Moraes on TV

[This report has been updated]

Mother Nature and the Saints have bestowed a new TV record on Super Bowl XLIV.

Nielsen reports that 106.5 million people watched the underdog New Orleans Saints win the Miami showdown with the Indianapolis Colts -- the largest audience in TV history for a single broadcast.

That viewing crowd handily beat last year's Pittsburgh Steelers vs Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl, which had averaged 98.7 million viewers, on NBC.

It also beats the series finale of "M*A*S*H," which had held the record as the most watched broadcast in U.S. television history, with an average audience of 106 million (actually 105.97 million).

(Frankly, "M*A*S*H's" nearly 27-year record remains the more impressive stat, given that when its series mop-up aired on Feb. 28, 1983 the country had about 75 million fewer people than today (308 million today), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Not surprisingly, Super Bowl enjoyed its biggest ratings in New Orleans, where 56.6 percent of TV homes were tuned into the game Sunday night. Thanks to Mother Nature, barely behind New Orleans was Washington. D.C. where a snowbound 56 percent of TV homes were glued to the game. About 54 percent of the TV homes in Indianapolis, meanwhile, watched the matchup, behind Nashville.

Though Sunday's game proved to be among the franchise's zippier - the Saints, in their first ever Super Bowl appearance, recovered from a first quarter rout to humiliate the Colts, 31-17, including a fourth-quarter Peyton Manning pass interception which Saints cornerback Tracy Porter ran back for a touchdown.

But CBS, which broadcast this year's Super Bowl, also owes a big wet kiss to Mother Nature who had rendered millions of potential viewers housebound Sunday night with a weekend snowstorm that buried the mid-Atlantic region. A record 32.4 inches fell on Dulles International Airport over two days.

The heavy snow across mid-Atlantic -- including Washington D.C. -- prevented people from going to someone else's house -- or, better yet, to a sports bar -- to watch the game. Sunday's game may not actually have attracted more viewers than last year's game -- just more miserable ones. Or, if you prefer, more "at-home" ones. Nielsen still does not clock out-of home viewing in its daily numbers, notes well-known TV analyst Steve Sternberg.

Pretend these are important TV stories about the Super Bowl we've just posted on the blog:

Animal Planet reveals Puppy Bowl's startling lineup.

and:

We like to think of the We Saved the Best For Last auditions night as "American Idol's" way of saying "the joke's on you" to all those die-hard fans who've slogged through the eight-ish hours of cross-country auditions the singing competition Fox has aired so far.

But first, " 'Idol' has to play catch-up on the General Larry Plant phenom. Mister Pants on the Ground is the only wanna-be Idolette anyone's talking about so far this season. Is that sad? "Idol" introduced him to America and now shows us some of the people who have been covering his tune since.

First best-for-last wannabe Idolette, Jessica Furney chooses to sing "Footprints in the Sand," which sounds like one of those glutinous tunes 'Idol' judge Simon Cowell would mock -- except he co-wrote this one, which shocks guest judge Posh Spice. Simon, naturally, loves it and everyone else falls into line.

Amanda Shectman has the ability to talk with her mouth closed but not in some lame ventriloquist way. Her mouth is really most sincerely closed. But Amanda does not intend to make a career out of this remarkable talent -- she's Hollywood bound because "singing is what I love to do, man!" she emotes when the judges stop to think what this season will be like if this drama queen catches on with viewers.

"I just want to let my voice shine through -- this is a dream come true for me," she gushes when she gets her golden ticket to Hollywood. Amanda has been cast as this season's most annoying Idolette.

Very briefly, we see Lee Dewyze perform adequately and Crystal Bowersox perform well with her guitar around her neck for security.

The executive producer in charge of useless montages at 19 Entertainment has outdone himself with a Fake Out segment, in which we see the many, many ways people hide their golden tickets as they walk out of the audition room and into the hallway where their loved ones are waiting. OMG -- not under his shirt! " 'Idol' just wouldn't be 'Idol' without the Fake Out," exclaims host Ryan Seacrest.

Lacy Brown made it to the Top 50 last season but got the hook in Hollywood. This time, she sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" which ought to be banned from all TV talent competitions forever. The judges put her through to Hollywood again anyway, no doubt to make amends for having cut her last season to make way for Megan Joy -- how embarrassing!

Stephanie Fisher auditioned unsuccessfully seven times previous and brings her total to eight this season though, on the bright side, she does get to hug her own idol, Posh Spice, who is one of the celebrities to have played Pretend Paula this season.

One short medley of other people we've already forgotten about, who make it to Hollywood, and a melange of athletes who've tried out later, we're ready to mock the 6-foot-eight Adrian Chandtchi, who explains he's a "beautiful man-flower" and sings "Fools Rush In" like a girl. "There's a small schoolboy trapped inside you," judge Kara DioGuardi says. "Or, you've eaten one," snaps Simon.

Personal trainer Michael Lynche is the doting father of gimongous arms -- he loves them like sons, and refers to them as his "guns" -- and has an actual baby on the way. He emotes his way through "Unchained Melody" before heading to Hollywood.

Didi Benami is auditioning in memory of her dear, dead friend, Rebecca -- which gets her a big thumbs up from horny-hoodied Avril Lavigne and the other judges.

Aaron Kelly got a rough start in life until his aunt adopted him and how he hopes he can be a role model. He sings a Miley Cyrus tune but gets through on the back of his back-story. Wait a minute! They promise this episode was going to be about great singers who got lost in all the treacly back-stories in earlier auditions episodes!

Kimberly Bishop is talentless but, dressed in a very short slip which she keeps pawing at while trying to sing, provides us with what we think may be the first use of the "American Idol" logo to pixilate a chick's crotch. Sadly, she does not get through to Hollywood and one step closer to stardom, because she had promised to us her fame to help with recycling and reducing poverty in Africa.

Adorable Shaddall Harris is doted on by her mom, who tells Seabiscuit she had a dream in which her daughter becomes a singing sensation on the show. But instead of turning out to be one of "American Idol's" trademark treacly segments, she turns out to be quite tone deaf. Did not see that one coming.

And, finally, pretty Hope Johnson grew up so poor she had to bring home school lunches to slip to her hungry little brother at dinner. She says she did realize how poor her family was because she thought other children did not have dinner. Her performance is one of the evening's best -- so good in fact it gets a "yeah" out of guest-judge Joe Jonas. JJ is either dumb as hair or has a speaking vocal range that is so high it cannot be heard by the human ear, because he uttered virtually no words during his entire Pretend Paula performance.

Hollywood Week -- and Ellen DeGeneres -- coming right up.

[this entry has been updated]

First, the good news: For the first time ever, a "Lost" season debut grew compared to the previous season debut.

Now, the bad news: Though "Lost"-natics know this is the show's very last season, Tuesday's opening crowd of 12.086 million viewers (preliminary) is the second-smallest season debut ever. It only snared about 600,000 more viewers than had last year's worst-ever debut audience. Three other scripted dramas attracted more people Tuesday night -- all CBS: "NCIS," "NCIS: Los Angeles," and "The Good Wife."

You can see for yourself. Here is the "Lost" debut track:

LOST Wed 9/22/2004 8:00 PM 18,653,000

LOST Wed 9/21/2005 9:00 PM 23,419,000

LOST Wed 10/4/2006 9:00 PM 18,840,000

LOST Thu 1/31/2008 9:00 PM 16,197,000

LOST Wed 1/21/2009 9:00 PM 11,465,000

LOST Tue 2/2/2010 9:00 PM 12,090,000

Victoria Beckham has been asked to rejoin "American Idol" auditions in Denver to reprise her role as Pretend Paula, even though she did a lame job last time.Why not more Neil Patrick Harris? How about a Fox sitcom star instead? Seth MacFarlane? Brad Garrett?

Denver's "Bikini Boy" Ty Hemmerling. (Michael Becker -- Fox)

Wannabe Idolette Mark Labriola says he gets mistaken for Jack Black at least once a day but he's okay with that because he's sure Jack Black "gets girls." He tells the judges he loves cheese when asked to name one interesting thing about himself. Yeah, this guy's a total chick magnet. He mentions his mother allegedly abducted him when he was just four years old and he spent six years on the lam -- which apparently he doesn't think is as interesting as his love of cheese. The judges are so relieved he didn't audition like Jack Black they put him through to Hollywood. Labriola, who is a dad, tells the camera, with his little son in his arms, that he's 28 and has this child so he thought his "dream was done." Hopefully, the tot is not old enough to understand his father just dissed him on national TV.

We move into a montage of anxious contestants, winding up with Mario Galvin, who is a nicotine addiction counselor and has a nervous laugh. Mario is nervous that he's auditioning for "American Idol" on national TV -- go figure. The 'Idol' judges find his tick hysterical.

Show host Ryan Seacrest notes the air is "always clean" in Denver, which is inaccurate, but the best they could come up with by way of introducing an expletive-laden montage which ends when an upset wannabe Idolette tries to escape the camera but cannot squeeze her fat self through the tiny space that separates her from a getaway. Nice touch, 'Idol.' Am I the only one noticing we're not seeing so much of Ryan during the auditions portion of this season? Do you too wonder what was the focus group testing that led them to make that programming call?

Kimberly Kerbow has an adorable little daughter, and sings a tune about buying judge Simon Cowell some hair restoring product when he starts going bald. Simon wonders why she's a single mum -- not. Posh wonders why Kimberly is wearing the world's cheapest looking wig. We wonder when a tune was written about buying Rogaine for Simon Cowell.

Denver is thick with tuneful single moms, also including Danielle Hayes, who begins to weep as she explains how hard it is to support herself and her three-year-old son with the income she gets hosting something called "live karaoke" and singing in bars, casinos, and at corporate parties.

Simon declares her "almost broken" but judge Kara DioGuardi loves that Danielle wears her heart on her sleeve.

Casey James was in a motorcycle accident when he was 21 and the doctor said he would never play guitar again. He looks like a poor man's Jason Lewis -- you know, Kim Catrall's boyfriend on "Sex and the City"? Anyway, his audition is mediocre and, not surprisingly, Posh decides she can't weigh in on Casey's singing abilities until she sees him with his long blonde hair let loose from a ponytail. He lets his hair down. Kara can't decide whether he can sing until his shirt is unbuttoned. He takes it off. Posh declares his voice to be "good." Simon tells Casey he's going to be embarrassed when he sees this footage on TV. But the judges convince Randy to send Casey to Hollywood.

Tori Kelly shows up with little Hope Starr but since Tori is only 16 we're hoping Hope is not her daughter. Hope has drawn pictures of the "Idol" judges which charm the judges. Tori has an annoying voice which Simon notes, adding she looks like a human orange. But Posh likes her "whole package" and calls hers the "best voice today." Simon has decided to plow this show under by leaving to launch "The X Factor" and so doesn't waste any breath arguing with Posh, instead spends time getting little Hope to autograph his picture and kissing her.

Austin Paul, who says he's from Washington, D.C. and is a student at the University of Colorado, has it all, he explains -- singer, performer and football player. He says making it to Hollywood on "American Idol" is No. 42 on his list of things he wants to do before he dies. His falsetto singing voice is "just one of the tricks" he has up his sleeve, he tells the judges. Though he's good looking, Kara decides - before even asking him to take his shirt off -- that she hates his whole "grabbing his pecs thing" and the lyrics to his tune - something about being bigger than his body." Posh, likewise does not ask him to disrobe before telling him the "bigger than my body" lyrics left her "a little itchy." Austin is stunned, telling Simon he would be a "really good story."

Kenny Everett, a self-anointed "male Mary J. Blige," sings because it's a service to the community, he tells the "Idol" camera. This can only mean he's terrible. Simon accurately describes his performance as the screaming of a man who'd been punched. The other judges follow Simon's line of thinking. "How can four people tell you you can't sing and you know you're a good singer?" Kenny asks the camera, adding, "Something has to be up with that."

A medley of lousy auditions include someone who's voice is so high and piercing Simon tells her she just killed very cat in Denver.

Nicci Nix came all the way from Florence Italy to audition. Wait, isn't this "American Idol"? She has a helium speaking voice, a mercifully lower singing voice and a super-shiny face which Posh mistakes for "beautiful skin." Which means "yes" in Posh-speak; the other judges vote "a million percent yes," "a thousand percent yes" and "yes." She's Hollywood bound.

Cute Haeley Vaughn tells the camera she was a "miracle child" having been born months premature and losing her father when she was just 10. She has aspirations of being the "first black pop country mainstream singer." Randy votes "a hundred million percent yes" to having Haeley go to Hollywood; the other judges are slightly less hysterically enthusiastic but vote to send her to the next round of competition.

And, finally, Ty Hemmerling comes out dressed as Bikini Boy - an homage to last year's Bikini Girl. The judges stand up and leave the room.

"That's kind of rude" Hemmerling says, as he stands in the audition room, in his bikini. We see him scratch his bikini-ed butt.

"Survivor" executive producer Mark Burnett's new reality series -- in which people are granted their dying wishes -- handed in its dinner pail, kicked the bucket, bit the dust, cashed in its chips, and bought the farm, Thursday when the pilot episode and clocked CBS's smallest audience for an original episode of, oh, anything in the Thursday 8 p.m. timeslot during a TV season since 1991.

Only about 4.6 million people could bear to watch the first of what Burnett had no doubt hoped would be many episodes of "Live for the Moment." You may remember it was originally called "Live Like You're Dying" which we liked so much better, but we're guessing fell victim to some focus group, or advertiser, or network suit who decided that name was too creep-inducing.

As, apparently, was the program itself, even though it had things going for it -- things like having America's Sweetheart/Emmy Award winning Jeff Probst serve as its host, and running in Burnett's "Survivor" timeslot.

Based on the numbers, it appears there is something about the spectacle of a 41-year-old suburban Colorado dad to two young boys, who is stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease, riding in a fighter jet and skiing with his former college roommate, that takes from 50 to 60 percent off the entertainment value of a reality series.

Who knew?

Leno today making his pilgrimage to the first Station of the Cross on his road to redemption before NBC re-anoints him host of "The Tonight Show." First stop is always Oprah. Really -- it's a rule. Anyway, lucky people who live in Chicago will get to see it first because Oprah's syndicated show airs there at 9 a.m. CST. Here in Washington, we can't see it until 4 p.m. EST. But Oprah's camp, Harpo Productions, tossed us a meager scrap that's supposed to tide us over until 4 (or until the plucky Associated Press reporter in Chicago files a report -- or some plucky reporter at the ABC station in Chicago, which has the broadcast rights to "Oprah" in the Windy City).

Here's the scrap:

Oprah: Have you talked to Conan in person? 
Leno: I haven't talked to him through all this.  No. I haven't.
Oprah: Did you want to pick up the phone?
Leno: Yeah, but it didn't seem appropriate.
Oprah: Why?
Leno: I don't know. I think it...let things cool down and maybe we'll talk, you know.
Oprah: Were any of the things that he said about you hurtful?
Leno: No.  They were jokes. And that's OK. I mean...
Oprah: So jokes don't hurt you.
Leno: It's what we do, you know? You can't...it's like being a fighter and say when you got punched in the head, did it hurt? Well, yeah. But you're a fighter. That's what you do.

Note: Lisa de Moraes is recovering from the collision of the Winter TV Press Tour and NBC/Conan debacle, and will be back next week. In the meantime, WaPo Team TV member Emily Yahr recaps the Dallas auditions:

At the beginning of the Dallas auditions, Ryan Seacrest reminds us that the city has been home to several memorable "American Idol" moments, including Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson's first audition, and the image of Paula Abdul breaking it down to Renaldo Lapuz's "We're Brothers Forever."

A vision in pink, Dallas auditioner Vanessa Johnston. (Michael Becker -- Fox)

And after Wednesday night, we learn the city will soon have one more distinction: The unique honor of having both the very best guest judge and the very worst guest judge in 'Idol' history.

Kara DioGuardi tells the camera that Guest Judge #1, Neil Patrick Harris, has been in the business since he was just a tween on "Doogie Howser, M.D." "My goal today is to shatter the dreams of thousands," NPH says, making us love him more than we thought possible. "If I can make two, three dozen people cry, I feel like I've done my job."

He won't have to wait very long. Julie Kevelighan, 28, auditioned eight seasons ago and is back in a blue sparkly dress with a lace napkin sewn on the front, and a sign that proclaims "This is My Year." She badly butchers Alannah Myles' "Black Velvet," and the judges ask her to please stop singing. She ignores them and continues with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Something to Talk About" until she and her poster board are escorted off the premises.

Lloyd "Big Succsexy" Thomas, 29, starts to do the robot, but the intro package takes a somber turn when he starts talking about his rough childhood. Lloyd sings "Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder, and Kara marvels over the fact that he's a dock worker with a wonderful voice. NPH advises him to be flashier, but they all like him and he's going to Hollywood.

Lloyd is followed by a montage of the "showdown" between NPH and Simon Cowell. NPH has the nerve to actually disagree with Simon, and naturally, he doesn't take too kindly to an adversary. "Don't I get to say anything? Geez Louise, you invite a guest judge on..." NPH mutters at one point.

Twenty-six-year-old Kimberly Carver sings an original song, and Simon deals the ultimate blow -- she doesn't seem "current." NPH and Kara disagree. "The voice would draw me in, and this is a singing competition," the observant Randy Jackson pipes up. She receives a golden ticket.

The good contestant streak stops at Dexter Ward, 20, singing Boys II Men's "If I Ever Fall in Love Again." NPH, who can say more with raised eyebrows than Randy Jackson can by, well, speaking, advises Dexter that "singing's not for you." Simon tries to console him by saying his smile will take him far in life, but it doesn't help as Dexter breaks down in tears.

Erica Rhodes, 23, starts out innocently enough, telling Ryan that she appeared on "Barney and Friends" as a small child, but that she wants to take a different approach with her audition. And by different approach, she means dressing up like a dominatrix in a pleather, formfitting miniskirt and spiked high heel boots, complete with a whip. Randy asks her to sing the Barney theme song, which is disturbing on about 10 different levels. "Oh, I'm getting the creeps," NPH says, as Randy tells her that "Barney would be so proud right now." Erica launches into a rendition of En Vogue's "Free Your Mind," and cracks her whip for emphasis. She explains, "I want people to know that Barney kids grow up..." NPH cuts her off: "To be dirty little girls!"

Best. Judge. Ever.

Anyway, she gets through to Hollywood, as does Dave Pittman, 27. Dave has Tourette Syndrome, but says it doesn't affect him when he sings. He belts out Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home to Me." NPH calls him "crazy brave," and he's through to the next round.

As NPH departs to shoot more "How I Met Your Mother" or host another award show, Joe Jonas (known as the Jonas Brother with the best hair) shows up. Apparently this is the JoBros' home town, which could explain why he's been invited. We soon discover it can't be for his eloquent judging abilities, given that the 20-year-old's most enthusiastic endorsement of any contestant is, "Yeah."

The first singer on the second day is Todrick Hall, 24, who sings an original song about all the judges. With lyrics like,"Sitting there like a bump on a log/Randy what I got to do to be your dawg?" (Hey, can he write the winner's single if Kara "No Boundaries" DioGuardi is suddenly unavailable?) the judges love him. Todrick gets a yes.

Two more singers, Dawntoya Thomason, 27, and Stephanie Daulong, 20, sail through. Joe utters a few more syllables. Twenty-year-old, blonde Maegan Wright, 20, shows up with a little brother who says and does cute things. She impresses the judges with "To Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan, and makes it through. Kara says based on her outfit alone (a blue tank top that says "Break the Rules," white shorts and flip flops), she thought Maegan was going to be a joke audition. Nice.

Vanessa Johnston, 22, dressed entirely in pink, brings the mood down with "At Last" by Etta James, which Simon compares to, "what his nightmares look and sound like." And on that note, Ryan spends a few minutes educating the "Idol" audience why Simon is always in such a sour mood -- he has to listen to some really, really bad auditions. And then complains into his millions and millions of dollars.

Sixteen-year-old Christian Spear wraps things up with the saddest story of the night, as she and her mother talk about how she was diagnosed with leukemia at age four, and been in remission for eight years. Christian wows the judges with Etta James' "All I Could Do Is Cry," and even Joe tells her she has a beautiful voice.

Next week, we're in the homestretch -- Victoria Beckham returns next Tuesday for the last audition city, Denver. And though she wasn't great in the premiere...anything will be better than Joe Jonas.

Note: Lisa de Moraes is recovering from the collision of the Winter TV Press Tour and NBC/Conan debacle, and will be back next week. In the meantime, WaPo Team TV member Emily Yahr recaps the Los Angeles auditions:

As an "American Idol" audition city, Los Angeles is always a mixed bag -- you never know whether you're going to get a polished professional who was this close to making it, or someone delusional enough to move to Hollywood to become a singing sensation. Out of 27 people that Ryan Seacrest alleges got golden tickets, we see a whopping five that make it through to Hollywood, and the most entertaining part is a mini-feud between Kara DioGuardi and guest judge Katy Perry.

Austin Fullmer goes all out at 'Idol's' Los Angeles auditions. (Michael Becker -- Fox)

Guest judge #1 Avril Lavigne arrives on the first day, wearing a hoodie that looks like a mix between Hello Kitty and the devil. The producers tout her young age -- a mere 25-years-old -- but she looks less-than-thrilled to be there.

Nineteen-year-old Neil Goldstein, whose hair randomly changes lengths throughout his audition package, proves he's introspective by drawing lipstick hearts on mirrors and gazing solemnly into them. He starts to sing Meat Loaf's "Rock N Roll Dreams Come True," but instantly forgets the words. Simon cackles and the judges start saying "no way." Neil refuses to go and proclaims "There is no reality but what we make for ourselves," which we thought was Thoreau, but a Google search reveals is from "Terminator." The judges threaten security and he leaves, but not before Avril purrs, "Awk-warrrrd."

Next up is Jim Ranger, 27, who is surrounded by cute children as he shows up for the audition -- which any "Idol" viewer knows instantly increases your chances. He sings an original song, and Seacrest explains to the small children waiting outside that it's a risky choice. The judges are iffy and Avril questions his time management skills. "You're married and have three children? And you're a pastor?" she asks scornfully, reminding him of all the travel involved with being a singer. Avril shoots him down, but the others say yes and he's through.

A few more horrific singers pass through before 26-year-old Damien Lefavor, who does some martial arts routines before launching into a version of the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" that sounds like he's going to be violently ill. Luckily, he's got a firmer grasp on reality than most contestants, and saves a few shreds of dignity by leaving before the judges have a chance to unanimously send him away.

Mary Powers, 28, is instantly likable, mostly because her 8-year-old daughter is a huge Simon Cowell fan who says her mom is going to "win and be on the top 14 or something." Mary sings Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield," and Avril loves her "raspy, punk rock" tone. Simon calls out Mary for being a walking Rocker Chick Cliche -- glittery black vest, black leather pants and tons of eyeliner -- but ultimately sends her through.

After a montage of Adam Lambert clones -- including A.J. Mendoza, 20, who sings like he's just finished a round of anesthesia at the denist -- and a few more scowls from Avril, day one is finished.

On the second day, Katy Perry of "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot N Cold" fame arrives, and wonders out loud why the judges are arriving to the auditions via helicopter. She's perhaps the first guest judge who doesn't play it cool, and is legitimately frightened when the first singer, 19-year-old Austin Fullmer, does a spastic dance routine on the ground while belting Cheap Trick's "Surrender," and is given a resounding "no." "Are they frisked before they come in here?" Katy asks.

The next contestant, Andrew Garcia, 23, talks about his parents both being involved with gangs, but how they wanted to give him a better life. It's a heartbreaking story, and fortunately, Andrew has a great voice. The judges love his version of Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning," and he sails through.

Pure, wholesome, 23-year-old Tasha Layton sings "Baby Baby Baby" by Joss Stone, and explains she's a personal assistant by day, and minister by night. How can the judges resist?

Way too much time is spent on Jason Greene 21, an intensely focused, terrible singer who is able to make the phrase "I'm a student" sound chilling. After a disturbing edition of "I Touch Myself" that includes writhing on the floor -- with shots of Kara and Randy singing along -- and a few sexual innuendos, Jason is dismissed.

And in the rare montage that is too short, Katy and Kara are shown disagreeing on almost everything. Kara, who's had quite the attitude this season, is smacked down repeatedly by Katy's dissenting opinions. "We used to be friends!" Kara exclaims, and bursts into a mocking version of "I Kissed a Girl." "Please stop. I'll have to throw my Coke in your face," Katy snaps.

Finally, Chris Golightly, 25, arrives as the last contestant. He has a very sad back story that includes many foster homes, along with a decent voice as he sings Ben E. King's "Stand By Me." Randy says he's "interesting." Kara starts to go on about how Chris has such a powerful story, Katy cuts her off with,"This is not a Lifetime movie, sweetheart," (Was that a slap at "The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairytale"?!) Before things can get really ugly, Randy, of all people, has to break things up and call for a vote. Chris is going to Hollywood.

As the episode draws to a close, Ryan Seacrest says 22 others made it through -- but apparently, are not interesting enough for reality TV.

White House Correspondents Association has picked this week's most unpopular stand-up comic Jay Leno be the keynote speaker at this year's White House Correspondents DInner.

An NBC rep confirmed the invitation to The TV Column.

In fairness, the association asked Leno weeks ago -- when he was just the host of a primetime show that was failing five nights a week.

But by the time he appears at the annual Washington bash, which the past few years has become a Hollywood Petting Zoo, Leno will be the guy who pushed Conan O'Brien out to become the newly returned host of NBC's "The Tonight Show." And the butt of pretty much every other talk show host's jokes for the past couple weeks.

(UPDATE:

Jay Leno, wasting no time on his Road to Late-Night Redemption, after successfully knocking off "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien, will make his pilgrimmage to the first of the Stations of the Cross -- Oprah Winfrey -- this coming Thursday. Oprah will say on her show today that she is flying to Los Angeles to interview Leno for her Thursday episode.)

In case you've missed the story, Leno retired from NBC's late-night show last year. But instead of spending more time with his cars, he hung around to help NBC with its Program to Margins campaign, and was given responsibility for doing the best darned 10 o'clock comedy show he could, so as to help out Conan O'Brien -- guy who had pushed him out of "The Tonight Show" gig -- by feeding Conan the biggest possible audience into the late night timeslot. That didn't go so well -- imagine!

NBC suits responded by announcing a demotion for Conan -- his "Tonight" was being moved and would, instead of starting at 11:30 p.m., start the next morning, so that they could give Jay back his old 11:35 p.m. "Tonight Show" start time. Conan refused and now Jay's got "The Tonight Show" back. And that, pookie, is how things are done in Hollywood.

Here's what Jay had to say on his soon-to-be-ex primetime show Thursday, about NBC's announcement that day that it had wrapped up a deal to show Conan the door:

"NBC and Conan O'Brien made an announcement earlier today as many of you know Conan is leaving the network. His final show airs tomorrow night.

"I have chosen to stay on the Titanic. I don't believe the iceberg is that big, the biggest ship, this ship will never sink and Kev...when it does, Kev as it's sinking you will play us...you'll be here for us so. Apparently we'll be back on 'The Tonight Show' March first after the Olympics, so that's pretty much where we are."