The Osbournes are bacK on TV! After their highly popular MTV reality show, America’s favorite dysfunctional family will be spearheading a weekly variety show. The project will be backed by the producer of American Idol (Fremantle).

Or so claims John Rich of the new show, Nashville Star. Here, the judges actually spend a lot of time with the contestants to give pointers and other “nitty gritty details.”

The winner of the show will perform at the Olympics and record an album. Billy Ray Cyrus hosts the show.

What do Kevin Federline and Sanjaya Malakar have in common? The Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Yes, the former American Idol contestant has been tapped for a commercial, starting with one he filmed right in Pune, India. “It was a lot of fun to film,” he said, adding that the script involved poking fun at his hairstyle. (Sadly, his only real claim to fame.)

Sanjaya says he’s been able to kick off his musical career, working with New York and Seattle producers and even going to Japan to “broaden his musical vocabulary.” Uhm, we’ll be happy if he just stays on pitch.

David Cook’s off to a hot start! The American Idol winner released a stunning 17 songs, and broke records for number of downloads. David Archuleta is doing well, but not even remotely close. Surprisingly, Jason is selling better than Syesha. Well, we always knew she was better off in Broadway.

Already missing American Idol? Here’s one last fix: behind the scenes of the finale, and what they didn’t show on TV.

DAVID COOK WINS AMERICAN IDOL BY 12 MILLION VOTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing, amazing, amazing. We really love this contestant: he’s original, he’s talented, and he’s got a sensitive side. (It was touching to see him cry — and the way he gracefully tried to show his respect for David Archoleta during the final “victory song.”)

He granted his first interview as the new Idol backstage, where he spoke of the future, and Simon Cowell’s unexpected apology.

Simon Cowell actually seemed charming and (gasp!) humane when he appeared on Ellen Degeneres’ show. She showed him a reel of his harshest critiques from American Idol (with winning lines like “You sounded like Dolly Parton on helium” and “It was a bit like ordering a hamburger and only getting a bun.” He actually was a bit ashamed of himself. “That was like slightly, harshly edited there,” but conceded, “I must admit watching myself back I hated myself.”

But in his defense, he said: “This is just the way the music business is. When you’re performing in front of 25 to 30 million people and you’re not making the effort to make your self into a star I don’t think you’re doing yourself any favors so that’s why I said it.”

Both Ellen and Simon made a bold prediction: David Cook will take the Idol crown. “I’m gonna call it for David Cook,” Cowell said.

Yep, it’s David vs. David at the American Idol finale. Syesha Mercado took the elimination gracefully (Simon did warn her the night before that she had a less-than-impressive performance). “I just want to say thank you.” She looked more proud than disappointed to have made it so far. As for next week’s battle of the Davids, Simon predicted, “We’re going to have a real humdinger.”

Looks like David Cook had the strongest performance in the latest American Idol episode. It’s a very important night — we’re down to three, and this round determines the final face off.

David Archoleta’s a sweetheart and a strong candidate to win American Idol — if his dad doesn’t ruin it all for him.

Jeff Archoleta’s been a meddler from the start, but after the “Stand By Me” debacle (he insisted on changing the song’s lyrics) he’s been banned from backstage. Apparently the show had to fork over a lot of money to the enraged publisher of the song.

Face it, Jeff. Your son isn’t going to win this show by being “creative” — that’s David Cook’s strength. Nor are you going to get far into the business by being a schmuck — that’s Simon Cowell’s.