American Idol

He won't be the next "American Idol" ... but recent cast-off Joshua Ledet has already gotten an offer to appear in a real-life stage production ... with a bunch of naked men.

TMZ has learned ... the top banana at the Mantasia male strip club in NYC has been super interested in Ledet ever since "A.I." fans dubbed him "Mantasia."

In case you haven't been watching, Ledet earned the moniker because his powerful voice drew comparisons to a male version of Fantasia Barrino.

But the head dong wrangler at the male review believes Ledet's nickname was a message from the stripper gods that the two were destined to work together ... even if Josh doesn't drop trou.

"We'll find something for him, he's a very talented performer," the stripper boss tells TMZ.

The dog who won "Britain's Got Talent" just rejected an offer to appear on the "American Idol" finale, TMZ has learned, because the talented canine is too busy being famous.

Sources tell TMZ ... Pudsey the dog and 17-year old owner Ashleigh were asked to appear live on the "Idol" stage -- it's unclear if they would perform -- but when producers called about the potential gig ... they were met with a big, fat NO.

The reason behind the rejection ... we're told Pudsey and Ashleigh have been getting offers round-the-clock since winning the UK's talent competition ... and the pair is literally too busy to squeeze in an "Idol" appearance.

Good news is ... we're told Pudsey will be making trips to NYC and L.A. soon for OTHER major TV appearances -- just not "Idol" -- and will meet with several producers as well.

Phillip Phillips -- one of the finalists on "American Idol" -- has been URGED by his personal doctor to get surgery immediately ... but Phillip wants to work through the pain and the risk so he can win next week.

Multiple "Idol" sources tell us ... when Phillip went back home to Georgia last Saturday ... his family doctor spent almost the entire stay by his side and was alarmed by what he saw -- Phillip wasn't eating and looked horrible.

Phillip suffers from severe kidney problems and at the beginning of the competition it got so bad he had a stent put in as a temporary fix until he could have surgery. But the condition has worsened and Phillip's doc told him he needed surgery now. Phillip said he was not going to drop out of the show so the doctor told him he ABSOLUTELY had to go under the knife immediately after the finale.

We're told the recovery time for the surgery is at least 6 weeks.

Phillip's condition is taking its toll -- we're told the medication causes dry mouth, and it's had some impact on his singing.

Phillip has also missed some of the field productions that are shot for the show -- including the Ford commercials. Our "Idol" sources tell us they felt that making him go on location for these shoots were just too taxing.

Erika Van Pelt -- the 10th place finisher on this season's "American Idol" -- says Donna Summer gave her a huge leg up in her music career ... and now she wants to honor the Disco Queen's memory on the upcoming "A.I." concert tour.

Van Pelt tells TMZ ... she opened for the singer during a fundraiser in Dallas last summer ... and feels she owes a huge chunk of her success to the experience.

Erika says she wants to pay tribute by singing the Donna Summer classic, "On The Radio" during the "Idol" live tour ... but ultimately, it's up to the producers to sign off on the plan.

Van Pelt says she's already reached out to "A.I." honchos ... and now, she's crossing her fingers until the official lineup is announced.

Jennifer Lopez isn't sure if she'll come back for a third season of "American Idol," but the big cheese on the show says he wants her back in the worst way.

"A.I." EP Nigel Lythgoe tells TMZ, "We want her back. I want her back." Nigel is reacting to Lopez' comment on "Ellen," saying, "I don't know if I can go for a third year. I miss doing other things. It really does lock you down."

Nigel says, "I know how much she loves doing the show and how much she cares for the kids." That said, Nigel adds, "It's a business. She has to weigh everything. I know she's gotten lots of offers to do movies and other things."

Ever the optimist, Nigel says by saying she "doesn't know" if she'll come back, it's classic negotiations, which means the door is open. Welcome to Hollywood.

Katrina Darrell -- the girl who infamously auditioned for "American Idol" back in 2009 wearing just a bikini -- has been charged with hit-and-run while driving under the influence ... TMZ has learned

According to the charging docs, obtained by TMZ, Katrina has been charged with one count of DUI, and two counts of misdemeanor hit and run.

If convicted on all counts, she faces up to 2 years behind bars.

TMZ broke the story -- Katrina was arrested last month after allegedly running a red light and smashing into another car. According to police, Katrina attempted to flee the scene ... but was pulled over down the street by a cop who heard the crash.

Back at the police station, an officer administered a breathalyzer -- and Katrina blew a .15 and a .17 ... roughly double the legal limit in California.

A very sick Ryan Seacrest made it through "American Idol" last night, but in the process he may have infected every single person who shares the stage with him.

We broke the story -- Ryan came close to bailing on the show. He had a terrible stomach virus, was throwing up the night before and all day yesterday, and went through 2 IV bags in a matter of hours. He didn't make it to the rehearsal and Nigel Lythgoe was ready to step in.

Take a look at the video. He hugs and kisses Jennifer Lopez, hugs Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler, puts his arm around Jessica and shakes her hand, puts his arm around Skylar, shakes Joshua's hand twice, puts his arm around Phillip and does the same with Hollie.

4:50 PM PDT -- Sources tell TMZ ... Ryan is going to go for it ... although they will have puke buckets on the stage ... just in case he loses it.

Ryan Seacrest feels like crap ... so much so he missed the rehearsal for "American Idol" tonight, and sources connected with the production of the show tell TMZ ... Ryan may be MIA for the first time in the 11-season run of the show.

We're told Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe stepped in for Ryan during the dress rehearsal this afternoon.

Sources say Ryan had an IV in his arm, and is fighting "a bad stomach bug." We're told he was throwing up all last night and today.

Ryan was not at the rehearsal and it's unclear if he'll do the show. If he doesn't, Nigel is ready to step in.

"American Idol" hopeful Elise Testone gave judge Steven Tyler the gift of a feather earring on the show this week -- but the real gift was all the publicity she gave the jewelry designer who made it.

Testone gave the Aerosmith singer a feather earring made by Sarah Poe, a designer from her home state of South Carolina. Sarah and Elise are friends and customers had always thought Tyler would love her stuff, given his penchant for feathered accessories, so Sarah gave one to Elise to pass on.

Ever since the show aired, Poe tells TMZ her phone lines, Facebook page and email have all been blowing up with business. All the pieces are handmade and one-of-a-kind and range between $65-$145, with Tyler's piece costing around $125.

There will be a stunning turn of events on "American Idol" tonight, because TMZ has learned one of the absolute favorites to win the competition will be eliminated.

Sources connected with the show tell TMZ ... producers are scrambling to persuade the judges to use their "save" on the contestant.

We're told producers actually thought 2 of the 3 contestants in the bottom tonight were strong candidates to win the entire competition.

If you ever plan to get married, start taking notes -- because former "American Idol" champ Ruben Studdard just went through the CLEANEST divorce ever ... all thanks to his ironclad prenup.

TMZ broke the story ... Ruben filed for divorce in November from his wife Surata Zuri McCants, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in January.

It got hairy at first -- Zuri tried to get the judge in their divorce case to nullify the prenup, claiming Ruben blindsided her with the documents just days before the wedding, unfairly pressuring her into signing them.

But the judge wasn't buying it -- upholding the prenup, and awarding Zuri close to ZILCH in the divorce.

According to the final judgment, Ruben was not ordered to pay ANY spousal support or alimony ... and he gets to keep their home plus all his belongings -- jewelry, pensions, royalties, clothing, and all his cash. It was even ordered Zuri return the engagement ring.

Meanwhile, Zuri gets next to nothing -- her wedding dress, her photo albums, a 2006 BMW (which Ruben will pay off), a 10k property settlement, 2k for attorneys fees ... oh yeah, and her maiden name.

The "American Idol" finalists better watch their step in their Hollywood mansion -- because no matter where they go ... someone has probably already had dirty sex there ... this according to two swingers who used to live in the house.

TMZ broke the story ... Idol’s current mansion was last occupied by a bunch of sex-crazed swingers for Playboy TV's racy reality show "Swing" ... about a random group of live-in swingers and their X-rated sexcapades.

Now former Swing-mates Michael and Holli tell us -- NOTHING in the finalists' current digs was off limits for boning ... especially not the Idol finalists’ music room, where the singers practice.

According to Michael and Holli, the room was a sex mecca -- lined wall-to-wall with mattresses. Castmates even called it the Boom Boom Room.

But that's not all -- according to the swinger duo, the mansion's former swinger occupants did it in the shower, on the floor, on ALL the countertops, outside, and their personal favorite ... in the elevator.

The "American Idol" kids are following in the footsteps of orgy-lovin, sex-crazed, swingers -- TMZ has learned -- because the mansion they just moved in to was previously used for PORN!

Sources tell TMZ, the new digs currently housing the top 9 finalists on ‘Idol’ is the same place Playboy TV shot season 2 of its racy sex show "Swing."

For those you who haven’t seen it ... "Swing" is a show about couples who move into a house with the sole purpose of “living out their erotic curiosities” through swinging ... i.e one big fat excuse for banging each other as often as possible.

As for the specs -- the former sex den is a 10-bdrm, 16-bath, 16,000 sq. ft swingers dream ... now housing the squeaky clean -- soon to be Disney World attraction -- "Idol" finalists.

Infamous "American Idol" bikini girl Katrina Darrell plans to fight all the charges against her stemming from her DUI arrest yesterday, saying she did not flee the scene of an accident and claiming she wasn't even drunk at the time!

As TMZ first reported, Darrell was busted just after midnight in Los Angeles on Friday for fleeing the scene of an accident and failing a breathalyzer test with blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit. Katrina had told police she was in a rush to get her mother to the hospital.

But Katrina's manager, Michael Blakey, tells TMZ Katrina was indeed taking her mother to the hospital because she had taken a nasty fall at home and was bleeding from the head.

After releasing his debut album four months ago to little success, former season 10 "American Idol" singer James Durbin decided to change up his look and dyed his hair bleach blonde.

The 23-year-old newlywed showed off his new locks at a wrestling event in Miami on Thursday night.

Katrina Darrell -- the chick who famously auditioned for "American Idol" in a bikini back in 2009 -- was arrested this morning for DUI ... TMZ has learned.

According to Pomona PD Sgt. Patrick O'Malley, the 24-year-old singer ... also known as "Bikini Girl" ... was arrested in Los Angeles at 12:16 AM ... with her mother in the passenger seat.

Darrell allegedly told police she was en route to a nearby hospital ... because her mom had fallen down at home.

But while Katrina was driving to the hospital, she allegedly ran a red light and smashed into another vehicle.

Darrell allegedly tried to flee the scene ... but a nearby officer who heard the crash responded and pulled over Katrina's 2004 Toyota Camry.

When the officer approached Katrina, he smelled booze ... and gave her a field sobriety test. She performed poorly ... and was arrested for DUI.

Katrina -- who was crying hysterically during the arrest -- was hauled to a nearby police station ... where she took a breathalyzer test ... and blew a .15 and a .17 ... WAYYYY over the legal limit, .08.

Katrina was eventually cited and released just after 6AM. As for her mom, an ambulance was called to the scene of the arrest ... but her condition is unclear.

Things could get worse for Katrina ... we're told she could also face charges for hit and run for allegedly trying to flee the scene of the initial accident.