‘Idol’ Talent Not as Amateur as Fans Thought
Is TV’s “American Idol” becoming a slick way to promote wannabe stars with previous experience in the music industry rather than a showcase for raw, undiscovered talent?
This question is being asked after it was revealed that prior to appearing on the show, some contestants have been signed to million-dollar deals by record companies. As first reported by New York Magazine, several of this season’s “Idol” hopefuls are less amateur than the show would lead viewers to believe — and may actually be some of the most seasoned contestants the competition has ever seen.
One in particular, Irish singer Carly Hennessy, has an impressive music resume. Her album can be bought online or at record stores.
‘Idol’ season 7’s first semi-scandal: the semi-pros
The TiVo’s barely gone cold on the second episode of American Idol, and already, a scandal? OK, it’s not quite on the level of Corey Clark producing Paula’s receipts from Fred Segal, but for the die-hard Idolizers out there, this is legit. Should the competition be open to semi-professionals? Like contestants who’ve had previous major label recording deals, were managed or produced by a big-time music industry name, or have even been nominated for a Grammy? The intrepid sleuths at votefortheworst.com blew the lid off this story, listing no less than 13 alleged top 50 contestants with a not-so-amateur past.
More Idol Headlines After The Jump
‘American Idol’ Fans Weigh In On Connected Contestants
On Tuesday night, “American Idol” audiences were introduced to Kristy Lee Cook, the winsome 23-year-old kickboxing cage-fighter from Oregon who purportedly sold her favorite horse to pay her way to the Philadelphia auditions. Following the two-hour, season-seven premiere, fans rushed to the Internet’s various “Idol” forums and message boards, praising Cook’s performance and declaring her an early favorite for the show’s eventual title crown.
Others, though, went on the offensive to protest the comely blonde’s “Idol” eligibility, considering she’s not exactly the greenest contender in the running. Of course, there were a few others who just couldn’t help but comment on the obvious: “That chick’s so freakin’ hot.”
Final Wednesday ‘Idol’ premiere ratings
It took only took nights and four hours of American Idol to move FOX into first place for the season.
The second night of American Idol, this one featuring auditions from Dallas, averaged 30.4 million viewers and a 12.6 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic. Those Final Live + Same Day National Ratings were off by 3 million viewers and 1.2 demographic ratings points from Tuesday’s premiere.
As I observed in my analysis of Tuesday’s ratings, Idol dropped only 600,000 viewers between the first and second nights last year. As retention goes, that’s insane. The 3 million fall was actually better than the 3.9 million Tuesday-to-Wednesday drop from two years ago and many times better than the 6.9 million drop in 2005.
Zap2it
Final ‘Idol’ Premiere Ratings
So is Chris Daughtry right about American Idol being in decline, or is it mighty silly to be up-in-arms about an 11 percent year-to-year viewership decline for a show that remains far and away TV’s most popular?
I guess it depends on how you look at things.
The Final Live + Same Day National Rations are out for Tuesday (Jan. 15) night’s premiere of American Idol and already silly people on the Internet are claiming that a total viewership figure averaging 33.4 million (up a smidge from the Fast National estimates) is a sign that the Idol stranglehold on the TV landscape is finally over.
Randy Jackson: There Would Be No Chris Daughtry if There Wasn’t American Idol
American Idol judge Randy Jackson spoke to Rolling Stone’s Brian Hiatt yesterday to discuss a plethora of issues and predictions for this season’s version of the show. During the conversation, Chris Daughtry’s comments about the show’s decline came up, and Jackson defended the program’s credibility. “I love Chris. I think he made an amazing record that he sold extremely well,” Jackson said. “He’s a testament to the fact that no matter where you finish on Idol—even if you finish twelfth—if you make a great record and you got that kind of exposure, the public will resoundingly buy it. But the bottom line is there would be no Chris Daughtry if there wasn’t American Idol.”
Chris Daughtry Apologizes for ‘American Idol’ Slam: ‘I’m … Just Being Honest’
Chris Daughtry, the former “American Idol” fourth-place finisher-turned-rock star has backpedaled a bit for some recent negative comments he made about the show that launched him to stardom.
Alongside a picture of him in a “What are ya gonna do?”-type pose, Daughtry posted a lengthy apology on his official blog on Monday for slights he made in a Rolling Stone interview that were perceived as a criticism of “Idol.” In the interview posted on the eve of the season seven debut, Daughtry was quoted as saying, “I feel like it’s definitely lacking some credibility at this point … It’s in a state of decline and if they don’t do something about it, it’s probably not gonna last too much longer. I’m sure that’ll be used against me, but that’s the truth, you know?”
Fun with Daughtry Idol Quotes
(antiMusic) Former American Idol contestant and top selling artist of 2007, Chris Daughtry is in a bit of a whirlwind of controversy following a Rolling Stone article where he is quoted as saying that American Idol is in decline. [The drop in ratings back him up] Daughtry took to his website following the publishing of the article and tried to clarify his remarks saying that they were taken out of context.
While we published part of his statement yesterday where he claimed they left out all of the good things he said about the television karaoke contest that made him a star, RS went on the offensive and posted the entire transcript and a recording of the interview. While we didn’t find too many “good things” he had to say about the show, we can’t argue with the negative things either. Perhaps he was referring to the following comments as the good ones? “It just gave me the opportunity to show people who I was. And that’s not saying that in a cocky way, but all I’m saying is I was an artist before I went on the show.”
‘American Idol’: A very thin line
Each season of “American Idol” asks our nation not just to choose our champion, but to decide what kind of people we are. What makes us, American viewers of “American Idol” (as opposed to viewers of “Lithuanian Idol” or “Indonesian Idol” or any other franchise of the worldwide empire) unique? In choosing an idol, we say what as a people we aspire to be -– are we a whimsical beat boxing people or are we at heart a perky yet sincere balladeering people? The great questions of our age each year sort themselves out on the “Idol” stage.
This year, the preseason audition episodes force us to confront another question haunting society: Where is the line between deluded belief in one’s talent and actual mental illness, or sadder still, mental handicap?
This is the line that the audition episodes walk. We all as a society agree that it is wrong and not endearing to mock the disabled. We also as a society believe that it is impossible not to laugh at healthy-minded people who nurture catastrophic blind spots about their own abilities. The show by and large seems to recognize that line, saving its worst abuse for the merely misguided, while the truly, clearly handicapped receive gentler letdowns.
‘American Idol’: The seven-year itch?
And so, again, out of many, (very very many) will come one. In these days of modern entertainment, with all our special effects and fancy editing tricks, somehow we have lost that which throughout history has formed the basis of drama -– the site of a cast of thousands amassed for combat.
Yes, we have our Lords of the Ringses and our Bravehearts with their sweeping pans over millions of little cartoon orcs and swordsmen, but somehow even the best graphic effects the entertainment industrial complex has to offer leave one cold; nothing stirs the heart like a De Mille pan over scores of extras packing their huts, each one in his own way dreaming of escaping to a better life as they race to flee pharaoh. No amount of modern alchemy can re-create the one plaintive voice amidst the crowd crying at his obstinate mule, “400 years of bondage and today he won’t move!”
Five Essential Moments from Last Night’s American Idol
Day two of the American Idol open-call phase featured more uber-kindness from the judges, and more singers who may be serial killers (the fingernail keeper, the breathing-exercises Bon Jovi guy—see below). The Dallas auditions brought a farmer and a frat boy, plus wannabe Carrie Underwoods (Jessica Brown), bizarro Kelly Clarksons (Beth Maddocks) and a dead ringer for James Van Der Beek (Colton Swon). But for the five best moments from last night’s episode, check out these quick clips:
Paula Danced, Simon Hugged and Ryan Kissed a Girl
The first thing we learned about the Dallas auditions was that a girl went into labor at the audition and named her baby “Idol.” No way he’s going to have trouble living up to that name.
Here are the highs and lows:
Idol Chatter: Deep in the Psyche of Texas
BEFORE EVEN BEGINNING to watch this episode, a viewer wishing to maintain his sanity must prepare for the inevitable: “AI” can’t go to a place like Dallas without indulging in a shameless listing of Texas stereotypes and catch phrases.
So let’s make a game of it: We’ll see how many of them “Idol” can pack into the show’s first 3 minutes:
When Did American Idol Get So Emotionally Violent?
The seventh season of American Idol debuted this week with a new focus on the contestants’ biographies and back stories. After the first episode aired, Slate contributors and staffers began to consider what they’d seen. Is the show meaner than it used to be? Why the focus on sad-sack freaks? Read our whole discussion below:
Alexis Cohen: From American Idol To A Times Square Sidewalk
Fox had the Pennsylvania-native hop on Amtrak yesterday, and filmed her interacting with pedestrians in the freezing cold on the sidewalk in Times Square. Never before has the channel’s journalistic brand of “dance, monkey, dance” been so overt — or shamefully entertaining. But perhaps we shouldn’t feel too guilty about laughing at (with?) Alexis. According to her MySpace profile, she is a member of two different improv troupes. (The Tool and Ministry fan is also a Wiccan and hails from “the planet UR Rectum.”) Clip above.
Paula Abdul’s Stalker Revealed: Apparently He Does This Sort of a Thing for a Living
If you watched American Idol last night, you probably remember Paul Martrurano, the creepy 32-year-old whose ode to stalking Paula Abdul brought the world the line “If I were Columbo, I’d Peter Falk her.” It turns out that the song is by Marturano’s band The Hairy Aureolas; a raunchier version of “Stalker,” along with a song with the charming title “Wet Fart At My Girlfriend’s,” are on the band’s MySpace page. But it turns out this isn’t the first time that these guys have made a play for a judge of a 19 Entertainment-produced show! Yes, that’s right: The increasingly desperate Idol producers may even be getting ringers for the “funny” contestants now. And those ringers aren’t that funny! After the jump, check out the Hairy Aureolas’ ode to Sheila E., which they performed 10 years ago on The Magic Johnson Hour. Yes, that’s right, 10 years ago. At least they’ve got … pluck?
American Idol Promotes Global Brotherhood, Shaky Singing
Last night, American Idol went to Dallas for its second audition episode, but things seemed a little, well, strange. The judges seemed to be going through the motions, the night’s big finish was an eight-minute attempt to bring the world the next William Hung, and a lot of the people who got through had auditions severely lacking the oft-discussed “wow factor.” Is everyone just tired? Could everyone just be exhausted after last year’s anticlimactic run–especially the viewing public? Fox won the night handily again, but ratings were down 19% from last year’s second episode.
Cowell’s harsh words fail to hurt Edwardsville ‘Idol’ contestant
Kyle Reinneck’s experience with “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell’s infamous criticisms aired Wednesday night during the Fox show’s Dallas auditions.
The 20-year-old Edwardsville man sang about 40 seconds of “Never Again” by former “Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson before being interrupted by Cowell.
Ask The Answer Bitch
With so many former American Idol winners and contestants being dropped by their record labels, is that show still important? Has it lost its magic?
The B!tch Replies: A puzzle, really. J Records had a phenom like Taylor Hicks, who so beautifully merges the 1970s faux soul of Michael McDonald with the carefully manufactured excitement of a revivalist power-pop barn dance, and all in one pair of pointy-toed boot things. And then they go and drop him.
Jennifer Hudson joins Perry’s ‘Family’
Jennifer Hudson is negotiating to star in “Tyler Perry’s the Family That Preys,” a drama Perry wrote and will direct and star in for Lionsgate.
Sanaa Lathan, Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard and Rockmond Dunbar are already set for the project, which begins shooting March 2 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.
Script focuses on two families from different sides of the tracks that become intimately involved in love and business.
Zaxby’s relaunches Boneless Wings
Boneless Wings will be available until the end of March on the chain’s Meal Dealz menu, which features combination items that come with seasoned Crinkle Fries and a 22-ounce drink for $4.99 to $5.49. Guests may order Boneless Wings as a meal or a la carte.
To publicize the return of the guest favorite, the chain has enlisted the help of four celebrities for the next installment of its “indescribably good” advertising campaign that was rolled out last fall. Cameras captured amusing, unscripted responses from “American Idol: Season Three” runner-up Diana DeGarmo, actor John Schneider, NFL star Jerry Rice and NBA star Dominique Wilkins.
For the Record
The new season of “American Idol” is under way, of course — but don’t forget about last year’s winner, Jordin Sparks. The 18-year-old singer is continuing to promote her self-titled debut, which was released in late November, with a chat and performance of “Tattoo” on Fox’s “Talkshow With Spike Feresten” on Saturday night. Jordin Sparks has had a poor outing, barely cracking the Billboard albums chart’s top 10 in its first week of release. …
Taylor Hicks Fans Are Crazy
Last week, we posted an item suggesting that Hicks might have tried to conceal the identity of a woman enjoying his favors; as of now there are 415 comments, many from the brigade of angry Hicks devotees hell-bent on defending their hero’s good name. Which poses the question: How do you get to a place in your life where you’re spending your time on the Internet in support of a game-show winner who makes Michael Bolton look edgy? There’s a whole world out there, people; open your door and go look.
Hicks gets slick
Just like when he slowly but surely won over many to his cause during the fifth season of the popular TV singing contest, American Idol, Taylor Hicks broke stereotypes and exceeded expectations when he flew in recently for a short visit and to perform in several gigs.
Once described as “the least likely Idol,” owing to the fact that he looked very much as tubby (and with the same salt and pepper hair) as Jay Leno, Hicks was surprisingly fit and trim, and is now more comparable to George Clooney (the other famous guy with the same salt and pepper hair) rather than the obese comedian/TV host—and quite amicable to boot.
Former American Idol Helps Kick Off Show Premiere
Vale, Oregon — The seventh season of American Idol kicked off Tuesday night right here on Fox 12, and one school celebrated the start of the show with a live performance by former Idol performer Bucky Covington.
Covington’s live concert rocked the Vale High School gym. It had teachers dancing and students swaying along to the music.
“I’m still shaken in my boots. I’m excited about it and I’m shocked he gets to come to a little town of Vale,” said student Hillary Garred.
World Adventurer Debuts Art During Sundance Film Festival
This years featured artist and author will be world adventurer G.D. Garner, who will be publicly debuting his artwork alongside an animated short film promoting his highly anticipated adventure book “Through The Eyes Of Madness”
The event, held at the Sidecar Bar in Park City, UT, January 21 -23, 2008 will include an eclectic set of performances ranging from the Michael Williams Band to American Idol finalist Jon Peter Lewis.
The event producers have coordinated this event to offer artists high profile presence during the film festival. Aside from access to networking opportunities with corporate, film and other music industry people, they will be obtaining footage for several national and international television and internet broadcasts.
Fergie, Kelly Clarkson & Maroon 5 Among More than a Dozen Artists to ‘Play the Field’ at Gridiron Bash(TM)
NEW YORK, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ — MSL Sports and Entertainment today announced that simultaneous live performances by Fergie, Kelly Clarkson, ZZ Top, Maroon 5, Dwight Yoakam and a slate of other renowned artists will highlight the agenda at about 20 Division I universities nationwide on April 18 for the inaugural Gridiron Bash(TM), timed for the evening before Spring Games. Gridiron Bash(TM), the Ultimate Fan Competition(TM), will be the largest single-day sports and entertainment event ever to take place on college campuses.
Grammy(R) and VMA winner Fergie of Hip-Hop group The Black Eyed Peas (Fergie is also a Grammy nominee this year); Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends ZZ Top; Grammy, Billboard and MTV award winning rock band, Maroon 5 (two time Grammy nominee this year); two time Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson, and multiple Grammy Award winner and entertainer Dwight Yoakam will be live in concert at soon-to-be announced universities.
McEntire, Clarkson shine side by side
The odd couple: Reba and Kelly? Makes sense. Their relationship is like that of the tick bird and the rhino: all about symbiosis. Mainly because of their Grammy-nominated duet on Clarkson’s Because of You, McEntire, 52, landed her first No. 1 album (Reba Duets) last year. Paired with McEntire, 25-year-old Clarkson is packing in crowds after canceling last summer’s arena tour because of crummy ticket sales.
Clay Aiken’s big knight on Broadway
Pop singer, how-to author and now, Broadway hatchling, Clay Aiken debuts Friday as Sir Robin in “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” the squirrely musical spoof of the Arthurian legend.
Aiken is the latest in an ever-expanding roster of “American Idol” contestants who’ve leapt to Broadway. The list includes Fantasia (”The Color Purple”), Diana DeGarmo (”Hairspray”), Frenchie Davis and Tamyra Gray (”Rent”) and Josh Strickland (”Tarzan”).
Related Posts
In one scene the minstrel is cheerfully singing about all the horrid ways Sir Robin could be tortured or killed. Sir Robin stops him when he gets to a particularly gruesome bit. Oh please have Clay put his hand over the minstrel’s mouth!
Thanks for the articles MJ. And, you’ve made the big time!
OMG that Rolling Stone article is so right; Colton Swon so looks like James Van Der Beek!
This is nothing new. There have been many contestants with pre-Idol recordings. The pundits are just desperate to create a false scandal at this point…
I can’t say I don’t have a tiny little smile on my lips at the fact that the Daughtry story has been picked up in several places. But at the same time, I don’t wish him ill will, so I hope it blows over fairly quickly and that he doesn’t have to do a Taylor-like talk show tour to rebut those statements.
Ironically, I think that it would have blown over by now if he had just left it alone.
If he hadn’t have put the “I was taken out of context” message on his blog (which, whether he knew it would or not, served as a call to arms for the militant wing of his fans), then Rolling Stone wouldn’t have been forced to defend their journalist by responding with the entire transcript (which showed that he clearly dissed AI more than it seemed in the original article despite his claims to the contrary) and then American Idol wouldn’t have sent there talking heads out after Chris (Randy in Rolling Stone and Ryan on his radio show…up until the transcript, Randy and AI had been defending Chris for being taken out of context).
All of which has served to greatly prolong the story and the controversy. Now the story is wending it’s way into stories about American Idol slipping in the ratings, so Nigel and Ken are likely going to be asked about it. If Chris’s bumbling hadn’t forced Rolling Stone to make the transcript/audio available (in fact, some of his fans demanded it be made public), 19 Alphabet could have hand-waved the entire thing away. As it stands, they cannot claim not to know the context.
This is one of those text book “Not What To Do” PR lessons.
In the end, it will likely all be a tempest in a teapot for Chris and I’m sure he’ll be singing to a three stooges’ standing ovation on the show in no time. All will be well.
Ok……..I just spit my iced tea all over my monitor when I read that! ROTFLMMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
I compared Tayor to Michael Bolton last year sometime…..too rich………..LOL!!!!
I did too. Radar “gets it”.
Oh, dear. If that’s the height of humor to you, we need to help you get out more ;-)
I think it’s weird that Radar (a magazine I know nothing about) has chosen to run these fake girlfriend stories, but I think they’re just bemused that someone who has been all but written off as a joke by the “mainstream” can have such a devout following.
MJ,
More for your “Headlines”. Sanjaya is featured in the new People Magazine - in stores today! Right now it’s only in the print issue.
HEADLINE:
“Sanjaya…He’s Back”
Scan 1
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg279/speedin84/sanjayapicturehurry.jpg
Scan 2
It did put a smile on my face, but no ill will intended.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I enjoy good Taylor snark even though I’m a fan. I just didn’t think the tired “Michael Bolton has more edge than Taylor” bit was still getting side-splitting laughs two seasons later. But hey, that Imelda Marcos sure has a lot of shoes! And what is the deal with airplane food, anyway?
I think this is the point where we ask Kirsten to come in and write us some brand new Taylor jokes! Pretty please?
Some of Taylor’s fans exhibit the same insanity as the Claymates but the fake girlfriend adds a unique twist. Sign of insanity, long crazed posts about why you’re not crazy/Taylor is the greatest etc.
To crazed fans of all idols, don’t bother trying to convince critics/media/disinterested fans to like your favorite. It just doesn’t work. Move on, just hope he gets fans through his music like every other musician out there.
The Vegas Eye
Farther South on The Strip, Chris Daughtry and members of his Grammy-nominated and American Award winning band Daughtry, planted themselves in a premier VIP booth on the stage of the hottest nightclub on The Strip, LAX. The group shared shots of Patron as they took in the sights and sounds of the posh party spot…
http://thevegaseye.com/home/2008/1/18/drew-barrymore-beau-visit-the-pussycat-dolls-lounge.html
Hahaha I loved some of those comments…”I’m not a crazy Taylor fan, but YOU’RE AN IDIOT FOR WRITING THIS ARTICLE!!!!111″
Cna someone point me to that transcript from Rolling Stone? I was going to try and read it at work yesterday but couldn’t find the time. Now I can’t find the transcript!!!
My favorite sign of insanity: “I feel SAD for you that you can’t appreciate the greatness of …. (insert any random idol name here.)” That usually has me ROFL.
I also really love “You’ll be SORRY when (my favorite idol) wins seventy million Grammy awards and (your favorite idol) is a homeless bum hahahaha YOU’RE SO BIASED!” That one usually gets me ROTFLMAOSMDOMC.*
*(rolling on the floor laughing my a$$ off spitting my drink on my computer)
MJ, I see you were quoted in the ABC article. Yay! Oh, and today’s date is the 18th. I know this not because I looked at a calendar, but b/c my kefir expired yesterday on the 17th.
I actually was thinking Colton looked a bit like this dude (maybe it’s the hair or the fact that he would play guitar sometimes on the show).
Lu, here’s the link for the Rolling Stone transcript.
I love Taylor, and I thought the Michael Bolton-edge thing was amusing. But nowhere near as funny as the E online quote:
“a phenom like Taylor Hicks, who so beautifully merges the 1970s faux soul of Michael McDonald with the carefully manufactured excitement of a revivalist power-pop barn dance, and all in one pair of pointy-toed boot things.”
That made me spit out my coffee!
I have to agree with tinawina…that one did get an early morning chortle out of me :)
http://www.uturnmagazine.com/
Not exactly a lot of Elliott news in this article (click the mag to see a pdf of the whole issue), but it does say that he, like others such as Taylor, is currently heading back to the studio for album number two.
(Magazine is a freebie distributed on college campuses along with student newspapers.)
RE: The Manila Standard Article on Taylor’s Concert…
This paragraph in the article again confirms the demographics of the sort of people who tend to appreciate his music :
It seems the observation regarding demographics transcends countries. Older people tend to appreciate Taylor’s music than younger people.
Which brings an interesting question to American Idol’s producers — the ones who go the farthest in AI are the ones who can show that they’re good in most genres ( i.e. theme nights). However on the show, you tend to highlight themes that are old and no longer in vogue( e.g. , Elvis, British Invasion, Bee Gees, etc. ), or those that don’t play well on pop radio (e.g., Big Band, 70’s music ).
However, the eventual top 4 tend to be the ones who do well in these genres and the eventual winner could also sneak in with the crown by being memorable in those genres whose time have passed.
With this in mind, is it even meaningful to always expect the eventual winner to sell the most records today if the genre he/she is most comfortable with isn’t being played on today’s pop radio (whose listeners buy the most records) ?
Here you go: Chris Interview Transcript
It was in yesterday’s headline’s thread. By the comments, it would appear that he militant wing of the Daughtry fan club have begun to Zapruder the audio and are now claiming it has been doctored and that parts of it are missing.
BTW I find it spooky how close my fake rambling interview transcript is to the original transcript. Although, I only put in 5 “you knows”. Must fine tune my Chris dialogue generator.
It would help if the guy would do something new. He appears to have gone to ground. Quick, call out the hounds. Somebody shake a tambourine and see if you can get him to stick his head up.
PJ, I agree that hair-wise, he looks like the dude in your linked picture, however, facially, I still have to go with James Van Der Beek. The guy in your pic has no eyebrows, lol.
LOL, that’s almost as bad as the fake/photochopped Taylor vacation pics conspiracy. *shakes head*
I didn’t even notice that! LOL.
That is so absolutely awesome.
May have better luck blowing on a harmonica!
Wow that Chris transcript…. MERCY! You know Chris, what, you know, one of my, you know, pet peeves, you know, is? I mean, you know, come on!
Thanks PJ and Kirsten for the link!
BTW, I’m just kidding around… no offense intended Chris fans! :)
Heh. This actually describes the “Taylor Hicks” CD pretty well. I would probably think he was a gigantic cheeseball (in pointy-toed boot things) if all I had ever seen or heard of him were certain Idol performances, the Ford commercial from hell, and the crappier tracks from his CD. I cling to the hope of a really good second CD that better represents who he is musically, but who knows, maybe he genuinely is a cheeseball who likes to sing about getting A’s in broken hearts and degrees in crying. I’m sticking with him for now (but will likely throw him under the bus if AI7 produces a new teevee boyfriend)
Chris is, you know, sort of, you know, a tool, you know? I can’t wait for his next whiny myspace bulletin.
Analysis 101: Those that use “you know” to excess are meekly looking for approval and confirmation that their opinions have merit. Chris does it up in spades.
Personally, I can accept Chris’s “you knows” a lot easier than Katharine’s “likes”. That just screams airhead.
Elliott look still makes me want to get an eletric shaver to shave that beard(5 o’clock shadow) and trim that hair. I guess they were going for the James Blunt or Josh Groban look but missed . He looks sot of like a vandabond with good teeth with a shave maybe more like frodo.(I think is vute)
Taylor I hope his second cd represents is better more like his previous ones. I hope for his sake he does because dude you are not a pop singer forget it.
Speaking of both of them it is funny only place that has the gull to equally snark American Idols in print are sportwritters who probably are used to rabit fans.(elliott,bucky extra.. was dropped EW would start a write in protest)
I would never put anyone under the bus even when it is cool to do soo becasue this business is hard it brings them up and spits the pieces out. Like show business is cruel I just read the kid from the movie the client is dead the cause overdose at age 25.
poporange–
A while back I though Elliott had let his hair get too long and I wasn’t crazy about his look. I really like the look he’s sporting now, though. But, hey, different strokes, right? :)
“Paula Abdul’s New Song — Love It or Leave It?”
http://popsugar.com/967580
Wow! Jennifer Hudson just keeps getting the parts. She’s got good management. I mean, even Angela Bassett isn’t working as hard. Jen must be really really good. Normally you audition for parts.
I think she can put her singing career on the back burner and just act!
Daughtry speaks his mind and he gets ripped for it. He’s mainly, not entirely right. That’s the same attitude Jennifer Hudson gave and everybody criticized her for it; remember? That Idol only gave her a “platform”. I guess you can’t speak unkindly of Idol.
Maybe it’s just me, maybe it’s a generational thing (although I am of the same generation of most of the Idols), but I don’t understand where this sense of entitlement on behalf of Chris et al. comes from. Speaking one’s honest opinion does not entitle one to insulation from criticism, as if offering up your thoughts is some gallant act of bravery that we’re all supposed to admire in open-mouthed awe. I guess I just don’t get it.
I agree with LBB –
If the producers go to the contestant’s home, and it’s in another city or state, I think it means they’re going far. Alexis lived close by so they could afford to go to her tiny apartment. But Farm Boy was in Mississippi, Kristy Lee was in Oregon, etc. That’s a big trip to fly out a crew to cover it. From what I can recall Alexis is the only one who got a home visit who hasn’t made it through to Hollywood.
On another subject, I can’t WAIT to see Paula’s Super Bowl extravaganza. When it comes right down to it, she never was a good SINGER, just had the moves and the catchy songs. I don’t know how you can “make a comeback” when you weren’t really even there to begin with!
Have a good weekend, peeps!
The difference Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry. After the AI tour, Jennifer Hudson was pretty much cut loose by AI and 19E. Spent a couple of years floundering on her own, until she was blessed with “Dreamgirls”. So in my opinion, she can rightfully say that AI was just a platform for her.
Now Daughtry on the other hand, was immediately picked up by 19E as management and they got him the record deal complete with AI winner treatment. Daughtry is LITERALLY biting the hand that feeds him.
I agree. What was he doing before American Idol - fixing cars or something, right? Although, probably someday, somehow, a producer would have gotten a flat near his shop and he’d a been discovered anyway…..singin’ and changin’ tires…..guyliner blending in with the grease….poor thing…
Interesting article about Carly Hennessy and what she received when she was under contract. Article is a couple of years old but I hope you won’t mind, MJ, since it is addressing the deal this girl had. I’d love to hear what happened if and when it was released in Europe. Seems to me she had a more than fair shot!
http://blog.mattgoyer.com/stories/2002/02/21/popSingerFailsToStrikeAChordDespiteTheMillionsSpentByMCA.html
Also video of her “first” single: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSxV6jgRWw
OK, I counted 20 times Chris said…”ya know?”. I take it conversational speech isnt his major. In any event i think Chris has made it big enough for it not to hurt him at all. It the music, its the reason I buy his CD or anyone’s CD’s. I couldnt care less what he thinks about Idol.
>>Which poses the question: How do you get to a place in your life where you’re spending your time on the Internet in support of a game-show winner who makes Michael Bolton look edgy? There’s a whole world out there, people; open your door and go look.>>
OMG, effing hillarious. Looks down at my bunny slippered feet and knows they have been worn through the winter of 2006 voting my ass off for T and going to every freaking blog I could find wearing the damn things so Im a sad testament to the sorry truth that there was a time when I didnt have a life. All I had was a tent, a decoder ring some carrots and a pair of bunny slippers. I got a new pair for Christmas but they lack the character of the old ones. I may not have had a life back then but damn them was good times.
http://mattandramona.1079thelink.com/index.cfm?
If you want a good laugh go to this site and where you can do a search put in Taylor Hicks, Ramona’s mother does her take on an episode of AI 5. She’s a real Ace fan but her take on the show is better than most comedy shows. No matter who your favorite is you’ll enjoy this. Warning don’t be eating or drinking while watching, I warned you.
jojosie — that was really cute! Thanks!
Dave White is back.
http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid51715.asp
I’m sure MJ will probably post this in the headlines thread for today, but in case you’re an early riser like me, there it is!
I’m not an early riser by any means, but I am in an earlier timezone, so I appreciate your posting that, jersey. Thanks. :)
Even Dave White had “kind” words for Renaldo Lapuz. Heh.
Kirsten @ 9:10 a.m. - This is about the way I had it figured too. Chris only made things worse by blogging that he was ripped out of context. The full interview didn’t really bear this out. But with 4 Grammy noms, he must feeling ten feet tall and bulletproof. :) Anyway, agree with you and Dingo that this won’t hurt him at all in the long run.
Thanks for the Dave White link jersey!
Fox’s reality “guru” on American Idol and other reality shows:
http://community.tvguide.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800031317&rw=true
Oh dear…don’t tell this to the ELVIS fans. They may jump ya!
Chris Daughtry … Y-A-W-N.
Maybe Taylor won’t be getting any Grammy nominations, but I have a feeling he’ll be around 5 years from now, doing what he loves best. Singing and playing his music.
I appreciate the links. Thanks!
The problem is this: The show was started in the summer of 2002 as the “search for a superstar” who might be waiting on tables or working at a burger joint who just happens to like to sing, and who had a dream on the side of making it big but never had the means or access to do so - until AI came to the rescue to give the average joe the chance to make the big time. People who want to be famous and who have formed a local band or who perform at weddings should be the greatest amount of experience a contestant should ever have had. To be in a position where millions of dollars were spent on you at some point in your life, or if you were performing for big stars on a regular basis then you have no right to be on the show. Unless AI fixes this and fixes it IMMEDIATELY then they will fall under their own weight, and the show will have died. It’s a shame because I have watched faithfully EVERY episode since season 01, but now it is losing my interest.