1 August, 2005: American Idol is in troubled waters. the most-watched serial on American television, American Idol, hosted by ex-pop singer Paula Abdul among others, has run into rough weather following an ex-contestant's allegation that he was personally coached by Paula Abdul, when he was competing at the talent show and she was the judge. Fox Entertainment, on whose network the show runs, has now instituted an inquiry by what it calls "an independent counsel" to probe the allegations.

The story goes as far back as 2003, when Corey Clark, one of the aspirants for the American Idol show allegedly had an off-screen romance and sexual relationship with Paula Abdul, one of the judges of the American Idol show. One of the contestants who reached up to the semi-finals of the show, Corey Clark was later dropped from the show for hiding a criminal record. (He had been arrested and released on charges for assault and resisting arrest.) Things were lying low for some time, till he appeared on Primetime TV, claiming that he had a torrid romance with Paula Abdul for a period of three months. He claimed that Paula Abdul had helped him prepare for the programme, selecting the songs which appeal to the judges, buying expensive clothes and getting stylish haircuts. He claimed that the relationship started on night when a "mysterious" woman handed him a bit of paper with Paula Abdul's home phone number.

What was Corey Clark's motive in going on air with the allegations? Paula Abdul's people allege that Clark wanted to push the sales of his tell-all book which narrates their relationship in detail. Also, they say that the intention was to promote one of upcoming music albums.

Corey Clark alleged on TV that he and Paula Abdul had a torrid romance for a period of three months while he was preparing for the American Idol. He has described Paula Abdul's bed room, her little dogs, produced the bit of paper on which Paula's number came to him and waved long telephone records of what he claims were conversations between him and Paula Abdul. Paula's people have rubbished these claims.

Fox Entertainment and the producers of the show took offence, blasting Clarke and saying he should have gone to them first before going public. That aside, American Idol organizers have now instituted a probe to find if the scandal had any impact on the results of American Idol, watched by an estimated 25 million Americans viewers. The American idol is the most popular programme on American tube.

Said Fox Entertainment President Peter Liguori: "Any allegations against this show we take quite seriously." He refused to say if Paula Abdul would be sacked if the claims were found to be true - which clearly could have influenced Abdul's voting bias - adding the shows credibility is "extraordinarily important."

BY A CORRESPONDENT

Auto news for auto freaks! iDrive.in
DWS community! / Cricket blog