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William Hung American Idol Legend

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William Hung American Idol Legend.

While a civil engineering student at University of California, Berkeley, Hung was inspired to audition for the third season of the reality talent search program American Idol in San Francisco during September 2003 after winning a talent contest at his dormitory. The President of the Hall Association and the Publicity Director at the Clark Kerr dormitory invited Hung to sing during meetings and events, including an end-of-semester auction.

American Idol producers never told him that his audition would be broadcast, and he only found out about it when it aired four months later. His was the final audition on the January 27, 2004 installment, the coup de grâce of an hour-long episode that showcased other would-be pop stars, mostly lacking in talent.

"Um, I really like music. It is very good. I want to make music my living." This was Hung's statement before he started singing Ricky Martin's "She Bangs!". As judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul tried to hold back their laughter, judge Simon Cowell dismissed Hung's performance outright: "You can't sing, you can't dance, so what do you want me to say?" Hung defended himself, stating "Um, I already gave my best, and I have no regrets at all." Jackson and Abdul applauded his positive response, and Abdul said, "That's the best attitude yet." Hung's response to Cowell's criticism was in stark contrast to earlier contestants' often angry, confrontational rejoinders. Hung also remarked, "And you know, I have no professional training of singing and dancing," eliciting a response of mock surprise from Simon Cowell, saying "No? Well this is the surprise of the century." Hung was not admitted to the next round.