Blog Posts by Claudine Zap

Now that Ricki Lake is back with a new gig, "The Ricki Lake Show," and a new man in her life (husband of three months Christian Evans), she has a new goal: To lose 10 pounds.

The 43-year-old told People, "I'm not fat, and I'm not a size 4," adding her dress size is between a size 6 and 8. "I'm constantly working every day not to beat myself up for it."

The host made headlines when, in season 13 of "Dancing With the Stars," she tangoed up a storm and lost 20 pounds. The contestant revealed that she had shrunk 15 inches and was down several dress sizes to a svelte 4 -- she had started the competition a size 8.

[Photos: Meet the cast of "Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars"]

At the time, Lake credited her weight loss to a food-preparation service many of the cast members join to time save time when they're competing -- and hours of training she put in with pro partner Derek Hough.

But those days are over. She told the magazine, "I'm definitely not in as good as shape as I was on

Credit: Marc Cant/FoxMariah Carey is striking an awkward pose for her "American Idol" promotional photo.

The pop icon, who recently stepped in as the newest judge on the reality TV show, debuted a strangely stiff look for her "AI" picture. Carey's hand is shown unnaturally placed over her bare shoulder, almost as if she needs to hold up her one-shouldered tangerine frock.

Related: Nick Cannon: Mariah Carey Will Be 'The Toughest Judge' On American Idol

The star's other hand is resting on her tiny waist, which looks suspiciously digitally slenderized.

Negotiations for her salary must have gone more smoothly than the photo session. The star is reportedly receiving $17 million for Season 12 -- $2 million more than departing judge Jennifer Lopez received in her last season.

The 42-year-old will appear on the Fox show when it returns in 2013.

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Colbert and Stewart at "The Comedy Awards" (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)Not bad for basic cable: 'The Daily Show,' the late-night comedy show about the news, has had a nine-year winning streak in the Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy category. The nine-in-a-row is unprecedented since the category was established in 1951.

But this year "The Daily Show," as funny as it is, has some serious competition. We look at who could beat the juggernaut of variety and comedy on TV.

The Colbert Report

"The Daily Show" begat Stephen Colbert as fake news-show host, and comedy hasn't been the same since. This year, Stephen Colbert grabbed the spotlight by creating his own Super PAC (and receiving a Peabody award for his ability to make an obtuse finance law an accessible -- and often hilarious -- topic) and still managed to fit in some singing with performers as diverse as Audra McDonald and James Taylor.

Saturday Night Live

If for no other reason, this season of the sketch comedy show marks the end of an era. Kristin Wiig and Andy Samberg, comic greats, will not be

Jennifer Lopez called in to "On Air With Ryan Seacrest" today to tearfully confirm that she is leaving "American Idol." After two years as a judge on the reality TV show, she said, "The time has come."

The announcement comes just one day after Steven Tyler said that he will not return next season. There have been reports that Randy Jackson is stepping down as a judge, too, and that Mariah Carey is in talks to join as a judge.

J. Lo was conflicted about her decision, telling Seacrest (who hosts "Idol"), "It's been a long thought process. I really have been torn... but even last year, it was super tough to decide. Something has to give. That's where I am right now."

She added, "You know, I was really dreading this phone call with you. I honestly feel that the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I've put on hold because I love 'Idol' so much." She said, "I have to come back to, like ... you have a lot of other responsibilities and things

It’s official: Steven Tyler is leaving “American Idol” and will return to being an actual rock idol, Fox confirmed. The Aerosmith frontman served as a judge during the 10th and 11th seasons of the reality TV competition.

“After some long...hard...thoughts... I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress ‘American Idol’ before she boils my rabbit,” the rocker said in a statement. “I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith.” He added, “'Idol’ was over-the-top fun, and I loved every minute of it.... Now it’s time to bring Rock Back.”

For his part, “Idol” creator and executive producer Simon Fuller will miss the rock legend. He said, “Steven Tyler is a real ‘Idol,’ a rock legend. If you had told me 10 years ago he would be a judge on ‘American Idol,’ I would have thought it impossible. The fact that this became a reality and we had the pleasure of him gracing our stage for two seasons makes me very proud. I completely understand his desire to get back to his life as the singer

In this clip from “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” TV host Oprah Winfrey performs her interview magic, traveling to legendary magician David Copperfield’s private island in the Bahamas for an exclusive talk with the master illusionist.

Copperfield opens up about his childhood, discussing the abuse he received as a kid. He first tells Oprah, “I love my mother, I love my mother’s memory, but there was a period of time where we got whacked.” He then asks Oprah if she was hit as a kid. “Oh, God, yes,” answers Oprah. “I got whipped regularly by my grandmother.”

With that encouragement, Copperfield explains, “My mom had a belt with metal tips, and she would come after me and left some marks. It was really painful. It was over little things, big things -- that was the way of doing it, and it was very harsh.”

The father to daughter Sky adds, “Now times have changed. We now have to influence our children. We have to persuade them. But up

Katie Holmes -- whose decision to file for divorce from Tom Cruise may have been influenced by his involvement with the Church of Scientology -- isn’t the first star to ditch the controversial religion. Fans of Jerry Seinfeld may not realize that he once explored it but ultimately realized it wasn’t for him.

[Related: Inside Hollywood's 'Scientology' Movie]

In 2007, he told Parade magazine his high school auto mechanics teacher introduced him to Scientology.

“Believe it or not...it’s extremely intellectual and clinical in its approach to problem-solving, which really appealed to me,” he said. “…In my early years of stand-up, it was very helpful. I took a couple of courses. One of them was in communication, and I learned some things about communication that really got my act going.

[Related:Holmes Faces Cruise, Scientology in Fight for Suri]

“It was just things about understanding the communications cycle...” he explained. “Even the volume at which I’m speaking now is the right

To celebrate Independence Day, “Community” star Donald Glover released his new Childish Gambino mixed tape, “Royalty.” The actor-musician also includes tracks from Alley Boy, RZA, and Danny Brown, and the rap stylings of none other than “30 Rock’s” Tina Fey.

The “Saturday Night Live” alum brings it, with zingers such as “my president is black and my Prius is blue.” And "This is the part where most people would say something crazy and drop the N-word after it … I don’t feel comfortable.”

The two talents share a connection: Donald Glover played Young Tracy Jordan for the live episode of “30 Rock,” a show he wrote for prior to joining the cast of “Community.” Perhaps now Fey is returning the favor.

The comedian’s unmistakable voice can be heard at the end of the track “Real Estate,” and the lines -- definitely not safe for work and seriously naughty -- go like this:

Yeah we in here, we in this thing
Gambino is forever,