Monday, March 14
Ciao Mario! But hopefully not for long.
I didn't think I cared that much until I heard the news of Mario Vazquez's sudden and premature departure from the 2005 American Idol competition. It was odd how I found out. Try and follow. I woke up way too early this morning, around 5 a.m. When that happens I usually turn the television on and channel surf until I find something semi-interesting and more often than not fall asleep watching. This morning I landed on CNN Daybreak. I was out like a light but that weird thing that happens when you fall asleep listening to something and it seeps into your dreams happened. I dreamt that Mario Vazquez withdrew from American Idol due to family issues back home that were more important. Or so I thought. I logged onto IdolonFox.com and scanned through the list of the 12 finalists. Um, where's Mario? I scanned it a few more times until I realized I hadn't been dreaming, that in fact "the boy with the nice ass," as my friends and I have nicknamed him, was off the show.
He left. Just like that. How dare he! He was supposed to win!
Even PaddyPower.com, the online betting site, has him down as a 4 to 1 sure bet to win! As I write this entry he is still listed on the site and this is the entry they have under American Idol:
"Nikko, Travis, Amanda & Janay are gone. There's now twelve left and one will be voted off each week until America chooses their Idol. Betting available on American Idol 4!"
Time to update your site guys, Nikko is back. Yup, Nikko, the son of sport great Ozzie Smith, has been called in to replace Mr. Vazquez in the top 12. Nikko got the lucky break because between him and Travis, the other guy who was booted last week, Nikko got more votes.
Of course all the rumors are flying around speculating why the latin crooner left the show at such an important stage in the competition. Some say he's been offered a record contract, others say Nikko's dad payed him off so his kid could be put back on the show. American Idol fans are going nuts over this. Just check out the show's websites' community section where you can post comments about the show and you'll see just how rabid Mario's departure has made the fans.
One fan posted an excerpt from an interview "Extra" did with Mario. :
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX MON MARCH 14, 2005 13:01:22 ET XXXXX
MARIO: IT'S PERSONAL
Sources close to "Extra" spotted American Idol front-runner Mario Vazquez in Las Vegas at an Alicia Keys concert this Saturday. Then on Sunday, in an announcement that shocked millions of fans, FOX announced Vazquez was leaving the hit reality show. "Extra" caught up with Vazquez in New York City today where he declared that, "this is not the last you've heard of Mario Vazquez!"
Vazquez tells "Extra" that, "It was a very, very hard decision on my part. American Idol was only positive and wonderful with me, but overall, my intuition told me there was things I really needed to take care of, personal areas in my life that I'm trying to keep private...to me that meant that I couldn't continue on with the competition." Vazquez goes on to say, "Everything is great! I'll be expecting some bad press and some good press, but that's what comes with being in the public."
"Extra" asked Vazquez if his former contestants know why he left the show. He said, "The contestants don't know. It's a very private issue amongst myself. It was very sad, I've come so far to do this and my friends - not my competitors - my friends were shocked and really sad to see me go. They respected my privacy and what I thought and it came down to these are my personal reasons."
Vazquez says, "To all my fans and friends, thank you so much for your support. I'm so grateful and very honored that you enjoyed what I did...I just gotta take care of some business."
"Extra's" interview with Mario Vazquez will air tonight, Monday, March 14.
What are you trying to keep so private Mario? His poor mother didn't even know he was leaving the show. She was just as shocked as we were.
Well, I guess we'll find out all the juicy facts in due time. I just hope you made the right decision Mario. I'll miss watching you on the show but I'm still a fan and hope to hear from you soon. Maybe you'll read this and ask me to record a duet with you in spanish. Hmmm...wouldn't that be interesting?
