From the cuddly sweetness of Andrew Garcia to the rugged dreaminess of Casey James to the... unfortunate-colored teeth of Crystal Bowersox, American Idol's season 9 Top 24 is the "best ever, dawg."  But there's one contestant who's drawing the ire of parents, and that's former Color Purple cast member Todrick Hall.  And it has nothing to do with his song choices or dance moves.  In fact, it has nothing to do with AI at all.  Rather, it has to do with $50.

Or rather $50 times a bunch of angry would-be Munchkins.

Parents of children across the U.S. shelled out $50 to $75 for their children to participate as munchkins or flying monkey in Hall's show, Oz, the Musical (starring, interestingly enough, American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo).  Which is bad enough as it is, but when the musical was canceled, the kids lost their parts.  And, of course, their money.

That's right, the parents were left with no yellow brick road and no $50.  And those who ordered DVDs of the few performances that did go on never received them (cost: $35 a copy). 

Hall's partner claims that not only did Hall not want to charge kids to perform but that he "had no involvement in the money side of it at all." 

That's all well and good, but as the writer and producer of the show, it's not really an excuse.  And according to Votefortheworst.com, the musical collected money from 3,000 kids in Tennessee alone.  Do the math, and you know someone has been raking it in.  And even if the money debacle wasn't malicious, it was certainly negligent.  So, why would Hall go on national TV without meeting his monetary commitments?  Is he stupid?  Arrogant?  A con man?

What do you think?  Should American Idol release Hall?  Why hasn't he paid back the money he took?  And would you ever pay to have your kid perform?