American Idol: Does Primetime Live Have the Goods on Abdul?

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.”