In the hoary pre-Internet days, stardom came in different tiers: You had your one-hit wonders, B-list celebs, and the Warholian hotshots. Nowadays, even 15 minutes of limelight can be blistering hot, thanks to the relentless combination of muckraking 24-hour news and rumor-mongering bloggers.
The most recent object of intense scrutiny has been "American Idol" contestant David Hernandez. Rumors of a past job as an exotic dancer have been circulating online, but the buzz busted all over after a manager at an Arizona joint called Dick's Cabaret told AP that Hernandez worked there. Both Hernandez and the "Idol" producers are remaining mum on the report, but unofficial show sources say the Arizona singer's past gyrations won't disqualify him from the rest of the competition.
Either way, Hernandez's exposure has vaulted the Top 20 finalist from the middle of the Buzz pack into the top searches. That means his online queries are keeping company with searches for "ron paul," "primary results ohio," and "brett favre retirement nfl."
Scandal has touched the Fox reality competition before, and stories like these bring back names like Frenchie Davis (a 2003 semifinalist who got booted for being on an adult Web site) and last season's Antonella Barba. Barba didn't even make the coveted Top 12 spot, yet possibly faked photos released on the Web made her the most searched "Idol" contestant ever (based on their season's searches)—more than fellow Season 6 singer Sanjaya Malakar, Chris Daughtry (S5), Katharine McPhee (S5) and Carrie Underwood (S4).
Still, how does an "Idol" wannabe warrant attention equivalent to a Britney Spears pararazzi pack? "American Idol" is a throwback to the days before cable offerings fragmented TV audiences, and recording devices time-shifted viewing experiences. Thanks to its public participation starmaking concept, the FOX reality show must be seen in unison, if a viewer wants his/her vote to count.
So, combine its old-fashioned appeal with modern-day reporting, and you come up with aspiring everyday people who get a taste of fame in the worst way. The wildfire nature of Web rumors though can have its cold-water splash of reality: When people search for the news, they also dig for the truth and weigh in on what's important.
As for Hernandez, he's staying on the show so far and initial public opinion seems to be behind him. In the meantime, future aspiring Idols might want to do a self-background check. The media can be crueler than Simon Cowell.
credits: yahoo.com
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