'American Idol' judge: 'Many delusional'
NEW YORK, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- "American Idol" judges auditioning singers in New York for the Fox reality series said too many people think they can sing when they can't.
"There's still a lot of delusional people out there," said judge Randy Jackson. "They still believe, no matter what you say, 'I'm still the best.'"
"American Idol" Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Jackson were in New York City Saturday to audition 120 wanna-bes of the 12,000 who tried for the series, the New York Daily News reported.
The talent, I think, is getting better all the time" Cowell said. "But 80 percent to 90 percent of the people who come in here are absolutely awful."
The judges will have more auditions in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
The third "American Idol" competition begins in October for a telecast scheduled to begin in January.
Tom Cruise sings with Japanese PM
TOKYO, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who shares a birthday with Elvis Presley, sang some of "The King's" tunes with Tom Cruise in Tokyo.
The actor was in Japan to promote his new movie, "The Last Samurai."
Cruise said he invited Koizumi to the premiere of his latest film which is due for release in September. In it, he plays a U.S. Army captain in the 1800s who is hired by the emperor of Japan to create a Japanese army.
Cruise praised Koizumi's intelligence and added that "he's a pretty good singer," the BBC reported.
The actor did not reveal which Presley songs the two sang together. Two years ago, Koizumi released a selection of his favorite Presley songs on CD.
Airport screener loses job over autograph
NEW YORK, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- A New York City airport screener has lost his job over an autograph from Fox's "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard.
On June 7, Donsha Kelly and other screeners at LaGuardia Airport were told that Studdard, who was traveling on Delta Airlines that day, would be walking through the terminal but did not want to give autographs. Nonetheless, Kelly asked for autograph.
"I was very apologetic and I told him my fiancee was a really big fan, and he said,'OK,'" Kelly told the New York Post. "My supervisor came up to me afterwards and told me I had made him look bad and I said I was sorry and I didn't mean any disrespect."
Nothing was said until Kelly got the termination letter Friday.
"Your disregard for your supervisor and your willingness to abandon your post" were the reason he was fired, the letter said.
Studdard was not available for comment.
