When do 21.6 million viewers equate to a disappointing episode of television? When you’ve been the country’s top-rated series for years. Indeed, American Idol earned the highest ratings on TV last night and will undoubtedly do so every evening it airs through the May finale – but its numbers were down 27% from the season 10 opener. There are many reasons for this decline – all programs suffer viewer fatigue at some point, and the competition ( The Voice , The Sing-Off , The X Factor ) from similar shows has never been higher – but talent is not be among them. There were actually a few strong acts last night, three of which we’ve posted again here: Phillip Phillips American Idol Audition Shannon Magrane American Idol Audition Amy Brumfield American Idol Audition
Celebrity chef Paula Deen is, quite predictably, being called a hypocrite both for hiding her diabetes while promoting unhealthy foods and for turning around and partnering with a pharmaceutical drug company that provides relief for diabetics. Deen, a popular Food Network host, confirmed Tuesday that she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, three years ago. In the same breath, she announced a partnership with drug maker Novo Nordisk. Fellow celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain is perhaps her best known and most vocal critic, but diabetics across the United States are up in arms at Deen’s disclosure. “It is hypocritical [for Paula] to have continued to very publicly promote entirely unhealthy food choices so vital to the management of diabetes,” one told Fox411. “We of course don’t know the terms of her contract with the company, but it seems either stupid or hypocritical of them to be endorsing her lifestyle,” says another. Deen gave no comment when it was requested, but a source close to the network tells Fox411 that they found out about Deen’s condition only a week ago. Some of Deen’s fans expressed outrage that the 65-year-old chef had found what they believe is a way to capitalize on a diagnosis she kept secret for so long. “I understand she has an empire and a huge following to protect, but working with Novo Nordisk is just adding another revenue stream, and that is tweaking people like me who are in the diabetes education community,” said Carl Moore. Moore, a type 2 diabetic and an educator on diabetic issues, said the news didn’t exactly come as a surprise to him and others with the disease. “Many of us have watched the Buttuh Queen for years cooking with no thought for the consequences and waiting to hear she was diabetic,” he said. Betsy Lampe, who has struggled with type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, said Deen has already missed her first opportunity to educate victims. “She didn’t tell us anything on the ‘Today Show’; she got really defensive,” Lampe said. “She didn’t even tell us what her blood sugars were.” “You know, diabetics want to entertain and cook too. If I were her I would have announced a whole new show for entertaining as a diabetic. It was just offensive to me. “She kept talking about moderation, but moderation in what? She didn’t explain.” “She is overweight and that makes her, in my opinion, not credible or valid to promote diabetes drugs,” adds Richard Deems, a type 2 diabetic like Deen . The American Diabetes Association, however, was supportive of the Southern chef. “People may benefit from seeing how others successfully manage type 2 diabetes,” the group said in a statement. “Paula Deen, through her work with Diabetes in a New Light, is likely to inspire many people living with type 2 diabetes.” Hopefully, the group says, people will “take a more positive approach to their diabetes care. We commend her for speaking out on behalf of people with type 2 diabetes and welcome her to the Association’s Stop Diabetes movement.”
Sarah Burke, a four-time X-Games champion, has passed away from injuries sustained during a training run last week. She was 29. The Canadian crashed in Park City, Utah on January 10 and, according to reports, fell into cardiac arrest soon after. She was airlifted to a hospital and underwent surgery to repair a tear in a significant artery before being placed in a medically-induced coma on life support. But it was all too much and Burke lost her battle earlier today due to a lack of oxygen to her brain, doctors said. She was surrounded by family and friends when she died and donated her organs and tissues. Sarah is survived her husband of two years, skier Rory Bushfield. “Sarah, in many ways, defines the sport,” said Peter Judge, the CEO of Canada’s freestyle team, prior to her death. “She’s been involved since the very, very early days as one of the first people to bring skis into the pipe. She’s also been very dedicated in trying to define her sport but not define herself by winning. For her, it’s been about making herself the best she can be rather than comparing herself to other people.”
