Technically, this telephone press conference with Simon Cowell is a preview of the ninth season of “American Idol,” whose first live performances Tuesday start the season in earnest. But instead of focusing on beginnings, the acerbic Brit finds himself fielding questions about endings – specifically the end of Cowell’s tenure as the show’s go-to, no-nonsense judge of record.

“I want to go out on a high,” Cowell says. “This is my last season, and I want to be successful. We will do everything we can to make it happen.”

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Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton arrives at the MuchMusic Video Awards. (AP)

Browse photos from the MuchMusic Video Awards

Police have charged the tour manager of the Black Eyed Peas with assault after he allegedly punched celebrity blogger Perez Hilton outside a Toronto nightclub.

Hilton said he got into an argument with band members Fergie and will.i.am at the Cobra nightclub early Monday morning and was punched outside by Polo Molina, the band’s tour manager. They were at the club following a Sunday night video awards show.

Molina turned himself in and has been charged with assaulting Hilton, Toronto Police Constable Tony Vella said. Molina is due in court Aug. 5.

Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, complained about the incident on the microblogging site Twitter. He tweeted at 4 a.m.: “I am bleeding. Please, I need to file a police report. No joke.”

Hilton, who is openly gay, said in interview with The Associated Press that he called will.i.am a “faggot,” a gay slur, inside the club after the musician told the blogger not to write about his band on his Web site.

“He was like ‘You need to respect me.’ He was in my face. He was obviously trying to intimidate me and scare me,” Hilton said. “I was like ‘I don’t need to respect you. I don’t respect you and I did say this, and I knew that it would be the worst thing I could possibly say to him because he was acting the way he was. I said ‘You know what, I don’t respect you and you’re gay and stop being such a faggot.’”

Will.i.am said in a video posting on dip.dive.com that he came to Hilton with respect and was called a “faggot.”

Hilton, who was at the club with Lady Gaga, said he then left the club and was punched from behind. The pop stars and the blogger were among celebrities in Toronto for the MuchMusic Video Awards on Sunday night.

A spokeswoman for the Black Eyed Peas declined comment.

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• Perez Hilton alleges post-MUCH assault (thestar.com)
• Perez Hilton: Will.I.Am Assaulted Me, Call The Police (huffingtonpost.com)
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Last night’s episode of “Celebrity Apprentice” was a bit boring but it ended with a double bang. The task was to make a 60 second viral video for all Small and Mighty Laundry Detergent. The teams were mixed up and the new teams were:

Kotu: Hershel Walker, Clint Black, Joan Rivers, Natalie Gulbis and Khloe Kardashian
Athena: Melissa Rivers, Jesse James, Tionne Watkins, Annie Duke and Brande Roderick

Celebrity Apprentice contestants

Melissa Rivers was selected as the project leader of Athena since she has experience producing and directing. Clint Black was project leader for Kotu since he had directed numerous music videos.

In short, Melisa Rivers kicked butt as project leader. Everyone was happy and they had a pretty funny video. They had little people (small and mighty) dress up as agents for all detergent and scrub down Jesse James.

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