Despite all the furor over Pia Toscano being voted off “American Idol” last week, show insiders stress “the show will go on” and there will be no changes for the rest of this 10th season of the top-rated musical competition.
“The rules are the rules,” said a veteran “Idol” staffer, dismissing the avalanche of viewer demands that Toscano be brought back and Stefano Langone (who edged her out in last week’s voting) be booted.
“Of course, that’s not going to happen,” the source said. While Langone is said to be very upset by “all the hate” directed at him since Toscano’s exit, Toscano herself is taking the high road and — given her contractual ties to the show and the upcoming summer tour of “Top 11” contestants — urging continued support for “Idol.”
Telling her fans not to boycott the show, Toscano told “Extra,” “It’s not the show’s fault this happened. It happens every year. … Good things will come of it. Keep voting for who you love.”
Toscano denies she has a firm recording deal with Interscope Records and is only focused on the tour, but I have learned she is being inundated with all kinds of offers, including fragrance, fashion, cosmetics and high-paying personal appearance deals.
† While the 22-year-old is laughing off her big date with “Dancing With the Stars” pro hoofer Mark Ballas (“we’re just friends”) — the duo was seen heavily canoodling in Hollywood last Friday night.
† Meanwhile, news has leaked that “Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez will grace the cover of People’s “Most Beautiful” issue — slated to be announced Wednesday.
BABY BEAT: No one saw this coming! Kimberly Stewart, the daughter of Rod Stewart, is pregnant with Benicio del Toro’s baby, due later this year. The Oscar winner’s spokeswoman issued a statement confirming the pregnancy and del Toro’s paternity, adding he “is very supportive. Although they are not a couple, they are looking forward to the arrival of the baby.”
Stewart previously was linked to Jude Law and Rhys Ifans.
FESSING UP: No big surprise here, but Demi Lovato finally has confirmed the reason she sought help at the Timberline Knolls rehab facility in Lemont late last year.
The actress tells Seventeen magazine that her battle with an eating disorder and self-destructive forces is something “I will deal with … for the rest of my life, because it’s a lifelong disease. I don’t think there’s going to be a day when I don’t think about food or my body. ... I wish I could tell young girls to find their safe place and stay with it.”
CASTING CALL: If you look exactly like Adam Sandler — and could play him as a 13-year-old or at age 18 — you might be in luck. Paskal Rudnicke Casting is holding an open call audition from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at its offices at 10 W. Hubbard, Suite 2N. It’s for “I Hate You Dad,” an R-rated Sony Pictures/Happy Madison comedy, starring Sandler, set to begin filming in June. No experience is necessary, but you must bring along a non-returnable photo. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: You know a place is hot when two key “Steve” foodies — ABC-7’s “Hungry Hound” Steve Dolinsky and Gibsons guru Steve Lombardo — plus “Hot Doug’s” gourmet hot dog king Doug Sohn — all show up on the same night to dine on chef Martial Noguier’s delish dishes at Mary and John Ward’s Bistronomic on North Wabash.
† Rhapsody, 65 E. Adams, is running a Mother’s Day contest. Submit a fave recipe by your mom or grandma by April 22, and chef Dean Zanella may just fix it for the restaurant’s Mother’s Day brunch, May 8. For details, go to rhapsody chicago.com
† RJ and Jerrod Melman continue their winning ways. The Hub 51 and Paris Club owners’ West Coast operations are expanding with the opening Thursday of Stella Rossa Pizza Bar in Santa Monica, Calif. It’s adjacent to their M Street Kitchen, the new name for La Grande Orange, a popular hangout for stars including Christian Bale, Kate Hudson, Jessica Biel, Meg Ryan, David Beckham and Chelsea Handler.
SEEN ON THE SCENE: Fashion designer Calvin Tran danced the night away at Hydrate on Saturday. … TMZ gossip king Harvey Levin slipped into Bistro 110 for dinner the other night. … Before heading to the opening of her “White Noise” at the Royal George, Whoopi Goldberg early-dined at Sable Kitchen & Bar. … Diane Sawyer’s live “ABC World News” anchoring from the Renaissance Chicago Downtown had hotel guests buzzing last week. …. While here to tape Oprah Winfrey’s “Women in Rock ’n’ Roll” show, airing Wednesday, Pat Benatar checked out Art Smith’s Table Fifty-two.
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