Olympic swimming champ Michael Phelps opens up to NBC News’ Matt Lauer in his first TV interview since the controversial photo surfaced of Phelps allegedly smoking from a bong.

“It was an awful judgment. And, really, the people I hurt is my family, clearly, my friends, the close people around me and most importantly, the fans. And I realize that that hurt a lot of people,” Phelps tells Lauer in the interview, which airs Friday morning on the “Today” show and Sunday on “Dateline.”

Lauer goes on to ask Phelps if he was smoking pot, and according to “Today,” Phelps responds: “It was a bad mistake. I mean, we all know what you and I are talking about. It’s a stupid mistake. You know, bad judgment. And it’s something that I have to, and I want to teach other people not to make that mistake.”

A South Carolina sheriff says he will not charge Phelps after an investigation stemming from the controversial photo.

You just have to see her and know what we are talking about. The buzz surrounding Jessica Simpson’s size may be subsiding, but now it seems Lindsay Lohan has become one of the latest objects of scrutiny in the never-ending “damned if you gain, damned if you lose” media game.

Blogs have been buzzing about Linds’ skinnier-than-usual frame while attending designer Matthew Williamson’s New York store opening on Sunday, but the actress tells Us the weight loss is “not intentional” and attributes the drop to “working a lot,” “stress” and “lack of sleep” due to travel.

“I eat,” she insists. “I had my Big Mac yesterday from McDonald’s. I eat just as much as I always have.”

We’re two days into American Idol’s eighth season, and theoretically we may have already seen who’s going to be having a moment like this, the time of his life, her now, etc. when the May finale rolls around.

For sure we’ve seen more than a few train wrecks, some really weird hair, a lot of tears and profanity, not to mention abrasive Bikini Girl, Ryan Seacrest trying to high-five a blind contestant, a female judge who makes sense and a host of new Simonisms.

Read more:

American Idol: Two Days Later - E! Online

The American Pie actress and velvet-rope fixture has checked into Promises Treatment Center in Malibu, according to her publicist, Jack Ketsoyan.

“We appreciate your respect to her and her family’s privacy at this time,” he said. Ketsoyan did not say what Reid is being treated for and no other details were forthcoming.

Read More:

Tara Reid Enters Rehab - E! Online