"American Idol" beats Winter Olympics
Last night's "Idol" drew 23.6 million viewers to NBC's 20.3 million.

"Idol" is stuck in a Jason Mraz funk
The seven advancing singers all have a little Mraz in them, says Ann Powers. "Tuesday's revelation of seven strivers who've made it into the Top 24, however, prove that 'Idol's' natural order will always reassert itself," she says. "For all the drama offered by certain key performances and killer personalities, 'Idol' ultimately reflects the American listening public's ultimate middle ground: a place that belongs to the artists who cross boundaries of style, genre, race and even (post-Glambert) sexuality with the least fuss and the most finesse."

Paula Deen to "Idol"?
No, she isn't replacing Simon Cowell. But the Food Network star is in talks to appear on "Idol" in some capacity.

Rozlyn Papa: I confronted Chris Harrison during "Bachelor" reunion
"I came out by myself," she says of Sunday's taping of "Women Tell All," and was interviewed by Chris and they had the big producer guy take me off the stage." PLUS: ABC is considering Ali for "Bachelorette."

NBC has a new "Friends" — "Friends with Benefits"
ABC originally had the rights to the single-camera comedy from the director of "Wedding Crashers" and the "Arrested Development" team of Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. But now the project described as a "comedy exploring modern day romance through the eyes of five friends each looking for 'the one' but in the meantime settling for 'friends with benefits'" is on the Peacock.

Steven Spielberg may join Fox dinosaur drama
The ambitious "Terra Nova" is described as "following a family from 100 years in the future who travel back in time 150 million years to the strange and inhospitable environs of prehistoric Earth."

History channel Americanizing "Top Gear"
"Top Gear USA" is expected to finally become a reality after NBC canceled its version starring Adam Carolla.

NBC's Vancouver Olympics are down 24% from Salt Lake City
Comparing Vancouver vs. Salt Lake City is more apt because the 2006 Torino Olympics were the lowest-rated since 1988. PLUS: Dear NBC: "Show the games live, already!"

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