Adam Lambert is fully embracing his new solo career -- as well as his keyboard player.

The "American Idol" runner-up gave the final performance at the 2009 American Music Awards Sunday, and he delivered much of what earlier outings by Janet Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Lady Gaga and others had: lots of backup dancers, a stumble or two and just a bit of raunchiness.

OK, in Lambert's case, there was more than a bit of racy material. He simulated oral sex, made out with an androgynous keyboard player, fake fondled a dancer's privates, and stumbled (and recovered) during a rousing performance of his new song, "For Your Entertainment."

ABC says more than 1,500 people have called to complain about Lambert's sexually charged performance. The network characterized the response as "moderate."

Before his performance, Lambert said he wanted to break down a double standard that existed where female performers are often sexually provocative while men don't do it that often.

There were also hostile comments online about the "American Idol" glam rocker who sang "For Your Entertainment" with an elaborate, S&M-themed production.

Speaking of stumbles ... sometimes the West Coast really misses out.

Jennifer Lopez's much discussed live trip over her "Louboutins" was edited from the version of the AMA show that aired later.

But the network insists this was not because of any sort of diva maneuvering.

"Due to the live nature of the show, we did not expect the impromptu moment in question," stated ABC, Dick Clark Productions executives and AMA show producers. "Regarding Jennifer Lopez, execs and producers felt it was respectful to Ms. Lopez to edit the mishap for later time zones."

The AMAs telecast surged to its biggest ratings since 2002, with an estimated 14.2 million viewers.

For the record, Lopez's rep says she is physically fine. Her ego, on the other hand ...

"Yeah, I meant to do that. That was part of the choreography," she joked with Ryan Seacrest yesterday morning. "Look, the measure of things is not what happens when you fall, it's how you handle it when you fall."

Another interview coup for Oprah Winfrey: Vicki Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

In her first interview since her husband's death, Vicki Kennedy will appear on Winfrey's television talk show tomorrow, along with stepson Ted Kennedy Jr. and her two children from a previous marriage, Caroline and Curran.

Sen. Kennedy died in August at age 77, weeks before the release of his memoir, "True Compass."

Jon Gosselin offered his estranged wife, Kate Gosselin, a bouquet of red roses at their divorce arbitration hearing over the weekend. She evidently turned them down. Despite the snub, the marathon session went so well that the feuding stars of "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" could be divorced by the end of the year, his lawyer said yesterday.

The couple met for more than six hours Saturday at a law office in the Philadelphia suburbs to discuss unresolved issues, including custody of their eight children and the distribution of marital property. Mark Heller, Jon's lawyer, said an arbitrator will rule by Christmas and that the divorce could be finalized by the close of 2009.

The guy who allegedly went to great lengths to show the world what ESPN's Erin Andrews looks like naked ain't going away quietly.

No. 1 Fan Michael David Barrett pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles yesterday to a federal charge of interstate stalking. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The trial is scheduled for Jan. 12 before U.S. District Judge Manuel Real.

Last week, evidence was submitted claiming that the 47-year-old Illinois man followed the sports announcer to Columbus, Ohio, and Milwaukee and Nashville, where he allegedly shot his peephole video.

Michael Jackson's doctor returned to work at his Houston medical clinic yesterday for the first time since the pop star's death on June 25.

Dr. Conrad Murray arrived at the Armstrong Medical Clinic and was greeted by a couple of patients and the pastor of his church. He didn't speak with reporters.

Murray, a cardiologist licensed in Nevada, Texas and California, was hired to be Jackson's personal physician during a world tour. He was with Jackson when the 50-year-old singer died.

The doctor has been the focus of a Los Angeles police homicide investigation since telling investigators he administered propofol, a powerful operating room anesthetic, to help Jack sleep.

Murray, who lives in Las Vegas, has not been charged with a crime.

Mackenzie Carpenter's video program, "Omnivore," is available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.