Last month, I received an advance copy of a book titled “Elimination Night” about a fictional “Project Icon” show that may or may not be a satire of “Idol.” It appears to have been written by someone who worked on “Idol” (thus, the “Anonymous” author name) during season 10, when Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joined the judges’ panel. The characters are thinly veiled versions of the real thing with dumber names.  Wayne Shortline, the host, sounds suspiciously like workaholic Ryan Seacrest. Bibi Vasquez is a bit like an egomaniacal Lopez. Joey Lovecraft is the crazy fictional take on Tyler. Nigel Crowther left “Project Icon’ for his own TV show “The Talent Machine.” Paging Simon Cowell? Leonard Braitwaite masequerades as a cruel version of Nigel Lythgoe.

Naturally, we don’t know exactly what is based on truth and what is purely made up, which is the point of these books. Inspire intrigue. I have yet to read its nearly 300 pages, save for the first few pages. If I have some time (hah! In my dreams!), I’ll get through it and give you my thoughts. The book comes out January 8.

USA talks to folks who have written books about “Idol” (such as Shirley Halperin) to get their thoughts on “Elimination Night.” As someone who was told (numerous times over the years) I should have written a book about “Idol,” Shirley confirmed what I suspected: “You might think it’s such a big TV show that you’re going to cash in and do a book and sell a million. But from my own experience, Idol books don’t sell that great.”

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Fantasia could use a publicist. She released a statement last week (or rant) about life that includes a statement that could be construed as anti-gay marriage. Then she got all huffy when people complained. She did so via more Instagram statements that could have used a spellcheck or grammar fix. Feel free to read the details here – or not.

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Kelly Clarkson credits portion control, her fiance and a bit more exercise to losing 30 pounds last year. But she’s realistic: she said she could easily gain it all right back.

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Carrie Underwood has finally sold her original modest post “Idol” 3,000 square foot home for $372,500 in Nashville. She has long since moved on up. She now lives in a $3.2 million custom-build mansion.

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Adam Lambert, a “Les Miz” fan, felt the fact the film went with actors to sing raw and unvarnished took away from the power of the score at times. This relatively mild critique attracted a lot of attention.

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We are a mere 12 days from season 12 launch of “Idol.” Yes. I have been covering this show for half my adult life.  Nigel Lythgoe, in an interview with Hollywood Reporter, was not happy that the video leaked last fall of new judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj fighting. He said this was not purposely, that if that were the case, he would have done so closer to launch date. He said he has no plans to aggrandize the rivalry on the actual show.  I have an open mind about the judges’ panel. Let’s watch before we judge the judges, so to speak.

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