That, dear friends, includes this blog.

Yep, after two years and more than 500 posts, we’re hanging it up.

It’s been a lot of work — and a lot of fun. We’ve enjoyed (almost) every minute of it. And so have you apparently: “Idol” Chatter has been a Top-3 blog for the Statesman pretty much since the moment it launched.

But, with some exciting new things in the works here at Austin360.com, our time and attention are being pulled elsewhere. We were begged — yes, begged — to continue, but you deserve better. You deserve our full, undivided attention. (Plus, truth be told, it’ll be kinda nice to not have to permanently park our cute little keister in front of the TV for the next four months.)

So, from here on out, look to Diane Holloway’s TV blog for “American Idol” recaps. Near season’s end, we’ll probably join her for some live chats — just for you, loyal readers.

And keep your eyes peeled for something really, really cool in the next few months. Wish we could say more, but …

Thanks for stopping by. Be good, kiddo.

— Gary Dinges

Gina Glocksen is starting the new year as a newlywed.

The Season 6 rocker tied the knot New Year’s Eve in her hometown of Naperville, Ill., marrying longtime sweetheart Joe Ruzicka, a high school science teacher. He popped the question, you may recall, during a Chicago-area “Idols Live!” concert.

Famous faces in attendance included “Idol” alums Jordin Sparks and Haley Scarnato, who calls San Antonio home.

“The wedding was beautiful,” friend Lindsey Nyenhuis told the Naperville Sun. “It was perfect for her and Joe.”

The two plan a quick trip to Wisconsin — Wisconsin? Really? — before Joe returns to his teaching gig and Gina resumes hosting duties on TV Guide Channel’s “Idol Extra.” They hope to have a “real” honeymoon at some point in the future.

Ah, young love. Congrats!

Photo courtesy of Sun-Times News Group

A Cook County, Ill., grand jury has indicted the man accused of murdering Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew.

William Balfour, estranged husband of the singer’s sister, has been behind bars since shortly after the killings occured in late October. The Associated Press reports the indictments contain no new information — only the few details that have previously been released by tight-lipped authorities.

The ex-con, who was on parole at the time of the murders, has pleaded not guilty. His attorney says police have no “hard evidence” linking him to the gruesome crimes.

“The police believe it is William Balfour, but the problem is what they have done,” Joshua Kutnick told reporters. “They find their suspect and build evidence around the suspect. That’s not the way it should work. They should gather evidence and it should lead to a suspect. This was the convenient person to go to. It is bolstered by the fact that it took them so long to get him arrested and charged.”

Another court appearance has been set for Jan. 20, when a judge will rule on a request to relocate the suspect to a jail facility closer to his attorney’s office.

So far this season, the network is in last place — even trailing stinky NBC. But execs are convinced that’ll all change next month — Jan. 13 to be exact — when “Idol” kicks off its eighth season with a new judge and a host of newly tweaked rules.

“We sort of see the time up to December as the introduction, and the main event happens in January,” Fox’s Peter Liguori told The New York Times.

The main event, of course, is “Idol.” And the other nets are scared.

“Much like a pack of lions, ‘Idol’ preys on the weak,” said an unnamed exec at a Fox rival.

That pack of lions was a little fatter and a little slower last year, with ratings dropping 9 percent. Still, the numbers are nothing to sneeze at.

Fox also plans to roll out “24” next month after a prolonged absence, as well as “Lie to Me,” a new drama that’s getting lots of buzz. So fret not TV fans, the winter doldrums are almost over.

Idol chatter …

• Statesman columnist John Kelso has, of course, weighed in on “Idol’s” suit against a South Austin strip club.

You can read his rant here. Just remember: We’e not responsible if you spit coffee, soda … or whatever on your monitor.

Top 10 this. Top 10 that. Etcetera, etcetera.

Well, the folks at Entertainment Weekly have come out with a pretty fantastic list of the 10 worst “American Idol” performances EVER. Kinda makes you shudder, huh?

You can read their snarky commentary by clicking here. But seeing, our friends, is believing. That’s why you’ll find the YouTube clips from each outing in the space below.

And, yes, Sanjaya Malakar made the list. Of course.

10.) Mikalah Gordon, ”Love Will Lead You Back” (Season 4)

9.) Nikki McKibbin, ”Always Something There to Remind Me” (Season 1)

8.) Josh Gracin, ”Jive Talkin”’ (Season 2)

7.) Haley Scarnato, ”Turn the Beat Around” (Season 6)

6.) Kevin Covais, ”Part-Time Lover” (Season 5)

5.) Carmen Rasmussen, ”Call Me” (Season 2)

4.) Kristy Lee Cook, ”Eight Days a Week” (Season 7)

3.) John Stevens, ”Music of My Heart” (Season 3)

2.) Sanjaya Malakar, ”Bathwater” (Season 6)

1.) Camille Velasco, ”Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (Season 3)

Yeesh. Anyone got aspirin? Extra strength, preferably.

Here’s an early Christmas present for all you Kelly Clarkson fans out there: the singer with North Texas roots plans to drop a new album in the new year.

A new single, “My Life Would Suck Without You” will debut Jan. 19, according to E! News, with a new CD — her fourth — coming in March.

While Kelly is now managed by country superstar Reba McEntire’s hubby, the album will have a decidedly pop sound, according to CMT. She’s not, however, ruling out the possibility of recording some twang-tastic country tunes some day.

Kelly’s had a rough ride of late, so here’s hoping this one turns out to be a winner. Her last effort, “My December,” tanked. Her tour was nixed. And she got into a rather nasty public feud with legendary record exec Clive Davis.

The Los Angeles Times is out with its list of the year’s Top 10 stories and, while we don’t necessarily agree with all their picks, it’s an interesting read nonetheless.

So here we go:

10.) David Hernandez stripping controversy — Dude gave lap dances to other dudes at a seedy bar before being discovered by “Idol.”

9.) Brooke White starts over — If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And Brooke did, stopping mid-song after botching the lyrics on two separate songs.

8.) Andrew Lloyd Webber week — Carly Smithson turns in a stellar performance — the very performance that got her kicked off the show.

7.) Paula Abdul’s performance confusion — She disses a performance that hasn’t evevn happened yet. Is it live or Memorex?

6.) The emergence of David Archuleta — The junior high crowd finally gets a contestant to root for.

5. David Cook’s “Billie Jean” — A performance that elevated him above the pack after weeks of just blending in.

4.) Jeff Archuleta controversy — Daddy A. was accused of being a smidge overzealous and banned from backstage.

3.) Suicide tragedy — A obsessed Paula fan kills herself outside the judge’s home.

2.) Addition of a fourth judge/Nigel Lythgoe’s retirement — Two big — and unexpected changes — after a slight dip in ratings.

1.) The finals — We all — well, most of us — thought Archie would win. But he didn’t. And little girls everywhere cried themselves to sleep.

Idol chatter …

• Season 6 “Idol” champ Jordin Sparks turns 19 today.

Happy birthday, sweetie!

• Fantasia is spending New Year’s Eve in Houston — and you could be her special guest.

She’ll be performing with comedian Rickey Smiley as part of the Jokes and Jamz Blowout Concert at the Arena Theater.

Tickets start at $75.

And he’ll hint at it again, no doubt.

But is there any truth to the increasingly persistent buzz that Simon Cowell is looking to depart “American Idol”?

“I’ll make a decision about (whether to stay with the show) next year,” Mr. Mean told reporters on a recent conference call.

He’s not sick of the show, he swears, but he’s a busy, busy boy — and “Idol” accounts for a rather large chunk of his time.

“This show could continue for another 10 years,” he added, no doubt with a shutter.

Idol chatter …

• “Idol” was the most time-shifted show of 2008, according to The Nielsen Co.

What’s that mean? Lots and lots of folks DVR (or Tivo) the show rather than watching it live. That way, you can zip past the 15-plus minutes of commercials jammed into each of the show.

Not a bad idea.

The amateur strip-off’s days are likely numbered now that the company behind “American Idol” has sued the men’s club located at 501 E. Ben White Blvd. Winners of the contest, held Thursdays, walk away with $500, according to Fox 7.

In a suit filed this week, FremantleMedia asks a judge to halt the weekly competition, strip — sorry, had to go there — the club of any profits it has made as a result of using the “Idol” name and logo, and force Palazio’s owners to pay all legal fees and court costs.

But hope is not lost for lovers of scantily clad women. The club’s owner, identified only as Lampros, sounds like he’s ready for a fight.

“I don’t feel they have any grounds to sue,” he told TMZ.com. “This is just our way of inticing [sic] people to come out and have a good time and contribute to the economic crisis that is going on.”

Oh, boy. Wouldn’t you just love to be on the jury hearing this case?

“American Idol” is still going strong as it nears the start of an eighth season.

The same can’t be said, however, for its Canadian counterpart.

Broadcaster CTV has pulled the plug on “Canadian Idol,” citing the slowing economy. But execs are quick to point out the show hasn’t been officially cancelled and could return if ad dollars start flowing again.

American broadcasters having been making similar moves in recent weeks. NBC will save millions next fall by airing Jay Leno weeknights at 9 in place of expensive scripted dramas. And, just this week, Fox asked producers to trim their production budgets by 2 percent.

Idol chatter …

• Look for “Idol” sweetheart Carrie Underwood to perform at next month’s People’s Choice Awards.

The ceremony airs Jan. 7 on CBS.

Countless stars have flocked to the “American Idol” stage over the past seven years, but there are three big-name musicians judge Simon Cowell is still waiting to see.

On his wish list: Beyonce, Paul McCartney and Britney Spears. Brit’s No. 1, for what it’s worth.

Other Simon tidbits from a conference call with reporters who cover the show:

• Newbie judge Kara DioGuardi is “qualified” and “has strong opinions that she’s willing to express.”

• The show’s producers have “the utmost integrity as human beings” and never would have knowingly allowed Paula Abdul stalker Paula Goodspeed to audition if they felt she was a threat to herself or others.

• The two female judges are apparently ganging up on him: “One is hard enough; two is unbearable.”

The fun begins anew Jan. 13.

Looks like new judge Kara DioGuardi won’t be the only change we notice this season on “American Idol.”

Several sites are reporting a laundry list of tweaks in the works, detailed in an internal Fox memo that’s been leaked.

Here’s what we can expect in Season 8:

• Bad and just plain sad early-round auditions will be downplayed.

• More airtime for Hollywood Week.

• 36 folks in the semifinals, instead of 24.

• Return of the wildcard round, making it possible for a booted contestant to worm his or her way into the Top 12.

• And “Idol Gives Back” is toast, as previously reported.

The fun starts Jan. 13. See you then.

The folks at “American Idol” insist they’re not out to get Paula Abdul.

Former producer Nigel Lythgoe is defending the show after Paula claimed earlier this week that execs jeopardized her safety when they allowed an obsessed fan into auditions. That fan killed herself in front of Paula’s home last month.

“You do not take somebody in that room that you believe is a danger to herself or a danger to Paula,” he told People. “That would not enter our heads.”

The ex-producer went on to describe the fan, who had apparently been following the “Idol” judge’s every move for nearly two decades, as “a lovely girl” and “a great fan of Paula.”

Idol chatter …

• Has “Idol Gives Back” been axed?

That’s the rumor floating around in cyberspace, but a Fox spokeswoman isn’t talking.

If true, it’s not exactly a shocker. The show’s creator went on the record earlier this year saying he felt the fundraiser, which brings in millions for charities around the globe, shouldn’t occur every single year.

Paula Abdul, rumored to be this-close to departing “American Idol,” took a swing at the show’s producers in a radio interview this week.

She told XM listeners that showrunners knew Paula Goodspeed — who committed suicide last month in front of Abdul’s home — had been stalking her and allowed the obsessed fan to audition anyway.

“I said this girl is a stalker of mine and please do not let her in,” Abdul said. “It’s fun for them to cause me stress.”

Abdul claims Goodspeed had written her disturbing letters for nearly two decades and even followed her home on at least one occasion.

So, why’s Abdul still on the show if producers are treating her poorly and putting her life in jeopardy?

“I’m under contract.”

Idol chatter …

• Life goes on for the uber-talented Jennier Hudson.

Little more than a month after three family members were shot to death, the singer/actress is set to begin work on the video for “If This Isn’t Love,” her latest single. The Associated Press reports filming begins next week in Los Angeles.

Jennifer’s been in seclusion since the slayings, bunking — free of charge — in a heavily guarded room at Donald Trump’s posh Chicago hotel.

Paula Goodspeed killed herself outside the “American Idol” judge’s Los Angeles home — and Abdul hasn’t spent a night there since the Nov. 11 incident, according to People.

“I’ve been staying in different homes and hotels, and I have security with me,” she said.

And odds are she’ll never stay there again. Abdul told the mag she’s “looking for another place to reside.”

Idol chatter …

• Bad news for “Idol” alum Fantasia: one of her two homes has reportedly been foreclosed on.

The ginormous Charlotte, N.C., residence — six bedrooms, 5 1/2 bathrooms, 6,232 square feet, $1.3 million price tag — will be auctioned off Jan. 12 unless she can cough up a big chunk of change.