By Lyndsey Parker, reposted from Reality Rocks
"American Idol" Season 11 (yes, ELEVEN) starts this Wednesday, and you know what that means: The next few weeks will be filled with some really good auditions...and some not-so-good ones, and some so-good-they're-bad ones. For many "Idol" viewers, it is this early stage of the competition, when various unknown singers with wildly varying talent levels walk into that audition room for the very first time, that's the best part of the season. Many of these auditioners don't end up going the distance--unless that distance is the short post-rejection walk of shame back to their cars in the parking lot--but they make lasting impressions nonetheless. And some of them even manage to stretch their fame beyond the expected 15 minutes.
Which bring us to the question: What have some of the most memorable "Idol" rejects been up to since leaving the show? Let's find out...
WILLIAM HUNG
Of course, this article must begin with this patron saint of all rejected "Idol" auditioners. Back in 2004, even in the days before YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, William's wacky Season 3 "She Bangs" audition went instantly viral, and he incredibly ended up with a major record deal. He even ended up selling more records than some legitimate singers from "Idol," as his first album, Inspiration, actually shifted almost 200,000 units (please note that's 50,000 more copies than Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze's post-"Idol" album sold). William has since released two more albums, starred in commercials, and acted in two Hong Kong films, but what's most interesting is the fact that he is now working for the L.A. County Sheriff's Department as a technical crime analyst. ("My passion has always been math. It just took a while to end up as my career," he told the L.A. Weekly.) But while William may be giving up his musical crimes to focus on actual ones, his "Idol" legacy remains intact. In fact, the L.A. Weekly just put him at number one on its top 20 list of all-time musicians. ("He is the greatest musician of all time because he epitomizes our highs, our lows, and our struggles to make ourselves heard," wrote journalist Ben Westhoff, insanely.) Hung apparently still bangs after all these years.
Katrina made a big impression on lusty Simon Cowell with her scantily clad Season 8 audition, since her itsy-bitsy bikini distracted from her itsy-bitsy amount of vocal talent. Then-judge Kara DioGuardi eventually upstaged Katrina when she flashed her own bikini body at the Season 8 finale, and while Katrina was reportedly so miffed she fled the stage in a huff and locked herself in a dressing room, this setback ultimately didn't deter her from trying to pursue a singing career. Last year Katrina released her first music video, for a cover of the old classic "Big Spender," and in the clip she wisely worked her assets, romping on the beach in an array of two-piece bombshell outfits. Simon probably enjoyed it.
This gentle-natured senior citizen gave one of the most touching "Idol" auditions ever, when he successfully petitioned in Season 6 to be allowed to try out despite being over the age limit--all in honor of his "lady love" of 20 years, Melissa, who died from ovarian cancer two days before he appeared on the show. Sherman later served as a celebrity ambassador for the City Of Hope, and was approached by the Z Entertainment label after he subsequently appeared on "Larry King Live," which led to the release of a benefit album of classic love songs, For My Lady Love, in honor of Melissa. Sherman will go down in history as one of "Idol's" classiest class acts. Listen to tracks from his album here.
RENALDO LAPUZ
Admit it: You've probably had this furry-hatted friendship ambassador's anthem "We're Brothers Forever" lodged in your brain ever since he auditioned with it in Season 7. (Everybody, now: "I am your brother, your best friend forever...") Really, "We're Brothers Forever" probably should've been Season 7's coronation song instead of "Time Of My Life." Renaldo later released two independent albums, 2009's Renaldo Lapuz and 2010's Rey, but those recordings, unsurprisingly, weren't nearly as popular as "We're Brothers Forever," so he was last reported working as a janitor at a Wal-Mart in Reno--where customers still recognize him, even without his hat. Renaldo still has hopes to pursue a musical career.
DARWIN REEDY
When this monotonic blonde auditioned for "American Idol" in 2007, her equally bizarre lookalike mother was by her side. It didn't go well. Darwin had a voice only a mother could love. Four years later, Darwin followed Simon Cowell (who actually inspired a novella she wrote) over to his new show, "The X Factor"--and since that competition had no age limit, this time her mom Sherry actually auditioned with her, in the mother-daughter duo the Good Girls. But they were not good at all. And so, history repeated itself, and the Reedys were rejected by Simon once again.
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"American Idol" Season 11 (yes, ELEVEN) starts this Wednesday, and you know what that means: The next few weeks will be filled with some really good auditions...and some not-so-good ones, and some so-good-they're-bad ones. For many "Idol" viewers, it is this early stage of the competition, when various unknown singers with wildly varying talent levels walk into that audition room for the very first time, that's the best part of the season. Many of these auditioners don't end up going the distance--unless that distance is the short post-rejection walk of shame back to their cars in the parking lot--but they make lasting impressions nonetheless. And some of them even manage to stretch their fame beyond the expected 15 minutes.
Which bring us to the question: What have some of the most memorable "Idol" rejects been up to since leaving the show? Let's find out...
WILLIAM HUNG
photo: Fox
Of course, this article must begin with this patron saint of all rejected "Idol" auditioners. Back in 2004, even in the days before YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, William's wacky Season 3 "She Bangs" audition went instantly viral, and he incredibly ended up with a major record deal. He even ended up selling more records than some legitimate singers from "Idol," as his first album, Inspiration, actually shifted almost 200,000 units (please note that's 50,000 more copies than Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze's post-"Idol" album sold). William has since released two more albums, starred in commercials, and acted in two Hong Kong films, but what's most interesting is the fact that he is now working for the L.A. County Sheriff's Department as a technical crime analyst. ("My passion has always been math. It just took a while to end up as my career," he told the L.A. Weekly.) But while William may be giving up his musical crimes to focus on actual ones, his "Idol" legacy remains intact. In fact, the L.A. Weekly just put him at number one on its top 20 list of all-time musicians. ("He is the greatest musician of all time because he epitomizes our highs, our lows, and our struggles to make ourselves heard," wrote journalist Ben Westhoff, insanely.) Hung apparently still bangs after all these years.
KATRINA "BIKINI GIRL" DARRELL
photo: Fox
SHERMAN PORE
photo: Fox
This gentle-natured senior citizen gave one of the most touching "Idol" auditions ever, when he successfully petitioned in Season 6 to be allowed to try out despite being over the age limit--all in honor of his "lady love" of 20 years, Melissa, who died from ovarian cancer two days before he appeared on the show. Sherman later served as a celebrity ambassador for the City Of Hope, and was approached by the Z Entertainment label after he subsequently appeared on "Larry King Live," which led to the release of a benefit album of classic love songs, For My Lady Love, in honor of Melissa. Sherman will go down in history as one of "Idol's" classiest class acts. Listen to tracks from his album here.
RENALDO LAPUZ
photo: Fox
DARWIN REEDY
photo: Fox
