Reality Roll Call

In this week’s issue of People, former American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken comes out to us all, and confesses that he’s gay. Unless you have been living under a rock, this was not a bombshell. Did he think we all thought he was straight up until this week?

It’s always anti-climactic when someone in the public eye fesses up to something that people have been talking about for years. His motivation for coming out is that he has to set an example for his child now that he is a father.

“I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn’t raised that way, and I’m not going to raise a child to do that,” the new father told People. That is a respectable decision.

Those hard-core Idol fans who can’t get enough will be glad to know that it will return to syndication of September 22:

AMERICAN IDOL REWIND is back and ready to debut an all-new season of extraordinary moments, top performances and exclusive highlights from the world television phenomenon, “American Idol.” The top-rated syndicated series returns this season with a double dose of Idol mania, highlighting both Seasons 3 and 4 when it premieres in national syndication the week of September 22nd (check local listings). And for those who missed an episode or just can’t get enough, encore episodes of AMERICAN IDOL REWIND will air on TV Guide Network beginning the week of September 29th (check local listings).

Although the rumors were swirling this summer that American Idol contestant, and Emmy winner Jennifer Hudson was dating David “Punk” Otunga, we haven’t written about it, because we had nothing concrete. Well, its seems that the two reality show alumni are engaged to be married.

The couple, who are both from Chicago, have been dating for less than a year, but love does not have a timetable. According to Hudson’s spokesperson, the two got engaged Friday night in Los Angeles.

(press release)

The American Idol audition’s are hitting the north east this upcoming week. Now’s your chance to show the world that you are next  Carrie Underwood, or Clay Aiken. On the other hand, if you have no talent you can always be the next William Hung.

Tuesday, August 19

East Rutherford, NJ

IZOD Center at the Meadowlands

For More Information Click here.

What if they held an audition and nobody came? That’s almost what happened at the American Idol auditions in Puerto Rico. Compared to the 7,000 people who showed up at the Idol auditions in Northern California, the Puerto Rico auditions were a wasteland. Only 300 people showed up for the auditions, which were held in San Juan, PR.

It will be very interesting to see to what extent PR will be represented in the coming season of Idol.

If you’ve been wondering where the money you contributed to American Idol’s Idol Give Back show went, wonder no more. Thousands of preschoolers in Mozambique will be starting school tomorrow, thanks to the funds raised from Idol Gives Back 2007. Those donation went to a grant from the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF) , that ultimately went to Save The Children to build the schools.

Ninety six schools in 42 communities opened in the five districts of the southern province of Gaza. Many of the children, who are between the ages of 3-5 years old have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.

A few words of advice: if you’re going to audition for A.I., please don’t sing the hits of Beyonce, Alicia Keyes or Whitney Houston if you are a male. I don’t care if they are your favorite divas, there’s something inherently weird about a guy singing diva songs.

But if you insist on going down the Dreamgirls path, dress the part, so that even if you don’t make it to Hollywood, you make it to television.

That is advice that you can take to the bank, but if you’d like the advice of people who actually know something, get a few hints from Jordan Sparks, Jon Peter Lewis, Ace Young and other past Idol contestants.

To read what they have to say, click here. See you in Hollywood…or back at home.

American Idol season 2 winner Ruben Studdard is planning to make an honest woman out of fiance Surata Zuri McCants very soon. And by soon, I mean within the next 30 days.

The Idol crooner, who was nicknamed The Velvet Teddy Bear in his season of the show, picked up a marriage license in Birmingham, Alabama on Monday, according to People.com. The marriage license is good for 30 days, so expect to hear news of an Idol wedding before the end of the summer.

New York, NEW YORK—Kids across the country are heralding the arrival of summer, a time for beach trips and block parties, lazy days and late nights. But this summer, kids have a chance to do more than catch butterflies and fly balls—they have the chance to save the world. American Idol’s Brooke White, Idol Gives Back, and Malaria No More are launching the “Save The World Summer” campaign, urging kids to use their summer vacation to make a difference on a global scale.

Inspired in part by Ryan Skarnulis, a ten-year old from Illinois who selflessly used his birthday party to raise almost $1,000 for bed nets for Africa, this campaign encourages kids to use their favorite summertime activities to transform a simple school vacation into a “Save the World Summer”. Brooke will cheer them on as they show the world that kids everywhere can take part today in shaping a better tomorrow—and have fun doing it! As an added bonus, the summer savior who raises the most bed nets for Malaria No More will receive an Idol-sized prize: two tickets to next year’s American Idol finale.