Reality Check
'Idol' reject William Hung is free — and so, finally, is John Stevens

By Pamela Sitt
Seattle Times staff reporter

William Hung

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We can't imagine a more fitting setting for Hung, the engineering student turned unlikely celebrity after his jerky rendition of "She Bangs" on "American Idol." Presumably, he's now "touring" in support of his debut album, "Inspiration." Note his disclaimer: "I have had no professional training." The show will go on, rain or shine, at B&I Marketplace, 8012 S. Tacoma Way.

	John Stevens

Meantime, redheaded crooner John Stevens finally made his "American Idol" exit last week after the debacle that sent Jennifer Hudson home the week before. Stevens, who must be praised for his composure — if not his voice — at a mere 16 years, took all the criticism like a man. "People have a right to their own opinions," Stevens said in a phone interview last week. "You've got to let it roll off your back."

Still, he admitted to feeling "guilty" after Hudson was voted off because "I felt she still deserved to be there." Stevens plans to finish high school and then explore a career in singing or acting. That's music to the ears of his adoring female fan base: "I've gotten a couple of prom requests."

Father knows best?

Duncan Nutter, the sole dad on Bravo's "Showbiz Moms & Dads," continues to alienate his wife and seven kids — who would really rather be home on the farm in Vermont — with his maniacal pursuit of fame in New York. "There's a little bit of the fairy tale in his life," says wife Cynthia. Only when she says "fairy tale," what she really means is "complete delusion." ...

Meantime, the two Debbies — Tye and Klingensmith — are neck and neck in the contest for pushiest stage mom to 4-year-old pageant queen Emily and aspiring teen heartthrob Shane, respectively. "She is a perfectionist. I don't know if she gets it from me, because I'm a perfectionist," Debbie Tye says of her daughter. That must be why she has to bribe Emily with toys and ice cream to get her to practice her "pretty feet" at Beauty Boot Camp. Later, when Emily throws a tantrum in a toy store, Tye tells her, "You are four years old. Act like it." She is. ...

Debbie Klingensmith is no less determined to make a star of her 15-year-old son, Shane, who looks eerily like the lost brother from the Carter clan. (The dysfunctional Carter family, including Backstreet Boy Nick and pop star Aaron, is rumored to be shopping its own reality show.) Shane can't sing or dance, but he is the biggest Mama's Boy ever to appear on TV. Is there a contest for that? (9 p.m. Tuesdays, Bravo.)

The 'Reunion' reunion

	Denise "The Ex"

In the aftermath of their 10-year "High School Reunion" on The WB, Round Rock High School's class of '93 lived happily ever after. Trevor ("The Pipsqueak") proposed to Amanda ("The Sophomore Flirt"). Gabe ("The Jock") moved back in with Denise ("The Ex") and their children. LouAnn ("The Homecoming Queen") left her fiancé for her high-school sweetheart, Johnny ("The Quarterback"). And Lenny ("The Geek") grew sideburns and turned into a ladies' man. The best part of the finale? Daniel ("The Gay Guy") getting voted prom queen.

'The Bachelor'

It's down to the final four for NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer. As much as we hate two-faced Trish, with her "Golddigger" T-shirt and rhinestone tiara, life in the bachelorette mansion sure would be bor-ing without her (9 p.m. Wednesdays, KOMO-TV).

Like daughter, like mother

Kathy Hilton, mother of Paris, will star in a new reality series called "The Good Life," a reverse take on her daughter's hit show, "The Simple Life." Ten young women will be schooled in the ways of high society while staying at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Hilton, in the Donald Trump role, will eliminate one woman each week after tasks. Clearly, she's qualified to train women to be proper ladies — look at how her own two daughters turned out. Meantime, "The Simple Life 2" premieres June 16 on Fox.

Trump tidbits

The Donald has offered to pay for "Apprentice" contestant Troy McClain's college education. McClain reportedly wants to go to Harvard, alma mater of his buddy Kwame Jackson. ...

Trump is putting his name on yet another product: 1-foot-tall doll versions of himself. The dolls say (what else?) "You're fired!" and will hit stores this summer.

Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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