Harlemm lied about more than his age.....

Fame Forum

I could not believe that Harlemm had the nerve to stand there and say, "I have always wanted the chance to be a recording artist and do a record..." blah blah blah.

Harlemm Lee was on Star Search as Gerry Woo back around 1987. He was discovered on that show and signed to a record label. He had a couple of minor hits and then faded. It is unfair for him to compete in this competition having already had his shot at a recording career. And for him to change his name and pretend that this would all be new for him is such a slap in the face to the other contestants.

Jakrabit, I have been down this road before and people don't care about it. I understand your view more than you will ever know. I also know what happens when people lie. They have consequences to face sooner or later.

I don't believe the producers of Fame were fair to the other contestants, and I think every applicant should have been researched. But, there is something Fame didn't make clear to any of us. What were their standards of selecting and keeping participants?

Obviously, integrity was not one of those standards.

I've said before that the issue of whether Harlemm Lee performed in the 80s using the name Gerry Woo should have been cleared up by the show producers. Surely someone at NBC reads the message boards and is aware of the rumors involving Harlemm/Gerry.

If Harlemm Lee did perform in the 80s using the name Gerry Woo, the voting public should have been given that information.

Actually, I do care.

But I missed this Woo reiocarnated as Lee thing. I went on a hunt and presume you mean this :

http://aarising.com/personal/rant11.htm

Well, if this is true, it really stinks.

Does it really matter?

AS far as I know the show was about finding that thriple threat. Someone undiscovered who could sing, dance and whatever...

Was intergity, and who you really are had anything to do with the selection process? As far as I know they just held auditions.

I used to sing with Harlemm when he was Gerry, and can understand why there would be an issue with his recreation. That being said, the boy is hands down the best singer I have ever seen in my life. We used to just stand back and let him throw down. I could not be happier for him.

I know there is a huge issue about his age and marketability, but that just makes it more amazing to me that he kept at it. I honestly thought America would stop voting once his age came out. Thank God I was wrong.

i congratulate Harlemm on winning, he was my favorite contestant on the show, with by far the best energy. however it is disappointing to hear about the apparent lies. however, is that not the show biz?

I, as a member of the voting American public, do not care if Harlemm Lee ever performed under another name or on another show twenty years ago! (If, indeed, these rumors are true.) This man has a beautiful voice and a fresh style unlike anything I've seen. I watched FAME each week just to see what this one performer was going to do. He was clearly the most talented individual on that show. I would pay to see him performing on stage and look forward to his cd.

I guess I'm confused.

We all know that he lied about his age. This was announced on the show and been beaten to death on this board.

How do we know that he lied about his experience? How do we know for a fact that the producers of Fame did not know that he had recorded under another name (although Gerry Woo is Filipino and Harlemm said last night that he is Chinese - oh my gosh! Have we caught him in yet another lie?!?)? Maybe they made the decision that since there seems to be no rule against being a "professional" on this show that it did not matter and since it was such a long time ago there was no reason to bring it up (Serena, Shannon & Tyce are all currently employed as "professionals", which could be the reason that their experience was included).

Anyway, what's past is past. Hopefully Harlemm will make a name for himself, along with all of the other contestants.

They were all WONDERFUL!

Since Serena, Shannon and Tyce are all "professionals", I do not believe that this competition was for amateurs only.

It was not very well defined by the show and has caused some difficulties.

Again, I state, how do we know that Harlemm lied to the producers of Fame about his past experience (see my earlier post)?

You guys crack me up!

I agree that integrity is very important and that lying is not acceptable, no matter the circumstances.

However, if you guys think that you are pure in who you like or dislike based on integrity and honesty, you are really fooling yourselves! You would listen to very little music, watch very few movies or television, and NEVER VOTE!

Lots of people tell lots of lies, some big and some small. Is it right, no. Does our society seem to accept it? For some reason, yes!

The bottom line is, this is a television show - that's it. It's not like he lied to get us into a war or something!

Do you know for certain that Harlemm Lee & Gerry Woo are one in the same person? That's a strong statement to be making.

There's no reason that Harlemm should not have been a part of the Fame talent search. He auditioned just like everyone else & was one of the fortunate to be chosen.

I'm not sure if anyone REALLY knows if they are the same person, although there was an article in a magazine stating that they are. Also, someone posted stating that they sang back up with Gerry Woo in the 1980's

I know I won't get a response, but I have sent an e-mail to NBC (Fame) requesting clarification.

If I get anything (and I won't hold my breath) I'll let everyone know.

Yes Harlemm is Gerry. Used to sing with him.

actually we sang together in a gospel choir in the mid 90's.

So what, he raaaawks, the competition is everything with him, NOTHING without him...

Kukabeara,
Too bad you don't boycott this forum!

I couldn't figure out how to post a picture but if you go to artistdirect.com and type in Gerry Woo. There is a picture of him and it sure looks like Harlemm to me. (btw...I am a big Harlemm Lee fan, I was just curious.

I write for one of the reality show websites and wrote a story on Harlemm/Gerry before the end of the show. I received many emails from people who knew Gerry and who verified that he was the same guy. People had nothing but nice things to say about him but were disappointed that he wasn't truthful about his past.

The ironic thing is that his past could have been dealt with in a way that would play into the whole Fame thing. The perfect time for him to acknowledge this would have been in the film clip they showed before he performed. He could have said something like "I had a shot at fame once and blew it..." whatever. By not saying anything, he perpetuated the lie. One person I heard from told me his mother and Harlemm's mother were friends. I mean did he think that everyone who knew him would vanish.

I personally feel that the show insulted the viewers by totally overlooking all of this. How could they not have known? Those of us who write about these shows knew? You knew? All you have to do is "Google" and you can find all these articles. Do they think we are all total morons? That is what got me with the Tyce thing too. He was so easy to uncover.

I hope they never do this show again. If they do, I won't watch it. It was sham from the get-go and although I think Harlemm is talented and hope that he does well, the whole show left me feeling totally cheated.

Strictly my opinion!

Harlemm has been presented to the America public as just a regular guy with a dream. A data entry clerk who has waited all his life for stardom.

The film clips of who he is said nothing about a previous career as Gerry Woo. If Harlemm is Gerry Woo, he is guilty of deception.

If he won a talent contest, recorded a CD, had videos and a couple of minor hits, that is something that is part of who he is.

Serena's history of singing backup for Gladys Knight was known. Shannon's history of singing with a rock band and being an NBA dancer was known. Tyce's history as a professional dancer was known. Why was Harlemm Lee allowed to erase his history as Gerry Woo?

Oh guys get over the moral issue...If it had been so important you would have never seen Harlemm perform in the first place!!
All I know is that he captivated me more than I have been in years. Let's not forget the pleasure we felt by becoming too intellectual about it. It's only entertainment!

Yes TORQUEVADA, you"...like it when cheaters are found...", you are a true inquisitor, we know that, poor lost soul. If you had the power you would burn them alive wouldn't you!!??

If stoning others makes your day, rest assured that you will harvest what you sowed...Be prepared for a rain of rocks one of these days!!!!

Ahoy Foushou,

Thank you for your kind words.

I do hope you do not refrain from contributing to the site: you added some very interesting points.

I shall read your further contributions with curiosity

For now.

Mr Cargo

PS Thank you INVAR for keeping me entertained.

In case you haven't noticed, a lot of this forum is about what Fame is, isn't, should be, shouldn't be, and what we would like it to be. I'm one in a crowd of members on this forum who are asking questions, posting views, and hopefully, Fame 2 will be better because of our posts.

this issue was cleared up in a website i came across, apparently it is not against the show rules if or not the contestants had previously had a contract, the only rule is that they should not be signed up now, during the show.
for example, on the show last comic standing, half of the contestants have been well established over the past 10+ years, (one of them even made history as being the first and only white stand up to have appeared on Def Comedy Jam), and he has repeatedly made appearances on the Rosie O'Donnell Show, but this does not qualify any of them, because where are they there for? a comedy central special in their name and countless other projects on tv and on tour.
the same goes for other contests, only present recording deals are considered not past ones.
also, about the age thing, harlemm cannot be disqualified because it does not say in show rules that age is an issue. AI on the other hand has an age range within which contestants have to be in to qualify for the show.
whether it is or isn't an issue of morality/integrity, that's a whole different issue. i think we can more than agree that tv, least of all reality tv, is far from being founded on morals...

What I dislike KUKA, is not YOU, ( no need to get paranoiac on me now!).
It is your constant reference to moral laws to cast out people that you do not know, that bothers me.....Moral is a personal thing, and it has to stay that way. Otherwise it becomes an instrument of oppression. It is very clear to me that a great majority of the problems arising in this world stem from the fact that individuals take it on themselves to decide how others should behave...Of course they will say that they do it acccording to whatever "scripture" they are attached to by virtue of their individual faith. But in fact all they are doing is interpreting in a total subjectivity, a text, that was never intented but for the sole purpose to inspire each individual to better themselves (and solely themselves!).
It was never meant to be an instrument for the judgment of others. Justice serves that purpose. It has its institutions to make sure that the societal peace is maintained. Let them do their job.
To abstain from morally based judment is a sign of moral health; it shows that you understand that you are not above the problems that might affect others. To say that somebody is a liar, implicates that you are not, and that it is simply impossible!!
Do you get that??????????????
You yourself have been caught lying on this forum. You justified it with some convoluted ridiculous logic, but in the end fooled no one. If you recognized that, it would make you a much nicer person. As long as you will cling to your rigid self-righteous self, people will not want to be around you. Why ? Because, they'll know that at anytime you can condemn them. I am surprised that you haven't discovered yet the mirror effect law : if we start looking for lies in others, then they start doing the same thing with us, and once everybody has been proven a liar, what's next? A freeking dead-end!

FREE YOUR MIND AND YOUR A.... WILL FOLLOW!!

First, let me say, Foushou -- excellent, excellent post


Kuk: Alas, I grow weary but feel the need to reiterate something.

Harlemm did not "laugh it off". He came clean with the producers of the show and they let him stay in the competition. Then American voted and decided they wanted to see and hear more of him. On the Today program with Matt Lauer on Thursday Harlemm indicated that he was the one who brought up the issue. He admitted that he lied about his age. He was not fired but, instead, forgiven -- forgiveness is an option.

"It's all about love... yeah, yeah..." come on everybody, sing with me "It's all about love, love, love..." -- from the song "I Love You Love Me". I think it's time for that group hug now

Thank you dove654 for making my 1st point.

thanks DOVE and DDKAY, for proving the point again.
KUKA, once again you show your total lack of logic.

You compare a "cheat", (i.e: the marathonian that is doped), and a "lie". Both are 2 different things. The cheater erase the competition by enhancing his performance with artificial means.
Harlemm's lie did not enhance anything which was not there in the first place!! The competitors were not deprived of a fair competition !!!!!!!!! It would have been a determining factor to eliminate him only if the show had been entitled FAME JUNIOR, where obviously the age of the competitors would have been a determining factor of their participation.
Ok if you can't understand that now, just don't bother replying and go back to college. Take a unit on philosophy and logic!!!

Oh a little advice KUKA. Please, do not go into your 3 miles long, verbosity striken, under-hypnosis answers, before actually REALLY reading our posts...It defeats the purpose of writting to you! thanks.

I can't let you spread your delirious points of view....

Harlemm didn't cheated to be the winner of Fame but it was the American public that voted him to be. If the american public thought he shouldn't be in the competition then they should had not voted for him.
So stop blaming Harlemm!
If some people are saying that they didn't vote for Harlemm because of high morals then are they thinking that the american majority have low morals?
So direct your anger towards the correct source.

Complex of persecution, paranoid, hallucinations....you name it you've got it KUKA. Nobody is trying to stop you. We are exercising our right to be outraged.