Simon says: Kimberly should have stayed
“American Idol” judge Simon Cowell would have kept Kimberly Caldwell on Wednesday’s show, he said on last night’s “Extra” (7 p.m./Ch. 4).
“It was wrong. She should have gone through,” Cowell said of Kimberly when asked by “AI” co-host Ryan Seacrest. “I think she got hurt by the film clip. You saw her and Julia DeMato arguing and [Kimberly] came out badly.
Kimberly crooned Melissa Etheridge’s “Come to My Window.” “I think she chose the wrong song,” Cowell said. “I’ve just been told it’s a lesbian anthem.”
And Simon’s advice to Kimberly?
“She needs to lose a few pounds. Lose the puppy fat, choose better songs and she’s got a shot.”
Fulton’s getting it on her chest
Soap Opera Digest was staging a photo shoot at Lentini Restaurant (2nd and 81st.), the new favorite haunt of “As the World Turns” star Eileen Fulton, when Eileen revealed some Valentine’s Day plans for her nightclub show at Chez Suzette. Eileen said she’ll be playing Cupid while unveiling “Marry Me,” the newest flavor of Tofutti ice cream. Audience members at Chez Suzette will be treated to tastes of the chocolate/vanilla confection – along with “Marry Me” t-shirts.
Eileen (who’s single) will also be marketing herself – wearing a t-shirt plugging Tofutti’s “Cuties”. So what’s her strategically lettered t-shirt gonna say? “Here Come My Cuties.”
‘Ed’ stars cover all the bases
“Ed” stars Julie Bowen and JanaMarie Hupp grace the cover of the March issue of SELF magazine – and are switching their selves (after a fashion) for the issue.
In the issue, on newsstands Feb. 19, they undertook each other’s workout regimens for a day. For Hupp, that meant doing yoga – while Bowen took a bicycle ride downtown.
“I think Jana and I balance each other out,” says Bowen. “I’m envious and in awe of her ability to go with the flow – and I think she really appreciates that I’m driven and always running around.” As for Hupp, she says she prefers a “cozy” workout: “In bed, head on pillow, clicking the remote.”
This just in . . .
* This morning’s “Today” (7-9 a.m./ Ch. 4) will introduce the writer chosen by Random House to pen “The Godfather” sequel.
* “The Early Show” snagged over 3 million viewers (nationally) for the week ending Jan. 31, for the third consecutive week, for the first time since ’99. Co-anchors Rene Syler and Julie Chen high-fived each other in the hallway after hearing the news.
* Ch. 11 reporter Sukanya Krishnan will be honored Tuesday at City Hall for her accomplishments at NYC comptroller Bill Thompson’s 2003 Asian Heritage Celebration.
* WLIE’s Mike Siegel will get an on- air coaching lesson Feb. 18 (6:15 p.m./540 AM) from Sande Shurin for his role in “The Barry Gray Story,” being planned by Chateau Productions.
* George Kalman remembers the late Stan Martin’s mastery of live, ad-libbed commercials (La Salle Ice Cream!) – and how Stan gave George his on-air name (Johnny Knox). They were pals.