'American Idol' notes: Haley Reinhart arrested, Clay Aiken on Trump, Katie Stevens on 'The Bold Type"

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Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

This was posted Thursday, July 13, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

Haley Reinhart, who finished third season 10 on "American Idol," was arrested for battery after allegedly punching a bouncer on July 8 in a Chicago bar.

According to TMZ, Reinhart's attorney said the bouncers actually assaulted Haley and beat her friend: "We believe that she will be exonerated of all charges once the investigation is completed."

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 NEW YORK, NY - MAY 20: (L-R) Arsenio Hall, Donald Trump and Clay Aiken attend the "Celebrity Apprentice" Live Finale at American Museum of Natural History on May 20, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)

Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

Clay Aiken said in a recent podcast that Donald Trump was fed lines via a Teleprompter in his phone during his season of "Celebrity Apprentice" in 2012.

“He didn’t make those decisions, he didn’t fire those people,” said Aiken, 38, on the Domecast podcast in Raleigh, N.C. He said producers made the final call.

“The man as president definitely has a teleprompter sitting on his desk right now, with people telling him, ‘such and such is in the health care bill,’” Aiken said. “I feel like half the time, his teleprompter has broken down as president and he doesn’t know what’s going on.”

He said since he ran for office, he pays the bills by singing in private functions but largely stays out of the public eye when it comes to his music career. He said he does some work with SiriusXM and writes for Salon, things he likes to do. He spends only 20 percent of his time in North Carolina, with more time in New York. He has no plans to run for anything after he did try to gain a House seat in 2014 and lost.

You can read more in The Washington Post or listen to this:

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 BEL AIR, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Katie Stevens attends ASPCA's Los Angeles Benefit on October 20, 2016 in Bel Air, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for ASPCA)

Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

Katie Stevens, who came in eighth season nine, is now starring in her second TV series, this time "The Bold Type" on Freeform following "Faking It" on MTV.

The series about the life of 20-somethings at a New York fashion magazine debuted on Tuesday.

So far, reviews have been mixed with Metacritic tallying three positive reviews, two mixed and one negative.

Most positive is New York Magazine's Vulture: "It's part journalism drama, part Sex and the City-style female bonding comedy with sex and romance; it's equally interested in being both things at once, to the best of its ability, and damned if it doesn't pull it off more often than you'd think."

Most negative is The Salt Lake Tribune :  "trite, shallow and completely unbelievable."

Here's the trailer:

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 HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Singer William Hung performs onstage during FOX's "American Idol" Finale For The Farewell Season at Dolby Theatre on April 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. at Dolby Theatre on April 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

William Hung, the most famous auditioner on "Idol" who never made it past the first round, spoke with podcaster Tomm Polos recently. And I'm not sure how serious he is about thinking he has a shot at being a judge but he... doesn't. (You can listen to it here.)

William Hung wants to be a judge on ABC's reboot:

Telling Polos,  "I hope I get the chance... Simon did recommend me on Good Morning America" (18:55 into the podcast episode). He also would like to judge alongside Katy Perry and, if he had his way, Lionel Richie.

Advice for Katy Perry for the new season of American Idol:

"Hopefully every judge-- not just her-- will not be as mean as Simon Cowell." (18:40 mark)

On his musical future...he's not done yet: 

"Just because I don't work full time, doesn't mean I've given up" (28:12)

"... I feel like I'm not done." (28:36)

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Check in on "Idol" contestant hits on the charts, via Mediabase 24/7

Country:

"The Fighter" Keith Urban with Carrie Underwood #5, still climbing

"Doin' Fine" Lauren Alaina #56, barely climbing

Urban AC

"Remember Me' Jennifer Hudson #33, slipping after peaking at #30

Christian AC

"Unfinished" Mandisa #4, climbing

"The Comeback' Danny Gokey #18, climbing