Vote for the Worst
 | |
| File:Vftwnewscreenshot.PNG Accessed May 17, 2007 | |
Type of site | Entertainment website |
|---|---|
| Owner | VoteForTheWorst.com |
| Created by | Dave Della Terza |
| URL | http://www.votefortheworst.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
VoteForTheWorst.com (VFTW) is a website update service that is devoted to voting for the worst contestants on the Fox Network television series American Idol. The website Votefortheworst.com was started in 2004 while the mobile update service launched in March of 2007 after VFTW partnered with AskMeNow. Legal action has been threatened against the website from fans of American Idol, but to date neither FOX nor the series have issued statements regarding any lawsuits.[1]
VFTW started at the Survivor Sucks message board[2] and moved to a GeoCities website. During American Idol's fourth season, the site moved to its own domain name. The very first VFTW pick during Season 3 was Jennifer Hudson during the semi-finals (but never picked her again as she improved in further weeks).[3] VFTW gained its first bit of notoriety when Scott Savol outlasted Constantine Maroulis in the top 6 of Idol's fourth season[4] and again appeared in the news when underage crooner Kevin Covais made it to the top 11 in season five.[5] VFTW has been mentioned on Howard Stern's radio show, on Access Hollywood, EXTRA, MSNBC,[6] the BBC[7], Fox News, and in the Associated Press.[8]
VFTW has gained notoriety again during season six of Idol for its support of candidates Antonella Barba and Sanjaya Malakar. On March 20, 2007, the website's founder, Dave Della Terza, called in to The Howard Stern Show to discuss his and Howard's joint effort to encourage the public to vote for Malakar. During the interview, Della Terza debated Eric the Midget, a self described "American Idol expert" and critic of the vote Sanjaya campaign. He also made an appearance in studio with Stern on April 17, 2007. Since the ejection of Malakar, VFTW has supported Phil Stacey and LaKisha Jones. However, both have left, and the new Vote For The Worst is Blake Lewis.
VFTW-supported contestants
American Idol
Season 3
- Jennifer Hudson[9]
- Briana Ramirez-Rial[9]
- Lisa Wilson[9]
- Jon Peter Lewis[9]
- Leah LaBelle[9]
- Matthew Rogers[9]
- John Stevens[9]
- Jasmine Trias[9]
Season 4
- Janay Castine[10]
- Constantine Maroulis[10]
- Mikalah Gordon[10]
- Scott Savol[10]
- Anthony Fedorov[10]
- Carrie Underwood[10]: Season 4 Winner
Season 5
- Brenna Gethers[11]
- Bobby Bennett[11]
- David Radford[11]
- Kevin Covais[11]
- Kellie Pickler[11]
- Taylor Hicks[11]: Season 5 Winner
Season 6
- Sundance Head[12]
- Antonella Barba[citation needed]
- Sanjaya Malakar[13] (VFTW's longest-running supported American Idol contestant)
- Phil Stacey [13]
- LaKisha Jones[14]
- Blake Lewis[15]
References
- ^ Enjoying their worst
- ^ Survivor Sucks Messageboard: "'Vote The Worst' Pledge; Jasmalien!"
- ^ American Idol 3 | Vote for the Worst
- ^ Constantine voted off American Idol 4; is Vote for the Worst campaign to blame?
- ^ USA Today - 'Idol' mystery: Sky isn't falling on Kevin
- ^ MSNBC article on 'American Idol' mentions VftW campaign
- ^ Campaign backs US Idol's 'worst'
- ^ Associated Press - Weak `Idol' Wannabe Gets Online Support
- ^ a b c d e f g h "VFTW American Idol 3". Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
- ^ a b c d e f "VFTW American Idol 4". Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
- ^ a b c d e f "VFTW American Idol 5". Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
- ^ Top 16 Guys - My secret? The guys have no talent.
- ^ a b "VFTW American Idol 6". Retrieved 2007-04-19.
- ^ Let's Save the Season - Vote for LaKisha!
- ^ http://votefortheworst.com