Joanna Pacitti has only appeared on American Idol for a handful of minutes and she’s already sparking a civil war between fans of the show. Plenty of Idol contestants past were already professional musicians before their audition, but Pacitti may qualify as the first celebrity contestant (she was even played by Cheri Oteri in a 1997 SNL skit). Not only has she already had two major label record deals (check out her video for 2003′s “Let It Slide” above) and a legendary near-brush with Broadway, the singer even criticized American Idol in an especially ironic Philly Magazine profile from 2006.
Asked if she resents that TV turns wannabes into stars in five months’ time, Pacitti says, “It’s handed to people way too easily. I’d rather have my experience than overnight success.” Despite her major-label record and high-profile pals like Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, not everyone understands that in her mind, she’s arrived: “My family said, ‘You should go on American Idol!’”
Since she’s already “arrived,” should Pacitti back out of the show before the furor gets louder, or leave herself to the mercy of viewers? If she hangs around, expect to see every failed singer under the age of 28 to crawl out of the woodwork for next year’s auditions.
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