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Idols contestant 'a fake'

2007-08-30 12:15

Screenshot from Go courtesy of Jasonbagley.com

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Dear Editor,

Idols has produced a phenomenon this year known as Cliff Jennings. He has received some rather rude treatment from the judges, especially Randall.

This has created a cult following for Cliff in certain circles. He has a MySpace profile, a Facebook profile and numerous of groups on Facebook.

He is, however, a fake. Cliff Jennings has been created by an ad agency to add spice to Idols.

I will not watch one more episode. The point about reality TV is reality!

Cliff runs around and announces to every one and all to "keep it real" and live the dream. He has a following of thousands now and it is a lie!

Eduan van Jaarsveldt is Cliff's real name. He signed with an actor's agency and secured his first acting roles in the South African feature Tsotsi and the television mini-series The Gothica Caper.

Maybe this will be the death nail in the Idols' coffin.

'Bruinman'

On the web:

  • A video interview with Eduan van Jaarsveldt from GO

    News24 has contacted the ad agency in question and they have confirmed that they created the character, but acting independently of the show. Story to follow.

    - News24


    • Brandon 8/30/2007 12:30:20 PM
    Heard the same thing last night. Stupid idea from MNET.

    lily-white 8/30/2007 12:42:39 PM
    I thought this guy was a fake.Nobody would be stupid enough to want rejection & be insulted again & again without being paid for it.I'll be glad if it is the death knell for Idols,most real artists have never made a start to their careers through cheap talent shows.

    EG 8/30/2007 12:44:49 PM
    Ja swaer...

    Ca55 8/30/2007 12:58:58 PM
    I thought that the whole Cliff Jennings phenomenon was too bizarre and too weird to be true. This is yet another annoyance regarding Idols that makes me even more passionate about wanting to see the end of that stupid show. It still surprises me how many ppl are keen to become an 'idol'. Try achieving that success on ur own, all you would be idols. It'll be far more rewarding+the public will respect you more.

    J.O 8/30/2007 12:59:15 PM
    When I saw this guy appearing at the Margate auditions I thought to myself there's something not lekker here. But I've always wondered, how many of those really pathetic contestants are also fakes? I mean surely nobody THAT bad will think they stand a chance of making it? I think the worst of the worse was planted there to spice up the show (and goodness we need it with those pathetic judges of ours - we need to bring in the judges from American Idols methinks).

    Fransie 8/30/2007 1:02:50 PM
    I can not believe how desperate some ppl have become for ratings. this is a disgrace. I do have one questions tho. Were the crazy guys from cape town for real? They were hillarous!!! They should make a reality show about them! Now there's a good idea.

    Andy 8/30/2007 1:04:00 PM
    The judges has his number long ago.Every pack has it's quota of jokers-Idols just appears to have more than it's fair share.This should not detract from what all the other role players are achieving.

    Christo Booysen 8/30/2007 1:07:45 PM
    Who really gives a damn man...

    Dave 8/30/2007 1:08:47 PM
    Guys, loosen up a bit. Entertainment! Mean anything to you? Of course there will be "planted" singers... remember that all contestants have to be "pre-judged" before they get to be on TV. How boring would this be if they were all genuine singers? I love the show!

    Bolero 8/30/2007 1:10:24 PM
    Good to hear that. Because really the behaviour of the judges sucked. Regardless of what this person "Cliff" did, they should still behave in a professional way, and really, Randall's VARNISH came off with "Cliff". Also though Mara was rude when she didn't want to shake another contestant's hand. What is in a handshake? Is she too important?

    Benny 8/30/2007 1:12:53 PM
    what about the guy with the pieces of paper he tried to sing from, Christopher or something? Totally 'out of it'. I also believe there are more fakes than we think. They will do everything to make money. Unfortunately it IS an opportunity for someone to get somewhere in the music industry, look what Heinz achieved after Idols!

    andy 8/30/2007 1:15:26 PM
    Way to go,Cliff.He can now add:"Idols idiot:Cliff Jennings" to his CD cover

    Inge 8/30/2007 1:19:27 PM
    Aai... Only in the SA?

    real 8/30/2007 1:20:54 PM
    So much for keeping it real! hehehehe. Are we sure those judges are real people......

    Mony -Mony 8/30/2007 1:22:09 PM
    It was obvious right from the outset that the Guy was a fake... Like Randall's Rudeness, also Faked(There has to be a South African Equivilant of Simon Cowell to make the show work)... makes you wonder tho how "real" the Audience votes/choice is at the end of the show... Do the public "really" choose the idol or is that faked too?

    Shady 8/30/2007 1:24:41 PM
    You go Cliff. If only our politicians were as determined as you are. This country would be paradise. Maybe audition to become an MEC.

    Bhengu 8/30/2007 1:33:44 PM
    Contestants should be screened and only the top 100 should be shown to the public. They throw the whole kitchen sink and dirty laundry at the viewing public which causes quite a stir with all the humiliation and derogatory remarks that go with it. Shame on the producers. Mara cannot think for herself but has to rely on Daves opinion all the time before commenting. How sad is that. Randall thinks he is Fabio and Gareth just cannot keep still.

    Stu 8/30/2007 1:34:12 PM
    I think the producers are planting fakes out of desperation. Let's be honest, with that panel of judges, ratings will be going nowhere. That Randall guy is the biggest fake of them all! What a loser. Surely in a 46 million population we can do better than that selection of judges?

    Brad S 8/30/2007 1:36:21 PM
    Well, i could have told you long time ago MNET were desperate for ratings. Big Brother, Idols and now survivor. These arent unique shows, so dont require much effort and they will make alot of money off them. But this latest stint comfirms it and seriously hurts their credibility.

    JJ 8/30/2007 1:41:13 PM
    Idols is a braindead programme with braindead judges and braindead contestants. This is the final straw for me.

    Fransie 8/30/2007 1:42:11 PM
    i must admit, the show has been entertaining thus far, and im really rooting for the little girl from cape town who's dad let her through. What a voice! I dont think this show should be cut. look at how successful heinze is, he even has his own canned foods. now that something to chew on :) LOL

    Dillon 8/30/2007 1:42:17 PM
    ...are for people who don't live. In all honesty I didn't even know idols was showing. I have better things to do with my time than listen to adverts on the radio and watch adverts on the tv. Try going outside and doing something fun!

    LM 8/30/2007 1:47:28 PM
    Of course its a act, but he is very entertaining and great fun to watch. Whats the problem, its a clever concept. Go Cliff, LIVE THE DREAM.

    jeremy 8/30/2007 1:51:05 PM
    I'd recommend any of the above commentators to Ben Elton's "Chart-throb." It's a novel based on the British "Idols" and it's not meant to be taken TOOO seriously. But it gives some idea of the manipulation that takes place behind the scenes in a so-called "reality" show. Personally, I reckon "Cliff" deserves every penny he gets for the humiliation - and if Idols themselves didn't think him up, they should have done!

    Debi 8/30/2007 1:51:33 PM
    Please tell me he isn't really from East London.

    Martin 8/30/2007 1:51:57 PM
    I think we found your understudy!

    Fransie 8/30/2007 1:55:46 PM
    While on the topic of cutting shows, when is egoli getting the chop? Now there's a show for the braindead with acting so bad, u might just think its a reality show gone wrong.

    Denise 8/30/2007 1:59:12 PM
    I love the judges and their comments that's why I watch the show (need a good laugh)there are plenty of fakes including the judges personalities but that makes the show and if people don't like it don't watch the show that's why we have freedom of choice and various channels and the best is it gives opportunties to people what's wrong with that. Denise D.

    Izzy 8/30/2007 2:02:06 PM
    ... just can Lie-dols.. What a joke of a program? At least that one judge is looking less like Meatloaf.. which is a good thing.

    Antelope 8/30/2007 2:03:12 PM
    anyway, who gives a toss? Idols is entertaining, well at least when you are high on flu fever and medication, wasting your time away on sick-leave. Have not watched it since. It is better than watching parliament TV...

    Willa 8/30/2007 2:07:56 PM
    When I saw Cliff turning up at the Margate auditions...once again? I knew this was a joke. But I thought it was a very clever joke and that he's awesome!!! I love watching the Idols auditions and have seen bigger losers that think they can sing and really make it...honestly don't they have any friends???? I wish Cliff's secret identity could have stayed secret just a little bit longer...he was really getting to the judges, and it was fun to watch Randall nearly burst a vein.

    Alicia 8/30/2007 2:10:41 PM
    I think they all received a pay-off to put this stupid guy on the TV. The show has really taken a dive.... and the shameless exploiting of the obviously inept.To let them just go on and on making utter fools of themselves. Not funny. Shame on you Idols judges. You are looking for talent are you not. How did these people get thru the initial screening process? To give you a cheap laugh? Where's your pride?

    Tiktok 8/30/2007 2:17:10 PM
    Eish! Cape Town contestants you now showed me how TIK affects a persons performance!

    Heard of the OFF button ? 8/30/2007 2:18:03 PM
    If you don't like the show .. turn it off .. but then you will have nothing to b**** about.

    MM 8/30/2007 2:20:57 PM
    So what if he is a fake? Is he any different from those people that walk in there with superman suites and all sort of weird getups just to get attention? Not like they puttin the fake through...its called ENTERTAINMENT people and it certainly kept you all glued to your screens, I know I was...

    ME 8/30/2007 2:22:52 PM
    Do you know how many fakes are in Reality all over the world? It's entertainment people....If you don't like; don't watch. Bunch of whingers!

    Alicia 8/30/2007 2:33:58 PM
    Now that someone has mentioned "Egoli"...did'nt you notice? It's slowly grinding to a halt. There are more flashbacks than present day stories. Honestly, I sit there, to rest after a day at work, go and have a look at my food, and when I get back, I don't have a clue in which year, storyline, or even century I am. I am not young anymore. I am worried about losing my marbles. Please stop Egoli all together. It's a travesty.

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