Send Walt Your Questions For The TV Stars

Universal Studios Theme Park in Orlando has opened the new Simpsons Ride, based on the most-famous, longest-running and damn-best-ever animated TV show.

While a grand opening is planned for next month, a soft opening started this week.  The $30 million ride takes visitors to “Krustyland,” a fictional theme park inspired by the cranky weird old Krusty the Clown.

Passengers walk through a two-story replica of Krusty’s head to get on his All-New Thrilltacular Upsy-Downsy Spins-Aroundsy Teen-Operated Thrill Ride.

The attraction replaces Back to the Future: The Ride.  I plan to test the ride myself soon and will report back if I survive.

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This just in from ABC:

“Despite triple-digit temperatures, a massive crowd of teens turned out Sunday in Long Beach for the first open casting call for ABC’s new summer reality series, Disney’s “High School Musical: Summer Session” (working title).”

ABC reports that teens from as far away as Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado, Utah and Washington were among the throngs who gathered for the open audition. Host Nick Lachey welcomed the crowd as they lined up in front of the Long Beach Arena.

The next casting call will be held Wednesday, May 7 at Champion Stadium in Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Both of these open auditions will form part of the early episodes of the series. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 22 is welcome to give it a shot at the open calls (if you are under 18, you must bring your parent of legal guardian) and can download an application and view eligibility requirements at abc.com/hsmsummersession.

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You know Hillary Clinton is getting desperate for attention when she agrees to sit down with Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly.

The conservative pundit and political spin artist will interview Democratic Presidential candidate Clinton from the campaign trail in South Bend, Indiana, according to Fox News Channel.

The two-part interview will air on “The O’Reilly Factor” at 8 p.m. Wednesday and conclude at 8 p.m. Thursday.  This will be Senator Clinton’s first-ever appearance on “The O’Reilly Factor.” After what O’Reilly has said about the Clintons while Bill was in office, you wonder why she ever agreed to chat with him. But these are desperate times for her campaign and O’Reilly has been on a tear over remarks made by her opponent’s pastor.

Senator Clinton is expected to address questions about Senator Barack Obama, as well as questions about her position on domestic and foreign policy. 

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The CW wants to get the attention of younger viewers with a text message logo for “Gossip Girl” that would offend older viewers - if they knew what OMFG stands for.

The CW has launched a provocative new campaign for “Gossip Girl” that features an image of two characters having sex.

One version is branded with the letters “OMFG,” which is online slang for something I can’t repeat here. A tamer version uses “OMG.” The image is taken from the show’s pilot. Another ad in the series shows two characters making out in the back of limo..

After the images hit the Internet the conservative watchdog group Parents Television Council targeted the CW for an anti-indecency campaign. The PTC is encouraging its members to file FCC complaints about a scene on “America’s Next Top Model” that showed pixilated nudity.

The morality watchdog group says “Gossip Girl” is “the most-watched show among girls 12-17 “ and this is dangerous because the show “glamorizes casual sex and drug use among teens. Story lines have featured a would-be teen rapist, threesomes among teens and teenage girls having sex with adults.”

The CW has not responded directly to the PTC.  The network did issue a statement: “We wanted to create a provocative campaign that stands out from the competition and reminds viewers of some of the ‘OMG’ moments that have made Gossip Girl one of the most buzzed-about new shows on television.This sexy, sophisticated campaign speaks directly to our adult 18-34 viewers using expressions that are part of their lexicon.”

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Production began today on a May 12 episode of “How I Met Your Mother” with Britney Spears reprising her role as “Abby.”

In “Everything Must Go,” Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Abby realize that they have one thing in common, their mutual hatred of Ted.  The new “couple” decides to go to the bar to flaunt their new relationship in Ted’s face.  Desperate to get a rise out of his former pal, Barney pops a surprising question to Abby. 

“We’re all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again.  And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney’s very nice and no, I can’t get her autograph for you.” – Craig Thomas, executive producer and co-creator.

Spears got good reviews when she had a cameo role earlier this season.

On the March 224 episde, the show’s lead character Ted (Josh Radnor) pursued a dermatologist who continually turned him down for a date. Spears played the doctor’s receptionist, Abby, who became smitten with Ted.

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TAMPA- Auditions for a reality show inspired by the Disney Channel hit “High School Musical” will be held in Orlando on May 7, ABC announced today.

Talent scouts will be looking for young aspiring actors, ages 16 to 22, to be contestants on “High School Musical: Summer Sessions” which will air on ABC.
Hosted by actor, singer and songwriter Nick Lachey, the “Summer Sessions” reality show will have participants involved in a summer music program to hone their skills.
According to ABC, “one talented newcomer will receive the opportunity of a lifetime, becoming a part of ‘High School Musical’ history.”
An ABC spokeswoman said the details about the prize will be announced later. Also to be determined are the times for the audition, which will be at Champion Stadium in Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.
Applications for the open casting call can be downloaded at http://www.abc.com/hsmsummersession.
“High School Musical: Summer Sessions” will air at 8 p.m. Sundays and Mondays for three weeks beginning July 20 and then continue on at 8 p.m. Mondays through mid-September.
Disney’s “High School Musical” has been seen by over 250 million viewers, and the sequel, “High School Musical 2,” has been seen by more than 195 million viewers in 24 languages globally. A third “High School Musical” movie is in production.

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Today’s breaking fluff begins with news from USA Network that Cybill Shepherd (“Moonlighting”, “Cybill” will join the cast of s “Pysch” when the series premieres its third season Friday, July 18 at 10 p.m

Shepherd will appear in a recurring role as Madeleine, the mother of Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and ex-wife of Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen).  Madeleine is a private practice psychologist by trade who has also worked freelance over the years for the Santa Barbara Police Department.  She is a free spirit who spent the last few years living abroad, and quite clearly the source of Shawn’s adventurous side and similar joie de vivre.  She returns from Europe and shows up to visit Shawn and Henry, stirring up memories and issues…and a bit of trouble.

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In an interesting May ratings sweep stunt, CBS has crossover episodes of two of its most popular series.

A CSI team investigating a murder at Charlie Harper’s house?  Grissom and the team investigating the mysterious death of a diva sitcom star?  It’s all part of a first-ever “writers’ crossover,” in which the “CSI:Crime Scene Investigation” writers have written pen an episode of “Two and a Half Men” while “Men’s” wrirters have penned an episode of “CSI.”

The May 5 episode of “Two and a Half Men” was written by “CSI” writers Sarah Goldfinger and Evan Dunsky from a story by “CSI “executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar.  The May 8 episode of “CSI” was written by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn, executive producers/writers of “Two and a Half Men.”

Robert Wagner ("Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me") and Jenny McCarthy ("Scary Movie") guest star on the “Two and a Half Men” episode which has a “CSI” team investigating a mysterious death at Charlie’s (Martin Sheen) house. On the “CSI” episode Grissom (William Petersen) and the CSI team
nvestigate the death of a diva sitcom star (Katey Sagal) who dies suddenly while her show is filming in Las Vegas.  Suspects include the entire writing staff, her loser husband and the actress who serves as her stand-in (Rachael Harris). 

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ABC News Anchor Bob Woodruff will anchor a weekly series for the new Planet Green cable channel, being launched June 4th by Discovery Communications.

The eco-newscast will cover climate impact, environmental policy and news affecting ecology. The program will be produced by ABC News for Planet Green and will draw upon the global resources of ABC News. The series will include studio-based roundtable discussions, feature stories and debates.

Woodruff has made an amazing recovery from wounds recieved while covering the war in Iraq. Although his journalism career dates back to 1989, he is most widely known for briefly replacing Peter Jennings as co-anchor of ABC News’ weekday news broadcast, World News Tonight in January 2006 — and, later that month, becoming the first American news anchor to be wounded in a war zone when he was nearly killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

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ABC is carrying the National Spellling Bee on May 30 and Tom Bergeron of “Dancing With the Stars” is the host.

The final championship rounds of “The 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee,” will air live from 8 to 10 p.m. from Washington, D.C.

Preliminary championship rounds will air live earlier in the day on ESPN, which has televised the Bee in its entirety since 1994. ESPN’s live telecast (simulcast on ESPN360.com) is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

ESPN360.com will provide coverage of the quarterfinal rounds from 2:00-5:30 p.m., on Thursday, May 29 on ESPN 360.com.

ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews, daughter of WFLA, Channel 8, reporter Steve Andrews, will be a correspondent for both the ABC and ESPN broadcasts.

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Tony Snow, long-time conservative and former White House press secretary, is joining CNN as a conservative commentator beginning today, it was announced by Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S.

Snow left the George Bush White House last year to battle colon cancer.  The cancer reportedly is in remission.

Snow, who had been a regular on the Fox News Channel, will contribute to CNN’s political coverage. 

Snow served as press secretary to President George W. Bush from April 2006 to September 2007. For 10 years beginning in 1996, he appeared on Fox News Channel, hosting Fox News Sunday, Weekend Live with Tony Snow and other programs. From 2003 to 2006, The Tony Snow Show aired on Fox News Radio.  Before joining Fox, Snow served as a substitute “From the Right” co-host for CNN’s Crossfire.

“In the White House, Tony brought a remarkably human touch to the discussion of public policy, which he will continue to do as part of the Best Political Team on Television,” Klein said. “He will contribute a unique breadth of political and journalistic expertise to what is already the most provocative and wide-ranging political analysis on the air.”

“I’m delighted to be able to join CNN during the most exciting and unpredictable political year in memory,” Snow said. “The big challenge in 2008 is to develop deep, creative and aggressive analysis of both political parties, their candidates and campaigns. I’m eager to get started, since this race is sure to shape American politics for years to come.”

During the 1990s, Snow was a regular guest host for Rush Limbaugh’s radio program. He was the writer, correspondent and host of a PBS news special, The New Militant Center, a regular commentator for National Public Radio and a frequent guest on numerous televised news programs. Snow joined the administration of President George H. W. Bush in 1991 and served first as chief speechwriter and then as media affairs adviser. 

His battle with colon cancer began in 2005 when he had his colon removed. In 2007, he disclosed that he was going to have surgery to remove a growth. It was reported that he had a cancerous growth inside his brain. He resigned from the White House in September 2007.  He then announced on October 4 on the Late Show With David Letterman that his cancer was in remission. He recently told Martha Stewart that he feels great,

In addition to his experience in government, television and radio, Snow spent more than two decades as an award-winning newspaper writer beginning with the Greensboro Record in 1979. He went on to be a columnist for USA Today and Creators Syndicate and an editorial page editor for The Washington Times

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In the People magazne hitting news stands on Friday there is an “exclusive interviuew and photo shoot with Victoria “Tori” Lindsey, the Polk County cheerleader who was attacked by six of her peers, according to a release from People.

he incident was caught on tape and quickly went viral, triggering millions of Internet hits. The teens involved were arrested and have been charged as adults.

According to the release from People, Tori tells the magazine about life after the beating (she is gagged by a court order to discuss the incident) and says:  “I was in a lot of pain.”

Though her skin showed no signs of injury 15 days after the assault, she has brain scans ahead.  “It feels like something’s in my ear.” Shortly before the attack, she’d left home because she wasn’t getting along with her parents and was staying with suspect Mercades Nichols.  Now, Tori has moved back in with her dad, stepmother and three siblings.  (Her mother is in prison, serving 10 years for a fatal stabbing.) Tori, a cheerleader, says she has a message for other teens:  “Your No. 1 friend is your family.  Don’t trust anybody.

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CBS had a big week in the ratings with 19.5 million watching the men’s NCAA college basketball final between Kansas and Memphis Also, led by “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” five procedural dramas on CBS were in Nielsen Media Research’s top 20.

But Fox was hotter with “American Idol” and ABC’s big ticket was “Dancing With the Stars.”

ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” returned Sunday with 16.4 million viewers, Nielsen said. That’s down from the 19.8 million for its last original episode in January. But the show tends to lose viewers with the approach of good weather; this week’s viewership was virtually identical to the same week last year.

Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research for April 7-13.

1.  “American Idol” (Tuesday), Fox, 24.67 million viewers.
2. “American Idol” (Thursday),” Fox, 20.13 million viewers.
3. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS, 20.09 million viewers.
4. “Dancing With The Stars” (Monday), ABC, 19.68 million viewers.
5. “NCAA Basketball Championship: Kansas vs. Memphis,” CBS, 19.5 million viewers.
6. “Idol Gives Back,” Fox, 17.75 million viewers.
7. “Dancing With The Stars” (Tuesday), ABC, 17.02 million viewers.
8. “Desperate Housewives,” ABC, 16.37 million viewers.
9. “Without a Trace,” CBS, 14.49 million viewers.
10. “NCIS,” CBS, 14.05 million viewers.
11. “Criminal Minds,” CBS, 13.32 million viewers.
12. “CSI: NY,” CBS, 12.38 million viewers.
13.  “60 Minutes,” CBS, 12.17 million viewers.
14. “Prelude to a Championship,” CBS, 12.04 million viewers.
15.  “Survivor: Micronesia,” CBS, 11.59 million viewers.
16. “Hell’s Kitchen,” Fox, 11.21 million viewers.
17.  “Don’t Forget The Lyrics,” Fox, 10.9 million viewers.
18. “Medium,” NBC, 10.86 million viewers.
19. “Samantha Who?,” ABC, 10.42 million viewers.
20. “Deal Or No Deal” (Monday), NBC, 10.22 million viewers.
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CBS today unveiled its 2008 summer schedule comprising nearly 90 hours of original programming, including three new reality series ("GREATEST AMERICAN DOG,” “ MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD” and “JINGLES"), two new dramas ("SWINGTOWN" and “FLASHPOINT"), summer stalwart “BIG BROTHER"). 

The summer lineup will also see rebroadcasts of “WITHOUT A TRACE,” “NUMB3RS” and “COLD CASE” moving to new time periods.

The Reality Series:

Extraordinary teams of dogs and owners across the nation will compete for the title of GREATEST AMERICAN DOG (working title), premiering Thursday, July 10 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). Owners and their pets — from “pageant dogs” to those simply trained at home — will live together and compete against each other in games that put the owners’ ability to train their dogs to the test.  The winning team will walk away with a $250,000 cash prize.

Regis Philbin returns to prime time to host MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD, a modern update of one of television’s greatest game shows, premiering Sunday, June 1 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). This update takes the classic game and brings it to the 21st century with big celebrities, big money and big stakes. Contestants team up with some of the hottest stars, from Rosie O’Donnell, Betty White, Rachael Ray and Neil Patrick Harris to “High School Musical’s” Monique Coleman, to earn up to one million dollars. One player from the team is told secret passwords and can use only one-word clues to get the teammate to guess them. If the player and the celebrity can work well together and become a solid team, that player could uncover the MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD.

JINGLES (working title), premiering Sunday, July 27 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) from executive producer Mark Burnett, is a weekly competition which challenges contestants to write and perform a jingle about anything from products to sports teams each week.  The products will be anything from a food or toy, to a health or beauty aid, or a team fight song, TV show theme or update to a classic jingle. To survive each competition, they will have to impress not only a panel of judges and a live audience, but also the American public, who will ultimately decide the winner.

BIG BROTHER, a CBS summer stalwart, returns for its 10th edition on Sunday, July 13 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) with all new game twists and surprises.  BIG BROTHER will also be broadcast on Tuesday (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning July 15 and Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning July 16 with the live eviction show hosted by Julie Chen.

GREATEST AMERICAN DOG is executive produced by R.J. Cutler, Stu Schreiberg and Stephen Kroopnick for Magic Molehill Productions, Inc. in association with Actual Reality Pictures and Triage Entertainment, Inc.

MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD is produced by FremantleMedia North America, Inc.  Vincent Rubino and Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia North America, are executive producers.

JINGLES is produced by Mark Burnett Productions.  Mark Burnett, David Hurwitz and Paul Cockerill are executive producers. 

BIG BROTHER is executive produced by Emmy Award winner Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan, in association with Endemol USA Inc.

Mixed Martial Arts:

CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS, the first live mixed martial arts primetime network television event, will be broadcast Saturday, May 31 (9:00-11:00 PM, live ET, delayed PT) from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.  Elite XC heavyweight sensation Kimbo Slice headlines the night of action that will also see Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler defend his title again Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith in a middleweight championship bout.  CBS will present its second CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHT on Saturday, July 26.

CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS is produced by SHOWTIME Sports.  Executive producer is David Dinkins, Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.

The Drama Series:

Previously announced SWINGTOWN, from the director of “Big Love” and “Rome,” premieres Thursday, June 5* (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). The series peeks into the shag-carpeted suburban homes of the culturally transformative ‘70s to find couples reveling in the sexual and social revolution that introduced women’s liberation and challenged conventional wisdom.  During this heady era of provocative change, Susan and Bruce Miller move their family to an affluent Chicago suburb where they’re confronted with personal choices, experimentation and shifting attitudes, all against the backdrop of a changing social climate defined by its unforgettable music, fashion and style.

FLASHPOINT, an emotional journey into the tough, risk-filled lives of a group of cops in the SRU (inspired by Toronto’s Emergency Task Force), premieres Friday, July 11 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).  It’s a unit that rescues hostages, busts gangs, defuses bombs, climbs the sides of buildings and talks down suicidal teens.  As they race against the clock to determine what brought these people to their respective breaking points, members of this highly skilled team use their training in negotiating, profiling and getting inside the suspect’s head to diffuse the situation to try to save lives.

SWINGTOWN is produced by CBS Paramount Network Television. Mike Kelley, Alan Poul and Carol Barbee are executive producers.  Jack Davenport ("Pirates of the Caribbean"), Molly Parker ("Deadwood"), Grant Show ("Melrose Place"), Miriam Shor ("The West Wing"), Lana Parrilla ("Boomtown") and Josh Hopkins ("Brothers and Sisters") star.

FLASHPOINT was originally developed by CTV, Canada’s largest privately owned English language broadcast network, and Toronto-based Pink Sky Entertainment.  For the series, Pink Sky has joined forces with Avamar Entertainment, in association with CBS Paramount Network Television and CTV.  The series, which will also be broadcast on CTV, is executive produced by Anne Marie La Traverse, a former executive producer at Alliance Atlantis, and Bill Mustos, former drama chief at CTV.  The series was created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern.  Enrico Colantoni, Hugh Dillon and David Paetkau star.

The Specials:

THE AMERICAN THEATRE WING’S 62ND ANNUAL TONY AWARDS, honoring theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, will be broadcast Sunday, June 15 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT).  Broadcast on CBS since 1978, this year will mark the 11th year that the Tonys are being held at the historic Radio City Music Hall.

AFI’S 10 TOP 10, a new chapter in its Emmy Award-winning “AFI’s 100 Years…” series, will be broadcast Tuesday, June 17 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).  This new edition will count down the top 10 films from 10 classic American film genres, including animation, fantasy, science fiction, gangster, western, sports, romantic comedy, courtroom drama, mystery and epic films.

Effective with the summer changes, WITHOUT A TRACE will relocate to Tuesday (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning June 3; NUMB3RS moves to Friday (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) effective July 11 and COLD CASE moves to Sunday (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on July 27.

CBS’s Summer Schedule

Thursday, Effective May 29

8:00-9:00 PM TBA

9:00-10:00 PM CSI

Saturday, May 31

9:00-11:00 PM, live ET/ CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

delayed PT

Sunday, Effective June 1

7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES

8:00-9:00 PM MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD (Series Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE

10:00-11:00 PM TBA

Tuesday, Effective June 3

8:00-9:00 PM NCIS

9:00-10:00 PM SHARK

10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (New Time Period)

Thursday, Effective June 5

8:00-9:00 PM TBA

9:00-10:00 PM CSI

10:00-11:00 PM SWINGTOWN (Series Premiere)*

Sunday, June 15 THE AMERICAN THEATRE WING’S 62ND ANNUAL

8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/ TONY AWARDS

delayed PT

Tuesday, June 17 AFI’S 10 TOP 10

8:00-11:00 PM

Thursday, Effective July 10

8:00-9:00 PM GREATEST AMERICAN DOG (Series Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM CSI

10:00-11:00 PM SWINGTOWN

Friday, Effective July 11

8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER

9:00-10:00 PM NUMB3RS (New Time Period)

10:00-11:00 PM FLASHPOINT (Series Premiere)

Sunday, Effective July 13

7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES

8:00-9:00 PM BIG BROTHER (Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE

10:00-11:00 PM TBA

Tuesday, Effective July 15

8:00-9:00 PM NCIS

9:00-10:00 PM BIG BROTHER (Premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE

Wednesday, Effective July 16

8:00-9:00 PM BIG BROTHER (Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS

10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

Saturday, July 26 CBS ELITE XC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

9:00-11:00 PM, live ET/

delayed PT

Sunday, Effective July 27

7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES

8:00-9:00 PM BIG BROTHER

9:00-10:00 PM JINGLES (Series Premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM COLD CASE (New Time Period)

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“Idol” castoff Ramiele Malubay, who shed a boat load of tears Wednesday nigh says she plans to stay in Los Angeles and move in with fellow “American Idol” exile Danny Noriega.

“I going to move in with Danny,” she said during a telephone news conference today.  The 20-year-old Filipino-American singer came up short in the voting this week and was sent packing on Wednesday night.

Noriega, a sassy 18-year-old from California, didn’t make the top 12. He was voted off on March 7.

Ramiele told reporters today that she plans to stick around Los Angeles to see if she can launch a singing and acting career.

She said she is going to move in with Noriega. “We make a fun duet,” she said, “WE got close early on. We clicked and we’ve been there for each other. We take care of each other.”

The “C” hand signal that Malubay flashed for Noriega when he was ejected stands for corazon— Spanish for “heart.”

“It’s a cute little half-heart thing that we just do,” he told reporters in his post-Idol interview,, referring to Ramiele as his “best friend” in the show.

On the “American Idol” website are various photos of the two hugging.

“We became really close at the end of Hollywood week,” Danny said. “We have a lot in common. She’s my twin and I love her.”
When he got the boot three weeks ago, Ramie, as host Ryan Seacrest calls her, turned on the tears.

On a recent performance night, Danny joined Ramie’s parents in the audience, all of them in T-shirts with her picture. 

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