Drew Cummings, the Miami film and television professor who is filing an age discrimination suit against the Fox network after he discovered he was too old to participate in the US version of Pop Idol has now launched a new website allowing people of all ages to participate in a national talent competition. Called America's New Stars the site aims to be a forum where new artists can reach the public. Readers of the site will also be able to compare the "musical talents" of Cummings to that of this week's "Idol" performers.
Announcing the site Cummings told reporters: "I am proud to be associated with a new venture such as this, which has no discrimination. Talent and creativity have no age barriers, and this website will give the forum to thousands of talented men and women (young and old) to be heard by potentially millions of people around the world. It will also allow me the opportunity to answer the question that has been asked by countless television shows which have invited me as a guest, then cancelled because I wouldn't sing - whether I can sing or not became an irrelevant point once I wasn't allowed the opportunity to compete at the American Idol auditions because of my age. It is still irrelevant, but at least the general public can now hear me and decide for themselves."