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February 25, 2006 surprise! he's paula's date Charlotte bachelor says 'Idol' star 'is really a normal person' MARK WASHBURN It sounded silly -- go on some talk show and try out for a date with a celebrity. "It's nothing I usually do in my regular daily routine," says Hal Kempson, 42, of Charlotte, who has never been married and has a successful career in real estate finance. But a friend referred him to a casting agent for talk show psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw. And the agent interviewed him by phone and said he'd be just perfect. He boarded a plane the following day to Los Angeles. He was taken to a restaurant in Hollywood, still in the dark about who the celebrity would be. Until then, he hadn't seen much of "American Idol," but he still recognized her instantly. Paula Abdul. For a TV special, "Love Smart," which aired last week on CBS, Dr. Phil was trying to hook Abdul up with a compatible man. Abdul and McGraw talked about her problems finding a guy comfortable with her schedule, celebrity and personality. She got to chat up two guys: country singer Keith Anderson and Kempson. Dr. Phil gave her advice on her approach to each of them in studio play dates, and she got to pick one to take out afterward. She chose Kempson. They had a fish dinner at Vibrato in Hollywood. He says she's down to earth, as natural and unaffected as she seems on the judging panel of "American Idol." They talked about her career -- from Lakers Girl to pop singer to choreographer. "She's really a normal person who happens to be in the public eye." They've chatted by phone occasionally since the dinner, and he's visited her once since on a trip to California. "We've been in touch and I've made a great friend," says Kempson, who has gotten some ribbing from pals. "My friends are like, `Mr. Abdul, can I come to the wedding?' " He didn't bring up the scandal stemming from last year's allegations by Corey Clark, a failed "Idol" contestant, that she coached him and he had an affair with her. But she brought it up in a conversation and said fellow judge Simon Cowell had helped her through the mess. "She said Simon had been such a great guy when she was going through all that, being a friend and not being the jerk he can be on television," says Kempson. So, at the end of the dinner date, did he get the goodnight kiss? "A little peck on the cheek." Dr. Phil would approve. » Posted by Igor at 1:00 AM | Discuss February 17, 2006 paula abdul spills her heart (CBS)--To some, Paula Abdul may look like a celebrity who has it all. She's made her mark in music, film and television. But fame and fortune have left one big void in her life. She has not found her Mr. Right. Abdul visited relationship expert Dr. Phil McGraw for some one-on-one advice. She was featured in last night's primetime special, "Love Smart," based on Dr. Phil's best-selling book of the same name. Dr. Phil created a unique dating experiment just for her, and they both appeared on The Early Show to talk about the experiment. Abdul said it was definitely worth her while. "I actually learned quite a lot," she told co-anchor Julie Chen. "I learned a lot about what it is I am actually looking for and Dr. Phil helped me figure out what my deal-breaker and bottom line really is." Abdul also said it is sometimes difficult for men to grasp the difference between the MTV superstar and the real woman, outside of the spotlight. Abdul: When you step off the stage or when you are done performing or you are done with your job, this is the real Paula. Dr. Phil: I am just so proud of her delineation of those things in her mind and in the way she does relationships. Paula lives with passion. She doesn't do anything just kind of halfway. She really is intense and passionate. When she gets emotional, that's really intense as well. She says, "I've got to have somebody that can deal with the drama." And Dr. Phil says that Abdul's high drama lifestyle should not be seen as a problem, simply as a facet of her personality. Dr. Phil: If your emotionality, your passion and intensity is not for somebody, keep on walking. It's not a problem. You live passionately, you live energetically, and that's OK and if that bothers somebody then they are not for you. On the CBS special, Dr. Phil presented Abdul with a pool of eligible bachelors to choose from, and then observed how she behaved. Dr. Phil: First thing she did right was walk in the room, looking like a million bucks because men fall in love with their eyes. They go, "Oh, my god, here's a winner. What do I need to do here?" Then she asks the questions and these guys, we did what we call infrared dating, where she started asking penetrating questions up front. The guys loved it. One of your dates said, "I've learned more about you and me in less time than I would if I'd dated somebody for six months, which is great." Chen asked Dr. Phil how much progress Abdul made through their work together. Dr. Phil: She had the courage to get real and honest and forget about the camera. I think she made quantum leaps and a lot of it is in deciding, "I'm OK. I just have to find somebody that's OK with me being OK." Abdul: I'm surprised at myself, too. I'm surprised at the willingness to — because I really think that I may even have helped some women out in not accepting anything short of what they deserve. As for her Valentine's Day plans, Abdul told Chen she'll be on an airplane but doesn't really mind. "The thing that's great is that magical things have been happening and getting out there and dating and being really happy with the ability to just say, 'This is who I am,' " she said. » Posted by Igor at 1:00 AM | Discuss February 14, 2006 the dating game (NYPOST)--'Idol' judge's love lesson from Dr. Phil PAULA Abdul seems to have it all - looks, hot body, awesome job as one of the three judges on Fox's "American Idol" juggernaut - so why can't she get herself a man? It's not that Paula, 43, hasn't dated. She's been married twice before - once famously to actor Emilio Estevez - but neither union lasted longer than a year. And in 2003, she was infamously linked to "Idol" contestant Cory Clark, who was kicked off the show for failing to disclose a criminal record. Later, Clark went public on ABC News, detailing an affair he had had with the older judge. Paula denied it, but Clark played voice mails and wrote a tell-all book about his experience. Bring in Dr. Phil. America's shrink has just published another bestseller, "Love Smart," and he has a Valentine's Day special by the same name. The good doctor has taken on dating in a big way. Besides the book, related segments on his daytime talker, and the CBS prime-time show, Phil also is sponsoring a subscription-based program on the country's biggest dating Web site, Match.com, somewhat scarily called "MindFindBind." Tonight, Phil sits down with Paula, whom he met because she works as a correspondent for entertainment news magazine "Entertainment Tonight," which is shot near the "Dr. Phil" set. Abdul also has appeared twice on Dr. Phil's syndicated strip, and the two have become friends, says Carla Pennington Stewart, executive producer both of "Dr. Phil" and "Love, Smart." "Paula kept asking Phil, 'What am I doing wrong? I just want to figure out how to pick the right one.' So when we decided to do this, we thought it would be fun to do something with her. She was very much a good sport about it," says Pennington Stewart. Shot at Paula's Los Angeles home, the two have a serious talk, in which Phil prods Paula to "own" her behavior. Admitting that she can be emotionally needy, Paula quickly comes to tears. Among the other common-sense tips in his guide to love and romance, Phil describes something he calls "Infrared Dating." That's the top-secret maneuver of asking potential mates relevant questions and then actually listening to the answer. To train Miss Abdul in this tricky technique, Phil sets her up on not one but two dates simultaneously. The first date is with red-hot country singer Keith Anderson, 36, who also happens to be a friend of Phil's. The second is with regular guy Hal, 43. While Keith sits at a restaurant, Hal is bowling. And it's a good thing Paula's stayed in shape because she ends up sprinting back and forth between the two while checking in with Dr. Phil and his dating white-board in between. It's a wonder she even gets to ask any questions of her two suitors with all the stair-running she does. Still, the doe-eyed singer-turned-judge seems to hit it off with both men, leading one to believe that white-board diagramming during dates might not be such a bad idea. "Dr. Phil: Love Smart" airs tonight on CBS at 9 p.m. » Posted by Igor at 1:00 AM | Discuss will paula get her phil of love? Caught Dr. Phil on the tube the other day. "You gotta clean up your anger, your fear," he told a cheating spouse with tears dribbling down her cheeks. "You gotta realize what we got here is not an easy dig out. ... I would get on this before dark today." Dang, that 6-foot-4 Freud from Texas is solid gold, and if there's anyone who can clean up the messiest love life this side of Liza Minnelli's - that would be Paula Abdul's - he's the man to do it. Tonight, Phil gets his shot at the big time. Crack this safe, Phil (that would be, metaphorically speaking, Paula), and you'll get an honorary degree from Harvard Medical School. That'll shut up those jealous, plodding, pretentious $185-an-hour shrinks who don't have their own TV show and think you're some snake-oil salesman and Oprah toady. You've got Paula Abdul! The Mount Everest of Busted Love and the Great White Whale of Ruinous Romance (metaphorically speaking, of course). Every TV doc from here to eternity would give up a week's paycheck for this opportunity-of-a-lifetime. To quote directly from the CBS press release for this evening's CBS 9 p.m. prime-time special, "A Dr. Phil Prime-Time Special: Love Smart," both doctor and patient "talk openly about the problems [Abdul] experiences including those men who haven't achieved her level of success, and those who are overwhelmed by her demanding schedule or simply by her emotions." That's just for starters. Next, the doctor will play her videos of 10 lucky guys, one of whom will be picked by the "American Idol" judge for a blind date. The date will be taped so that viewers - and naturally, Paula - can learn from her mistakes. We're betting here that by 10 p.m. she cries. She and Phil hug. Credits roll. Problem solved. Yes, love is definitely in the air. Cupid is smiling. Somewhere. Because this is a noteworthy special, possibly even one for the ages, a classic TV moment, we asked for a review tape, but CBS was uncharacteristically reticent. In an e-mail disclaimer, the network said: "We have not provided a tape for review because, frankly, we are humiliated by this special, but February sweeps are February sweeps, and if we get 25 million viewers tonight, then we will no longer be humiliated but 'proud of this extraordinarily moving event in prime-time history,' which you may choose to use as our official comment in your follow-up stories for Wednesday." We tried to line up some interviews, but were told that the producer is still "editing" the special. Dr. Phil? Still "editing." Paula? "Editing." We wondered about past Dr. Phil specials. There have been four of them. The reviews were "critically mixed," which is a gentle term we critics like to use to mean "they stunk." Of course, most critics tend to be smarmy, jealous little ducks who couldn't even get to first base with Paula. The first special, "A Dr. Phil Prime-Time Special: Family First," which aired in the fall of 2004, caused an uproar in the medical establishment. CBS nearly got sued. After interviewing a 9-year-old boy, Dr. Phil told the boy's horrified parents on camera, "There are 14 characteristics of a serial killer - your son has nine of the 14. Jeffrey Dahmer had seven." Producers then put up a shot of the 9-year-old on the screen right next to a mug shot of Dahmer. "Mind-boggling!" declared the jealous, pipe-smoking academics from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, who called the special a "breach of professional ethics." But knowing how good Dr. Phil is, we assume he's done his due diligence on Paula. If he's had a subscription to People magazine since 1990, then this should have been quite easy. He'd know about the short-lived marriage to Emilio Estevez. There was the other short-lived marriage to that guy who was a sports clothing marketer, which ended unpleasantly. On her Web site, Paula was quoted as saying, "I don't like to speak his name. We should have never been married. I wish him luck." Over the years, she has also been "linked" with John Stamos, Arsenio Hall and, more recently, this actor named Dante Spencer, who had bit parts in films like Playboy's "Wet & Wild: Slippery When Wet." There was the Smith & Wesson gun magnate, too. That ended badly as well - he was married when they were dating. But if anyone can solve this problem in an hour, it's Phil. "You gotta clean up your anger, Paula, your fear. You gotta realize what we got here is not an easy dig out.... I would get on this before dark today." » Posted by Igor at 1:00 AM | Discuss February 12, 2006 can paula find love? (ET)--On Valentine's Day, CBS will broadcast a new primetime special all about affairs of the heart, "A Dr. Phil Primetime Special: Love Smart," on which the life strategist teaches viewers how to love smart. "I always tell people you don't want to love dumb, you want to love smart," Dr. PHIL McGRAW tells ET. "[There is a] big difference between loving dumb and loving smart. This is a special that goes into the trenches about what that means." One of Dr. Phil's guests on the special is "American Idol" judge PAULA ABDUL, who shares with the good doc that she is having trouble finding, not just a serious relationship, but just a great date. "I think the biggest misconception people have is when they hear me say it is difficult to date, and they say, 'Oh please, Paula. Come on Paula. Give me a break,'" the Grammy winner comments. "But it is the truth. I think this will prove how difficult it is." Dr. Phil has Paula in tears as the two discuss the problems she experiences with men who have trouble dealing with her level of success and her demanding schedule. Then the former Laker Girl is asked to select a blind date from a group of 10 men, none of whom know they will be dating a celebrity. Then, Dr. Phil selects a man that he thinks is a good match for her. When the counseling is complete, Dr. Phil sends Paula out on a shuttle date, which means she bounces back and forth between two men. "I call it infrared dating," TV's top doc says of the technique he wants Paula to employ. "[It's] how to find out what you want to know right now, so you don't waste time going down a dead end road. She was an absolute star at infrared dating. It is amazing what she found out and it is hilarious. She is a great sport." So were there any sparks? "The two simultaneous dates were great guys," Paula admits. "Two total opposites of each other. I would go out with both of them." For more behind the scenes of "A Dr. Phil Primetime Special: Love Smart," tune in to tonight's ET. Then catch the special on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. » Posted by Igor at 1:00 AM | Discuss February 8, 2006 paula's predictions When the 48th Annual Grammy® Awards air tonight two "American Idol" winners -- KELLY CLARKSON and FANTASIA -- are in the running to take home the gold statuette. Kelly is nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal and Best Pop Vocal Album, while Fantasia has four R&B nominations. That makes ET's special correspondent PAULA ABDUL one proud mama. "At the beginning, the industry poo pooed 'American Idol,'" the two-time Grammy winner tells MARY HART on the green carpet at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. "But the record industry is in a weird state. It is upside down. The impact 'American Idol' has made -- we are creating real legitimate super stars. That is something to be really proud of." So what does Paula think of Kelly's chances against MARIAH CAREY, who has eight nominations? "I have a feeling tonight is going to be Mariah's night," Paula says. "What I love about Mariah is she is a survivor. People go through ups and downs, but when you have talent like she has, it is unstoppable. Great for her. But great for Kelly, too. I think she is going to walk away with an award, too." » Posted by Igor at 1:00 AM | Discuss February 2, 2006 judging the 'american idol' judges "American Idol" has shown endurance. For any hit show, the challenges of maintaining top status increases as time goes on, and by the fifth season, ratings often drop or stagnate. But with this season's premiere of "Idol" drawing more than 35 million viewers, the musical talent contest has become a case study in resilience. So it is worth taking a look at the three personalities unmistakably tied to the show and largely credited with its continued success: Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Simon Cowell Cowell continues to define his ruthless persona with his almost universally harsh disparagements of contestants. As an acerbic judge on Britain's hit show "Pop Idol," Cowell became famous for his nasty reproaches. He leveraged the show's success and his own fame and landed on "American Idol." Now, having smartly maintained his "Judge Dread" character from "Pop Idol," Cowell is "American Idol's" most controversial and recognizable talent and an increasingly powerful player in the TV production business. Despite his forbidding veneer, Cowell possesses unquestioned abilities as a savvy identifier of mainstream talent and a coach who knows what makes a pop star sing. The contestants who take his advice often make it to the top while the ones who ignore him fade away. This season, his caustic remarks are more cutting than ever, often overshadowing his constructive feedback. Yet with ratings for "American Idol" higher than ever, there is no incentive for him to ease up. Cowell is aiming to duplicate the show's success with the launch of his next baby, "American Inventor," debuting in March on ABC, as well as "Duets "on Fox, and an ensemble talent show he just sold to NBC. Simon Cowell's Celebrity A$$$$ets Paula Abdul As the kinder, gentler force on the show, Abdul has succeeded in distinguishing herself from the pack. During tryouts it is usually Abdul who injects some much-needed warmth, referring to even the least-talented hopefuls as "Sweetie." She has become the show's supportive Den Mother. Her running feud with Cowell has become increasingly playful and offers viewers a peek at her sense of humor. Perhaps Abdul's empathy is the result of her own career, which has been marked by survival and reinvention. Starting as the choreographer for the Laker Girls, Abdul parlayed her talent into a successful run as a singer with a number of Top 40 hits before disappearing, and then re-emerging on "Idol." She withstood last year's scandal in which contestant Corey Clark said he had an affair with Abdul. She has been forthcoming about her battle with bulimia and her struggle with a pain disorder, and she has been frank about her rocky social life. Her gentle on-air persona ensures that her fans will be behind her when she puts her heart on the line by enlisting Dr. Phil to help find her a mate on a Valentine's Day TV special. Abdul knows how to extend her brand. Paula Abdul's Celebrity A$$$ets Randy Jackson Jackson is beginning to appear lucky. How else to explain his ability to maintain a place at the judges' table without any unique personality traits? His affable style works well when he plays mediator to Abdul and Cowell, but beyond that he hasn't established qualities that distinguish him. Jackson is the hippest of the judges stylistically, yet five years into his role most "Idol" fans would be hard-pressed to describe his personality beyond "even-tempered" and "friendly." His formerly bloated physique originally pigeonholed him as the fat jolly guy, but after successful gastric bypass surgery he no longer fits this stereotype, emphasizing the mystery of his identity. For Jackson to sustain a career beyond the reign of "Idol," he needs to surprise his fans, stop playing it safe and reveal more of himself. Randy Jackson's Celebrity A$$ets Remember: the most dependable road to the top is to treat your brand as your greatest asset. (Samantha Ettus is the author of "The Experts' Guide to Life at Home" (Random House). Contact her at Samantha(at)celebrityassets.com.) » Posted by Igor at 1:00 AM | Discuss February 1, 2006 mp3 player Paula Abdul to Feature Klegg's World's Smallest Color Display MP3 Player on ABC's "The View" Airing February 6th Airing of Show to Be Broadcast Nationwide in Your Local Area LAS VEGAS, NV -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/01/2006 -- Klegg Electronics, Inc. (OTC: KLGE), a manufacturer and distributor of high quality consumer electronics, is pleased to announce Paula Abdul "Diva" of "American Idol" will be featuring Klegg's world's smallest color display MP3 player on "The View." During this national airing on February 6th, Paula will be introducing Klegg's world's smallest color display MP3 player known as "Klegg Mini" to all of the co-host as well as millions of viewers. To view Paula Abdul and the world's smallest color display MP3 player on "The View," please tune in to ABC at 11:00am EST. Air times may differ based on viewer location. "The View" is the recipient of 18 Daytime Emmy Awards, numerous Daytime Emmy Award nominations, including seven consecutive nominations for Outstanding Talk Show and Outstanding Talk Show Host. "The View" is produced by and features ABC News correspondent Barbara Walters, commentator Star Jones Reynolds, Meredith Vieira, comedian Joy Behar and television personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The show consists of hot topics in the news, the best experts in their field, celebrity interviews and general entertainment. The miniature MP3, which was recently featured on NBC and CBS, is approximately 1.8 inches in length, 1.6 inches in width and 1/2 inch thick. This color display MP3 player comes in four colors, black, blue, pink and white. The miniature MP3 features, 128/512 MB flash memory, playback photos, slide shows, one inch color display, voice recording with play, pause, fast forward, reverse, next track, previous track and shuffle play. Other features include 26 hour battery life, Li-ion rechargeable battery, CD Driver, software, headphones, FM tuner and 4,096 color display. Klegg's miniature MP3 can only be purchased via customer service at (888) GO KLEGG or online at http://www.kleggusa.com. The world's smallest color display MP3 player can be purchased at a starting introductory price of $79.95. Dennis Gentles, President of Klegg Electronics Inc., states, "The marketing of our world's smallest color display MP3 player has been extremely successful. We continue to take in orders at a record rate. 'The View' is one more highly respected show which we are honored to appear on and market our cutting-edge product." About Klegg Electronics, Inc.: Klegg Electronics, Inc. (KLGE) is a manufacturer and distributor of high quality consumer electronics. Klegg Electronics has focused on designing a variety of products that work seamlessly together within the home. Klegg home theater systems are available in over 80 retail stores across the country. The corporation is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV. For more information please contact Investor Relations at 973-351-3868 for Stephen Taylor or visit the company website at: http://www.kleggusa.com. Cautionary Statement for the Purpose of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Forward-looking statements in this news release are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain important factors could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including the impact of changed economic or business conditions, the impact of competition, the success of existing and new product releases, the management of our growth, other risk factors inherent in the internet, and extreme sports industries, and other factors discussed from time to time in reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. » Posted by Igor at 1:00 AM | Discuss promise of a new paula During the Las Vegas auditions of ''American Idol,'' Miss Sweetness and Light suddenly started telling the bitter truth by Michael Slezak Not to sound like Simon Cowell, but if I'm being honest, I got the urge to hit my head against the nearest hard surface when I heard the news this week that Paula Abdul is enlisting the help of talk-show titan Dr. Phil in a televised quest to find herself a boyfriend. C'mon, CBS suits, I've got better things to do than to tune in to this prime-time special when it airs on Valentine's Day — like sit on my couch obsessing over American Idol, naturally. Still, after watching tonight's Las Vegas auditions, I'm starting to rethink my position: Maybe MC Skat Kat's former duet partner is already reaping the benefits of her newfound friendship with the forthright Texan. How else to explain Paula's straight-up, opinionated assessments of Sin City's subpar auditioners, the surprising highlight of an episode in which all of the standard Idol elements — the discovery of spine-tingling young talent, the guffaw-inducing wails of the self-deluded, and the caustic zingers from Cowell himself — proved mighty underwhelming? (If Mariah Carey wannabe Mecca Madison is the best Vegas has to offer, then perhaps it's time the show threw its casting net in more unexpected directions.) Anyhow, Paula's first flash of discriminating taste tonight caught me so off guard I figured it was a brief, accidental peek behind her sunny-girl facade. After calling Alexia ''Dylon'' Lincheta's truly unamusing, faux-Jamaican ditty ''a fun audition,'' Abdul was taken aback by Simon's blunt (and spot-on) retort: ''It was just stupid.'' Those four simple words seemed to serve as the filament for the light bulb that's been waiting to turn on over Paula's head for four seasons now: Idol judges can — and should — get away with brutally honest critiques of contestants. In the end, isn't it more cruel to leave your child's tooth hanging loosely from the gums for days than to end the problem with one hard, briefly painful yank? Yes, Paula. The answer is yes. Suddenly, we had a giggling Paula reversing course: ''Well, if you're gonna go there,'' she said to Simon, ''I wasn't that entertained. I'm lying. I'm lying!'' Perhaps those weren't real tears from Dylon as he removed his cheap wig in the confessional and lamented not auditioning in his own persona, but if they were, you've got to wonder whether Dr. Phil would praise Paula or berate her for making a kid cry. Certainly, he'd applaud her decision to vote no to Las Vegas gondolier Jason Andino, whose ability to carry the tune to ''Stand by Me'' was negated by his decision to deliver said notes in a Backstreet-Boyz-II-Men melisma. Gah! Paula's verdict — ''I think you have a decent singing voice. I do. But for me, not a breakout, standout voice'' — wasn't overtly cruel, but it was definitive. Heck, Paula even gave the thumbs down to prison worker Heather Ward's ''Redneck Woman,'' correctly noting the singer had given Gretchen Wilson's simple but winning ditty too rigorous a workout. Given Ward's delightful demeanor, though, I was happy Simon and Randy overruled Paula. Of course, don't get it twisted by thinking Old Paula is gone for good. Telling Anthony Andolino (the dude who lives with his girlfriend and a sure-to-violate-some-health-code 75 pets) that his singing voice was better suited to show tunes than to pop not only left out his failure to hit half the song's notes but also insulted every struggling actor-singer working the Des Moines dinner-theater circuit today. What Andolino needed more than anything was a dose of New Paula's forthright judgment. Tell the kid to go become a tax accountant, or a construction worker, or a furniture upholsterer. But don't keep his delusions alive. ''I have tone, I have pitch, I have everything,'' Andolino said as he exited the audition room. Yes, Anthony, and I have tonight's winning Mega Millions numbers in my coat pocket. Now get off the American Idol set and haul your cat-hair-covered butt over to Dr. Phil. What did you think of Paula's performance tonight? Were you disappointed the producers chose to showcase only 3 of the 11 Las Vegas auditions that resulted in a golden ticket to Hollywood? And are you (like me) ready for the show to move on to the next stage? » Posted by Igor at 1:00 AM | Discuss |