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An Early 'Idol' Prediction

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 25, 2008

Updated: 03/24/2008 11:49 pm

I'm going to make my "American Idol" winner pick now: Brooke White.

Based on nothing more than watching about 30 minutes of this year's competition, I feel about as qualified as judge Paula Abdul to make this prediction.

Yes, I confess. I have not seen an entire episode of "American Idol" since the wacky audition rounds.

Call it "Idol" fatigue. I think the show jumped the shark when Taylor Hicks won in the fifth season. But the viewers keep coming back.

I've watched "Idol" in short bursts this season. I'll stick through one or two performances, the judges' comments and Ryan Seacrest's painful wrap-ups. But my remote-control finger gets itchy, and I travel on.

As for White, there is something pleasant, safe, warm and sweet about her that suggests she is the kind of performer who will get the most votes from the people who take this competition seriously.

There are 10 finalists left, and while she may not be the most talented in that group, she has won over judge Simon Cowell.

He has been a fan ever since he learned she has never seen an R-rated movie.

Musically, she is similar to Carole King or Carly Simon. Could another Carly Simon even sell records today? I don't know.

But if you think that having a style that may be out-of-date is a drawback, I have two words for you: Taylor Hicks.

White, a 24-year-old beauty-school dropout from Mesa, Ariz., appears to be building the kind of fan support that helped Hicks pull off his victory.

DANCING STARS: TV's other hot reality show, "Dancing With the Stars," has its first elimination tonight on ABC.

The smart money on the first to go is on wiseguy Adam Carolla or blustery magician Penn Jillette; both dance like injured water buffaloes. But then tennis champ Monica Seles didn't exactly burn up the floor, either.

Quickly becoming a fan favorite is Marlee Matlin, 42, the Oscar-winning actress who is deaf. But former Olympic skater Kristi Yamaguchi and former Elvis Presley bride Priscilla Presley are proving to be formidable competition.

Last week, there was a local version of "Dancing With the Stars" called "Celebrity Dancing in Tampa Bay" at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

Among the local dancers were news anchors Katie Coronado, of WFLA, Channel 8; Ginger Gadsden, of WTSP, Channel 10; and Wendy Ryan, of WFTS, Channel 28.

The event was a fundraiser for The Spring, a shelter for abused women and their children. I caught some clips of Ryan's performance on "ABC Action News," and she was impressive.

"JERICHO" TUMBLES: Tonight is the last episode of "Jericho." CBS has decided to cancel the postapocalyptic drama because of low ratings.

First canceled in May, "Jericho" received a second chance after fans sent the network 40,000 pounds of peanuts - a salute to the defiant "Nuts!" line uttered by co-star Skeet Ulrich's character in the first-season finale.

CBS ordered seven new episodes for a test run, which didn't draw enough support.

"Jericho," which averaged 10.5 million viewers each week during its first run, is averaging only 6.5 million during this run.

PRIME TIME "PRICE" : CBS has scheduled four prime time episodes of "The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular" for the May sweeps. It will air at 8 p.m. Wednesdays beginning April 30.

Also, the James Woods legal series "Shark" will return to CBS on April 29, airing at 10 p.m. Tuesdays.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

Frontline: Bush's War,

9 p.m., WEDU, Channel 3

A new "Frontline" history of how the United States became involved in war in Iraq concludes. Part I debuted Monday and will be available soon online at pbs.org.

The Riches, 10 p.m., FX

On the second episode of the new season, Wayne (Eddie Izzard) becomes involved in a murder in Eden Falls.

For more listings, go to TBO.com,

keyword: TV.

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