Ryan Seacrest by Craig Sjodin/ABC
It's a small tweak, yet significant all the same. Ryan Seacrest, who for the past three December 31sts has cohosted ABC's New Year's Eve program, now is getting his name worked into the title: Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest. All that's missing is "Oprah Winfrey Presents:" in front and "— Exile Island" at the end.Seacrest first was added to the special in 2005, the year after Dick Clark suffered a stroke."Ryan has been a tremendous part of the show," ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson said in announcing the change, "and we're thrilled he'll be part of it for years to come." — Matt Mitovich
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Bo Bice by Tony R. Phipps/WireImage.com
Bo Bice, runner up to Carrie Underwood in Season 4 of American Idol, and his wife, Caroline Fisher, welcomed a new addition to the family: their second baby boy.Bice and Fisher's first son, Aidan, was born in September 2005, and his new baby brother, Caleb, arrived on Tuesday, reported Us. We're just happy to be reporting happy and healthy news for Bice after learning that he'd undergone surgery for an intestinal blockage in 2005, then cancelled his Idol tour appearances due to complications from that surgery. Happily, Bo, Caroline, Aidan and Caleb all seem to be doing well. Congrats! — Erin Fox
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Nigel Lythgoe by Mathew Imaging/ WireImage.com
Nigel Lythgoe is stepping away from the American Idol juggernaut, which he has helped exec-produce since its inception, so as to focus on So You Think You Can Dance as well as a brand-new project. But contrary to some online reports, he is not ending his overall relationship with Idol producer 19 Entertainment.In a statement explaining his decision, Lythgoe says, "Due to the huge success of So You Think You Can Dance, my summer will be taken up by travels to South Africa, Australia and Canada, to work on local versions of the show. [As such] I will step back from my day-to-day producing work on American Idol and will be devoting my time to a new venture with [Dance cocreator] Simon Fuller."Fuller, says Lythgoe, "is without doubt a man of vision, and I look forward to partnering with him on new and exciting challenges."Fuller in turn hails Lythgoe as "the best producer I have ever worked with. We are a great team and have shared phenomenal success. Under our stewardship, 19 [Enterta...
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David Archuleta by Frank Micelotta/Fox
David Archuleta stopped by New York radio station z100's Elvis Duran show to unveil the first single off his forthcoming debut album. Archuleta took a break from the rigorous American Idol tour schedule on Friday morning to talk about his new single, appropriately named "Crush," saying he had trouble sleeping last night due to the excitement of the song's pending release. We listened to the song and it was, in our opinion, a great freshman outing — the tune is catchy, sweet, and young ladies will swoon at the lyrics: "Do you ever think, when you're all alone, all that this can be, where this thing can go; Am I crazy or fallin' in love, is it really just another crush."Check our Archie's new single here , and tell us if you have a crush on Archie's new song. — Erin FoxPOLL: How would you rate Archie's new single? Vote now!Related• Idol Gals Missing Their Men• Which David Is Feeling More Love on Tour?• Use Our Online Video Guide to Watch More American Idol
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Ryan Seacrest by Mike Guastella/ WireImage.com
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... Ryan Seacrest admitted on his radio show Monday that he was bitten by a shark over the weekend.The American Idol and E! News host was not seriously injured. "You feel something swim by you," said Seacrest. "I thought it was a stick." Except that "stick" had teeth, Seacrest told Us. He said the shark's tooth "wasn't a great thing to find. It was like finding a splinter!"Knowing how ubiquitous Seacrest is, I can't help but wonder whether he has some stake in Shark Week. Something smells a little fishy. — Nina Hämmerling Smith
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We may be between seasons of American Idol, but that doesn't stop various alumni from cranking out new music and videos, including one of the most successful of the bunch, Chris Daughtry. Through emotive clips and captions featuring our world's troubled conditions, the rocker's new video for his single "What About Now" conveys a powerful message that even the "average Joe" can make a difference. Side note: Did anyone else have Van Halen's "Right Now" flashbacks after watching this?
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Speaking to TVGuide.com at Fox's TCA press tour party, former American Idol contender Ryan Starr previewed her new reality show (well, the best that she was allowed to), and also revealed why she doesn't keep tabs on the show that made her almost-kinda-sort of famous. Plus: Did Idol fail to uncover any skeletons in Ryan's closet?
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Earlier this week, former Idol contestant and human-kitten, David Archuleta, appeared on his Good Day Utah for an interview and wound up taking a stab at workin' it in front of the green screen for the weather report. It was a valiant effort on his part as he astutely pointed out all that "green stuff" that represents rain. Perhaps he's discovered a latent talent after all these years?
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American Idol by Michael Becker/Fox
The WGA is back in business after the long strike season, and one of its renewed goals is to push for jurisdiction over reality shows — beginning with the biggest one of them all: American Idol. Over the past three years, the WGA has been trying to expand its hold over not just scripted shows, but reality, gameshow and animation programming as well. Since those items were taken off the table during the strike, the Guild's trying to gain support the old fashion way — by holding a press conference and then bussing supporters/protestors to San Francisco to stage their own version of American Idol outside the show's real auditions at the Cow Palace. What does their "own version" of Idol mean? I'm guessing it's either hideous karaoke or their version of what the show would be like without any "writers" on board. I'm kind of hoping they have a Ryan Seacrest impersonator who just primps himself in a mirror during the whole show. Do you think the WGA has any business interfering i...
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Carly Smithson by Frank Micelotta/Fox, Kristy Lee Cook by Frank Micelotta/Fox
It's been barely over a week since the American Idol tour got underway, but life on the road is already presenting its shining moments and its tougher aspects for the top ten singers. Two of the Idols, Kristy Lee Cook and Carly Smithson, talked to TVGuide.com about the mixed bag of hitting the road all summer long.One of the main challenges so far, each confided, is staying connected to their main squeezes. Kristy Lee, who got engaged during Season 7, said she hasn't seen her man at all. "I get to see him on the 10th, but I don't know if he's going to any of the other shows," she lamented, adding, "It's tough. We've had a few 'moments,' because he doesn't understand what's going on, but he's starting to get the picture when I'm like, 'I can't handle this!' But he's getting the picture that he needs to be supportive. He's starting to come around."Carly also admitted that her grueling tour and rehearsal schedule has been hard for both her and her husband. "The whole [thing of] not bei...
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