2008 Woodie Awards
"American Idol" continues to deliver American scandals
Libby Segal
Issue date: 3/11/08 Section: Entertainment
03/11/08 - "American Idol" has been a huge success for young artists including Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls"), and Jordin Sparks. But "American Idol" has also served as a public domain for something else: scandals.
Season after season has given the public news filled with gossip about contestants that have dared to show their face on "Idol." While some contestants are embarrassed during the early rounds for having terrible voices, other Idols are embarrassed later on by leaked information.
In season two of "American Idol" several scandals surfaced including Corey Clark being kicked off the show after "Idol" learned he had previously been charged with misdemeanor battery, and resisting arrest. Also in season two, contestant Frenchie Davis was kicked off the show for posing on adult Web site, nude.
Clark returned to the scene in season four, when he told newsstands that he a nd Paula Abdul had a love connection while he was on the show. Abdul denied all such rumors and "Idol" hosted a mockery of Clark with a short showing of "Fallen Idol." Abdul, thankfully, has not been accused of any romantic intrigue since.
Season four also produced finalist Bo Bice, who gave crowd-pleasing performances every week. However, in 2001, he gave a displeasing performance when he was arrested for possession of cocaine and marijuana, according to AOL.
Following season four, "Idol" relased the Brittenum twins, a pair of stuck up, over-the-top "Idol" contestants who would be kicked off the show after their appearance in Hollywood. "Idol" had discovered that there were outstanding criminal warrants for them (AOL).
While season six gave the world Sparks and Blake "B-Shorty" Lewis, it also gave the world Antonella Barba, a Jersey girl who once took provocative pictures and never thought anyone would see them. Eventually the pictures surfaced online.
Season seven falls into the grain as three-count them, three-scandals have already hit newsstands. The least focused on of the three is rocker chick Amanda Overmyer who was charged with a DUI in 2006. The Web site VoteForTheWorst.com provided her mug shot on Feb. 28. Following the release of information about Overmyer's DUI was the release of rumors surrounding contestant David Hernandez-also posted by VoteForTheWorst.com. Hernandez worked in a strip club prior to making it on "Idol." "Idol" has not removed him from the show.
Last, a not-so-Merry Christmas video by male contestant Danny Noriega has been released-by both a user on YouTube.com and VoteForTheWorst.com. Dressed in dark clothing, Noriega sings a rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," where he adds a nice amount of profanity at the end, with words and phrases even too obscene for the Cigar. Put simply he wished Santa Claus to do naughty things to your mother.
Noriega along with the rest of these "fallen" idols have - as Simon would say - "One hundred percent secured a spot" on Santa's naughty lists for the rest of their lives.
Season after season has given the public news filled with gossip about contestants that have dared to show their face on "Idol." While some contestants are embarrassed during the early rounds for having terrible voices, other Idols are embarrassed later on by leaked information.
In season two of "American Idol" several scandals surfaced including Corey Clark being kicked off the show after "Idol" learned he had previously been charged with misdemeanor battery, and resisting arrest. Also in season two, contestant Frenchie Davis was kicked off the show for posing on adult Web site, nude.
Clark returned to the scene in season four, when he told newsstands that he a nd Paula Abdul had a love connection while he was on the show. Abdul denied all such rumors and "Idol" hosted a mockery of Clark with a short showing of "Fallen Idol." Abdul, thankfully, has not been accused of any romantic intrigue since.
Season four also produced finalist Bo Bice, who gave crowd-pleasing performances every week. However, in 2001, he gave a displeasing performance when he was arrested for possession of cocaine and marijuana, according to AOL.
Following season four, "Idol" relased the Brittenum twins, a pair of stuck up, over-the-top "Idol" contestants who would be kicked off the show after their appearance in Hollywood. "Idol" had discovered that there were outstanding criminal warrants for them (AOL).
While season six gave the world Sparks and Blake "B-Shorty" Lewis, it also gave the world Antonella Barba, a Jersey girl who once took provocative pictures and never thought anyone would see them. Eventually the pictures surfaced online.
Season seven falls into the grain as three-count them, three-scandals have already hit newsstands. The least focused on of the three is rocker chick Amanda Overmyer who was charged with a DUI in 2006. The Web site VoteForTheWorst.com provided her mug shot on Feb. 28. Following the release of information about Overmyer's DUI was the release of rumors surrounding contestant David Hernandez-also posted by VoteForTheWorst.com. Hernandez worked in a strip club prior to making it on "Idol." "Idol" has not removed him from the show.
Last, a not-so-Merry Christmas video by male contestant Danny Noriega has been released-by both a user on YouTube.com and VoteForTheWorst.com. Dressed in dark clothing, Noriega sings a rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," where he adds a nice amount of profanity at the end, with words and phrases even too obscene for the Cigar. Put simply he wished Santa Claus to do naughty things to your mother.
Noriega along with the rest of these "fallen" idols have - as Simon would say - "One hundred percent secured a spot" on Santa's naughty lists for the rest of their lives.