Dish Of Salt: Wednesday TV Round Up (February 3, 2010)

I think I have had my fill of “American Idol’s” audition rounds. It’s time to move on to Hollywood Week and finally get around to the business of whittling down the contestants to the Top 24. Today, Ellen DeGeneres discusses her first week on the job and what exactly she thinks of her co-worker, Simon Cowell.

Plus, I have dish on why two former “Desperate Housewives” flames are reuniting on another ABC show.

Ellen Dishes On Hollywood Week

The wait is almost over for Ellen DeGeneres fans. The talk show host joins the “American Idol” judging team next week for their infamous pre-taped Hollywood Week. In a new interview, shot inside the Kodak Theatre during taping, Ellen discusses what has been the most difficult part of being a judge on TV’s top rated show. “It’s really tough for me to walk that line of being the person who gives bad news [be]cause I hate hurting people’s feelings,” Ellen said. “That, I think, is the hardest part, giving the people that are disillusioned some eye opening remarks.”

At the time of the interview, the four judges had whittled the contestants down to the Top 24. Ellen admitted she had some reservations during the process. “I think we have good people. [But] next year I’m gonna fight harder for a couple of people that went home last night that I wish I hadn’t sent home.”

Rumors have surfaced online that she and snarky judge Simon Cowell were not getting along with each other. Although the topic was not addressed during the interview, Ellen did have something to say about working with Simon for the first time. “I had one idea of Simon when he came in and it has changed. He’s actually meaner than I thought,” she mused. “It’s hard to listen to him tell people things and me not go ‘You poor thing!’ I’m getting good at actually delivering bad news myself, but I’m trying to do it in a tender way.”

Check out more of Ellen’s interview and a photo shoot with the judges HERE

“Shear Genius” Returns

Bravo’s hair-raising competition returns tonight for season three on Bravo. Twelve hairstylists will again compete against each other to create the most intricate and beautiful hairstyles for a $100,000 grand prize. Matthew McConaughey’s Brazilian model girlfriend, Camilla Alves, steps in as the show’s new host, replacing Jaclyn Smith. “I think it’s one of the biggest challenges I took, because I have never done anything like that and English is not my first language,” Camilla told us during filming. “It’s a difficult job to be a host and you gotta talk quite a lot! At the end of the day, I go home and I don’t want to talk anymore.”

Camilla admits she watched the first two seasons of the show to get some tips from Jaclyn on how to be a good host. However, she says the show will be quite different this season. “It’s a whole new show,” she says. “We have a brand new salon. It’s sexy. The contestants this year, it is so much talent. I also have a vote. I’m also a judge looking from the client’s perspective. There is a lot going on.”

Also joining the show is Jonathan Antin from Bravo’s “Blowout,” who became famous for his rants during that show. He’s said he’ll bring the same nastiness to this show, as well.

“Ugly” Brother

Ever wonder what a Wilhelmina Slater drag queen might look like? Well, wonder no more. The Mode magazine diva, played brilliantly by Vanessa Williams on ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” is immortalized on tonight’s episode at a downtown club. Stepping into those sky-high designer stiletto heels to play Wilhelmina is Vanessa’s brother, Chris. “He is an actor and they were brainstorming to find somebody who looked like me, who could also sing and act and be funny,” Vanessa explained during our visit to the set in December. “Richard Hughes, our Executive Producer, said, ‘How about your brother?’ and I said, ‘Brilliant!’,”

To turn Chris into Wilhelmina took about two hours in the makeup chair. However, wearing the false eyelashes and pancake makeup wasn’t the worst part, according to Chris. “Walking on four inch pumps is really tough! It’s some tough stuff. I’m not planning to do this anymore!”

“Desperate” Dana’s New Role

“Desperate Housewives’” Dana Delaney has signed on to guest star in two episodes of ABC’s “Castle.” This will reunite Dana and “Castle” star Nathan Fillion for the first time since he played Dr. Adam Mayfair, the young, hot husband of Dana’s “Desperate” character, Katherine Mayfair. Dana will play a federal agent who teams up with Castle and Detective Beckett (Stana Katic) to hunt down a serial killer. The episodes are scheduled to air Sunday, March 21 and 22 at 10 PM.