Quotes of the Day

The Quarter-Million-Dollar Man
After holding the three-month job interview from hell, DONALD TRUMP picked a winner on his NBC show, The Apprentice: Chicago entrepreneur BILL RANCIC, 32, whose new, $250,000-a-year job is to manage construction of a 90-story luxury riverfront building in his hometown. Upon edging out his rival Kwame Jackson, Rancic declared, "The American Dream is still alive." They used to say the same thing about the Donald's hair.

Martha, Take Note
Sometimes a prison sentence is a career move. Ask rapper SHYNE, a.k.a. Jamal Barrow, a Sean (P. Diddy) Combs protege, convicted for assault in 2001 after the now famous 1999 shooting at a New York City nightclub. Though Barrow is serving a 10-year sentence and may not be up for parole until 2009, Def Jam Records reportedly signed him to a record deal, worth up to $3 million, after a bidding war with at least two other labels. Alas, his touring schedule will be limited.

Tall, Attractive and Separated
Don't look directly at them. Model-actress REBECCA ROMIJN-STAMOS, 31, and husband JOHN STAMOS, 40, General Hospital's former resident hunk, are so gorgeous, they may just burn your retinas. So it was perhaps inevitable that the couple would spontaneously combust. After more than five years of marriage, they announced their separation days before the release of her new film, The Punisher. The usual speculation arose that extramarital dalliances were involved. But Romijn-Stamos denied all rumors, saying the only affair she's had recently has been with her new puppy.

Oh, the Humanity!
Just when you thought reality TV couldn't sink any lower, on May 17 the WB will launch a show that takes a diabolical spin on American Idol. Created by Mike Fleiss (The Bachelor), Superstar USA duplicates Idol's format, down to the three-judge panel — this one includes rapper Tone-Loc, has-been pop star Vitamin C and snappish TV producer Chris Briggs — but judges kick the able singers off while promoting the earnestly talentless, off-key William Hung types. None of the contestants are clued in to the hoax until the end. "What's extraordinary is to see people who are convinced that they're going to be the next pop star go up there and just stink up the joint," says Fleiss. "It's incredible. I'm grateful for it." The winner — or at least the longest-serving loser — is rewarded with a $100,000 recording contract. Isn't the public humiliation of it all a little too mean? Says Fleiss: "Too mean? Nah, that never crossed my mind. Too funny, too compelling, I did think at times." And you thought Simon Cowell was cold.

• Sora Song