Idol Producer: David Hernandez’s Stripper Past “Won’t Make Any Difference”
On the heels of the reveal that Ramiele Malubay has a “racy” pic or two out there, it has come to light that for three years, 24-year-old David Hernandez worked as a stripper at Dick’s Cabaret in Glendale, Arizona, where he danced nude and gave lap dances to a mostly male clientele.
TVGuide.com: Will the revelations about David’s stripper past have any impact on whether he stays on the show?
Ken Warwick: No, it won’t make any difference. The truth is, we’re never judgmental about what people do to earn a living. They’ve got to put food in people’s mouths. We’ve had strippers on the show before. Nikki McKibbon was one in [Season] 1. We’re never judgmental about people who do things like that. If it were some sort of heavy porn, then maybe we’d have to take action. But certainly not on this.
TVGuide.com: Were you aware of his past before it was reported?
Warwick: No, I wasn’t. [Laughs] But the truth of the matter is, it wouldn’t have made any difference. There are a lot of people I know who’d love to have the opportunity just to make a better living by taking their clothes off.
Show of support for ‘Idol’ contestant Hernandez
Marisa Ronstadt, a vocalist who worked with Hernandez in an Arizona band, told the Arizona Republic: “He’s the sweetest guy. It’s like they’re trying to create a scandal. It shouldn’t matter. What’s in the past is in the past. His talent is what is important.”
Over the years, Idol producers have considered contestants’ controversial behavior individually, letting some continue but eliminating others from the competition. Season 1’s Nikki McKibbin remained despite a report that she had danced at a strip club. Racy online photos did not disqualify Antonella Barba last year.
‘Idol’ Nearly Mum on Contestant’s Past
David Hernandez’s stripper past didn’t come back to haunt him on Tuesday night’s “American Idol.” Hernandez’s three-year stint as a male stripper wasn’t even mentioned during the live telecast, which featured the 24-year-old from Glendale, Ariz., performing a rendition of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” However, acerbic judge Simon Cowell did mutter something about stripping, off camera, immediately after the song ended.
”American Idol”: Sixes and Sevens
When you’re wrong, you’re wrong. And wow, did I ever prove that point when, back on Feb. 20, I got all huffy and argued that only three or four of American Idol’s male semifinalists deserved a spot in the season 7 finals. And to put an exclamation point on my error, I argued that ”Rocker” Robbie Carrico was among the worthy contenders!
Now, here we are two weeks later ‘ and less than 48 hours from the announcement of this year’s top 12 ‘ and seven of the eight men left in the competition have made at least a somewhat compelling case that no, their journeys should not end with a torrent of tears from Ramiele Malubay and a dream-crushing insult from Simon come Thursday evening.
“American Idol”: Eight Guys’ Most Embarrassing Moments
It’s the last chance for the eight Idolette guys to try to secure a spot in the “American Idol” Season 7 finals.
Show host Ryan Seacrest walks down the curving staircase from the Balcony of Broken Dreams like a Ziegfeld girl, patting the occasional Guy Idolette lining the stairway.
It’s ’80s night and because we wore our most embarrassing outfits that decade, Seacrest says, the Idolettes will be required to reveal their Most. Embarrassing. Moment. Ever.
Washington Post
‹Idol hopeful stays in tune despite scandal
The theme was 80s music, and the question of the week for the eight male semifinalists was to name their most embarrassing moment. Considering one headline-making story, the setup seemed too good to be true.
David Hernandez has made news this week in a way hed probably prefer to forget, as word of his previous career as a stripper raised some Internet buzz about his future on the show. The producers decided to keep him around, but he had to be nervous that the judges would try and get him out the old-fashioned way ‘ by trashing him to the point where America would send him home.
MSNBC
American Idol: Top 8 Boys Perform
This is it, folks! After these next two weeks, we’ll have our Top 12. Which two of those smiling faces doesn’t deserve to be there? Well, I had a pretty good idea going into tonight’s episode and after it, I’m even more certain. I hope you all get it right. The boys were more comfortable this week and it showed in their performances. I think a lot of it had to do with the theme: ’80s songs. Finally, songs they may actually be familiar with and possibly even have a personal connection to.
Theme: Songs from the ’80s
TV Squad
Recap: ‘American Idol’ Top Eight Men Perform
Tuesday (March 4) marks one of the most important nights of the electoral process. No, silly, not the Texas and Ohio primaries. It’s the start of the final week of gender segregation on American Idol, before we integrate into the Top 12. How did The ’80s treat the Top Eight Men?
‘American Idol’ Front-Runner David Archuleta: Where Did He Come From?
He has the looks of a Disney Channel pinup; an “aw shucks, ” down-home naturalism that borders on unreal humility; and the pipes of a seasoned pop superstar. For David Archuleta, it all adds up to making him perhaps the earliest front-runner to ever emerge from the “American Idol” gauntlet.
But long before he ever became America’s favorite, Archuleta was the favorite son of Murray, Utah, a commuter town outside Salt Lake City he still calls home ‘ a home that calls him their champion.
Is ‘American Idol’ making Fox lazy? Case in point – ‘New Amsterdam’
What is the relationship between “American Idol” and an immortal cop? They share more of a connection that you might think.
…New Amsterdam is the latest in a long line of pallid, forgettable Fox dramas. (The show, by the way, premieres 8 p.m. Tuesday on WFLD-Ch. 32, and also airs 8 p.m. Thursday before settling in moves to its regular 8 p.m. Monday slot.)
…American Idol has raked in untold billions for Fox. As a result, the network has gotten noticeably lax in its development of new shows – and its few dependable veterans are also wearing thin. Sure, …House is terrific, but the medical drama (which returns in late April) is the exception. And besides, it debuted four years ago.
‘American Idol’ stars vote to help charities
The folks behind “American Idol” will again take a break in the competition to get people to open their wallets.
The second “Idol Gives Back” show has been set for April 9 and will include performances by Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Annie Lennox, John Legend and others.
Last year’s “Idol Gives Back” raised more than $76 million for charities that help underprivileged children here and abroad.
The program will be for one night this year (last year there were two), and a host will be named later this week.
Ellen Loves ‹Idol — and Pets!
Daytime favorite talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, has a primetime obsession ‘ she hooked on …American Idol! …This is probably the best ‹Idol so far, Ellen told …Extra. …The guy from Australia [Michael Johns] is amazing, I think he incredible. The Aussie may be all that, but according Ellen, her …Idol hero is Kristy Lee Cook, the southern belle who sold her horse so she could afford to audition for the show. Ellen said, …She needs to get her horse back, so we want her to win.
Blake Lewis: The Reality Rocks Interview
REALITY ROCKS: You know, one thing I’ve always thought was cool about Idol is it actually introduces a young audience to older music they never heard before, like the Supremes…
BLAKE LEWIS: Yeah, or like the Zombies, the underdogs of the whole British Invasion, who had the best songs ever! I got a lot of response for doing the Zombies’ “Time Of The Season, ” and that was one of the songs I had to fight for. The producers didn’t want me to do that song. They didn’t like it. They gave me a list of other songs to sing; it was the first time they ever actually talked to me, because they knew I was such an individual. They wanted me to do “Tobacco Road, ” which Phil Stacey ended up doing and killing it. But I knew that was not a good song for me. I didn’t actually swear at them, but when I said I wanted to do the Zombies the producers thought it wouldn’t go over well and said, “Well, what about America?” And I said, “I don’t give a f**k about America!” Really, here’s a British guy telling me what he thinks America wants! Anyway, America is huge, it’s everything. I can’t do what people want me to do and please everyone. I have to do what I want to do, and if people like it, then we’ve all won.
Kenny Chesney Tops List as Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood Reveal ACM Nominees
Kenny Chesney snagged mentions in seven categories to emerge as the top nominee for the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood announced the nominations during a Tuesday morning (March 4) press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville.
The contenders were revealed during a broadcast of The Early Show. The CBS news program also featured live performances by multiple nominees Rodney Atkins and Miranda Lambert, the ACM’s reigning new male and new female vocalists. Others receiving two or more nominations this year include Paisley, Big & Rich, Emerson Drive, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.
Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood React to ACM Nominations
As the reigning ACM male and female vocalists, Paisley and Carrie Underwood announced the nominations on the CBS news program, The Early Show. Paisley read this year’s female vocalist nominees on the air, and Underwood was delighted to find herself on the list.
“Right now, I’m not sure what other names he read because I was just looking for mine, ” she later told CMT Insider. Asked if she sizes up her competition at awards shows, she replied, “I don’t think it’s necessarily like, ‘Oh, I’ve got her licked.’ … I don’t think it’s like that at all. All you can do is go vote for yourself and hope other people do the same thing — and cross your fingers, I guess.”
Underwood says she’s grateful simply to attend the awards show, which will be held May 18 in Las Vegas.
Country Radio Seminar Begins in Nashville
Radio programmers and executives from throughout the nation are convening at the Nashville Convention Center for the 39th annual Country Radio Seminar. The event, taking place Wednesday through Friday (March 5-7), features an extensive array of panel discussions and music events designed to keep broadcasters informed on the latest developments in country music and the radio industry. Wednesday’s agenda includes Nashville radio personality Gerry House’s in-depth interview with Garth Brooks and an evening performance by Brad Paisley. CRS closes Friday night with the New Faces show featuring 20-minute performances by emerging artists Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington, Jake Owen and Taylor Swift.
Female Bikers Celebrate ‘Women’s Day’
Female bikers gathered at Bike Week on Tuesday to declare the day “Women’s Day.”
The number of female motorcycle owners is on the rise; one in 10 registered motorcycle owners is a woman. Tuesdays Bike Week ride celebrated that fact.
Former American Idol Contestant Kimberly Locke was one of the hundreds of women to participate.
“Riding is so liberating and it so empowering, ” Locke said. “Even the men have to give women respect now days for what we do.”
Not only did the ride help to make a name for women bikers, but it also benefited the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The women raised more than $60, 000 with the ride.
Changes continue for Kellie Pickler
A few years after being a waitress, Kellie Pickler was nominated for top new female artists in the Academy of Country Music awards Tuesday.
“This is really awesome. A few years ago when I was a roller skating waitress at Sonic I was never nominated as employee of the month but maybe that was because I spilled a lot of the food on the cars. Now I’m doing what I love and to get recognized for it is even more special.”
