American Idol is heading toward the end of yet another successful season riding the buzz generated by former contestant Corey Clark's allegations of a sexual relationship with judge Paula Abdul.
The allegations first came to light in the tabloid The Globe and were shopped around as part of a tell all book by Clark. The show has showed no sign of weakening its grip on American TV viewers.
The hot gossip hasn't cooled the ratings. The series is averaging nearly 28 million weekly viewers for Tuesday's performance show and more than 25 million for Wednesday's results half-hour, bettering last season by several million, according to Nielsen Media Research.
While many already know that former contestant Clark was booted from the show for his arrest on charges of battery against his fifteen year-old sister, as well as four police officers while resisting arrest. But that isn't the full extent of Clark's his criminal past.
He was booked into the Shawnee County jail and charged with a variety of misdemeanors, including battery on four law enforcement officers, battery on his sister, and endangering a child. After three days in custody, Clark was released on bond, a condition of which prohibited him from contacting his sister. On a bond application form, Clark wrote that he had worked as a "self employed entertainer" for the prior eight years and was "currently enrolling into school for audio engineering."
The pending criminal charges against Clark were not the wannabe star's first brush with the Kansas court system. In April 2000, he was sued by Wal-Mart for passing more than $600 in bad checks at a Topeka store.
One year later, Clark was sued by a Topeka grocery store where he allegedly passed a bad $50 check.
In the case of the Wal-Mart lawsuit, it appears Clark made good on the bad paper nearly two years after the retail giant filed its District Court lawsuit.
But that was not before Wal-Mart secured seven separate garnishment orders on Clark's bank account (though those attempts yielded only $49.77 and repeated notices from the Bank of American that Clark's account had "no funds," or was "overdrawn."
The grocery store, JM Bauersfeld's, fared better, getting repaid just five months after filing against Clark in District Court.
Abdul has also been under fire largely due to a recent car accident and hints that perhaps she has been acting a bit inappropriately during filming of the popular show. However, reports suggest the former cheerleader, choreographer, singer now judge was recently diagnosed with a neuropathic disorder that has required 12 operations.
NEW YORK - Don’t mistake Paula Abdul’s “American Idol” niceties or silliness for drug addiction.
Despite a neuropathic disorder and 12 operations, Abdul says she’s “not addicted to pills of any kind.”
Last November, the “Idol” judge was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a chronic neurological disorder that causes severe pain.
“I get a shot (of an anti-inflammatory drug) once a week,” she said. “I give it to myself.”
Many "Idol" watchers forget, or never knew that Abdul has been around Hollywood for a very long time. She began as a cheerleader for the LA Lakers before being spotted by a record industry pro which led her to do choreographer for the likes of Michael Jackson, "The Tracey Ullman Show." while also working on videos for ZZ Top, Duran Duran, and the Pointer Sisters.
She was also married to Emillio Esteves for two years and at the time the two were considered something of a power couple in Hollywood. Abdul, now in her forties, has actually had about successful three careers in the entertainment industry.
What remains to be seen is if an upstart at 22 shopping for a book deal with three or more entries on a police blotter can take down the once resilient Abdul.
Dude, isn't that the same guy who got arrested at the Ann Coulter speech??
Posted by: jeff | Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 02:58 PM