Celebrity News & Gossip

The more audition episodes we have to endure on American Idol, the more we wish that they’d just condense them into one two-hour special and then zip right into Hollywood. Dallas was, with the exception of Neil Patrick Harris and backflipping Todrick Hall, yet another episode that dragged, but there was definitely some talent in the Lone Star State.
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We can confirm that L.A. contestants on American Idol are a lot more emotionally unstable than in other cities. That was the biggest lesson we learned from Tuesday night’s crying montage anyway. We also learned during the episode that Avril Lavigne will never not shop at Hot Topic, Katy Perry appears to hate Kara DioGuardi as much as we do, and a lot of ministers want to be rock stars. Read on for all of our stray observations from this pretty craptastic episode.
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It looks like “30 Rock” will clean up again at this year’s Emmy Awards. Tina Fey’s beloved sitcom, which won outstanding comedy series last year, snagged 22 Emmy nominations today. In the drama department, the ’60s flashback masterpiece “Mad Men” raked in 16 nominations, including a nod for the second consecutive year for its lead actor Jon Hamm. Considering that Hamm also guest stars on “30 Rock,” he and Tina Fey have a shot at ruling this year’s show, to be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris (also a nominee) and broadcast live on Sept. 20 from L.A.’s Nokia Theatre. Other highlights …

• Farrah Fawcett, who never won an Emmy, may win one posthumously for “Farrah’s Story,” her documentary chronicling her battle against cancer. (Expect tears when the award is accepted on her behalf.)

• “Big Love” was nominated for outstanding drama series, but its actors weren’t nominated for anything. (Does that make sense?)

• “Gossip Girl” was snubbed. (Appalling, xoxo)

• “Family Guy” was nominated for best comedy series, making it the only animated show since “The Flintstones” to land in that category. (Woot!)

• Jemaine Clement of “Flight of the Conchords” is up for lead actor in a comedy. (Hipsters rejoice.)

• Sarah Silverman was nominated for lead actress in a comedy series for the “Sarah Silverman Program” on Comedy Central. (We think her show sucks. Are we the only ones?)

• Highly-rated “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ was snubbed from the reality competition category. (Shock! Not really.)

• “ER” and “Desperate Housewives” didn’t receive any nominations in any major categories. (Where do old shows go to die?)

• “True Blood” was shut out of all major categories even though its star Anna Paquin won a Golden Globe earlier this year. (Dear TV Academy, quit being so snobby.)

• “Grey Gardens” stars Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange are both up for lead actress in a miniseries or movie.

• “Breaking Bad” and “Dexter” scored nominations for outstanding drama series and for its lead actors. (Duh.)

• Once again, HBO dominated with 99 Emmy Award nominations. Showtime got 29 and NBC led the major networks with 67. After the jump, read a list of the nominees in major categories for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards.

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According to Star Magazine, Neil Patrick Harris and partner David Burtka plan to have a child via a surrogate mother. The 2009 Tony Awards host and How I Met Your Mother star has been with Burtka—also an actor—since 2004. Growing Generations, the same agency used by Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, is reportedly handling the surrogacy.

“Neil and David were so relieved and excited once they were approved,” says the source. “Neil and David can’t wait to hold their baby; they don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl. They just want a healthy child.” “I think I’d make a good dad,” Harris told OK! last year.

[Photo: Getty Images]