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James Conrad Verraros (born February 8, 1983),[1] known professionally as Jim Verraros, was a contestant on Season 1 of American Idol.

Audition[]

Jim auditioned in Chicago. He sang "When I Fall in Love" by Doris Day/Nat King Cole, while signing in American Sign Language (ASL). Although Simon said "no" (decrying that he lacked "star charisma"), Randy and Paula both voted "yes", sending him through to the next round.

Hollywood Round[]

Jim was shown advancing during the first part of Hollywood Week, albeit not heard singing. He was next shown in a group during the second part of Hollywood Week, in which he is captured visibly forgetting his lyrics. Despite this, he advanced past that stage. He was again shown during the final part of the Hollywood Rounds, singing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (the Diana Ross version). He managed to progress into the Top 30.

Top 30[]

Jim was in Group 1, and reprised his audition song choice, "When I Fall in Love" by Doris Day/Nat King Cole. In spite of severe critiques from judge Simon Cowell, he received enough votes that week to make the Top 10.

Top 10[]

Jim sang "Easy" by Commodores. He received the second-lowest number of votes for that week, eliminating him from the competition in ninth place. (Earlier that evening, EJay Day's elimination preceded his, in which he landed in tenth place.)

After the Show[]

Jim released his debut album, Rollercoaster (2005), to positive critical feedback. He has released a second studio album, Do Not Disturb (2011), but nothing else since aside from non-album or demo music.

Jim also starred in the first two entries of the gay camp direct-to-DVD cult classic franchise series: Eating Out (2004) and Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds (2006). He also had a cameo in a similar parody, Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! (2008).

Trivia[]

  • Jim's parents are both deaf, due to contracting German measles around the time they were each six weeks old, and he is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL).[2]
  • Jim was technically the first openly LGBTQ+ contestant on the show. However, producers refused to allow him to discuss this, according to him. They even made him remove incriminating posts on LiveJournal, plus privatize his MySpace at the time amidst homophobia on the forums.[3]

Controversy[]

  • Jim was only the second-ever performance, after Tamyra Gray's inaugural start to Group 1 night. Judge Simon Cowell's severely harsh critiques, in which he criticized Jim's potential as a future artist stating, "If you won this, we would have failed," left the other contestants and even the hosts visibly stunned.[4] Speculation alleged that Jim's advancement was based partially upon a sympathy vote. Former host Brian Dunkleman described how Nigel Lythgoe chastised Dunkleman for consoling Jim after that derision, rather than "further demoralizing him".[5]

Quick Links[]

  1. Jim Verraros on Instagram
  2. Jim Verraros on Spotify
Season 1
Finalists
 ยทKelly Clarkson ยทJustin Guarini ยทNikki McKibbin ยทTamyra Gray ยทR.J. Helton ยทChristina Christian
 ยทRyan Starr ยทA.J. Gil ยทJim Verraros ยทEJay Day
Semifinalists
 ยทChristopher Aaron ยทKelli Glover ยทAlexis Lopez ยทAngela Peel โ€” ยทAlexandra Bachelier ยทChris Badano
 ยทNatalie Burge ยทKhaleef Chiles ยทRodesia Eaves ยทBrad Estrin ยทAdriel Herrera ยทKristin Holt ยทJamar ยทJazmin Lowery
 ยทTanesha Ross ยทMelanie Sanders ยทMark Scott ยทGil Sinuet ยทTenia Taylor ยทJustinn Waddell โ€“ ยทDelano Cagnolatti

References[]

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