The American Idol season has been over for a week now, but the scandals keep coming. And this one may be the biggest.

The New York Times is reporting that AT&T, whose mobile phone network is the only one that can be used to cast Idol votes via text message, provided free text-messaging services at two parties in Arkansas after the final performance episode of the show last week, according to the company and people at the events. There appear to have been no similar efforts to provide free texting services to supporters of Adam Lambert, who finished as the runner-up to Kris Allen.

AT&T staff assisted Kris fans at the two Arkansas events by providing instructions on how to send 10 or more text messages at the press of a single button, known as power texts. Power texts have an exponentially greater effect on voting than do single text messages or calls to the show’s toll-free phone lines (which can be very difficult to get through to).

The first thing I think when I read this is, “How can two parties in Arkansas affect the vote that much?” Likely not much. But assuming that the vote would be close (which it wasn’t), every additional vote for Allen would be necessary.

Regardless of whether this additional support for Kris affected the vote, AT&T’s actions are suspect and should be scrutinized. In fact, AT&T’s efforts appear to violate American Idol’s voting rules. The show broadcasts an on-screen statement at the end of each episode warning that blocks of votes cast using “technical enhancements” that unfairly influence the outcome of voting can be thrown out.

This stinks. Upon further sniffing, it appears to have a similar bouquet as the 2000 Palm Beach, Florida vintage. Hey, American Idol is fun to watch. But this story is further proof that the reality portion, at least with respect to voting, is as contrived as The Hills.

Other Idol news: Now that both Allen and Lambert have been forced to release the innocuous song No Boundaries as their first single, it appears as if America really does prefer Kris Allen. According to Soundscan, Kris is outselling Adam by a wide margin past week. The numbers:

Kris Allen- 134,458, Adam Lambert - 35,984

Let's just call it AT&T Idol

Jon and Kate bigger than J-Lo

Speaking of contrived television, after Jon and Kate Plus 8’s monstrous ratings success on Monday (9.8 million viewers!), TLC has decided to pull the plug on a reality show featuring Jennifer Lopez. The reality show with J-Lo would concentrate on the behind-the-scenes creation of a new J-Lo fragrance. Lopez insisted that her kids not be involved in the show.

A TLC source told TMZ, "It was on life support for awhile, and now we've just lost interest."

I’m no fan of J-Lo, but is Kate more important than Ms. Lopez? Hells to the no! And who knew that pretending to get a divorce and whoring out your eight children could rake in enough ratings to tell J-Lo to go screw herself? What has this world come to??? I hope this decision comes back to bite TLC in the ass.

Kate's hair, 1. J-Lo's booty, 0.

Aqua returns, but this ain’t no Barbie Girl

Remember Aqua? Don’t lie and say you don’t. Who can forget one of the greatest guilty pleasures of all time? Barbie Girl, Dr. Jones and Lollipop Candyman were huge back in 1997.

The Scandinavian band is attempting a comeback. Here they are again with a new song called Back To The 80’s. It’s catchy, but it’s nowhere near as good as Barbie Girl. It may catch on, but to me, this is just a lame attempt at a comeback. Sad.

What do you think?

Paging Dr. Jones. Barbie Girl on line 3. She says she misses you.

Brooke Hogan films most awkward video ever

We know that Brooke Hogan is one hot mess, but who knew that she had it in her to portray herself to be even MORE of a nutcase than ever?

On Monday night Brooke turned on her webcam and uploaded this video to Youtube. In this six-minute epic, Brooke decides to take on one of the essential debates of our time: red apples vs. green apples. I hereby dare you to watch all six minutes and thirteen seconds of this incoherent, rambling mess.

Hogan is drunk, high or both here. If she’s sober, it’s time to call the closest mental health professional. Either way, this girl is messed up.
On the bright side, without her makeup, Brooke actually looks younger. Every awkward video has its silver lining…

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree