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'Passionate, Emotional' Brooke White Takes Self-Doubts, 'Raspy' Voice With Her From 'Idol'

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 2, 2008

Ousted "American Idol" contestant Brooke White says that she has always struggled with "confidence issues," constantly comparing herself to other singers and doubting her abilities.

During a telephone news conference Thursday, she said that at times during the competition those feelings would escalate, and other times she had a better handle on it.

"I didn't start singing until I was a teenager, and I never thought I had a nice voice," she says. "I thought it was a low, raspy thing. And when I would hear the other contestants sing during rehearsal, I would think, 'Wow! How did I get here?'"

White also said that for the past two weeks, she had a "gut feeling" that she would be leaving "American Idol." When it happened Wednesday night, she was trembling, crying and visibly shaken.

"I hoped so much that I could have been stronger," she said. "But I am an emotional girl and passionate."

The 24-year-old former nanny from Mesa, Ariz., says it was quite a ride and she is grateful that she got as far as she did in the competition.

Her departure this week is not surprising. The idol race is shaping up to be a battle of the boys.

"Oh, to be a boy this year," White said, noting that the fan mail for the male contestants arrives by the ton.

To read the complete interview, go to TBO.com, keyword: Walt TV.

CYBER TOWN HALL: WTSP, Channel 10, is planning a virtual town hall meeting from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday during which viewers can interact online.

The topic is "Let's Talk: Bullying," and it's in response to the recent case in Polk County where several high school students beat a school cheerleader while another teen videotaped the assault. More than 1,000 comments were posted on www.tampabays10.com condemning the act.

In addition to coverage during Tampa Bay's 10 newscasts, the station will host online discussions featuring local experts in education, youth counseling, school security and law.

'SPEED RACER' ANEW: With a new live-action version of "Speed Racer" coming to the big screen next week, Nickelodeon's Nicktoons Network launches "Speed Racer: The Next Generation" with a 90-minute special at 7 tonight.

The new animated series consists of 26 episodes that will run at 7 p.m. Fridays.

The update lacks the charm of the original 1960s Japanese import about a teenage race car driver who had the coolest car on the planet, the Mach 5. The most memorable thing about the original was the theme song, "Go Speed Racer Go."

"Speed Racer: The Next Generation" follows Speed after he arrives at the Racing Academy, where he meets friends Conor, Lucy and Chim Chim and proves he is the driver to beat.

Over the course of the series, Speed and his pals try to solve the mystery of his late father's disappearance and build a new racer, the Mach 6, which runs on a gasless engine designed by his father.

VIDBITS: TV Land is looking for older women who like younger men. A new elimination dating series (to be titled later) will have eligible young men vying for the attention of a sexy, accomplished, mature woman (aka Cougar).

One-hour episodes begin in early 2009. Casting for participants has begun nationwide. Sign up at Kasstinginc

.com.

•We scoffed at the notion of couch potatoes sitting through the NFL draft, but the live coverage topped the weekly cable ratings. Nielsen Media Research says ESPN's "NFL Draft" coverage, which began at 3 p.m. Saturday, was watched by 5.03 million viewers.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

Ghost Whisperer, 8 p.m., CBS

Actress Nikki Cox guest stars as an old flame of Professor Payne (Jay Mohr) who shows up and makes the ghost of Payne's wife jealous. In real life, Cox and Mohr are married.

Doctor Who, 9 p.m., Sci-Fi

Doctor Who (David Tennant) and his companion Donna (Catherine Tate) land in Pompeii on the day that the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupts.

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