We had such a grand discussion about the contest last season I thought we might give it another whack this year . I always get a real kick out of what everybody is thinking. So far we're just in the audition phase of things (which I rarely watch/rarely can stomach) - but, lucky me , this year I watched. A little. I like the show when the field is small enough so as to be able to "connect" with the singers somehow - these cattle calls are no more than chaos to me. And, personally, I don't want to suffer through 15 clown-like William Hungs to get that 15-second hint of a Chris Daughtry. This year, aside from "what intoxicant is Paula ingesting in 2007" discussions (didn't those happen last year, too?), this "is 'American Idol' too mean?" business is hot. My take on that is, simply, "Yes, it can be." But everybody knows that after six years of it; we the people who watch -and- those daring (albeit often misguided) brave souls who put themselves and their varying degrees of skill in front of Simon Cowell et al. If those contestants don't know the way it works they have clearly not done their homework and are just having a spot of fun at the audiences' expense. Given that, the risks are indeed high. Should they have dissed those two high schoolers the way they did ("bush baby" is uncalled for in any situation; I mean really )? But where were those boys' parents? Teachers? Somebody who is supposed to look after them? Why are the judges getting slammed (for doing their jobs - they're often "in character" just like any other TV star is; deal with it)? These folks have 5 or 6 auditions with producers prior to ending up in front of Randy and company. Um, anyone who thinks the biggest responsibility doesn't lie with them [the execs] doesn't understand TV and ratings (which "Idol" gets plenty of ~ so who's watching now, whining about it later?). This is a big part of why I dislike watching the 'auditions phase'. I don't enjoy watching people embarrassing themselves, I don't enjoy watching an otherwise (likely) nice person get their feelings stomped on. Scary that double digit millions do every time they air such nonsense.
But, as for the contest itself...anyone seeing standouts this year yet? I was jazzed by the brother/sister pair ~ I believe they were part Indian? The girl was lovely and sang great but her little brother was simply amazing! 16 years old and so naturally gifted. Other than them...I haven't really noticed any of the good singers too much. There's a very good reason for that, though. We're expected to get a bigger kick out of these bad ones at this point. Which [*sigh*] I don't.
Anybody watching yet?

I did see it last week for the first time ever in my life. There were some people with obvious problems, and I wondered why they had been included, their singing was atrocious and someone should have stopped them from entering. That should have been enough, but that person Simon was far, far worse in what he said to them. I squirmed in pain for those people . He was downright cruel. I do not see the point in mocking and degrading people who are unable to respond appropriately.Where is the entertainment in that? So I shall not watch it again.

The brother/sister pair were excellent. Their dad was a famous Indian musician. Both excellent.

Another standout was "Sundance" Head. His dad was also a musician.

My favorite so far was the 16 year old who admitted she was a crack baby. I see tons of potential there.

Also, the young lady who has been singing backup. Now SHE can wail.

I agree with all of Kelly's choices - some good singers there.

I admit to having some problems with the whole concept. On the one hand, yes, the judges are seriously mean (does Randy seem ruder this year than last?). On the other, what is with these contestants? Surely they understand what they are letting themselves in for? There was one woman who styled herself the number one fan of the show, who seemed shocked and amazed that they didn't like her and were rude to her. I would think that at the very least, entrants should have a
realistic understanding of what is possible - part of the deal is that you may be holding yourself up to public humiliation. If you can't take that, don't enter. Simple.

They often were more gentle with the obviously completely out-of-their-depths contestants - the woman whose mother came in to the audition with her (the ones who had written a novelette about the show) for instance. On the whole they seem to reserve their worst comments for the cocky young people who have absolutely no idea of how bad they were, yet are full of misplaced confidence. As Simon said to the backup singer "most come in here full of attitude and with no talent - you have the talent and no confidence". There seems to be a real sense of entitlement to many of the entrants - they just show up, not very good, and are enraged when they are not welcomed with open arms. Some seem never to have sung in public before - they are judging themselves by how they sound to their own ears in the shower.

I sing in public fairly often, I am a committed karaoke nut. I have a fairly good idea of what my singing ability really is, judged by a good ear and the applause of people who have nothing to gain by flattering me. I know that I can wow a crowd of drunks who all know me. I also know that this does not for even a second mean that I am good enough for American Idol - I know how often I go off key, I know how limited my range is, I know that I can't always trust my voice to produce what I ask of it. AND, I know what I look like. A surprisingly large percentage of contestants on the show appear to not have this much self knowledge.

So, here's my dilemma. Can I stand to watch deluded people being told something on national TV that their best friends should have told them in private? What does this say about my character, that I sometimes get a twisted pleasure out of seeing this? That fact of my job here at FT gives me too much exposure to young people with a lot of attitude and not much to back it up probably has something to do with the answer.

I must say I was thrilled to see Ian (Mr. Chinchilla) Does anyone else remember him from So You Think You Can Dance?
Now that's a great performer!

Yes, Ian was especially "on it" this time, wasn't he ?
Oh, and I too was blown away by 'Sundance'. Wow! Great voice. Also the back-up singer girl...incredible. She looked absolutely petrified during the audition, though (not that that should matter much).
And what was up with the dude who looked a little bit Amish, a little bit Pakistani terrorist ? Yikes. And he made it through, even! Certainly, then, one's "demeanor" shouldn't carry a lot of weight as things progress this season...

Oh!!! The Castro guy?

He totally floored me. He has a voice under all that - I was chatting with a friend of mine, and made the comment that if he cleaned up a bit, he might make it through, and they sent him to Hollywood!

The long hair is fine, but the beard and clothing should definitely be updated. If THAT happens, he may have a chance.

As for our dear Mr Ian... good riddance!

I saw an interview with Jewel after she did the guest judging. She was very sympathetic to the judges after having experienced the mind-numbing auditions with them. She said that some of these kids would go in there thinking they were honestly GOOD, and that someone had to be the one to tell them, bluntly, that they were not.

I would hope I had friends who would tell me NOT to do something so stupid.

OK, how about that girl on Wednesday night's show who said she knew she was tone deaf but didn't understand why the next American Idol had to be someone who could sing? I actually thought the judges had more patience with her than I would have. She thought it was totally outrageous that they wouldn't pick her and then have someone teach her to sing!

I quite agree! And then she had to yap on to the cameras. There comes a point where you have to be rude. It all comes down to this: We are not the ones sitting in the judges' chairs all day long. We have NO idea what they actually go through. We only see a very small, edited portion of their day. I believe I would not be so nice myself.

Whew! While I can't address the successful auditions that have happened that we didn't get to watch (and they amount to quite many, I know) this is looking like it's going to be the most unusual 'looking' "Idols" season yet ! I'm liking that, actually - I've historically wondered where all the massively successful/talented singers are hiding out in the world who don't look like Tim McGraw or Faith Hill. One doesn't have to look like a hunk/hunkette running around shirtless on a daytime soap opera to be an ace singer, after all, and the exceptions seem strangely few in the big picture. I thought the Amish scary one was a novelty to let through (sorta) but they put the overweight David Letterman-ish fellow through last night with minimal resistance ! Yay. He actually sang pretty well, too, and I was hyper-critical about him as I really like that Seal song.
I'm wondering, also...do they verify the back stories on these singers at this stage of things? Yikes indeed. That one girl (who is going to Hollywood now) who lives with her grandmother and is caring for her paralyzed father? If that weren't enough said paralysis came as a result of said father shooting his wife and then himself? Ye Gods. That just sounds TOO weird all the way around to me. Of course it didn't help that the daughter/bullet dodger in question put me immediately in mind, on sight, of that Kellie Pickler favorite of ours from last year ...

Ugh. Kellie Pickler indeed. AND from North Carolina as well. I mean, give me a break. And she just stood there and smiled through it.

How about Big Bird? Trying to pass herself off as 26. Then 33. HAH! When she finally said 50 it made me wonder why they even let her through in the first place. Oh... right. Entertainment value.

Do they still have an age limit of 29?

Quote:

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I've historically wondered where all the massively successful/talented singers are hiding out in the world who don't look like Tim McGraw or Faith Hill.

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In my own experience they're all performing in happnin' little jazz clubs...
Or as back-up singers for people who DO look like Faith Hill, etc.

Although we dont see American Idols, I caught Larry Kings show last week and was wondering what was with the girl who got down on her knees and begged? Isn't failure humiliating enough? Did she realy have to humiliate herself again?

I agree, when they do the local Idols show, I don't like watching the elimination rounds - except for the realy funny ones!

Oh, yes...that "begging" girl was wholly embarrassing to see. Apparently her mother WAS a singer in HER youth - with Dean Martin's "Goldiggers", if anyone remembers them . Apparently lofty aspirations run in the family ? Yikes...the poor girl sang just a little bit above average. I reckon that's all it took back in 1973, according to her mother?

And no one's mentioned that older fellow who auditioned in honor of his wife who had died of cancer just a day or two prior to his appearance!? Wow. That was just too heartbreaking (and, I thought, yet another push of good taste). THEN he sings well, just to make it even more painful to watch.
Ratings, I'm sure, soared......

Yes I saw the old guy too. But what is the age limit on the show? At least he did not try and pretend he was 26! Everyone on Larry King was crying.

He was 64, and he made me cry too.

He was the big winner that night

I looked on the net and found that the minimum age limit is 16 and the max is 28 so I wonder why they let him sing at 64.

I would have let him sing

I think they did the right thing.

Argh. First to say, I'm real glad the field is whittled down to a mostly recognizable number of people now. Did anybody watch the twelve guys have at it last night? I was reminded of two or three things mostly - one being that 'playing it safe' not only gets you soundly insulted but also makes for a pretty lackluster show to watch, too. From my seat there was no real fireworks from any of 'em (but no real duds, either...). I was real quick to recall that there are significant reasons why I'm not qualified to be an "Idol" judge ! Jeesh, there I was thinking that Sanjaya did a terrific job on 'Knocks Me Off My Feet' only to hear the judges just pummel the poor kid in triplicate! Even Paula hated his performance! I still think others did worse, though. I guess the hairless guy at the end - or should I call him the extremely pale hairless guy? - did the best but he just put me in mind of Nosferatu too much for me to get too comfortable as he sang. I liked that Blake dude and his little "Sting" bit going on. He seemed like one who will last. I'm already in the soup, too, since one of them has that "Elliot" factor that sucked me in last year. Good singer, excellence right there so close to the surface, nice person by the looks of it, his first audition was terrific. I think his name is Nicholas? Very bluesy voice on the road but last night he didn't really display that part and was good but probably not good enough. He does LOOK better than Elliot did last year, though, and his teeth were actually impressive (I check these matters out now in a hurry, much like someone shopping for a good horse might ?). Chris Sligh rules, too, and I can't help but say so. I just love it when bully tactics (ala Simon) are met with even better/sharper bully tactics! He actually had Simon squirming last night and, if you ask me, that deserves some extra phone-in points somewhere, especially so early on. Naturally, the notion will be that Sligh barked up the wrong tree and has far too much to lose to be such a smart aleck. Simon is only a panelist on a TV show, though, no matter how you care to shake it. He's NOT Thor issuing climate-changing thunderbolts or something. Since I firmly believe that one can be a choice singer, credible artiste, successful "Idol" contestant, etc. without necessarily kissing Simon's butt, I'm liking Sligh big and fuzzy-headed bunches at this point in the party. He also sang mighty well last night, in my humble opinion. As for which fellow will be eliminated first? I don't think it'll be Chris Sligh. Or the Nosfaratu-skip-the-birth-of-your-kid-to-audition guy. Hopefully not Sundance (who could and probably will do much better as this thing goes forward - the guy has pipes indeed). It'll probably boil down to who America thought was the least appealingly nervous out of the pack. I reckon that could be any of 'em, depending on who you ask?

Did you notice the guy at the end had the most fantastic eyes?? Wow, now that did impress me.You look at them next time. Limpid pools indeed.... sigh

Nobody last night really impressed me with their performances. As the judges commented several times, the first auditions were way better than some of those performances. Phil Stacy (the hairless guy) and Chris Sligh are my favorites. I'd say Chris will have a comeback for any remark Simon throws at him!

*Still sitting here enjoying the 'afterglow' ....*
Now, really, Wednesday night was the entire reason why I get so jammed up with "American Idol"! What send-me-to-Heaven "chick singer" bliss that was. I was expecting it to be good (it had to be an improvement over those guys the night prior ) but it started out with a shattering bang and, with just a few stinkers, got louder and better. Lakisha was awesome, I'll say so in a hurry. Talk about the 'big guns', too ~ does anybody who sings that "Dreamgirls" song, even when they do it just mostly right, NOT stop the show? She was exceptional, though...but I just kept marveling at her performance with this built-in dread about trying to picture that kind of talent finding its way through "country night" (she put me in mind of the somewhat similiarly gifted Mandisa last year who was sent packing after just one stab at, I think, a Faith Hill tune). As a result, I was thrilled yet unfortunately nervous about our single Mom/bank teller superstar-ready-for-take-off. Then along came Sabrina who was just incredible and doesn't seem too locked into a genre (her I CAN see pulling off a honky tonk song if she had to). Then, yes, my favorite of them all (just my personal say-so there; she may or might not be as good as some of the others - but her charisma/demeanor just suits the shirt right off my back ): the back-up singer Melinda. My gosh, she not only took to the front of the stage last night, she tore it to pieces while she was up there! The woman didn't miss a note, an emotion, a gesture - she did it all perfectly. Then, add to that, she roared while she was doing it. I was privately giving her a standing ovation in my living room! I love moments like that. But, again, can she sing Faith Hill ? If you get my subliminal message that I think they should throw that blasted "Nashville" night off the back porch, you'd be right.
Anyway, it's too bad only six of the ladies will make the Top 12. I can see maybe 8 who deserve such a spot a LOT more than many more than three of the guys do. But, I reckon that a few more performances could change things all over the place. I think it's safe to say that Stephanie, Sabrina, Melinda and Lakisha can count on being in California for a while, though. I'm probably one of the few, but I kinda liked that dog walker girl, too. I can't put my finger on it, but she impressed me as 'potential' just waiting to jump out and come to happen in stereo. Or maybe not?

If Lakisha doesn't win I will eat my Ned Kelly hat, corks and all.

I loved Melinda and Lakisha .. some other great ones there too, such a strong field in the ladies' category this year!

Not that it could be otherwise (considering that they really weren't very good, almost across-the-board, last week ), the guys came alive on Tuesday night, didn't they? They must watch these folks rehearse and line them up right as they perform - putting Sundance last for the show was, um, perfect for sure! If he can keep that up, even in part, I can see him going very far as the contest builds - the man sang that song in a mighty way (and even risked the public humiliation of admitting that he had haispray in his beard when he was finished ). I liked Sanjaya from the first auditions but that business he did last night, while sweet and sincere, was a bit strange, I thought. He sings well for such a young lad, seems like a decent kid ~ but the Michael Jackson look was just, well, unsettling somehow. The "boom box" guy is likely 'in', the "Justin Timberlake" guy did good, too (am I the only one who thinks he might be better than any member of NSYNC is/was?). My favorite, Nick, is already on thin ice but he really tried better last night and, in my opinion, should stay. I love those 'smoky' vocals, though, while full aware that many call-in voters might not. Phil will go through, too, don't you think? I thought his version of that song was just OK but, good heavens, he's a new Dad/former soldier who sings better than just good! It would be almost unthinkable NOT to vote for him, I reckon . Whew! It was a relief, I must say, to hear the guys offer up some competition to that crowd of spectacular ladies. Makes it more interesting. But, still, none of the men measured up enough to be BESTED by the women, or so it seemed to me last night. As Simon loves to say: "Good, maybe very good...but just not good enough".

Notice how I didn't mention those "naked pictures", until now, that are circulating of one of the contestants? There is a reason for that omission. I really don't care about such things AND, if I recall, some sort of stink comes up each season. I mean, really. What is so disturbing about a healthy and attractive young woman being photographed partying in skimpy clothing X amount of months ago. While I'm sure it's adequately embarrassing for her and her family, I'm also sure such photographs are out there somewhere with almost any of us in them. We might not be mostly undressed in them, but we wouldn't like them being seen by several million strangers somewhere down the road, regardless. The thing is...that girl in the hot seat isn't all that great a singer to begin with. These scandalous photos will give her enough attention to keep her in the contest a lot longer than she would have had they not "surfaced". And the ratings for the show will benefit a little. Alas. Show biz ....