Katharine McPhee is leaving ratings-depressed ‘Smash’ behind

Katharine McPhee wants nothing to do with “Smash” anymore.
The “American Idol” alum, who turned 29 Monday, thinks the show, which just wrapped its second season, is a sinking ship and she doesn’t want to go down with it.
“She refuses to do any interviews pertaining to ‘Smash’ now,” a source close to McPhee tells Confidenti@l. “She’ll only talk about magazines she’s in and her music. She knows it was a failure and she doesn’t want her name linked to it, because nothing she has done has been a big hit. She wanted to break through and be a big star by the time she was 30.”
On top of McPhee trying to distance herself from the series, which is about the making of a Broadway musical, she is upset that co-star Megan Hilty released a full album before McPhee could get hers out. McPhee is now rushing production on the disc.
“She refuses to work with any producers that can actually help her, and her husband, who is also her manager, isn’t really any help,” says our source. McPhee has been married to Nick Cokas since 2008.
Hilty, meanwhile is successfully using her “Smash” platform to launch her singing career.
Last week she released her album, “It Happens All the Time,” and headlined a sold-out Carnegie Hall.
“Katharine is just difficult and isn’t making the right choices,” says our source.
Season two of “Smash” debuted after a complete off-season makeover. It drew only 4.47 million viewers, compared with almost 12 million for its debut last season.
The series also had a new showrunner for the second season. Adding to the drama, playwright Theresa Rebeck, the series’ creator, was demoted toward the end of last season and then left altogether.
After spending $30 million on a promotion campaign, NBC then moved “Smash” to Saturday nights, beginning April 6. This will likely be the program’s final season.
A rep for McPhee says it’s “not at all true” her client is moving away from “Smash.”
PIPPA SALES SPUR LITTLE PARTYING
Party-planning Pippa Middleton has given up on her American dreams.
“Pippa is no longer looking at the U.S. for media opportunities,” a source close to Middleton’s interests tells Confidenti@l.
PHOTOS: MEET PIPPA MIDDLETON
Sources say the Duchess of Cambridge’s little sis has been humbled by weak sales of her party-planning book, “Celebrate,” and concerns among the royals that she was using her new position to leverage fame.
According to our insider, “Her advisers felt that there were a wide scope of opportunities to use her royal links to build a career in the media. Offers amounting to millions of dollars came flooding in, and the book was meant to be the start of many.”
Last week, Middleton and book agent David Godwin parted ways, and Penguin Books hasn’t returned calls asking when or if there would be a paperback version of “Celebrate.”
Middleton banked a $675K advance from the publisher, but has sold just 17,000 copies this side of the pond, according to Nielsen. Our source says Middleton is still entertaining ideas to help her parents’ family business, Party Pieces, expand into the U.S. someday, but says, “They will be low-key business deals — not on-camera, high-profile work.”
LILO NOT QUITE IN REHAB MODE
Lindsay Lohan may soon be headed to rehab, but until then, she’ll be repeating the same old habits. On Saturday night the “actress” was seen lip-wrestling with City of the Sun guitarist Avi Snow at Santa Monica’s 41 Ocean club. A night earlier, Lohan was in San Diego gulping vodka on the rocks at club Fluxx. It seems LiLo just can’t lie low.
PHOTOS: LINDSAY LOHAN GOES FROM ACTRESS TO MODEL  
BEYONCÉ, IN A SNAP
“Hey B and blue!” was all Twitter user @Iris_Sr had to say when she tweeted a photo of Beyoncé and her baby, Blue Ivy, at a lady’s luncheon. The rare candid shot of Bey and her adorable 14-month-old daughter was snapped at the corner of Court and Huntington Sts. in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, outside Buttermilk Channel restaurant. The pop star also was spotted with her foot hanging out of a cab window.
PHOTOS: BEYONCE AND JAY Z STEP OUT
UPTON DATE MAY HAVE TO WAIT
Like many men before him, Jake Davidson may be disappointed on prom night. The 17-year-old high schooler from L.A. grabbed headlines last week when he made a clever video asking supermodel Kate Upton to the prom. Flattered, the famously friendly Upton tweeted that she’d love to join him if she could clear her schedule. According to a People magazine report Monday, Upton is backing away from the offer, saying, “I want to, but I just don’t know if I can make it work.” But don't lose heart, kid. A rep for Upton says, "We don't know yet."
CASTING QUEEN IS A TOUGH SCENE
It’s not easy casting a queen. Aretha Franklin and director Taylor Hackford have been having trouble filling the role of the Queen of Soul in an upcoming Franklin biopic. “We are thinking of Audra McDonald, who just won a Tony on Broadway,” Franklin (r.) tells Confidenti@l. “The question, where Audra is concerned, is whether or not she can get over into soul, not Broadway.” Franklin, who will be headlining the Westchester County Center on Wednesday, said they’re also considering Jennifer Hudson for the part.
BIG DEAL: LAUER OVER GUMBEL
While NBC’s “Today” continues its ratings plummet, beleaguered host Matt Lauer (far l.) can take comfort in the fact he’s won a friendly competition with pal Bryant Gumbel (with Lauer). According to NBC sources, topping Gumbel in contracts inked was a “major contributing factor” to Lauer’s sticking around. He’s been with NBC since 1994 and at “Today” since 1997. Gumbel was with NBC for nearly 25 years, “Today” for 15. Our insider says Lauer has signed one more NBC contract than Gumbel. A spokeswoman said NBC won’t comment on contract details.
LILY’S DREAM GUYS: ONE DIRECTION
On Monday, singer Lily Allen (@LilyRoseCooper) tweeted she’d dreamed about joining the world’s most famous boy band. “I had a dream that I joined One Direction last night. Harry [Styles] was nice, and we did a cover of TLC’s ‘No Scrubs.’ That is all.” If Allen (above), a 27-year-old mother of two, joined the band, she’d be only the second member old enough to have a drink. Louis Tomlinson turned 21 last December.
LAUPER IS ALL SWEETNESS & LIGHT
Girls just wanna have sun. Rookie Broadway composer Cyndi Lauper (l.) made sure she looked her best in photos at a recent press event for her musical “Kinky Boots,” now in previews. She brought her own hand-held 'bounce card," which she used to deflect light onto her smiley mug when shutterbugs snapped photos. “It’s hilarious,” says a Broadway source who’s seen Lauper do this for past shows. Actor Ian McKellen, weatherman Sam Champion and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi took in “Kinky Boots” performances over the weekend.
KIM LOOKING SHARP
Kim K is giving new definition to the word pinhead. On Monday the soon-to-be mom posted a Facebook photo of herself receiving an acupuncture treatment — with a full face of makeup — and the caption "Oh just relaxing…"
SUN STILL COMING OUT FOR ‘ANNIE’
For a 1977 musical, “Annie”’ still has a lot of tomorrows. Its Tony-winning composer, Charles Strouse (r.), is excited that “Glee” star Jane Lynch will join Broadway’s “Annie” as Miss Hannigan on May 16. He tells The News’ Wayman Wong, “She’s perfect. She can play both mean-­spirited and camp without scaring the pants off of children.” Strouse is also pumped that 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis will star next year in Will Smith and Jay-Z’s movie version of “Annie,” which he says will use several of his songs.
PALTROW GEAR NOT PALTRY
On her painfully earnest Goop website, actress Gwyneth Paltrow lists her spring “essentials,” which total nearly half a million dollars and include must-have items for the average gal like a $5,495 Valentino python bag, a $3,795 Jason Wu biker jacket and, for those needing just the bare essentials, a $796 studded leather Valentino iPad case. Maybe for summer she can save up and buy a clue.

( From NYdailynews )