Carly Smithson

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'Idol’s’ Most Notorious

Fair or not, Smithson became the subject of much resentment from some "Idol" fans after revelations that she'd had a major recording contract and, as alleged in a Wall Street Journal article, the record company spent more than $2 million to promote the album that sold just 400 copies. She finished sixth during the seventh season of "Idol." (FOX/Frank Micelotta)

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Joanna Pacitti After making it to the Top 36 in the current season of "American Idol," Pacitti was disqualified after rumors began to swirl about her having personal relationships with some folks at 19 Entertainment, the company that produces the show. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Carly Smithson Fair or not, Smithson became the subject of much resentment from some "Idol" fans after revelations that she'd had a major recording contract and, as alleged in a Wall Street Journal article, the record company spent more than $2 million to promote the album that sold just 400 copies. She finished sixth during the seventh season of "Idol." (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
Sanjaya Malakar One of the most memorable faces and heads of hair in "Idol's" eight-year history, Sanjaya became a sensation after avoiding elimination week after week despite terrible song choices and performances. Judge Simon Cowell grew so frustrated with Sanjaya's continued presence after weeks of bad comments from the judges that Cowell decided to say good things about the singer in hopes that the voters would reverse course. He finished in seventh place during Season 6 by the time he was finally eliminated. (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
Antonella Barba Barba didn't even make it to the Top 12 in Season 7, but became known quickly after racy photos of her -- including some in which she posed in a wet T-shirt contest -- surfaced on the Internet. She was eliminated after advancing to the Top 16. (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
Ramiele Malubay Malubay quickly and pretty easy laughed off a mini-controversy that bubbled up when photos of her fondling another girl in the kitchen of a restaurant where she worked surfaced online. She went on to finish 11th in Season 7. (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
Mario Vazquez Vazquez abruptly dropped out of the competition after making it to the Top 12. All kinds of rumors swirled about his departure, which he said was for "family reasons." He was replaced by Nikko Smith, the son of legendary shortstop Ozzie Smith, who went on to finish 9th. (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
Scott Savol Savol skirted a mild dust-up when "The Smoking Gun" revealed that he'd pleaded "no contest" to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct. The arrest stemmed from a dispute he'd had with his baby's mother. "Idol" producers said Savol was forthcoming and remorseful about the arrest and and decided he would not be disqualified. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Jim Verraros The ninth-place finisher in Season 1, it has been reported that Verraros was asked to remove "gay-friendly" messages from his official "Idol" profile while he was on the show. Verraros came out after the season ended and would later say he was openly gay to the producers and staff on the show from Day 1. (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
Corey Clark Clark was disqualified shortly after a report on "The Smoking Gun" that revealed an arrest that stemmed from an altercation with his sister and included charges of battery on four police officers. The event happened shortly after Clark advanced to the Top 24 in "Idol's" second season. He eventually pleaded "no contest" to "obstruction legal process" and went on to make claims two years later about a sexual relationship with judge Paula Abdul. (Photo by Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images)
Frenchie Davis Davis was disqualified from the show after it became public knowledge that she'd taken topless photos that were floating -- somewhere -- on the Internet. Davis has maintained that she told the show's producers about the photos, which had been taken when she was 19, and they did nothing about it. But when knowledge of the photos became public, she was kicked off the show. Davis later performed in the Broadway production of "Rent." (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Terrell and Derr... The Brittenum twins were well-liked during the audition stages of Season 5, but were nixed from the show after allegations of identity theft and forgery. (Americanidol.com)
David Hernandez Hernandez's short run in the "Idol" Top 12 on Season 7 was marred by reports on Vote for the Worst that he'd been a stripper at a gay club in Arizona. He was not kicked off the show and finished in 12th place. (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
William Hung In just a couple of minutes, William Hung became a household name after auditioning for Season 3 of "Idol" by singing Ricky Martin's "She Bangs." He's since put out three albums to little fanfare, but "Idol" fans can still partake in a treat by looking up his original audition on YouTube. His quote -- "I already tried my best, and I have no regrets at all" -- after Simon ripped him is guaranteed to get you every time. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Alexis Cohen Cohen made a small name for herself at the Season 7 auditions in Philadelphia, when she erupted after getting bad remarks from the judges, cursing and flipping off the camera while shouting, "Take it! Take it! Take it!" She returned, calmer and wiser, for the Season 8 auditions, but flipped Simon off one last time after being told she wasn't going to Hollywood. (Michael Becker/FOX )
Katrina Darrell ... The world won't soon forget "Bikini Girl." Katrina ... wait, what was her name? Well, anyway, she made a literal and figurative splash at the Season 8 auditions in Arizona by showing up in a bikini and getting into a confrontation with new judge Kara DioGuardi. She then planted a kiss on Ryan Seacrest after getting a ticket to Hollywood, where she crashed and burned during the group round. (Michael Becker/FOX)
Jessica Sierra The 10th place finisher from Season 4, Sierra has had a string of problems since her time on the show, including drug and alcohol problems that have led to a couple of arrests. She also participated in the first season of "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" This photo is a mug shot taken after her arrest in a fracas with three Tampa police officers outside a nightclub. (AP Photo/Hillsborough Sheriff's Dept., File)
Tatiana del Toro Tatiana nearly stole the show during the audition and Hollywood rounds of Season 8 -- and it was all by design. It's pretty clear the world revolves around Tatiana -- at least in her mind. It's up to the voters, now, to decide whether she'll stick around. (Michael Becker/Fox)
Renaldo Lapuz Renaldo Lapuz, seen hugging Simon Cowell during the seventh season finale, was too old to really compete at 44. But he got his moment in the sun, sharing his original "We're Brothers Forever," that got the judges to stand up and dance with him in the audition room and earned him an invitation to sing at the finale. (Mark Mainz/AP Images for Fox)
Taylor Hicks Perhaps forever known as the guy who must've been 40, Taylor Hicks made an impression early with his soulful voice and wild gyrations. He somehow rode this wave of curiosity all the way to the Season 5 finale, where he was crowned the champ. Many fans feel he's the least deserving winner in the show's history. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Nick Mitchell/'N... Is he or isn't he taking this whole thing seriously? We just might never know. Nick Mitchell has shown a semi-decent voice when he isn't hamming it up as his alter-ego "Norman Gentle." Some fans enjoy the levity "Norman" brings to the competition, and now that he is in the Top 36, his continued progress on the show is in America's hands. (Michael Becker/Fox)