David Cook wants ABC reboot of “American Idol” to return show to when it was “at its best” – “I think when Idol was at its best, it was honest vehicle for new talent,” the season seven winner tells ABC Radio. “I think some of that had to do with the fact that the judges’ table was a little…stable.” So far, Katy Perry has been the only judge confirmed for the ABC reboot, a choice David approves. He also thinks it would be a great move if they snagged Lionel Richie as a judge. But he adds that it might be cool to have a judge who’s not an artist, to bring a different perspective into the mix. “I’d like to see them bring somebody on that’s in the industry that’s not a performer, like Simon [Cowell] did,” he says. “Somebody that’s just gonna tell it like it is, ‘cause Simon, for all the bluster and all of that stuff, the things that he said resonated with me.” – Read more at ABCNewsRadio
Derek Hough Gushes Over Sister Julianne’s Wedding & Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez’s Love Story – Meanwhile, Derek has been busy judging NBC’s World of Dance with Jennifer Lopez and Ne-Yo, an experience he says has been “amazing” in its first season. He said when the cameras aren’t rolling, Jennifer’s usually “getting glammed up.” “Ne-Yo and I are usually around the audience, messing around, dancing and singing for them,” he revealed. “She kinda misses out on the party sometimes because she’s busy. She’s Jennifer Lopez.” – Read more at ETOnline
Carrie Ann Inaba asks mom to be matron of honor on live TV – The 49-year-old television personality shocked mom Patricia Inaba on Tuesday’s episode of Live! with Kelly and Ryan by requesting she serve as matron of honor in her wedding. – Via UPI
NBC Chief Bob Greenblatt Talks ‘Apprentice’: ‘I Don’t Think You’ll See It Anytime Soon’ (Exclusive) – NBC has no plans to bring back “The Apprentice” or its more-popular “Celebrity Apprentice” spinoff “anytime soon,” the network’s entertainment chief, Bob Greenblatt, told TheWrap on Thursday. “We don’t have any plans for it at the moment, but I don’t think you’ll see it anytime soon,” he said. Pressed on what iteration it could return in — perhaps a few years down the road — Greenblatt squashed any notion that NBC is even thinking of airing the show, now that its peak Donald Trump years have passed. – Read more at The Wrap
Eurovision Song Contest Changes Rules, Prohibits “Any Form of Political Propaganda” – The organizer of the Eurovision Song Contest, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is changing the rules that govern the annual international music competition after controversy marred Ukraine’s hosting of the event earlier this year. Russia withdrew from the competition after Ukraine banned its contestant, Julia Samoylova, after authorities said she was subject to a two-year exclusion order after allegedly illegally entering Crimea via Russia, which is forbidden under Ukrainian law. Ukraine disputes the legality of Russia’s seizure of the Ukrainian territory in 2014, which Moscow claims was later legitimized by a referendum, in which the population of the Crimean peninsula voted overwhelming in favor of being incorporated into Russia. It was this incident, along with widely reported deficiencies in preparing for the Kiev contest, that has prompted changes to the rules for future Eurovision events, the EBU said in a statement posted on its website. – Read more at Hollywood Reporter
