Anyone watch "American Idol"?

[markydefad]

We briefly discussed this summer TV phenomenon somewhere last week. This has become the "in" show to watch; every night I see the final 6 contestants walk the Red Carpet at movie premieres, etc. and lotsa Hollywood types (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Samuel L. Jackson, Susan Sarandon, etc.) admit to being hooked on the program. And the ratings are boffo for summer programming; lots of folks in the rest of the country must be watching this show also. I learned tonight on Access Hollywood that Samuel L. Jackson is a cousin of mixed-race contestant Justin Guarini!!! Who knew???

Anyway, after tonight's performances (1940's Big Band Songs performed with a 13 piece band), I'm ranking the Final 6 as follows:

6) Nikki McKibbon ("Hard-Hearted Hannah") or
5) R.J Helton ("I Won't Dance"--He forgot his lyrics; recovered nicely-BUT he's NOT up to the competition. However, he seems to have a HUGE teen girl fan base, so I'm guessing he gets one more week)
4) Christina Christian ("The Glory Of Love"- she's lovely, and a nice singer-BUT she's outclassed by 2 other ladies).
3) Justin Guarini ("Route 66"-he almost got the axe last week, BUT he recovered nicely and I'm guessing he's gonna make the final 3 or 4)
2 & 1) A TIE: I can't choose between Tamyra Gray ("Minnie The Moocher") and Kelly Clarkson ("Stuff Like That There")--EVERY WEEK they are the 2 outstanding pros. This week was no exception. They sing with such confidence and aplomb, no matter what genre they are given to choose from, that they make everyone else seem merely good amateurs. These two girls have the goods to be professional singers. Whether they could make a hit record in today's creatively bankrupt climate, who knows????

Anyone else have opinions they'd like to share????

[nrgbeat]

Didn't Justin's hairstyle go out of style about 20 years ago?

[Jeff H]

I was going to e-mail you about this, Marky, since I actually watched the whole hour last night. Surely the style of music had something to do with that (less Mariah/boy band histrionics), and it was interesting to watch these kids perform a style of music they probably never knew existed before last week.

I agree almost completely with your rankings: As much as I've liked Nikki all along, her performance last night was deadly dull. And I can't decide who was the best, Tamyra or Kelly, though I'm leaning toward Kelly.

The only change I would make in your rankings would be to switch Justin and Christina. She could have done "Glory of Love" better (interesting that two songs covered by Bette Midler were performed), but Justin's delivery was too self-conscious; he should just join a road company of Godspell and get it over with.

And R.J.--a.k.a. Sam Harris 2002--looked really uncomfortable. Maybe he was just worried about getting sweat stains on that white suit.

Of course, none of these kids will ever be called upon to sing songs like this again, and any one of them would be able to burp out today's crappy pop music.

So I don't suppose we'll be critiquing West Wing tomorrow morning, huh, Marky?

[markydefad]

Jeffy,

You made me LOL with your crack about Justin & "Godspell"!!!!!

I actually was NOT watching him perform, I just heard him; BUT "Godspell" does seem a perfect match for him. Or possibly "Pippin"?????!!!! (Face it, he's he's got the John Rubinstein/Bozo hairdo--BUT I kinda like it on him. But he's awful cutesey) Lotsa BUTS here, huh????

Hope they do Broadway showtunes NEXT WEEK:
which one will it be? "Day By Day" or "Corner Of The Sky"????!!!!!!!!

_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-08-07 12:30 ]</font>

[markydefad]

Howard Stern had Ryan Starr (the ejected contestant from last week) on his show this morning. She told Howard she is still a virgin and doesn't masturbate (TAKE THAT, Anna Nicole!!!!). Howard also reiterated my opinion that the two tool hosts are the worst thing about the program and that Simon's tough critiques were the only thing that made the contestants bust their chops to IMPROVE each week. He slammed Paula Abdul's nicey-niceness (said all the contestants could sing her off the stage) and said that all Randy Jackson does is repeat the contestant's name "Kelly, Kelly, Kelly" cause he's really only thinking about what he's gonna eat after the taping.... Yes, Howard is CRUEL!!!!!!

Anyway, Howard & Robin tried to get Ryan to speculate on the eventual winner, BUT she wouldn't go there. SO, they finally admitted that, like me, there are TWO chicks vying for the winner's slot---Kelly and Tamyra. BUT, they BOTH said Kelly (the Mare Winningham-lookalike, in other words, not-that-hot looking girl with the GREAT voice) SHOULD WIN, but Tamyra, the Whitney Houston-looking contestant with the excellent voice, WOULD WIN. That does seem likely. However, I wouldn't feel that bad if Tamyra won. Face it, looks do count in terms of stardom.

Ask Phoebe Snow or Joan Armatrading if they would have had more promotion and airplay IF they looked like Diana Ross or Whitney Houston.

Well, we will know who gets the axe tonight between 9:30-10:00PM. Damn this is when I'm watching "Big Brother". I constantly have to flip back and forth. Maybe I'll have to watch one in the bedroom and tape one tonight. Decisions, decisions, decisions!!!!! :lol:

[markydefad]

I just saw Entertainment Weekly's grades for last night's performances (Tues 8/6):

6) Nikki C-
5) R.J. C
4) Christina B+
3) Justin A-
2) Tamyra A
1) Kelly A+

Hmmmm.....why does this seem so familiar????


_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-08-07 17:23 ]</font>

[Outsider]

I've also been watching "American Idol" (not last night, though, I took my fiancee out for her birthday, which was yesterday). Honestly, I don't know or care who will win. As I mentioned in another thread, I knew that it wouldn't be Ryan Starr, who was my fiancee's prediction as the winner.

[markydefad]

As straight-shooter judge SIMON SAYS, "This time America got it WRONG"!!!!!

Around 10 million voted-- and Christina was ousted ( BOTH Entertainment Weekly and I had ranked her #4 of 6 for Tuesday's performance.) Strangely, Christina was mysteriously rushed to the hospital before the show's taping with nervous exhaustion or dehydration or...did somone tip her off that she was outta there? Say it isn't so, American Idol!!! Pretty suspicious, I'd say...but, everyone ACTED like they were surprised. Nikki & R.J. were in the bottom three with Christina (NO SURPISE, there) BUT choices #5 (C) & #6 (C-) were saved and choice #4 (B+) got the hook!!!!

Well, as Simon said in an interview on Fox news after the show, it WASN'T Christina's turn to go--BUT she also WASN'T gonna win--so maybe she was done a favor by America's vote, stresswise, at least.

Any thoughts????

[Jeff H]

Maybe Christina and Tamyra split "the black vote"? And with her not being there, it was almost like everyone was talking about her as if she were dead.

Simon was also right when he told R.J. he was very lucky. Never underestimate the power of the teenybopper/young homosexual vote.

Marky, you compared Kelly to Mare Winningham, but I see Reese Witherspoon....

And this week's TV Guide reports that Ryan says he and Paula Abdul were dating, which Paula jokingly denied. Is Ryan the one you said is gay, Marky? He's certainly the cuter of the two--though they're both annoying.

[markydefad]

Jeffy,

The Reese Witherspoon comparison is apt; I was remembering her face a little differently. Something about that forties hairdo conjured up Mare Winningham in my mind.

Didja notice that even though there were 6 finalists at the time, ONLY 3 made the cover of last week's Entertainment Weekly? Tamyra, Justin & Kelly????? Is this thing rigged or what??? Is it just a lucky coincidence??? I know I'm conspiracy theory crazy!!!!!

Various gossip-meisters (Billy Masters, for one) have been making jokes about Ryan Seacrest (a local DJ on STAR) & MERV GRIFFIN !!!!!, for a long time!!!!! I don't know what it's all about, Jeffy---BUT I feel it's my duty to spread that dirt!!!!! :lol:

[markydefad]

Oh, and one mo thing I forgot:

Last night it hit me that R.J. is a dead ringer for a young.......(drum roll)....





(dare I say it???)



LIBERACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm NOT kidding!!!!!!! :lol:

[sutnop]

what is this show about???

[Outsider]

On 2002-08-09 11:02, sutnop wrote:
what is this show about???

"American Idol" is a competition for singers, and the winner gets a record contract. Think of it as a cross between "Star Search" and "Survivor".

[Blaxman]

Here in Brazil there is this same show called "Fama" (Fame).
It sucks!!! All singer come out singing like Britney Spears!!!! Arghful!!!! :lol:

The show name should be: "Crap Factory"

Peace

[sutnop]

In the country I am currently in
I have been told
there are 3 such shows

Fame Factory
Wannabee
and the biggest Popstars.....

Each has promised that this year
they will unlike previous years

Cocentrate more on the people audiotning with musical talent and brains
(yeah Right)
instead of like last year looks, attidtude and image and ohh yeah dancing skills.....

The thing was that last year after one of the audionts An aquintance of mine snapped up a couple of outcasts from the audtion and started a Female soul group

that has gained much more undergroun acclaim then thier
plastic fabrications.......