Fox, this Monday invited “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest to emcee the network’s broadcast of the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 16.  I must admit I do like this guy, he really has a great low-key way of doing things.

“Ryan Seacrest is a consummate host of major live broadcast events and a proven talent who always makes it easy, which makes the perfect choice for this year’s Emmy telecast,” said Fox’s president of alternative entertainment Mike Darnell.

Seacrest has emerged as Fox’s host in residence for high-profile specials. The “Idol” host was recently tapped for pregame and halftime hosting duties for the network’s upcoming coverage of the Super Bowl.

While Seacrest is a logical choice for Fox, he is a somewhat unorthodox pick for the Emmy Awards ceremony which are usually fronted by a comedian.

“This year’s show will be different in a number of ways,” said Emmys executive producer Ken Ehrlich. “The freshness, enthusiasm and professionalism that Ryan brings to everything he does will be a perfect match for some of the innovative things we have planned.”

Poor Briteny Spears looks to be headed for more legal and tabloid headaches.  A court commissioner said Tuesday he would consider a motion by a magazine and a TV station to unseal documents in the Britney Spears-Kevin Federline divorce case.

“They’re appropriate participants in here,” Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon said of the request by People magazine and KNBC, on behalf of the celebrity news show “Access Hollywood.”

Spears and Federline weren’t present for the hearing. Gordon scheduled another hearing for Sept. 14 to give their attorneys time to make their case for keeping the documents under seal. Spears’ divorce from Federline became official July 30.

After the hearing, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said the documents contain information about the schedules of the couple’s children and other details that could put them in jeopardy.

“It would be best for the children that they not be exposed,” Kaplan said.

He gave no specific examples of threats to the children.

Spears attorney Laura Wasser did not address reporters at the courthouse and did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Lawyer Alonzo Wickers, who represents KNBC and People magazine, said in an interview that attorneys for the former couple have not been able to prove that their concerns outweigh the public’s right of access to court records.

“Celebrities have to meet the same high burden to justify the sealing of court records” as other people, he said.

Since February, Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, have shared joint custody of their sons, 22-month-old Sean Preston and 10-month-old Jayden James.

Kaplan said Federline is seeking additional custody because the two boys are “isolated from risks” when they are with his client. He declined to elaborate.

A hearing on the custody modification request is set for Sept. 17.  I am all for protecting the child but please let this media circus stop.

The youngest ever American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks has officially signed a recording contract with 19Recordings/Jive Records.  I am a little surprised it took so long.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that she is a ‘big girl’, I would like to think not but she is talented and very beautiful so I can’t imagine why this deal did not happen sooner.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the partnership with 19 Recordings and Jordin Sparks as the first Idol winner to make her home at Jive,” Barry Weiss, CEO and president of Zomba Label Group, said in a statement. “Her poise, her amazing vocal ability, her relentless optimism has been apparent to millions of fans all around the world. We’re honored to have this burgeoning worldwide superstar on Jive Records.”

“American Idol has truly been a life-altering experience,” Sparks said. “Signing with 19 Recordings/Jive and Barry Weiss and his great team is hopefully the beginning of another dream opportunity for me to deliver the kind of meaningful music I love. I can’t wait to share this next chapter of my story with all the fans that have supported me so far.”

American Idol creator Simon Fuller expressed his belief that Sparks had made a wise choice. “You couldn’t find a better match in or out of this business than Jive Records, 19 Recordings and Jordin Sparks,” he said.  It sounds like a great match to me to.

I am sure you’ve heard this one before: Pete Doherty may be going to prison on a litany of drug charges…or not.  A London judge is once again giving the arrest-prone rocker the benefit of the doubt, postponing his sentencing on drug charges for one month to better assess the progress of the Babyshambles frontman.

District Judge Davinder Lachlar issued a now familiar ultimatum to the 28-year-old, telling him that if sufficient progress has not been made to sober up, he will be put behind bars.  “What I have in mind is to adjourn this matter for four weeks to assess his motivation,” Lachlar said in court. “What I have in mind is a community order or prison…if he does not show his motivation, it’s prison—simple as that.”

I really hope this legendary rocker gets some professional help or his life might end up being sadly cut short.

Apple. has begun selling downloads of tracks from 16 of John Lennon’s post-Beatles albums, including “Working Class Hero” and “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band,” on iTunes, the company said Tuesday.  The albums represent Lennon’s recording output while he was with Capitol Records, a unit of Britain’s EMI Group PLC.

While many of the late singer-songwriter’s solo recordings have been available for download commercially elsewhere, this marks the first time they have been available on Apple’s market-leading online music service. Songs on two albums — “Lennon Legend” and “Acoustic” — were being made available for download exclusively on iTunes, the company said.

Video content was also being included with the purchase of some of the albums for a limited time. The Lennon tracks will also be available without copy-protection restrictions and in higher-quality audio for $1.29 each. Regular versions are priced at 99 cents each.

“John would have loved the fact that his music will now be available in a format suited to a new generation of listeners,” Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, said in a statement released by Apple.  I would have to agree, John is probably very happy if he is watching down on us.