A Bonus From Evil Jason's Departure From American Idol: Syesha Comes Home to the Tampa Bay Area Friday

Now it can be told: In addition to finally ridding the show of its Dead Singer Walking, Jason Castro's departure tonight from American Idol brings another bit of good tidings.

Syesha Mercado is coming home to the Tampa Bay area on Friday.

Longtime Idol fans will recall that the show always films a segment close to the show's end where the finalists head home for a burst of adulation from their hometown crowds, collecting keys to the city, adoring speeches from former teachers and lots of good wishes from adoring crowds.

Because the closest Fox affiliate to Mercado's Sarasota hometown is Tampa's WTVT-Ch. 13, she'll spend a fair amount of time in Tampa, stopping by WFLZ-FM's MJ Morning Show Friday at 7 a.m., heading over to WTVT's Good Day Tampa Bay morning show by 8 a.m. and stopping by her alma mater, Booker High School in Sarasota by 12:30 p.m. for a mini-parade and private concert.

By 2:45 p.m. she's scheduled to hop aboard WTVT's SkyFox helicopter for a ride to the Ringling Museum where she'll present another short concert for the public. By 6:30 p.m., she'll be in St. Petersburg to sing the National Anthem for the Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field.

I'm assuming that she'll be in a coma in a hotel room bed somewhere by 8 p.m.

No wonder Castro was so glad to be hitting the road tonight, and the remaining contestants look so tired. It seems the life of a potential Idol leaves little room for small things. Like sleep. And more than an hour spent in any one location.

6:45 a.m.: In-studio appearances on WFLZ-FM 93.3’s MJ Morning Show and WMTX-FM 100.7’s Nancy and Chris show.

8 a.m.: WTVT's Good Day Tampa Bay.

10:30 a.m.: Downtown Bradenton appearance between City Hall and the Manatee River.

11:15 a.m.: Autograph session at the AT&T store at 4708 Cortez Road, Bradenton.

12:30 p.m. or thereabouts: At her alma mater, Booker High School in Sarasota, for a mini-parade and private concert.

2:45 p.m.: She's scheduled to hop aboard WTVT's SkyFox helicopter for a ride to the Ringling Museum where she'll present another short concert for the public.

6:57 p.m.: She'll sing the National Anthem at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg before the Rays game against the Los Angeles Angels. The game starts at 7:10 p.m. and tickets start at $9 at 1-888-326-7297. raysbaseball.com.

Comments

[Laree]

Mr Deggans

I don't know if it was our discussion on the Charities being National not Local to Greater NYC area but Imus made a point of Clarification Today, that They Are National Charities. I want to Thank You for bringing that point up because our discussion might have led to a clarification. Imus stated today they have had children come from as far away as Italy. S.I.D.S. is a National Orginazations the children who come to the Imus Ranch for Children for Cancer and blood disorders includes children with sickel cell anemia and siblings.

Radiothon Reports $999,899 @ 8:25AM

[Bruce]

No Bob,

I was not talking to you. Talking to Mr. Deggans.

Also I do not live in New York. Years back I lived in New Jersey. Well regarding the races of the policemen, does it matter. If a threat appears hesitation is deadly. Though 50 shots in 3 seconds is a little over kill. And I agreed with you on that.

The situation between Imus and Sharpton and Imus is well known for their differences. He claims he got Imus fired. That was a lie. He just made empty threats that the empty suits at MSNBC and CBS took real. And Imus admitted he was wrong. Water under the bridge now.

Think we are on the wrong subject in the wrong thread for this.

So peace to you this fine night.

[Bob]

Bruce, What is your point telling me about Imus? Have you not read my previous comments on this thread on the matter?

What does "I think it's best you quote everyone of the previous racist or bigoted comments before getting on your soap box." mean? You want me to quote EVERYONE? I don't have the time or the space on this blog to quote EVERYONE? Are you insinuating that I have made racist comments? This is the first time I have posted on this blog. What racist comments? Most of my posts were taken right out of the content of Erics'd blogs. Read the links.

Again, we were talking about Imus, then you picked Rev Al out of thin air and called him a racist. Who cares what Rev Al does? Did it slow down your commute? Only a handfull of people out of millions followed him on his crusade, that should tell you about his "pull".
BTW, it was one Black, one Hispanic and one Lebanese policeman that were acquitted in NY for shooting Sean Bell and friends.

If Imus made peace with Sharpton and has no voice as you stated, why bring him up at all?

[Bruce]

Before I answer you BOB I will tell you one thing about Don Imus. He has already paid a price for his silly three word comment. I think it's best you quote everyone of the previous racist or bigoted comments before getting on your soap box.

Now Bob. Sharpton didn't like the justice served against two Black Policemen and One Hispanic on the Sean Bell case. Well I didn't agree either. But to go to his extreme (Block the Bridges) action, he is the one that needs more than a little jail time.

Imus has made peace with Al Sharpton. Al Sharpton no longer has a voice in any discussion since no matter what he does it will back fire on him. He will not even support an African/American candidate for President. For then he would have been silenced by the American people if and when Obama wins in November.

I think it's called "Green with Envy".

He is a sad person indeed. Like blocking the bridges would bring Sean Bell back from his grave. And he's a Reverend? Get a grip.

[Bob]

Eric, not to beat a dead horse.... but Don Imus is not the spiritual advisor and CLOSE personal friend of 20 yeras for "Howard Kurtz or Tim Russert or John McCain". Don Imus is a shock jock who makes bad jokes. It is like asking Obama to recognize, criticize and deal with racist Chris Rock jokes. Just as no one takes Chris Rock seriously because he is a comedian, no one really takes Imus seriously. Should John McCain, Howard Kurtz or Tim Russert recognize and critisize "Bubba the love sponge" too?

[Bob]

Bruce, thanks for sparing us the "Bob jokes. Why is it that every time a matter of race is brought up, we as caucasians ask "where's Rev Al?" or bring him into the conversation some way. He is no more the spokesperson for the black race than Pat Buchanan is for the white race. Just the fact that there were just "hundreds" of protestors yesterday in a city of 8 million should tell you that not ALL black citizens walk lock-step with Rev Al. What does Rev Al have to do with anything anyway? While I don't agree with every veiw and observation that Eric makes, I also understand that I experiance things in a different way and have never experianced "institutionalized racism" as I'm sure Eric and the rest of the African Americans have in this country. Hopefully you are smart enough to realize that there is NOT a monolithic black veiwpoint or way to veiw issues in this country just as there is not a monolithic "white" viewpoint.

[Eric Deggans]

Sigh. What i've said about Rev. Wright is that the early reporting about his sermons distorted what he said. Once you see the full sermons, you can understand why somebody mght sit through a 20-minute oratory and not be compelled to walk out over three sentences they don't agree with.

What I have also said about Imus many times, is that I would have been happy to see him stay on CBS Radio and MSNBC if he would just admit to his awful, prejudiced history on air and promise not to do it again.

Because he never really copped to the full extent of what he was doing, those of us who found his work objectionable can never be sure he won't do it again.

I can certain understand why someone would ask the same thing of Rev. Wright before they would feel comfortable going to his church.

But I don't blame Howard Kurtz or Tim Russert or John McCain for Imus' prejudice. I do ask that they recognize it and criticize it and deal with it -- in the same way Obama rejected Rev. Wright when his more incendiary comments were highlighted.

[Bruce]

Well Eric let me add this to your last comment. You say (paraphrased) that no one's good deeds outweigh the negative ones. What are your feelings on Barack Obama's Reverend Jeremiah Wright? Barack said he looked at his whole body of work thus he couldn't disown him anymore then he could his White grandmother. Well of course that tune has changed. But yet when Imus said his dopey comment heard round the world, he said he would never support nor go on his program again.

And if you say that Imus was a racist before the NHH incident last April. Barack Obama was on his program after any such possible racist or bigoted comments were made. So who is being hypocritical?

Al Sharpton went to jail for Civil disobedience yesterday. Isn't that sad. He is the racist, not Imus.

So open your heart and maybe your wallet and show the World we all can get along as one Great Country. This is for Children with Cancer. Not to line the pockets of J. Donald Imus no matter what you think.

And tell Bob there are a lot of jokes about him that I will not repeat here.

[Eric Deggans]

you're right. I don't accept the notino that, just because somebody does good work, that absolves them from the awful things they do.

If anything, it makes their transgressions even worse. Because they know what the right thing is to do, but choose other actions.

That said, I don't write about the MDA Telethon, or many other fundraising activities which go on locally and nationally. This blog is about what I find interesting about media and society, and I don't, as a general course of things, find such telethons interesting....

[Bob]

Eric, You are right, "calling out" might be a bit harsh, but the basis of the article and the premise was "Are you selling out to get ahead?" at least that was the question you posed to Foster and Powell. Even though both Powell and Foster "blame media coverage for distorting Imus' words and intent", you don't seem to buy it by noting Imus long list of on air transgresions.
It is your choice to ingnore the good works that Imus does, especially this event, you ignore them in your article and focus JUST on the negative. In that regard I wouldn't call it a puff piece either.

[Eric Deggans]

Wow. Bob, did you actually read that story of mine you linked to?

If that's considered calling somebody out, I'd hate to see what you consider a puff piece...

[Laree]

Eric,

That's too bad, I hope you reconsider.

I don't watch American Idol, what is it a talent show? FOX network is genious when it comes to programing and hyping their offerings to the Masses. I don't like reality tv.

Good Luck to the Tampa Bay contestant.

[Bob]

mtnherbal, It would seem the National Association of Black Journalist's Boycott of Don Imus is still in effect unless it involves calling out other African Americans that Eric thinks have "sold out" to Imus.

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/03/Opinion/Don_Imus__color_guard.shtml

Never mind that the fund raising event has little to do with Imus personally and benefits kids of ALL races.
Heaven forbid Eric might show Imus in a positive light, the heck with the kids!!

[Eric Deggans]

Ummm. Okay. Let's keep in mind that there are three posters here who are turning the comments section on an Idol item into a discussion about don imus.

That said, what I've actually written about Imus is that he's never apologized for what he actually did wrong -- which is develop a 20-year history of cracking jokes based on racist stereotypes. That's the real reason why NABJ and Sharpton and so many of his critics were so vocal.

Imus was not a guy who made one mistake. And that is something that his fans have a hard time accepting. It's also the reason why I spent so much time writing about him when he got in trouble.

Yes, the final comeuppance of a guy who has peddled stereotypes on air for more than 20 years is more newsworthy to me than a new york based telethon.

As simon might say, "Sorry..."

[mtnherbal]

Appreciate that you can't blog about everything and you've big news on the local scene; however, there is a bit of irony in the fact that Imus doing a charity radiothon is "a local story" while something he said or may say is "a national story." Never hurts to help people help others. Perhaps there are some people in the Tampa Bay area who would like to help stop SIDS. This link tells about these national organizations funded by the radiothon.
http://www.wabcradio.com/Article.asp?id=690534
Appreciate anyone who can contribute.

[Bob]

Laree, You are kidding right? Obviously you don't read Erics comments very often. After The Rutgers incident last April, Eric was advocating a national Boycott of Don Imus unless he "sincerly apologizes" .

http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2007/04/imus_reveal_rac.html

After Imus did spend an hour on his show apologizing and scheduled meetings with the Rutgers team to apologize and scheduled to appear on Al Sharptons show to apologize and met with black politican Harold Ford, black evangelist DeForest B. Soaries and Rutgers' athletic director, Eric stated that "as I'm concerned, it's still not good enough."

http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2007/04/imus_apology_to.html

Don't expect ANY positive press about Don Imus from Eric regardless of his "reasons"

[Laree]

Mr Deggans,

The event is National Imus is syndicated he is up to 40 Radio Stations now and growing when his spot is on, the Imus Radiothon is being broadcasted (ON ALL THE STATIONS THAT CARRY HIS PROGRAM.) They have some nice things in different price ranges being shown on the online auction. Imus Times has the links.

This is a link to an article on The Imus Ranch with a slide show. I believe the links to the Imus Radiothon on Imus Times has links to the CJ S.I.D.S. Foundation, The Tomorrow Children's Fund.

RFD TV carriage reaches up to something like 40 million tvs now. Patrick put a mechanical bull up in front of the Rainbow Studios Across from Madison Square Garden and they were selling rides for $10s a shot. The Cowboy Chicks showed up and I watched at least one man try and stay on the Bull.

I just read they are up to 285,000 so far when on WFAN the Radiothon lasted all day both days on 77WABC the Radiothon is only on Imus's spot then during the Day on Hannity, Levin, Rush Ect, they do cut in spots like commercials I guess? They are also syndicated on many Radio Stations.

http://www.americanprofile.com/article/4870.html

The Imus Ranch for Children with Cancer takes children from all different geographic areas and different backgrounds. Not only the Greater NYC area.

[Eric Deggans]

Can't blog about eveything. And New York-based Imus doing a charity event is a local story for New York news outlets such as Newsday and the Daily News. Just as a local appearance by a hometown girl in the finals on the most-watched show on television is a local story here.

But thanks for catching us up in the comments section...

[Laree]

Yeah that is facinating what else is going on in the world today? Let See Imus Radiothon For Children's Charities MAY 8th & 9th Tomorrow's Children Fund, S.I.D.S., Imus Ranch for Children with Cancer.

Why aren't you blogging about Imus Today? With so many of your Blogs devoted to the Subject of Imus, I would have thought you would have mentioned the 19th Annual Radiothon.

Not Another Imus Blog, Neil Best Watchdog -Newsday, David Hinkley, Imus Times, they are all writing and blogging about this Big Charitity Event that happens once a year, there is also an Imus Radiothon Auction, Jim Nance donated a Rollex maybe you want to take a look. Make A Bid or Donation?

http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/radiothon-update-imus-keeps-his-job/