Mike Darnell, who oversees alternative programing for FOX, repeats to the LA Times, nearly verbatim what Ryan Seacrest told FOX reporters yesterday regarding Joanna Pacitti’s abrupt disqualification:
“Unfortunately, it was just a perceptional problem, that there [was] just too close a connection between [Pacitti and the employees], we felt, ” Darnell said today in an interview. (Darnell’s job at Fox encompasses network oversight of the “Idol” franchise.) “A replacement was made as a producorial and judge choice. Simple as that.”
He added: “I think it was handled correctly.” (“Idol” host Ryan Seacrest told Fox News that the producers “didn’t want to risk” a conflict of interest problem with Pacitti.)
A perception problem? So, the conflict of interest was fine…until the public found out about it. At least Darnell didn’t lay on any horsesh*t, like Seacrest did, about the producers just getting around to figuring out Joanna’s connections…to their own damn company.
Feh. Kinda sucks for Joanna. I was no fan of hers, but she was dragged through the mud for nothing. Maybe they’ll sign her anyway. In which case, I’ll take back what I said.
For Felicia Barton–hip hip hooray. She was one of my favorites from back when the spoilers leaked. To be in the center of a controversy is better than if she were just one of the 36. We haven’t heard much of her singing, but we sure know who she is now.