American Idol!

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 28 Feb 2009 3:51 pm

OAH NOAS MUDKIPZ HALP!

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 3 Mar 2009 11:33 am

thats right, this thread is now about pokemon

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 4 Mar 2009 6:10 am

I tried watching a few times as I was "Surfin'"
EVERYONE that I saw was weak and boring...My wife has always enjoyed the show and even she considers
it that way.

She has good taste because she won't even come to MY gigs anymore...HHHMMM 45 years and she's tired of my attempts at music...go figger!! $:\$

Brian Kurlychek · Post by **Brian Kurlychek** » 4 Mar 2009 6:42 am

After watching them all perform. I am unable to decide. I know Lil Rounds will make it. I think there is a pattern that the last to perform makes it through. For the guy it has got to be either the Puerto Rican guy, Von, or Ju'Not. That leaves the last spot for the britney spears lookalike, or the girl who got called back.

What do you think Theresa?

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 4 Mar 2009 7:00 am

I got a good sleep during last nights show ! I woke up in time for "Without a Trace" . The first few singers were , well, not American Idols in my mind, which is shrinking so it seems

t

Jamie Lennon · Post by **Jamie Lennon** » 4 Mar 2009 7:17 am

We got American Idol here too, and our own Pop Idol.
I say fair play to the people who wanna give it a shot and make a career in music !!!

Why not follow your dreams and go for it, these shows give people the chance. You dream to be a pop star then go on American idol and go for it !!!

What you got to lose ??

Carrie Underwood had a dream, hmmmm yeah and went on American Idol and now living the dream, enough said !!!

Im with you Theresa !!!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 4 Mar 2009 7:36 am

This past weekend we listened to CU while driving, AI singers should take notice, Carrie has set the reference, the gal is an amazing talent. Each time I listen to "Wasted" and "Jesus Take the Wheel" it is like the first time. Those are not just songs, they define a career. Had she not been part of the Idol thing those two songs would have never found there way to her, not in a million years.

So, there is hope for someone who can rise to the occasion and bring a talent, no, make that a gift, with them.

t

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 4 Mar 2009 9:10 am

American Idol is just another shining example of The Peter Principle which states that in a hierarchy, (in this case American Idol) members, (singers) are promoted (by popular vote) so long as they work (perform) 'competently'. Sooner or later they are promoted to a position at which they are no longer competent (their "level of incompetence"), and there they remain,(the winner.) Of course there have been notable exceptions to this rule, but the basic premise remains intact, IMO. Throw in a healthy dollop of Schadenfreude, (there's that word again) and you have today's formula for a hit show.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_principle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 4 Mar 2009 10:04 am

Perhaps, but AI has produced a few hi quality artists and given several others careers in the entertainment industry.Careers where they had none.

Consider the parallel, thousands shoot for the sky never to be heard or never to have even a single song they wrote fall on anyone's ears. I'm reminded of Jimmy Snyder doing daily sets at Tootsies for probably decades now. He is a great singer but he's still on Broadway.

AI, maybe not recognized or considered to be a shining star, does a lot for the industry in general, it puts live music back on TV and gets people involved.

Sure, they are looking for a diamond in the rough and so far they have actually found a few . 7 seasons in and they have found 3 major artists that have not left the landscape, Underwood, Daughtry and Clarkson. Not bad for a TV show which is really about a few crazy judges ! The other winners, most of them anyway, have not left the landscape they just haven't had the same appeal and success, but are successful just the same.

Someone invented a TV show about crazy judges and decided that singing would be what they judge !
It worked !

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 4 Mar 2009 10:55 am

Perhaps, but AI has produced a few hi quality artists and given several others careers in the entertainment industry.Careers where they had none.

Agreed, and they are the 'notable exceptions' I referred to in my previous post.

Jamie Lennon · Post by **Jamie Lennon** » 4 Mar 2009 2:44 pm

Im with you Tony !!!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 5 Mar 2009 3:14 am

Barry Blackwood wrote:
Perhaps, but AI has produced a few hi quality artists and given several others careers in the entertainment industry.Careers where they had none.

Agreed, and they are the 'notable exceptions' I referred to in my previous post.

I do not see them as the exceptions, they were the finalists and winners, they are what the show is looking for . There has only been 7 seasons, 7 winners, we all may not like the finalists and/or winners but the show has done exactly what it was supposed to do, entertain and weed out the weak from the strong, the good from the bad, the talent from the not so talented.

I would argue that the winners and finalists are not exceptions but rather the entire point of it all.

Each season, 100,000 down to 2 or 3 really talented kids. Not bad. There is never any implied intent that all 100,000 contestants or even more than 1, would be given a shot at a career. Because at the end of the day, even the winner just gets a "shot". There is no guarantee of success.

t

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 5 Mar 2009 7:37 am

I would argue that the winners and finalists are not exceptions but rather the entire point of it all.

My opinion is that the entire point of it all is to have a hit show that makes grillions of dollars for, in this case, Fox TV - the contestants, win or lose, are merely fodder. I personally experienced this phenomenon back in the seventies when I was a finalist in The American Song Festival. AI and shows like it aren't all that altruistic, they just need us to believe they are, long enough to get us to participate either as a contestant or a viewer.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 5 Mar 2009 8:11 am

Barry Blackwood wrote: My opinion is that the entire point of it all is to have a hit show that makes grillions of dollars for, in this case, Fox TV

Actually the original intent of Pop Idol, and later American idol, was to make money not thru the TV show, but rather thru marketing the winning performers. The huge success of the TV show was a side benefit. Besides, successful godlike performers sometimes renege on their contracts.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 5 Mar 2009 9:25 am

The huge success of the TV show was a side benefit.

While that may have been true in the beginning, I'm sure that the TV revenue quickly usurped whatever monies they were making from exploiting the contestants.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 5 Mar 2009 2:43 pm

Barry you may very well be right, but I think Underwood, Daughtry , Clarkson and probably a few more finalists who now have careers earning money may see it differently. The point of the show is obviously about being a succesful TV show, I have always thought that the show is about the judges first and something else after that, but that doesn't mean exploitation, each contestant knows full well what to expect and they also know that one of them does indeed win somthing, and history has also shown that not only does the grand winner win, others end up with some pretty good deals as well. Thats not a bad deal for someone willing to put in some time and be seen by millions. I beleive the top 10 or so get to go on a paid 6 month tour, thats pretty good and I am sure it is exciting for them as well. I doubt they feel exploited. Now I would certainly agree that if the contestants got nothing in the end, no tour, no reward, no nothing, then for sure it would be exploitation. Like Simon says, and he is correct, " here is your chance to show what you can do" . Exposure never hurts a quality performing artist, especially on a major TV show !

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 5 Mar 2009 4:27 pm

Check out this link and let me know if it alters your perception at all.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_controversy
It's only my opinion, but when you compare what the contestants get out of it to what AI is getting out of it, I would consider it exploitation. Apparently we disagree as to when it becomes exploitation. Just because the contestants don't feel exploited, doesn't necessarily mean they're not. You can't attribute their post-Idol success or lack of it to the show. Some winners have succeeded, others have not, but no matter what, the show still goes on.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 5 Mar 2009 4:47 pm

i actually find the show somewhat entertaining. disappointing as the crop offered qualitywise this season, we can still watch to see just how low aspiring artists will stoop by doing ridiculous choreographed crap, or hoping for tatiana to actually explode or burst into flames (you know that's why her stay was extended).
good clean american exploitation for your enjoyment!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 6 Mar 2009 4:06 am

So far the artists have been on there own with the only assitance being from the band leader for song arrangement. Any dancing or moves they have made have been there own. Starting next week they get the assistance from some sort of pro for stage appearance and arrangements. They still pick there own songs from the required category, which to me is goofy, they should sing whatever song they want every week. Live or die by there own sword.

Tatiana, what a goof, she is expoiting herself ! Can you imagine sitting across from her at dinner or next to her at a movie ? You would have to shoot her or worse, shoot yourself !

The only two I liked from last night were the first girl to sing and the tattoo armed gal, she has something working for her. She reminded me of Ricky Lee Jones, kinda Jazzy, Bluesy but none of that Miriah Carrie stuff going on, which even the guys are doing now. Yuck ! $:\$

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 6 Mar 2009 7:32 pm

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 7 Mar 2009 6:16 am

I'm glad Tatianna is gone, they did bring her back for ratings.
It's unfortunate, they could have brought back Ann Marie....

Brian Kurlychek · Post by **Brian Kurlychek** » 7 Mar 2009 6:41 am

I agree, Tatiana was over the top and annoying. I can't believe the blind guy got in because of sympathy votes. Blind or not, he is not a good singer.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 7 Mar 2009 10:15 am

My God Donna, what have you done?

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 8 Mar 2009 8:07 am

What makes the show backwards in my opinion is the fan voting is for the choices all selected by the four judges to compete for the big prize..Some good talent (probably some even better than the finalist) were eliminated by the judges..Thus the voting now is for the judges choices..And the Public is now roped in to what now becomes a popularity contest..JMHFO.

$:\$

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 8 Mar 2009 8:47 am

well Joe that may very well bet the case, but what is the alternative ? Have the viewers vote for 72 or 144 contestants ? Or all of them ? The show is supposed to be 12 weeks long, not a year long ! Right now the viewers got to decide on 9 out of 36. The judges get to recover 3 which they feel should be in the top 12, this season they went to 13 rather than 12. My favorite girl singer ( tattoo girl) was given a new shot at life from the judges. I think the format of allowing the judges to re-visit a few that got the boot is very good.

The judges have a task and they do it. The ones that make the top 36 like the judges the ones who don't, well, don't !