Lythgoe, contestants 'shocked' by 'Idol' racism charges

American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says he's "shocked" by a proposed lawsuit from nine past contestants claiming racial motivations for their public disqualifications from the show.

New York attorney James Freeman has filed a letter with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking to sue the show. Freeman claims the show violates California employment law, which forbids...