FOX
The final eight competing on "American Idol" tomorrow, are, clockwise from bottom right, Fantasia Barrino, Jon Peter Lewis, Diana Degarmo, Jasmine Trias, La Toya London, Jennifer Hudson, George Huff and Jon Stevens.
‘Idol’ fans
blame pranks
for Velasco’s lossTheories abound as to why
Trias survived and Velasco did not
In the days following Camile Velasco's farewell on "American Idol" last Wednesday, Hawaii fans have been up in arms over the Maui singer's expulsion from the nationally televised singing contest.
While some believed her dismissal was a foregone conclusion after several weeks of lukewarm reviews by the show's panel, many still could not reconcile the placement of her fellow homegrown contestant, Jasmine Trias, of Mililani, as the next in line to leave, particularly when Verizon reports have shown Hawaii callers to be among the nation's most determined voters.
'American Idol' date change
Note: Due to the presidential press conference today that is expected to pre-empt regular TV programming, "American Idol" will air at 7 p.m. tomorrow on KHON/Fox, with the results show broadcast from 7 p.m. Thursday.Theme: Music at the movies, with special guest Quentin Tarantino
Of 11.8 million calls made to "AI" toll-free numbers last week on Verizon's nationwide network, 1.4 million came from the islands.
"Any way you want to look at it, one out of 10 (Verizon) calls came from Hawaii," noted Verizon representative Kevin Laverty.
One reason could be that as the field of competitors has decreased in size, the votes for Hawaii's entrants have faced growing opposition from endorsements gained by the remaining contestants.
Some "AI" viewers e-mailed the Star-Bulletin last week with concerns that local media outlets using April Fools' Day as an opportunity to get a few laughs on the "American Idol" faithful were taken seriously by local voters. Radio station KCCN had suggested in jest on April 1 that unlike previous weeks, only one vote from each from Hawaii household would count in the call-in tally. While the impact of that statement on votes for Velasco and Trias last week is impossible to determine, Verizon's records show that calls from Hawaii to "American Idol" numbers actually increased last Tuesday to 1.43 million from just less than 927,000 the previous week.
"It's interesting that it would even be an issue," said KCCN's David Daniels, known to afternoon commuters as Davey D. "We haven't received any complaints from that."
However, he said a competing station's morning show took the prank to another level by announcing Velasco was kicked off the show for using drugs.
"When we heard that, we were like, 'Whoah,'" he said.
In previous weeks several Maui supporters, including Miguel Morales, a friend of Velasco's family, feared predictions made by KHON anchor Joe Moore during commercial breaks on "American Idol" could negatively influence voters.
"Someone in his position could affect the vote by what they say," remarked Morales.
"Joe gets calls for just about anything," said KHON promotions head Linda Brock. "If someone doesn't like his tie, they'll call. But he clarifies by saying, 'My opinion.' I think his commentary was just more reflecting on what the judges said than anything else. I mean, he's been all for these girls all along. I think our station has done everything to support these girls, and no one wants to see them go on more than we do."
Another theory posted on the "American Idol" Internet message board last week surmised that "AI" producers were not aware that Hawaii does not observe daylight-saving time along with the mainland, and thus, Hawaii lost an hour's worth of voting last week. Requests for a reply from the program's publicity department were not returned yesterday.
The concerns are natural, says Brock, given the current fervor in the islands over its "Idol" entrants.
"It's hometown enthusiasm," she notes. "It's just like going to a sporting event and the refs are terrible when the calls are against your team and they're great when they go for your team. I think it's a very normal thing. It's nice to see everybody excited over the show, but I think sometimes we lose sight of just how far these girls have come and maybe the best is ahead of them."
Click for online
calendars and events.
