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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 06 > Entry
Twins rockin’ along despite ‘Idol’ ditching
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Buzz finally reached Maurice Bennett, attorney for the Brittenum twins, one of whom spent a weekend in jail in Rockdale County last month. He confirmed that “American Idol” booted the talented twosome after they were arrested for alleged forgery and identity theft to steal a local man’s Dodge Magnum. “It was bittersweet, but they don’t have hard feelings,” Bennett told Buzz.
Bennett said “we’re currently in negotiations” with SoSo Def Records. A rep for the label offered them a production deal during Frank Ski and Wanda Smith’s morning show on V103 two weeks ago.
Ken Warwick, an executive producer for “Idol,” told Buzz on Friday during a phone press conference that the show has let many finalists with skeletons in the closet stay as long as the contestants give them advance notice and it’s in the past (i.e., Bo Bice with drugs and Nikki McKibbin’s time as a stripper).
But the Brittenum case was too recent to ignore.
“From what I heard under the circumstances, I think it was a prudent decision,” Warwick said. “There’s a lot of money involved and kids watching this.”
He does say the twins will get plenty of airtime once the pre-taped Hollywood auditions begin Wednesday.
The South stirs on ‘Survivor’
It’s been four years since Georgia could boast a contestant on “Survivor.” (Remember Thomaston judge Paschal “Pappy” English?). For edition No. 12, there are yet again no residents from our fine state.
But three “Survivor” cast members have modest Georgia connections. Melinda Hyder worked for two years at Six Flags Over Georgia about a decade ago. Courtney Marit was a gymnast and attended the University of Georgia. Misty Giles — a wily engineer from Dallas (Texas, not Georgia) and the first unlucky contestant to spend a day on “Exile Island” during last Thursday’s debut — was born in Valdosta.
What a makeover!
Wes Wilson, a Georgia Tech grad still on the WB’s “Beauty & the Geek” reality show, got his hair cut and shed his glasses in last Thursday’s episode and became stud boy. He looked unrecognizable from his previous shaggy-haired, glasses-wearing self.
With a shot of confidence, he won the “speed-dating” competition and suddenly sprang into front-running position with his partner Sarah, for a share of $250,000.
This is a major turnaround for a man who, in a previous decorating contest, finger-painted “Time stands still when I’m not with you” around a broken clock in blood-red paint. “Psycho!” said “beauty” Sarah.
Crow, Armstrong splitsville
The intriguing pairing of champion cyclist/cancer survivor Lance Armstrong and female pop rocker Sheryl Crow is over.
Armstrong and Crow broke it off just four months after getting engaged and weeks before their expected nuptials.
They released a joint statement late Friday that was about as generic as celebrity breakup announcements can be: “After much thought and consideration we have made a very tough decision to split up. We ask that everyone respect our privacy during this very difficult time.”
And all the unfunny fixin’s
NBC said a press release describing an upcoming “Will & Grace” storyline with Britney Spears as a conservative Christian doing a cooking segment dubbed “Cruci-fixins” was wrong.
“The storyline will not contain a Christian characterization at all,” the network said in a subsequent statement. The “Cruci-fixins” joke roused the ire of the American Family Association, which encouraged members to blast local NBC affiliates with e-mails to complain, especially since the show was set to air the day before Good Friday.
More than 300 e-mails and calls flooded the local WXIA affiliate in protest.
Crash bash on the way
Come toast Christopher “Crash” Clark this Saturday night at Central City Tavern near Piedmont Hospital. 99X fired Clark in December for encouraging a woman to do oral sex on a random guy at a nightclub for concert tickets.
Joey Mills, a tech-support employee from East Atlanta and a Crash fan, decided to hold a party to honor the rowdy ex-traffic reporter.
“It’s completely flattering,” Crash told Buzz. “I’ve had ex-girlfriends and wives who have forgotten me faster than my listeners.”
Mills said nobody got a chance to say goodbye to Crash: “He brought a lot of energy to the station. I thought it was a horrible mistake to let him go.” He hopes another local station will hire him. Crash said he’ll show up, beers in hands, by 10 p.m.
Celebrity birthdays
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor is 89. Actor Rip Torn is 75. Actor Mike Farrell is 67. Singer Fabian is 63. Singer Natalie Cole is 56. Actor-director Robert Townsend is 49.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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