Voting for Jasmine is fans' proud tradition

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Barbara Tamura is a fiercely loyal "American Idol" fan. She watches the competition every week, then goes into voting mode.

The Ward Avenue resident is rooting for Jasmine Trias, the 17-year-old "Idol" finalist who has survived to the midway point in this third season's competition, which culminates on May 26. There are six competitors left in tonight's competition.

However, Tamura says it's getting harder to make her calls count.

"I used to get four votes in, in the beginning," said Tamura. "In recent weeks, the calls just didn't get through."

Give up? Unthinkable. During last week's two-hour voting period, Tamura voted big time by her standards: 81 times on her house phone, with her husband logging 62 votes via cell phone.

Tamura has also enlisted a small army of die-hard supporters (half a dozen fans) to support Trias by dialing and redialing.

"Overall, we managed to get in 701 votes, including 100 text messages by my cousin Michi and 200 by my friend Jennie," Tamura said.

"It was hard work. But we did it."

"Idol" voting has become a Tuesday must-do for many in Hawai'i; they eat dinner early, clear the table, wash the dishes, then vote as many times as possible.

On Wednesday morning, small talk inevitably focuses on whether the red-headed kid will get knocked off ... or is Jasmine at risk?

On Wednesday night, fans learn if their voting the night before paid off.

Last week's vote cut candidate Jennifer Hudson, who had been praised by judges for her performance. After the results were announced, Randy Jackson and his fellow judges chastised viewers for basing votes more on personality or popularity than talent.

However, Fox made up the rules and figured mass voting translates into mass audiences, and the show has been a monster hit. It may be unethical to some to redial 100 times for a single candidate, but it's not illegal. Networking — the force behind the millions of Hawai'i voting attempts, and a factor throughout the competition — has kept some in the running and forced others, like Hudson, out.

"We gotta support our own," said Carolyn Tagle, 39, of Waipahu. "I watch at work at night — the central bar at the airport — but my kids and dad vote at home," she said. "They all like Jasmine; they use the house phone and cells."

Shari Ramirez, 40, an 'Ewa Beach resident who is a banquet waitress at the Sheraton Waikiki, said Trias' survival reflects "the power of Hawai'i" — and has even influenced Ramirez' buying habits.

"She's representing us well; I vote for her," Ramirez said. "Because I work some nights, I have the show taped — and because my VCR was junk, I bought a new one. It's all her fault, but it's been worth it. I hope she wins."

Rituals have emerged in the process. "It's been hard (to connect)," said Tina Tagle, 13, a Waipahu Intermediate School student. "I watch, vote, then do homework."

Lynn Kekoa, 46, of Kaka'ako, likes what she's seen and heard from Trias so far. "In the beginning, I voted for both Jasmine and Camile," she said. "Now, it's all Jasmine. My kids — (ages) 25, 24, 20, 19 and 18 — all vote by cell. It's a family thing."

Chaenille Garcia, 22, of Kailua used to support Camile Velasco "because of her mellow voice," but still watches the show now that Velasco is gone.

"Because I work (at the Lomi Shop at Windward Mall), my family records the show for me, but they vote — for Jasmine," Garcia said. "I do like her control, her voice, and she is great for someone so young."

Fans have expressed their frustration via e-mail about the difficulty in getting votes through.

Doris Barber, writing from Miami, said "on the East coast our lines are super busy for Diana (DeGarmo) and John (Stevens), but wide open for Jasmine. There was no trouble dialing and redialing 200-plus votes for Jasmine."

"The 'Idol' producers must be squirming right now," said Gary Hisaoka. "They may end up with the least talented of the final group and cannot do anything about the situation because of the format in place. Don't be surprised if John Stevens makes it all the way to the final two."

Royce Sonnenberg, a Kailua resident, is siding with the judges. He takes issue with the Hawai'i votes swaying toward Trias.

"Hawai'i has been reacting predictably, showing support for its own. That's good in a lot of ways, demonstrates loyalty, etc.," Sonnenberg said. "But that's not what this competition is about."

Ludi Quero might sum up the whole situation: "I think this reality show is beginning to be a popularity show."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.

'Idol' buzz ...

Getting the heave-ho: Last week's "American Idol" results show caused an uproar when critical favorites Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino and La Toya London — dubbed "the three divas" — were revealed as the lowest vote-getters. The outcome: Hudson had to go. But who should have been voted off instead?

Check out the Advertiser's poll, "Who's next to leave 'Idol'?" to click on your pick and see what others think. At last check, red-headed crooner John Stevens was the pick to boot. See www.honoluluadvertiser.com.

Item ... or not? So, are Hawai'i's Jasmine Trias and New York's John Stevens, the shortest and tallest competitors on "American Idol," romancing, as supermarket tabloids have claimed? Uh, no. According to Trias' dad, Rudy, "There's no truth. What Jasmine and John do together ... is go to school; they have their daily (tutoring) because they're minors."

Star watch: Speaking of tabs — Star magazine has gone slick and glossy. A reality-TV edition, on newsstands now, covers "Survivor," "The Bachelor," "The Apprentice" and "American Idol." And the "Idol" section includes all 12 finalists, including Jasmine Trias and Maui's Camile Velasco.

Baby talk: Ousted "Idol" finalist Camile Velasco can't talk about it, but Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds (nationally) and John Iervolino (locally) are among the recording-industry types interested in her talents.

Great expectations: The CD "Greatest Soul Classics," out today, offers the Season Three finalists covering 13 soul faves (the 13th track is a group effort). Trias sings "Midnight Train to Georgia," and Velasco covers "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Check amazon.com or local record stores.