Is 'Idol' Controversy For Real?
What would the "American Idol" season by without yet another "controversy"? And this one has the full weight of The New York Times behind it.The Times ran a story on Tuesday suggesting that behemoth "Idol" sponsor AT&T may have swayed the voting in the "Idol" finale by providing some phones at two parties in winner Kris Allen's home state of Arkansas so that people could text votes.
"There appear to have been no similar efforts to provide free texting services to supporters of Adam Lambert," The Times' story says.
But popular "Idol" news source MJ's Big Blog says there's no story here. AT&T has sent representatives to "Idol" viewing parties in the past as a way to try to introduce its products to potential new customers, MJ's reports.
UPDATE: Fox and AT&T have issued separated responses to the "controversy," published by The Hollywood Reporter. For its part, Fox simply defended the voting process, which it says is equipped to look for irregularities in the voting (it flags a phone number when more than 1,200 votes come from it).
"We have an independent third-party monitoring procedure in place to ensure the integrity of the voting process. In no way did any individuals unfairly influence the outcome of the competition," the Fox statement said.
AT&T acknowledged the issue and says that it was basically a couple of rogue AT&T employees who were "caught up in the enthusiasm of voting for their hometown contestant."
"Going forward, we will make sure our employees understand our sponsorship celebrates the competition, not individual contestants. That said, it’s quite a leap to suggest that a few individuals could have impacted the final results," AT&T said.
*** Click here to comment! What do you think? Is this just a last-ditch "foul" cry on the part of Adam fans? Is it a legitimate question that should be asked?
Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 05-27-2009 04:02 PM
It is quite unfortunate, because I'm sure there will be many who will believe this is "the tip of the iceberg" and that AT&T exerted corporate influence to tip the scales.
If "some phones" turns out to be hundreds, and the "two parties" turns out to have thousands of guests, then, sure, there is more than meets the eye here and should be uncovered. If not, then time to more on.
If "some phones" turns out to be hundreds, and the "two parties" turns out to have thousands of guests, then, sure, there is more than meets the eye here and should be uncovered. If not, then time to more on.
Oh, give it up. Kris is happy and Adam is happy. I smell sour grapes.
I also read one version of this story that says AT&T was showing party attendees in Arkansas how to text votes ten at a time, in violation of Idol rules.
THAT is a problem.
I'm off to read the Grey Lady and see what she says.
THAT is a problem.
I'm off to read the Grey Lady and see what she says.
Really don't think AT&T cares one way or another who won. America was using their lines. Great for business. I feel America was not ready to vote in in a large scale way the type of music as Idol music that Adam shoved in their faces with his rendition of "Ring of Fire" during COUNTRY week. They were asked to sing country, he should have sung it country. I feel he probably could have abided by the rules and done a good job of it. Just wanted it in our face. Didn't work.
It always amazes me who wins at the end. It boils down to the preteen vote. Mommy and Daddy say it's ok to vote for the cutesy boy.
Who gives a crap. I would think there would have been as much media coverage and scrutiny on the phoney ACORN registered voters in the last election
I agree with what has been said so far. What numbers are we talking about? Like already stated, if it is a few phones and a few people, no big deal. Who knows, though, if we will ever find out the truth. What motivation would AT&T have to violate the system? They make lots of mullah from this show; why ruin a good thing? And, I believe Adam when he says he is content with what happened. He and Kris are friends, and people are insisting on throwing a wrench in that.
There are so many other big problems today that, yes, it is just time to move on and try to solve those.
There are so many other big problems today that, yes, it is just time to move on and try to solve those.
Both Kris and Adam have come out winners and both are going to have excellent careers. I don't have a problem with who won (and I am a HUGE Adam fan).
IF this story is accurate, then I have an issue. Only offering AT&T as an option for texting, I think limits those of us with other carriers anyway and gives AT&T a great deal of power with the voters. If they did offer free phones, texting training, etc. to only Kris's area, then it's not fair and those practices need to be reviewed by AI and changed for next year.
Let's be honest folks, nothing is going to change Kris's win for this year. It is what it is. However, changes can be made going forward and AT&T should be looked at. My recommendation, AI - open up texting to all the major cell carriers and let the rest of us text our votes!! (and by the way, don't let any of them do on-site promotions during the finals. Let's use some common sense!)
IF this story is accurate, then I have an issue. Only offering AT&T as an option for texting, I think limits those of us with other carriers anyway and gives AT&T a great deal of power with the voters. If they did offer free phones, texting training, etc. to only Kris's area, then it's not fair and those practices need to be reviewed by AI and changed for next year.
Let's be honest folks, nothing is going to change Kris's win for this year. It is what it is. However, changes can be made going forward and AT&T should be looked at. My recommendation, AI - open up texting to all the major cell carriers and let the rest of us text our votes!! (and by the way, don't let any of them do on-site promotions during the finals. Let's use some common sense!)
We'll have to see what this really turns out to be. I love the rumor mill. I have seen this one get exaggerated to where the story says "AT&T was offering free texting for Arkansas residents. Just kinda funny to me.
If this turns out to be true, I'm betting that the number of votes they could have possibly generated at these couple of parties is not enough to have made a difference in the outcome.
If this turns out to be true, I'm betting that the number of votes they could have possibly generated at these couple of parties is not enough to have made a difference in the outcome.
Victor. Thanks for some new meat to chew on. :)
I am so infuriated over the fact that AT&T cheated and encouraged others in the little town of Conway, AK to do the same! I realize this isn't going to make the outcome any different at this point but that’s not even the issue now. My anger is this: how do we know if any of our votes for any of our idol favorites always went through? I know I spoke with and blogged with many, many people last Wednesday morning after the finale and everyone said the same thing, that Adam's line was busy the entire 4 hours and we only got through a few times. Last Tuesday was the least amount of votes I got in for Adam this entire Season and it was a 4 hour voting window but his phone lines were always busy. We all took this as a good sign, if his line was busy that means A LOT of people were constantly voting for him. But now the question is... how do we know AT&T didn't continue their cheating by blocking our calls? How do we know that they didn't do this in prior seasons? The problem is we don't know and probably will never know but my suggestion is this: American Idol must get another vendor and get rid of AT&T! Why are they the only phone company used for texting in this competition anyway? Years ago the phone monopoly was taken away and other phone vendors are now in place. AI allowing only AT&T to be used for texting means they are agreeing with monopolization which is illegal! I don’t want to blame American Idol (yet) because I love that show and I wouldn’t want it to be taken off of the air. I like to believe they had nothing to do with AT&T’s fraudulent actions. I obviously don’t blame Kris either, he had nothing to do with this. Actually, I feel sorry for Kris, he'll never really know if he truly won because of the cheating of AT&T. I don’t even blame the little town of Conway, AK but…. someone has to take the blame and that someone at this point is AT&T. I think they should apologize to American Idol fans, apologize to all American Idol contestants and I think American Idol should open their door for other phone companies. There probably will never be a complete fail-safe method but to blatantly allow AT&T to continue as the only vendor for texting would be a smack in the face for all American Idol die-hard fans! If nothing is done about this then my next step is contacting the FCC and then the Attorney General!
StonewallSenior, I think Ring of Fire was a masterpiece, and I'm a HUGE fan of the original. If that song was objectionable to America, he would have been voted off that week or the next. Give it a rest. The Man in Black would have loved Adam's version.
Check out this New York Times article on Kris' win:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/arts/music/22idol.html?_r=1&ref=television
This is one of the most biased and spiteful pieces of crap journalism I have read in a while. Tell me why the NYT is the only one with the special "scoop". Why won't they release their sources? And where is the proof that this speed texting occurred? David A. had the same parties last year with AT&T and still lost. It seems people will conjure up any phony controversy to discredit someone they don't like. The New York Times need to figure out what real journalism is. And may God help those who believe this crap without just cause. It's like you can call the police and report a rape, and they go to arrest that person without proof ever being presented first. Stop the madness already. California is twice the size of Arkansas, so they could have easily out texted or called in votes for Adam. But, they didn't. Also, Arkansans were not the only people to vote for Kris. Are you going to question the other state's votes? The New York Times suck and so do the other so-called journalists who report their ever word without doing their own investigation. Isn't that called Lazy Journalism?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/arts/music/22idol.html?_r=1&ref=television
This is one of the most biased and spiteful pieces of crap journalism I have read in a while. Tell me why the NYT is the only one with the special "scoop". Why won't they release their sources? And where is the proof that this speed texting occurred? David A. had the same parties last year with AT&T and still lost. It seems people will conjure up any phony controversy to discredit someone they don't like. The New York Times need to figure out what real journalism is. And may God help those who believe this crap without just cause. It's like you can call the police and report a rape, and they go to arrest that person without proof ever being presented first. Stop the madness already. California is twice the size of Arkansas, so they could have easily out texted or called in votes for Adam. But, they didn't. Also, Arkansans were not the only people to vote for Kris. Are you going to question the other state's votes? The New York Times suck and so do the other so-called journalists who report their ever word without doing their own investigation. Isn't that called Lazy Journalism?
Who the heck believes anything published by the New York times.........not me
Anybody thinkin what I'm thinkin'?
Does the term "Hanging Chad" bring back any memories?
Almost every election/vote has some sort of controversy-Here We Go Again!
Does the term "Hanging Chad" bring back any memories?
Almost every election/vote has some sort of controversy-Here We Go Again!
if the same thing was not done for Adam, then all those votes do need to be thrown out and shame on AT &T
I know nothing is gonna come of it, though, cause the Idol producers want to avoid embarrassment, in addition, they will just turn around and say that those votes were so 'few' that it would not change the outcome regardless.....and we, the sheep are supposed to 'buy it'.....of course, none of us is ever gonna know the real number we're talking about, are we??? and of course, the Kris fans will insist that we should just move on and get over it, blah, blah, blah......fine but don't expect me to watch Idol next season.....I'm done with that show.....
I know nothing is gonna come of it, though, cause the Idol producers want to avoid embarrassment, in addition, they will just turn around and say that those votes were so 'few' that it would not change the outcome regardless.....and we, the sheep are supposed to 'buy it'.....of course, none of us is ever gonna know the real number we're talking about, are we??? and of course, the Kris fans will insist that we should just move on and get over it, blah, blah, blah......fine but don't expect me to watch Idol next season.....I'm done with that show.....
annettemorr, do you live in Arkansas? . . . Conway, by chance? Geez, wipe the spittle off your screen and take a deep breath. If AT&T did this last year, it was wrong then, too.
Adam is going to do very well and said today that he never saw it really as a competion but as a platform to get your talent noticed and that is just what it did. He seems very gracious and isn't crying foul. The runner up often does better than the winner and he is not under as many constraints as the winner is to do different appearances. Let it be. It doesn't change anything. If it is true it is up to Idol to make sure that it doesn't happen again. I don't really believe they were unaware of it anyway.
I recognize that Arkansas as a state is more likely to rally behind their native son than California is.
I do have a problem with AT&T's actions, if the report is correct. They have every right to and a vested interest in promotion of their products, especially in connection with a program they sponsor. But the format of the show purposefully gives the impression that "America" will choose the winner, not AT&T. They need to make a real effort to keep such promotional activities equalized among the contestants.
If the idea behind their sponsorship is to gain new clients, appearing to unfairly favor one contestant will prove counterproductive in the long run -- even if it does net them a few subscribers in Arakansas.
Message Edited by Shattah206 on 05-27-2009 10:32 AM