Reality Ravings

In the social pages of the Sunday Telegraph today it was revealed that Mark Spano who came third in this year's Australian Idol will not be signed up by Sony BMG.

Mark Spano who had a lot of female's heart a flutter when he sang Kings of Leon's megahit Sex On Fire must not be seen as a hitmaker for the recording monolith.

However he can be consoled that he has the support act on the upcoming Chris Isaak tour. For those who missed his performance at the final here it is.



In other Mark Spano news Ricki-Lee Coulter has denied she moved to Melbourne to be near him, apparently they are just friends.

However Ricki-Lee won't be spending a lot of time in the southern city as she will be in LA working on her new album. This also means she will not be back for next season's Australian Idol. I cannot really decide whether that is a positive or negative thing.

In an article in Woman's Day Ricki-Lee reveals why she left her husband. She said she fell out of love with him and they wanted different things.

"I started to fall out of love with him and I wasn't happy in the end," she says, fighting back tears. "But it was still hard for us to end it."

It is easy to forget how young she is - as she is only 22. Far too young to be hooked into marriage.

After the Aria's there was speculation that Ricki-Lee and Teale Jakubenko, a contestant from this year's Idol had something going on. Previous post on that story here.

UPDATE: In the full article in Woman's Day Ricki-Lee denies any romance with Teale. She said it would be wrong as she mentors the Idol contestants.

Ricky-Lee Coulter To Be A Divorcee at the age of 22.
The men in Australia will be rejoicing today now it has been revealed her marriage to Jamie Babbington is over. Ricky-Lee's publicist cited "distance and time apart" for the split. Ricky-Lee moved to Sydney to be a co-host on Australian Idol.

The couple were together for seven years. So she must have been 15 and he was 24 when they started going out. I am not sure what I think of that.

Full story on Daily Tele.

So You Think You Can Dance Australia auditions in Brisbane Today
Brisvegas dancers were out in force today for the auditions of SYTYCD Au. Season 1 winner Jack Chambers was from Brisbane, he will be permanently moving to New York in March. Part of his prize money has gone towards buying an apartment on the Upper West Side. Nacho Pop and Jack were also at the auditions today.

Brisbane Times has more details.

Charlotte Dawson's Boyfriend Is Doing Jail Time.
Now what is it with Next Top Model judge Charlotte Dawson and her propensity for men who have difficulties with the law. Her former husband Scott Miller currently has drug charges laid against him, and her current squeeze Matthew Rodin just spent the night in jail on fraud charges.

$100,000 is required to get him out of jail. Now Charlotte seems like a sensible woman she needs to ditch this guy and fast. Does she really want to be schleping to Long Bay Jail each weekend if he is convicted? The charges relate to a $7.5 million fraud.

The Australian has the full yarn.

America's Next Top Model Cycle 12 Spoiler Alert.
NY Mag has a little article saying the overseas trip for the Cycle 12 models is in Sao Paulo.

Kirk Pengilly To Mentor On Australian Idol This Sunday.
Former Inxs musician Kirk Pengilly will be mentoring on Idol this week. Are there going to be mentors each week? This could be overkill.

Anyway he will be able to catch up with his former mother-in-law Marcia Hines.

Ricki-Lee and Sophie Monk Face Off Over Tummy Controllers
Ricki-Lee has been named the face of Hold Me Tight shapewear range, whilst Sophie Monk will also be launching tummy tuckers this Tuesday.

I know which one I will be believe the product works for considering Ricki-Lee is size 14 whilst scrawny Sophie wouldn't even need to use these products.

A Unfunny Mary Murphy So You Think You Can Dance Parody.
Well I thought it was not amusing but then again maybe I don't have a sense of humour.
Click the link here and you decide.

Lisa Mitchell Has Completed Her First Album
Lisa Mitchell, the Australian Idol contestant, who was in the best season with Bobby Flynn and Damien Leith, has completed her first album.

Full details on Popdirt.

Project Runway - When they said they were taking it to LA, they meant it.
With Project Runway going to LA it was not just the location. First Lindsay Lohan is to be a guest judge but now Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria Parker will be as well.

It is currently being filmed in LA, however there are issues on when it will screen as Bravo who originally had the first five seasons has gone to court to stop the producers from swapping it to Lifetime.

Here is an interview with Heidi Klum regarding the delay. Please note there is a spoiler regarding one of the Season Five designers in it.

Jack Chambers from So You Think You Can Dance Australia Is Networking in New York.
Season one's winner of SYTYCD Au, Jack Chambers, is currently in New York networking to try and make it on Broadway. He will be back in Australia soon to fulfill some SYTYCD Au requirements, and also to organise his US work visa. Full story here.

Project Runway Australia - To Air In July - Is it going to Take on the Olympics?
Traditionally TV stations have pulled any tv show that has looked like having above average ratings during the Olympics, however it looks like there will be something to watch other then the 100 metres butterfly, and the hammer throw.

Arena will start showing Project Runway Australia in July so therefore it will definitely run into the Olympics.

Filming is continuing with a bit of relax time at a sponsored L'Oreal related function where the only straight guy in the village, oops meant show, Brent Zaicek a designer from Sydney, said filming has been so hectic he has only been able to speak to his 13 year old son once since moving to Melbourne.

Zaicek is the only self taught designer in the house. Full story here.

Caridee winner of Next Top Model Apparently Attempted Suicide

It has been reported Caridee has attempted suicide after the breakup of her boyfriend. She was found sitting on the loo saying she had taken 10 pills she had for anxiety and depression. She has had a full recovery. Full story Here.

Ricky-Lee Coulter proves there is life after Young Divas.
And the winner of the Ricky Lee and Kate D'Arruago feud is Ricky-Lee. Ricky-Lee's career continues to improve since quitting the Young Divas last year. She will now have a presenting role on this years Australian Idol with James Mathison, and Andrew G. Apparently she will have a support, mentoring, interview role backstage.

This is one of the changes the producers have made to the format to try and increase ratings from last year. The others has been sacking the judge Mark Holden, and auditioning in London.
Link to story here.

Leiden joins other former reality tv stars on the Dole Queue.
Leiden Kronemburger reveals in post elimination interviews that she has not had a job in 12 months! This is quite incredible considering we are nearly at what is termed as "full employment" also I thought there were a shortage of retail workers.

Leiden who did not endear herself to the judges last episode due to the lack of effort she showed in a couple of tasks, will continue to look for work. Maybe motivation is the issue rather then lack of skills. Full story here.

If she had had a better attitude she could have taken out this season title.

Dean Geyer proclaims he is still a virgin.

The Daily Terror has a little article on the gossip pages saying Dean Geyer previously on Australian Idol, and now on Neighbours is still a virgin.

Dean who goes out with Lisa Orgliasso of The Veroncias fame had said during his Australian Idol period that he planned on remaining a virgin until he was married.

Why does he feel to reiterate this information on Kyle and Jackie's show on Today FM? People don't go on radio saying they are NOT virgins.

Also is the point of remaining a virgin a religious reason (which is fine), but why then is it ok to do everything but the deed?

Young Diva's Set To Be Turned Loose.
The Young Divas look like their record company Sony BMG are going to "Turn Them Loose". The record company deny it but they will not be releasing a second single off their album New Attitude.

It looks like Ricki-Lee Coulter who is currently touring at the moment made a good career decision to leave the group.

To be fair to the Young Divas how far are you going to get by just releasing cover versions of songs. Maybe some good originals would have helped. Link to article here.

Project Runway Looking for Contestants.

The Australian version of Project Runway is looking for contestants. Those who are interested in applying to be on the fashion designer show have until Sunday to apply at http://www.arenatv.com.au/.

Auditions have been ongoing for the panel of judges on the show. Apparently Mia Freedman is understood to have withdrawn her bid after auditioning.

Other people under consideration are Madison maven Paula Joye, Harpers Bazaar's Claudia Navone, and news.com's Patty Huntington.

Designers who are vying for a place on the panel are Fleur Wood, Bowie Wong, Camilla Freeman, Jayson Brunsdon, and Gail Elliot.

Kristy Hines will host the show.

Kassy Lee from So You Think You Can Dance has Scored a Cleo Bachelor.
Kassy Lee who unlucky for her was eliminated in the second week of the competition has apparently won in the lurve stakes.

As is the due of any reality tv star these days, after being punted you get invited to a lot of B list social events around town, and why not make the most of your 15 minutes of fame to pull a hot looking West Tigers footballer.

It is rumoured at the Cosmopolitan Bartender of the Year Bash she successfully scored with promising West Tigers player Nick Youngquest. The lucky girl should make sure she does not distract him in the lead up to football season otherwise she may have to contend with some very disgruntled fans.

Daniel Mifsud to Support Ricki-Lee on her national tour.
Daniel will support Ricki- Lee on her upcoming tour over the month. The first gig is on Friday at Dapto Leagues Club.

Daniel emailed his friends saying "Ricki-Lee is an amazing singer, a beautiful person, and it's such a great privilege for me she has asked me to do her support".

A list of her tour dates can be found at her website http://ricki-lee.com/

Rogue Traders will also be touring in April and May.
After Natalie Bassingthwaite's finishes her commitments as host of So You Think You Can Dance, there will be no time for a spa holiday in Thailand as she will be commencing a tour with her band the Rogue Traders.

It will be the last time in two years fans of the band will be able to catch them live, as Natalie will be working on her own career, and solo album. I suspect she will be trying to crack the lucrative US market as she now has a base in LA.

I wonder if she will have gained any new fans from SYTYCD.

Full story here

Alice Burdeau has it the catwalk in New York Fashion Week.

Alice Burdeau last years winner of Australia's Next Top Model is proving there is life after reality tvdom. She hit the cat walk at New York Fashion Week.

Alice's post TV career is proving a success as apparently she is also shortlisted for a prestigious Prada campaign.

Here is a photo of her on the catwalk for Prosenza Schouler I think you would have come back from a month on Survivor to get away with wearing those trousers on your hips!

Ricki-Lee to play at the Marconi Club in Sydney on 30 March.

The Liverpool Your Guide has an article about Ricki-Lee former Australian Idol contestant playing at the Marconi Club on March 30. Tickets are available at the club for $45.

Also Ricki-Lee's nude photos she did for Cleo have hit ebay to raise money for charity. The link is here. Nice photo, however we saw more of her when she was on the cover of Woman's Day in bikini! Currently bidding over $600. Currently out of the photos for sale Ricki-Lee's is the most expensive. Bianca Dye is struggling a bit.

Australian American Idol contestant is married.

Super cute American Idol contestant from Australia, Michael Johns is married. Johns who received the golden ticket to Hollywood at the San Diego audition is married to a Texan girl. He took his band the Rising to the States in 2003 as it was signed to Maverick records which was once own by Madonna. Unfortunately for him the deal flopped. But on the bright side he did find love.

I hope he makes it into the final 24!

Full story here.

American Idol apparently final 24 is finalised.

Speaking of final 24... as we continue to watch the highly entertaining American Idol auditions (I hope Australian Idol producers are taking notes) news is filtering through that the final 24 has been finalised. No leaks or hint as to who has made it through but transworld news seems to have some information for those who are interested.

Ricki-Lee has posed nude for charity

Just to keep the balance right with some Australian Idol news - Ricki-Lee Coulter has posed nude for charity. She took the tasteful pictures for a Cleo spread, and also the photos will be sold on ebay for charity.

Full story here.

The Daily Telegraph said Anthony Callea, former runner up on Australian Idol, has auditioned for the musical Wicked which will open in Melbourne mid this year. Wicked is a huge Broadway hit in New York about the two witches in the Wizard of Oz.

Anthony's manager will neither confirm nor deny if he had auditioned for the role.

Good luck.

In other news in the Daily Telegraph it has been revealed Ricki-Lee has again trumped the Young Divas by taking over Paulini's spot on the Channel 7 hit TV show It Takes Two.

Ricki-Lee will be one of the mentors to a celebrity in this duet singing show. I hope for her sake she gets someone good.

Ricki-Lee Coulter again showed why it was such a good career move to ditch the Young Diva's and go for a solo career.

Ricki-Lee was the highest Australian on the Take 40 most streamed songs for 2007. Her hit dance tune Can't Touch It (No. 6) was a big result for Coulter, beating The Veronicas' and Delta Goodrem.

The Young Divas did not even make the cut.

In other news regarding Ricki-Lee she has signed for the breakfast show on B105's radio, as well as supporting Hilary Duff at her Brisbane show on the 31 January.

Must beat doing the corporate christmas circuit that the Young Divas' are currently doing.

More news on her breakfast show signing here.

In an article in the Herald Sun Mark Holden said this year's Idol's contestants needed to capitalise on their current opportunities.

Holden singled out a former Idol contestant the enigmatic Bobby Flynn as on person who had failed to do this.

Holden said:
Holden told Confidential that through poor choices, quirky crooner Flynn had failed to capitalise on the show and the enormous goodwill towards him in the industry.
"He is such a beautiful guy, but he needs strong management to be led in the most positive way," Holden said.
"In a lot of ways, he is his own worst enemy as he had a lot of people that wanted to work with him after last year but he wasn't able to make decisions.
"He needs strong advice."

Whereas he praised the lovely Ricki-Lee for continuing to work hard for what she wanted.

"I just love what Ricki-Lee has done," he said.
"She didn't waste her time in the Young Divas and always worked to do what she wanted to do, and that was to work on her own material.
"I just love her and am stoked it's going well."