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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jackson may be leaving ‘Idol’ bench

From Wire Reports

“American Idol’s” game of musical chairs may have taken another casualty as new reports claim Randy Jackson is vacating his post as judge – a spot he’s held since the singing competition premiered in 2002.

Jackson is reportedly stepping away from the judges’ table but would continue to play a role in the show as a mentor to the contestants. No word on what capacity that mentorship would be.

Speculation over who will occupy the judges’ table when the competition kicks off its 12th season in January went into overdrive the moment Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler announced their departures after two seasons.

Pop diva Mariah Carey became the highest paid judge in reality TV when she inked a deal, reportedly worth $18 million, to replace Lopez. Carey remains the only confirmed judge.

‘Starsky’ actor fighting drug charge

The actor who played David Starsky in the 1970s police drama “Starsky & Hutch” is fighting a drug charge in Kentucky for what he says is medical marijuana from California.

The Daily News in Bowling Green reports an attorney entered a not guilty plea on Thursday on behalf of 69-year-old Paul Michael Glaser of Venice, Calif.

Bowling Green police charged Glaser with possession of marijuana and a pipe on May 10, hours after he read an excerpt of his young adult novel, “Chrystallia and the Source of Light,” to students at a middle school.

He was arrested after an anonymous call to police that a man was smoking marijuana in a hotel.

Spelling welcomes baby boy

There’s a new baby in Tori Spelling’s house.

The actress gave birth Thursday to a boy named Finn Davey. His stats? Six pounds, 6 ounces, and 20 inches from head to toe. Spelling made the announcement on her website and on Twitter.

The baby is the 39-year-old’s fourth child with actor-husband Dean McDermott, 44.

Spelling said on her website this week that the pregnancy would probably be her last, although she said she was “in love with pregnancy” and called it “the most important job” in her life.

The birthday bunch

Actor George Maharis is 84. Comedian-actress Lily Tomlin is 73. Actor Don Stroud is 69. Singer Archie Bell is 68. Singer Barry Gibb is 66. Rock musician Greg Errico is 64. Talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw is 62. Singer Gloria Estefan is 55. Jazz musician Boney James is 51. Singer-musician Grant Lee Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo) is 49. Retired NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway is 46. Rock musician Joe Trohman is 28.