Paula Abdul responds to critics who say this year's American Idol frontrunners Carly Smithson and Michael Johns violate the amateur-seeking spirit of the show. Both singers had record deals before they sang for your votes. Paula says, "I can name you contestants from every single season that [have] had some sort of deal.The rules are, if they have not had a successful run at their deal, then they are eligible. And it kind of legitimizes the show. If they haven't [succeeded], especially in the later years -- 26, 27, 28 -- haven't really made a go out of making their name heard and getting deals, then [it's] not really relevant. We're looking for making that actual dream really materialize."
