Idolator: Blind Items

The Saddest Line In A "New York" Sex Diary Ever, Courtesy Some Unnamed Musician Who Should Probably Stay Anonymous

Maura Johnston — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:45:00 EDT

"5:30 p.m.: Order Thai delivery and jerk off while watching Around the Horn on ESPN." I just... I mean... Oh, God, please tell me it wasn't a Woody Paige episode. [NYM via thisisareallybadidea]

Blind-Item Break: Why Does This One Sound Like The Shocking Twist In A "Law & Order" Episode To Me?

Maura Johnston — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EDT

"Which recently rehabbed rocker got clean through a week-long induced coma? He couldn't bear to sweat out the booze on his own." [NYDN]

Blind-Item Blitz: We're Aiken To Solve This One

Maura Johnston — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:34:00 EST

From today's installment of the always-pretty-easy Gatecrasher: "Which singer turned Broadway star is miserable along the Great White Way? Although he privately gripes that he hates the show he's in, he has to ride out his contract." [Gatecrasher]

Which Diva Is Forcing Her Producer To Act Like A Bodyguard?

Maura Johnston — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:45:58 EST

Today's so-easy-you-could-even-call-it-kinda-wack blind item comes from the New York Daily News' Gatecrasher: "Which legendary singer is being kept on a tight leash by her producer as she works on her comeback album? She was not allowed to attend a glitzy weekend celebrity event over fears for her sobriety." [Gatecrasher]

The "Daily Mirror" Gifts Us With The Greatest Blind Item Ever

mjohnston — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:00:32 EST

Ah, the holidays. When the egg nog is flowing, anticipation is high, and the blind items are vague, yet laugh-out-loud delightful. From the Daily Mirror:

"Which clumsy rocker dropped a ciggie on his manhood while belting out a Beatles' song on the loo? He was left in agony and close to tears..."

"Clumsy," indeed! My first thought was one of Oasis' Gallagher brothers because, well, duh, but I surveyed my buddy list for a few other opinions. They're after the jump.

Jess' first thought: T-Pain. (He's a little obsessed today.) Other answers include:

"Perhaps a Gallagher brother?"
"A Gallagher?"
"hahaha ... please let it be Liam Gallagher"
"Does Gallagher II count as a 'rock star'? Because I can definitely see him being that clumsy. Have you ever seen the way he bobbles that mallet?"

OK, you get the picture. But feel free to leave your guesses below!

Daily Mirror Blind Item [Crazy Days And Nights]

The Saddest Blind Item You Will See All Day, Or Maybe Even All Year

mjohnston — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:15:57 EDT

From today's Gatecrasher:

Which aging boy bander has proposed to his NYC waitress girlfriend several times already, and they've known each other 10 days? She keeps saying no.

Surely I can't be the only one who thought that this blind item was actually a rejected treatment for On The Line 2 that somehow made its way to Ben Widdicombe's desk at the Daily News.

Gatecrasher [NYDN]

"Which powerhouse music producer likes to ...

mjohnston — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:39:55 EDT

"Which powerhouse music producer likes to gear up before long sessions in the studio by watching his favorite kind of big-booty porn?" [NYDN]

Another Musician Prepares To Shed Clothing, Decency For VH1

mjohnston — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:01:48 EDT

The "date Bret Michaels" trainwreck Rock Of Love hasn't even picked its "winner" yet, but VH1 is already getting ready to cast its sequel; this Saturday in Williamsburg, an open call for contestants who are "girls 21+, single and who are looking to win the love of the rock star of their dreams" will take place. According to the casting call, the rock star in question is "someone that makes the girls wild and girls would do anything just to meet this guy, a Tommy Lee type of rocker" who wants "hardcore rocker chicks, tattooed, big hair, drinks beer, rockin body." Hmm, well, that narrows it down while not narrowing it down at all! We've put four guesses after the jump, but feel free to chime in with your own.

Casting Call For New 'Rock Star' Relationship Show [Blabbermouth]

Which Wacky Diva Wants People To Quit Professing Her Influence?

mjohnston — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:30:45 EDT

Tucked inside Michael Musto's latest laundry list of blind items was this nugget on an ungrateful elder: "What wacky singer flinches when asked if she feels she's influenced a current superstar? (She feels the superstar can't really sing and therefore the question is kinda insulting.)" A current superstar who can't sing? Oh, the humanity. Anyway, our guesses are after the jump, poll-style:

Who Put the Goth in Gotham? [Village Voice]

The crack-bingeing star who cleared the Lollapalooza ...

mjohnston — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:11:11 EDT

The crack-bingeing star who cleared the Lollapalooza loo so she could fire up her pipe was, in fact, Amy Winehouse. [Gatecrasher]

It'll Take A Crack Team Of Readers To Solve This Lollapalooza Blind Item

mjohnston — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:48:02 EDT

From today's Gatecrasher: "Which troubled, hard-partying Lollapalooza performer cleared out a bathroom over the weekend in Chicago and then smoked what our spy-in-the-stall swears was a crack pipe?" Hmm! Well, it doesn't seem like there was a Moldy Peaches reunion on the bill, so they're out. Our guesses are after the jump.

Gatecrasher [NYDN]

Which Artist's Representatives Forced MTV To Spike A Column?

mjohnston — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:04:21 EDT

This week's edition of the MTV.com column "Bigger Than The Sound" is a curious mea culpa for last week's installment, which was a (kind of funny! and we're not just saying that because it linked to us!) look at the idea of "anti-buzz" and how any press is conceivably good press. That piece isn't on MTV's site anymore, in large part because writer James Montgomery tried to start some anti-buzz by offering wild predictions about why a few artists' next albums would be disappointing. (As Montgomery puts it, "a representative for one of the artists I singled out was unhappy — and made her feelings known to my higher-ups.")

The piece has been erased from the collective RAM of MTV's servers, but Google cache never forgets; as it turns out, the six artists Montgomery mentioned in the piece were Panic! At The Disco, 50 Cent, Thrice, Blake Lewis, Weezer, and Cobra Starship. So which artist's "people" complained about the satirical suckage-prediction? Time for another poll:

The Case Of The Missing Bigger Than The Sound [MTV]
Anti-Buzz: From Kelly Clarkson To Indie-Rock Rappers, In Bigger Than The Sound [Google cache]

Our Nation's Airports: More Vulnerable to Stoners Than Ever

jharv — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:30:02 EDT

In the same week that the Transportation Security Authority said that women can once again bring the breast milk God gave them on flights, there was apparently a (heh) green alert sounded at a U.S. airport. Today's New York Daily News wants to know: "Which toke-loving chart-toppers caused a security scare because they were so stoned they left behind unattended luggage at an airport?" And frankly, because no one's been arrested, posted a public apology to Clive Davis on their Web site, or changed their album release date to 9/11 yet this morning, so do we:

So who was it? As Maura said, "That seems like the sort of 'item' to plant about Hinder's career to make them seem 'awesome.'" But can you really trust repressed Christian teen-pop stars who've recorded a cover of "Do You Believe in Magic"?

Don't shoot the messenger [New York Daily News, last item]

Which Female Singer Is Getting An Extra Boost From Her Band?

mjohnston — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:45:39 EDT

A quite-juicy—yet maddeningly clue-free!—item from today's Popbitch: "Which female singer expects her band-members to put out at her request? The touring musicians don't last long if they won't service the singer." Whoever it is, we'd like to salute her for turning rock stereotypes sort of on their head. Uh, except for that "lead singer syndrome" bit. Anyway, the only way this mystery can be solved is through our poll software, so get to it:

Popbitch [Official site]

Don't You Just Love Starting Off Your Week With A Blind Item?

mjohnston — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:18:38 EDT

From Gatecrasher:

Which rocker-ette, who is attempting a comeback, has a new eating disorder to replace the drugs? Apparently now she will eat only yogurt products.

Is that what's in Ensure, then? These things need to be explained to people whose idea of "healthy" is beer made with actual fruit.

Gatecrasher [NY Daily News]

A Blind Item That's Sure To Cause Firestorms On Every "American Idol" Board Out There

mjohnston — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:19:35 EDT

From today's Gatecrasher column:

Which teenage "American Idol" reject is already cropping up on the L.A. gay bar scene?

"Already," huh? Well, that sort of makes it obvious. Somebody better buy extra Kleenex for Ashley Ferl.

Gatecrasher [NY Daily News]

The Most Boring Music-Related Blind Item You'll See All Month

mjohnston — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:00:32 EDT

From today's Gatecrasher column:

Which iconic pop star is an even better businesswoman than she is a singer? She has allowed the press to misreport her latest real-estate purchase by $3 million to bump up its resale value.

Lying about real estate? Such a scandal! What's next: "This mystery woman has been wearing knockoff designer clothes to big events—and telling the paparazzi that they're real?"

Gatecrasher [NY Daily News]

Which R & B Starlet Has Bad Buzz?

mjohnston — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:00:13 EDT

Just when you thought album listening parties couldn't get more awkward, along comes this blind item from AOL's Black Voices blog:

I hear that a listening party for a sexy R&B starlet's forthcoming album became a pity party after media guests began sharing with the label staff "how bad they thought the music was." A source tells me that by the time the last song was played, journalists had the same sentiment: "The album sucks!" Could that be the delay in its release?

Our money's on a certain hand-bereft singer, but there's been no shortage of R & B singers with long album delays lately, so we'll throw open the voting:

The BV Buzz With Jawn Murray [AOL Black Voices via CONCRETELOOP]

Which Pop Singer Is Getting Makeup Instructions From Her Label?

mjohnston — Thu, 24 May 2007 12:05:47 EDT

We try to minimize our coverage of self-styled industry pundit Bob Lefsetz around here, in part because we don't know enough about Aspen's slopes to keep up with all of his ski-related metaphors, but this was too good not to share: Earlier this week, Lefsetz sent out a spittle-flecked rant titled "Reasons Not To Sign With The Major Labels". Last night, he e-mailed his list one of the responses inspired by his screed—a sorta-juicy, bitching-about-the-biz blind item that made us more than a bit curious:

My sister is signed with a major label and check out what they told her last week. They said, "We hope you're piling on the makeup and getting dressed up for these radio interviews we're sending you on. We're not hearing good reports. From now on, we're going to select your clothes for you." This is someone who has had two #1's and been nominated for three Grammy's. [sic]
She also said the same thing as you. They aren't paying her a dime and she's never recouped. Because radio is so dead, touring's slow for her as well. She's working her ass off for nothing and the label doesn't have a clue about the Internet or how to sell digital music. My friend works for her management company and he's supposed to be rebuilding her website. He said the label can't even tell him who owns it so he can get in to change the DNS.

Unsurprising—but really, makeup tips for radio interviews? Have these executives ever seen the people behind some of these microphones? Anyway, your guess is as good as ours, so have at it:

Reasons Not To Sign With The Major Labels [The Lefsetz Letter]

Blind Item: Which Buxom Belter Needed To Cover Her Assets?

mjohnston — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:00:12 EDT

Today's music-related not-very-blind item comes from the New York Daily News' Gatecrasher:

Which buxom U.S. pop/R&B star was declined entry to a press-club room on a recent media tour of Japan until she covered up her famous assets with a less-revealing outfit?

A diva touring Japan who needed a coverup? We can only hope there was a store carrying House Of Dereon items nearby.

Gatecrasher [NY Daily News]

Sometimes, Blind Items Can Say So Much

mjohnston — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:23:16 EDT

Today's not-really-that-blind item comes from the New York Daily News' Gatecrasher:

Which pop megastar celebrated his visit to nYC last week with an east Village gogo dancer and gay-for-pay rent boy? "he was fat, completely hairless and doesn't really like being touched," says the young gentleman.

Honestly, anyone who thinks this item is in any way "blind" must have their vision obstructed by a huge pair of star-shaped sunglasses.

Gatecrasher [NY Daily News]

The First, And Probably Last, Blind Item Ever About A "Music Journalist"

mjohnston — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 11:01:47 EST

We featured Ben Widdicombe's Daily News column a few times last week, and it would seem that he's noticed. After all, we don't imagine that many other people would have even one guess for the closing item in today's column:

Which high-profile music journalist gets his subjects chatty with a little white powdered gift before they go on the air?

Come on, Ben—everybody knows that real music journalists don't have money to buy subjects gifts.

Ben Widdicombe's Gatecrasher [NY Daily News]

Blind Item: Which Brit Winner Is Getting Dissed On The Internet?

mjohnston — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:45:12 EST

From the UK gossip newsletter Popbitch:

Which Brit-winning singer has been hounded by a scorned groupie trying to stir up rumours on internet fan sites about his sexuality and about his wife's behaviour?

Popbitch [popbitch.com]

Blind Item: Who's Bringing A Bit Of Colombia To The Heartland?

mjohnston — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:58:21 EST

Today's edition of Ben Widdicombe's New York Daily News gossip column closes with this tidbit:

Which country music siren can thank the Colombian marching powder for the extra edge she's been displaying lately?

We're stumped, but that may be because we're reeling from the item about Diddy keeping his nether regions bare with a procedure called the "Brozilian." (How has that not shown up on his YouTube channel yet?) However, since the rest of Widdicombe's column is about star squabbles at the Grammys, we're guessing that this item is about someone who showed up on Sunday night's telecast:

Diddy throws a fitty at Naomi Campbell [NY Daily News]

"Page Six" Blind Item Needs To Be A Thousand Times More Specific

Brian Raftery — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 10:55:02 EST

Here's the one bit of gossip in today's New York Post that's not about Anna Nicole Smith:

WHICH rocker will never get shared custody of his kid because his drug addiction is the worst-kept secret around?

We don't know. All of them? Ever?

Just Asking [Page Six]

Let A Thousand Blind-Item Flowers Bloom!

Brian Raftery — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:08:36 EST

From Goldenfiddle.com:

Which glam-rocker from Sin City recently moved to San Diego to get away from his impure rock 'n' roll lifestyle only to become embroiled in a fairly rock 'n' rollish domestic dispute with his new wife? The couple allegedly got into it inside the new house but soon spilled out onto the street to argue. Pots and pans allegedly literally flew, and, eventually, the rocker's wife was carted off by police, as he sat there in his heartache, on the curb outside.

We give up. Wayne Newton?

Where The Streets Have No Name [Goldenfiddle]

Which Six-Member Band Needs A Little Muscle Behind It?

mjohnston — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:30:45 EST

The Daily Express has a lengthy article about belt-tightening at record labels in the UK that tosses around some jaw-dropping numbers: a £160,000 hotel bill for Paris Hilton and her entourage, an £800,000 tab for the attempted All Saints revival. But there was one blind item in the piece that caught our eye:

One six-piece American rock band are being challenged by their label over their need for a personal bodyguard each to fly to the UK - despite them being less than recognisable in Britain.

We have no idea who this could be—we've spent a good chunk of this afternoon researching six-member bands from the States, and the only answer we could come up with, after realizing that Bon Jovi had pared itself down to a five-piece, was Toto. (Insert joke about them "holding the line" here.) Ideas?

Death of the Diva [Daily Express, via Coolfer]

Blind Item: We Mayer May Not Know Who The "Post" Is Talking About

Brian Raftery — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 08:44:59 EST

From yesterday's New York Post:

WHICH shaggy-haired rocker with a perky pop-star girlfriend has the nightclub circuit buzzing that he's been taking guys home with him late at night?

Come on. You'd have to be a simp, son, not to get this one! Ennnh? ENNNNH?

Just Asking [NY Post]

Blind Item: Who's The Milli Vanilli Of The New Millennium?

mjohnston — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:37:10 EST

The entertainment lawyer who runs the Crazy Days And Nights blog has posted a lengthy story about a young chanteuse who's been ghosting vocals for a popular female singer since 2001. The real singer, who he refers to as "S," hasn't been gettng paid lately because her counterpart, identified as "MV," has run out of cash, and she's getting ready to go public with her story.

The lawyer scatters clues to "MV"'s identity—the first ghosted album came out in 2001-02, the singer has "top 40"-level success and at least one gold record—throughout his post (did we mention that it's really long?), and the gossipmonger community ohnotheydidnt is full of speculation, but some of their guesses are really wide of the mark (come on, Norah Jones?). After the jump, we present our top four guesses for "S," along with our pick for who the lip-syncer might be.

Artist: Alicia Keys
Album: The Diary Of Alicia Keys, 2001
Why It Could Be Her: All that "she's a brilliant child prodigy!!" talk has seemed fishy to us since it started.
Why It's Probably Not Her: It's really hard to play the piano and lip-sync at the same time, even if what you're plonking out is about as tough as "Für Elise."

Artist: Jessica Simpson
Album: Irresistible, 2001
Why It Could Be Her: We're sure that the divorce-lawyer bills are putting the squeeze on Jessica's finances.
Why It's Probably Not Her: She's not smart enough to keep up the façade for that long ... or is she?

Artist: Mandy Moore
Album: Mandy Moore, 2001
Why It Could Be Her: Moore has switched labels recently, and she's been focusing on her film career more in recent years—perhaps as a cover.
Why It's Probably Not Her: What svengali in his right mind would say, "You know, I think our next move should be an album of XTC covers!"?

Artist: Christina Milian
Album: Christina Milian, 2001
Why It Could Be Her: The lapsed payments make sense—Milian was dropped by her label, Def Jam, earlier this year.
Why It's Probably Not Her: It's hard to believe that someone would go to all of this trouble in order to preserve the artistic integrity of "Dip It Low."

OUR BEST GUESS: Moore. She's definitely got enough acting chops to pull off a convincing lip-sync, and her covers-album swerve may have been a brilliant ploy to throw off the scent.

Let me preface this post by saying... [Crazy Days And Nights]
One of the most interesting blind items I've read... [ohnotheydidnt]