The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:
>Alright, so there was more to the story. But what it comes down to is Chikezie Eze was arrested last night for using his Neiman Marcus credit card at the store in Beverly Hills, Calif., to purchase two bottles of expensive cologne. Really, Chikezie? Per TMZ:
Chikezie says, "They said they were waiting for someone to use the card and when they did they would pull them down."
Chikezie responded to fans on his Twitter, telling them "I'm sure this'll all be resolved soon." We'll see, Chikezie. We'll see.
Chikezie says he has no idea what information on the application might be false, adding, "I am who I am. It's not like I can hide that." He mentioned security said something about the name of his company -- Advanced Business Strategic Solutions -- on the application, but didn't know if that's why Neiman's flagged the card.
The Afghan-born Hussainy's announcement — which came with a sparkly engagement ring — put an end to rumors swirling that Cowell was maybe, possibly, perhaps about to get hitched.The 36-year-old currently lives with the 50-year-old Idol judge. There's no word yet on when the wedding will take place, nor whether Paula Abdul will be on the invite list.
The pair has reportedly known each other since meeting on "Idol" several seasons back.
>Adam Lambert got himself back into the spotlight when he dissed Susan Boyle's album in an interview with the UK's Gay Times. Said Adam of Boyle's rendition of the Rolling Stones' classic "Wild Horses":
“I’m happy for her success, but that album is terrible. Wild Horses is the one that made me laugh the hardest. I just died when I heard it, I was crying with laughter. It was the most horrendous, sacrilegious treatment of that song!It is not known whether Boyle had something similar to say about Adam's single that barely was, "For Your Entertainment."\
>Katharine McPhee continued to make the rounds this week with nationally-broadcast appearances on TV shows, including a performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2010 NASCAR Fontana on Sunday. On Tuesday, an episode of The Rachael Ray Show that she appeared on aired, which can be watched below:
During her segment, Kat mainly focused on her blonde hair, even taking the time to oversee the transformation of a viewer who underwent the same hair color change as Kat. She also performed "Say Goodbye" later in the episode.
>The LA Times this week wrote about facts and figures regarding the infamous Idol contract that contestants must sign in exchange for performing on the biggest stage in the world. Among the interesting revelations were the fact that Kris Allen has earned $650k since winning the show and every winner has earned $1 million in the span of a year following their victory. Other tidbits:
Those $650,000 in earnings do not come without strings, of course, strings that bind “Idol” contestants to 19 Entertainment for years. The company can sign a management contract with any contestant it chooses, binding the contestant to pay 15 percent of his earnings, not including those from recording and merchandising contracts, to 19 Entertainment-related companies as a manager’s fee. The initial contract extends for three years, although 19 continues to collect a percentage of some of the contestant’s earnings for 10 years.Other items of note from the contract details include show pay rates for contestants, which are $1,011 for a one-hour show and $1,540 for a two-hour episode. Nothing amazing, but better than nothing!
The winner is not the only contestant who earns after the show. Last year the runner-up — Adam Lambert, whose first-week album sales were more than double those of Mr. Allen — earned $300,000 in advance royalties for his album, a $75,000 merchandising contract and $50,000 in fees from Disney World for the Idol Experience attraction.
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