P. Diddy has a date with 19 women.

The latest Sean "P. Diddy" Combs-led version of MTV's reality talent search "Making the Band" will feature 19 women living together in a SoHo loft and competing to become members of an all-girl pop group under the hip-hop mogul's guidance.

"Making the Band 3" premieres March 3.

"I take pride in being a star-maker and having had the chance to work with the biggest and most successful women in the music industry," Combs said in a statement. "But there is nothing like finding and nurturing new talent and watching their rise to fame."

On "Making the Band" the female contestants will be judged on their dancing ability, vocal talent, star power and willingness to be part of a group. Those who don't meet Diddy's standards will be eliminated.

(Associated Press)

E! stays with Star

Star Jones Reynolds will be back on the red carpet for E! Entertainment Television's coverage of this year's Screen Actors Guild, Grammy and Academy Awards.

Ted Harbert, president and chief executive officer of E! Networks, said he was thrilled Jones Reynolds would continue as host of E!'s "Live From the Red Carpet" awards specials.

"Her passion and knowledge about the world of entertainment make her the ideal person to represent E! in our showcase event telecast," Harbert said in a statement Monday.

Jones Reynolds, a co-host of ABC's daytime talk show "The View," first stepped onto the red carpet for E! last September for the Emmy Awards and recently for the Golden Globe Awards.

Joan Rivers and her daughter, Melissa, jumped ship at E! last year to sign with the TV Guide Channel. E! then signed Jones Reynolds to replace them.

(AP)

Remembering Johnny

"The Tonight Show" paid tribute to its former host Johnny Carson in an hourlong tribute Monday night.

In addition to clips from Carson's 30 years on the show, Jay Leno talked to those who knew the TV legend best: Ed McMahon, Don Rickles and Bob Newhart.

Meanwhile, "60 Minutes Wednesday" will feature a Mike Wallace interview with Carson from 1979.

The CBS news magazine, which airs at 8 tonight, will include footage never seen before.

(Post-Gazette)

Still a winner

Josh Gracin got bumped from "American Idol" but turned his 15 minutes of fame into a major-label record contract and a No. 2 country hit, "I Want to Live." The highest debuting new artist in a decade will perform Friday for a crowd that includes a bus load of Y108 prize winners.

After skiing with WDSY celebrity Stoney Richards at Hidden Valley Resort, they'll slide into Outback Park, where Gracin will do a set that includes his new single, "Nothin' to Lose," from his self-titled album.

John Hayes, Post-Gazette Staff Writer