Paula Abdul kicks off ‘Idol’ with a meltdown

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

With only a week to go before the new season of “American Idol,” little things like airport meltdowns from judges — specifically Paula Abdul — become very newsworthy.

“She had an insane nervous breakdown that lasted 10 minutes,” a tipster told Radaronline.com of a scene at the Continental Airlines terminal at LAX over the holidays.

“One minute she was hyperventilating and on the verge of passing out; the next she was yelling into her cell phone in this deep, rage-filled ‘Poltergeist’ voice. She kept screaming three names over and over — Michael, Sidney and Leslie. Everyone was staring at her, but she didn’t care.”

With no reality show cameras to capture the episode, it’s the tipster’s word against Abdul’s, especially since reps for Abdul didn’t comment on the meltdown by press time (which means there’s still no explanation on who Michael, Sidney or Leslie might be, or what they did to score such good placement in the tirade).

Slideshow   Celebrity sightings Ginnifer Goodwin gets serious at the “Single Man” screening, Beyonce wows Berlin at MTV awards, Claire Danes is a BAFTA beauty and more. more photos

“This doesn’t surprise me at all,” said a source who’s spent many painful hours alongside the “Idol” judge. “Makes you wonder what’s in the cup on the judge’s table. She’s nice and all, but she isn’t always so together.”

Jamie Lynn pregnancy is ‘normal’
Residents of Jamie Lynn Spears’ hometown of Kentwood, La., just don’t know what all the fuss is about when it comes to the current state of the youngest Spears’ uterus.

“No one can understand why the media is making such a big deal over Jamie’s pregnancy,” local Mandy Knight told OK! Magazine. “That’s normal for people around here … her pregnancy really isn’t so shocking.”

Slide show   First comes baby For many celebrities, from Jamie Lynn to Johnny Depp, having a child doesn’t always lead to marriage. more photos

Tell that to the rest of America. Or Nickelodeon. Regardless, the town has rallied around their celebrity and celebrity baby-daddy, Casey Aldridge. “We’re all so proud of him for doing the right thing,” said Cheryl Rape, the town librarian at the Liberty Library in Liberty, Miss., to the mag. “We all do wish him well.”

‘The Mole’ burrows back into TV lineup
The show that helped catapult Anderson Cooper into fame is back. ABC has announced “The Mole” is returning this summer. The show, which the network says was in the works pre-strike, will have a 10-episode run, be simpler than the original and will allow America to participate. No new host has been found yet, but if you’re reading, “Mole” producers, I know a Scoop writer who might have some vacation time coming …

Eminem not so ‘Slim’ Shady anymore?
Rapper Eminem, aka Marshall Mathers, is out of a Detroit-area hospital after suffering from complications due to pneumonia, and “despite reports to the contrary, Eminem is not suffering from a heart condition,” said his rep.

In related news, TMZ reports that Slim Shady has actually ballooned to more than 200 pounds. His rep, who is based in California, said, “I have not seen him nor do I know the answer.” I trust TMZ is on the case.

Eminem is working on another record, but no release has been set.

Don't miss this on MSNBC.com Pass it on: Sons of infertile men may be next The eight biggest Olympic marketing debacles Reality show judges range from wise to wacko Cosmic Log: Is this your jetpack? Forget your inhibitions: World's sexiest islands

MORE FROM THE SCOOP

The Scoop Section Front

No immediate plans to move ‘Oprah’ Rihanna says album helped recovery Stewart doesn’t want Jolie-level fame Heidi and Spencer’s book a disgrace Kate needs to use interview to redeem herself The Scoop Section Front   Add The Scoop headlines to your news reader: