Post by Inside Australian Idol on Nov 4, 2003 22:39:33 GMT 10
Cosima rocks the boat
By Dora Tsavdaridis
November 04, 2003
DISAPPOINTED Australian Idol fans were reeling last night from Cosima's shock exit - and demanding to know if they had wasted their money.
Guy, Shannon and Cosima pictured last week.
With two finalists to be chosen from the final three - Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll and Cosima de Vito - the show started as it does each week.
Viewers were shown video clips of the contestants and urged to get their last phone votes in before the lines closed.
What the public was not told was that Cosima de Vito had already made up her mind to withdraw from the competition because of a throat condition.
The Channel Ten show's producers decided to proceed with the episode while more than two million viewers watched, not knowing the full story.
So when Cosima announced that she was withdrawing after being struck down by a mystery ailment that hampered her singing, viewers were stunned.
The 26-year-old sobbed on camera as she said: "Unfortunately I have a temporary condition that's affecting my voice.
"It's forced me to make the decision to leave the competition."
As they recovered from the shock, many fans wondered if Cosima's move was a result of their voting.
Others complained that they had wasted money by phoning the pay-to-vote number and backing Cosima - unaware that she was quitting.
Last night, The Daily Telegraph learned that viewers were indeed voting for at least 10 minutes after Cosima's decision had been made. Show bosses decided not to tell the voting public who got the least votes.
While there was a lot of sympathy for Cosima at the studio, across the city some furious viewers called radio stations to complain. Many said it had ruined the whole Idol experience.
A press release issued by the Ten Network last night said it would be working with Legion Interactive and "will undertake an analysis of the votes that were lodged after 7pm and any proceeds will be donated to charity".
Back at the studio, as the show stopped filming and the credits rolled, judges Ian Dickson, Marcia Hines and Mark Holden came on to the stage to console the clearly distressed de Vito. Her mother and sister were also on hand and later escorted the glum singer out.
Media weren't allowed to speak to Cosima or the remaining two after the show nor would Ten reveal if she would have been eliminated had she not withdrawn.
Last night's events mean the remaining finalists, Condobolin-born Shannon Noll and hot favourite Guy Sebastian, will contest the final at the Sydney Opera House.
Ten minutes from the end of last night's show, Guy was revealed as the first finalist with the most votes. Then the drama unfolded, with host Andrew G revealing Cosima de Vito had a statement to make.
Revealing she had been told she had nodules on the throat and should rest, she said: "This is without a doubt the most difficult decision in my life.
"With the right care I know that my voice will get better and I'll be back to normal in a few weeks.
"All I can say is 'Australia watch this space', because I'll be back very, very soon."
Despite producers' claims Cosima made her decision at the last moment, there were signs yesterday of an upheaval brewing.
In the afternoon, rumours swept Sydney that one of the final three would pull out.
It had been clear from Sunday night's performance that de Vito was struggling.
The Daily Telegraph
entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,7763681%255E10229%255E%255Enbv,00.html
By Dora Tsavdaridis
November 04, 2003
DISAPPOINTED Australian Idol fans were reeling last night from Cosima's shock exit - and demanding to know if they had wasted their money.
Guy, Shannon and Cosima pictured last week.
With two finalists to be chosen from the final three - Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll and Cosima de Vito - the show started as it does each week.
Viewers were shown video clips of the contestants and urged to get their last phone votes in before the lines closed.
What the public was not told was that Cosima de Vito had already made up her mind to withdraw from the competition because of a throat condition.
The Channel Ten show's producers decided to proceed with the episode while more than two million viewers watched, not knowing the full story.
So when Cosima announced that she was withdrawing after being struck down by a mystery ailment that hampered her singing, viewers were stunned.
The 26-year-old sobbed on camera as she said: "Unfortunately I have a temporary condition that's affecting my voice.
"It's forced me to make the decision to leave the competition."
As they recovered from the shock, many fans wondered if Cosima's move was a result of their voting.
Others complained that they had wasted money by phoning the pay-to-vote number and backing Cosima - unaware that she was quitting.
Last night, The Daily Telegraph learned that viewers were indeed voting for at least 10 minutes after Cosima's decision had been made. Show bosses decided not to tell the voting public who got the least votes.
While there was a lot of sympathy for Cosima at the studio, across the city some furious viewers called radio stations to complain. Many said it had ruined the whole Idol experience.
A press release issued by the Ten Network last night said it would be working with Legion Interactive and "will undertake an analysis of the votes that were lodged after 7pm and any proceeds will be donated to charity".
Back at the studio, as the show stopped filming and the credits rolled, judges Ian Dickson, Marcia Hines and Mark Holden came on to the stage to console the clearly distressed de Vito. Her mother and sister were also on hand and later escorted the glum singer out.
Media weren't allowed to speak to Cosima or the remaining two after the show nor would Ten reveal if she would have been eliminated had she not withdrawn.
Last night's events mean the remaining finalists, Condobolin-born Shannon Noll and hot favourite Guy Sebastian, will contest the final at the Sydney Opera House.
Ten minutes from the end of last night's show, Guy was revealed as the first finalist with the most votes. Then the drama unfolded, with host Andrew G revealing Cosima de Vito had a statement to make.
Revealing she had been told she had nodules on the throat and should rest, she said: "This is without a doubt the most difficult decision in my life.
"With the right care I know that my voice will get better and I'll be back to normal in a few weeks.
"All I can say is 'Australia watch this space', because I'll be back very, very soon."
Despite producers' claims Cosima made her decision at the last moment, there were signs yesterday of an upheaval brewing.
In the afternoon, rumours swept Sydney that one of the final three would pull out.
It had been clear from Sunday night's performance that de Vito was struggling.
The Daily Telegraph
entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,7763681%255E10229%255E%255Enbv,00.html
