American Idol

The bigwigs at "American Idol" tell TMZ ... they would have done everything in their power to help Jermaine Jones clear up his legal situation ... if only he would have been HONEST about his past.

"A.I." executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick called in to "TMZ Live" moments ago ... and explained why they HAD to confront Jermaine when they discovered he LIED about his criminal history. They said they were particularly worried when they found out he had used false names with police.

The "Idol" honchos explained, "There might be other false names and other charges out there that we just dont know about."

Lythgoe and Warwick tell us lots of kids that appear on the show are entangled in legal situations ... but the producers insist, "We help them where we can in clearing them up."

The producers say they captured the confrontation on tape ... and say he was "very apologetic."

"American Idol" contestant Jermaine Jones fled Los Angeles and the "A.I." guillotine ... because we got video of him after he landed in Philadelphia last night.

Jones flew first class -- which makes us think "Idol" may have paid for the ticket.

As we reported, the plan was for Jermaine to appear on tonight's show​, facing the music for lying about his criminal past.

Soon-to-be-axed "American Idol" singer Jermaine Jones is a big, fat phony ... who repeatedly LIED to police ... has issues with violence ... and terrorized "Idol" staff ... according to police documents and information obtained by "A.I."

We broke the story ... Jones will be fired from the show tonight for lying to producers about his criminal history ... and now we've learned the troubling details from the multiple run-ins with the law Jones was trying to conceal.

One incident went down on March 5, 2011 ... when Jones was involved in a fight at a Howard Johnson Hotel in Jersey. We're told cops responded ... but Jermaine gave them a fake name -- Joel Jones.

Jermaine was charged with public nuisance and obstruction of justice. He was also arrested for having outstanding warrants.

The next incident went down November 27, 2011 ... when Jermaine was the passenger in a car that was pulled over in Gloucester Township, NJ. Jermaine was questioned by cops and ONCE AGAIN gave them a fake name -- Kareem Watkins.

Jermaine was charged for hindering apprehension and giving false information to avoid self-discovery. He was also arrested for having outstanding warrants ... again.

We've learned ... Jermaine had a total of 4 outstanding warrants ... 3 for driving on a suspended license and 1 for disorderly conduct with an open container.

There's more ... "Idol" sources tell us Jermaine was "very aggressive" behind the scenes ... once terrorizing a member of the staff by screaming at her because he didn't like his wardrobe.

"Idol" sources also tell us ... Jermaine had been questioned about his past by the "A.I." risk management team before he was selected into the top 24 ... and he SWORE, among other things, that he hadn't been in a fight since high school.

Jermaine Jones will be kicked off "American Idol" Wednesday night, after producers learned he concealed the fact that he was arrested twice last year and has outstanding warrants ... TMZ has learned.

As we first reported, producers discovered Tuesday that Jermaine had lied about his criminal history and that triggered the decision to confront him on camera Tuesday afternoon.

We're told one of the incidents involved violence, which was particularly troublesome to producers. He also lied to cops by giving them fake names both times he was arrested.

"A.I." sources tell us ... Jermaine will appear on the show tomorrow night before he is sent packing.

Over the last few days, we've been reporting that Jermaine told producers his father abandoned him 10 years ago, but his dad called TMZ and called B.S. on his son, saying they see each other regularly.

A contestant on "American Idol" will be kicked off the show Wednesday because the singer concealed multiple crimes from producers ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected with the show tell us ... the contestant -- one of the final 12 -- was charged with 2 crimes in 2011, one involving violence. We're told in both cases the contestant gave a fake name to cops when arrested.

In addition, we're told the contestant has outstanding warrants -- again, the singer concealed it from producers.

Jermaine Jones -- the 6'8" gentle giant on "American Idol" -- has big problems with the truth, because he fabricated a sob story to "A.I." producers to win the hearts and minds of the American people.

"A.I." sources told TMZ ... last week, after appearing on the show ... Jermaine came to them and said his dad called him from out of the blue, claiming pops abandoned him and his mom 10 years ago. Jermaine told producers he was extremely upset that his dad suddenly reappeared in his life now that he was famous and potentially rich. Jermaine said his dad was "a lousy father" and wanted nothing to do with him.

Well TMZ spoke with Jermaine's dad, Kevin Jones, who says the sob story is absurd -- that he has had an ongoing relationship with the young man through the years and even had dinner with him on both Wednesday and Thursday night of last week.

Kevin also says his son was not telling the truth about getting a phone call from out of the blue -- Kevin says he was actually in the audience last week supporting his child.

We spoke with production people on "Idol" who tell us they are "shocked" Jermaine concocted the story and it seems like it was all a ploy to get some traction on the show.

Defying all laws of physics ... the "American Idol" judges actually had something useful to say ... because one "Idol" castoff is turning their advice into COLD, HARD CASH.

River St. James -- who was cut before the top 24 -- was told by the trio of judges to get more experience. Heeding their words, he decided to take his musical talents to the streets of Santa Monica, CA.

But River wanted to make sure to go the legal route -- and obtained an L.A. performer's permit. We're told he now plays 3-4 times a week on the 3rd Street Promenade, where he racks up tons of free practice ... and even earns a decent living.

Jermaine Jones -- the 6'8" "American Idol" contestant dubbed "The Gentle Giant" -- had an unwanted caller last night ... his dad.

Jones and his mom had it rough after his father abandoned him 10 years ago. But it's amazing what a little fame and potential earning power can do to a fractured relationship.

Last night ... Jones' dad called and tried to make nice. Sources tell us ... the dad told Jermaine, "Hi, I'm in Los Angeles. Why are you telling everyone you haven't got a dad?" We're told the 25-year-old contestant was "extremely upset" by the call.

Phillip's dad tells TMZ ... his son has had 5 procedures to remove kidney stones. He says it's been a problem since October. As for performing, we're told Phillip is determined to continue on A.I. and will postpone any type of procedure ... at least until he knows the results tonight. But it's still really painful.

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"American Idol" contestant Phillip Phillips was taken to a medical facility this morning for emergency treatment ... TMZ has learned -- and his future on the show is now in question.

Sources tell TMZ, Phillip -- the guy who always performs with a guitar on the show -- was complaining of intense pain in his abdomen ... and it seemed serious enough to sound the alarm.

The nature of the medical emergency is unclear -- but we're told people close to Phillip suspect it could be gallstones.

Chelsea Sorrell won't be the next "American Idol," but she might have found a new calling in a whole other field ... hair modeling.

Turns out the cosmetologist from Stokesdale, NC -- who was booted this week -- has translated into big business for the beauty school she graduated from. Leon's Beauty School in Greensboro has been offering a Chelsea-related special cut & color (with a 10% discount) ever since she made it on the show ... and it's been a big seller.

The school says they have done 26 Chelsea styles so far and despite her ousting from the show, they plan to keep the offer going until the end of the summer.

Former "American Idol" contestant and out-of-work substitute teacher Scott Dangerfield was booted from the show last week with ZERO job prospects -- but TMZ has learned, the school where he used to work wants him back!!!

Scott tells TMZ, he's been on the hunt for a new teaching gig ever since he got the chop ... but given the time of year, and the struggling job market, it's an uphill battle.

Scott's been getting several job applications together since leaving the show -- but HE CAN STOP NOW ... because the principal at Riverside University High School in Milwaukee (where Dangerfield worked before "Idol") wants to rehire him.

The principal tells TMZ, Riverside would welcome Dangerfield to substitute teach ANY TIME -- and if a permanent position opens up ... he definitely wants Scott to apply.

No surprise Riverside wants him back -- Scott was so dedicated to the school when he worked there last year, he turned down an invitation to Hollywood on "Idol" because he didn't want to desert his students.

It's never a good sign when a singer has had more tax liens than platinum albums -- but that's the situation former "American Idol" champ Ruben Studdard has found himself in ... TMZ has learned.

According to docs filed in Alabama, Studdard and his estranged wife Zuri owe $180,216.73 in federal taxes for the year 2009.

Studdard is no stranger to tax problems in Alabama -- he had a property lien filed against him back in 2008 to the tune of nearly $200,000.

Ruben filed for divorce from Zuri back in November.

Jumping on the Angelina leg Internet meme trend, Jennifer Lopez did a little Jolieing and flashed her gorgeous right leg backstage at an "American Idol" party in L.A. on Thursday.

Former "American Idol" contestant and police officer Alisha Bernhardt tells TMZ, she is NOT a cold-hearted bitch -- which is why she's upset at "Idol" producers over how they portrayed her on last week's show.

In case you missed it -- Alisha was the girl who couldn't find a group to perform "Joy to the World" with ... and unleashed a torrent of bitchiness in frustration.

But Alisha -- who was eliminated Wednesday night -- tells us, producers edited the show to make her look more like a loudmouthed fight-picking ice queen than she really is.

"American Idol" castoff Travis Orlando -- who dropped out of high school last year to focus on singing -- is going back to school ... and TMZ has learned, it's all thanks to an "Idol" camera operator.

Travis was voted off the show last week -- and sources tell TMZ, after he gave his goodbye interview, the camerawoman inspired him to go back to school and get his GED.

In case you missed Travis' audition -- the 18-year-old detailed his turbulent home life in the Bronx, claiming his mother walked out on him and his cancer-stricken father. They have since been evicted from their apartment and now live in a shelter.

But sources tell us, the camerawoman who helped conduct Travis' final interview told him not to give up on his education -- saying, "You have lost so much. You don’t want to lose even more by not finishing school."

We're told Travis took her words to heart -- and has since enrolled in the Adult Learning Center at Lehman College in the Bronx. His classes -- which will eventually earn him his GED -- start next month.

Who says "American Idol" rejects are a bunch of hopeless losers -- we found one who actually managed to turn his flash of fame into a lucrative profession ... begging for money on the side of the road.

His name's Magic Cyclops -- and you may remember him as the air guitar-playing bandana-wearing weirdo who fired confetti out of his pants during his audition in Aspen last month.

The judges unanimously rejected him -- no surprise -- but now he's found success outside the music biz, panhandlng on the side of a freeway in Fort Collins, CO.

Magic tells us, since his massively public "Idol" rejection, no one has wanted to hire his one-man band -- because "now people know I don’t have the talent I thought I had.”

But after reading an article about homeless people making up to $30k a year just from begging, Magic was inspired -- and decided to hit the road with a cardboard sign ... earning an impressive $0.35 his first day.