Hangin' With Ruben At The 'Idol' Auditions

It never fails to happen: when an "Idol" winner comes around, somebody will cry. Out of nowhere, this gray- haired fifty-something woman popped up, heaving in convulsions as she put her arms around Ruben while the rest of the crowd snapped photos. Ruben, a man of few words, shouted out to the crowd, "Good luck, everybody! Do ya'll best." No one knows what's going through the "Idol" wannabes' minds more than Ruben, who was standing on a line just like this three years ago. "Well, I know a lot of them are probably nervous right now, but it's really nothing. They just have to go in there and do their best and if, you know, it's meant for them to make it, they will."

Unfortunately, Ruben only stayed with the crowd for a few minutes because, as usual, the "Idol" producers were freaking out about it. They really need to chill out on that show.

After their brief pep talk, Ruben took Tim on a tour of all his favorite Birmingham hot spots, which you can look forward to seeing on an upcoming "Access Hollywood." I wasn't with them in Alabama, but I can pass along what the producer had to say about it for all you die-hard "Idol" fans. First stop was Famous Pancakes, where Ruben filled Tim in on his new, healthier diet. He's become a vegetarian and has already lost about twenty to thirty pounds. Next stop was Ruben's grandmother's house, where he showed Tim around the house he grew up in. Apparently, Grandma still has plastic covering the furniture. The people in the neighborhood know him here as Chris, and it's where he says he feels most at home. Next, Tim and Ruben walked up the street to the church where he used to sing, and he told Tim how that influenced his music. He and his friends used to ring the church bell as kids, and a neighbor would bust them and yell at them. Last stop on the hometown tour was the recording studio where Ruben worked on his upcoming album, "The Return." This being his third album (and second out of the "Idol" juggernaut), Ruben had a lot more input and control over the CD. It's expected to hit stores in October. He also has his own record label and is currently working with a girl group called Mocha. Oh, and one more interesting note: Ruben is now a co-owner of a Birmingham modeling agency. He says he wants to give some of the people there a shot at the big time.

Though I haven't heard Ruben's name in a long time (and it was runner-up Clay Aiken, not the actual winner of "Idol" season two, who performed at this year's finale), it sounds like Ruben's career is flourishing.

Next stop for the "Idol" auditions is Memphis, Tennessee, on September 3rd.

Sorry, we have no more surprises planned!