The American Idol stage wasn't enough for Blake Lewis.

Everyone's favorite beat boxing sensation has signed a contract with 19 Recordings/Arista Records. He's already recording an album with producers that range from JR Rotem (yes, the former Britney Spears play thing) to Sean Kingston, due to be released at the end of the year.

As label head Clive Davis put it to Us Weekly: "Blake has a strong music sensibility and knows who he is and what his music should represent. His collaborators are all knocked out by him."

Blake Lewis has a reason to smile: The second-place finisher has signed a record deal.

Lewis has already experienced chart success with two of his covers from Idol. Right now, he's on tour with his fellow American Idol finalists, such as winner Jordin Sparks and best friend Chris Richardson (yes, the rumored former Lauren Conrad play thing).

"I love performing, so spending the summer on the road has been a great experience," Lewis said. "But I'm also enjoying my time in the studio and I'm very excited about recording my debut album. I'm thrilled to be working with 19 Recordings and ARISTA Records"

Idol creator Simon Fuller calls Lewis "one of the most unique contestants I've ever seen." It's not hard seeing this talent following in the footsteps of past show successes such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

Not that this is news to us. She always has. But in her glory days, Britney Spears at least used to mask her lack of talent with catchy dance-pop beats and half naked Music videos. It did the job. Multiple times a day for some guys, undoubtedly.

Anyway, this latest "song" released by Britney and obtained by Perez Hilton is nothing short of horrific. The ballad features Spears shrieking away in a nasal, tone-deaf manner that makes you long for the tranquil sounds of fingernails on a chalkboard.

And don't even get us started on some of the lyrics:

Everyday, I'm in a daze ... Looking for that someone... everyday, I sit and kneel and pray ... sweet love, can I get some ... Why do you desert me, baby boy ... I need your love right now!

She's calling for you, Matt Encinias.

Or you, Daimon Shippen. Or you, Jason Filyaw. Or J.R. Rotem. Or John Sundahl. Or Howie Day. Or Criss Angel. Or Isaac Cohen. Or Shannon Funk. Or ...

CLICK HERE to listen to Britney's new song on Perez's web site. You won't believe your ears. Kiss the comeback goodbye, girlfriend. Kiss it goodbye.

High School Musical without Zac Efron would be like Friday Night Lights without Kyle Chandler.

Therefore, after the record-setting peformance of High School Musical 2, the only question fans care about is:

Will Zac Efron sign on for High School Musical 3?

Here's the celebrity gossip we have on the topic: in February, plans were set in motion for a Halloween-themed feature film the studio dubbed Haunted High School Musical. Of course, somewhere between then and now, this plan was scraped.

Today, Disney says it will instead focus on the senior year of key characters (such as the one played by Corbin Bleu) at East High to complete this film's triology. The original writer from the first two films, Peter Barsocchini, is writing the script. The original producers and director Kenny Ortega are also on board.

As far as Zac, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale are concerned, Disney released the following statement:

"There is no contractual obligation for any of the cast members to return. That said, we are in active negotiations with all the principle cast members and are feeling optimistic."

When Billy Bush asked Zac last week at the High School Musical 2 premiere about another installment, the golden boy replied: "A third movie would be a dream come true. Finishing High School Musical with a third movie, that would be in theaters, is just sort of a tribute to everything we kind of did here."

Bottom line: Don't worry, ladies. Efron will return. You haven't seen Daniel Radcliffe bail on Harry Potter, have you?

Despite reports that Britney Spears had fled the country or was about to, The Hollywood Gossip has confirmed the "star" is still stateside.

For now.

On Wednesday, the press in Belgium was reporting that Britney Spears had already been spotted in the Belgian city of Antwerp.

Meanwhile, other celebrity gossip publications in the U.S. reported that the "singer" planned to flee to France or Great Britain.

However, Spears was spotted leaving her house at 5 p.m. Wednesday in her black Mercedes with sons Sean Preston, 23 months, and Jayden James, 11 months, in the back seat.

No doubt fearing for their lives.

Wearing her trademark sunglasses, Spears left her mansion and drove to nearby Calabasas, Calif., where she went down a street that turned out to be a dead end. Britney then turned around, hopped back on California's 101 Freeway and arrived back home at 6:30 p.m... having never gotten out of the car.

Of course she did. Just another day in the life of Britney Spears.

Amber Lee Ettinger claims to be the Obama Girl in one of the most popular YouTube videos of the year.

But the swimsuit model recently told Steppin Out magazine that she was voting for Hillary Clinton. That's awkward.

At least Ettinger has the proper, non-Elisabeth Hasselbeck party in mind. We're just not sure why she isn't in the running herself.

She has the looks. The oratory skills. The liberal mind and rhyming abilities. Come on, who wouldn't vote Amber Lee Ettinger for president? Or at least as Barack Obama's running mate?

As far as videos go, Obama's Girl is even better than any Beyonce wardrobe malfunction from earlier in the week.

It may even top the Lauren Conrad sex tape. If there were such a thing, that is.

Lindsay Lohan gets off easily with guys.

And now she reportedly gets off easily with the law, as well.

People magazine says the drunk dodged felony charges in her two drunken-driving cases, with prosecutors filing misdemeanor counts after tests found she possessed insufficient amounts of cocaine.

Unlike Michael Vick, the actress won't be seeing the inside of a cell for very long because she was charged with seven misdemeanor counts, including two each of driving under the influence, driving with blood alcohol of over .08 percent, being under the influence of cocaine and reckless driving.

The charges stem from two separate DUI incidents, one in May in Beverly Hills and one in July in Santa Monica.

In both cases, Lohan was making like Tara Conner (i.e. carrying cocaine). But in each instance, the amounts tested were below the .05 grams required by office policy for felony filing.

A conference before a Beverly Hills judge is set for Thursday afternoon, in which Lohan may enter a plea a day before her arraignment which was originally set for Friday.

The 21-year-old is currently in rehab at the Cirque Lodge program in Utah. She sucks.

New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury has spoken out in defense of Michael Vick, saying dogfighting is a sport and comparing it to hunting.

Never mind the fact that this is coming from a thug who has made a "sport" out of sucking in the playoffs, shooting way too much and not being a good floor leader.

Anyway, Marbury spoke out Monday about the federal dogfighting conspiracy charges against Michael Vick, while promoting his new line of sneakers.

"I think it's tough," Marbury said, according to Albany TV station Capital News 9. "I think, you know, we don't say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It's just behind closed doors."

Don't worry, Michael Vick. Stephon Marbury has your back - and will likely be joining you in jail after he gets busted on some gun-related charge in the next year or two.

On Monday, his lawyer said that Vick will plead guilty to the federal charges of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. He also faces prosecution in Virginia.

"I think it's tough that we build Michael Vick up and then we break him down," Marbury said. "I think he's one of the superb athletes, and he's a good human being. I just think that he fell into a bad situation."

Who, exactly is breaking Michael Vick down, Stephon? Dogs everywhere aren't breathing a sigh of relief because the media is going to jail. Think about it.

What's next? Stephon accusing "us" of building up Mel Gibson and then breaking him down... after he drove drunk, blamed it on the Jews and sexually harassed a female cop?

Sometimes, the media isn't all evil, but merely reporting the news that happens. Imagine that. Oh, and hunting deer and game birds are legal, regulated activities, Steph.

He may be an egomaniac and anti-Semitic loon with a bad driving record - not to mention a penchant for blowing his top.

But in the spirit of rehabilitation and second chances, a Malibu, Calif., judge has just given Mel Gibson two thumbs up!

Apparently, the star of The Passion of the Christ, Lethal Weapon, Signs and many other films is making good progress following his embarrassing DUI arrest in the summer of 2006.

TMZ was in the courtroom for Mel Gibson's progress hearing this morning, and while Mel was a no-show (Gibson is not required to be there), his lawyer, Blair Berk, was on hand.

Berk filed paperwork today proving that Mel Gibson completed four and a half months of AA meetings and has paid all fines resulting from the drunken tirade and arrest.

No word on whether he has seen Britney Spears at any meetings.

The judge announced that Mel's attendance at AA meetings is now voluntary, and that Mel must appear at the next hearing date, scheduled for February 15.

Check out our gallery of celebrity mug shots. It's a photo collection that has grown a lot in the last 14 months, but Mel's remains one of the best.

It's our duty as television fans - nay, as human being fans - to extol the virtues of Friday Night Lights.

The NBC show deserves the Emmy Award for Best Drama, yet was not even nominated in the category. This is akin to a mental institution not even considering Britney Spears for admission, or Playboy turning down the chance to print Heidi Klum nude photos.

Therefore, it's the job of The Hollywood Gossip to inform viewers of just how great a program Friday Night Lights truly is. And a major reason for this praise? Kyle Chandler.

Fans may recognize this actor from his stints on Grey's Anatomy and One Life to Live. But he's truly making a name for himself by portraying Coach Eric Taylor, a man oozing with both compassion and intensity. It's a nuanced role - and it's one Chandler excels in.

So tune in Friday nights (see, it's easy to remember!) this fall to watch the most underrated actor and show on TV.

If you don't, we'll send a drunk and disorderly Jason Wahler to track you down.

TV watchers love to hate the slimy Spencer Pratt so much that you'd think he were on The Bold and the Beautiful instead of MTV's reality hit, The Hills.

We know. Spencer Pratt is neither bold, nor beautiful. That's not the point.

The privileged son of a dentist and a stay-at-home mom, Spencer is the scheming foil to Lauren Conrad's All-American girl - and he isn't shy about it, on or off the show.

"Spencer is enthralled with being in magazines," an Us Weekly source reports in the celebrity gossip rag's new issue.

"He literally has a shrine in his room at his parents' house of all the magazines he's been in."

Even Pratt's carefully orchestrated proposal to girlfriend Heidi Montag on a Santa Barbara beach was beyond shady.

They denied the engagement to Entertainment Weekly, after telling Us August 8 they were, in fact, getting hitched. And the "engagement ring" Pratt purchased at an L.A. mall?

Price estimates from those familiar with the store range from $250 to $2,500. Hardly the bling ol' Spence made it out to be.

Another source confirms the question was not popped: "Spencer didn't propose to Heidi. It's a promise ring. He just knows what people what to see on The Hills."

Episode two of The Hills' Season 3 corroborates this - there was no proposal, just an awkward thrusting of the bogus diamond ring in Heidi's general direction.

Meanwhile, Pratt's quest to dominate the D-list has taken a toll on his bros. Brody Jenner used to be one of his best pals, but now the two aren't speaking.

Some say - and we don't doubt - that it's because Jenner began hanging out with his ex-girlfriend, Lauren Conrad, again recently.

Brody Jenner says, on the subject: "It's unfortunate that Spencer and I aren't friends anymore, but I will always consider him family."

Cute. We'll always consider him a no-talent ass clown with an acne problem. But hey, Spencer Pratt sure makes each day more interesting here at The Hollywood Gossip.