Posted on 05/08/2006 4:22:13 AM PDT by silent_jonny
I was really hoping that next week would be the three guys -- a Rat Pack kind of thing. That would have been so fun. You can tell they're all good friends -- that would have been a blast for them. (And for all their female fans! :) 
I think it was much simpler than that. I think "A Little Less Conversation" was simply a dud of a song. It's not a terribly exciting song to begin with and he didn't do much to improve it. If he had performed his two songs in reverse order, he might have been okay, but his dud song came last, and that's what people remember. Never end on a bad note. That's all people can manage to hold in their itsy-bitsy brains.
'American Idol' dropout Mario Vazquez hires new lawyer, which may explain early departure
By Wade Paulsen, 03/18/2005
Earlier this week, American Idol 4 finalist Mario Vazquez stunned viewers of the nation's top-rated show by withdrawing for "personal reasons" before the competition in the finals began. However, when Mario's own family turned out to have no idea that he had quit, rumors began circulating that the real reason was either that Mario was unwilling to sign the show's restrictive management contracts or that he was in violation of a show rule. Now, it appears that both of those rumors may be true.
Yesterday, Fox News reported that Mario had hired Jess Rosen, an Atlanta entertainment lawyer famous for extricating American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken from his Idol management contract last year, to represent him. In addition, Fox News reported that Mario is the lead singer on an album entitled Worlds of Change by the Argentine guitarist Cesar, which was released in the U.S. last week on the little-known Darque Records label.
Although semifinalists such as Mario are required to sign a contract prohibiting them from recording anything for release until three months after the show's conclusion, as reported by the New York Daily News, all competitors in the finals may be required to sign a complete package of management and marketing contracts with Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment, the creator and co-producer of the show. The original contract for Idol 1 listed the contracts that would be required of the winner and any other finalists whom 19 Entertainment elected to sign, such as Clay Aiken, as follows:
"(a) an agreement with 19 Recordings Ltd. (or an affiliated company) for my exclusive services as a recording artist;
(b) an agreement with 19 Merchandising Ltd. for the use of my name, likeness biography in connection with advertising, endorsement, merchandising and sponsorship; and
(c) an agreement with 19 Management Ltd. for the management of my career as an artist."
These contracts provide for a very high commission rate to 19 for their life. Although the contracts may be seen as repayment for use of the star-making machinery of American Idol, some industry professionals see them as excessively greedy, even for the music business.
The Associated Press reports that neither Vazquez nor Rosen was available for comment yesterday. However, Vazquez'a current publicist stated that Vazquez had hired Rosen prior to his withdrawal from American Idol 4, which indicates that the contracts may well have been Mario's primary concern.
Last year, Rosen negotiated Clay's release from the 19 contracts, and Clay promptly signed with The Firm, the powerful music agency run by Jeff Kwatinetz. However, Clay continues to record for RCA Records, as per his Idol contract, and in January of this year he became the first former contestant to achieve two platinum solo albums, awarded for sales of over 1 million copies.
If the 19 Entertainment contracts were Mario's motive for leaving the show, the Worlds of Change album may have been the primary motivation for the producers to accept his departure. Mario is the "guest vocalist" on Cesar Maroll's pop-flavored tracks, which Fox News compares to "Santana with a younger, more sanctimonious Michael Jackson." With Mario's newfound fame, it seems likely that a re-release of Worlds of Change featuring Mario's name and likeness along with Cesar's is just around the corner -- perhaps in time to compete with the official Idol 4 releases.
The official American Idol web site FAQ states that "[i]n order to be eligible, the contestants are not permitted to have any CURRENT recording or talent management agreements." Although the exact language of the related contract provision has not been made public, it is possible that having a new CD featuring yourself as lead singer released during the competition might be a "current recording agreement," even if you were just a "guest vocalist."
Until Mario's recording non-compete clause with 19 Entertainment runs out in late August, Mario has been keeping himself busy with guest appearances on TV, including one doing the Top 10 List on CBS's The Late Show with David Letterman on the "Top 10 Reasons I Left American Idol."
Among the reasons read by Mario were number 7, "After seeing Michael Jackson, maybe I don't want to be a pop star," and number 4, "Screw it -- I'm quitting this, too" ... after which he walked off the set. But, quite obviously, he has not quit his plan to pursue a musical career ... and Worlds of Change may be a perfect way to keep himself visible until he can start his solo career in earnest in the fall.
http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/american-idol-dropout-mario-vazquez-hires-new-lawyer-which-may-explain-early-departure-3335.php
"I was struck by Eliot's mothers comment: "He is a good soul."
A perfect reason to disregard the actual singing.
"I recognize her talent. It is her attitude that bothers me,"
If you want to see "attitude" check out the video of Chris in the plane on the way to Graceland. That's when he lost a pile of voters.
"I think there's a lot of merit to your analysis, and hope you're right. I would absolutely hate it if Katharine somehow won this thing. She'd be the most undeserving winner,"
I see.....you're Deaf and Blind.
Ain't he something? :-)
"I think she's gone next week no matter what. If his fans still vote, I doubt they will be voting for her, becaue she should have gone and they know it."
Question...... If Chris had a bad night, and Elliot had a good night, would Chris' fans vote for Elliot because Chris had a bad night?
I'm sure the answer is NO. Which proves that by saying Katharine should go because she had a bad night is absolutely ignorant.
Chris' fans would not have voted for another singer even if Chris came out and literally took a cr@p on the stage.
At this stage in the game, it's "fan base" and Chris' fans were either "too cool" to vote or "wasted" like most rockers.
"Katharine SHOULD BE GOING HOME! "
Why? Pray tell.
"I am in SHOCK...how in the heck did MCPHEE go on with that pitiful performance last night...
Well...if McPhee wins this whole thing...there is something really wrong.."
Who did you vote for?
"I doubt she picks up any of Chris' fans."
But, what if she has a really great night next week? Let's say...better than Taylor. Would that make Chris' or Taylor's or Elliot's fans change their vote to her?
That's why it's ignorant to say someone should go because of a bad night.
"All I want now, is Kat out. I don't care who wins. Chris was my fave."
Would you have voted for Kat if she had a better night than Chris? Rest my case.
"Chris looks pissed"
He is. He was the golden boy. The arrogant little golden boy.
I still think he is a sadist and pervert. Just my opinion. He likes that dagger approach, and then a nice twist.
I think that's why the lawyers were able to get her out of the contract. I think it was viewed as too long.
She's had two bad weeks in a row. 3 out of 4 songs reeked. And that is just counting the past two weeks.
LOL! That Rebecca Romijin is a great actress ya know :)
Yes. Her style is so subtle. I love Taylor, but why did they do that?
After that happened I wondered if Seacrest doesn't like him. Wanted to get that reaction from him. Don't know why it just seemed he was intentionally trying to get that reaction. Maybe for t.v. drama.
Yep. No way in hell will Chris's votes go to Katharine. No chance. No way. No how. Taylor now has to be the odds on favorite to win and it shouldn't even be close. But, as someone here said, Tits beat talent." If she wins then it is completely true. Taylor has never once been in the bottom 2/3. I'll be surprised if he does not win.
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