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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2006 > September > 27
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
9/28: Idol semifinalist in local play
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Remember Kinnik Sky, a semifinalist from Idol 5?
Here’s info about her appearance in a local play:
Medicine, ethics, and the arts. Can’t believe that those ideas collide? Well they are colliding at Theatrical Outfit as they premiere Mark St. Germain’s, The God Committee.
One of the most intriguing characters in this production, Dr. Kierra Banks, played by Ms. Kinnik Sky, was one of last seasons top 16 contestants on American Idol. She is bringing a breath of fresh air to the stage that only the sky can. Don’t miss her in this riveting new drama that runs through October 8. Check it out, www.theatricaloutfit.org.
Contact: Faith Gibson, Marketing & PR Coordinator Theatrical Outfit The Balzer Theater at Herren*s Stories that stir the soul. www.theatricaloutfit.org 678.528.1500
9/27: Thank you for your votes!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A friend emailed me this link to Creative Loafing revealing the annual “Best of” awards. This is a popular feature for the publication and a grand excuse to sell advertising, too. There are “reader’s picks” and “critic’s picks.”
Among you fine readers, I was selected as “best local blogger.” It appears I’m tied with a guy named Spencer Sloan, whose celebrity blog is here. Spencer, congrats! Let’s do lunch!
Anyway, I am honored that you all liked me enough to fill in the Loaf’s incredibly long ballot, which seems to have like 500 categories. (I wonder how many actual votes I got. The fact I tied with someone tells me it was close— like six votes each). Better yet, it’s something to put on the resume or tell my grandkids! I think I was helped by the fact I do TWO blogs, helping me win on quantity as opposed to quality.
Keep on reading and I’m glad ajc.com was voted best local Website, too. And the critics gave my colleague Richard Eldredge of Peach Buzz fame “Best Ear to the Ground.”
9/27: Fantasia’s dad sues her
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fantasia’s dad Joseph Barrino has filed a $10 million libel lawsuit against her for her portrayal of him in her book “Fantasia: Life is Not a Fairytale”.
An excerpt:
Joe Barrino, a truck driver and a musician himself, is claiming that, although his daughter is listed as the book’s author, it was the singer’s grandmother, pastor Addie Collins, who actually penned the story. The details that granny supposedly fudged include a description of Joe Barrino as being hostile to the music industry, a part where he asks his daughter for money, and the suggestion that his children’s music careers were more important to him than their education.
No direct response yet from th Fantasia camp.
9/27: New CD for the Quitter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mario “The Quitter” Vazquez, the man who could have won American Idol 4 if he hadn’t quit before the final 12 began, decided to go on his own instead and has now released his first CD. His first, rather lame, single “Gallery” is inexplicably in the top 20 but at least it’s not getting much airplay in Atlanta.
Here’s an AP story about him. He now explains that he quit because he didn’t want to be restricted by the “Idol’ contract. ‘‘I wanted something edgier, grittier,â€? he said.
Although many believe he rushed into the decision to quit ‘‘Idol,� Vazquez, a New Yorker with Puerto Rican parents, said his agents advised him that the longer he waited the worse it would be.
‘‘It took me maybe a week,� he said. ‘‘I told the executive producers and they weren’t too happy with the decision, but I left the show with nothing laid in stone and they had to respect the fact that I wanted to work my way.�
For his family, who found out from press reports, the news had no logical explanation.
‘‘They were devastated,� said Vazquez, who had to guard his reasons for three months because of a confidentiality agreement with ‘‘American Idol.�
Surely, he has cost himself a certain amount of fans and sales but in his mind, he still has his integrity. Okay. We’ll see how this plays out.
I have a copy of his CD at my desk but I haven’t listened to it. Would anyone like it? I’d be happy to mail it to anyone who is a fan.
