Agreed. However, Idol has disqualified some contestants (Frenchie) for appearing nude in a magazine. Still, just last year, they let Antonella stay even with her racy pictures floating on the Internet. I read somewhere that Ramiele also has some like that on her Myspace / Facebook / other networking site, which were taken down.

LAST EDITED ON 03-04-08 AT 11:28 AM (EST)

Seems like the requisite Idol story for the year...seems like Idol would already know this info...and it also seems interesting that this stuff comes out at this stage each year. Good PR fodder.

Idol Blueprint?

How to build AI post initial rounds when they make fun of America and supposedly discover the unknown and desperately pull in ringers to shore up the talent for the season:

First...have a front runner that everyone can buzz about-- (David A).

Boot (pre-planned) cannon fodder who got little screen time, iffy song choices, and cruddy judges' comments.

Next...stir the pot with some "scandalous" info (David, Ramiele) about contestants to keep people tuning in.

Narrow to top 12 and repeat cannon fodder boots at 12,11,10 &9. Scandalized contestants will usually be gone by 9th place?

Build interest in one or two more likely contenders for the F2 (two if the front runner is losing steam).

Use celeb guest mentors and Idol Gives Back celebathon to build interest mid way through the top 12---top 2 portion of the show.

Bring back 19M managed former idols (Ruben, Kellie P, Daughtry, Carrie, etc.) to keep the former fans interested.

Build excitement over 2-3 possible winners with comments from guest mentors and judges' interviews and appearances on talk shows.

Fan fever pitch interest in the press.

Etc. etc.

LAST EDITED ON 03-04-08 AT 12:56 PM (EST)

And in a stunner, VFTW gets it right...again.

This isn't a big deal. Although considering Idol's history with nude incidents (the noted Frenchie/Antonella as the main offenders) and the rumors of Idol trying to push homosexuality in contestants to the background, this may not bode well for Mr. Hernandez. Being a male stripper at a generally male club can't help the image AI likes to put forward of its performers.

Five bucks says that he's "voted off" this week.

I sure hope not, because that boy can SANG!.

So, he danced around and made some cash with his junk flopping about. So what. I don't think Frenchie should have been cut either.

He is one of my favorites this year. He, unlike some others, DESERVES to be there.

geekboy

"I love puppies!" - S. Cowell

For sure I don't think David H should be send home by this -- whatever floats your boat and gets the bills paid -- but am I the only one who is grossed out by the thought of NUDE male stripping and lap dances? Ew. Give 'em a cute gold lame g-string to pack their stuff into any day as far as I'm concerned.

Agree with everything you said, other than being a personal favorite. That being said, the second I saw this on CNN and MSNBC's websites, I thought "well, they're going to kick him to the curb". Maybe they'll wait till next week so it's not so obvious.

word!

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