Dish Of Salt: Tuesday TV Dish (February 23, 2010)

When the news hit last week that “American Idol” season nine contestant Chris Golightly had been axed out of the Top 24, I felt bad for him. I really did. He worked his little butt off to earn that spot and then to be told, ‘You have been replaced,’ must have been devastating.

But now it’s turned into a little too much of a circus. “American Idol” claims he was let go because he had an existing recording contract. He claims he did not. Then a contract he signed with a company called Dream Projects Entertainment surfaces and proves he had signed a contract in May of 2009.

However, this morning, Chris held a press conference and his “people” provided an e-mail that the press was told was sent to “American Idol” lawyers that Chris had been released from that contract one month later in June 2009.

SEE THE E-MAIL HERE.

WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE HERE.

So, Chris believes he should be in the clear and allowed back on the show. He says he doesn’t understand why, with this proof, he wasn’t allowed back in the competition.

I believe it comes down to a miscommunication. In an interview immediately following this press conference he explained how when asked in a questionnaire if he had a recording contract he said, “No.” In his mind, he did not have one, because he had been released from it. However, I’m pretty sure that when it comes to “American Idol” you must disclose any prior contracts regardless of when they ended. I believe this is loophole that got him axed.

SEE OUR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW HERE.

I’m sure this is going to make me not very popular, but I just have to say how disappointed and sad I feel for Chris. He should have just apologized for his mistake and walked away with his head held high (that he had made the Top 24 in the first place) and moved on to the next audition. Instead, he got hooked up with a talent producer who had him, I think, mistakenly go in front of the media this morning to plead his case.

The saddest thing is that hardly anyone showed up. Just our show, I think (maybe) CNN (if that was them, they didn’t use a mic flag), a couple of Internet and print reporters and TMZ, who I’m sure are going to ridicule the poor guy, as they do with most of the subjects they cover. To make matters worse, this producer then had Chris sing at the end of the press conference for the media. It was a moment that had me shaking my head thinking the thought, “Dance for me monkey. Dance for me.” Truly a circus moment that did not need to happen.

To me this producer is just an opportunist who is using this poor guy. You have to wonder about someone who has a business card that states, “Also available for public speaking, talent judging and on-air hosting.” Are you a producer or do you want to be on television yourself? If you want to help Chris, then get him some auditions for other shows. Book him some singing gigs based on the 15 minutes of fame he is getting. Go out and find him a recording contract if you think he is such an incredible talent. Don’t parade him in front of the media and make him beg. That’s a lesson hundreds of contestants have learned from Simon Cowell over nine seasons of “American Idol.”

Any other actions only serve to make you look bad.