March 2007 Archives

This morning I chatted with Chris Sligh about all things AMERICAN IDOL. More on that in a second though because first I have to tell you about my earlier encounter with him at The TONIGHT SHOW. The top top ten finalists will be visiting the show every week to do a quick bit during Jay Leno's monologue. They will each get paired up with a music legend for a quick skit. This week Chris was paired up with the always entertaining, Little Richard. As you can imagine he's quite a character and it's always fun to hang out with a legend. The guy is a hoot. My experience with him lasted longer than one might wish though. Just as we were about to roll on the interview in his dressing room, Little Richard sprayed not one but two separate colognes! I'm already allergic to perfume to begin with so you can imagine my horror as the door is closed on this small space that cant be more than a 7' x 7' room. Love you Little Richard but I smelled like a Little Dick for the rest of the day. Bah dum bump. Thanks to my friend Bryant for that joke. Seriously, I did have lingering cologne on my shirt for the rest of the night.

If Chris Sligh had his way, he would have been out of the AMERICAN IDOL competition already. Seems the curly haired one was ready to go long before last night. Speaking to reporters this morning, Chris revealed he attempted to drop out of the competition during Top 12 week, "When I was universally trashed for my arrangement of 'Endless Love,' I kind of thought this isn’t the competition for me." Chris went to 19 Entertainment to ask, if he left could he still take part in the Idol tour. The answer was a resounding no. He would need to be voted out.

What I like about Chris is that he clearly takes issue with some of the practices of Idol. He says he has three wishes for changes he would like to see. Number one is that they would let the Idols who are songwriters sing their songs on the show, "I worked really hard to do one of my originals during the semi-finals, it didn't work out." According to him, the Executive Producers, Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick believed that America just wasn't ready for it.

by Dan Gomez, assistant research director

It was billed as the clash of TV titans - FOX's "American Idol" going head-to-head with ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

The most important seven minutes ever in the history of television! Who would emerge victorious? The suspense was unbearable. Well, it seems this "Thrilla in Vanilla" was more of a bust than a blowout. Seems the DWTS recap show ran an extra seven minutes, just like "Idol," thereby averting a showdown.

Yes, it was a let down but in the end that seven minutes really wouldn't have mattered anyway. "American Idol" beat the tar out of "Dancing with the Stars" in the Tuesday night primetime ratings. 28.2 million people tuned in to witness Sanjaya's po'faux-hawk while 17.9 million showed up to say goodbye to model Paulina Porizkova.

Now, the real winner in this whole ratings fracas isn't Simon, Paula or Randy - it's Gregory. Dr. Gregory House, that is!

If it weren't for Sanjaya what would we all have to talk about every week. On Wednesdays its "what was up with his hair?" On Thursdays its "why is he still here?" At least I can answer the hair question for you. As I mentioned in a blog last week, the Idol Hair Guru, Dean Banowetz is in charge of everyone's hairdos but when it comes to Sanjaya he calls the shots, "He requests these. Everything Sanjaya wants, Sanjaya gets - in my mind."

Yes, it was all Sanjaya's idea for the Mohawk too. He actually wanted it for British Invasion Week and Dean had been working on a mock up. He keeps mannequin heads of all the contestants, in his home hair studio, so he can practice hairstyles on them with wigs. When I saw the mannequin head, the hair was being held up by one of those banana clips that were popular in the late '80s. I guess that idea didn't work so they went for the pony hawk instead. My guess is since word got out Sanjaya was planning a mohawk last week they scrapped the idea. Good thinking since the element of surprise is always better.

by Heather Feldbaum, Access field producer

Question… I wonder if the producers of squeaky-clean “American Idol” actually listened to Akon’s lyrics before agreeing to let him appear as a backup singer with Gwen Stefani on Wednesday night’s show.

Although Akon will no doubt sanitize his act for the show, when the kids in the audience ask mommy and daddy to buy his album, they are in for a reckoning.

Don't think I have forgotten about all of you. I've been out of town filming behind-the-scenes of "High School Musical 2" up in St. George, Utah. Hence, no dish for the last few days. There was a bit of confusion and I was hoping to give HSM2 fans a little teaser but since Disney wants to keep the storyline under wraps as long as possible this means HSM2 fans will have to wait until May to find out about my experience on the set. Sorry! However, I am back on the AMERICAN IDOL and DANCING WITH THE STARS beat now and armed with all sorts of good scoop.

Tonight, the two reality shows will go head-to-head... for a whole seven minutes that is. Tonight is the first time that AI drops down to an hour from two-hours and the show's running time will be 1 hour and 7 minutes which cuts into DWTS.

It seems a little fishy to me that the biggest show on TV would all of a sudden decide they needed more time. However, this morning, I took a trip inside the Idol inner sanctum.. the production offices where a sign warns that no contestants are allowed. AI executive producer, Ken Warwick, swore it was not a calculated move on their part to mess with DWTS, “Yeah, I think they were a bit upset. I think they thought we did it on purpose. I can actually honestly say we didn’t. This is the first week we are only an hour. We have got ten kids. We’ve got Gwen Stefani as our mentor, which is huge and fabulous for us. So, we asked weeks ago could we make this a two-hour show or a ninety-minute show and the fact of the matter is, we just can't because of the scheduling. They (FOX) came back and said the most we can give you is seven minutes. That doesn’t cause too much trouble with the affiliates."

Apparently, all the FOX affiliates all had to agree to start their local newscasts seven minutes late.

"This is the best day of my life!" Little Jose was absolutely thrilled and he kept reminding me over and over again. "I'm having the best time!" "This is great!" he yelled.

This was one of those very special assignments for me - one that I will remember for a long time.

I am honored to be the spokesperson for the Los Angeles County, "Share Your Heart, Share Your Home" program. Our goal is to encourage people to become adoptive parents - to give children who have spent so much time in foster care a permanent home. This assignment could not have been a better fit for me. Together, with the help of Access Hollywood producers, Susan Moore, Mark Noble and Shelly Aguilar, we arranged for 7 children from LA County's foster care system to become Hollywood stars and walk the red carpet at the premiere of Disney's new animated 3-D movie, "Meet The Robinsons". (Hence the last name.)

There was charming little 10-year-old Jose who says the girls love to rub the hair on his crew cut. Adorable siblings, Sophia, Sierra, and Gabriel who just began living together after being in separate foster homes. Little Gregory who is very active and loves to draw. 12-year-old Wesley who can teach anyone a thing or two about cards. And, 15-year-old Clay who is a beautiful sophisticated young lady.

How many times have you judged someone without ever meeting them?

Without taking the time to get to know their true spirit and character? When have you made up your mind after gathering bits and pieces of information from various sources and "created" a person who was made up of one's imagination?

All of us have been guilty of such actions and there is a good chance that, at one time or another, Heather Mills, was on the receiving end.

We were all introduced to Heather when she married Paul McCartney.

Since the couple's very public divorce, Heather has seen firsthand how people can judge someone without ever getting to know them.

In divorce, rarely is there a good guy and bad guy. Usually there is enough blame to go around when a marriage crumbles.

I have no idea what type of person Heather Mills is to, be married to however, I do know she gained the respect of millions by putting herself in the spotlight, once again, and dancing on the popular show, "Dancing With The Stars".

I interviewed her this evening about the challenges of performing with an artificial leg - the result of a horrific accident. Heather is very nonchalant about the day that changed her life. She was walking across the street when a police motorcycle came around the corner, hit her and chopped off her leg. No whining. No anger. No looking back on her days of modeling. In a society obsessed with perfection, she is the picture of self-confidence.

by Dan Gomez, assistant research director

Monday night, the hit ABC series "Dancing with the Stars" returned for a fourth season bringing in 21.8 million viewers, its best premiere to date.

Now, as most people know, Disney decided to debut the trailer for their summer blockbuster "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" during the show. Could Captain Jack Sparrow have helped the series discover a treasure chest of ratings gold? I'm sure the Mouse House, who owns ABC, is hoping that's the case. Now, as one who holds an annual pass to Disneyland, I can honestly say that the classic attraction that the successful franchise is based on is one of my favorites. Nothing says wholesome family fun more than watching pirates pillage and burn a seaside village. Yo ho indeed!

But in this age of TIVO, I'm willing to bet hardcore "Pirates" fans and film geeks recorded the show to watch the trailer or just waited until it hit the web. I know I didn't watch.

So, after a plane ride to Vegas and a two-hour drive to St. George, Utah where I'll be spending three days on the set of "High School Musical 2," I made it to my hotel room just in time to catch AMERICAN IDOL. Not only is it an hour ahead here from LA but primetime starts at 7pm. So, here I am checking in at the lovely, relaxing Green Valley Spa at 7:02 rushing these poor Zen people to get me into my room. My pal and our producer Celeste was inside the taping and a has a few good tidbits to report as well.

No offense to the Brits but British Invasion week really needed bigger stars, if you ask me. Jennifer Lopez is coming. Gwen Stefani and Martina McBride are coming. Herman's Hermits? Huh. Bring back Elton John! How about Annie Lennox? Fortunately, the song choices made for quite possibly one of the best performance shows ever. So, I forgot how boring those taped pieces were and who Peter Noone and Lulu were.

Haley Scarnato kicked off the night and though I had doubts about her and why she made Top 12, she certainly has quickly morphed into looking like a star. The performance still is like watching a Miss America Pageant contestant but Simon called it when he said people would be talking about things other than her singing. Like her legs maybe?

As I reported yesterday, Chris Richardson, despite being begged by the Idol hair stylists to let his hair grow out, went ahead and buzzed it. There is a reason for those stylists. His patchy head is why they are necessary. Simon loved the singing though and thought it was his best performance to date. What was up with the Mr. Rogers sweater though?

Stephanie Edwards is on the verge of going home I think. She's pretty and a good singer but just doesn't have that standout style.

My piece on the miraculous staying power of "Idol's" Sanjaya Malakar is #1 on AOL's Top 5 this morning. I can't decide if it's funny or horrible that a website, devoted to pushing the next William Hung to the top, may be influencing this race. You hear about this kind of rebel act all the time, but it usually amounts to mostly hot air. That Howard Stern is driving HIS morning armada to follow suit in favor of Sanjaya makes it a little more plausible.

Stern's audience is fiercely loyal and I can imagine the idea of crowning a terrible singer is very pleasing..

Last night, Sanjaya showed yet again that he is as amateur a vocalist as there is on earth, but on the upside, he is quite keen: his decision to hug the little girl in tears was very sweet. Compassion and kindness should not win a singing competition but it may rally his true supporters and maybe even some apathetic sideliners.

Together with Howard Stern and the ghost of William Hung, he may ride perilously close to the end.

Only on a TV show called AMERICAN IDOL could I dedicate an entire blog to gossiping about people's hairdos. This is the show where every single facet of the contestants lives are discussed, debated and deliberated over. So therefore, I will take no shame in this hearty look into the ever changing hairstyles of the Idol finalists. I spent the morning with Dean Banowetz, the man who helped turn guys like Clay Aiken from geek to chic and transform girls like Kelly Clarkson from plain Janes to hot Bettys.

First up, and the reason for this Dean intervention, was to find out what the heck is going on with Sanjaya Malakar's hair. I nearly fell on the floor in fits of laughter when last week Sanjaya and I had the same spiral curls. According to Dean, he is not the controller of Sanjaya's follicles, "He requests these. Everything Sanjaya wants, Sanjaya gets - in my mind. He did say he wanted he his hair like Chris Sligh but a little less tight. If you cover his face or if you put the same style on a woman, I have many, many women calling me who want Sanjaya's hair."

Tonight, Sanjaya has requested... get this... a Mohawk for British Invasion week, "Who knows? It's hit or miss with Sanjaya. Whatever he wants but you know he mentioned a Mohawk last week so we have been practicing. If people are alarmed by the Mohawk or are like 'what are you doing?' I think its great. Who cares if people like it or not. If he is happy that's all that matters."

Hopefully, he won't have a change of heart before showtime because, let's face it, it would be pretty funny to get Simon Cowell's reaction on this one.The hair has become his trademark (well, that and the bad singing) but Dean says he'd love to get his scissors on Sanjaya, "In a perfect Dean world I would actually cut it to maybe a little Caesar 'do. Something a little different and this would be definitely for shock value but I'm having a lot of fun with the long hair. So, this will come later if he lets me."

Last night "DANCING WITH THE STARS" came roaring back for Season Four. Usually I'm right there getting all the backstage action but since I'm getting ready to leave for my exclusive on the set of "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2" in Utah, I picked packing over dishing. So, my bff and Dish of Salt regular fill-in blogger, Bryant Huddleston gave me the scoop via email. Check out what he had to say about night one:

Of all the stories that I cover, "Dancing With The Stars" is one of my favorites.

Tonight, I headed to the CBS Studios on Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles to meet the new cast members and watch them strut their stuff on the dance floor.

I took my dad with me and he just wanted to meet Laila Ali, world champion female boxer and daughter of The Greatest, Muhammad Ali.

Billy Ray Cyrus was being cheered on by his proud daughter, star of “Hannah Montana,” who sat in the front row.

It was my first time ever meeting NBA Champ Clyde Drexler who kept grabbing my microphone when I'd ask him a question on the red carpet.

Joey Fatone has to be one of the funniest and friendliest guys I've met. As one of the stars of *NSYNC, he's learned to be light on his feet and should do pretty well with voters.

Here is my take on Brandon after interviewing him this morning. Forget the singing the career. MTV, BET, VH1, TV One... one of these networks should hire him to host a show. I don't think on the show he was given much opportunity to showcase his personality but with me he was full of life. I can just see him standing in the MTV studio reading the teleprompter and introducing guests.

This of course would be a much better idea than going to back to say, Blockbuster Video in Pasadena, CA where he once worked as an assistant manager (thanks to his mom who works in the corporate offices in Texas). Brandon jokes, "I will say, I love you Blockbuster... but that blue shirt with the yellow collar is the worst and you know it."

There is no chance he would ever go back to that job but he did tell me with a big smile, "I'd sing for a Blockbuster Video commercial!" At least give the kid a lifetime supply of free video rentals!

We already know that Jennifer Lopez is scheduled to perform on American Idol the week of April 11th.

Now I can confirm that the theme for that week will be a Latin theme. Lopez speaking to Access Hollywood's Tony Potts from Showest in Las Vegas last night told him, "I'm excited about it. They asked me to come on. I got this e-mail from my manager like 'hey they know you have a Spanish album coming out. They want to know if you will come on. They want to do this whole Latin theme show.'"

She and her husband, Marc Anthony, are huge followers of the show. They Tivo the show when it's on and then watch it later. Anthony revealed to Tony that Lopez will sing the first single, "Qué Hiciste", off her Spanish language album, "Como Ama Una Mujer" when she takes the Idol stage on Wednesday April 11th.

As for last night's eliminated contestant, Brandon Rogers, Marc told Tony he can sympathize with a singer forgetting his words. Even he has done it, "All the time. I have 31 singles I have put out. What am I? Einstein here. I just sing, you know what I mean. I have to memorize it too. That wasn't part of the deal!"

So, it has been a while since I've been able to 'blog' with you.

As most of you probably already know, I have been a little busy. My hubby and I are expecting our first child together...(as you may also know, we have 2 very wonderful boys from his first marriage).

This has caused quite a change in my life, more than I really thought it would. There are the doctors appointments, making sure I get enough rest, eating right, not pushing myself (which caused me to be 'blogless' lately), getting the nursery ready, making sure I have everything I'll need and I don't even have to mention the entire LIBRARY of books you can read on being a first-time mom.

This has caused me to take the time to reflect on exactly what it takes to be a mother...not just having a baby, but to really contemplate all that goes into bringing a new life into the world. When thinking of being a mother, there's the pressure of knowing that another human being depends on you for not only survival, but that you'll be a TRUE role model. You'll be looked to for comfort, for guidance, for appreciation, for discipline, for advice, for sympathy, for laughter, for just about everything that all of us are. Being a mother is so much more than just 'having a baby'.

Usually when it comes down to the Top 12, I'm sitting in the audience watching the performances taking notes on all the behind the scenes dish.

This year, Fremantle has decided to slash everyone's tickets so more regular folks can enjoy the show. So, with that in mind I'll hold back my bitterness and just be glad that I don't have to spend forty-five minutes in my car driving to the studio, fifteen minutes walking from the remote parking lot and an hour waiting for the show to start. Instead I'll be happy to watch the show in my sweats on my boyfriend's couch since he gets the East Coast Feed. That doesn't mean that I wont still be able to give you backstage gossip though.

Today I'll just stick to my musings on the show since I'm about to run off and interview the lawyer for Magadeleno Olmos, the former Idol employee who is suing the show and Mario Vazquez. More on that tomorrow.

So, I had to inform the bosses of what went on during the show last night in a mass e-mail. Here is what I had to say:

So, Diana Ross and her massive hair mentored each of the kids in taped pieces.

The night got off to a rough start when Brandon Rogers forgot his words and his voice cracked half way through. Simon told him he, "Came over as a background singer for a background singer."

Ever wonder how your favorite American Idols are faring on the radio? Whose songs get played the most? Which Idols don't even make the cut? Well, thanks to a company called Mediabase, I can break it down for you right here. Mediabase monitors more than 1,800 radio stations in 180 U.S. and Canadian markets, 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Since American Idol first became a hit, the show has been responsible for over six million radio plays. What's surprising is how well the finalists have fared as opposed to the winners.

What they found is that Kelly Clarkson tops the heap and blows away the competition. Since her songs first began airing on radio stations after she won American Idol, they have been played over 3.3 million times. That's an average of about 750,00 plays a year.

A very distant second is Carrie Underwood whose songs have been spun about 725,000 times with an average of about 450,000 spins a year.

1. Season four finalist Paris Bennett came to support the Idols. She and Simon Cowell met up right next to me. He gave her a big hug and she told him, "I miss you!." She told Simon about the movie she is going to begin filming next month. Simon muses to her, "You'll probably be a big movie star."

2. Sanjaya Malakar's highlights are all his. They were put in before the show, not during, by the Idol style team. He told me he would be willing to let the style team do whatever they wanted, "I'd be totally willing to cut my hair. I think it would be really fun to just shave it off but I don't know if they'll let me."

3. Melinda Doolittle and Mandisa from last season are friends, "I love Mandisa. She is one of my favorite people. She sent me flowers and she is so supportive. And she's just, you know, kind of prayed me through this one. so I am very thankful for her."

4. Brandon Rogers got an email from pop singer Anastasia with whom he toured for two years as a backup singer. He also toured with Christina Aguilera but so far has not heard from her.

5. Stephanie Edwards told me that all Top 12 finalists were warned by Fox not to address the Antonella situation tonight. Stephanie admitted, "They did. They said nothing about any of the news that is out about her. So, I love her to death. That was my homegirl that was here so I'm not going to say anything bad about her anyways. I mean, they just don't want anything negative because everybody doesn't feel the same way about her. I feel a certain way about her but everybody else may not feel that way and they just don't want any one to say anything rude, or you know, bad about her. So I understand."

by Dan Gomez

Before we begin this ratings report, let me hit you with some TV lingo: Hammocking.

This is when a network schedules a new series, usually one they have high hopes for, between two highly popular, highly rated shows in the hopes that the new show will pick up viewers from the previous show. Still with me? Ok.

Because of Hammocking, TV viewers were forced to watch years of such unfunny sitcoms as "Suddenly Susan" and "Caroline in the City" but it also gave us great shows like "Seinfeld". Now that the vocabulary lesson is over, we can get to the real reason for this blog.

Tragedy just keeps following "American Idol" contestant, Sundance Head.

Access Hollywood has learned that an early morning fire may have killed his cousin. The Liberty Country sheriff's department received a call at 1:10am that a fire had broken out inside a trailer. They extinguished the fire and determined there was a deceased victim inside which is believed to be the body of 68-year-old Byrl Head.

The trailer was parked outside a relative's home just outside Houston, Texas. Sundance's own house that he shares with his wife, Misty, is just ten miles away in Porter, Texas. Autopsy results are pending. Byrl Head is a relative of Sundance's father, Roy Head, a country/blues singer who had a hit record in 1965.

It is always phenomenal meeting entertainment industry legends, not only because there are so few left from the old emergent days of TV & film, but because they set a standard of excellence for subsequent generations to follow. They were groundbreaking and adventurous in a time when film and TV were new.

Kirk Douglas came to our stage recently and it was indeed an honor to have him here. What a pleasure to see this movie legend. You may remember him from some of his more well known films: Lust for Life (1956), Spartacus (1960), or The List of Adrian Messenger (1963).

What you may not know is that Mr. Douglas has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the US State Department since 1963. He was awarded by President Jimmy Carter in 1981 the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest US award a civilian can receive.

Last week, I reported that fan favorite Ashly DelGrosso would not be returning this season to DANCING WITH THE STARS because she was pregnant with her first child, due in July. Today, I can tell you why Louis Van Amstel (who hoofed it with Monique Coleman, Lisa Rinna and "Bachelorette" Trista Rehn in previous seasons) will not be returning to the show.

by guest blogger Bryant Huddleston

Ok I confess -- if I wasn't a proud Huddleston I'd give my left foot to be a Walker!

I was honored to be front and center last night at a sort of TV family reunion as the Walker clan from ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" gathered in their Monday best for the Museum of Television and Radio's William S. Paley Festival. I admit this great show reminds me of my fave shows of the past that touched my heart--- if briefly.

ABC's beautifully written "Once & Again" (cancelled after three perfect seasons) and the very short lived (cancelled after only one freakin' season-a tragedy) WB's "Jack and Bobby". Last night I was reminded why I often feel the same way when watching this dysfunctional family night time soap-when I met the show runner and executive producer/writer Greg Berlanti . This super bright and surprisingly young guy created my "Jack and Bobby!" Duh!

When two-time Oscar winner Sally Field walked up to me I was completely floored. "Sally, I'm not worthy." I said. She was flattered. I mean come on she's Norma Rae for goodness sake. (I've been called that in my day) and what fan of hers doesn't love her tear-jerker scene in "Steal Magnolias". I soon picked up on the fact that often Sally blurs the lines when talking about her TV kids. She adores them. Like her liberal minded character Nora, she'd fight to the bitter end for her spawn! "It is a great group of actors and I would kill anybody who would hurt them I feel that way about them." I believe her.

Kimora Lee Simmons was on our stage last month with the latest from her Baby Phat line of clothing and new couture line KLS. We had a brief fashion show and an interview. Maria also did some standups with her.

The clothing speaks for itself. Baby Phat is an offshoot of estranged husband Russell Simmons’ line of clothing called Phat Farm. When he founded the Baby Phat brand, he named Kimora as the creative director. They split in 2006, but still work together, according the their respective websites.

She may not have thanked "American Idol" during her acceptance speech at the Oscars last Sunday but fortunately, Jennifer Hudson, still keeps the show in her heart, "I give Idol credit because they are that platform. They were that platform and people didn't always have that. I have relatives that can sing up a wall but they are too old to be seen or to go on a show like that."

Hudson talked to Shaun Robinson, on Friday night, at the NAACP Image Awards where she won for Best Supporting Actress and even gave a shout out on stage to Idol judge Randy Jackson, "I'd like to thank the NAACP, and let's not forget Randy over here, for picking me as a wild card for American Idol!"

She does make it clear however that it was "Dreamgirls" director, Bill Condon, who discovered her as an actress and Idol can't take credit for that.

Hudson told Shaun that she paid a visit to the Top 20 contestants on Thursday night, "It was on elimination day. So, I thought that was the perfect time to do so because I was always in the bottom three."

It seems like all I talk about in this blog is Idol everyday.

It does sort of consume my life right now especially since it's on three days a week! It is the most watched, most talked about show on TV though and let's face it.. fun to gossip about, right? With that in mind, I do want to fill in Idol maniacs on some interesting tidbits that were uncovered at last nights Museum of Radio and Television Paley Fest event where they held a panel discussion on AMERICAN IDOL.

This morning I'm rushing off to interview the four booted contestants (more on that Monday) so with no time to write something catchy, I'll just give it to you in subjects. First, I spoke with Mike Darnell, FOX's Executive Vice President of Alternative Programming and Specials and Executive Producer, Ken Warwick and Ryan, Simon, Randy and Paula then I went inside to listen to the panel discussion. Here is what's noteworthy.

1. Sir Paul McCartney is definitely not coming on the show this year but it will likely happen on a future season.

Ken: "I'm afraid not no, he's too busy and our second choice was Sir George Martin. He'd love to come but we are locked into the series and their are specific dates. We want to save that and we're gonna have a British Invasion week instead."

2. Janet Jackson asked to come on AMERICAN IDOL, apparently they could not fit her in.

Simon: "I don't blame you, I wouldn't let them." (He was joking.)