NIKKO SMITH RETURNS TO THE COMPETITION
AS MARIO VAZQUEZ WITHDRAWS FROM “AMERICAN IDOL”

Smith Competes as Member of Top 12 Tuesday, March 15, on FOX

Recently eliminated semifinalist Nikko Smith has rejoined AMERICAN IDOL as Top 12 contestant Mario Vazquez has withdrawn from the competition for personal reasons. Smith was chosen to return because he received more votes than Travis Tucker during last week’s competition, when the men were reduced from 8 to 6 performers. He joins the competition immediately and will compete as a member of the Top 12.

The competition heats up when the guys (Bo Bice, Anthony Fedorov, Constantine Maroulis, Anwar Robinson, Scott Savol, Nikko Smith) and the girls (Lindsey Cardinale, Mikalah Gordon, Jessica Sierra, Vonzell Solomon, Nadia Turner, Carrie Underwood) compete head-to-head for the first time for the AMERICAN IDOL crown. They will take the stage together, singing for America, on Tuesday, March 15 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). Tune in the following night to see who America has chosen to stay and who is sent home on the live results show Wednesday, March 16 (9:00-9:30 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Eight-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Chief Operating Officer, Production, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Entertainment; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

and on idolonfox.com his picture is gone from the top 12

That's a shock. I would've expected him to be one of the last ones standing. I wonder what made him drop out.

Wow. :eek: What a surprise.

I wonder how all his fans are going to react to this...he has a lot of them.

HKJDS KJHFUDIHFDKUSFYDUFHUID. DAMNIT. This season pretty much blows.

I think I'm going to go into an Idol depression. I can't believe this... this is insane.. he seriously had everything going for him in this competition. I'm really sad that he's gone but I'm even more worried that something's wrong with him or his mom.. I just don't understand how you could go from being so excited to be voted in, to leaving. :((( Ugh this is the worst thing that's ever happened on AI. So much for my favorite winning.

bring mario back :crybaby: :crybaby:

:( I didnt like him all that much, but I liked him a little. Its also very shocking

I never saw this coming. I don't believe this.

http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=292286

*cries*

OMG I just got home and read all this. I cannot believe this!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO :(

This is UNBELIEVABLE. I was just notified like a few minutes ago. I've been busy the whole weekend and I just sorta passed out for a few hours... Crystal told me. :crying:

This SUCKS. He was my 2nd favorite, but I really, truly wanted him to win. I know Constantine never would have won and I knew Mario would be in the finals. Now, I have no idea who will win. And I mean yeah I'm glad Nikko is back in the competition, but **** I wanted him to replace Scott, not MARIO. I really want to know what these family problems are and why they are so bad.. bad enough for him to leave?

theyve already got a new commercial going with nikko in it :(

I hate how I get so damn attached.

theyve already got a new commercial going with nikko in it :(

I hate how I get so damn attached.

me too... aahhhh. i can't believe i get emotional over a TV show. but. oh well.

This is UNBELIEVABLE. I was just notified like a few minutes ago. I've been busy the whole weekend and I just sorta passed out for a few hours... Crystal told me. :crying:

This SUCKS. He was my 2nd favorite, but I really, truly wanted him to win. I know Constantine never would have won and I knew Mario would be in the finals. Now, I have no idea who will win. And I mean yeah I'm glad Nikko is back in the competition, but **** I wanted him to replace Scott, not MARIO. I really want to know what these family problems are and why they are so bad.. bad enough for him to leave?
I know, it really is unbelievable. I mean... AAAAH. I also feel kinda bad, because this morning at IDF, there was a thread saying "Mario dropped out"... and we were all saying "that's BS" "that's not true".... and it was true :(

Oh my God. This CAN'T BE FREAKING REAL.

I cnat believe it either :( Why did he leave? IT says for personal reasons? But what personal reasons? Im beginning it was something in his family, oir someone in his family was sick or something and he had to leave to take care of them or something, or maybe he was worried about becoming jUstin #2 or not winning or maybe he just wnated to be on TV :mad:

Uugggggggggghh I hate how I get so attached to these people. Thats why I hated how they did the semi format this year.. we saw the same ones for 3 weeks and then ugh.

Uugggggggggghh I hate how I get so attached to these people. Thats why I hated how they did the semi format this year.. we saw the same ones for 3 weeks and then ugh.

Yeah aaaah I get so attached. I mean.. last season, the only thing that i was depressed about was diana losing.. but that was at the end, and i was happy that she atleast got 2nd... in the 2nd season, i only got upset over kim caldwell's axe. in the 1st season, i was happy about everything, because kelly was always safe... and now, everything is making me sad!! ERR. :mad:

Yeah aaaah I get so attached. I mean.. last season, the only thing that i was depressed about was diana losing.. but that was at the end, and i was happy that she atleast got 2nd... in the 2nd season, i only got upset over kim caldwell's axe. in the 1st season, i was happy about everything, because kelly was always safe... and now, everything is making me sad!! ERR. :mad:
Exactly! I mean I was devasted when Clay lost, and I was pretty disappointed when JPL got voted off, same for Di. But with them, we had MP3s! Clay and Di sang the same about of songs as Ruben and Bobo so it wasnt like I got jipped out of anything. But this?! Meangya I got like 7 songs.

I didn't care for Mario, but I did think he would be in the final. He was hyped up so much and had the looks. I'm sure whatever reason he left for, it was a good one, to walk away from all that. I just hope all is okay with him and his family.

Exactly! I mean I was devasted when Clay lost, and I was pretty disappointed when JPL got voted off, same for Di. But with them, we had MP3s! Clay and Di sang the same about of songs as Ruben and Bobo so it wasnt like I got jipped out of anything. But this?! Meangya I got like 7 songs.

That's true. He didn't even step on the top 12 stage.

That's true. He didn't even step on the top 12 stage.
Yeah :( I didnt like Mario all that much but I still feel bad for him. When i first saw the title of this thread I thought it was a joke

Wow, yeah, it's still not sunken in. Crystal told me and I seriously thought she was kidding.

:bighug: <--- for the Mario fans

Yeah :( I didnt like Mario all that much but I still feel bad for him. When i first saw the title of this thread I thought it was a joke

I was hoping it was a joke :(

I still can't believe this is real. It's the most devasting thing I've ever experienced Idol-wise. I have seven mp3s to last through the rest of this year or possibly forever. Everyone at IDF is so freaking optimistic but ugh this just isn't fair. It's not fair that whatever happened to his family happened.. this is Mario's dream.. has been forever and now it's all over. And AI producers have tortured me now in the end. It was great seeing Mario in every episode for every song of his, but now I've gotten so attached and ugh. This sucks. Mario was at the top of his game. I just don't know how I'm gonna get back into the show now.

that's life.....

Wow, yeah, it's still not sunken in. Crystal told me and I seriously thought she was kidding.

:bighug: <--- for the Mario fans
Thanks :D

When's the funeral gonna be?

When's the funeral gonna be?
?

no comment.

Wow, yeah, it's still not sunken in. Crystal told me and I seriously thought she was kidding.

:bighug: <--- for the Mario fans
:D :hug:

someone at IDF said that on their local fox news, they talked to mario's mother, and she said that she was shocked that mario quit... so i'm assuming that based on that, it wasn't a family issue.

http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=292483

someone at IDF said that on their local fox news, they talked to mario's mother, and she said that she was shocked that mario quit... so i'm assuming that based on that, it wasn't a family issue.

http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=292483
Wow....... thats crazy. Well, Im glad nothing is wrong with his family. And if he left because he didnt like the contract, then yay for him! Though Im still sad about it.

someone at IDF said that on their local fox news, they talked to mario's mother, and she said that she was shocked that mario quit... so i'm assuming that based on that, it wasn't a family issue.



That's right, it was just on here in New York, Mario's mother Ida said to the reporter that the first she heard of it was from the reporter. They also mentioned that Mario's brother said that the reason he dropped out wasn't due to something negative. Of course, nobody said exactly what the reason was.

That's right, it was just on here in New York, Mario's mother Ida said to the reporter that the first she heard of it was from the reporter. They also mentioned that Mario's brother said that the reason he dropped out wasn't due to something negative. Of course, nobody said exactly what the reason was.
Ohh thanks :). Well hopefully theyll give us a decent reason on Tuesday. You just dont walk away from something like this- especially at this point- for nothing.

maybe he got a reaaaaaally good offer. *dreaming*

maybe he got a reaaaaaally good offer. *dreaming*
Can they do that though? At this stage in the game?

Can they do that though? At this stage in the game?
I don't know. I'm clinging on to anything. I don't have apples or oranges. All I have is this dried up lemon.

Can they do that though? At this stage in the game?

i don't think so... but, right now, i'm pretending that anything is possible.

well those freaking nikko smith fans on idf who started a stupid petition to unfairly bring nikko back must be pretty happy.

well those freaking nikko smith fans on idf who started a stupid petition to unfairly bring nikko back must be pretty happy.
Ill say! IMO, thats not too fair either. I mean, it is for him I guess since he DID have the 2nd lowest and rightfully its his.. buuuut they couldve had an impromptu Wildcard and brought back all the guys again. Give them all a fair shot. Because hey, maybe Joe or Judd had higher votes than Nikko though still got voted off.

I don't know. I'm clinging on to anything. I don't have apples or oranges. All I have is this dried up lemon.
Well Ima hold on to it.

I really can't beleive this. This is SHOCKING! I really liked Mario, he was my second favorite. I was looking forward to seeing him in the finals. I'm really disapointed that he left :(

I really have no opinion on him (I didn't really pay attention to the guys), but that really sucks. :( Looking at all your guys' avatars, the majority seems to love him.

The latest gossip is that former AI contestants contacted him and urged him to, since they all told him what a delay on the careers the contract put on their careers (lol???) Who would they be? Not for anything.. but if it wasnt Kelly, Clay, Kim, Di, or Tasia.. then you really havent got much of a career and itd be pretty bad advice..........

I just saw this posted on somebody's blog today (www.rickey.org) They have a theory on why he quit if you want to go there and read it. I didn't post it here because it seems like rumor and hearsay, but this is part of what they wrote.

How nice. I wake up early enough to watch Mario Vazquez's interview on Good Day NY on Fox 5. Apparently, the news had interviewed Mario's mother before he had even told her so there was a little bit of mystery during the last few hours over what was happening.


One exciting thing was Mario made a shout out to Samantha and Mellie (woohoo) of www.mario-online.org. The site is offline right now, but it should be up in a couple of days as Mellie has moved it to a new server.

Mario chose either Anwar or Nadia to win. Well, I was hoping he would endorse Anthony, but then I know why he chose Anwar. Hahaha. He even said that he was a sucker for beautiful voices. Mario, try not to use the word 'sucker' in the future, please! He also said he was close to Mikalah.

First of all, Mario looked upbeat, even relieved to be out of the competition. Secondly, this "family business" thing looks a little shady since he looked happy (and the conflicting interviews with his own family who had no idea what this family business was all about).

I think it's sad. I think that anything that makes a person give up what they've been working so hard for is sad. I really liked him...I liked others MORE, but I thought he was cute, and he would have been good on tour. I hope he has better luck in the future.

Man I found out yesterday and I was like shocked. I remembered him being so determined and upbeat about being on the show and possibly winning, and it's just weird. He said it was due to family problems, but when his mom heard that she had no idea what he was talking about. He would have made it so far and ugh it just sucks.

from tvguide.com:

IDOL SHOCKER: Someone better slip Paula Abdul a Xanax: American Idol front-runner Mario Vazquez has abruptly dropped out of the competition. In an exclusive interview with TVGuide.com Sunday night, Vazquez said he quit to "take care of some personal issues with my family in New York. And with Idol being a live show, it just wouldn't have worked out schedulewise." The 27-year-old added that his withdrawal had nothing to do with Idol or Fox. "I'm healthy, I'm fine," he said. "It's just a personal family thing." However, Vazquez' mom, Ada, knew nothing of her son's decision. "I don't know his reasons," she told the New York Post. "But whatever they are, I respect him for it and will be very supportive." Vazquez' coveted Top 12 slot will be filled by Nikko Smith, who returns after being eliminated on last Wednesday's show.

I just saw this posted on somebody's blog today (www.rickey.org) They have a theory on why he quit if you want to go there and read it. I didn't post it here because it seems like rumor and hearsay, but this is part of what they wrote.

How nice. I wake up early enough to watch Mario Vazquez's interview on Good Day NY on Fox 5. Apparently, the news had interviewed Mario's mother before he had even told her so there was a little bit of mystery during the last few hours over what was happening.


One exciting thing was Mario made a shout out to Samantha and Mellie (woohoo) of www.mario-online.org. The site is offline right now, but it should be up in a couple of days as Mellie has moved it to a new server.

Mario chose either Anwar or Nadia to win. Well, I was hoping he would endorse Anthony, but then I know why he chose Anwar. Hahaha. He even said that he was a sucker for beautiful voices. Mario, try not to use the word 'sucker' in the future, please! He also said he was close to Mikalah.

First of all, Mario looked upbeat, even relieved to be out of the competition. Secondly, this "family business" thing looks a little shady since he looked happy (and the conflicting interviews with his own family who had no idea what this family business was all about).
Thanks for the link!! (Mainly because of the hot Judd pics). Anyways. After all that I read, that DOES seem like a possibility. It had never even crossed my mind, personally, that he was gay up until the rumors started. I was however questioning Jareds and Joes..but it never mattered to me.

Why Mario would decide to do this now just.. confuses me. Either way hes getting exposure so its not like he can hide away from it. Clay dealt with the rumors all season (and still IS), and it never mattered to me what he was. All that matters is the voice. Bah I dunno.

I think I get it now!:D

Crystal,lvoe the av he WAS robbed! I liked him a lot!

And why would a Mario site have Bohemian RHapsody on it?

For a few moments this afternoon I thought that a miracle happened. I taped Good Day Live today and a commercial came on before for the top 12 and Mario was in it. Buuuut then Good Day Live came on and they had a whole speel on Mario leaving. For a second, I thought the ticker on the bottom was going to say, "MARIO'S BACK!" Ugh GDL didn't really give any new information. They brought up the whole gay issue but acted like it wouldn't have been that big of a deal. Most of the time they just laughed at Mario's mom Ada for saying "Ay Dios Mio".. they've played it over like five times. Mario was apparently on Regis and Kelly today and he said that he fell in love and fell out of love with American Idol. He said he left on good terms. Kelly asked if he was under contract by AI or if he could go do his own thing, and Mario said he couldn't comment on it but said with a smile that this wasn't the last we've seen of Mario Vazquez. I reaaaaaaaaaaaally hope that he got a better offer or something. That would make me feel a lot better.

For a few moments this afternoon I thought that a miracle happened. I taped Good Day Live today and a commercial came on before for the top 12 and Mario was in it. Buuuut then Good Day Live came on and they had a whole speel on Mario leaving. For a second, I thought the ticker on the bottom was going to say, "MARIO'S BACK!" Ugh GDL didn't really give any new information. They brought up the whole gay issue but acted like it wouldn't have been that big of a deal. Most of the time they just laughed at Mario's mom Ada for saying "Ay Dios Mio".. they've played it over like five times. Mario was apparently on Regis and Kelly today and he said that he fell in love and fell out of love with American Idol. He said he left on good terms. Kelly asked if he was under contract by AI or if he could go do his own thing, and Mario said he couldn't comment on it but said with a smile that this wasn't the last we've seen of Mario Vazquez. I reaaaaaaaaaaaally hope that he got a better offer or something. That would make me feel a lot better.Thanks for the 411! Ditto on that last part! I hope he got like a record deal or something! Thatd be AWESOME!!!

For a few moments this afternoon I thought that a miracle happened. I taped Good Day Live today and a commercial came on before for the top 12 and Mario was in it. Buuuut then Good Day Live came on and they had a whole speel on Mario leaving. For a second, I thought the ticker on the bottom was going to say, "MARIO'S BACK!" Ugh GDL didn't really give any new information. They brought up the whole gay issue but acted like it wouldn't have been that big of a deal. Most of the time they just laughed at Mario's mom Ada for saying "Ay Dios Mio".. they've played it over like five times. Mario was apparently on Regis and Kelly today and he said that he fell in love and fell out of love with American Idol. He said he left on good terms. Kelly asked if he was under contract by AI or if he could go do his own thing, and Mario said he couldn't comment on it but said with a smile that this wasn't the last we've seen of Mario Vazquez. I reaaaaaaaaaaaally hope that he got a better offer or something. That would make me feel a lot better.

Thanks for the info! I missed it. Again.

Thanks for the info! I missed it. Again.
Mario-Online.org is gonna be putting it up!!! :D I missed it too.. AND KELLY WAS ON IT :cuss:. Whats annoying is that I knew she was too but I was being lazy.

Anyways, I dont think its the gay thing anymore.. I reaaaaally think he got some kind of deal. I mean, he cant even talk about it. And the way he acts.. its as if he's hinting.

ALSO!! Mario is gonna be on Letterman tonight doing the top 10 countdown!!!

And thanks Jack :D

Mario-Online.org is gonna be putting it up!!! :D I missed it too.. AND KELLY WAS ON IT :cuss:. Whats annoying is that I knew she was too but I was being lazy.

Anyways, I dont think its the gay thing anymore.. I reaaaaally think he got some kind of deal. I mean, he cant even talk about it. And the way he acts.. its as if he's hinting.

ALSO!! Mario is gonna be on Letterman tonight doing the top 10 countdown!!!

And thanks Jack :D
Awesome!:D


Youre welcome!:D

Mario-Online.org is gonna be putting it up!!! :D I missed it too.. AND KELLY WAS ON IT :cuss:. Whats annoying is that I knew she was too but I was being lazy.

Anyways, I dont think its the gay thing anymore.. I reaaaaally think he got some kind of deal. I mean, he cant even talk about it. And the way he acts.. its as if he's hinting.

ALSO!! Mario is gonna be on Letterman tonight doing the top 10 countdown!!!

And thanks Jack :D

Yeah I heard about the Letterman thing! I'm definitely NOT gonna miss it.

But wait... what time is it gonna be on? hahaha

Yeah I heard about the Letterman thing! I'm definitely NOT gonna miss it.

But wait... what time is it gonna be on? hahaha
Letterman comes on from 1135-1235.. countdown is usually around midnight, but Id watch from the beginning.

AND THE SAGA CONTINUES!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,150702,00.html


Ex-'Idol' Hires Clay's Lawyer, Releases Album
Thursday, March 17, 2005
By Roger Friedman


"Personal reasons" be damned. The secret is out (and so is the
album).
Mario Vasquez, the guy who quit "American Idol" suddenly last week,
has been "Clay-ed," or is that "Ai-way-kened?"
He's hired Clay Aiken's high-powered record-industry lawyer. And he
may have jeopardized his "amateur" status by being featured on an
album that's already been released.
Vasquez, I've learned, has gotten Atlanta entertainment lawyer Jess
L. Rosen to represent him. Coincidentally — or not, depending on how
you look at it — Rosen is most famous for extricating Aiken from his
octopus-tentacled "American Idol" management contract with Simon
Fuller's 19 Entertainment last year.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Mario is featured on an album that was
originally released last May and had a re-release this week,
according to Amazon.com. He sings several pop songs as the only
guest vocalist on "Worlds of Change," by an Argentine flamenco and
R&B guitarist named Cesar.
The whole thing, which sounds like Santana with a younger, more
sanctimonious Michael Jackson, can be heard on this Web site. My
guess is some enterprising record exec will pick up the whole thing
from Los Angeles-based Darque Records and release it under Mario's
name.
Someone else will have to decide if that CD violated the "American
Idol" rules. The show's Web site states: "In order to be eligible,
the contestants are not permitted to have any CURRENT recording or
talent-management agreements."
In leaving the show, Vasquez was obviously convinced of the value of
bowing out now rather than continuing through the needless process
of competition. Aiken would be his role model.
After losing "American Idol" to Ruben Studdard, Aiken realized that
he was stuck with a management contract that kept him with Fuller,
the show's owner, for years to come at a very high commission.
Rosen got him out of it and moved him over to Jeff Kwatinetz's
behemoth agency, The Firm.
The result is that there is now nary a mention of the lovable, Barry
Manilow-like Aiken on the "American Idol" Web site, except for
unflattering pictures of him in his pre-makeover nerd days. Ouch!
So I guess it's fairly clear that Mario's "personal reasons" were
specifically about the money he could make if he bolted the show
before being indebted to them legally and financially for a couple
of years.
Rosen, who did not return calls, prides himself on negotiating
contracts for artists, according to his Web site.
As for Mario, he's also now using Susan Blond for public-relations
help. She's the famous PR lady who once made Michael
Jackson's "Thriller" a hit.
Next will come rumors that Mario's been signed for management by
Tommy Mottola and for recording by Sean Combs' Bad Boy Entertainment
at Warner Bros.
No one confirms or denies this, but either way, Rosen will be
racking up the billable hours keeping Vasquez out of court once
Fuller realizes what's happened.

by the way everyone... go buy the cd now at amazon!

LOllll thanks for that girl. Aww Im so happy for Clay :D. I knew he did that last year and HELLO! He was obviously the only smart one.. the wonder why they seem to hate him. Also, that CD was released LAST year and if it was rereleased, so what? Its not like its MARIOS.. hes only featured on it. And yah, I bought it and his voice does things to my body that I cant explain. Hehe.

I couldn't believe this when it happened either!! I thought he was one of the star performers and the top 12 hasn't been the same without him.
-Ben