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49 get a shot at show biz idolatry here
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“American Idol” returns to the airwaves in early 2008, and Atlanta is poised to get its own evening as an audition site. This week, Idol judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, along with host and Dunwoody High grad Ryan Seacrest all re-convened at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park as they treated and tortured their eardrums with local auditions.
For 12 hours Wednesday, Carter-Barnes Hair Artisans makeup artist Kiev Osborne had a front row seat to all the action. And the agony. Osborne was the backup makeup person for Abdul. The judge’s new BFF, New York makeup guru Billy B, stayed in town to do up Abdul for the taped segments that will air this winter. Carter-Barnes stylist Ron Massey, meanwhile, kept busy as well, giving Abdul “a lighter, richer chestnut”-hued hair color and “a modern, soft and layered” cut.
But let’s get to the dish.
Osborne says out of the thousands of singers who auditioned here, 49 made it through to audition for Abdul, Cowell and Jackson in front of the cameras.
“There was some really great talent, some really bad singers and some crazies,” Osborne told Buzz. She said the judges spent up to 15 minutes with each singer.
“It’s really edited down for TV,” she said.
Another thing that surprised her?
“It’s obvious they all genuinely like each other and get along really well,” she said. “That [on-air animosity] between Ryan and Simon seems created for TV.”
According to Osborne, Abdul’s on-air waterworks are for real as well.
“One contestant had recently lost her parents,” she recalled. “Paula got very emotional. She’s the most genuine celebrity I’ve ever been around.”
‘Idol’ Overscene
According to our sources at Dolce, Abdul has a new beau as well — J.T. Torregiani, who’s a partner in The Dolce Group.
Torregiani accompanied Abdul to Atlanta this week and wooed her with dinners at the company’s Atlantic Station properties. The couple was spotted having a romantic dinner in the private room at Dolce Enoteca in Atlantic Station on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday they dined at Geisha House before an outing to Ten Pin Alley where they bowled in the private room. One diner at Geisha House reported seeing Torregiani “ordering everything off the menu for her to try. It was very cute.”
Randy Jackson, meanwhile, was spotted with a female companion at South City Kitchen in Midtown. Jackson enjoyed shrimp and scallops served over stone-ground grits with garlic gravy and ordered banana pudding for dessert.
Fulton DAs feted
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard and Laura Janssen, senior assistant district attorney, will be among the honorees tonight at the 2007 Humane Law Enforcement Awards in Alexandria, Va.
Howard and Janssen are being feted for their legal work on behalf of animals in Fulton County, specifically the conviction the pair secured in the high-profile puppy torture case in February. The Humane Society of the United States presents the annual awards.
“They are truly on the front lines of the animal cruelty battle,” the HSUS’s Ann Chynoweth told Buzz Friday. “It’s our hope that other prosecutors in other cities will examine their work and look at what they can do in their communities.”
A Spice-y dish
During an interview with Q100’s “Bert Show” that aired Friday morning, rapper/ restaurateur Ludacris let a few plans slip in relation to the space formerly known as Spice on Juniper in Midtown. Luda allowed that he initially became interested in the purchase as a real estate investment “and the restaurant came with the property.”
While he didn’t disclose a time frame or a name for the project, Luda did dish about possible dishes on the menu:
“I’m in love with Asian and Singapore cuisine.”
A ‘Taste’ of Rocco
After his dispiriting experience with Rocco’s 22nd Street, documented by the 2003 reality show “The Restaurant,” Rocco Dispirito has stayed out of the restaurant business, opting to be more of a food personality.
This means writing books (“Rocco’s Real-Life Recipes” comes out Nov. 6), making TV appearances (“The Today Show,” “Top Chef”) and doing food demonstrations at events such as Taste of Atlanta at Atlantic Station today.
Buzz talked to him by phone earlier this week:
On his book: “We found that Americans don’t use the recipes for soups, salads and side dishes as much as entrees. So this book is all entrees focused on America’s favorite proteins, 10 ingredients or less and done in under 30 minutes.”
What he learned from “The Restaurant”: “You can only do so many things and do them well. I was stretched too thin.”
Shortcut foods: “Frozen peas are good. Frozen corn is horrible. Chicken stock is good. Canned beef broth is horrible. Chopped garlic in a tube is good. Chopped garlic in a jar is bad.”
Atlanta’s own
Thanks to Delta Air Lines, there will be something non-cringe-inducing to watch during the “Monday Night Football” broadcast at the Georgia Dome next week. And no, we’re not recommending the Atlanta Falcons (who are rapidly becoming the Britney Spears of the NFL this season). R&B singer/songwriter and recent ATL transplant Ne Yo is set to perform during halftime as part of Delta’s efforts to increase awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness month. Delta plans to distribute pink luggage tags while mascot Freddie the Falcon — dressed in a pink-accented jersey — will pass out pink carnations.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Today: Musician Paul Simon is 66. Singer-actress Marie Osmond is 48. Country singer Rhett Akins is 38. Actor Sacha Baron Cohen (“Borat,” “Da Ali G Show”) is 36. Singer Ashanti is 27.
Sunday: Actor Roger Moore is 80. Country singer Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks is 33. Atlanta singer Usher is 29.
Contributing: Rodney Ho, Elizabeth Lee and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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