Is some of Simon Cowell’s nastiness scripted?
That infamous spat between the “American Idol” judge and show host Ryan Seacrest — in which Cowell quipped that his colleague should come out of the closet — was scripted, according to the upcoming issue of Star.
“Most of these rifts have been outlined,” an “Idol” “insider” tells the tab. “Simon and Ryan are real good friends off-camera. . . . When the show is on the road for auditions, the two go for drinks and dinner.”
“American Idol’s” top producer decides who the hit show’s resident Mr. Mean will feud with, the source claims.
“The executive producer of the show, Nigel Lythgoe, watches the rehearsals and writes notes on who Simon should make snarky comments about,” the source tells Star. “That’s what’s on the sheets of paper on the judging desk. Simon is not the evil guy you think he is. . . . The truth is Ryan is just as focused on the show’s popularity as Simon. There’s no real drama. It’s all for the cameras!”
Million-dollar babyTori Spelling is still selling her used clothes on eBay, but her new baby boy is set to become a multi-millionaire.
The former “Beverly Hills, 90210” star — who has been feuding with her mother Candy Spelling since her very rich producer father died last year — last month, whom she named Liam Aaron McDermott.
Tori Spelling has reportedly rebuffed her mother’s attempts at reconciliation, but now Candy Spelling has set up a $10 million trust fund for the tyke, reports In Touch Weekly.
“She wants her grandson to be raised in the lap of luxury” a “pal” of the new grandmother told the mag. “Candy has been hoping for a reconciliation with Tori.”
Notes from all overIs Britney Spears involved in a new rehab romance? The “Toxic” singer, who reportedly was smitten with a guitar player named whom she met in AA, “sneaked into a bush” with someone she met while playing tennis at her rehab center, Promises, according to Britain’s Daily Star. “They weren’t exactly having sex, but there was definitely some groping,” a source told the paper. . . . Some movie companies are dropping efforts to save money by outsourcing the job of writing subtitles for English-speaking films shown in foreign-language countries, and vice-versa, according to the London Times. Dialogue was lost in translation. “Jim is a Vietnam Vet” became “Jim is a veterinarian from Vietnam,” according to the paper, and “She died in a freak rugby accident” became “She died in a ruby match for people with deformities.” . . . PETA activist Dan Mathews is getting some wild endorsements for his forthcoming book, “Committed: A Rabble-Rouser’s Memoir.” “I’d marry him if he wasn’t a fag,” wrote former Pretender Chrissie Hynde. And from rocker Tommy Lee: “If you only read one book this year (like me), this is it.”
Jeannette Walls Delivers the Scoop Mondays through Thursdays on MSNBC.com