It's the end of the road for 'Idol' contestants
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, March 15, 2008
Why did Danny Noriega, Luke Menard, Kady Malloy and Asia'h Epperson get dumped from "American Idol"?
You could say they didn't listen to judge Simon Cowell.
In a post-"Idol" teleconference, the former contestants admitted they ignored Cowell's comments.
"Whenever the judges talked to me, I tuned them out after the first night," Malloy said. "They're only three opinions, honestly, and they’re no more important than anybody that’s walking on the street today."
Added Menard: "Simon never gave me one compliment on camera, so I learned to really tune out his criticism. It was pretty much degrading stuff, so I just took that with a grain of salt."
When Cowell called Noriega "grotesque," the teenager was shocked. "I didn’t know what grotesque meant for a second there, and then I was pretty upset, because I thought he was going to kind of like me or say something a little positive, but, yes, it was a bit on the negative side. So, I was kind of upset but you brush it off after."
Epperson said Cowell "was the most harsh," but he "makes you want to do the best that you can. He does know what he's talking about...even though he could word it a bit differently sometimes."
All four enjoyed the experience and Noriega -- a repeat contestant -- said he learned a valuable lesson from "Idol." "Last year, I was totally not being myself. I was just creating an image, trying to find something that I thought the judges would like. But this year I decided to be myself and see if it would work. It definitely did."
Now, Noriega is entertaining acting offers (Internet sources say Rosie O'Donnell wants him for an upcoming TV series) and weighing the value of a singing career. Menard wants to try acting as well -- he thinks Broadway would be ideal -- and Malloy said she could have a career in country music.
"I'm a strong believer in everything happens for a reason," Epperson said. " I believe that God has a bigger and better plan for me, and Dad’s just getting me through all of this, keeping that in my head." Her father died just days before she auditioned for "Idol."
Malloy and Menard were criticized for failing to show personality; Noriega was knocked for revealing "too much."
When Malloy shrugged off the suggestions that she needed to show more of the girl behind the music, she was viewed as petulant. "I just felt like I couldn’t please Simon no matter what. I did my best and I think I did well and I went out with a bang like I wanted to."
Noriega said he talked back to Cowell but "it wasn't me being all crazy and dramatic toward him. It was more of a sarcastic thing. He knows that I was kidding."
Teasing, in fact, was just part of the "Idol" game. Noriega, Malloy and Ramiele Malubay were like "Charlie's Angels," horsing around on the set. "Kady and I are like freaking brother and sister," Noriega said. "She acts just like me. It's weird."
While Malloy was known for mimicking Britney Spears and other pop stars, she didn't test the impressions on the judges. "Backstage, she was more out there than I am," Noriega said. "We were so crazy."
Menard, meanwhile, was one of the "Four Horsemen," a nickname he, Michael Johns, David Cook and Jason Yeager embraced. They, too, bonded and listened to music together. He and Johns were roommates and talked about doing music together -- something that's still a possibility.
The future? All four of the lost "Idols" say it's bright.
"You just need to be patient," Menard said. "You can't listen to what people say about you and you can't take things personally. You just have to be persistent in what you want to accomplish."
You could say they didn't listen to judge Simon Cowell.
In a post-"Idol" teleconference, the former contestants admitted they ignored Cowell's comments.
"Whenever the judges talked to me, I tuned them out after the first night," Malloy said. "They're only three opinions, honestly, and they’re no more important than anybody that’s walking on the street today."
Added Menard: "Simon never gave me one compliment on camera, so I learned to really tune out his criticism. It was pretty much degrading stuff, so I just took that with a grain of salt."
When Cowell called Noriega "grotesque," the teenager was shocked. "I didn’t know what grotesque meant for a second there, and then I was pretty upset, because I thought he was going to kind of like me or say something a little positive, but, yes, it was a bit on the negative side. So, I was kind of upset but you brush it off after."
Epperson said Cowell "was the most harsh," but he "makes you want to do the best that you can. He does know what he's talking about...even though he could word it a bit differently sometimes."
All four enjoyed the experience and Noriega -- a repeat contestant -- said he learned a valuable lesson from "Idol." "Last year, I was totally not being myself. I was just creating an image, trying to find something that I thought the judges would like. But this year I decided to be myself and see if it would work. It definitely did."
Now, Noriega is entertaining acting offers (Internet sources say Rosie O'Donnell wants him for an upcoming TV series) and weighing the value of a singing career. Menard wants to try acting as well -- he thinks Broadway would be ideal -- and Malloy said she could have a career in country music.
"I'm a strong believer in everything happens for a reason," Epperson said. " I believe that God has a bigger and better plan for me, and Dad’s just getting me through all of this, keeping that in my head." Her father died just days before she auditioned for "Idol."
Malloy and Menard were criticized for failing to show personality; Noriega was knocked for revealing "too much."
When Malloy shrugged off the suggestions that she needed to show more of the girl behind the music, she was viewed as petulant. "I just felt like I couldn’t please Simon no matter what. I did my best and I think I did well and I went out with a bang like I wanted to."
Noriega said he talked back to Cowell but "it wasn't me being all crazy and dramatic toward him. It was more of a sarcastic thing. He knows that I was kidding."
Teasing, in fact, was just part of the "Idol" game. Noriega, Malloy and Ramiele Malubay were like "Charlie's Angels," horsing around on the set. "Kady and I are like freaking brother and sister," Noriega said. "She acts just like me. It's weird."
While Malloy was known for mimicking Britney Spears and other pop stars, she didn't test the impressions on the judges. "Backstage, she was more out there than I am," Noriega said. "We were so crazy."
Menard, meanwhile, was one of the "Four Horsemen," a nickname he, Michael Johns, David Cook and Jason Yeager embraced. They, too, bonded and listened to music together. He and Johns were roommates and talked about doing music together -- something that's still a possibility.
The future? All four of the lost "Idols" say it's bright.
"You just need to be patient," Menard said. "You can't listen to what people say about you and you can't take things personally. You just have to be persistent in what you want to accomplish."
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