With Britney Spears already on board , might Simon Cowell be giving up all notions of The X Factor as a singing competition? It’s hard not to think the producer is simply aiming to rake in the ratings, considering the latest name reportedly on the table to join season two as a judge: Miley Cyrus. Simply put, “there have been talks with Miley,” an X Factor insider tells Celebuzz, a rumor backed up by E! News. Both outlets also report that Fergie, Avril Lavigne and Demi Lovato are in the running to join Cowell, Spears and L.A. Reid on the panel. A decision will need to come within a month or so, in order for auditions to begin and The X Factor to premiere season two in September. What do you think of Miley Cyrus as a judge? Would she be a good choice? UPDATE: The Hollywood Reporter now claims Lovato is the one to beat and is in “final negotiations” for the gig.
ABC has released, in the form of a season overview, more details of Emily Maynard ‘s search for love, commencing Monday, May 14 on The Bachelorette . While kicking things off in her hometown of Charlotte, Emily will travel to Dubrovnik, Croatia; Prague, Czech Republic; and London, England this summer. Read The Bachelorette spoilers we’ve pulled together so far regarding which men make it to the hometown dates and more, then read ABC’s rundown: The 26-year-old former Bachelor winner first meets her 25 suitors at a southern mansion for a cocktail party after putting six-year-old daughter Ricki to bed. Several of Maynard’s bachelors will attempt to make memorable first impressions during their arrivals as always … that’s par for the course on this show. Think actual glass slippers being presented, dudes riding in on skateboards, a party MC who breaks down into dance, and a gesture from a true southern gentleman who gives Emily something to symbolize how he’d protect her and Ricki. In addition, Maynard will also encounter one suitor who makes a grand entrance in a helicopter … is it Brad Womack? Is it Bentley Williams? No and no. The promos always mislead you that way … The Bachelorette Promo Anyway, once the cocktail party begins, the competition to impress Maynard only intensifies, as a “confident” charmer gets upstaged by a single dad of six. A “handsome” man gives her a pair of custom bobblehead dolls, a bachelor is nervous to explain his career because it may remind her of her late fiance, and another single father brings her a heartfelt letter from his 11-year-old son to read. The mood then turns serious when host Chris Harrison arrives and reveals it’s time for Maynard to present one of the men with a first impression rose. The men will become increasingly competitive, as Emily decides to award the special rose to one “charming” bachelor … a decision surprising nobody. The Bachelorette season premiere will conclude with Maynard whittling her 25 bachelors down to 19. But she’s just getting started at that juncture. Emily Maynard’s around-the-world dates will include: Traveling to Bermuda where she must eliminate three bachelors before leaving. Visiting London for a week where she’ll receive a double-decker bus tour of Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park along with a solo dinner in the Tower of London and watching a group of suitors perform scenes from “Romeo and Juliet” in Stratford-on-Avon. Traveling to Dubrovnik where she’lll watch Pixar’s upocoming Brave movie and a group of bachelors will compete in a round of Highland games to win extra time with her. Going to Prague where Maynard and her remaining bachelors will enjoy a private dinner cruise down the Vltava River, explore a medieval castle, and check out the Lennon Wall of Love and a spooky dungeon. After four hometown dates, the final three men will then have “exotic” overnight dates with Maynard in an undisclosed location. According to ABC, obviously “there are surprises in store for Emily that will shake her world.” Color us shocked and in utter disbelief.
Catholic League President Bill Donohue is not having any of Dan Savage’s apology . On Friday, the gay rights activist delivered the keynote addresses at the National High School Journalism Conference in Seattle, saying – while making a general point about how Christians look past plenty of passages in the Bible, most notably those promoting slavery – that folks should “learn to ignore the bullshit in the Bible about gay people.” In response, a handful of students walked out on the speech and Savage has faced criticism from a number of organizations. Dan Savage on the Bible: Ignore Homosexual BS! Savage has since clarified certain remarks, specifically saying he regrets referring to the students who left his lecture as making a “pansy-ass move,” acknowledging this is a form of bullying. But is he sorry for the message he was trying to send? No. “If believers can ignore what the Bible says about slavery, they can ignore what the Bible says about homosexuality,” Savage has reiterated as the crux of his point. But none of that is enough for Donohue. He has released a statement that castigates Savage for a “history of making… vile, disgusting and bigoted remarks” and says: Ironically, Savage’s bullying of Christian students was done in the name of protesting the bullying of homosexuals. When it comes to bullying, Savage has no peer. We hope the Obama administration, which has welcomed him to the White House, takes note. What do YOU think, THGers? Does Savage owe Christians more of an apology?
