TV: March 2007 Archives

I've created two posts, two days in a row, about American Idol. As much as I hate to do it, I'm going to post again - about American Idol. But this post isn't going to be a prediction of the outcome, who did what and how well ( or poorly ) they did it, or who should be sent home.

I think it's time I moved beyond that and open a discussion of what is driving this season's decline from what started as a great idea to the beacon of mediocrity it is quickly becoming. I suppose that's an unfair statement. It isn't that the producers made a conscious decision to drive the show into the ground. And perhaps, as demonstrated by the popularity of the show, it isn't really being driven into the ground. But it would appear that there is a concerted effort to invalidate the integrity ( well, I'm using the term integrity very loosely here ) of the show.

American Idol has willingly fallen victim to the stupidity of the mob. Let's face it . . . there are people making gazillions of dollars off of the show. As consumers, is it too much to expect that there is at least some semblance of an attempt to remove any air of impropriety? Or are they merely basking in the riches that the publicity is giving them? Allow me to explain . . .

Has America lost it's mind? Chris and Stephanie in the bottom two? Clearly, Phil and Sanjaya should have been there instead.

I'm beginning to believe there is something to a website I came across - Vote for the Worst. Could it possibly be that Sanjaya will hold on to the very end?

Please, please say it isn't true. Don't let this travesty continue. Although I will add that Stephanie hasn't been the best, she didn't deserve to go home this early on.

She should have been in the top 10.

Gotta say. Most of the American Idol contestants were really giving it their all. For me, there were quite a few that really shined tonight. A few of them did stand out, but I did have a few favorites and picks for the bottom three tomorrow night. Lastly, I have a suggestion that may or may not be all that popular - but then again that's never stopped me from speaking my mind ( or what's left of it ) before.

• Haley Scarnato - I think she's done the best I've seen from her this season. What's more . . . she looked really hot.
• Jordin Sparks - What can I say? This girl can sing. In my opinion, she'll go home with the American Idol title.
• Blake Lewis - Definitely a top three contender. This guy pushes the bar every time with his individual style and creativity.

The rest did what I believe is what they are really capable of doing. I suppose that could be taken a couple different ways so let me clarify.

• Phil Stacey - Vocals were nothing to write home about. He was pretty much on par with what he normally does. He'll be in the bottom three again next week.
• Lakisha Jones - She did her regular awesome singing, but didn't really bring anything new. I doubt she has anything to worry about for at least a few more weeks.
• Chris Richardson - He can sing really well, but I'm not impressed by the songs he sings.
• Chris Sligh - Nothing to rave about, but another good performance.
• Stephanie Edwards - Great Singer, but again, it was pretty much what I expected.
• Sanjaya Malakar - Why are you still here? Go home already.
• Gina Glocksen - A rocker is really at a disadvantage in the American Idol competition. I really think that she pours her heart out in every performance, but she might be in the bottom three this week.

I'm going out on a limb here . . .

My last point - and then I promise . . . I'll shut up and go to sleep. Melinda Doolittle needs to go home. Wait . . . please, don't throw that at me. Hear me out . . . She's in too much of a league of her own for this competition. I think her performance tonight really proves that. Up until this point I believed her only vocal competition was Lakisha. But Lakisha kind of missed her mark tonight and Melinda shined. But she shined so brightly that she eclipsed everyone else - vocally. But then again, she is a professional singer. So I think she should have eclipsed the other performers that are high school students, hairstylists, and other professions.

I think she should be voted off much in the same way as Chris Daughtry was voted off last year and go on to make her own album without the assistance of the American Idol title. She doesn't need it the same way that some of the others do. She could leave tonight and most likely be awarded with a recording contract. She doesn't need a stepping stone. She's had enough exposure that proves she deserves to be out front instead of being a back-up singer. I know this sounds a little off, but then again it's my take on the whole thing.

Who's your favorite? Who will go home and who will stay?

Honestly, the guys really need to raise the bar a bit.

Despite the fact that my wife tied me to my chair and forced me to watch, I struggled to keep my attention on the contestants last night. I continue to wonder what the judges, and now the people voting, even begin to see in Sanjay.

Are there a bunch of dysfunctional, 10 year-old girls out there voting for him because, "He's just soooooo cute." Or is he getting the popular votes from, uh, guys that think he is just soooo cute?

He obviously can't sing. Furthermore, does anyone else think he bears a strong resemblance to Michael Jackson? Phil, in his stupid little hat, really looked like a dork. And his big ol' dorky ears made him look incredibly stupid besides the fact that his rendition of the song really stank. I think my grandfather had a hat like that once upon a time. But then again, he was 67 years old and it was ok for 67 year old men to wear dorky looking hats.

Take one part Sundance and one part Pearl Jam and what do you get? A really bad rendition of a really cool song. Chris Daughtry could have pulled it off, but you didn't Sundance. They should change his name to Sundown and give him a plane ticket home.

Brandon needs to make a decision. ( I'm paraphrasing a bit ) He said last night that he wanted to come out on the stage and have fun. Well, he needs to pick . . . Does he want to win or does he want to have fun? Perhaps both can be done but I don't think people are voting on how much fun he's having. They will vote on how much they like you, the songs you sing, and how well you entertain. I really believe the girls are considerably more talented than the guys this season. Hopefully they'll live up to my expectations tonight.