For May Sweeps ABC News "Primetime Live" aired an interview with former "American Idol" top-twelve contestant, Corey Clark. Clark (who is shopping a book), claims in the interview that he was approached by competition judge Paula Abdul with an offer to help him succeed in the competition.
Clark claims that Abdul gave him advice with song choice and wardrobe, as well as supplying money for clothing and haircuts. Amidst the advice sessions, a sexual relationship developed.
Apparently this relationship started when Corey "went into business for himself" during the group song competition in the first Hollywood round. Shortly after that song, Corey was contacted by Paula, and the relationship allegedly began. (I still remember being irritated with Corey when he abandoned his group members on-stage just because he wasn't responsible enough to learn his song. That wasn't cool.)
During the interview, Corey made a reasonably convincing case that something actually happened between he and Paula. One of the most interesting parts of the whole interview was getting some of the season two also-ran contestants to comment on Corey's "advantages".
Random observations:
- Corey was the third-or-fourth-best performer in season two. He would have made it to the final-twelve regardless of Paula's alleged help. (He wouldn't have passed Clay or Ruben or Kimberly.) I don't think that the "sour grapes" that were coaxed out of earlier eliminated contestants were valid.
- What on earth is Corey's motivation to do this interview? It doesn't seem that Paula had ever done anything bad to Corey. What did she do to deserve this sort of pub? It is distasteful to see how this young man has responded to what seems to be generousity on the part of Paula.
- Will any of Corey's future sugar-mommas ever trust him?
- What did Paula see in Corey? What did Trenyce or Kimberly Caldwell see in Corey?
- I really appreciated that ABC went through the effort to get some actual Idol clips for the show. If they hadn't used actual clips, the show would have seemed minor-league.
- All in all, a fun way to spend an hour.