Four years ago, American Idol Season 1 contestant Nikki McKibbin was caught in the clutches of a serious cocaine and alcohol addiction.  She ended up appearing on VH-1′s Celebrity Rehab and Sober House where she shared the story of a dysfunctional parent relationship in which she would do lines with her mom.  She was my favorite washed-up celeb and the only one that I thought would have a chance of making it.

I don’t know if she’s sober today; I don’t know if any addict stays sober when they are paid to go through televised rehab.  Maybe she just switched her drug of choice from Jack Daniels to Fritos.  What I do know is this:  She’s got a killer voice and I hope we hear from her again.

Obviously, McKibbin’s appearance last night at the AI finale is a drastic change from a few years ago.  The truth of the matter is this:  If you can sing, if you have talent, people don’t care if you look slightly like a fetish-wear model shop at Lane Bryant.  Jessica Simpson got vilified in the media when she ballooned to a size eight because she has the talent of a potato.  People aren’t that harsh to Kelly Clarkson because she’s got pipes.

Conclusion:  Nikki, don’t let anything hold you back.  Get in the studio, pronto!

Just when you thought you were finally free from Miss USA California Carrie Prejean stories, I sadly regret to inform you that there is more to tell.

Recap:  Miss California admitted that she didn’t support gay marriage because that wasn’t how she was raised.  Oh, and there was that ugly incident where it was being reported that she was dating Michael Phelps.  Thank goodness that wasn’t true because I thought Beet was going to self-implode.  Prejean also denied ever having naked pictures taken of her.  Naked pictures of Prejean surfaced.  She dismissed pics by stating that they were from years previous and that it was a one-time thing.  Then we learned that the pictures were taken recently and that there were more than a couple in existence.  The next bombshell revealed was that she had fake boobs (paid for by the Miss California pageant).  She got to keep her crown despite the lying.  Let’s see — have I missed any scandals regarding this chick?

There were rumblings that both of Prejean’s parents levied accusations of homosexuality against the other during their ugly divorce battle in 1996.  I never put much stock in those stories because lots of people get nuts when dividing marital assets.  But now a woman has stepped forward claiming to be the ex-lesbian lover of Carrie Prejean’s mother.

Valerie Vetrano, a sales rep from California, says that she had a relationship with Prejean’s mom, Francine Coppola.  She doesn’t offer up much in the way of details except to say that they split about two weeks before the USA pageant.

So, what’s Carrie Prejean’s deal?  She seems to have a relationship with her mother.  Does she just not support her lifestyle?  Or is she okay with her mom being gay as long as marriage isn’t part of the plan?  More questions.  And I suspect, more stories on this girl whose fifteen minutes should have been up so very long ago.

Chris Engen is fairly new to the soap opera game.  He joined the cast of Y&R last year and left the cast of Y&R this week.  The reason for his departure?  He didn’t want to kiss a dude.

A few days after The Nelson Ratings finally bought Chris Engen’s uneven portrayal of Adam Newman, the newcomer shocked the entire Y&R cast by quitting his role in the middle of his contract two days ago! According to sources, Engen bolted because, “he [allegedly] refused to kiss [his same-sex] co-star Yani Gellman [Rafe]. Chris hasn’t been happy for a while. He doesn’t like the dark direction his character is taking. He’s called in sick a lot recently and has been taking a slew of meetings with Y&R’s [top brass] to discuss his future on the show. Chris is still under contract — and Y&R is seriously thinking of taking legal action.”

I’d like the relatively unknown Chris Engen to get a clue.  Dude, you’re an actor.  You were an employed actor until two days ago.  During a time that so many people are filing for unemployment, you need to suck it up and kiss the guy if that’s what the script tells you to do.  That’s what acting is.  You don’t get to pick and choose the preferences and qualities of your character.  You don’t have a say in who gets to put their lips on yours.

All the “I give him credit for standing up for what he believes in,” comments may commence now.  Go!

Here’s Paris and Doug Reinhardt sucking face around Cannes.  I was thinking of a caption something like “When two douches collide,” but I welcome suggestions.

Never mind that they are wasting the court’s time, they are wasting my time and seriously irritating me in the process.  Sean Penn and wife Robin Wright-Penn have asked that their legal separation case be dismissed.  Again.  This would be the second “I Love You, I Love You Not,” go-around for these two.

You know who I feel bad for?  Their kids.  At this point, how many times do you think Sean and Robin have sat down with their sons and given them the “Listen, you know mommy and daddy both love you, right?  Sometimes, it’s better for a mom and dad to live separately.  That way, we’ll both be happier which will result in you guys being happier,” talk?  These kids must just roll their eyes and be all “Whatevah.”  Because they know what all of America knows –  these two messes aren’t ever going to split up.  Every 12 to 15 months they’ll get restless and file some sort of legal motion but that will be the extent of it.

So, yeah.  Sean Penn and Robin Wright are back together.  Nobody.  Cares.

I think Kate Gosselin’s next book needs to be called Separate Couches. Because that’s the thing that stands out most in this teaser for their season premiere. No matter how badly Kate and Jon hated each other before, they always did their interviews sitting together on a couch, even though their body language indicated that they wanted to be far, far away from one another.

For the season premiere, they’re totes being interviewed separately. They won’t even sit on a couch next to each other! Ouch!

“The world isn’t about ratings and TV. It’s about happiness and love and companionship and God,” Jon tells the camera. “And, you know, I think we all get caught up in everything. Too much of anything is bad. Because I love my kids, I love my family and that’s what it is … Kate and I obviously have been going through a lot of stuff and discussing what’s best for our kids. What we said in the beginning — it’s a crazy life, but it’s our life — that’s so true.”

I hope VH1 is already talking to Jon about doing Jon Minus Nine. I’m thinking some manner of Rock of Love-style dating show. Except instead of knowing all the lyrics to “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” the girls will have to name and spell all his children. I, for one, will be tuning in, if not competing.