Oh ... God bless us, every one . Here we go again! A new season began tonight -- all about those cattle call auditions (which usually only leave me feeling bottomlessly sorry for those outrageously misguided souls that believed somebody, somewhere, when they were told 'they sing good' ~ only to get on national TV to be soundly trounced with the newsflash that, ugh, somebody politely lied). Was I spending ALL DAY today eager as a kid at the candy counter waiting for Ryan Seacrest to show up? Um ... yes (as I ashamedly hide my face), I was . I love "American Idol", I can't help it. I know it's basically a silly obsession. I know that Barack Obama is more important than David Cook. Really. I do. I KNOW that the most important current event is not that Season 8 has a new judge (count 'em ... four this year). But I know this better. In a world where dreams get crushed and where everything occasionally gets bloated in a scary, happiness-threatening way? We get to wallow in this crazy show that can take a bartender from Podunk, South Dakota (or wherever) and turn him or her into a 'chanteuse' that millions watch and root for and make many phone calls approving of for three months annually. Dreams come true on "American Idol". And [shoot me!] ... there ain't nothing wrong with that, is there ? So I'll open up our thread this year - hoping that it (akin to the memorable "Battle of the Davids" of last season, and the discussion thereto) is as good and fun-to-read this trip as it was last one.

Looks like there are going to be more (not sure how many) 'finalists' picked this year. 36 as opposed to 24, maybe? No "Idol Gives Back" in '09, either (a probably sensible reaction to the economic crunch - but I, for one, will still miss it). I think I even heard that an Osmond is auditioning? Hmph. Like said Osmond doesn't have enough shaky show biz connections already? The first horde of auditions was (slightly) interesting, so far. Some guy whose voice was so deep it was literally unnatural. Some young lady singing in a bikini? Toned enough, though, in all directions to get her a ticket to Hollywood. An oil rigger singing Boyz 2 Men (who was pretty good). Then along comes a legally blind fellow. Imagine it? He sang great and - dare we doubt it? - will do incredibly well, if he gets far along enough to benefit from those popular votes/phone calls. Sigh. I'm lost in it already. I'm a bona fide "lost cause", though. And, really, UNashamed about it AND predictably the scorn of my community, too .

Another *unashamed* schnook would be my buddy Michael Slezak (OK, I don't know him at all ... but like to pretend I do, since he writes nicely) over on Entertainment Weekly. He'll be opening his always spot-on commentary later this week here. So! Off we go! Maybe we'll have a good discourse about the show once again this year? Seems worth a shot. Anybody watching yet?

Yep! In about 2 and a half hours.
I shall be avidly watching it every Wednesday from now on. I shall just as avidly await the weekly comments of our dear Gats... always an entertainment in itself!

Yep, me too I look forward to this thread as much (or more) than the show itself!

One of the early casualties of the economic woes here in Canada is the Canadian version of Idol, which usually airs in the summer, so I'll be especially wanting to see as much of American Idol as I can...

I'm in... all the way from Australia.. I haven't been on the site for a long while but had to pop in and see if Gatsby had started the Idol thread which I enjoyed so much last year.

I watched the first show here tonight (Wed) and tomorrow night there is another two hour show. Love it!

The standouts for me were:

Scott, the visually impaired guy.

Stevie Wright who sang "At Last" (What a great song, she sang it well too.

Emily, the girl with the tattoos who sang "Barracuda".

Alex who practiced singing in the cupboard.. Poor kid, imagine that being broadcast all over the world!

The standouts for the wrong reasons:

The bikini girl of course, Mr Sexual Chocolate.. hmmm, don't know about that one.. and all the weirdo's who couldn't sing, which accounts for half the show really!! (Still love it though).

Catch you after the next show

I can't remember any of the contestants I liked. Except the cowboy-looking guy with the dangerous job.

But who is this Kara woman?? I've never heard of her.

I watched it. There. I said it. I needed to get it out and tell someone.

I could only shake my head at Bikini Girl (becuase that what you want to be known as for the rest of your life). Liked the blind bloke and Alex

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Poor kid, imagine that being broadcast all over the world!

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I was feeling sorry for his Mum who now has the whole world knowing she has mould in the cupboards. LOL

The bad ones .. they can't all think they are good, can they? I put it down that some of them lost some kind of bet ..

Yay ! So glad to see everyone (and a few new ones, too) back in the fray for the new season. I didn't know who Kara/Cora/Ca-Ca was, either ~ so did my civic duty and checked her out, so that we all might have a slight clue, at least. Her Wikipedia article is here.

I cannot really see why they need a fourth judge anyway. Perhaps they just can't get rid of Loony Paula!

Gats,
I shall not be watching "American Idol" this season. I am all Idoled out. Having said that, I will anxiously await your commentary.

I can't bear the thought of someone butchering "Hallelujah", and I would rather read about it, than see it.

By the way, you would make a superb judge. I'm all for starting a campaign to get rid of Randy ("man, that was just too pitchy for me") Jackson and naming you as his replacement.

My first choice as the judge to boot would be Paula, but I'm afraid the producers would tell her to go to rehab, and she'd just say "no, no, no". We're stuck with her.

Gats for "American Idol" judge!

NOw the Nicewonder man, who sang a song about his mother and then one about his grandmother? This is where I have a problem with this show - why humiliate the bloke like that? He obviously had .. errrmmm .. 'issues' (and a really sucky hairdresser) and I think it's bordering on cruel letting him do the audition then airing it too.

Thew ones I did like were Danny, whose wife had died but I hope that it becomes about his singing soon and they don't keep dwelling on the loss of his wife. He sure had a voice.

Anup(dog) and the girl earlier in the show whose initials were KC (KC in KC but she was from somewhere else) and the woman who was last on the show, Lill Rounds was it? She was great.

I liked Kara DioGuardi. Wasn't sure what adding a 4th judge would do, but she adds a fresh perspective to the current music business.

Can't help it, love Paula. She may be a trainwreck but that's okay. As someone who faced rejection and casual dismissal in her own efforts to succeed she brings a somewhat kinder and gentler perspective even to those folks who are severely deluded about their life's path.

So far the one thing I don't like is presenting me with snippets of all the people who are going to be seen again after the (endless and often) commercial breaks. We could see more of the "good" auditions if the producers weren't convinced we need constant teasers of the not so goods.

Anyway, off and running. I like the show better once they get past the auditions and settle in and start letting the talent show. Can't wait to hear what some of these people can do.

Martin,

You were correct. I couldn't bear to sit through the entire thing. In fact, I had to stop it at 2:15, when the bare-chested, tight leather trouser clad young men were shown swarming around Alexandra's feet. That bit had all the makings of a "Frankie Goes To Hollywood" vid.

That song is not meant to be played in a "hit the highest note you possibly can" mode with a full blown gospel accompaniment. Nor is it a power ballad.

If Gats sees this video, I think steam will start emanating from his ears. Somewhere out there, Leonard Cohen is taking heart medication, Jeff Buckley is perhaps smiling from the heavens (he had a brilliant sense of humour), and Rufus Wainwright is putting on a dress, ready to pound the keys with HIS rendition of this song once more. Wainwright's version was quite good, really, even if it was featured in "Shrek".

I just KNOW that someone on American Idol will do very bad things to such a beautiful song.

Sorry for the very long-winded, OT post.
Martin is an enabler.

Martin,
For the record, I made it through the first 5 seconds of her *singing* in the video and then turned over in my grave .

I'll help with Gat's campaign, Clare!

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I'll help with Gat's campaign, Clare

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Yes , me too! Should we have some sort of banner and some skimpy tees?
I loved the last lady. The one with 3 children,whose house had blown down. Gorgeous.

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Should we have some sort of banner and some skimpy tees?

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Brilliant idea, ren! Should we have our very own Bikini Lady ? I have neither seen nor heard her, um, talents, so we should think long and hard about that one. I'm out of the running for anything involving a bikini.

I'm turning in now, but I'll be thinking about campaign slogans and discounts on Wonder Bras (for those skimpy tees).

Oh, my . Martin, um, I'll happily thank you for sharing that clip but, but, but ... what was that (pretty much lovely) girl doing? My (wee) opinion on the song "Hallelujah" is that it really IS hard to ruin it. I mean really really present it so badly that it just reeks. While I tend to think it's damned hard to sing, the lyrics and tune is a LOT to work with, even for the lowliest of singers. But the beauty of it (again, just my opinion) is that it's best when it's "stripped down". Just the words, a guitar and some real feeling behind it. What's 'er name's version was listenable, I reckon ... but what's "stripped down" about 30 zillion candles and more than 6 Whitney Houston-like riffs ? It was distracting listening while waiting for the Boston Philharmonic (or maybe the USC marching band) to show up, wasn't it? At least when Mr. Castro did it (on the American Idol version) he just sat there and let the song come out of him. Just him and a guitar, plopped on a stool. But, yes ... even I have to admit that, while it was a high point for Jason last season, it was not exactly the tune's finest *on stage* moment, by a mile. Anyway ...

By the way. Has anyone heard that Jason Castro's brother is auditioning this year? Maybe he already has ... I didn't get to see the auditions on Wednesday (aside from that last girl, Lil, who was awesome ~ and certainly knows how to dress to kill on a living-in-a-hotel-essentially-homeless budget, too ). I saw a picture of this other Castro. He lacks the expansive hair of big brother - his is more punk pink? If he makes it through, then, maybe we'll get to hear him do to The Sex Pistols what Jason did to Eric Clapton. Goody. Can't wait .

One last thing. Honored as I am to be in a (mock) running to replace "you got it like dat" Randy Jackson, I'm afraid I'll have to decline. He sits next to Paula weekly, yes? I'm very susceptible to contact highs, so that idea's out ....

Michael Castro got through. I can't see why.

Maybe Michael said he would share some of the same, errm, 'things' that made his brother so happy and *starry-eyed* last year? That glaze didn't come from Krispy Kremes!

I agree with Ren, I can't understand why Castro no 2 got through as he said he had only been singing for 20 days before the audition! I see shades of last year coming back to haunt us if he goes through in Hollywood. (groan) The guy who had the dream about Simon didn't deserve to get through either. That was a sympathy vote if ever I've seen one.

I liked Danny and Lil too Copago and I agree with your comments about the judges. It's just downright cruel sometimes and very hard to watch. I think the welder guy (Matt) reminds me of Luke Dickens (the shearer) who was runner up in this year's Australian Idol. Same kind of raw voice and the background story is very similar.


The guy with the hat (Von) looked like he was going to burst a boiler or something the way he sang. He sure has a good set of lungs on him anyway.

The girl with the grandma that had her "crazy pills" wasn't too bad.. Full points to grandma for that priceless gem

You didn't miss too much Gatsby.. a guy in a yellow suit singing with a banana and a girl who slept through the audition and then told Simon that he will pay for not putting her through.. just the usual oddballs that they throw in instead of showing us some of the others that actually got through

You are ALL enablers!

I said I wasn't going to watch this season, but now I have to - another Castro got through?

I should never have read this thread.

I never stood a chance; my 9 year-old son tapes the show, as it's past his bedtime. His older brother told him never to tell any of his classmates that he has an "American Idol" addiction. Right now, he's the "coolest" kid in the class, and he'll lose his hipster cred if the news gets out.

By the way, I must have listened to Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" at least 6 times today. I'm hoping that it forever banishes that awful rendition from my brain that Martin so kindly posted.

Glad to be of service.
Hey, I didn't FORCE you to watch it & there was a warning (of sorts) in the posting. For the record, I didn't watch or listen to it all the way through either. 'Don't call me stupid'!

All I have to do now is find out whether being an 'enabler' is a good or bad thing and if I should include it on my CV (when I get around to writing it). You crazy Yanks & your version of English! You crack me up.

Whew! Thank heavens indeed. I was so darned relieved that that pesky inauguration, this so-called historic "exchange of power", Washingtron big shots dancing around and Michelle Obama's anticipated dress design didn't pre-empt the really important stuff last night. Ted Kennedy has a seizure at lunch? Bah! Who cares? Bring on Simon Cowell! OK, OK. I'm hoping you realize how far into my cheek my tongue was pushed there . If EVER I, for one, wouldn't have minded seeing "American Idol" take a night off? Last night would have been it. 'Twas a very special day, all-around.

Now, to "Idol". I really don't enjoy these auditions at all, either. They're promising fewer of the shows themed by them this year -- and I hope they mean it. I really liked that last guy last night (the one with all the "I'm taking-care-of-my-sick-Mama-and-watch-me-make-her-proud" docudrama swirling). His back story got old after one sentence of it, unfortunately. His voice, though, was good. One that sounds like, given the right exercising, could sing about any "genre" well. Note: I like those 'raw talent' voices they find, the ones that may not be all that polished now, but might get that way given a shot. As for Jesus? Just a personal opinion here, but ... loved the kids. I agree with the judge who said they ought to go to Hollywood. Their Daddy? He was okay (I guess) but maybe he ought to have been sent to Chuck E. Cheese? My guess is that he'd better sight see plenty the short time he's in L.A. Make a nice scrapbook for the tots to enjoy once he returns home in short order.

So. Anybody else watch ?

Edited to add: I just checked out that link (in my first post) and they covered some of the "highs" (and were funny as heck as they did it, too ) of the auditions - most of which I missed originally. What is UP with that Von Smith dude? They compared his hollering to anyeurism inducement. Sounded more like childbirth to me . And that widower? Oh, that was all entirely out o' sync! With home videos of the dead woman (before she died) provided, even? Shameful. And I gather they BOTH were sent on to the group auditions? Quite distressing ...

So how about the Puerto Rican girl at the beginning of the show? If I have to hear that annoying laugh one more time...