Seacrest, Cowell All Smiles at ‘Idol’ After-Party

Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe are welcomed, but Ellen is nowhere to be seen at Mondrian bash

"American Idol’s" stars, VIPs and executives moved from downtown to West Hollywood’s Mondrian Hotel for a six-hour after-party Wednesday night.

Although the party began at 8 p.m. with the show’s West Coast broadcast, most of the top-tier faces (read: not former “Idol” contestants) did not arrive until later. 

After a mountain of post-show press, winner Lee DeWyze still looked disastrously uncomfortable when he arrived three hours after his win. It could have been the new ring of security guards that shadowed him everywhere.

Runner-up Crystal Bowersox did not get the “president-elect” treatment, and instead spread out across several tables in the cabana with her crew of biker-type friends.

Paige Miles Melinda Doolittle American IdolPaula Abdul was not the only alum welcomed back to the Fox family Wednesday night. Former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe was in the mix at the Skybar, which covered the pool for the 400 guests. Future alum Rickey Minor, the "Idol" bandleader who joins “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” next month, at least got invited to the party, even if his departure went unrecognized on-air. 

Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell were all smiles as they arrived together around midnight, slipping in the back door. Kara DioGuardi brought her chihuahua to her poolside table, while Ellen DeGeneres appeared to be a no-show after much head-turning by this reporter. 

Paige Miles and Melinda Doolittle (pictured) were just two of the countless Idol “could-have-beens” at the bash talking up their current careers.

This season’s early favorite Lilly Scott (eliminated in the top 16) put on a brave face, telling TheWrap that leaving the show in March was “a blessing,” and that she has been meeting with labels since. 


Comments