Snippy Seacrest, curt Cowell and lovely LaKisha

By Stone Martindale Feb 22, 2007, 17:11 GMT

Vintage Ryan Seacrest - © Scott Alan / Photorazzi

"American Idol" is heating up, and the array of the female finalists put the men to shame.  But the inter-personal shenanigans on stage between the titan egos of Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest made the news too.

Tuesday's installment of "American Idol," showed the love lost, whether real or manufactured for ratings between host Ryan Seacrest and judge Simon Cowell in an ongoing "Idol" theme.

Seacrest went off a bit on Cowell after the British judge called him "sweetheart."

"Don't call me sweetheart. ... We don't have that kind of relationship," Seacrest said. "I don't want that kind of relationship."

"I don't want that kind of relationship," said Cowell, prompting Seacrest to reply: "Exactly. We'll just work together, that's fine with me."

Later Seacrest continued to verbally spar with Cowell, who was quite outspoken over his opinion of the performances offered by the 12 male singers vying to win the "Idol" title and a record contract, reported the Mercury News.

"Why are you being so negative tonight? I mean, you've been very, very negative," Seacrest said.

"I'm not being negative," Cowell replied. "Unlike you, I actually respect the audience at home and I don't, and I don't believe in lying to them."

Seacrest closed the show by thanking Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and the band - but not Simon Cowell, reports the Mercury News.

Simon was right about the comparison between the male and female finalists, and the women kicked the door down and ruled last night.  The best of the best was the phenomenal LaKisha Jones, 27, of Michigan.  She turned in a performance that was simply in another stratosphere than the rest.

LaKisha’s version of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” included the line “you’re going to love me,” and boy, did we love her.

“I do love you,” Randy Jackson said. “Jennifer Hudson, watch out!” Paula was over the moon, and Simon Cowell bemusedly sat back and noted the entire contest for all intent and purpose, was over.

“That’s the right note,” he said. “I’m very tempted to say to 23 people, book your plane ticket home. That was in a whole different league.”