Simon Cowell

Back in March, the American Idol spoilers on the street were that the fix was in and the show's producers were doing what they could to ensure Danny Gokey and Alexis Grace as the top two, with Lil Rounds and Adam Lambert right behind them.

But with Rounds ousted last week and Grace not even making the top 10, that isn't happening. Guess you can't believe every spoiler you read.

It’s still no surprise, though, that Simon Cowell named Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert as his hopeful top pair at a press conference this week.

"I would put my money on Adam and Danny," the judge said. "It is going to be Adam and somebody. I would like to see Adam and Danny because I think they are the best two singers, and at the end of the day that is what should happen."

Adam Lambert has to be the favorite at this point, but perhaps Danny can make a run yet. Or will someone else spoil this party? Vote in the poll below ...

The next American Idol should be ...

This just in: Simon Cowell is not always right.

The American Idol and Britain's Got Talent judge says he and his panel totally misjudged Susan Boyle, as he told Entertainment Tonight: "We were all guilty of judging her before she sang."

With that admission out of the way, Simon went on to offer advice to Boyle, starting with the attention she's received for supposedly never kissing a man and for undergoing a mini makeover.

"I am tired now of hearing about the way she looks or the kissing or this or that. Get yourself together, sweetheart, for the big one, which is the semi-finals [of Britain's Got Talent]," Cowell said. "Chose the right song. Focus yourself. Shut your front door and maybe take a holiday and come back as the person you want to be, not the person you think you should be."

After all, Boyle doesn't have the title locked up. Have you heard Shaheen Jafargholi sing?!?

Welcome, celebrity gossip fans, to The Hollywood Gossip Caption Contest, a Friday tradition, now in its 67th week. How does one play the Caption Contest?

This week's contest - featuring an American Idol that needs no introduction - was won by Alan Hochbaum. Congratulations! Thanks to all for playing this week!

What's the matter Simon? Not Randy?

If only all celebrities were as candid as Simon Cowell.

The American Idol judge spoke to Fox News about his recent break up with Terri Seymour. A couple excerpts:

On the opposite sex: “I find women confusing really. When you hook up and date, you’re both honest about what you want. I have never ever said that I want children or marriage. I know some people find it hard to fathom, but it’s me, it’s who I am.”

On work: “Bottom line is I am married to my job. When people moan about been a celebrity, I think ‘Oh please, sort yourself out – it’s the greatest job in the world.’ I wake up daily thanking my lucky stars, but to throw marriage into that mix is not right. I have seen too many celebrity marriages that on paper make a great mix, fall apart through ego and just plain celebrity madness.”

Simon Cowell and his tight black t-shirts are back on the market, ladies!

According to the representative for the American Idol judge, girlfriend Terri Seymour ended the six-year relationship in August.

"Terri phoned Simon and finished it in September, about six weeks ago," said, Max Clifford. "They are going to remain close friends. Simon thinks the world of Terri and that isn't going to change. He also understands her reason for ending it."

Nikki McKibbin finished third on the inaugural season of American Idol.

Since then, the singer has faced a drug and alcohol problem... which she blames on Simon Cowell.

"I came out of Idol with a lack of self-confidence," McKibbin told Us Weekly. "I think I had my first solo in school when I was 5, and I got more as I got older: That's the biggest compliment in choir. I had never been told I wasn't good enough. Having to hear it for so many weeks from Simon Cowell killed me inside. I couldn't get the s--t he had said to me out of my head."

Nikki McKibbin claims Simon Cowell increased her heavy drinking and drug use.

McKibbin said she would sneak vodka into the house where American Idol finalists stayed, adding that Cowell's insults "drove me deeper into my depression. I wouldn't say that this was Simon's fault. It just added to the addict that I already was."

Look, we're not about to judge someone that's gone through such difficult times.

But Mckibbin loses a bit of credibility for complaining about treatment on one reality show... and then joining another one. Indeed, the singer says she's now sober, thanks to her participation on the second season of VH1's Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.

There are a couple of celebrity birthdays of note today, most notably the gorgeous Rachel McAdams. If you're not familiar with her, click to enlarge the photos below!

Trust us, guys, women love The Notebook. And everyone loves Wedding Crashers quotes. Speaking of quotes, American Idol's Simon Cowell is a veritable machine.

Here's a little tribute to the birthday girl (32) and boy (47):

The public got its first glimpse of Kara DioGuardi alongside her American Idol judging partners yesterday.

Kara, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson were in Manhattan for a round of season eight auditions. They look like one happy family so far, don't they?

Here are a few more shots of Kara DioGuardi mugging it up with Simon and company. Click to enlarge...

Simon Cowell calls it like he sees it.

And in his new American Idol judging partner, Cowell sees Kara DioGuardi as being talented, opinionated and cute. How can he not be excited to work with someone like that?

"It's like, you know, having dinner with three people for seven years, and getting quite bored of each other," he said. "So it's having a fourth person, new opinion, I think it's gonna be interesting."

The new judging team made its first public appearance yesterday, arriving in Mahattan for a series of season eight auditions. In a building at Chelsea Piers, Simon explained to reporters why Kara DioGuardi is a welcome addition to the show.

"Kara has a good reputation of A, having hits; and B, having an opinion. And that's a good combination. And she's cute."

Below are some enlightening highlights from the world of celebrity quotes, courtesy of People magazine and other Hollywood news sources...

"Every day I have eaten ham and cheese sandwiches, I can't get enough of them. Wish they had these back in the States." - Jessica Alba

"To me, Botox is no more unusual than toothpaste. It works. You do it once a year. Who cares?" - Simon Cowell

"I hope Santa Claus rapes your f%*king mothers." - American Idol reject Danny Noriega, in a special holiday video tape that surfaced this week

"I actually texted her. It was really sad. She must be going through a hard time." - Audrina Patridge on the death of Heidi Montag's stepbrother

"Models are back to what they were in the '70s: clothes hangers." - New America's Next Top Model judge Paulina Porizkova

"I'm so happy. I can't ask for anything more ... except big boobs." - Nicole Kidman on pregnancy

"I love everything she does. If she does a poop and I have to change the diaper, I love that!" - Salma Hayek, on her daughter with Francois Henri-Pinault

"I like Britney. Today, first we were dancing slow, and then faster and faster ... Then we did the fish-move and lots of other fun things." - an impressionable 5-year-old after taking a dance class with Britney Spears

"It's just rumors, man." - Adnan Ghalib on reports that he has been cheating on Britney Spears and sending sordid text messages to other girls