed by Tyce DiOrio, season two
Danny and Lacey samba, choreographed by Dmitry Chaplin, season three
Sabra and Neil jazz, choreographed by Mandy Moore, season three
George Michael Bringing "Freedom" to Idol Finale
American Idol wants some freedom.
The big surprise guest performer during the American Idol finale tomorrow night will be “Freedom” hit-maker George Michael, a source has exclusively revealed.
Earlier this week, producer Nigel Lythgoe refused to reveal who the artist would be, only saying that the “biggest star in the world” was coming to Idol.
The appearance will time in nicely for the former Wham! frontman, who starts a 20-city tour on June 17 in San Diego in support of his recently released two-disc CD, Twenty-Five.
A rep for Idol would not confirm Michael’s appearance, while a rep for the singer could not be immediately reached.
In addition, David Cook and David Archuleta may perform Michael hits during the two-hour finale that will also include Carrie Underwood performing her new single, “Last Name.” Producers may still be making last-minute plans with additional singers.
Paula Abdul: "It Was So Confusing"
It was the gaffe heard round the country. Now Paula Abdul (with some serious assistance from American Idol host Ryan Seacrest) tries to explain exactly what went down last night:
Paula called in to Ryan's KIIS-FM radio show Wednesday morning to discuss how they got kind of blindsided when the show's executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe, changed things up on them at the last minute by asking for a quick recap midway through the show instead of at the end.
"It was so confusing," said Paula. "The whole thing is like, 'Hello?' It was crazy for us. In seven years, we've never had to do that."
"So, the kids are coming out, and I'm like 'Oh my God, what do we do?' " recalls Paula. "I just started looking at what I had written down and we've never had to do this before. I was reading the critique of what I had written for Jason Castro, and on the same page, I also wrote David. I got lost on my notes. And that's as simple as it was."
"So, you were talking about two different people, but accidentally, you said second song," confirms Ryan.
Nice save, Ry. But then that's probably why they pay you the big bucks.