Simon Cowell takes potshot at Dylan

The man behind the talent bonanza that is American Idol has lashed out at rock icon Bob Dylan in an attempt to finally squash rumors that Dylan was set to be a judge on the forthcoming season of the show. Cowell said that he prefers Kelly Clarkson to Dylan, whose music he finds boring. "Do I prefer Kelly Clarkson's music to Bob Dylan's? Yes," Cowell told Playboy magazine in its February issue. "I've never bought a Dylan record. A singing poet? It just bores me to tears. I've got to tell you, if I had 10 Dylans in the final of American Idol, we would not be getting 30 million viewers a week. I don't believe the Bob Dylans of this world would make American Idol a better show." The 47-year-old British music mogul begins his sixth season next week with the smash Fox talent contest that made Clarkson a winner in 2002.

50 Cent takes on prophylactics

He's in your CD player, your fridge, and your closet, but now 50 Cent wants to be in your bedroom. For sleepovers. The rapper/mogul, not satisfied with a business empire that includes music, film, books, Vitamin Water, and clothing, is coming out with a line of condoms. "The kids become immune when you constantly beat them over the head--read a book, read a book," Fiddy told the New York Post. "We have to be a little more creative about it. It's the same with safe sex. As opposed to being part of a safe-sex campaign, I'm going to make condoms and donate a part of the proceeds to HIV awareness." 50 Cent and G-Unit launched a line of books last week, with the first one called The Ski Mask Way. 50 plans to turn the books into films as well. No word yet on how 50 Cent's new line of condoms will be distributed, or when they'll hit the market.

Kanye West set to star in reality show

Kanye West will star in a reality series that HBO is developing with Borat director Larry Charles, sources told The Hollywood Reporter. The as-yet-untitled project is said to focus on a day in what is described as the crazy, hectic life of the Grammy-winning artist. West is also set to star in a feature film inspired by his music. The New Line Cinema project will present a multiperspective portrait of the United States as seen through the eyes of West and several filmmakers. Charles, a veteran of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, directed the 2003 Bob Dylan feature Masked and Anonymous.

Ringo Starr home might be preserved

A Liverpool home that Ringo Starr lived in for three months as a child might be preserved and incorporated into the Museum of Liverpool, slated to open in 2008. Beatles fans have been hoping to save the home from the wrecking ball after the Liverpool City Council approved the demolition of the tiny Victorian house to make way for a redevelopment project. The council ruled that the house had no historic significance. Starr, 66, has criticized the plan to demolish the homes, saying they should be restored. Paul McCartney and John Lennon's former homes in Liverpool are both owned by Britain's National Trust.

Lady Sov ducks battle with a jelly donut

Zach Snow does not seem to be someone who takes rejection lightly. The San Francisco resident, who gained notoriety last year when he raised $10,000 to get a date with Lady Sovereign only to be dissed by the pint-sized British rapper afterwards, isn't about to move on from the doomed tryst. At a Lady Sov concert in San Francisco last night, Snow enlisted a friend to dress up in a jelly donut costume and challenge the rapper to a freestyle battle. The pair passed out images of the jelly donut guy and told people in the crowd to chant for the donut after Sov's fourth song. On cue, a portion of the crowd chanted, "Battle Jelly Donut!" The chants drew Sov's ire, and she taunted the donut, saying, "You stoner. I love SF but I hate this kid. You f****** grandma's boy." She then spit her drink at the donut, and drink-throwing ensued. The donut was eventually ejected.