« Paula Abdul Tortures American Idol Top 24 | Home | Supernanny: The Daniels Family »

American Idol Fans Upset Over Josiah Leming Getting Cut

February 13, 2008 09:17:48 by Joe Reality

Every year there are at least one or two cuts made by the judges on the top 24 show with which American Idol fans strongly disagree.  This year brought perhaps the most controversial top 24 cut in the history of American Idol.  During the American Idol 7 Atlanta auditions, America was introduced to Josiah Leming, the boy who lived in his car.

For his Atlanta audition, Josiah Leming sang an original song called “To Run.”  The judges unanimously put Josiah through to Hollywood.  American Idol fans also discovered more of Josiah’s original music on his MySpace page, and he quickly became one of the most popular of the Hollywood-bound contestants.

During Hollywood week, Josiah delivered again with Mika’s “Grace Kelly.”  After Josiah’s performance, Simon Cowell said, “I think out of all the auditions, this is the one I’m going to remember.”  Josiah received a pass straight through to the final day of Hollywood week.

It was the final audition that proved to be the undoing for Josiah Leming.  Josiah took a risk by dismissing the band, and his rendition of “Stand By Me” proved to be a big disappointment compared to his previous auditions.  However, the judges still put Josiah through to the top 50.

After the American Idol top 24 show officially revealed that Josiah was cut, the American Idol message board was overrun with upset fans.  Posts on the American Idol board proclaimed “Josiah, the show lost something by cutting him,” “bring Josiah back,” “vote to bring Josiah back,” and “Josiah, why did they cut him?”

With several members of the top 24 having had relatively little television time so far, it is no surprise that American Idol fans are upset by the cutting of one of the most featured contestants so far.  After the results show, Josiah did a radio chat on VoteForTheWorst.com.  Josiah revealed that he had sold around 700 or 800 albums through his MySpace page.

Reality TV Magazine is your source for American Idol news.  For other great American Idol news, please feel free to check out SirLinksALot: American Idol.

Photo Credit: Reality TV Magazine

Topics: American Idol |

« Paula Abdul Tortures American Idol Top 24 | Home | Supernanny: The Daniels Family »

13 Responses to “American Idol Fans Upset Over Josiah Leming Getting Cut”

1. Reality TV Magazine » American Idol Top 24 Semifinalists Details Revealed Says:
   February 13th, 2008 at 10:28 pm

   [...] the controversial cut of Josiah Leming, the American Idol judges appear to have selected a very talented group for the seventh season of [...]

2. harriet1 Says:
   February 13th, 2008 at 10:36 pm

   They made an enjoyable entertaining show and then when Josiah was cut……..you realized he was no longer in a hotel room and would be going back to his car to go nowhere with nobody. It was very sad…..I was waiting for someone to tell him to come back and give him a job on the show…but they just let him walk. Very Sad.

3. American Idol season 7 - Top 24 | Women Only! Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 1:34 am

   [...] 2) The very annoying Josiah Leming for being super obnoxious by dismissing the band. I think the judges kept him for the drama effect because oh boy, this little guy can cry. (Added : Aww…I just read that Josiah has been cut.) [...]

4. Becky Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 5:45 am

   I have been a huge fan of AI since the begging, but when they let Josiah go I lost interest..I don’t care to see anymore AI this year.
   They used Josiah to gain interest fot AI through letting him go…That’s Hollywood where the pocketbooks are still more important than doing what is right…
   I really hope that Josiah gians from this more than the winner does whomever that will be..an frankly my dear, I don’t give a darn!!!!

   Josiah supporter from South Alabama

   Becky

5. dottiedot Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 8:13 am

   I think Josiah’s “situation” is just a stunt to get attention and/or have had a better shot at winning, for the very fact that people are supposed to feel guilty about cutting him and sending him back to live in a car. It’s funny that even though he lives in a car, he still has the means to maintain a myspace page. While he’s probably not a millionaire, he probably could live somewhere else and chooses to live in a car. And why isn’t an able-bodied young man working for a living? For more entertaining, less dramatic Idol news, check out http://www.techtogo.com

6. Mikee016 Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 1:20 pm

   I posted my comments on the Idol boards reguarding Josiah being cut and they got mad and removed me and all the votes/comments to bring back Josiah. Glad I have a right to my opinion here, Thanks!

7. Musicluv2 Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

   I’ve been trying to find the original track “Grace Kelly” by Mika after watching Josiah’s performance on American Idol last night. Finally found it at: http://www.amazon.com/Life-Cartoon-Motion-Mika/dp/B000NA2776/ref=pd_sim_d_img_10 Hope this helps the people out there that have been like me trying to find this song.

   Serina A.

8. samigia Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 8:38 pm

   i am so disappointed that josiah leming did not make it to the top 24. he made for really interesting t.v. and he would have received all of my votes. with him gone, i kind of lost interest in the show. wonder if he can try again next time. does anyone know?

9. moonbuggy Says:
   February 15th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

   I felt bad to see him cut, but actually I think it was the best thing for him. First off all, his being out on the street type image, was just that. An image. He had family who cared and could have gone home at any moment. So what he was doing was simply his own self inflicted decision. Next, he set up everything as if his life depended on him making it. So he was overly emotional about everything. In fact, to the point that he could no longer function correctly. He wasn’t even thinking straight. He thought he couldn’t sing with the band for a silly reason. He was an absolute wreck.

   Had he made it, he might have been a wreck at other points. — Instead the best thing was for him to get cut. If he falls to pieces, he’s not strong enough to be a star. If he’s really strong, he will come back next year for more and try again. So, yes I was slightly disappointed. But I think it may have been for the best.

10. Reality TV Magazine » One-Two, Sound Off! RTV’s Jen & Joe Talk…Josiah Leming Says:
    February 16th, 2008 at 10:55 am

    [...] even gotten to the voting yet and already American Idol has served up its first controversy.  As Reality TV Magazine reported, the decision to cut Josiah Leming has had some American Idol fans i…. Josiah, the young man who lives in his car, captured the hearts of many fans with his openness, [...]

11. Reality TV Magazine » Song Clearance Issues Cost American Idol Contestants Exposure Says:
    February 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    [...] is going to make the top twenty-four, but rather focuses on who has the best story.  For example, Josiah Leming received a great deal of screen time even though he didn’t make it into the top twenty-four.  In [...]

12. Reality TV Magazine » Rejected Idol Josiah Leming to Appear on the Ellen Degeneres Show Says:
    February 19th, 2008 at 10:29 am

    [...] American Idol judges Simon, Randy, and Paula chose to eliminate Idol wannabe Josiah Leming, they set off a controversy. Many fans found Josiah’s unique style to be exactly what American Idol needs and were [...]

13. Reality TV Magazine » American Idol Contestant Josiah Leming Reportedly Gets A Record Deal Says:
    March 23rd, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    [...] 7 contestant apparently already has.  According to Knoxnews.com, former American Idol 7 contestant Josiah Leming has signed a deal with Warner Bros. [...]

Comments

You must be logged in to post a comment.