Joanna Pacitti has been disqualified for unspecified reasons – though I am hearing that it was to ”avoid the appearance of impropriety.” WTF….WOW…Holy Crap..
I have a feelin that this has to do with Joanna’s close ties to 19Management executives Michelle Young and Roger Widynowski The StarMagazine brought the relationship with execs to light last week in this article.
WOW!
Why didn’t they just edit the show last so that it looked like Joanna got cut and Felicia got a yes? Would have made more sense, right? Wrong! This is all about Publicity. It was a calculated move waiting till after the Green Mile episode aired….Shocking, stunning and Amazing, yes?
But, Yea For Felicia Barton who I think got the shaft. Maybe, just maybe, this is why I keep hearing she was in/no out/no in…no, out…..
Felicia Barton
Hometown: Virgina Beach, VA
Audition City: Louisville
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/feliciabarton
Source: http://www.fox41.com/global/video/flash/po…mp;rnd=67021146
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6NrgKiuJ6A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSw2Tk9zwCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Ri4ivSKOk
Audition: http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j141/mjs…=four_louis.flv
Here’s an article:
‘American Idol’ disqualifies Joanna Pacitti from eighth season competition
By Steve Rogers, 02/12/2009
Fox has announced that controversial American Idol contestant Joanna Pacitti has been disqualified from the show’s eighth season competition.
“It has been determined that Joanna Pacitti is ineligible to continue in the competition,” the network stated in a late Wednesday night announcement released shortly after the conclusion of the West Coast broadcast of American Idol’s pre-filmed “Final Judgement” episode in which Pacitti was shown advancing into the competition’s semifinals.
Felicia Barton, a 26-year-old wife and mother from Virginia Beach, VA, will replace Pacitti in the season’s Top 36 semifinals.
Fox’s statement didn’t specify why Pacitti, an unemployed 23-year-old who is originally from Philadelphia, PA, was deemed to be ineligible and a network spokesperson was not immediately reachable for comment. However last week, Star magazine had reported that Pacitti — who had already previously made headlines for her extensive professional music industry experience, which included a 2006 debut album with Geffen Records — allegedly has “connections” to two executives at American Idol’s 19 Entertainment production company.
According to Star, Pacitti has “very personal connections” to Michelle Young and Roger Widynowski, two executives that work in 19 Entertainment’s Los Angeles office. In addition to living in the same apartment complex as the 19 Entertainment executives for several years, Pacitti has also allegedly called Young her “manager” and “best friend” and credited Widynowski — a former RCA Records publicist — with “helping me get where I am today,” according to the tabloid.
Unlike last season’s similar situation in which the show didn’t disclose Carly Smithson‘s prior major label recording deal during its seventh-season audition and Hollywood Week broadcasts, American Idol’s eighth-season broadcasts had openly acknowledged Pacitti’s professional experience.
(American Idol only requires contestants to not have any current recording or talent management agreements when they audition — not that they never have signed a professional agreement.)
“I’m from Philadelphia and I moved to L.A. on my own when I was 16. I wanted to do my thing and I wanted to write music and really give it my all,” Pacitti said in an introduction clip that was shown before her audition aired during Idol’s coverage of the eighth season’s Louisville, KY auditions.
“I learned a lot and I think I grew up really fast and I actually really got a chance to see what singers and what artists do and how they struggle,” Pacitti added. “It’s much harder than anybody could ever imagine.”
“I’ve lost a lot of confidence in the past year, but I’m got trying to calm myself down and focus and go in there and just show them what I’ve got,” Pacitti said before she entered the room to audition for Idol’s eighth season and was immediately recognized by new judge Kara DioGuardi.
“Wait a minute, weren’t you on A&M Records?” DioGuardi asked Pacitti.
“Yes, a while ago, yes,” answered Pacitti.
“You were signed right?” wondered DioGuardi.
“Yes, I was,” replied the Idol hopeful.
“This is Joanna Pacitti. I know this girl!” exclaimed the new Idol judge.
“So hang on — what didn’t go right?” asked Simon Cowell about Pacitti’s previous recording contract.
“It just didn’t work out,” she answered.
“So it was their fault?” asked Cowell.
“I’d hope to say that, yeah,” answered Pacitti, who then sang Pat Benatar’s “We Belong” for the judges.
“I like her. I like you. There’s something about you,” DioGuardi said after the performance, prompting tears from Pacitti.
“Aw… it’s been rough for you, I know,” said DioGuardi.
“I’m definitely going to say yes too, based on the voice. You definitely got a voice,” added Randy Jackson. “Welcome back to Hollywood – -you got quite a journey going on!”
In addition to her initial audition, American Idol had also acknowledged Pacitti’s professional background during Wednesday night’s “Final Judgement” episode.
“It’s been a tough road for you, we’ve established how difficult this business is with you,” Abdul told Pacitti as she met with the judges to learn whether she had made the eighth season’s semifinals cut.
“Joanna, you’ve done this a bunch of times — you’ve had label deals and all this stuff — when is going to be that time, when is that time that you really step out and show us who you are as an artist?” asked DioGuardi. “That’s my concern with you.”
“I think the answer to that question is ‘When somebody gives her a break’ Kara,” Cowell responded.
I am so glad to see Felicia in the TOP 36. I knew she had the chops to make it. When Simon told her during her elimination, “This is NOT a unanimous decision,” I thought to myself…she’ll be back. Felicia has real talent but NO DRAMA…I guess that’s why she didn’t get any air time.
I’m thrilled that Felicia made it though. It’s crazy that not much of her singing was shown in Hollywood, but she sure is getting plenty of publicity now… and her views on YouTube have shot through the roof since yesterday.
I’m thrilled that Felicia made it though. It’s crazy that not much of her singing was shown in Hollywood, but she sure is getting plenty of publicity now… and her views on YouTube have shot through the roof since yesterday.
If they knew about the connections and then did this I’d say it’s pretty horrific. Especially after the Annie experience. However, if she failed to be clear about her relationships, then that’s another thing altogether.
I’m not sure she could have gone much further than Carly anyway. I’m not sure she has any real idea of who she is as a performer. Maybe this is for the best. She ought to try gigging for a while and learn who she wants to be.
Felicia is just a’ight to me. I doubt she’ll wow enough to get past the semis.
The thing is, I think they didnt know about how extensive the connections were until last week.
That would explain it. It seems to have been the case in the past that they care more about something if you don’t tell them than if you do. She should have been more upfront. I’ve seen the first audition forms, and they do ask about connections to Fox and 19E. She broke the contract if she didn’t include everything.
Given that…last night?! That’s harsh.
im disappointed ..
the judges seemed to be keen on keeping Pacitti around, so why not keep her on the show? the show seems to thrive on scandal anyway…
I think Idol made the wrong decision getting rid of Joanna. Has anyone talked to her since this happened?
We’ve weeded out one plant, now to weed out the rest of them.
THIS GIRL CAN SING. WHY AMERICAN IDOL DID PICK HER IS BEYOND ME. IM DISSAPOINTING WITH THE SHOW. ILL BE VOTING FOR HER ALONG WITH FIVE HUNDRED OF MY CO-WORKERS! GO FELICIA AND KILL IT!