Now if you have been following the pre-Idol news recently there has already been talk about the changes for this season... less celebrity mentors, more in depth coverage of the Idol's personal lives, contestants being able to use instruments during the Hollywood round.

So, I wont bore you with more of the same but I I can reveal that Idol will be getting a new set this year. Simon spilled the beans during a conference call with reporters today but didn't give any details. In the past few years they have typically made tweaks to the set that most viewers would not really notice. However, this year, I've learned from a show source that the change will be "drastic."

I do know that, like us here at Accesshollywood.com, their website www.americanidol.com, got a face lift too!

Meanwhile, Simon had lots more to say today on topics ranging from Hilary Clinton to Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis' less than stellar record debuts to his brutal take on Fantasia's brother auditioning.

On When He Will Leave The Show : "Nothing is going to last forever. I think the exit point to a point is determined by the public who eventually are going get sick to death of me if they haven’t already. I’ve always in my mind kind of thought I would go up until the end of my contract which would mean two more seasons after this one which would have made it nine in total and nine years is probably enough to inflict on anyone. So, that’s what I have sort of got in my mind. Can the show exist without me? Absolutely. It would probably get better."

On How The Writer's Strike Will Affect The Ratings: "I don't think its going to have as big an impact as people have said - mainly because people have still got a choice to watch other channels and we have to be making a better show this year than we did this year than last year - and that's the only reason that we are going to either gain or lose viewers."

On Fantasia's Brother Ricco's audition - "He was terrible. Absolutely dreadful... he can't sing. I remember [thinking] 'oh great Fantasias brother has come in' and it was all fantastic until he started singing and then I think we disputed the fact that he really was Fantasia's brother because he hasn't got his sisters talent."

On Dealing With Bad Singers After Seven Years: "It is becoming increasingly like torture. It has got harder over the years. What’s amazing even after seven years - and we have had some shockingly bad people this year - is how they still believe that they are right and I am wrong. And they got more argumentative with me this year and all I'm doing is trying to help them."

On Picking An Early Winner: "I can't call out a winner. At this stage in my mind I think I have an idea of who will make the finals."

On Hillary Clinton Getting Tear Eyed During A New Hampshire Press Conference: "It didn’t do it her any harm did it. I always say tears on 'American Idol' never do the contestants any harm and I don’t think its done her any harm either."

Don't forget "American Idol" Season Seven Premieres on Tuesday, January 15th!

So, I too will be hopping on a treadmill with the masses and trying to keep my New Year's Resolution to get in shape and shed ten pounds by April. Did you know that only 1 percent of people who make resolutions actually keep them?

In order to not be part of the 99 percent failure rate, I've decided that while at the gym I'm going to use the brand new Biggest Loser contestants as inspiration. Season five started last night on NBC with the reveal of 20 new contestants, this time paired together as couples. While we were shoving our faces with Halloween candy, Thanksgiving stuffing and Holiday cookies they have been at the ranch working their tails off to lose the weight since October.

I awakened today to two pieces of urgent news:

1) Early this morning, another of Young Hollywood's elite, Mischa Barton, was arrested on Suspicion of DUI charges and driving without a valid license, and…

2) Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan was assassinated in a suicide attack, sending shock waves of rioting through a country already in the midst of nuclear instability.

Guess which story I've been spending most of my day on?

If you guessed "Mischa," you're correct!

Mischa… Mischa… Mischa … in the words of Jay Leno, "What the hell were you thinking?"

Your hit show's been cancelled, your career is at a stand-still and now you choose to jump on the DUI bandwagon?!

Looking back on 2007, this was the year when going to jail on illegal driving-related charges has been in vogue – Lindsay, Paris, Nicole, Kiefer, Michelle… the list goes on and on.

And what's truly frightening is how much these antics have kept these celebrities in the news!

Haven't been on the front pages of Celebrity Web sites lately? Heck! Get a DUI! You'll be right back up there with the rest of the pack.

The truth is – there are a LOT more important stories happening out there in Hollywood … and, of course, there are also more important stories out there in the world.

And here at Access, we strive to bring you the great stories from Hollywood. It's what we do! We're passionate about entertainment, celebrities and their projects.

Celebrity & entertainment news is popular because it provides escapism and fun. When it focuses exclusively on the nasty and dirty side of Hollywood -- at least for me -- it loses that sense of fun.

Sure, we'll always cover the Mischa news that happens in this town, but we'll also bring you the great stories that are happening – like Farrah Fawcett's successes in her battle against cancer, Garth Brooks' work with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and last night's super-inspirational story with Tara Llanes.

Mischa, you might get a quick hit at the top of our news headlines for a short period today, but in the long-term, your story isn't going to take you the distance in this town.

It's days like today when I love my job most. Being a reporter can, at times, give me tremendous perspective. I travel the globe to interview all different types of people, experiencing all different kinds of things: from my conversation with the health minister of South Africa about the growing AIDS crisis, to Michael J. Fox and his battle with Parkinson’s, to… Tara Llanes.

I recently interviewed Tara Llanes, a professional biker who was at the top of her game until a terrible crash on September 1, 2007 took her legs right out from underneath her. Before the crash she was a celebrity to the sport, posing in Maxim magazine, in ads for Subaru, AT&T, a beautiful, smart and determined athlete. I visited her at Craig’s Hospital -- a world-renowned hospital for spinal cord injuries. I saw so many people whose lives changed in an instant. Fifty percent of them were there because of car crashes. Second to car crashes was falls (as simple as a flight of stairs for one 15-year-old) and lastly, athletic accidents. I saw people that could only use their mouths to communicate or move. Tara is luckier than those, for sure, as she still has the power of her upper body.

Truly a moving day and a reminder of how lucky all of us are to be healthy and able to see and walk. I kept holding back the tears in this facility. Tomorrow, it could be you or I in there. Someone texting or talking on a cell phone while driving could cause a wreck. We could easily trip and fall down some stairs. Even the smallest luxuries, like having the ability to go to the bathroom alone, would be gone.

As sad as I am, I am inspired by Tara. She has an amazing spirit. The competitor in her is determined to walk again, and ride. She is fearless and hysterical, cracking jokes and even mooning our cameraman in the pool! Ha!! She has a wonderful network of family and friends helping her along the way as well as an amazing outpouring of support from strangers who hear about her story. When she told me of the strangers who had helped along the way, it reminded me of how wonderful people can be. And THAT brought me to tears!

She is learning everything from how to move around her house, to going through security at airports, to driving - all the basics of independence. You’d be surprised how difficult things get when your home isn’t equipped with wheelchair accessible bathrooms etc. Tara described being at the rehab center as a bubble, everything is made to make it easy on them. Well… home life will be an entirely different story. Hopefully, the support will keep coming Tara’s way until she can fully recover.

If you have some time, take a peek at her Web site. Donations to her medical costs can be made there or maybe you can even just send her an email -- she loooves them -- and they totally help.

My job is to report on stories of interest or importance - I hope that I also can give you the feeling of having been right there with me to see what I saw, because what I saw was a girl who was just like me or you, who one day, suddenly, had her life turned upside down. It could happen to any of us. I wouldn’t want anyone to have to wait until it hits close to home to feel for someone in her case, or remember that there is a lot of pain and suffering out there in the world and far worse situations than the ones we may be complaining about at any given moment.

I am just drained. I have been working nonstop taping extra shows, anchoring, doing interviews AND Christmas shopping for family, friends, and co-workers. I had gotten in late last night but, somehow, I was able to get all the presents wrapped for my colleagues on the show, pack them into my trunk so I could pass them out at the office early this morning. Our studio is decorated to look so pretty and when I drift away, wishing for a little bit of sleep, I look at the beautiful pink and white poinsettias lining the wall, the huge white wreath glowing with balls of sea foam green, mauve, and lavender, the white garland wrapped in small white lights over the archway, and the snow gently piled next to the window near the 3-foot nutcrackers and Christmas trees - Joe and James, our show’s art directors - are so talented.

“Two minutes, Shaun, two minutes!” Our fill-in stage manager, Johnnie says to me indicating that I have to get up again to lead-in to the next story on the show. I dread leaving the warmth of the 4 heaters the crew has set up for me.

Usually, it’s near cold enough on our set to actually snow (the average temperature being about 45-to-50-degrees). Not great for gals who want to wear cute short sleeved dresses and open-toed shoes. My feet are tired from standing so long. Every moment I get, I kick off my 4-inch sandals, and slip on the white furry Ugg slippers that my makeup artist, Valerie, gave me today. They are sooo comfortable!

There has been so much going on during a normally slow period in the entertainment news world. Our studio is across the hall from, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” On any day, I would bump into their staff, or guests like Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, even Jay himself every so often. But with the writer’s strike, the stage is dark and the halls are empty. It’s lonelier here without them. Now, comes word that “The Tonight Show” will start new shows, strike or no strike, January 2nd. It will be good to see them again, but we’re all still hoping an agreement will bring the writers back to work.

The gang at “Tonight” usually asks us what we are reporting on the show that day. No doubt, we would all be in deep debate about what has the country- black and white, young and old, all up-in-arms nowadays - the suddenly announced pregnancy of 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney Spears little sister and star of Nickeleon’s “Zoey 101.” “What To Tell Your Kids About Teen Sex and Teen Pregnancy!” the headlines blare. Interesting, how it’s NOW an issue.

“40 SECONDS, Shaun!” fill-in Johnny says from across the studio.

I kick off my UGGS, put on my sandals, take another sip of hot tea and begin to move.

I think about our hiatus and get happy. I love my job but taking a break from all the celebrity news is a wonderful respite. My dad will be here visiting from Detroit and we always have a blast together. My producer has given me DVD screenings of “Atonement,” “Juno,” and “No Country for Old Men,” all Golden Globe must-sees.

Dad and I love just chilling and watching movies and we’ll hang in front of the fire, me with my hot apple cider and Dad with his, well, let’s just say “Dad ain’t down for no cider.”

Just the thought makes this studio warm up!

I’m wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that you are sharing it with the people you love.

Peace,

Shaun

9. 'The 4400'
My heart was absolutely broken yesterday when I learned that USA would not move forward with a season five. After a slow start, this sci-fi show that “Heroes” owes much of its ‘ordinary people with abilities’ storylines too, ramped up this season with a terrific twist that saw NTAC agent Tom Baldwin turning bad and taking on 'savior' Jordan Collier. Unfortunately, now it seems we will never know why the 4400 were taken in the first place and what will become of the future. Let’s hope USA whips up one of those movies of the weeks to wrap things up for us one day. Sidenote: I saw Joel Gretsch having dinner in Beverly Hills last night and thought about tackling him to discuss my anger but a cooler head prevailed.

7. 'Heroes'
Yes, I know that many people were disappointed with season two of NBC’s best show of 2006. Yes, too much time was spent with Hiro Nakamura in Japan. Yes, Peter’s Irish brood wasn’t that interesting. Yes, the addition of Maya and her brother seemed like a waste of time, but I still found myself glued to the tube whenever the Heroes came around. I hope Adam Monroe finds a way to dig himself out of that coffin. I’d be up for a showdown between he and Sylar or better yet… if they'd team up.

6. 'Nip/Tuck'
The nearly year long wait for season five was definitely worth it. The docs of McNamara/Troy moving their practice from Miami to Los Angeles has given this show brand new life. As if having to weed through the shark infested waters of LA isn’t tough enough, now Sean and Christian are finally coming to terms with the fact that they are forty-something's in a twenty-something world. This week’s episode finally showed that Christian has the capacity to truly love someone, which after four seasons of watching his unending sexual escapades, feels like exactly the right time. Bad girl Eden (http://www.accesshollywood.com/specials/accessdiscovers/index.shtml) is by the far the best new villain on TV this year.

5. 'Gossip Girl'
Spotted - LS watching my guilty pleasure of 2007, yet another soapy drama with twenty year olds playing horny teenagers. My time spent in high school was much less interesting, which is probably why I love these types of shows. Serena and Blair are the best frenemies since Paris and Nicole. - XOXO Dish of Salt

4. 'Weeds'
Even Mary Kate Olsen’s guest spot couldn’t ruin yet another season of this hilarious Showtime comedy about marijuana dealing widowed mom Nancy Botwin. Nothing beats last year's romantic teaming of Elizabeth Perkins' delightfully bitchy Celia and Kevin Nealon’s pot-loving accountant Doug, which is why it’s slipped out of my number one spot from 2006. If only drug dealer U-Turn would have bit the bullet a little bit earlier, it would have made it higher on the list this year.

3. 'Friday Night Lights'
Last year, this show was at top of many critics' lists as the best show of 2006. I watched it, liked it but just couldn’t get into it. A show about football? No thanks. Then I spent hours on a plane back and forth to the east coast, watching season one episodes back to back, and wound up falling in love with the Dillon Panthers. 'FNL' is everything 'Gossip Girl' is not… relatable, true to life and not really about football at all. Finally, this season the show lives on the night it should -- Friday Nights. Hopefully, NBC will not bench this show anytime soon and more people will tune in so they won't have to concoct ratings ploys storylines like Landry's accidental rapist killing nonsense. This show is too good for that.

2. 'Jericho'
While Jack Bauer’s “24” hours were getting stale after six seasons, in came this gripping show about what would happen to the U.S. after a nuclear attack. Conspiracies, sharp twists and turns and not a CTU agent in site! By the end of the season with food becoming scarce and the U.S. in shambles, Civil War had broken out between neighboring towns Jericho and New Bern - giving us an interesting glimpse into how our own Civil War between the North and the South could have happened. CBS cancelled this show and fans rallied behind it by sending shipments of nuts to save the show and it worked. Buy the DVD. Catch up and join us when we watch the seven new episodes and hope for more.

1. 'Desperate Housewives'

The most disappointing show of 2006 has turned itself around this season and now makes it to the top of my list. It’s the only show I watched religiously on the night, at the time it originally aired. Gabrielle and Carlo’s secret affair, Mike’s drug problem, the new gay neighbors, Bree’s fake pregnancy … all were classic Wisteria Lane fare, but the addition of Dana Delaney’s new/old neighbor Katherine Mayfair brought new life to the street. Let’s hope that tornado didn’t destroy a good thing and the show keeps up its wicked Wisteria ways.

Honorable Mention: "Dancing with The Stars"/"American Idol" (Yes, I still love these two reality powerhouses.)

Shows I Hear Are Worth Watching But Didn’t Have Time Too: “Mad Men”, “Damages”, “Saving Grace”, "House" and "Brothers and Sisters."

Shows I Like But Didn’t Get To Watch This Season And Are Still Sitting On My DVR: “30 Rock”, “Scrubs”

Show I Like But Lost It’s Steam This Season: “Grey’s Anatomy”

Show I Like That Lost It's Steam But Redeemed Itself In The Finale And Now I Can't Wait For: "Lost"

Show With The Worst Sophomore Slump: “Ugly Betty”

Show That Got Whacked Too Soon: "The Sopranos"

Show I Like But No One Else Seems To Watch: “Dirt”

Show That Is Most In Need Of Being Cancelled: “The Bachelor”

Show That Will Hopefully Go On Forever Like "The Simpsons": “Family Guy”

AND FINALLY,

The Worst Show Of 2007: "Viva Laughlin" (which I delightfully nicknamed Viva Awfulin)

Happy Holidays! Thanks for all your hits this year.

I'll be back with new Dish in January!

The show, in all of its makeover madness, is right up there on my craziest TV moments of 2007. But since it just happened, I won't add it to the list. Instead I'll just count down my Top Ten most bizarre, most laughable, most ridiculous and most intense moments in television this year (up until last night!).

10. Meredith Flat lines [And So Does Season Four] On "Grey's Anatomy."
What was one of my favorite shows last year has now become one of my least favorite shows. It all started when Dr. Grey nearly kicked the bucket after falling into the water last February. Along comes McDreamy to save the day - butc after the weak storylines this year, and the chemistry lacking pairing of George and Izzie, it might have been better if he put Meredith [and all of us] out of our misery.

9. Nancy Burns Down Her Own House On "Weeds"
What is a suburban pot dealing, widowed mother of two to do when her entire world is falling to pieces? Well, at least in Nancy Botwin's, case she sets her own home ablaze.

8. Rosie vs. Elizabeth
Who doesn't love a good catfight between politicians? Wait a minute…that's not what happened at all. Instead it was a right wing/left wing feud between two co-workers on a national daytime TV show. Clearly, there were others issues bubbling under the surface for such a heated argument to come to a head like that. Rosie left the show that day and never came back.

7. Marie Osmond Collapses
It's always hard to pick the wildest reality show moment, but this year it was easy. She made it all the way through her Samba but just as the judges were hitting her with their critiques, Marie suddenly collapses to the floor. She claims her fainting spell was due to allergies from all the recent fires, but there are still some who believe it was staged by Marie and her camp.

4. Did Lynette Lose Her Entire Family on "Desperate Housewives"?
A TV moment worthy of a season finale… but no... it was just two weeks ago when we watched Wisteria Lane get demolished by a tornado. The final scene in which Lynette realizes that the home of Mrs. McClusky, where Tom and their five kids were riding out the storm in the basement, had been destroyed, was by far the most shocking and gut wrenching moment on TV this year. We do know at least some of them survive, since creator Marc Cherry has hinted that two or three people will lose their lives after the storm. No mention of a family of six.

3. "Lost's" Flash Forward
Proof you can't believe everything you see on "Lost" came to a head on the May 23rd Season Three finale this year, when it was revealed at the very end that the customary flash back storyline (that have been used in every episode to date) was actually a flash forward. Jack and Kate eventually get off the island... but at what cost? It looks like we will learn the answers to that soon.

2. Britney's Career Comeback Stumble
What can you even say ya'll about Spears' embarrassing performance at the "VMA's" - that the entire world already hasn't?!

1. "The Sopranos" black out
If every home in America tuned into HBO adjusting their cable box (during the final moments of the series finale) to see why the hell their screen went to black doesn't qualify as the craziest moment of the year... then I need to get out of this business.

I am shocked, floored, stunned, depressed, bitter, sad but mostly disheartened with the last name Spears.

What is nagging at me the most is the fact that OK! Magazine is rolling out this story. More than any other outlet, OK! routinely pays celebrities for access to their personal life. They usually are very positive in tone and I do not blame them at all for their pay to play approach - it works.

But if OK! paid, then little Jamie Lynn and her camp (which should be one person dealing with Tiger Beat a few times a month) had the instinct to profit at a moment like this.

A sixteen-year-old girl, a baby herself, totally ill equipped to raise a child and become a mother, gets pregnant and already opportunism strikes? It would be a product of what I view as the growing underbelly of Hollywood.

If Page Six is right and the other night Jamie Lynn and her mom went to see a screening of “Juno” (an Oscar caliber movie about a 16 year old who gets pregnant, has the child and gives her to a much more mature, barren older woman) might that mean she's researching that same option? If so, how mature, but still very sad.

Again, who thinks to SELL the story at a time like this? I hope not Jamie Lynn. If so, they could all stand to return to Louisiana for good.

I have three daughters...the oldest is nine...she has seen “Zoey 101”, Jamie Lynn's TV show. I have no doubt she will know about this debacle somehow. Those girls in her school know way too much. A lot of their parents, in the entertainment business, will probably talk about it with them. I'm not really happy about it.

I feel like these too famous, too young girls (mostly) in Hollywood do little other than pull the average age of "knowing too much" lower all the time.

Miley Cyrus... save us. You’re too young to be expected to lead, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I'm counting on her. A real talent with strong family and faith.

It’s late. I'm tired. I need sleep so I can brace myself for the months and years of double the amount of "Spears News" ahead.

God Bless little Jamie Lynn and her baby. And please help her.

I kind of have mixed feelings about the return of the story of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 on January 31st, 2008. First of all, I'm annoyed that ABC moved the show last year to February so that they could run the back 16 episodes continuously -- worst decision ever by a network Entertainment President!

Having to wait all that time for it to return, the show lost (pun intended) a ton of momentum. Season three started out pretty weak, with too much time spent on the Others. But then it fortunately built to a brilliant flash forward crescendo in the season three finale.

It's clearly not just me who is excited for "Lost's" return. Have you seen the brand new 1:45 minute trailer that has hit the Internet with a tease for the new season? It's good. Really good. Goose bump inducing good.

"Did you see Jack's dad (Christian Shephard) in the cabin?"

"Is that a reflection of a city in the end titles?"

"Did I see Naomi alive?"

"Is Hurley going to die?"

Personally, I don't have time to pick it apart like that, but it sure did get me pumped up for it to come back on January 31st (moving from Wednesday to Thursday nights).

So, why the mixed feelings you ask? Well, the problem is that we only have eight episodes to delve back into the mysteries of the Islands. That's all that had been produced before the strike hit.

How can they tease us with such juicy footage knowing they can't deliver any real answers in eight episodes? Just when I start getting into it, they will rip it away from me and I'll still be hleft ewwith repeats and bad reality shows. Never will "American Idol" look so good to me!er

If you haven't seen the trailer check it out here. http://video.accesshollywood.com/player/?id=196883

I just beg of you to please not start a campaign that involves sending back hair to save ABC's "Cavemen"!

First of all, how could the "Desperate Housewives" not have been given a nod for Best TV Comedy? After an uneven season last year (for which they were nominated), the show has been at the top of its game with the addition of Dana Delany to Wisteria Lane and culminating with the Tornado episode. Dana would have been tops on my list for a supporting actress nomination yet neither she or any of the 'Desperate' divas made the list.

I'm not all grumpy. I was happy to see "Pushing Daisies" get nominations for Anna Friel, Lee Pace and the show. Then again considering how much the HFPA loves their European actors, I guess it wasn't a surprise. Remember it's Hollywood FOREIGN Press.

Season seven, which kicks off January 16th on Fox, will yet again feature an "Idol Gives Back" special. The two-hour concert and fundraiser will air Wednesday, April 9.

Though the show received mixed reviews for its content, it was seen by 28 million viewers and raised a whopping 75 million dollars for various US and international charities.

The show was co-hosted by Ellen DeGeneres and included performances by Gwen Stefani, Rascall Flatts, Annie Lenox and Kelly Clarkson among others. High points included Carrie Underwood's compelling music video for her version of "I'll Stand By You" and a performance by the African Children's Choir with Josh Groban -- both of which moved audiences to tears.

The show's major low point, you might recall, was that it was supposed to be a "results" show and at the end of two endless hours it was revealed no one was going home.

No word yet on which stars will participate or perform this year, but I bet somewhere on that show, Sanjaya's hair will make an appearance.

Read my coverage of last season's "Idol Gives Back" here. http://blogs.accesshollywood.com/2007/04/inside_idol_gives_back.php

Last season, there were rumors that "DWTS" champs Julianne Hough and Apolo Anton Ohno were getting cozy together. This season, the poor girl is being accused of breaking up Helio Castroneves' engagement to his longtime girlfriend.

Did they have chemistry on the dance floor? - Yes.

Did they deserve to win? - Maybe.

Are they dating. - Absolutely 100 percent NO!

Friendship, yes. Romance, no.

As for Sabrina and Mark -- it's been obvious from the get go they were smitten with each other. Mario and Karina couldn't hide their obvious affection for each other last year. Nor could they hide when I caught them smooching in the car after a party one night during their denial stage.

Last night I was at a party thrown by Leblon Cachaca, a Brazilian rum, to celebrate Helio and Julianne's victory. Helio arrived solo. I'm so sick of hearing about the ridiculous story but still felt it necessary to ask about it. I asked Helio why the story just won't die despite their numerous denials of it over the past two weeks. He didn't have a clue except that it makes for good TV.

Ten minutes later Julianne arrived. I asked her the same question and she said she could not believe that People magazine called her a potential home wrecker on their cover this week. She reiterated what she has been saying --that Helio is like a brother to her.

Here are the three things I talked about with both Helio and Julianne that I believe prove they are not a couple.

1) Julianne went to Hawaii on vacation last week with friends and family. Helio did not go with her. You might recall that very soon after Mario and Karina finished their season of "DWTS" they were spotted on vacation together. Someone in a new relationship would most likely bring their paramour with them on a Hawaiian vacation.

2) Julianne told me since the show ended and they wrapped up their publicity, she and Helio have texted each other only a few times. A new couple would be texting every single day, especially if they were apart due to work or one was on a vacation planned with family before they met.

3) Helio is too old for Julianne. Yes. I said it. He is 32. She is 19. Of course, Helio laughed when I said this too him and acted a little wounded that I told him he was "old" but he agreed. Julianne agreed too.

End of Story.

For the full video interview check out my Dish of the Day http://video.accesshollywood.com/player/?id=193840