Central Perk
05-18-2003, 07:18 PM
Entertainment - E! Online
Sat May 17, 6:45 PM ET Add Entertainment - E! Online to My Yahoo!
By Josh Grossberg
If a Texas man gets his way, Ruben Studdard won't be crowned the all-new Kelly Clarkson next week. And neither will Clay Aiken.
Harry T. Keane Jr., I.D.-ed in reports as a Lone Star state entertainment producer, has filed a federal lawsuit against Fox and producers of American Idol, claiming the idea, and even the set design, for the mega-watched crooning contest was ripped off from him.
His suit seeks unspecified damages--the Houston Chronicle says Keane's attorney has suggested $300 million would do for a settlement--and a temporary restraining order that would bar the show from airing ASAP.
As the 20 million Idol worshippers who tune in each week are well aware, next week is the week.
Studdard, 25, and Aiken, 24, are the last two singers standing. They'll compete Tuesday night, en route to Wednesday's two-hour season finale in which one--barring a court order, natch--will join Clarkson in the annals of Idol winners, get awarded a recording contract and earn the gushy praise of judge Paula Abdul. (Well, all right, the loser will earn the gushy praise of Paula Abdul (news), too.)
It doesn't sound like Fox, at least, is sweating out the legal threat.
"The claim [Keane] is making is ridiculous, and the lawsuit is ridiculous," a network spokesman told the Chronicle.
The suit, alleging copyright and trademark infringement, was filed Wednesday, the Associated Press said.
For those without a calendar, Wednesday was nearly a year after Idol's June 2002 debut on Fox, and a couple of years after the 2001 debut of Idol's U.K. predecessor, Pop Idol.
Keane's attorney, Ryan Bormaster, told AP his client wasn't aware of the British version and then, after becoming aware of the Fox version, misplaced paperwork following a move, hence the delayed filing.
The Chronicle reports that Keane has letters and drawings dating back to 1994 and 1998 outlining his proposal for an interactive singing contest to be called either Ultimate Star Search, American Superstars or American Idol.
Among Keane's suggestions, reports say: Find contestants who are between 18 and 27; build a stage that features "a prominent half-sunburst" (in the words of the Chronicle); sit a panel of four celebrity judges; encourage viewers to vote via the telephone or the Internet; and, air the show two to three times a week.
As it is, American Idol searches for its future superstar from the 16- to 24-year-old contingent; requires its finalists to belt out tunes for three judges and, on at least one occasion, Neil Sedaka; and encourages viewers to vote via the telephone and wireless text-messaging. Fox airs the show twice a week--or, when it's feeling extra greedy for ratings--three times. (Suffice to say, next week, Fox is feeling extra greedy, which explains Monday's hourlong special.)
The Los Angeles sound stage used most of the season could be described as featuring "a prominent half-sunburst." Of course, the stage could also be described as featuring "an indescribable big blue thingy."
In the suit, Keane claims he mailed his American Idol brainstorm to production companies, including Freemantle Media North America, in 1997.
Freemantle Media is named in the suit, as is the man credited with creating Idol mania, Simon Fuller. Also tagged as defendants: Fox, Fuller's 19TV and Simon Cowell.
Cowell, the anti-Paula Abdul who has sat in judgment of wannabe entertainers in both the British and Fox editions, is dinged for helping develop the original Idol with Fuller for U.K.'s Thames Television, the AP said. Thames also received Keane's proposal, the lawsuit says.
American Idol's Tuesday edition is the season's fourth most-watched prime-time show, averaging 21.2 million viewers; its Wednesday elimination program, the sixth most-watched show, averaging 20.4 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Is one of its viewers its leading litigant?
A Website for a 41-year-old Harry Keane Jr. of Irving, Texas, who appears to resemble the 41-year-old Harry Keane Jr., of Irving, Texas, pictured in a Chronicle article about the lawsuit, lists American Idol as his favorite TV show.
An email message seeking comment from the Idol-admiring Keane was not immediately returned Saturday.
Prior to the lawsuit, Idol producers' biggest headaches came courtesy the contestants, including one, Corey Clark, who was bounced from the finals after it was revealed he faced assault and resisting arrest charges.
Sat May 17, 6:45 PM ET Add Entertainment - E! Online to My Yahoo!
By Josh Grossberg
If a Texas man gets his way, Ruben Studdard won't be crowned the all-new Kelly Clarkson next week. And neither will Clay Aiken.
Harry T. Keane Jr., I.D.-ed in reports as a Lone Star state entertainment producer, has filed a federal lawsuit against Fox and producers of American Idol, claiming the idea, and even the set design, for the mega-watched crooning contest was ripped off from him.
His suit seeks unspecified damages--the Houston Chronicle says Keane's attorney has suggested $300 million would do for a settlement--and a temporary restraining order that would bar the show from airing ASAP.
As the 20 million Idol worshippers who tune in each week are well aware, next week is the week.
Studdard, 25, and Aiken, 24, are the last two singers standing. They'll compete Tuesday night, en route to Wednesday's two-hour season finale in which one--barring a court order, natch--will join Clarkson in the annals of Idol winners, get awarded a recording contract and earn the gushy praise of judge Paula Abdul. (Well, all right, the loser will earn the gushy praise of Paula Abdul (news), too.)
It doesn't sound like Fox, at least, is sweating out the legal threat.
"The claim [Keane] is making is ridiculous, and the lawsuit is ridiculous," a network spokesman told the Chronicle.
The suit, alleging copyright and trademark infringement, was filed Wednesday, the Associated Press said.
For those without a calendar, Wednesday was nearly a year after Idol's June 2002 debut on Fox, and a couple of years after the 2001 debut of Idol's U.K. predecessor, Pop Idol.
Keane's attorney, Ryan Bormaster, told AP his client wasn't aware of the British version and then, after becoming aware of the Fox version, misplaced paperwork following a move, hence the delayed filing.
The Chronicle reports that Keane has letters and drawings dating back to 1994 and 1998 outlining his proposal for an interactive singing contest to be called either Ultimate Star Search, American Superstars or American Idol.
Among Keane's suggestions, reports say: Find contestants who are between 18 and 27; build a stage that features "a prominent half-sunburst" (in the words of the Chronicle); sit a panel of four celebrity judges; encourage viewers to vote via the telephone or the Internet; and, air the show two to three times a week.
As it is, American Idol searches for its future superstar from the 16- to 24-year-old contingent; requires its finalists to belt out tunes for three judges and, on at least one occasion, Neil Sedaka; and encourages viewers to vote via the telephone and wireless text-messaging. Fox airs the show twice a week--or, when it's feeling extra greedy for ratings--three times. (Suffice to say, next week, Fox is feeling extra greedy, which explains Monday's hourlong special.)
The Los Angeles sound stage used most of the season could be described as featuring "a prominent half-sunburst." Of course, the stage could also be described as featuring "an indescribable big blue thingy."
In the suit, Keane claims he mailed his American Idol brainstorm to production companies, including Freemantle Media North America, in 1997.
Freemantle Media is named in the suit, as is the man credited with creating Idol mania, Simon Fuller. Also tagged as defendants: Fox, Fuller's 19TV and Simon Cowell.
Cowell, the anti-Paula Abdul who has sat in judgment of wannabe entertainers in both the British and Fox editions, is dinged for helping develop the original Idol with Fuller for U.K.'s Thames Television, the AP said. Thames also received Keane's proposal, the lawsuit says.
American Idol's Tuesday edition is the season's fourth most-watched prime-time show, averaging 21.2 million viewers; its Wednesday elimination program, the sixth most-watched show, averaging 20.4 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Is one of its viewers its leading litigant?
A Website for a 41-year-old Harry Keane Jr. of Irving, Texas, who appears to resemble the 41-year-old Harry Keane Jr., of Irving, Texas, pictured in a Chronicle article about the lawsuit, lists American Idol as his favorite TV show.
An email message seeking comment from the Idol-admiring Keane was not immediately returned Saturday.
Prior to the lawsuit, Idol producers' biggest headaches came courtesy the contestants, including one, Corey Clark, who was bounced from the finals after it was revealed he faced assault and resisting arrest charges.