Simon has now wrapped up the latest series of American Idol, but his influence will still be all over US screens this summer, thanks to the second series of his show America’s Got Talent.

Paris to get prison panic button? - May 23 2007
It won’t quite be the room service she’s used to, but Paris Hilton will apparently have 24-hour access to prison guards during her time in jail.

According to The Sun, the 26-year-old hotel heiress will be fitted with a special tag when she does her stint in prison. It will feature a panic button that the Simple Life star can press if she gets any bother.

Paris will spend about 23 days in a "special needs housing unit" at the Century Regional Detention Centre in Lynwood, Los Angeles, after violating the terms of her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.

She was originally sentenced to 45 days but had the term cut for good behaviour, including turning up to a court appearance.

Desperate to avoid too long a stretch behind bars, Paris also reportedly appealed to California’s governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and pledged to "live like a nun" in the run-up to her incarceration.

New Paris petition online - May 22 2007
Thousands of people have urged Paris Hilton to get out of the public eye in a new petition.

A group called Citizens For A Better America have launched the online site www.goawayparis.com - which has clocked up over 22,000 signatures since the socialite was jailed for driving with a suspended licence.

Comments of the petition include: "Finally, a cause worth fighting for," and "You are an embarrassment to the human race."

A Hollywood source told Star magazine: "Paris is upset. She thinks it’s mean that people are adding to her anguish and campaigning against her!"

The site also includes some "anti-Paris" T-shirts and baseball caps.

Paris herself is no stranger to the online petition - she herself launched one to California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to try and escape from spending time behind bars.

Her plea, on her MySpace page, reads: "Paris Whitney Hilton is an American celebrity and socialite. She is an heiress to a share of the Hilton Hotel fortune, as well as to the real estate fortune of her father Richard Hilton. She provides hope for young people all over the US and the world.

"She provides beauty and excitement to (most of) our otherwise mundane lives."

Paris drops jail term appeal - May 18 2007
Paris Hilton has dropped an appeal against her 45-day jail term - which has now been halved - according to court documents.

A lawyer for the 26-year-old socialite notified a Los Angeles court that she was abandoning her appeal, said court spokeswoman Katherine Roberts.

The hotel heiress was ordered earlier this month to report to jail by June 5 for breaking the terms of her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.

Paris initially called the sentence unfair and lawyers representing her filed a notice to appeal against the sentence.

She then switched lawyers and is now represented by drink-drive case specialist Richard Hutton.

Yesterday her sentence was halved after jail chiefs gave her credit for good behaviour, including turning up for her last court appearance.

She will spend about 23 days in a "special needs housing unit" at the Century Regional Detention Centre in Lynwood, Los Angeles.