The Flack

This weblog attempts to shine a brighter light on the subtle role public relations plays in politics, culture, media, business and sports. Through greater transparency, the author hopes to make the profession better understood and perhaps more widely appreciated.

Hanging chads, questionable Diebold voting machines, Katherine Harris, Florida, Ohio… Just when you think you’ve heard it all on the voting scandal front, a new election brouhaha has emerged that may just put the others to shame.

No, it’s not some red state-blue state affair. Nor does it concern one of the political patronage appointments this administration is so fond of. In fact, even Silvio Berluscino ill-fated campaign pales in comparison.

The dispute involves the odds-on favored candidate Chris Daughtry. Whom you may ask? Come on, don’t you all watch the fair and balanced network’s “American Idol?” (I know I don’t.)

As if Paula Abdul’s alleged affair with a contestant didn’t test Simon’s crisis expertise, he now has to deal with allegations of voter irregularity. Mr. Daughtry’s fans claim that their phone votes were misdirected to his opponent, which led to the shocking ouster of the North Carolina crooner. They are demanding a recount.

When the show screwed up on the phone numbers previously, the contestants were given another chance to compete. Right now, it’s unclear how this will pan out. Let’s keep an eye on whether the producers “do the right thing.” Maybe the zealous NC fans made it all up? It sure wouldn’t be the first time we’re hearing of some unproven allegations emanating from that state.

Posted in Events, American Idol | No Comments »

The Paula & Corey Affair

Posted by Peter Himler on 6th May 2005

Example Example

Paula Abdul is in a real pickle. You know it when her Beverly Hills publicist, Karynne Tencer, doesn’t return repeated phone calls from Jacques Steinberg, The New York Times’s lead TV industry writer. Perhaps The New York Times doesn’t hold much water on the left coast?

Clearly, the weeks of speculation over ABC-TV’s “Primetime” expose would have given Ms. Abdul and her handlers ample time to come clean or at least get her story straight. I remember first reading about Ms. Abdul’s indiscretions on Jeannette Walls’ always entertaining gossip column on msnbc.com.

The Steinberg piece is especially entertaining. He cleverly pulls quotes of fans posting to Fox’s offical “American Idol” message boards, as well as to Corey Clark’s own slick site. The best quote from the piece comes from Mr. Clark himself during an interview to promote the ABC Primetime special: “…the only thing the “Idol” machine has been doing has been maliciously attacking my name.” Huh? What name?! Without “Idol,” Mr. Clarke’s career would be stuck in idol.

I also wonder whether all these revelations are designed (by Fox and the show’s producers) to boost ratings. Whatever the case, this scandal pales in comparison to “Quiz Show.” The reason: Corey Clarke is no John Turturro!

Posted in American Idol, Television, Celebrity Trash, Paula Abdul | No Comments »