Antonella Barba on 'American Idol' - What Will Happen?

Interesting Week Ahead on American Idol

Here's one prediction for this week's "American Idol" that I'm absolutely sure of: no one will so much as slip off their shoe to rub a foot.

I mean, seriously, did Paul's whole my-lucky-bare-feet thing go thoroughly awry or what? I'm not just talking how he got the "AI" pink slip before other more deserving comrades. I'm also referring to the fact that he was the only one who didn't get so much as a one-sentence courtesy summary from Ryan about what the judges thought of him before being ousted. Sure, Ryan had probably gotten a signal that they were out of time, but what's with being kicked off a show without the rest of us getting to hear why? More...

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Friends Come To Antonella Barba's Defence

By WAYNE PARRY
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 27, 2007; 4:09 AM

POINT PLEASANT, N.J. -- A close friend of "American Idol" semi-finalist Antonella Barba says that the aspiring singer is not the subject of some graphically sexual pictures purported to be of her that were posted on the Internet last week.

The pictures include one of four women posing topless at the beach, their hands covering their breasts, and others of a woman engaged in a sexual act. The postings were anonymous.

Barba's best friend, Amanda Coluccio of Holmdel, with whom she auditioned and won a trip to Hollywood for the second round before being eliminated, told The Star-Ledger of Newark that the less graphic photos are of Barba, but denied she is pictured in the pornographic ones.

"The really bad ones aren't her. I've studied them," Coluccio told The Star-Ledger for Monday's newspapers. "It's not her nose. She's never had (acrylic nail) tips (like the woman in the photo) in her life. She's the least slutty person I know."

Coluccio did not return phone messages from The Associated Press left at her home.

Meanwhile, here in the 20-year-old's hometown, where signs abound wishing her good luck, friends and strangers alike are supporting Barba, saving their condemnation for whomever posted the pictures online. More...

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Pringles Tryout for American Idol

DAN SEWELL
Associated Press

CINCINNATI - Procter & Gamble Co.'s effort to make its Pringles brand a bigger star is getting a tryout with "American Idol."

The consumer products company has launched a partnership with the television ratings blockbuster in TV commercials, special American Idol Pringles cans and contests including a video jingles competition that can lead to tickets to the talent show's finale.

It's the biggest promotion in the potato chips brand's 37-year history, P&G said. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

"The 'American Idol' tie-in is sort of a bold new step," said Paul Tepfenhart, Pringles brand manager.

Pringles, with more than $1 billion a year in annual sales, has been growing about 5 percent a year, P&G has said. The company has said it wants to heat up the growth, recently extending the brand of chips stacked in cans into packages with a "Select" line of flavors such as sun-dried tomato, cinnamon sweet potato and Szechuan barbecue. More...

Antonella Barba