'Idol' Oustee Gets a Contract
Mon, Aug 26, 2002 02:12 PM PDT
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - When Tamyra Gray was eliminated from "American Idol" last Thursday (Aug. 22), millions of viewers thought that the voters made a mistake. So did the show's production company.
Tom Ennis of 19 Entertainment declares, "This girl is a star. She has a very bright future." The company has picked up an option to manage the singer, USA Today reports.
The production company has three months after the Wednesday, Sept. 4 finale to decide whether or not to manage the 10 finalists, according to their contractual agreement. The winner of the "American Idol" competition is guaranteed a contract, but Gray is the first eliminated contestant to be signed.
As the competition nears its end, ratings are reaching a peak. Tuesday's (Aug. 20) performance show drew 15.3 million viewers, 2.6 million more than the previous record.
Wednesday's show on Aug. 28 at 9 p.m. ET will be expanded to one hour. It will feature a solo performance from the three finalists: Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, and Nikki McKibbin, a recap of their appearances on the program, and a cumulative review from the judges.
Many fans feel that the real "American Idol" has already left the building. FOX reports that after her shocking departure, Gray received more email at the show's website than any other contestant.
The 23-year old singer may be the only person familiar with the show who was not floored by the vote. "My performance Tuesday night wasn't the best," she says. "The only thing I will say is that everything is legit. I felt like it was my time to go home."
Gray won't be out of the spotlight for long. Although she cannot release her own recordings until the "American Idol" CD hits shelves, she hopes to have her own album in stores sometime next year. |
