Infobox Website
name = VoteForTheWorst.com
favicon = Vftwfav2.jpg
caption = Accessed May 8, 2008
url = http://www.votefortheworst.com
commercial = Yes
type = Entertainment website
registration = Optional
owner = VoteForTheWorst.com
author = Dave Della Terza
launch date = 2004
current status =
revenue =
VoteForTheWorst.com (VFTW) is a website that is devoted to voting for the worst contestants on the Fox Network television series "American Idol". Smaller campaigns have also been started on the site for CTV's "Canadian Idol", FOX's "On the Lot" and "The Next Great American Band", and NBC's "America's Got Talent". The website was started in 2004 during American Idol's third season.
History
VFTW started at the "Survivor Sucks" message board [ [http://p085.ezboard.com/fsurvivorsucksfrm12.showMessage?topicID=310.topic "Survivor Sucks Messageboard": "'Vote The Worst' Pledge; Jasmalien!"] ] and moved to a GeoCities website during season three of American Idol. The very first "VFTW" pick during Season 3 was Jennifer Hudson during the semi-finals (but the site never picked her again as she improved in further weeks). [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/node/44 American Idol 3 | Vote for the Worst] ] The site began to upset regular Idol viewers with their support of John Stevens and Jasmine Trias, but it was largely unknown to the general public at this time.
During "American Idol"'s fourth season, the site moved to its own domain name. VFTW gained its first bit of notoriety when Scott Savol outlasted Constantine Maroulis in the top 6 of "Idol"'s fourth season [ [http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/american_idol_4/2005_Apr_28_constantine_out Constantine voted off American Idol 4; is Vote for the Worst campaign to blame?] ] and again appeared in the news when underage crooner Kevin Covais made it to the top 11 in season five. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-03-20-idol-covais_x.htm USA Today - 'Idol' mystery: Sky isn't falling on Kevin] ]
Season six of "American Idol" became a turning point for the website due to its support of candidates Antonella Barba and Sanjaya Malakar. Vote for the Worst was one of the first websites to break the story about Antonella Barba's racy online pictures. [ [http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/american_idol_6/2007_Feb_22_antonella_topless_ryan_alaina Reality Blurred: Antonella’s topless photos go unmentioned but Simon says Ryan is “trying to date” Alaina] ] The site then made headlines by proving that the raciest pictures that appeared online (involving a Barba lookalike performing a sexual act) were not of Barba. [ [http://www.idontlikeyouinthatway.com/2007/02/antonella-blowjob-barba.html February 28, 2007 Update: Antonella Barba Gets to Stay!] ] After Barba and Sundance Head were voted out of the competition, Vote for the Worst selected Sanjaya Malakar as their pick. Malakar went on to last 6 more weeks in the competition, becoming a cultural phenomenon while gaining momentum along the way with support from celebrities such as Howard Stern. [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20070313/howard_stern_shoutout Vote for the Worst: Howard Stern Shoutout] ] Entertainment Weekly called Malakar "the most popular Vote for the Worst candidate ever" and Malakar helped make Vote for the Worst a household name. [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20033720,00.html August 29, 2008 American Idol | A chat with the creator of Vote for the Worst] ]
Season seven of "American Idol" saw the site stir up some major controversies. As the season began, Vote for the Worst posted a blog that season seven was being stacked with contestants with prior music industry experience [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/americanidol7contestants Vote for the Worst | The Truth About the Contestants of American Idol 7] ] and the controversy was picked up by news sources, including MTV, who decided to ask American Idol producer Ken Warwick about the issue. [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579672/20080115/index.jhtml?rsspartner=rssYahooNewscrawler MTV News: 'American Idol' Executive Producer Weighs In On Some Contestants' Professional Backgrounds] ] The site went a step further to also prove that Randy Jackson, a judge on American Idol, was the vice president of A&R at MCA Records while Carly Smithson, a season 7 contestant, recorded an album there. [ [http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/02/randy-jackson-using-american-idol-to-push-his-failed-artists.php Radar Online: Randy Jackson Using American Idol to Push His Failed Artists?] ] The second controversy started by the site was exposing contestant David Hernandez as a former gay stripper. [ [http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/entertainment/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-12/1204608874314740.xml&storylist=entertainment Strip club: 'Idol' once danced here] ] Outside all of the controversies, Vote for the Worst supported Kristy Lee Cook during the time that judge favorite Michael Johns was eliminated, [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20080410/michael_johns_eliminated_vftw_victory Michael Johns is Eliminated, VFTW Victory!] ] as well as Brooke White when more popular Carly Smithson was eliminated. [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/radio/20080423/vftw_radio_4_23_08 CARLY IS GONE CELEBRATION RADIO SHOW!!!] ] As a reference to alleged marijuana use by Jason Castro, the site temporarily changed its name to "Vote for the Stoned" for one week.
Expansion to Other Shows
Because of the success of their American Idol campaign, Vote for the Worst has expanded its site to sometimes include other shows. The site's biggest focus outside of American Idol is on Canadian Idol. VFTW has had a mixed bag of results for this show. The two biggest successes were Casey Leblanc's 6 week run during Canadian Idol 3 [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20051101/canadian_idol_3 Vote for the Worst: Canadian Idol 3] ] and Jaydee Bixby's unprecedented 9 week "worst" run from the final 10 to the final 2 during Canadian Idol 5.[cite web|url=http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/topic3413.html|title=Vote for the Worst: Jaydee Bixby - VFTW's Longest Running Pick Ever|accessdate=2008-05-22] Other contestants from Canadian Idol have supported the site, including Montana Martin Iles [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/blogs/smarterthanpickler/20070723/ci5_episode_15_top_9_perform_songs_60s_who_cares_montanas_worster Vote for the Worst: CI5 Episode 16: Top 9 Perform Songs from the '60s: "Who Cares...Montana's A Worster!"] ] and Tyler Mullendore. [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20070908/hes_seener_buddy_tyler_mullendore_loves_vftw Vote for the Worst: He's Seen'er, Buddy - Tyler Mullendore Loves VFTW] ] ]Vote for the Worst's mixed bag extends to other shows. The site has had some success with a group like Light of Doom during The Next Great American Band [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20071212/next_great_american_band_spoilers_12_14_07 Next Great American Band Spoilers for 12/14/07] ] , but was unable to help others such as Boy Shakira during America's Got Talent. [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20070731/boy_shakira_eliminated_shame_you_america Boy Shakira Eliminated: Shame on You, America] ]
Press
VFTW has been mentioned by "Access Hollywood", the Associated Press [ [http://ap.washikngtontimes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AMERICAN_IDOL_MALAKAR?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME Associated Press - Weak `Idol' Wannabe Gets Online Support] ] , the BBC [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6510249.stm Campaign backs US Idol's 'worst'] ] , Best Week Ever [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20070325/vote_for_the_worst_on_best_week_ever Vote for the Worst: Vote for the Worst On Best Week Ever!] ] , Billboard Magazine [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003570591 Billboard Bits: Juanes, BMI Urban Showcase, Sanjaya Malakar] ] , Chicago Tribune [ [http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/04/the_founder_of_.html The founder of Vote for the Worst talks about Sanjaya and 'American Idol'] ] , CNET [ [http://news.com.com/VoteForTheWorst.com+has+American+Idols+number/2100-1026_3-6173028.html VoteForTheWorst.com has American Idol's number] ] , E! News [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/topic2402.html Vote for the Worst: VFTW shoutout on E! News!] ] , the Ellen Degeneres Show [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/topic2743.html Vote for the Worst: VFTW mentioned on Ellen today] ] , Entertainment Weekly [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20033720,00.html Worst Case Secnario] ] , EXTRA, Fortune Magazine [ [http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0704/gallery.fortune_innovators.fortune/12.html 24 Top innovators] ] , Fox News, the Los Angeles Times [ [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-ed-idol14apr14,1,7573725.story?coll=la-news-a_section&ctrack=1&cset=true What's saving Sanjaya?] ] Media Life Magazine [ [http://www.medialifemagazine.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=517&num=11301 'Idol' goof: PumpingSanjaya Malakar] ] , MSNBC [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17831669/ 'Scarborough Country' for March 27] ] , Newsweek [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17888861/site/newsweek/ Newsmakers: Heath Ledger, Sanjaya] ] , the New York Daily News [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/04/04/2007-04-04_exec_sanjaya_wont_win_idol.html Exec: Sanjaya won't win 'Idol'] ] , the New York Times [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/31/arts/television/31idol.html?ref=arts Howard Stern Tries to Kill ‘American Idol’ With Kindness for a Weak Link] ] , the Rutgers Observer [ [http://media.www.rutgersobserver.com/media/storage/paper822/news/2007/04/10/LifeLeisure/SanjayaMania-2832453.shtml Sanjaya-mania] ] , The Soup [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20070408/the_soup_presents_the_reaping Vote for the Worst: The Soup Presents The Reapning] ] , Time Magazine [ [http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1607449,00.html Who Wins on the Search Engines?] ] , TMZ [ [http://www.tmz.com/2007/03/31/the-z-list-this-weeks-biggest-losers-03-31-07/#continuedcontents The Z List - This Week's Biggest Losers 03/31/07] ] , TV Guide [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/topic2798.html Vote for the Worst: VFTW in TV Guide] ] , the Wall Street Journal [ [http://blogs.wsj.com/informedreader/2007/04/11/sanjay-malakar-revolutionary-hero-or-reactionary-puppet/ Sanjaya Malakar: Revolutionary Hero or Reactionary Puppet?] ] , [the Washington Post [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/05/AR2007040501792.html?hpid=opinionsbox1 Sanjaya: The Axis of 'Idol'] ] , and in hundreds of other news sources. [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/forum11.html Vote for the Worst: VFTW in the News] ] The website's founder, Dave Della Terza, called in to "The Howard Stern Show" on March 20, 2007 to discuss his and Howard's joint effort to encourage the public to vote for Malakar. During the interview, Della Terza debated Eric the Midget, a self described "American Idol" expert" and critic of the vote Sanjaya campaign. He also made an appearance in studio with Stern on April 17, 2007, the same day he appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman. [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20070418/dave_on_david_letterman Vote for the Worst: Dave on David Letterman] ]
Reaction from American Idol
"American Idol" producers rarely acknowledge the site, but Nigel Lythgoe, an executive producer, did issue a statement, calling Vote for the Worst "a fly buzzing around a cow" to play down any press the site had received about being influential. [ [http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/04/the_founder_of_.html The founder of Vote for the Worst talks about Sanjaya and 'American Idol'] ] Legal action has been threatened against the website from fans of "American Idol", but to date neither FOX nor the series have issued statements regarding any lawsuits. [ [http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/312727,CST-FTR-elf26.article Enjoying their worst] ] Della Terza claims that lawyers involved with the program have contacted him twice about filing a lawsuit, but nothing has yet been filed against the site. [ [http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2007/03/27/living/402/doc46083bd91b5b8157333111.txt Sour Note: Is a Web Site Altering 'Idol'?] ]
Many contestants from "American Idol", though, have embraced the site. Josiah Leming, a contestant from season 7, is a member of the website and gave an interview to their weekly radio show. [ [http://votefortheworst.com/radio/20080213/vftw_radio_discusses_top_24_ai6 Josiah Leming Talk to VFTW Radio] ] Chris Sligh, a season 6 contestant, gave a shoutout to site creator Della Terza during the top 11 performance show by saying "Hi, Dave." [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/blog/thefunnystone/20070320/top_11_best_show_ever_sanjaya_rules_and_sligh_gives_us_a_shoutout Vote for the Worst: Top 11: BEST.SHOW.EVER. Sanjaya Rules and Sligh Gives Us a Shoutout] ] Sligh and fellow contestant Phil Stacey have also posted on the site's message board, [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/topic1187-1660.html Vote for the Worst: Chris Sligh] ] [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/topic1248-600.html Vote for the Worst: Phil Stacey] ] along with many other former contestants such as Brenna Gethers, [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/topic181.html Vote for the Worst: Brenna on VFTW] ] Chris Labelle, [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/topic486.html Vote for the Worst: Chris Labelle in the house... hahahaha] ] Phuong Pham, [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/topic3741.html Vote for the Worst: New to VFTW...AI 6 Alumnus... Phuong Pham] ] and Montana Martin Iles. [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/forum/post230710.html#230710 Vote for the Worst: Montana Martin Iles - The TRUE Winner of CI5] ] Season 7 semifinalist Amanda Overmyer has also been vocal about her support of the website. [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/20080827/chile_wedding_shoutout Chile Wedding Shoutout] ] Vote for the Worst also has a weekly radio show that has featured guests such as Trenyce, [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/radio/20070904/trenyce_american_idol_2 VFTW Radio Presents Trenyce (American Idol 2)] ] Leslie Hunt, [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/radio/20070904/leslie_hunt_american_idol_6 VFTW Radio Presents Leslie Hunt (American Idol 6)] ] and Steffi DiDomenicantonio. [ [http://www.votefortheworst.com/radio/20070907/vote_worst_radio_premieres_wednesday_guest_steffi_d Vote for the Worst Radio Premieres THIS WEDNESDAY with Guest Steffi D!] ]
VFTW-supported contestants
America's Best Dance crew
Season 2
* Fanny Pak
Dancing With The Stars
Season 7
* Cloris Leachman & Corky Ballas
References
External links
* [http://www.votefortheworst.com/ Vote for the Worst website]
*
