Post by XxXPaulaLiveLoveDanceXxX on Jul 29, 2005 15:15:40 GMT -5
The Dallas Morning News
Waiting game
Fox chief defends delay in decision about Abdul
11:35 PM CDT on Thursday, July 28, 2005
By ED BARK / The Dallas Morning News
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Fielding his 18th of 20 questions about Paula Abdul on Thursday, Fox entertainment president Peter Liguori figured he deserved a stiff drink.
"I was about ready to change this for vodka," he cracked, pointing to his bottled water while the nation's TV critics kept pounding away.
The American Idol judge's alleged sexual affair with former Season 2 finalist Corey Clark remains under internal investigation almost three months after ABC's Primetime Live gave Ms. Abdul's accuser a highly public forum. On the case is a lone independent counsel whom Fox hired but won't identify. Mr. Liguori said that the inquiry "is kind of winding down" and that both principals have cooperated.
Still, it might not be completed before auditions begin for the fifth edition of America's most popular show. The first stop is Aug. 18 in San Francisco, with Austin next in line a week later. American Idol will return to Fox, as usual, in January after ranking as America's most popular show last season.
Mr. Liguori said guest judges conceivably could sit in for Ms. Abdul if Fox decides to drop her between now and the first auditions in San Francisco. She would be allowed to participate in the audition process if the investigation is still in progress, he said.
But really, what's taking so long?
"First and foremost, we want the inquiry to be thorough rather than expeditious," Mr. Liguori said. "I'd rather be able to ... come out with a definitive answer and conclusion for you rather than race to have a conclusion before production starts."
Mr. Clark's allegations that Ms. Abdul both coached and bedded him are being taken "quite seriously," Mr. Liguori said. "The credibility of the Idol competition is extraordinarily important to us. And we want to make sure that there's a thorough inquiry into what we saw on ABC."
Not that he thought much of Primetime correspondent John Quinones' work.
"It seemed a little bit thin. It seemed a little suspicious that it was on during a sweeps period while the Idol report was coming on," Mr. Liguori said after his formal Q&A. "But ABC made its decision. We're all living with it and we'll move on."
Ms. Abdul has admitted having an off-camera relationship with Mr. Clark, but "some allegations were denied" during her interview with Fox's investigator, Mr. Liguori said. "I don't want to get into the throes of it."
Ms. Abdul, whose stagnant career was reborn on Idol, is marking time by appearing on Fox's summertime So You Think You Can Dance? reality series. On Idol, her gushing over virtually every performance has been ridiculed as vapid, vacuous and ripe for putdowns by acidic co-judge Simon Cowell.
"Look, the audience loves Paula," Mr. Liguori said. "She continues to light up our online sites and message boards. She is part and parcel of that show. And her specific style seems to be working quite well."
This means she did something with him...I don't know what to say...I mean..god
Waiting game
Fox chief defends delay in decision about Abdul
11:35 PM CDT on Thursday, July 28, 2005
By ED BARK / The Dallas Morning News
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Fielding his 18th of 20 questions about Paula Abdul on Thursday, Fox entertainment president Peter Liguori figured he deserved a stiff drink.
"I was about ready to change this for vodka," he cracked, pointing to his bottled water while the nation's TV critics kept pounding away.
The American Idol judge's alleged sexual affair with former Season 2 finalist Corey Clark remains under internal investigation almost three months after ABC's Primetime Live gave Ms. Abdul's accuser a highly public forum. On the case is a lone independent counsel whom Fox hired but won't identify. Mr. Liguori said that the inquiry "is kind of winding down" and that both principals have cooperated.
Still, it might not be completed before auditions begin for the fifth edition of America's most popular show. The first stop is Aug. 18 in San Francisco, with Austin next in line a week later. American Idol will return to Fox, as usual, in January after ranking as America's most popular show last season.
Mr. Liguori said guest judges conceivably could sit in for Ms. Abdul if Fox decides to drop her between now and the first auditions in San Francisco. She would be allowed to participate in the audition process if the investigation is still in progress, he said.
But really, what's taking so long?
"First and foremost, we want the inquiry to be thorough rather than expeditious," Mr. Liguori said. "I'd rather be able to ... come out with a definitive answer and conclusion for you rather than race to have a conclusion before production starts."
Mr. Clark's allegations that Ms. Abdul both coached and bedded him are being taken "quite seriously," Mr. Liguori said. "The credibility of the Idol competition is extraordinarily important to us. And we want to make sure that there's a thorough inquiry into what we saw on ABC."
Not that he thought much of Primetime correspondent John Quinones' work.
"It seemed a little bit thin. It seemed a little suspicious that it was on during a sweeps period while the Idol report was coming on," Mr. Liguori said after his formal Q&A. "But ABC made its decision. We're all living with it and we'll move on."
Ms. Abdul has admitted having an off-camera relationship with Mr. Clark, but "some allegations were denied" during her interview with Fox's investigator, Mr. Liguori said. "I don't want to get into the throes of it."
Ms. Abdul, whose stagnant career was reborn on Idol, is marking time by appearing on Fox's summertime So You Think You Can Dance? reality series. On Idol, her gushing over virtually every performance has been ridiculed as vapid, vacuous and ripe for putdowns by acidic co-judge Simon Cowell.
"Look, the audience loves Paula," Mr. Liguori said. "She continues to light up our online sites and message boards. She is part and parcel of that show. And her specific style seems to be working quite well."
This means she did something with him...I don't know what to say...I mean..god