American Idol IV

[Town Drunk]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-03-13-idol-vazquez-smith_x.htm

Popular 'Idol' contender calls it quits
By César G. Soriano, USA TODAY
American Idol finalist Mario Vazquez, considered by some a leading contender to win the hit TV talent show, unexpectedly quit the competition on Sunday, citing personal reasons. He was replaced by Nikko Smith, who was ousted last Wednesday.

Vazquez told TV Guide's Web site that he dropped out to "take care of some personal issues with my family in New York. And with Idol' being a live show, it just wouldn't have worked out schedule-wise."

Vazquez said his departure had nothing to do with Fox or the show itself.

"It's just a personal family thing," he told the Web site. "My family is my top priority."

With his charismatic persona, pop-star fashion and extensive vocal range, the Bronx-born Vazquez, 27, had gained a fan following. His repertoire consisted of R&B classics such as Stevie Wonder's Do I Do and The O'Jays' I Love Music.

Fans were stunned at the news.

"He was the best contestant on the show," said Idol viewer Kent Bailey of Lexington, Ky. "The talent, along with that smile, would have won him the competition."

Melissa Gleason of Columbus, Ohio, picked Vazquez in her office pool.

"I am bummed," she says. "He had the whole package — looks, talent, the 'it' factor."

At a Fox party Wednesday to honor the 12 finalists, Vazquez gave no hint that anything was amiss. He even showered compliments on Smith, who was eliminated last week when men were reduced from eight to six performers. (Smith was chosen to return because he had more votes than Travis Tucker.)

"I was really disappointed about Nikko leaving," Vazquez told USA TODAY. "I thought he was amazing. I thought he had an excellent voice. And he was smooth, dude. He was a smooth operator."

Smith, the son of baseball's Ozzie Smith, will perform Tuesday (8 p.m. ET/PT) when the men and women first compete against each other.

Vazquez was one of several contestants who benefited from a rule change this season, raising the age limit to 28. He was once rejected at an Idol audition for being a month over the cutoff.

Vazquez is not the first Idol contestant to leave the show unexpectedly:

• In 2004, finalist Donnie Williams was kicked out after an arrest on suspicion of DUI.

• In 2003, Frenchie Davis was dropped for having posed on a Web site catering to men with fantasies of underage girls; and finalist Corey Clark and semifinalist Jaered Andrews were dismissed for failing to report previous arrest records.

Idol is consistently the No. 1 TV show, averaging more than 26 million viewers a week.

 

[FischerKing]

Agreed...Constantine should be gone...my wife was pretty bummed about Nikko...

Mike

never fear - Nikko is back in it.

shawn

 

[Mike Olbinski]

never fear - Nikko is back in it.

shawn

Yup, my wife is happy about that, but of course, she liked Mario too....lol

Mike

 

[Dback Jon]

Bummed about this - Mario was one of the best on the show.

 

[marathon_mom]

totally agree. i don't think nikko will have any worries though - he'll pop up on a label at some point i'm sure. dude's got talent

shawn

Guess his "boot" didn't last long, eh? Sorry to See Mario go. Thought he had a great shot at winning, but at least Nikko gets a 2nd chance. Beautiful voice.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Bo Bice and Nadia are head and shoulders above the rest...but I like the country singer girl...forget her name right now...

Mike

 

[Djaughe]

Bo Bice and Nadia are head and shoulders above the rest...but I like the country singer girl...forget her name right now...

Mike

Bo is great...but this dude is my sleeper pick!

 

[FischerKing]

Bo is great...but this dude is my sleeper pick!

scott was on last night - probably the best i've heard him yet. so far, they guys are still better and really the only girl that is able to hang with the guys talent wise is nadia.

shawn

 

[Djaughe]

It would really suck if that smith dude gets booted off this week. That might be a first to get booted off the show 2 weeks in a row...

 

[FischerKing]

It would really suck if that smith dude gets booted off this week. That might be a first to get booted off the show 2 weeks in a row...

nothing like a blow to the confidence, eh? i don't think he'll be gone this week. i predict that during the next two weeks it will be girls getting the boot.

shawn

 

[Dback Jon]

Bo and Nadia are the best

Scott, Constatine, Carrie are the next tier

 

[FischerKing]

Bo and Nadia are the best

Scott, Constatine, Carrie are the next tier

constatine should have been booted last week. he shouldn't even be in the top 12 imo. i think nikko and anthony federov are way better than constatine.

bo and nadia are top notch.

shawn

 

[Djaughe]

Bo and Nadia are the best

Scott, Constatine, Carrie are the next tier

Constatine?!
Constatine?!
Constatine?!

edit...its the leather jacket right?

 

[Dback Jon]

Constatine?!
Constatine?!
Constatine?!

edit...its the leather jacket right?

LOL - he was on last night - at least better than most.

I had missed some of his other "performances" in the past, ie. last week


edit - and no - he is U.G.L.Y.

 

[Dback Jon]

Bye bye Lindsey...

 

[Djaughe]

This one is so annoying...

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[FischerKing]

This one is so annoying...

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i predict that she'll be the next to go.

shawn

 

[Dback Jon]

i predict that she'll be the next to go.

shawn

Since she was second to last.......

 

[FischerKing]

Since she was second to last.......

no - because i thought ever since tuesday that she would be one of the first three booted off. next week - her odds just got worse.

shawn

 

[Dback Jon]

no - because i thought ever since tuesday that she would be one of the first three booted off. next week - her odds just got worse.

shawn

Just messin wit ya - I agree, Fran Streisand needs to go.

 

[FischerKing]

I agree, Fran Streisand needs to go.

ROTFL

shawn

 

[marathon_mom]

This one is so annoying...

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I'm ready for her to go.

 

[marathon_mom]

i predict that she'll be the next to go.

shawn

Will not be sorry to see her go. She needs to take something to calm her down. Spazzzzzzzzzz.

And I hate the way she holds her mouth when she sings. Bizarre voice coaching.

 

[NavyVet]

Bo has quite a resume...see his bands website at www.sugarmoney.net

He sounds like he could fit right into the Allman Brothers, love to hear him try Sweet Melissa when 70's night comes up

 

[marathon_mom]

Anyone see

Jessica's grandma when she was in the bottom 3? Good thing she didn't get the boot or Granny would kicked someone's ass! Gramps had to hold her back & tell her to knock it off. I laughed.