Editing Jim Verraros (section)

=== Public response ===
When Verraros advanced into the top ten for ''American Idol''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s first season, Shaw (of ''Entertainment Weekly'') wrote of the contestant, "I can't decide whether I love him or loathe him."<ref name="Dish">{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/recap/we-dish-first-weeks-winners/|author=Jessica Shaw|title=We dish on the first week's winners|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 4, 2003|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref> She likened Verraros to a forgettable [[boy-band]] member, but also wrote that she had appreciated Verraros' decision to use sign language during his audition.<ref name="Dish"/> After Verraros was voted off the series, Shaw wrote of him, "I genuinely felt bad for the guy...Of course, I could have told you all that he wasn't advancing on to the next round. You can't follow up stellar singers like Tamyra and [[Justin Guarini|Justin [Guarini]]] with a tepid rendition of 'Easy.'"<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/recap/ejay-and-jim-get-booted-wheres-simon/|author=Jessica Shaw|title=EJay and Jim get booted – but where's Simon?|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 4, 2003|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref> Jim Derogatis of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' was more favorable. After watching all of the top ten finalists perform on their nationwide tour, he suggested that Verraros should have placed seventh and commended him for "doing as well as anyone could" with poor singing-material (referring to "Easy").<ref name="Derogatis">{{cite web |author=Jim Derogatis |date=October 18, 2002 |title=Sizing up the top 10 idols |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1461358.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028185254/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1461358.html |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2016 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref> Another positive review of Verraros came from Rick Shefchik of the ''[[Saint Paul Pioneer Press]]'', who wrote that Verraros sang a "tender version" of "When I Fall in Love" during the competition.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rick Shefchik |date=August 2, 2002 |title=New voices reach for something old. |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120215698.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328231230/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120215698.html |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |access-date=March 28, 2018 |work=Saint Paul Pioneer Press}}</ref> Most critics, however, voiced negative opinions. Amy Amatangelo of the ''[[Boston Herald]]'' wrote that Verraros "lacked stage presence"<ref>{{cite web |author=Amy Amatangello |date=September 5, 2002 |title=Singing waitress serves up a winner.(Arts and Lifestyle) |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-91110004.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028185254/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-91110004.html |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |access-date=March 28, 2018 |work=Boston Herald}}</ref> and Eric Deggans of ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'' called Verraros "obviously overmatched" among the other first season finalists.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eric Deggans|title=An Idol is Born|work=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|date=September 5, 2002}}</ref> In his review of ''[[American Idol: Greatest Moments]]'', Chuck Campbell of ''[[The Herald News]]'' was critical of Verraros' track on the album, writing "Verraros takes it too easy on his slack interpretation of [[Lionel Richie]]'s Easy."<ref>{{cite web |author=Chuck Campbell |date=October 17, 2002 |title=CD reviews |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-0F7137AA1C4FBDDF.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328231145/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-0F7137AA1C4FBDDF.html |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |access-date=March 28, 2018 |work=[[The Herald News]]}}</ref>