Author: Erin Carlson

Ruven Afandor

Wendy Williams

Remember the original Aunt Viv from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?

Janet Hubert, who played the character for three seasons until she was replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid on the popular sitcom, has resurfaced from semi-obscurity with a vengeance, writing an astonishingly angry open letter to Wendy Williams. The catalyst: the talk-show host probing Tatyana Ali, Hubert’s former TV daughter, about Hubert’s unceremonious departure from the show in 1993, mid-way through its six-year run.

“It felt like a divorce, it felt like we had to get to know our new mom,” Ali told Williams  of Hubert’s ouster, which came following tension with Will Smith, the Fresh Prince and series star. 

“There was definitely negativity. You could feel it,” she said on The Wendy Williams Show earlier this week.

Soon after Ali’s appearance on The Wendy Williams Show, Hubert read aloud her vitriolic memo to the gossip-loving daytime doyenne on Blog Talk Radio (via Necole Bitchie).

“You are such a demon Wendy. You are wicked, awful, conniving, sinister, spiteful, jealous of every other woman. Simply put, Wendy you are a virus. You are not nor have you ever been a true woman. It seems as though your audience thirsts for the blood of others, as they are prompted to clap and hoop and holler at your shows and wigs and clothes,” she sniped.

STORY: Wendy Williams Inks Development Deal With Oxygen

“Girl you will have some stars on your show and demean them before they even make it back home. I just would like to know who died and told you that you were reborn as Oprah,” she continued. “You want to be Oprah so bad that you would kill for it and you will kill anyone to achieve success. Sister, you will never be another Oprah. Oprah lifted her audience up and exuded an air of class.”

Offering some unsolicited advice, Hubert goes on to attack Williams’ looks, saying: “Learn to sit in a chair and stop fidgeting with yourself on camera. Wipe your giant teeth off camera, and don’t smear the spit on the chair.  … Take off the fake blonde hair. You have to stop playing the race card because you are coming off like a want to be white girl who will never be white.”

Clearly, Hubert has a major issue with Williams, who was honored among The Hollywood Reporter‘s Most Powerful People in Media last year. The actress previously complained when Williams publicly mourned the death of Whitney Houston despite her history of mocking the singer.

A rep for Williams had no comment.

Twitter: @ErinLCarlson

Email: erin.carlson@thr.com

Frank Micelotta/ FOX

When I heard American Idol was doing Beatles Night, the side of me that loves to hate-watch the show kicked in: grab the popcorn this could end in total disaster!

[EVIL LAUGH.]

However, most of the remaining nine finalists proved me oh-so-wrong on Wednesday — in particular, Candice Glover, Angie Miller and Janelle Arthur, who gained back some frontrunner buzz with her sweet and soothing performance of “I Will.”

Others were not nearly as successful. Here’s the lowdown on the good, the not-so-good and the near-meltdowns:

Kree Harrison (“With a Little Help From My Friends”): Everyone loves Kree: she has a stellar soul-blues-country voice and also the face of a nice person you might approach for directions to Graceland or whatever. Except that I’m nostalgic for The Wonder Years and so prefer Joe Cocker‘s overwrought, sweaty version of “Little Help” over Kree’s pleasant-enough take. For American Idol standards, however, it was an A-plus. Trainwreck averted!

Burnell Taylor (“Let It Be”): Restrained yet soulful, hipster yet heartfelt. Burnell’s geeky-cool vibe and endearing innocence — not to mention his undeniable talent — had the judges freaking out. “You didn’t even sing the song, you caressed it,” purred Nicki. (Sidenote and message to Nicki Minaj: when you say you like someone’s unfortunate-looking leather jacket, and by someone I mean Burnell, then I don’t believe you.)

VIDEO: ‘American Idol’ Season 12: Red Carpet Interviews

Amber Holcomb (“She’s Leaving Home”): Although Keith Urban called this downbeat Sgt. Pepper’s track his “absolute favorite Beatles song of all time,” it was clear Amber didn’t feel the same. As Nicki pointed out, she looked “defeated” onstage — indeed, Amber is one of those artists who feels everything and can’t fake anything. That said, she looked stunning in a printed dress and statement necklace, although her lipstick wasn’t pink enough for Nicki’s liking.

Lazaro Arbos (“In My Life”): Poor Lazaro! The shy ex-ice cream scooper struggled to resist breaking down onstage after getting panned by the judges — especially a ruthless Randy Jackson, who dubbed his off-key performance the worst he’d seen from the hopeful. Meanwhile, Nicki wondered where Lazaro’s confidence had gone and blamed mentor Jimmy Iovine for pushing him into a different, more unnatural direction. Cue the pity votes.

Candice Glover (“Come Together”): PERFECTION. If Candice doesn’t win, then I’m staging a walk-off.

Paul Jolley (“Eleanor Rigby”): Surrounded by a string quartet, the velvet-jacket clad aspiring country-pop star fell flat on the classic that David Cook performed to unanimous kudos several years earlier. In way-harsh feedback, Nicki slammed Jolley’s rendition as “very, very safe, very bland and forgettable” and — oof — she might as well have been talking about Jolley himself. BO-RING. Dude’s on the chopping block this week.

Angie Miller (“Yesterday”): With freshly flat-ironed locks and slinky rock-chick leather pants, the judge/fan favorite successfully pulled off an emo-intense cover of this best-loved Fab Four standard. Angie is the sing-testant I most look forward to each week, so if she fails to take home the Idol title, A) I will pledge allegiance to The Voice and B) move to Canada after C) writing a very stern letter to Pinot Grigio-swilling American mom viewers for crowning Lazaro the winner.

STORY: Nicki Minaj Protests Curtis Finch Elimination

Devin Velez (“The Long and Winding Road”): “I don’t know what Keith’s been sippin’ on today,” sniped Nicki, arguing with Mr. Nicole Kidman‘s assertion that Devin wasn’t emotionally connected to the song. I ‘m with Keith on this one. Devin is a technically gifted vocalist, but like Ryan Seacrest, his robotic stage presence evokes calculated effort rather than genuine emotion. Plus, every time Devin sings, I want to take a nap.

Janelle Arthur (“I Will”): Her comforting butterscotch tone makes me want to light apricot-scented candles and contemplate life. In other words, AMAZING. “You’re pure, you’re true,” gushed Keith, while Nicki went a strep further: “Janelle, can we renew our vows, tonight?” Apparently referring to Paul, the wannabe “Male Carrie Underwood” who’s more mainstream pop than Nashville-credible, she added: “You never have to say, I want to sing country because that’s what you give off.”

In other news! Aubrey “Shoulda Been a Finalist” Cleland earned her rightful spot on the Idols Live! tour, beating Charlie Askew to win the most votes. 

And so there you have it, Idol-Worshippers. In your estimation, who’s going home tomorrow? Which Beatles cover did you love and which did you loathe? Anyone else getting annoyed by Nicki’s obsession with pink lipstick? Sound off in the comments.

Twitter: @ErinLCarlson

Email: erin.carlson@thr.com

Getty Images

Dennis Rodman, unofficial celebrity ambassador to the world?

The Worm, apparently still basking in attention for his buzzy, bizarre trip to North Korea, continued to describe the experience with Kim Jong-un in an appearance on Tuesday’s edition of The Tonight Show. 

“I was actually shocked that he’s actually nice,” Rodman said of the elusive and oppressive North Korean dictator, his new friend and an “awesome kid.” Of Kim’s headquarters, he added: “It’s not even a palace, it’s more like a fortress. It’s just insane.”

VIDEO: Dennis Rodman Tells President Obama to ‘Call’ Kim Jong-un

When Jay Leno asked about the severe poverty facing the country’s citizens, the Celebrity Apprentice star replied: “It’s pretty much like any other country. We got the same thing here.”

Footage from Rodman’s “basketball diplomacy” tour is part of a TV show Vice Media is producing that will air on HBO next month.

Last week Rodman made an equally stunt-y excursion to Rome, where the ex-NBA bad boy was photographed riding in a faux Popemobile, He had been stumping for Peter Turkson, a cardinal from Ghana, to win the papacy.

Rodman — sporting a signature flamboyant combination of track pants, Lacoste shirt and fur-lined coat on Leno’s couch — babbled somewhat incoherently while talking about his Italian journey. He claimed he “almost” met the Pope but was cagey on the details.