American Idol singer gets another shot

Robert Hatcher, the Westwood man who made it to the Hollywood round on "American Idol" in February, gets another shot at TV fame and fortune. He'll be a contestant on NBC's "America's Got Talent" $1-million competition this summer.

Jerry Springer, who replaces Regis Philbin as host for the summer series, told reporters today that one of the contestants was a talented singer who works for the Cincinnati sewer department. NBC confirms it's Hatcher, a contract night-shift dispatcher for the Metropolitan Sewer District who I wrote about in January. Hatcher, when I reached him, said he couldn't say anything. (The NBC publicist says contestants aren't allowed to speak to the media.)

Springer continues to ride a wave of good times since "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC's reality hit. He's taping a sitcom pilot this week in Los Angeles while preparing for the June 5 premiere of "America's Got Talent." NBC has first shot at the situation comedy, since NBC Universal owns his daytime talk show, he says. He's also booked appearances on the "Today" show and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," and as a presenter on the Daytime Emmys June 15. And he starts taping an 18th season of his daytime talk show in August.