NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jermaine Paul, the newly crowned winner of popular TV singing competition "The Voice," said on Tuesday he wants to make music that ordinary Americans like himself and his family can relate to - with a few celebrity cameos, of course. R&B singer Paul, a former backup for Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige, told reporters on a conference call that he has often struggled in his quest for artistic success, an experience he believes is especially common during the economic downturn. ...

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Former child star Gary Coleman's ex-wife failed to prove she had lived with him as a common law spouse even after their divorce, a Utah judge has ruled, in a move that could strip her of rights to the "Diff'rent Strokes" actor's estate. Coleman, whose spunky personality, pudgy cheeks and comic timing at age 10 made him a prime time sensation in 1978, died two years ago at age 42 after suffering a brain hemorrhage in an accidental fall at his Utah home. He died after being taken off of life support - a decision made by his former wife, Shannon Price. ...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Howard Stern brought his Mr Nice Guy act to "America's Got Talent" on Monday, but fewer people watched the show compared to last year, despite the publicity over his arrival. Stern, 58, one of America's best-known "shock jocks", left bad language and sexually explicit banter at home in his first stint as a new judge on the NBC show, leading critics to dub him "a sweet old man" and a judge with "a lot of heart." But many TV viewers didn't bother to watch. "America's Got Talent" was watched by 10.5 million viewers, down some 30 percent on last year's season debut (15. ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Perfect wasn't good enough, and failed to impress "Dancing With the Stars" fans who chose to send Maria Menounos home after the TV dance contest's semifinal round on Tuesday. Menounos, who scored a perfect 30 from the three judges on Monday night for her Argentine tango with professional dancer Derek Hough, won the judges' highest combined score of 59 points having also turned in a 29 for a jive that followed the tango. ...

(Reuters) - The NBC network brought a monkey to pitch new programs to prospective advertisers on Monday, looking to highlight a new comedy set in a veterinary clinic rather than the circus its primetime lineup has been in recent years. "Animal Practice" was among the shows NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt showcased at the upfront presentations held at Radio City Music Hall in Midtown Manhattan, as the network looks to finally climb out of the ratings basement. That would be something of a revolution for NBC and new owners, Comcast Corp. ...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Howard Stern brought his Mr Nice Guy act to "America's Got Talent" on Monday, but the show failed to deliver the bumper ratings expected given the publicity over his arrival. Stern, 58, one of America's best-known "shock jocks", left bad language and sexually explicit banter at home in his first stint as a new judge on the NBC show, leading critics to dub him "a sweet old man" and a judge with "a lot of heart." But many TV viewers didn't bother to watch. ...

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Britney Spears and former Disney Channel star Demi Lovato officially joined the U.S. version of "The X Factor" on Monday, leading creator Simon Cowell to pledge the second season would "seriously kick butt" when it returns in September. Spears, 30, the world's biggest pop phenomenon of the 2000s, and Lovato, 19, will fill the judge's slots left open by Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who were both fired by Cowell after a disappointing first season in 2011. Spears and Lovato appeared with Cowell and fellow judge Antonio "L. ...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - For eight years, the women of Wisteria Lane battled alcoholism, cancer, cheating husbands and direct attempts on their lives, but in the TV series finale on Sunday, four "Desperate Housewives" lived a fairy tale ending. "This street is a lot of things. Boring is not one of them," Teri Hatcher's Susan Delfino told the new owner of her home as she packed up and said goodbye to her infamous street as the ghosts of Wisteria Lane looked on. ...