Ellen DeGeneres Idol replacements led by Perez Hilton, Bret Michaels

The newly announced departure Ellen DeGeneres from American Idol gives the show not one but potentially two judges’ chairs to fill, with Simon Cowell also having departed this offseason. Various public figures have already been rumored for Cowell’s seat, with some of those storylines having been a direct result of the celebrity in question openly lobbying for the gig. With two openings, the number of stars lining up for the gig is set to double or more. While Cowell’s job has all along been expected to fall to someone who can play the role of resident meanie by telling contestants what they need to hear (or worse) no matter how impolite the message may be, Ellen’s role (and that of Paul Abdul before her) was largely one of friendliness and encouragement. This now opens the door for Idol’s producers to cast any two opposites they like in the two vacated roles.

Two of the most prominent individuals who’ve been campaigning for the gig are Bret Michaels (Rock of Love, The Apprentice, and a little band called Poison) and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. Michaels is everyone’s friend, and a new generation of Americans have fallen in love with him now that he’s had a reality show resurgence this decade after having been one of the most prominent rock stars of the eighties. Perez, on the other hand, is the guy that everyone loves to hate because he’s never hesitated to throw celebrities (or anyone else) under a bus on his blog. Perez could fill Simon’s snarky role, while Bret could take over Ellen’s nice guy role, and if nothing else, the pairing of those two along with current judges Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi (assuming they both return next season) would have people talking.

Both Michaels and Hilton have had recent ties to the show. Perez used one episode to essentially launch the solo career of his protege Travis Garland, while Bret performed the Poison classic Every Rose Has Its Thorn with contestant Casey James on this season’s finale. The fact that Michaels did so a few days after having had a stroke and a hole discovered in his heart, and a brain hemorrhage a few weeks before that, has led some to question whether his recent spate of health issues might be too big a risk. However, with Michaels now touring the nation as a solo musician and having no health troubles for it, that risk now appears minimized. And whereas his friendly nature might not have worked as a replacement for Simon, the contrast of having Perez (who’s arguably even meaner when he wants to be than Simon) on the same judging panel would balance out the nice-to-mean ratio of the panel.

For his part, Perez has taken to Twitter and his blog in the past hour to relentlessly campaign for the job, asking his celebrity pals to help him out. Michaels hasn’t yet had anything to say on the matter, but he will coincidentally be performing on the Simon Cowell-produced America’s Got Talent on August 4th. Speaking of Cowell, he’ll be looking to assemble a panel of judges of his own for his upcoming American version of X-Factor, which he left Idol to launch.

So what do you think? Would you be more likely or less likely to tune in for American Idol this upcoming season if Bret Michaels and Perez Hilton join the ranks?

Bret Michaels could become next American Idol judge: report

Days after performing on the American Idol finale, Bret Michaels told a concert crowd in Mississippi that he’s in the running to replace Simon Cowell as a judge on the show next season. And while the remark could easily have been interpreted as a joke, seeing the wide variety of names being idly tossed around in the media when it comes to Simon’s possible replacement, TMZ reports that according to their sources, Bret is in fact in the running for the gig. Michaels is no stranger to reality television and contest based shows, as he’s starred in his own Rock of Love and recently won Celebrity Apprentice. No word on whether his myriad health issues so far in 2010, all of which he appears to have bounced back from, might impact his ability to do the job for a full season; the singer is still looking at having surgery to repair a hole in his heart in the fall.

Gary Coleman follows Bret Michaels with brain hemorrhage

Actor Gary Coleman has been revealed to have suffered from a brain hemorrhage and the prognosis is not good, as he’s in critical and worsening condition and is on life support. The forty two year old hit his head during a fall earlier this week. Coleman is the second high profile individual to land in critical are in the past month after suffering a brain hemorrhage, as rocker Bret Michaels suffered a similar fate but has since recovered and has been making the national television rounds. Gary Coleman, however, is not out of the woods at all.

The diminutive Coleman gained fame for his role in Diff’rent Strokes. We wish him the best.

Update: Gary Coleman has died.

Bret Michaels duets with Casey James, becomes the new Betty White

Remember when Betty White was everywhere on television, despite supposedly being too old to have the stamina to pull it off? Now it’s Bret Michaels pulling off the same thing, appearing on a different television show (or two) every day this week, despite having been near death multiple times in the past month. This time it was Michaels performing with “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” with Casey James on American Idol while wearing a Bob Marley T-shirt and sporting an acoustic guitar while Casey led on electric.

Meanwhile Betty White plans to fight back against Bret Michaels’ sudden upsurge by starring in new television show Hot in Cleveland.

Bret Michaels to interview on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show

Rocker Bret Michaels will appear as a guest on the Tonight Show tonight as the newly crowned champion of Celebrity Apprentice, a feat he pulled off after overcoming multiple life threatening medical maladies in the late stages of the show’s season. In his interview with host Jay Leno, Michaels will likely discuss the current state of his health, why he made the reportedly risky decision to travel to New York City for the Apprentice final just a few days after his stroke, and his musical plans going forward including his upcoming solo tour and the summer release of his new solo album. However, Bret Michaels will not be performing on the Tonight Show, as the musical guest for the evening is John Butler Trio. Also appearing: actress Jane Krakowski.

Celebrity Apprentice winner Bret Michaels on Today Show, Regis

After overcoming a series of life threatening medical maladies to win on Celebrity Apprentice last night, rock star Bret Michaels will appear today on The Today Show and Live with Regis and Kelly. We’re not sure how he plans to be on both shows in the same morning, but after the brain hemorrhage, the stroke, and the hole in his heart haven’t stopped him, we’ve stopped counting the improbabilities. Michaels was the Apprentice winner last night after returning to the show for its live season finale and defeating fellow contestant Holly Robinson Peete. In other news, Michaels’ people have confirmed through his official website that the release date for his solo album Custom Built has been pushed to July 6th after everything that’s transpired.

Bret Michaels: American Badass

Go ahead, try to put yourself in Bret Michaels’ shoes. You nearly die of a brain hemorrhage, and as soon as you get out of the hospital you decide to go back to your job. Along the way you have a stroke and they find a hole in your heart. You check back out of the hospital and announce your intention to go back to work in a few days anyway. All this despite the fact that you’re a wealthy man who doesn’t need the work, and a famous rock star who doesn’t need to prove anything. And yet here is Bret Michaels, announcing his intention to fly across country in time to show up for this week’s Celebrity Apprentice finale, a show he’s still trying to win. Perhaps he should be on “Survivor” instead. There haven’t exactly been a lot of “hero” moments in the fairly brief and largely mean spirited history of reality television, but if Bret Michaels can pull of what he’s attempting, after what he’s just been through, it’ll represent the most singularly badass moment in the history of the genre.

Put another way: how many times have you failed to up show up to your job when you didn’t even have a hemorrhage, a stroke, or a hole in a major organ?

Unstoppable: Bret Michaels still plans to attend Celebrity Apprentice finale

Bret Michaels says he has no intention of letting a brain hemorrhage, a stroke, or a hole in his heart stop him from participating in next week’s season finale of Celebrity Apprentice, despite the fact that he’s suffered from all three in the past month and the latter two within the past day. Although his doctors might ultimately overrule him, Michaels still hopes to fly to New York City for the show’s final episode despite the stroke that he had yesterday. We’re not really sure he even should, but then again, the mere fact that he’s still with us means that he’s already overcome ninety percent medical odds against him. So if Bret does show up for the Apprentice finale, not only would it be the most badass thing to happen in the history of reality television, he wouldn’t be surprised if he fights off some ninjas along the way, lands the plane himself, and helps some little old ladies cross the street while he’s on his way to the TV studio.

Bret Michaels stroke leaves questions for Celebrity Apprentice finale

Bret Michaels’ re-hospitalization today after suffering a minor stroke, which led to the discovery of a hole in his heart, calls into question the fate of the season finale of Celebrity Apprentice, which is just days away. While the show is of course secondary to Michaels’ health, he had been planning to return to the live finale. Because the entire season except the finale had been filmed before Michaels’ original hospitalization, and because he had reached the top remaining two contestants not to get fired along with Holly Robinson Peete, the stage had been set for him to return and face judgment from host Donald Trump. Although it seemed unlikely that even someone as icy as Trump could have barked “You’re fired!” at a guy who had just bounced back from a brain hemorrhage, it now seems unlikely that Michaels will be able to attend the finale at all (we’re making this assumption based on what his doctor had to say about the severity of his condition). If that is the case, will NBC hold off on doing the finale until Bret is once again out of the hospital? Or will they go ahead with the finale and crown Michaels the winner (or fire him) in his absence?

BREAKING: Bret Michaels suffers minor stroke, has hole in heart

Bret Michaels is back in the hospital after a setback, just after it seemed he was in the clear. The singer suffered a small “warning stroke” and subsequent tests determined that he has a hole in his heart. Michaels’ official website referred to the latter as “devastating news.”

Michaels’ doctor, Dr. Zabramski, elaborated on the hole in his heart, known medically as a PFO: “”There is no doubt that the positive Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is devastating news to Bret and his family. The good news is that it is operable and treatable and we think we may have diagnosed the problem that caused the Transient Ischemic Attach (TIA) or warning stroke; however we feel it is highly unlikely this is connected to the brain hemorrhage he suffered just a few weeks earlier.”

The setback for Bret Michaels comes at a time when he had just done an interview on Oprah talking of his recovery, and had been set to appear on the Celebrity Apprentice season finale, a show upon which he was still an active contestant due to the long delay between the filming of the regular season and the live finale.

Bret Michaels to return to Celebrity Apprentice finale, could win

Bret Michaels’ remarkable recovery from a near fatal brain hemorrhage could now turn into the most improbable comeback in reality television history. Having advanced to the top two this season on Celebrity Apprentice thanks to the fact that much of the season was taped in advance prior to his medical issues, Michaels is now in the position to return for the show’s live season finale in the hopes of winning against fellow remaining contestant Holly Robinson Peete. If not for the show’s format, which sees all the episodes taped far in advance except the final, such a scenario could never have played out. While some viewers are bound to be skeptical as to how a contestant who’s spent the better part of the past month in the ICU could have advanced to the show’s final round, the fact of the matter is that Michaels did reach the top two before his hemorrhage.

So will Donald Trump dare to “fire” Bret Michaels in what should be Michaels’ triumphant return to the public eye? Or will Trump run the risk of looking soft if he fires Peete instead? Regardless, it should make for a fascinating night of television, and is likely to draw in viewers who had previously paid no attention to the show but are anxious to see Michaels back in action.

Bret Michaels sends “Wasted Time” to iTunes

Fresh out of the hospital, singer Bret Michaels is wasting no time – pardon the pun – when it comes to picking up where he’d left off. This week sees the release of his new single “Wasted Time” in iTunes ahead of his forthcoming album release entitled Custom Built. The new single, an upbeat ballad, which had previously been featured in snippet form on the rocker’s official website while he was still in the hospital, is currently on the top 100 rock singles chart in iTunes. Despite the seeming relevance of the song’s lyrics to the life-threatening ordeal that Micheals just went through, the song was in fact written and recorded before his health issues began.

Michaels had been starring in reality television show Celebrity Apprentice prior to his medical problems; still no word on whether he’ll return to the show in any capacity, nor is there an official release date yet for Custom Built.

Bret Michaels overcomes 80-90% odds against him

Bret Michaels just left the hospital and is on his way to making a full recovery – something that isn’t supposed to happen after one has suffered a brain hemorrhage. In fact it only happens in ten to twenty percent of all cases, according to Michaels’ doctor; eighty to ninety percent of those who suffer from that kind of brain bleeding end up experiencing some kind of limitation in their recovery. And yet two weeks after suffering his hemorrhage, Micheals is back home and being quoted on the cover of People Magazine about how he’s “lucky to be alive.” The mathematical odds would tend to agree with his assessment.

Bret Michaels is no longer in the hospital

The scheduled press conference that doctors are holding to discuss Bret Michaels’ condition today has come with a major surprise: Michaels has been released from the hospital, according to unofficial reports. The news represents a significant step forward for the singer, who been been hospitalized last month with a brain hemorrhage and had until recently been in critical condition. Micheals had recently stated his intention to return to touring this summer despite his condition; today’s news suggests that it’s perhaps a reality after all. Speaking of reality, still no official word on whether Michaels might be able to return to Celebrity Apprentice this season in some capacity.

Details posted for Bret Michaels press conference

Doctors holding their press conference tomorrow to update the public on the condition and prognosis of hospitalized Poison singer Bret Michaels have posted details for the event:

“Media should enter the hospital through the Marley Lobby, which is located on the northwest corner of Third Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix. Parking is available in the Third Avenue Parking Garage, which is located across the street from this lobby. All media will need to check in at the Marley Lobby doors with a hospital PR staff member. Media will then be escorted to the room in which the news conference will take place. For additional information or clarification, the media can page Carmelle Malkovich at 602-746-9303 on Monday.”

Meanwhile, Bret Michaels remains in the hospital following his brain hemorrhage last month. However, his prognosis has been improving of late and it’s now expected that he could make a full recovery. Micheals himself has expressed his intention to return to the road this summer in support of his new solo album. Doctors will have their say tomorrow.

Bret Michaels official news coming tomorrow

Bret Michaels’ neurosurgeon has already spoken about the singer’s condition in a statement released via his official website, but his doctors are likely to offer more information tomorrow in a press conference being held at the Barrow Neurological Institute where Michaels is being treated. Despite some setbacks along the way, Michaels’ prognosis appears to be good in terms of being able to make a full recovery. Meanwhile, Celebrity Apprentice, the reality show that Micheals had been starring on until his brain hemorrhage landed him in the hospital, continues on NBC. Doctors will be holding their press conference at noon local time tomorrow.

Bret Michaels’ doctor: his will to live is “undeniable”

Doctors attending to Bret Michaels have released a statement through the singer’s official website in which they document the various setbacks that the singer has faced since suffering a brain hemorrhage last week, as well as expressing hopefulness at his prospects for recovery. “There is no doubt that Mr. Michaels’ condition is serious,” said Dr. Zabramski, a neurosurgeon who has been treating him at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Michaels reportedly told his doctor that what kept him alive when tragedy struck is that Michaels “did not want his family to wake up and see him lying unconscious in the middle of the floor.” Doctors will hold a press conference at noon local time on Tuesday May 4th to discuss his condition, treatment, and prognosis.

After listing the various challenges that Bret Michaels has faced in this situation, including some treatment-related setbacks as well as his recent appendectomy and history of diabetes, the doctor’s statement went on to say that nonetheless, “Bret’s sheer will to live and fully recover is undeniable.”

Bret Michaels says he’ll be performing next month

Good news to report on the Bret Michaels front, as the Poison lead singer has apparently told one of his hospital guests that he intends to return to the stage by next month. While the claim could be overzealous on Bret’s part, just the fact that he’s turned his attention back to his singing career, is an encouraging sign. Before being struck with a brain hemorrhage, which has had him in the hospital since last week, he had been gearing up for the release a new album with the Bret Michaels Band.

Bret Michaels is one of People’s 50 Most Beautiful People

Bret Michaels is having a terrible week which we can only hope improves for him, but one bit of superficial good news has come his way as he’s been named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” in the publication’s current issue. Michaels, who is still recovering in the hospital ICU from a brain hemorrhage, was chosen for the designation before his current medical issues began, as evidenced by the fact that he was photographed for the honorific issue three days before hemorrhage, according to the singer’s official website. While the title may come as some solace to those who’ve been waiting for more official details to emerge about Michaels’ condition, the next opportunity for good news of substance will come on Tuesday when his doctors are scheduled to hold a press conference about his condition.

In the People issue, Bret Michaels is listed as a “Reality Rocker” and is pictured on the same page as funnyman Russell Brand, olympic star Shaun White, and perhaps not coincidentally, Slash from the band Guns N’ Roses; Michaels’ band Poison had its heyday during the same period of time.

Bret Michaels could return to Celebrity Apprentice

Bret Michaels is still in the hospital ICU following a brain hemorrhage, but at least one neurologist (not connected to Michaels’ treatment) seems to think that the Celebrity Apprentice contestant is far enough out of the woods that it might not be a surprise to see him return to the television reality show in time for its season finale. However, third party reports and prognostications on Michaels’ condition have been all over the map of late, and the folks running his official site have urged fans not to take any reports as gospel; his doctors are scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday. Here’s hoping for the best.

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