On Wednesday's season finale of "America's Got Talent," the final four performed duets with seemingly selected-at-random celebrities. While I didn't really get the whole Michael Grimm/Jewel duet, I must say the pairing of mid-air novelty act Fighting Gravity with Lionel Richie singing "Dancing On The Ceiling" was fairly inspired, as was vocal legend Sarah Brightman with 10-year-old opera prodigy Jackie Evancho...especially when Sarah advised little Jackie to "save and preserve her voice." (I hope Jackie's parents were listening to Brightman's bright advice, or their million dollar baby's voice will sadly be shot before she turns 18.)

But of course, the most fabulous pairing was Prince Poppycock with the Queen Of Disco, Donna Summer. Bedecked in a cotton-candy-pink wig with high-heeled granny boots to match, America's most beloved "fopera" singer actually managed to upstage Donna (not an easy thing to do).

"When I saw you sing with Donna Summer, that is what you are," said judge

When bewigged wonder Prince Poppycock performed on Tuesday night's "America's Got Talent" finale, some people--and by "some people," I mean sour-lemon-sucking judge Piers Morgan--were disappointed. Piers actually red-X'd the good Prince, griping that Poppycock had blown his chances to win $1 million by staging a more serious and sedated performance (of the opera classic "Nessum Dorma") rather than one of his signature colorful, campy spectacles.

And while I mostly disagreed with Piers--Poppycock looked positively regal, his vocals were strong, and he did nothing worthy of being buzzed--I did agree, reluctantly, that it was not His Royal Cockiness's finest performance, not quite up to par with his china-smashing "Bohemian Rhapsody" romp (the Prince does Queen!) or his red-white-and-blue-blooded, (freak)flag-flying, absolutely dandy "Yankee Doodle Dandy" salute to America. Poppycock just didn't pop QUITE as much as usual Tuesday night...

After Piers ripped poor Poppycock apart, the

The top 4 finalists for "America's Got Talent" have finally been chosen, with all of the "Gong Show"-reminiscent freaks and novelty acts weeded out long ago. (Chips, Mary Ellen, Pup...we hardly knew ye.) So among the final four, painted-faced opera dandy Prince Poppycock stands out like, well, a poppy-colored peacock. With his pancake-thick mime makeup, satin pantaloons, harlequin leotards, and towering powdered wigs, this flamboyant fop is a dashing if bizarre figure--imagine if Klaus Nomi had had a starring role in Dangerous Liaisons, or if David Bowie circa 1980, fully clothed in his "Ashes To Ashes" video glam-jester attire, had tackled opera (or, as I like to call it, "fopera") along with new wave. Or maybe if the Upper Crust ever staged a rock operetta.

Sure sounds like a novelty act, huh? It would be, except the man behind the makeup has the goods to pull all this off. Simply put, John Quale's got talent.

John Quale, who is actually quite ruggedly handsome without his kabuki

Well, her love may not cost a thing, but apparently Jennifer Lopez's judging skills cost $12 million. That's what reliable sources Us Weekly, People, and Deadline Hollywood are reporting, saying that while J.Lo didn't get all her rumored diva demands met by Fox and Fremantle, the newly confirmed "American Idol" judge's paycheck will keep her in Louboutins for some time.

Until recently, J.Lo and her on/off manager Benny Medina had been reportedly negotiating a "vanity deal" that would involve the sometimes-actress developing motion pictures and TV pilots for Fox, on top of a requested $15 million "Idol" salary. Apparently that didn't work out, but Jenny and Benny eventually agreed to a slightly lower, but not too shabby, 12 mil (sans film or television commitments) for her to start judging "Idol" in Season 10.

So this begs the question: Is Jennifer Lopez worth $12 million? I say heck to the NO. I personally loathe the idea of J.Lo judging "Idol"--for several reasons.

First of all, when

"So You Think You Can Dance" had a major presence at the MTV Video Music Awards this year, with a couple numbers--notably the starmaking performance by Florence + The Machine, the highlight of an otherwise dull broadcast--staged by Season 2 runner-up-turned-choreography-genius Travis Wall. (Past "SYTYCD" contestants Brandon Bryant, Adrian Lee, Nick Lazzarini, and Noelle Marsh were all spotted onstage in different numbers as well.)

And attending the big VMAs show, while taking a break from rehearsals for the upcoming "SYTYCD" tour, were Season 7's champion Lauren Froderman and first runner-up Kent Boyd, whom Yahoo! caught up with on the white carpet Sunday night. Check out their adorable interview below:

And in case you missed Travis's stunning Florence number (or just want to watch it again, which would be understandable), see it in all its glory here:

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Back in 2007, VH1 aired an awesome but little-seen reality show called "Mission: Man Band," which chronicled a comeback attempt by four fallen boy band stars--including members of *NSYNC, Color Me Badd, and 98 Degrees--to evolve into mature recording artists in a new singing supergroup called Sureshot. I admit I first tuned in to the show to see all the camp, the kitsch, the Celebreality drama...but I kept watching because Rick Cronin brought the heart.

Rich Cronin was the lead singer of '90s boy band LFO, best known for their 1999 smash hit "Summer Girls." Tragically, he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005. But at the time that "Mission: Manband" aired, Rich was in remission and hoping for another chance as fame. He didn't get that chance. He did reunite with LFO one last time in 2009, but Sureshot never took off...and yesterday, Rick passed away at age 35, after suffering a stroke following a stem cell transplant.

My heart goes out to Rich's family, friends, and fans. Thirty-five is

Regular Reality Rocks readers know I love me some Josiah Leming (yes, I am a Leminghead, I admit it), and that I've pretty much been obsessed with the kid ever since he first reared his blonde head on "American Idol" in 2008. But I don't love him for the reasons most "Idol" viewers probably love him--you know, the heartstring-tugging back story, the whole living-in-a-car thing, his easily induced sobbiness, etc. No, I love Josiah for the reason most real music lovers--as in, the indie snob types who normally turn up their noses at all things "Idol"-related--will soon come to love him. For his music.

See, when Josiah auditioned in Season 7 with his own song, a goosebumpily beautiful ballad called "To Run," I immediately recognized him as a major undiscovered talent. So it figures that the judges wouldn't keep him around--a kid like this, with his stellar songwriting skills and a wonderfully skewed mind of his own, would have never been the easily pliable puppet that 19 Entertainment and

Simon Cowell's announcement earlier this year that he was quitting "American Idol" to focus on the U.S. version of one of his other talent shows, "The X Factor," sent the reality world into a panic, as speculation ran rampant regarding who would replace him (or whether he could/should be replaced at all) and Fox execs scrambled to recast the judging panel with showbiz types like Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. And now a similar tizzy is about to erupt in the U.K, as Simon has just announced that he will likely quit the British version of "X Factor," and possibly "Britain's Got Talent" as well, after 2010.

British paper The Sun reports that Simon said Monday night: "At the moment you are going to see me doing one show next year--and not one in England. I have a contract [for 'X Factor U.K.'] for this year, and that is it."

Additionally, Simon revealed that the entire judging panel of his other popular U.K. show, "Britain's Got Talent," will probably change, as he focuses on his new