And while Kenneth Briggs and Jonathan Jayne lift off into the unknown, Fox Television is taking a strong stand against Rosie O'Donnell and others who've claim the Idol judges were meaner than ever to those poor boys and others this time around. "I think it's part of what makes American Idol American Idol," Peter Liguori, Fox entertainment president, told television writers at the summit in Pasadena today. And he added--presumably with a straight face-- that folks have told him the show's been "toned down."
Tuesday and Wednesday's shows, which featured auditions in Minneapolis and Seattle, pulled in about 37 million viewers. Simon Cowell got the heaviest criticism for making fun of the saucer-eyed and stunted Kenneth, and the slow, portly Jonathan (anyone offended by those descriptions?).
Simon told Kenneth: ''You look a little odd... you look like one of those creatures that live in the jungle, with those massive eyes. What are they called? A bush baby." And when rotund 20-year-old Jonathan followed, Simon asked him if he'd borrowed Randy Jackson's pants. The New York Times pointed out the next morning that "an online biography from a private school in Seattle where Mr. Jayne graduated in 2004 notes that his hobbies include participating in the Special Olympics." It's also been revealed that Jonathan is autistic to boot--and lost his job as a grocery store for skipping work for the Idol audition! Oops.
But no worries. For Bush Baby & Slo Jo, the fun's just begun.
The morning after his Idol appearance, Jonathan was interviewed on The BJ Shea Morning Experience (home of "Hot topics, hot shots, hot bitches" and the "H-Hole Army") on Seattle's KISW-FM.
Jonathan was scheduled to return to sing on the radio Friday morning, but he was hijacked, along with Kenneth, by the producers of Jimmy Kimmel Live for an appearance in LA last night. At the end of the interview, Kimmel invited Kenneth and Jonathan to the Bob Hope Classic celebrity golf tournament (taking place now in Palm Springs) to interview celebrities for him.
That promises another Kimmel appearance next week, which means that Kenneth will probably again be a no-show on the BJ radio show back home, where he's now set to perform Monday morning, and "the Morning Experience staff intends to help him find a new job."
Welcome to show biz, h-holes...
Comments (3)
I actually listened to Jonathan on the BJ Shea show Thurs morning. Although he is a bit slower than most folks, he is pretty highly functioning and sounded like a pretty nice kid. According to him he can play quite a few instruments so it'll be interesting to hear how that goes for him. Hopefully he gets to enjoy some of the fame while it lasts.
1 of 3 | Posted by trickydick![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/newsgasm/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on January 21, 2007 7:40 AM
i'll say what i told my mom. "u can stand to be ugly if u have talent. u can't be ugly and have no talent" at least not in the entertainment industry. (why else hasnt britney done anything???) he has to know that he looks a bit "odd".
2 of 3 | Posted by Niecy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/newsgasm/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on January 22, 2007 12:26 PM
I know Kenny from school. I told him he would make it on t.v...
There are some people asking if I feel bad he went on and failed at becoming the next american idol and was criticized by simon... NO!
Here's the thing, Kenny, does something that many of us wish we could... completely be ourselves embracing and sharing with others who we truly are, quirks and all, let alone he does this in the most public way public (ask him about the smoke shack at school). He is proud of who he is and his odd uniqueness, he uses his strengths, (making people laugh and being entertaining) to his advantage.
I am sorry, but I cannot feel bad for someone who is proud of who they are and unafraid of putting it out there... feeling sorry for someone, especially in that context, is like saying, "I feel bad for you because of who you are and some people are mean to you."
This is far more offensive to me than anything Simon could ever say.
3 of 3 | Posted by 3leaves![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/newsgasm/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on January 27, 2007 5:02 PM