Fan Fare

Bret Michaels gives doctors the slip for “Idol” performance

Singer Bret Michaels made a surprise appearance on “American Idol” on Wednesday to perform his signature song “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” after spending the past few weeks recovering from a potentially fatal brain hemorrhage, a mini-stroke and learning that he has a hole in his heart.

The frontman for the glam band Poison said that he tried to keep his guest  role on “Idol,” during which he sang with former contestant Casey James, under wraps. It was his first live gig since suffering a series of medical emergencies in April.

“The doctors — I didn’t tell them I was going to do this … They’re going to find out in a few minutes,” an upbeat Michaels told reporters backstage.

Michaels, 47,  added that he “may not” have told his family either.

“Balloon Boy” and the drive for reality TV fame

Now that authorities say last week’s balloon boy incident was just a hoax, the public is getting re-acquainted with the underside of reality television. Richard and Mayumi Heene, parents of the 6 year-old boy thought to be trapped in a balloon before he was found in an attic, are expected to be charged this week with making up the whole scenario.

If what authorities are saying about the Heenes is true, they may have been hungering for fame, and saw the hoax as a great way to get a reality TV show. As everyone knows by know, the Heenes already starred in a past episode of the reality show “Wife Swap.”