Randy Jackson not too optimistic about ‘Idol’

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

Was “Idol” top dawg Randy Jackson hedging his bets during his Dec. 5 appearance on “The View”? Jackson made a point of telling the panel that although some contestants have hit it big, “There’s no guarantee that you’re going to be a huge success, because it’s hard to sell records.”

That’s not exactly the cry of optimism one would expect to hear on the eve of the show’s seventh season, which begins this January. While it’s true that last season’s winner, Jordin Sparks, had the lowest-selling debut album in “Idol” history, you’d expect to hear some more enthusiasm from Jackson. That said, Jackson has seen the auditions. Perhaps he’s giving us a hint about this season’s crop of hopefuls.

George Clooney, Brad Pitt and potty humor
Julia Roberts was honored at AMC’s 22nd Annual America Cinematheque Awards show Dec. 5, and her “Oceans” pals George Clooney and Brad Pitt put together a special video package to congratulate Roberts. What makes this video click-worthy? It’s filmed in the spirit of Larry Craig, in a way only Clooney and Pitt could pull off.

Brangelina’s normal kids
Speaking of Pitt, for anyone who has worried that the Brangelina’s kids aren’t normal, rest easy: Their oldest son, 6-year-old Maddox, has done something most kids can identify with — he’s penned a letter to Santa. In the letter, Maddox asks for toys for his brother and sisters since they weren’t old enough to write a letter themselves, a family friend tells OK! Magazine.

“Pax loves cars, so Maddox also asked for two remote-controlled cars,” says the pal. For 1-year-old Shiloh, Maddox asked for some books and a doll. And for Zahara, 2, Maddox requested some princess dresses and a crying doll. “Maddox doesn’t know why Z would want her toy to cry,” says the friend. In a clever P.S., the friends says, “Maddox added that if Santa wanted to bring him something, he wouldn’t be opposed to getting a remote-controlled dinosaur. He asked Grandma Jane [Pitt] for one, but he isn’t sure she’s going to buy it.”

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