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'American Idol' expands voting window

By CHASE SQUIRES
Published May 24, 2005

Fox is calling it "the biggest night of the television season."

Maybe so. Ratings heavyweight American Idol has certainly had an eventful run this time around, whittling the competition down from 100,000 applicants to the final two, Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood, for tonight's finale, at 8 p.m. on WFTV-Ch. 13.

Averaging about 17-million viewers a night through the season, the finale is expected to lure more than 30-million viewers.

After tallying 37-million telephoned votes from fans judging last week's competition, the network is expanding the voting window to four hours and providing three telephone numbers for each contestant.

Underwood, a 22-year-old country-flavored singer from Checotah, Okla., goes against rocker Bice, 29, from Helena, Ala., in tonight's showdown. Results come a day later in the two-hour results show from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday.

WMOR-Ch. 32 is searching for TV hosts for the station's movie nights. Through casting calls, interviews and celebrity judging, two people will win yearlong contracts. Open casting calls will be held nightly from June 6 to 9 in Tampa, Riverview, Largo, Clearwater and Bartow, followed by televised finals in July. Audition locations, times and tips are online at the station's Web site, www.moretv32.com

Gilmore Girls fans spoke out, and the WB network listened. The show's season finale ran about 37 seconds long May 17. Normally that wouldn't be a big deal, but fans using a digital recorder found their recordings were chopped off right at the show's biggest cliffhanger moment of the season. WTTA-Ch. 38 announced Monday the network is responding to complaints from across the country by re-airing the finale at 9 p.m. May 31.

Voice behind tiger's "Grrrrreeeat' dies

Thurl Ravenscroft , whose voice was known worldwide through his work in movies, TV and at Disneyland, died Sunday from prostate cancer. He was 91. Tony the Tiger's "Grrrrreeeeat" was Mr. Ravenscroft. Disneyland? Too many voices to mention, but Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion and the Enchanted Tiki Room were all graced by Ravenscroft's pliable, unique voice. Mr. Ravenscroft had recalled You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch from CBS' s How the Grinch Stole Christmas fondly, saying, "That was my chance to prove I could really sing."

Two members of singer Bobby Brown's entourage were hospitalized for treatment of knife wounds after a fight at an Atlanta restaurant where Brown was performing at a weekly open microphone event early Monday, police said. Brown was apparently not involved, authorities said. Shayne Brown, 21, and Kelsey Brown, 20, were in stable condition Monday, police said, after they were injured at Justin's Restaurant and Bar about 1:30 a.m., police said. The suspects drove away. Justin's is owned by rapper and producer Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

[Last modified May 24, 2005, 03:00:27]