I have been frantically poking around and I can't find any corroborating evidence anywhere, but the dreaded Drudge is reporting that ABC's Primetime Live — which is airing a segment on American Idol on Wednesday entitled Fallen Idol (melodramatic much?), which purports to "explore explosive claims about behind-the-scenes activities" — actually has evidence to back up its claims.
Drudge says, "Late night phone calls and answering machine messages are said to tie [Paula] Abdul, 42, to an inappropriate relationship with a 22 year-old contestant ... ABC is preparing to play the audio, along with on-camera interviews given by former contestants who did not receive the same personal 'coaching'."
One would presume the "22 year old contestant" is Corey Clark, who was booted from the show in '03 after it was revealed he was charged for beating up his sister, and who is now claiming he had an affair with Abdul while he was still on the show. Clark claims the perky pixie threatened him with retribution if he revealed the titilating tale.
Last week Abdul issued a statement saying she would not "dignify" Clark's "false statements," adding, "He is communicating lies ... in order to generate interest in a book deal," and her attorney Marty Singer told ABC that it faces legal action if it proceeds with the broadcast.
As Drudge says: "developing."
More on Idol and Drudge from Steve Huff here.
UPDATE
Interesting insight into the Idol process from Jason Rich, author of American Idol 4: Official Behind-the-Scenes Fan Book, who told AP, "Based on what I've seen this season and last, I have not seen any scandal worth an hour of a prime-time television expose. I haven't heard of anything, even if they wanted to grasp at straws."
Article comments
1 - mfj
I'd like to sum up my sentiments towards this potential career-leveling scandal with a word 'Pauler' (as Simon calls her) has used to describe every talentless sap who has held a mic on American Idol..
Great.
C'mon friends, Abdul has been hyping overrated non-talents since the show's inception. The prospect of her 'stepping down' is nothing short of breathtaking for people who can actually tell the difference between an accurately sung note and an injured dog's yelp.
For Anwar and others who couldn't sing a major third interval correctly at gun point... for all of those who have managed to slip into latter rounds on the strength of Abdul's pill-induced euphoria, I say..
This is just GREAT.
Off with her 'idle' head.
2 - Eric Olsen
that would be the anti perspective
3 - -E
I doubt she will be stepping down. There is a reason she was brought onto the show. Someone needed to be there to counter Simon's blunt responses. Sure, she might rave over folks that we all know shouldn't win, but is there really a reason she shouldn't encourage them to go after their dreams?
Without Paula, Simon would be too much. Likewise, without Simon, Paula would be too much. They balance each other out. They provide some conflict to keep the audiences entertained and on their toes. It is what makes Idol work.
4 - Eric Olsen
I agree -E: they have stumbled upon a dynamic that works and a change would likely break the spell
5 - Jim
Corey Clark is about as smart as a box of rocks. The music/tv biz is made up of people that know each other. In the future, who is going to ever trust this back stabbing, sister beating punk again? Anyone smart would avoid hiring him to protect their own interests.
2nd, Paula is more powerful than she appears. Her friends also have money and power. Counting just Simon, he makes more than 8 million a year off of Idol, with a total of 34 million per year, and is listed as being the 4th biggest income in the U.K. for 2004. While she may not do anything, only a fool would be such a risk taker to threaten people such as this.
Finally, when the dust settles and the book money is dwindling, my guess is Corey will be left with few career oppertunities. Even some Burger Kings will avoid him. I guess that is until people eventually forget who he is.
As for having the goods, they need proof as you said. The answering machine messages would have to be more than simple audio snippets with "hint hint, nudge nudge" from ABC.
A friendly message doesn't neccissarily indicate "coaching" either. By wed, we will know what is really in the audio. ABC will make it seem credible and put much spin of course. Today it's speculaton, wed who knows.
6 - Jim
-E, I think that we mostly hear from the complainers about Paula, but she is part of the delicate dynamic balance you and Eric mentioned. Each judge has their own purpose and part. Take one away and the show is unbalanced as you said.. good point!
7 - Eric Olsen
good point about Corey, Jim. My guess is he waited a couple of years to see if he could get anything going, and he obviously couldn't so now he is tossing caution to the wind and/or making shit up. Like you said, we'll see what they have on Wednesday
8 - Jim
Thanks. Also good observation on him waiting the 2 years. Not being able to get anything going is probably the reason.
9 - Eric Olsen
showbiz was likely not waiting with open arms for an American Idol contestant kicked off the show for beating up his sister, an offense very high up the social shitlist
10 - -E
I don't know, getting on the social shitlist always boosts Eminem's popularity.
I don't even remember this kid. So he is obviously not memerable and doesn't stand out. More of the same isn't always what sells.
11 - Eric Olsen
update with an endorsement of the integrity of show
12 - Jim
Eminem's popularity revolves around his delivery, timing, focused delivery. He's focused at an audience target that supports him. Corey isn't. So he'd need so fancy re-working to pull off profits at this point.
I think the show has managed to be mostly credible, yet never perfect. It's been a little more out of tune this season. One aspect is ID spoofing with calls. If this is being done, the idol machines will think multiple bogus votes are from different people. That site, v4tw, is not helping peoples nerves either. While their impact may be small, media exposure has given them more impact. Finally, the AOL poll has been voted mostly with bogus votes, causing the top 3 to be out of order for 5 weeks at this point.
13 - Eric Olsen
the longer the show stays at such a surprising level of popularity, the more it will be a target, as we have increasingly seen this year.
14 - Jim
That true. Fox has outlined a long term goal strategy that reaches more than 5 years into the future. If different sources keep picking away at it, it might go downhill. It seems to be a nice way to open the door for new artists while entertain people, and it would be a shame if it was stopped.
15 - Eric Olsen
short of fixed results, I'm not sure what ABC can say that will really undermine the show. Do the judges "influence" the contestants and voting? That's what they are supposed to do. Did Paula really have some kind of "relationship" with Clark? I'm not sure it matters much unless the producers think that taints her beyond repair. And I'm sure we'll hear from disgruntled former contestants, but what cna they say other than "I'm disgruntled"?
16 - Natalie Davis
Clark didn't win. Didn't come close. Even if the news of his allegedly boisterous past had not been revealed, he wouldn't have. If Abdul was helping him in exchange for some sessions of Posturepedic huff-and-puff, it doesn't appear as if she had any effect, which should soothe those who want to cry foul over past Idol seasons.
Still, IF Clark's allegations are true -- and I don't really care, though admittedly some doubt unsupported by evidence is floating through my grey matter -- Abdul should be professional enough to step down and protect the show's already shaky credibility. At this point in the competition it would all be for show, of course; the judges play the tiniest of roles in choosing who goes home each week (and then only if their comments influence anyone to place a call or send a text message at voting time). But still.
As for Mr. Bice... If past cocaine use didn't keep the Shrub out of the White House, it shouldn't keep the Alabama rocker from being Our American Idol. But that decision goes to the masses. Scary, but that is how the game is played.
17 - Eric Olsen
I agree with those thoughts Nat
18 - Mike
I agree with most of your thoughts too, Natalie, except for how the alleged help from Paula to Clark eventually might have panned out.
I think if Clark would have been voted off it would show that Paula's help would have had no effect on the outcome but since he was let go for outstanding criminal charges we'll never know how far he would have gone.
It was thought at the time that Clark was the annointed winner, like Mario Vasquez was this year. After Clark was gone, Ruben inherited the crown.
There has been talk since Season 2 of vote manipulation and carefully chosen wording for the judges scripted critiques. AI even admitted that they tossed out entire blocks of text votes for Clay that year because they suspected some kind of spamming effort when the votes came in like an avalanche.
I hope the PT Live show touches on the voting. I couldn't care less about Paula or C. Clark.
19 - Natalie Davis
Huh? People thought Clark had a chance? Are you serious??? Guess I missed that -- it's the first I have ever heard of even the slightest possibility that he had a shot at the title. Corey Clark was a nonissue, IMO -- the people to watch were Ruben, Clay, the Kimberlys (Locke and Caldwell), and Josh Gracin, and the real ones to watch were Ruben and Clay. That was evident to me from practically the start of the second season. When Clark was ousted, my family and I didn't notice his absence and neither did we care.
20 - Eric Olsen
as I recall he barely squeaked to whatever level he did get to
21 - -E
I honestly don't care if the two had an affair. And if they did, I don't think that means Paula should have to step down. I will admit that she is the reason I ever tuned into the show to begin with. I didn't care about Pop Idol or Simon or anyone else. I was curious about what she is up to now. If she did have the affair with the dude, she should simply make a public announcement of the matter and appologize for blurring the lines between a professional and personal relationship.