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CANDICE GLOVER WINS AMERICAN IDOL

South Carolina native Candice Glover, a three-time contestant, was named America’s new American Idol Thursday, beating out Texas-bred Kree Harrison in the star-packed season finale. Immediately after Glover was crowned this season’s champion, it was announced her debut album, Music Speaks, will be released July 16. Last night’s show featured onstage performances by judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, and Randy Jackson, but Nicki Minaj (who announced she would not be back for a second season) elected to stay in her chair. Other guests who performed included Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, Psy, Jessie J, The Band Perry,Aretha Franklin, Emeli Sande, and Frankie Valli. 

Steve Carell *Did* Return for the Series Finale of "The Office" 

"The Office" ended its nine-season run last night, and STEVE CARELL DID return for the series finale.  On the surface, that isn't surprising . . . but it IS impressive that they were able to keep it under wraps.

Steve's character Michael Scott showed up at Dwight and Angela's wedding to serve as Dwight's best man.  Here's how it went down:  Jim was supposed to be Dwight's best man, but he played a prank on Dwight.

He said the best man was supposed to be someone older, and he wasn't going to be able to perform the duties.  Dwight turned around, and saw Michael standing in the doorway.

Dwight said, quote, "I can't believe you came" . . . and Michael responded, quote, "That's what she said."

Michael later told the camera . . . talking about his former co-workers . . . quote, "I feel like all my kids grew up, and then they married each other.  It's every parent's dream."

MINDY KALING (Kelly) and B.J. NOVAK (Ryan) also returned . . . and they DID end up as a couple.

Michael's wife, who was played by AMY RYAN, did not show up on the finale, and neither did his former girlfriend Jan, who was played by MELORA HARDIN.  Pam's former fiancé Roy, who was played by DAVID DENMAN, also didn't appear.

However, Steve's REAL LIFE wife NANCY CARELL was back as Carol, one of Michael's ex-girlfriends.

PALTROW FAN TRIP SELLS OUT

Gwyneth Paltrow has some dedicated and wealthy fans. The Iron Man 3 star recently launched an exclusive Groupon.com offering to 60 fans willing to shell out $2,000 for a private meeting with the actress, and it sold out in less than 24 hours. The package includes tickets to Paltrow’s VIP event, including roundtrip airfare from anywhere in the US or Canada to New York, airport transfers, two nights in a hotel, spa treatments and dinner at a fancy French restaurant in the Big Apple. Paltrow is also expected to give a private cooking class and sign copies of her new cookbook.

flickr/Jabzg 

SOURCE: Chicago Park District 

Hundreds of shows and activities are coming to Chicago's neighborhoods this summer with the city's Night Out in the Parks program.

Nights Out in the Parks includes 750 performances, plays, movies, and shows across Chicago parks. Many of the programs are free.

"All families regardless where you live, regardless of where your zip code is, will have a Night Out In The Parks that will be safe and family friendly," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.

Mayor Emanuel said the new series will provide seven events every day, seven days a week, all summer. Get the schedule and map at www.nightoutintheparks.com or by calling 312-742-PLAY.

Fun, Active, Engaging Activities Coming to Neighborhood Parks This Summer

Activities Include:

⁃ Chicago Children’s Theatre in association with Redroom, The Elephant and The Whale

⁃ Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks (in partnership with Chicago Shakespeare Theater)

⁃ Circus in the Parks, featuring the Midnight Circus

⁃ Collaboraction’s Crime Scene: Let Hope Rise

⁃ Dance in the Parks

⁃ Elastic Arts’ Culture Coach

⁃ Eye on India Festival

⁃ Grant Park Music Festival Choral Performances

⁃ JazzCity, in partnership with the Jazz Institute of Chicago

⁃ Juicebox series for children

⁃ Movies in the Parks

⁃ Paradis

⁃ Shall We Gather at the River, in partnership with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

⁃ SummerDance in the Parks

⁃ The Hypocrites R&J

⁃ Theater on the Lake

flickr/Chovee 

SOURCE: HuffingtonPost 

Nearly one-third of Americans are planning to travel this Memorial Day weekend and 86% are planning a leisure trip this summer, according to a TripAdvisor survey. This represents a 6% and 7% increase, respectively, in travelers that took a trip during the same travel periods last year. According to 93% of Memorial Day trekkers and 87% of summer vacationers, gas prices will not have an effect on plans this summer. Other findings:

- 74% of summer travelers will be traveling by car, 64% will take to the skies and 11% will opt for the train. Of those traveling for Memorial Day, 56% will be driving to their destination and 36% will travel by plane.

- The top five most popular summer destination types this year are ocean (51%), city (50%), countryside (29%), national park (23%) and lake (17%).

- New York City tops the list for the most popular U.S. destination for summer travel. Boston and Washington, D.C. took second and third, beating out Las Vegas and Chicago.

- The most popular vacation activity this summer will be shopping, according to 51% of respondents. Other top activities include swimming (45%), visiting a museum (42%), visiting a national or state park (37%), and cooking out (35%).

- 22% say their favorite thing about summer is spending time outdoors, 22% most prefer the extended daylight hours and 18% appreciate the warmer weather. Larger crowds are respondents’ biggest aversion (44%) to summer travel, followed by high travel costs (19%).

MINAJ TO WALK AWAY FROM AMERICAN IDOL

To no one’s surprise, rapper Nicki Minaj will not be back for a second season as a judge on American Idol. According to Us Weekly, Mariah Carey’s nemesis said she had always planned to leave after one season, and says she will turn her complete attention to writing and recording her next album, touring, and her myriad business ventures. Last week, original AI judge Randy Jackson announced he was stepping down after 12 seasons on the show. 

SHAKIRA NOT RETURNING TO THE VOICE

With Christina Aguilera signing back on for The Voice, it isn’t a surprise to learn Shakira will not be returning next season. “It was a hard decision for me to make, because I’m really fond of the coaches, the people in production and everybody around me,” the singer tells E! News. “And I really enjoyed The Voice, but I also have a musical career and I’m also a mother now and my poor baby’s so tired flying such long distances.” She then added, “He already has more miles than any pilot. So I think I have to give him a little break and we’ll see what happens in the future.”

MAN ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING ON SWIFT PROPERTY

Police in Rhode Island arrested a 22-year-old man for swimming up to the beach near Taylor Swift’s beachside home.  According to cops, the unidentified male, described as an obsessed Taylor fan from Chicago, was taken into custody for trespassing after he was spotted coming out of the water about one mile from the singer’s home. When officers approached him he admitted he had just completed a swim after which he intended to meet Taylor. He said he swam all the way up to her beach, but after spotting security got back in the water and swam back to his original location.

flickr/Peter Fuchs 

Tickets for the Taste of Chicago go on sale Wednesday.

The 33rd annual event will take place July 10 through the 14th.

The seats at the Petrillo Music Shell are $25, and will feature artists such as Fun., Delta Spirit, Jill Scott, and Robin Thicke.

Tickets for the Mazda 6 Celebrity Chef Du Jour tickets are also on sale.

That event will include a three-course, sit down meal for $40.

CLICK HERE to buy tickets