In a not-so-shocking American Idol twist, the show’s producers are still milking Crystal Bowersox’s illness for “is she or isn’t she coming back?” speculation, just hours ahead of the competition.
Bowersox, the bohemian contestant with dreadlocks and a husky-sexy voice, prompted a last minute Idol lineup switch last night. Also known on the show for being mom to a little boy, Bowersox was pronounced too ill to perform on last night’s show. Due to her illness, said to be related to Type 1 Diabetes, the male contestants replaced the female ones on Tuesday night’s show. (At this point, I’m kind of almost expecting some Vince McMahon style on-show drama, even though I’m not doubting Bowersox is really sick.)
Surprisingly, however, Idol officials say that Bowersox may be eliminated to night if she fails to get clearance to perform. (It wouldn’t be this season’s first totally unfair dismissal, fellow heartstring-tugging contestant Chris Golightly was wrongly booted from the Top 24 when a former manager misinformed Idol flack that Golightly was still under contract. Golightly was replaced with Tim Urban.)
USA Today quoted American Idol executive producer Ken Warwick on the possible elimination of Crystal Bowersox due to her illness:
Warwick said he was hoping to get an update on Crystal’s status mid-day today, but he also indicated that, should Crystal be unable to perform on tonight’s show, Idol would likely disqualify her and eliminate only one of tonight’s performing contestants.
“If you’re in the Olympics and you’re going for the semi-final, for the final, if you don’t turn up, you don’t get straight through to the final,” Warwick said.
Okay, but one is a competition gathering the world’s top athletes and one is a Karaoke contest. Below, the clip of Warwick discussing Bowersox’s future on the show and under that, a clip of Bowersox performing Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” prior to her Idol stint.