AT&T May Have Swayed Idol Outcome to Favor Kris Allen

[Behshad]

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/at-t-may-have ... n/23028?nc

So now maybe Queen should contact Kris ?

[Babyblue]

I heard about that on{ GMA }this morning.Hope its not true but ya just don't know anymore.

[bluejeangirl76]

"Angry Lambert supporters are now claiming in online chat boards that the competition's voting was rigged."

Of course they are, cuz their guy didn't win.

[Deb]

10 votes at the touch of a button? Ya, that sounds fair?!

[bluejeangirl76]

10 votes at the touch of a button? Ya, that sounds fair?!

No more or less fair than AI's regular practice of allowing callers and texters to vote as much as they want.

[Deb]

10 votes at the touch of a button? Ya, that sounds fair?!

No more or less fair than AI's regular practice of allowing callers and texters to vote as much as they want.

Agreed!

[BobbyinTN]

If its true it's pretty fucked up.

[bluejeangirl76]

If its true it's pretty fucked up.

No it isn't. The show itself allows multiple votes per person, so if someone found a way to make the most out of something AI permits in the first place, more power to them.

Maybe now AI will dispense with this stupid unlimited voting business and restrict it to one vote per number like they should have been doing anyway. Again - WHAT is the point of putting any kind of decision to a vote when you're going to allow unlimited voting? Totally defeats the purpose and that is why that show is a bullshit rally contest of which contestant can get the most people to waste their whole night texting and calling over and over.

Lame.

[Ehwmatt]

I had no idea that they allowed repeat votes from the same number... what a joke! Someone(s) really didn't want another gay guy winning AI, did they?

[Babyblue]

I had no idea that they allowed repeat votes from the same number... what a joke! Someone(s) really didn't want another gay guy winning AI, did they?

Just shaking my head here.Sad

[slucero]

whats American Idol?

[verslibre]

whats American Idol?

One big yawn.

[stargzr210]

saw it on amazon mp3 downloads...kris is ahead of adam
#29 kris allen
#64 adam lambert
and # 50 Journey DSB

http://perezhilton.com/2009-05-27-kris- ... s-glambert

[X factor]

If its true it's pretty fucked up.

No it isn't. The show itself allows multiple votes per person, so if someone found a way to make the most out of something AI permits in the first place, more power to them.

Maybe now AI will dispense with this stupid unlimited voting business and restrict it to one vote per number like they should have been doing anyway. Again - WHAT is the point of putting any kind of decision to a vote when you're going to allow unlimited voting? Totally defeats the purpose and that is why that show is a bullshit rally contest of which contestant can get the most people to waste their whole night texting and calling over and over.

Lame.

Perhaps, but nevertheless it IS against the stated rules (like em or not)

I agree that normally the show IS terribly lame. But something about Adam captured my attention this season.
I expect next year for it to be back to it's standard yawn inducing stuff.

[RedWingFan]

If its true it's pretty fucked up.

No it isn't. The show itself allows multiple votes per person, so if someone found a way to make the most out of something AI permits in the first place, more power to them.

The whole show is stupid. Anyone who watches it deserves to get duped, while they're watching, "voting", buying bread and milk.

Again - WHAT is the point of putting any kind of decision to a vote when you're going to allow unlimited voting? Totally defeats the purpose and that is why that show is a bullshit rally contest of which contestant can get the most people to waste their whole night texting and calling over and over.

My guess they're paid a handsome sum of money by AT&T for allowing idiots nationwide to waste their time and money.

[Deb]

I agree that normally the show IS terribly lame. But something about Adam captured my attention this season.
I expect next year for it to be back to it's standard yawn inducing stuff.

My thoughts exactly.

[squirt1]

I said last week when a state of 6 mil ( i.e. is every man, woman, child regardless of age x6 plus) could place 38 mil votes the math just doesn't fit. Now does AT& T get the boot as a sponsor and rules changes as in 1 vote come into play? Otherwise why watch? Remember AI makes $$$$$$$$ on the texting. AI will NEVER have another Adam again but i am hoping Queen will ! . So for once Simon was correct about Adam when he said who can top that!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also think that this may apply to MLB all star voting or can you only vote once? Next yr the last 3 weeks or sooner if I hear an Adam type buzz. I believe Ai made 6.7 billion this yr with this charade.

[texafana]

If anyone seriously thinks behind closed doors the phone votes actually determine anything, then I'd like to sell you front row tickets to a Steve Perry concert.

[Vladan]

Adam Lambert is a better singer than Kris, that's pretty obvious. I think Kris is more likable, but also very much forgettable. Once again like Australia, America make the bad decisions in terms of voting.

[marco17]

A little info here for you from the beginning days of Idol. My old man worked for AT&T when IDOL first began, and was a main contact with them, and they were always being asked by Idol and Fox to inflate the numbers and make it sound grander than it really was at the time. Needless to say, AT&T, which is a completely different company now than it was then, refused to do it because they would not lie about it. Ha, a company having some integrity...the good old days....sorry, I digress... Other than IDOL saying that they are using AT&T, there is not much incentive for AT&T to lie or manipulate anything. If anything, that makes AT&T look bad, and they are not going intentionally screw with their image. There's nothing in it for them. AI has always been about the hype.

Not to mention, you had everyone saying that if Adam didn't win, people didn't vote for him because he was gay, and others saying that Kris was great, but the underdog, and hopefully the underdog would win. I think the gay thing is BS, because not that many people really care about that, we're talking musicians/artists here. This was all over everything. There were premade excuses already in place to spin whatever outcome came along. And, I can say this as I was aware of all the BS surrounding this as a normal person who honestly didn't watch more than 5 minutes of one AI show all season.

All I can say is good luck to the both of them. Time has shown that sometimes it's better to be the runner up and not the winner.

[Deb]

Not to mention, you had everyone saying that if Adam didn't win, people didn't vote for him because he was gay, and others saying that Kris was great, but the underdog, and hopefully the underdog would win. I think the gay thing is BS, because not that many people really care about that, we're talking musicians/artists here. This was all over everything. There were premade excuses already in place to spin whatever outcome came along. And, I can say this as I was aware of all the BS surrounding this as a normal person who honestly didn't watch more than 5 minutes of one AI show all season.

All I can say is good luck to the both of them. Time has shown that sometimes it's better to be the runner up and not the winner.

You're right. And probably a good portion didn't even know he was gay. If you don't read the internet or watch those entertainment shows, how would you know just from watching him on AI...........lots that I talked to didn't even know he was. He's got that edge to him, heck......forgot he was gay half the time myself.

[yulog]

Not to mention, you had everyone saying that if Adam didn't win, people didn't vote for him because he was gay, and others saying that Kris was great, but the underdog, and hopefully the underdog would win. I think the gay thing is BS, because not that many people really care about that, we're talking musicians/artists here. This was all over everything. There were premade excuses already in place to spin whatever outcome came along. And, I can say this as I was aware of all the BS surrounding this as a normal person who honestly didn't watch more than 5 minutes of one AI show all season.

All I can say is good luck to the both of them. Time has shown that sometimes it's better to be the runner up and not the winner.

You're right. And probably a good portion didn't even know he was gay. If you don't read the internet or watch those entertainment shows, how would you know just from watching him on AI...........lots that I talked to didn't even know he was. He's got that edge to him, heck......forgot he was gay half the time myself.

Deb you horndog you!! You can't change a guy who plays for the other team.

[Deb]

Not to mention, you had everyone saying that if Adam didn't win, people didn't vote for him because he was gay, and others saying that Kris was great, but the underdog, and hopefully the underdog would win. I think the gay thing is BS, because not that many people really care about that, we're talking musicians/artists here. This was all over everything. There were premade excuses already in place to spin whatever outcome came along. And, I can say this as I was aware of all the BS surrounding this as a normal person who honestly didn't watch more than 5 minutes of one AI show all season.

All I can say is good luck to the both of them. Time has shown that sometimes it's better to be the runner up and not the winner.

You're right. And probably a good portion didn't even know he was gay. If you don't read the internet or watch those entertainment shows, how would you know just from watching him on AI...........lots that I talked to didn't even know he was. He's got that edge to him, heck......forgot he was gay half the time myself.

Deb you horndog you!! You can't change a guy who plays for the other team.

Shush, Yulie. LOL, he's cool the way he is. Just meant the normal Joe/Jane watching AI might not even know.

[Ehwmatt]

Not to mention, you had everyone saying that if Adam didn't win, people didn't vote for him because he was gay, and others saying that Kris was great, but the underdog, and hopefully the underdog would win. I think the gay thing is BS, because not that many people really care about that, we're talking musicians/artists here. This was all over everything. There were premade excuses already in place to spin whatever outcome came along. And, I can say this as I was aware of all the BS surrounding this as a normal person who honestly didn't watch more than 5 minutes of one AI show all season.

All I can say is good luck to the both of them. Time has shown that sometimes it's better to be the runner up and not the winner.

You're right. And probably a good portion didn't even know he was gay. If you don't read the internet or watch those entertainment shows, how would you know just from watching him on AI...........lots that I talked to didn't even know he was. He's got that edge to him, heck......forgot he was gay half the time myself.

If you don't know Lambert's gay, please go find the nearest, highest cliff, and walk off. I promise you can fly.

[Deb]

Not to mention, you had everyone saying that if Adam didn't win, people didn't vote for him because he was gay, and others saying that Kris was great, but the underdog, and hopefully the underdog would win. I think the gay thing is BS, because not that many people really care about that, we're talking musicians/artists here. This was all over everything. There were premade excuses already in place to spin whatever outcome came along. And, I can say this as I was aware of all the BS surrounding this as a normal person who honestly didn't watch more than 5 minutes of one AI show all season.

All I can say is good luck to the both of them. Time has shown that sometimes it's better to be the runner up and not the winner.

You're right. And probably a good portion didn't even know he was gay. If you don't read the internet or watch those entertainment shows, how would you know just from watching him on AI...........lots that I talked to didn't even know he was. He's got that edge to him, heck......forgot he was gay half the time myself.

If you don't know Lambert's gay, please go find the nearest, highest cliff, and walk off. I promise you can fly.

Seriously, I didn't know he was gay at first, until I read or heard it. Wasn't blatantly out there. Ya he was theatrical, kind of a David Bowie vibe or something.

[S2M]

Not to mention, you had everyone saying that if Adam didn't win, people didn't vote for him because he was gay, and others saying that Kris was great, but the underdog, and hopefully the underdog would win. I think the gay thing is BS, because not that many people really care about that, we're talking musicians/artists here. This was all over everything. There were premade excuses already in place to spin whatever outcome came along. And, I can say this as I was aware of all the BS surrounding this as a normal person who honestly didn't watch more than 5 minutes of one AI show all season.

All I can say is good luck to the both of them. Time has shown that sometimes it's better to be the runner up and not the winner.

You're right. And probably a good portion didn't even know he was gay. If you don't read the internet or watch those entertainment shows, how would you know just from watching him on AI...........lots that I talked to didn't even know he was. He's got that edge to him, heck......forgot he was gay half the time myself.

If you don't know Lambert's gay, please go find the nearest, highest cliff, and walk off. I promise you can fly.

Seriously, I didn't know he was gay at first, until I read or heard it. Wasn't blatantly out there. Ya he was theatrical, kind of a David Bowie vibe or something.

Yeah.....Bowie-like with a dick in his mouth, and one in his arse......it was obvious. And I heard he kisses XYs too!

[Arkansas]

Maybe the Lambert fans are just crying sour grapes because they got out-smarted.
Interesting local article here.
***

Fox, 'Idol' say Allen title safe


According to Fox Broadcasting Company, local "American Idol" contestant Kris Allen's title as the winner of Fox's game show is safe despite national speculation that the show's voting process was fixed.

The New York Times published a story Wednesday alleging that AT&T representatives who provided Allen fans with demo cell phones and instructions on "power texting" at watch parties "might have influenced the outcome of this year's competition."

According to the New York Times report, no such AT&T cooperation was seen at Adam Lambert watch parties.

Though votes can be cast by calling a toll-free number from any phone, the most voters use cell phone text messaging from wireless provider AT&T, the show's main sponsor and the only wireless provider that can be used in "American Idol" voting.

Most of the voters used cell phones, and many of the voters using cell phones used a feature designed to send text messages to several recipients the user includes in a contact list.

Instructions on how to "power text" are on fan-created Web sites for both Allen and his Californian competitor, Adam Lambert: Create a contact list composed of the "vote for Kris Allen" number 10 times over, hit send, and you've voted 10
times through power texting.

According to the show's Web site, the producers of "American Idol" implement a "weekly monitoring procedure" to prevent voters "unfairly influencing the outcome of the voting by generating significant blocks of votes using technical enhancements."

Eric Green, a spokesperson for "American Idol" said Wednesday that he couldn't comment on the producers' definitions of "technical enhancements" or "significant blocks of votes," or if power texting constitutes either.

According to a prepared statement from Fox, the broadcasting company and the producers of "American Idol" are "absolutely certain that the results of this competition are fair, accurate and verified."

"Kris Allen is, without a doubt, the American Idol." the statement reads. "We have an independent third-party monitoring procedure in place to ensure the integrity of the voting process. In no way did any individuals unfairly influence the outcome of the competition."

Fox vice-president for communication Gaude Lydia Paez said Wednesday that neither she nor anyone at Fox would issue comments beyond this statement, but did say it can be inferred from the statement that Allen's title is safe.

AT&T also released a statement Wednesday concerning the allegations, acknowledging that in Arkansas, "a few local AT&T employees were invited to attend two local watch parties organized by the community."

"Caught up in the enthusiasm of rooting for their hometown contestant, they brought a small number of demo phones with them and provided texting tutorials to those who were interested," the statement continues. "Going forward, we will make sure our employees understand our sponsorship celebrates the competition, not individual contestants. That said, it's quite a leap to suggest that a few individuals could have impacted the final results."

The Kick Awesome Task Force, formed to organize local watch parties and voting squads, decided that AT&T representatives should be invited to a watch party to help with issues concerning voters not being able to "get through," according to Kick Awesome Task Force organizer Sonja Keith.

"It came up in conversation that they were having a watch party in Little Rock and that (AT&T representatives) were providing demo phones so people could vote (and) they said they would be willing to do that in Conway as well," Keith said.

Keith said she knew "that power texting was talked about and people there were doing it," but said she didn't see anyone from AT&T showing voters how to power text.

Whether or not power texting breaches the show's rules is in question, but it was "unfair" according to Fernando Vivanco, a California musician and creator of the Web site www.adam-lambert.org, a Lambert fansite unaffiliated with Fox or "American Idol."

Vivanco said he was more concerned with power texting than AT&T representatives providing phones at a couple of watch parties.

"The AT&T staff in Arkansas had really nothing to do with it," he wrote Wednesday in an e-mail to the Log Cabin. "That was more of a question of 'integrity' but they did not skew the results themselves.

"I'll be honest with you. Kris Allen's fans and fansites were spreading all kinds of power voting techniques to win this competition," the e-mail also reads, specifying rival fansite www.krisallennation.com's "operation ding-dong," in which Allen's supporters were encouraged to download online-based automatic telephone dialing programs such as Gizmo 5.

Vivanco said he "shamelessly straight up copied and pasted some of that information on our site with the intention to neutralize their efforts."

"We do not think power voting is fair but it was not fair for Kris Allen's fans to be doing that so we 'tried' taking some action against it," he said, going on to say that "being so personally involved with this whole process, I believe that this came down to a power voting contest and not a talent contest."

As Fox's statement indicates that Allen's title is not in question, Keith said, "it's time to move on."

"What's sad to me is that Kris is a very talented musician and I think he has widespread appeal," she said. "To insinuate that AT&T swayed the vote, to me, shortchanges Kris and shortchanges Americans. ... Kris is very talented and Americans recognized that and now the votes are in, we have the winner, it's time to move on."


###

[Glenn]

If anyone seriously thinks behind closed doors the phone votes actually determine anything, then I'd like to sell you front row tickets to a Steve Perry concert.

How do you explain Taylor Hicks winning 2 years ago?

[journey361]

Who gives a rats ass about this crap, Adam Lambert was the best singer and i'll even go as far as to state AI will not have a better singer on that show ever. It's a no-brainer. I mean, it's like all these top 100 or 200 best singers of all time and Steve Perry is like 79th or 100th or something so stupid like that. Steve Perry, are you kidding me, there's never been a singer ever who had a all-around game like him.