By APA Staff

Legendary singer Don Ho passes away, Jin spits truth, and Sanjaya Malakar and James Sun are gone...for now. All this and more in the latest edition of News Bites.

Sanjaya Gets Booted Off American Idol

"Girl, you really got me now...." Sanjaya Malakar, the American Idol contestant with the goofy smile and the eccentric hairdos, became the newest castoff last week. Hailing from Federal Way, Washington, Malakar had a surprisingly long run and outlasted the "better singers" of the competition. Whether it was his wacky style or youthful charisma, Malakar managed to accrue a hefty fan base which kept him in the running week after week, much to judge Simon Cowell's dismay. After he was officially voted off on last week's show, Malakar wiped away some tears, hugged his fellow contestants, and sang his last encore of "Something to Talk About." Malakar has big hopes for the future as he wishes to be more than just a musician, but an entertainer. After his cut from the show, he was even invited to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner as a guest of People Magazine. This likely won't be the last that we'll hear from Sanjaya Malakar. --Julie Hong

Masi Oka Ready to Get Smarter

Before the movie Get Smart is even released next year, its sequel is already in the making. Get Smart, which started production in February, stars Anne Hathaway, Steve Carrell and the Rock, with supporting roles from Heroes' Masi Oka as Bruce and Nate Torrance as Lloyd. Scheduled for a direct-to-DVD release 10 days after its prequel, a new film Get Smarter: Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control will feature Masi Oka and Nate Torrence as they set out on their own adventures. Oka will play a tech buff at spy agency CONTROL and Torrence, an analyst in need of a life. While the film does not yet have a director, shooting is planned to begin this summer. --My Thanh Mac

Jin Raps About Virginia Tech Tragedy

Chinese American rapper Jin may be in London but his heart goes out to those in Virginia, who recently suffered from the horrific shootings at Virginia Tech. Jin was quick to respond to the tragic incident on Monday, and by the following Wednesday, he wrote the rap "Rain Rain Go Away," dedicated to victims of the shootings. In the rap, he expresses his sadness and distress to the unfortunate situation as he says "sisters and brothers, what could make a man take the lives of others..."  Jin performed at Virginia Tech back in April 2003 and is in utter disbelief that merely four years later, such an event would occur. The piece is posted it on the XXL magazine website. --Julie Hong

So this is What Kickin' It Old Skool is like...

On April 25, the Music Box in Hollywood hosted the Los Angeles premiere party for the new Jamie Kennedy/Bobby Lee flick Kickin' It Old Skool. There was no film screening (it wasn't screened for critics), but instead partygoers were transported back to the 1980s with fluorescent snap bracelets, grotesque scrunchies, and shoulder pads available for all the guests. Inside, there was a breakdancing show, introduced by star Jamie Kennedy -- who didn't dance himself, but encouraged them rather excellently -- and lots and lots of arcade machines, as well as free Klondike bars and cafeteria food. Guests and company came out in their 80s gear, including what might have been the best outfit of the night -- a man in the corner dressed as Long Duk Dong. Pretty awesome. Kickin' It Old Skool premieres Friday, April 27th in wide release. --Ada Tseng

Survivor Moves from Island to Mainland... China

In light of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China's strict policy on US filming in the mainland seems to have gotten a little more open. The 14th season of the CSB show Survivor is scheduled to be filmed in China, making it the first time in six seasons that the show has not been on an island. If successful, this could set a precedent for the rest of the American networks as the first show ever to have filmed its entirety in China. --My Thanh Mac

Don Ho (a.k.a. Tiny Bubbles) Passes Away at 76

The Hawaiian music icon died in Honolulu this past week due to heart failure. Ho's music was most well known for bringing forth the leisurely image of Hawaii as a vacationer's haven during the great tourist boom in the 1960s. He was raised in Kaneohe of Oahu Island and began singing at his mother's restaurant, Honey's. He made his big debut with his hit "Tiny Bubbles," which also became his signature song. Ho's Hammond organ and slurred baritone created a breezy pop sound that became a trademark at the nightclub scene in Waikiki. Along with his singing career, he also made frequent television cameos in the 60s and the 70s and even had his own short-lived ABC variety show The Don Ho Show from 1976-77. In late 2005, he started showing signs of a heart condition called nonischemic cardiomyopathy and traveled to Thailand that same year to undergo treatment. --Julie Hong

Asians are excellent and win awards

The AZN Excellence Awards, the only nationally televised event celebrating Asian and Asian American achievement in the media, are coming up, and this year the event will take place in Royce Hall at UCLA. Last year, the hosts were Bobby Lee and Kelly Hu, and this year, they've got a comparable team with Lost's Daniel Dae Kim and Battlestar Galactica's Grace Park. And... Chow Yun Fat's gonna be there.

Performances by Margaret Cho, Kenny G, and Dat Phan. Here are random names of varying intrigue that are expected to attend: Masi Oka, Maggie Q, Bai Ling, Kal Penn, John Cho, Rosalind Chao, Tamlyn Tomita, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bobby Lee, Carrie Ann Inaba, Sharon Leal, Dustin Nguyen, George Takei, Nobu Matsuhisa, Yul Kwon, Lindsay Price, Roger Fan, Janina Gavankar, Reggie Lee, Joy Osmanski, Will Yun Lee, Archie Kao, Suzanne Whang, Beau Sia, Toby Dawson.

The event will take place May 16th, and will be broadcast Monday, May 28th on AZN TV. --Ada Tseng

Mikimoto to Work with Yamamoto

Fans of Mikimoto and Yamamoto have a lot to celebrate this coming summer. Mikimoto, a renowned jewelry designer, and Yamamoto, a unique designer of men and women fashion, have agreed to collaborate on a collection of 20 pieces. The collection will be centered on the quintessential pearl and will debut at couture week in Paris. Fans in the US can expect these items in stores in November while Europe and Asia will have to wait until 2008. --My Thanh Mac

James Sun, Almost Hired

James Sun, the CEO of the Seattle-based Internet company Zoodango, made it all the way to the finals on The Apprentice, but then was beat out by fellow contestant Stefanie Schaeffer. James and Stefanie had worked together throughout many of the tasks, to the point where Ivanka Trump, daughter of Donald and one of the consultants of the show, was concerned that Stefanie wouldn't be able to work as well independently of James. But, in the end, the Don criticized James for not being able to see the big picture and the Korean American internet entrepreneur -- or "visionary and strategist," in his own words -- was sadly... fired. It's OK. Read his bio: "He started a technology investment fund at age 18 with just $5000 and turned it into over $2 million at age 23, while earning his degree in business and computer information systems from the University of Washington, from which he graduated cum laude." I think he will be alright. --Ada Tseng

Published: Friday, April 27, 2007