THE WORD?S OUT: Susan Boyle, the world?s most phenomenally successful ?amateur? singer, placed only second in ?Britain?s Got Talent,? edged out in the final count of viewers? votes by a new and heretofore unheralded dance group named Diversity.

Susan was gracious in defeat, but reportedly broke down backstage. After a few days, she pleaded exhaustion and emotional turmoil and checked herself into a private clinic for a few days.

Expectedly, Susan?s ?burnout? was played up in the media, but the people closest to her swear she?s ?basically okay,? and expect her to bounce back, fully recharged, soon.

Despite this assurance, the ?drama? of Susan?s emotional reaction to her defeat has made some people worry about her ability to handle the extreme pressure of global singing stardom, especially in the light of her lack of preparation for the overwhelming success and international attention that came her way.

Again, her supporters insist she?s basically ready to launch an international singing career. Simon Cowell is sure she will soon be offered a big-deal recording contract. In fact, he may offer her one himself! And he believes the debut album she will release before the year ends will be a major success.

Like Paul Potts

She may even eclipse the success of another ?amateur? singing champion, Paul Potts, who currently enjoys a high-flying singing career. Like Susan, Potts was an absolute unknown before retroactive fame claimed him.

Interestingly, both Susan and Paul are being built up by some entertainment people as the perfect arguments against the domination of young and beautiful singing stars on the international performing venue. They believe that the focus on youth and beauty has deprived the entertainment world of truly gifted, albeit older and ?less beautiful,? talents like Susan and Paul.

And they hope that, in the coming years, the tide will turn in favor of more mature and gifted performers, even if their looks run counter to established show biz norms and preferences.

What?s up?

What?s up next for Susan Boyle? Not to worry, she may have won ?only? second place, but her schedule this year is quite full: She is set to start rehearsing an album of show tunes and fly to Prague next month for recording sessions with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Simon Cowell says, ?Susan could become the biggest star I?ve ever discovered. She?s got the world at her feet right now?but, there?s no need to panic.?

More: US record label Menagerie Entertainment, run by a Scot, has offered Susan a deal. She has confirmed the offer but has not followed upon it. What about developments from Cowell?s end?

He?s also reportedly setting up a contract with his Syco music company, a subsidiary of Sony Music. So, Susan has nothing to worry about. She may have ?lost? the top ?Britain?s Got Talent? plum, but she?s gotten much more than she bargained for.

Of love and friendship

Young film comers Megan Fox, Ashley Tisdale, Hayden Panattier and Alexis Bledel star in coming-of-age films designed to position them as this year?s most promising young finds. In ?I love You, Beth Cooper,? Panatierre plays a popular cheerleader who surprises her school?s valedictorian when he proclaims his love for her. Instead of making the nerd (Paul Rust) an object of ridicule, she decides to show him the night of his life.

In a drastic change of pace, Megan Fox goes diabolical in the horror comedy, ?Jennifer?s Body,? from Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (?Juno?). Fox plays a cheerleader possessed by a demon who feeds off the boys in a small farming town.

And, in ?Post Grad,? Alexis Bledel is an A-grade student whose dream job is stolen by her college nemesis, forcing her to move back with her eccentric family. Lucky for her, she spends time with her best friend Adam (Zach Gilford) and meets hot next-door neighbor David.

?Teardrop Diamond?

Bryce Dallas stars in the haunting drama, ?The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond.? Based on a long-lost screenplay by Tennessee Williams, the film will be shown exclusively at Glorietta 4 and Greenbelt 3 cinemas. The film tells the touching story of Fisher Willow, a young, defiant and strikingly modern debutante from the Roaring ?20s. Other lead roles are played by Chris Evans and Ellen Burstyn.