Booted 'Idol' Contestant Lands Lead Role - Frenchie Davis to Dreamgirls...

[macbeth]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 1:27pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=16006

I've never watched American Idol. Can she hold the slightest candle to Jennifer Holiday?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 1:59pm

Effie is one of those roles that will forever remembered as Jennifer Holliday. Like Streisand in Funny Girl or Channing in Hello Dolly. I never watched American Idol either, but kudos to her. I'm kind of sad that it didn't go to the amazing Fuschia Walker or Lillias White (now featured in Cy Coleman's Like Jazz at the Mark Taper Forum in LA).

[DefyingGravity2]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 2:13pm

I did watch AI. Frenchie was the best contestant from day one until after she was kicked off. SHe later went on to play the seasons of love soloist in RENT and u/s of Joanne. She is AMAZING and will be very different than Holliday. BUT, incredible nonetheless.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 2:16pm

Why was Frenchie booted off?

Yes, I've never watched American Idol, either.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 3:17pm

Frenchie was booted off because they found out she bared her breasts on a website.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 3:20pm

She was Joanne's u/s? I didn't know that. Did she ever go on for Joanne?

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 3:22pm

Which is a really stupid reason. She did that before she was on American Idol. She is so much better than Rubin...then again, I feel a lot of people sing better than Rubin.
Oh well. Good for Frenchie. She is very vocally talented and should not be condemmed for one little thing she did before she was famous (and probably in a desperate way to make money).

Posted: 12/15/03 at 3:35pm

Yeah! Finally I get to see something good! I live in CA soon to live in San Francisco and Dreamgirls will only be 45 minutes away!!! And right now i live in LA and Lilias White and Jennifer Holliday are starring in a Jazz show 15 minutes from my house! what a wonderful month!!!!!

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 8:41pm

Frenchie is amazing... I believe that all of the controversy that was stirred up during AI was for publicity. I'm so glad for her!

[Thetruth]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 9:12pm

She's no Jennifer. Granted, there will never be another Jennifer.This girl has way too much tude. I used to be a fan, but in her more recent interviews, she has come off as very arrogant.

[Kev]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 9:22pm

Yes, Frenchie did go on as Joanne. She did well in the role, no real complaints. She sang it much like Kenna Ramsey (the regular Joanne), and sounded vocally great. Her acting left a bit to be desired, but it was just fun to watch Frenchie be large and in charge!

Posted: 12/15/03 at 9:36pm

Wow, I adored Kenna Ramsey as Joanne!! She rocked my freaken world! So, Frenchie sang better??!?! Wow. Updated On: 12/15/03 at 09:36 PM

[Kev]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 12:17am

I said she sounded much "like" Kenna's vocal stylings, not better hehe. But yeah, I didn't necessarily think she was better. More time in the role, maybe. But as far as Kenna goes, she has a pretty great handle on a role, with a clear rockin' voice to boot...

[PaigeTurner]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 1:19am

Frenchie Davis DID NOT pose nude! She wore negligee in photos that appeared on an adult website!

[Princess MimiChica]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 9:54am

Anyone who saw and heard Frenchie's first audition was thinking, "Jennifer WHO?!" =D

No doubt that she has ahn amazing voice. But I do have to admit, in some of her pics she DID look like a porno star for some reason!!

[Al Dente]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 10:00am

I think it's insulting to Holliday to even compare the two.

[EffieWhite]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 10:23am

Well obviously, considering my name, I need to weigh in (be quiet) on the subject.
Everyone here seems to forget (or is too young to have been there) that when Jennifer opened in DREAMGIRLS she couldn't act her way out of a wet paper bag. Her singing was extraordinary--her line readings were pathetic. She has worked hard and gotten somewhat better over the years but....
And maybe we shouldn't judge Frenchie's Effie UNTIL SHE OPENS.