From Deseret News archives:
Abdul should go — if it matters
The latest controversy surrounding "American Idol" is, of course, allegations by former contestant Corey Clark that he had an affair with Abdul (one of the show's judges) while he was competing. That she bought him stuff, helped him select wardrobe and songs and, of course, fooled around with him.
I was skeptical, to say the least, before ABC aired its "Fallen Idol" expose last week. But there was that phone message Abdul left with Clark saying, "If the press is trying to talk to you, you say absolutely nothing."
Even if that's not really Abdul in the message, ABC also had pages and pages of phone records showing calls between Clark and Abdul — one lasting almost 2 1/2 hours. It's circumstantial, but it looks bad for her. And bad for the show.
But I'm not sure anybody at the network or on the show's production staff cares. They've brushed off legitimate questions about the show's voting procedures and fairness for four seasons now.
And, quite frankly, Abdul has been pretty much a joke since the show began. That someone of her limited vocal abilities — c'mon, she was a far better dancer than singer — would be passing judgment on the vocal talents of others was pretty ludicrous.
As has been her performance as a judge. Her gushing overpraise and what the Boston Globe accurately portrayed as "emotional outbursts, slurring words and clapping like a seal" during telecasts have been downright embarrassing.
The show's producers issued a statement calling Clark a "liar," and I agree. It's beyond belief that he didn't come forward with these charges in search of publicity, as he maintains. Of course he's trying to make money off this.
But the producers apparently did some lying of their own. Or, at the very least, severe bending of the truth. "It should also be noted that the ultimate decision on which contestants move forward on 'American Idol' has always been determined by the voting public," they said in a statement.
Well, that wasn't true until the finalists were selected by the judges two years ago. And I'm sure a few thousand contestants out there are wondering if they might have made the final 12 if Abdul hadn't been, um, helping Clark.
(As a matter of fact, Clark was eliminated by the producers — not by the public — because he failed to reveal he'd been charged with assault.)
If they cared about making "Idol" look legitimate, Abdul would have already been fired. If she's not gone before next season, the producers obviously don't care.
And why should they? The show is a huge hit despite its problems.
As for Abdul, I'm sure we'll soon see her on TV portraying herself as a victim in all of this and maintaining it was the result of her addiction to prescription painkillers. Ho, hum.
Clark's 15 minutes of fame have about 15 seconds left to run.
And all the publicity will only keep "American Idol" in the public eye and on top of the ratings.
Which is fine, as long as you look at the show as entertainment and not as anything approaching a legitimate competition.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com
