Check out the MTV News Idol Roundtable, featuring “American Idol experts” right here. Who’s an expert? Me! The panel discussed a range of topics including: Favorite performances, Who will win Idol? and How to Improve the Show.
I was privileged to be asked by MTV’s Jim Cantiello, the creator of the hilarious Idol in 60 Seconds videos, to participate in the roundtable. Friday morning, I boarded a 5:10 Acela train in order to make a 10 am. make-up call at the MTV studios in Times Square. Crazy! I must say, it was pretty cool for this blogger, who spends much of her time in a messy home office writing nonsense, to be walking though the MTV offices and into the MTV newsroom. My 20-something year-old self would not have believed it…
The panel was a who’s who of Idol punditry, including Maura Johnston from Idolator, who is responsible for that most excellent music blog’s snarky, insightful Idol coverage, Michael Slezak who writes the smart and witty re-caps for Entertainment Weekly, and famous Idol blogger, Rickey Yaneza–you know him, you love him–from Rickey.org. It was pretty cool to finally meet and talk Idol with the people behind the great work that’s certainly informed my own Idol blogging. Actually, I have to say that hanging out was the best part. Get a bunch of Idol geeks in a room, and what do you have? A nonstop Idol geek-out! Pretty awesome stuff.
We filmed for an hour. A lot of great stuff was left on the cutting room floor. Nevertheless, I’m pleased with the results. I hope you are too…
ETA: I’ve got the video embeded after the JUMP!!!
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I would have loved to have watched the whole hour!
This was a terrific roundtable discussion and article. Well done to all of you. MJ you are a STAR! Everyone was spot on with their ideas for the show and how to improve it. Who better to ask than the people who write about the show and get feedback from the fans? Loved hearing what everyone’s favorite performances were too. The Paulagate discussion was great. Heck, the whole thing was great!
I’m going to watch this one more than once - fantastic - and congratulations for being a part of it.
Very well done mj !! Held your ground with the big boys. Very impressive. Me=proud of you !
(I’d have stuttered or spit my gum across the room or something equally horrid. )
MJ, you did good.
One thing I picked up on was that AI HAS TO PRODUCE A SUPERSTAR….or it’s toast.
that was good…me likey
I agree w/ Ricky on Carly’s Here You Come Again…wayyyyyyyy way way underrated.
Most Overrated performance- DC’s Always Be My Baby…good but not crazy good.
Don’t agree w// showing every top 24’s audition (ie Kelly Clarkson)
They need to keep all 3 judges…
Who’s the Jackass on the right that said DA can’t be on the radio because of one song (W/ You) that he didnt do THAT BAD on…
Wow its really really weird seeing these ppl in real life tho…
Hey…
No one mentioned MJ’s “It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right”? That was the best performance of the whole season IMO. Shame on you.
Thanks for the insight. It looks like all you guys had a lot of fun.
That’s awesome, MJ, that you got to go and do that! I’m so happy for you–such fun times!
I’m sooo happy that people had Jason’s Hallelujah and Daydream as their favorite performances of the season. Obviously I agree and I’d put SOTR up there too. Those and Billie Jean, Hello and ABMB were my favorites this year.
I agree that if the goal of the show is to produce a recording artist who will sell then DC should win and I hope he does win. I know I’ll be voting for him.
The thing with jason was that tho his performances of SOTR, Daydream, and Hallelujah were very good, those were his only GOOD performances..all his other ones were very below average
Duke:
“The thing with jason was that tho his performances of SOTR, Daydream, and Hallelujah were very good, those were his only GOOD performances..all his other ones were very below average”
Don’t agree, I think I Don’t Wanna Cry and Traveling Thru were very underrated. Also Jason’s take on Memory was beautiful, except for the obvious cold. Just because the judges were critical doesn’t make it so.
MJ, you were all kinds of awesome. That was my favorite thing ever, hearing you all talk Idol. All my Idol geek dreams have come true. Thanks!
Again, great job, MJ. I’m a bit jellus. Sounds so fun! Being invited to participate is an honor that you most certainly deserve. I’ve been a big fan Jim C’s Idol in 60 seconds clips all season.
It was the best performance of Dolly night and MJ’s personal best. I don’t think it was the performance of the season. It did redeem MJ a bit, but too little too late.
I’m glad my first fave girl, Miss Alex Lushington, got some love.
Disagree. Jason had plenty of good performances. He just didn’t get a tongue bath from the judges unless he had a “moment” unlike some of the other contestants.
Agree with flynnsgirl on Jason.
MJ, That was great! I think you did a wonderful job. All of you did! Very awesome.
Well thats the great thing about this blog right? Agree to disagree.
Great job MJ! That looked like so much fun!
I have to agree with Maura - Spinning Wheel - Go Alex!, Jesus Christ Superstar - Carly’s only one of hers I bought and Hallelujah - to me, the best song of the season! and She’s a Woman -Chikezie - thanks MJ! Add Always Be My Baby and you got the top 5 performances of the season!
MJ - LOVED IT!!
But HOW have I not known about Idol In 60 Seconds?!?!!?!?!?!? I just spent the last half hour watching them all. HILARIOUS. Thanks, MJ!
Damn, the video is not available for me. :(
“But HOW have I not known about Idol In 60 Seconds?!?!!?!?!?!? I just spent the last half hour watching them all. HILARIOUS.”
That is hilarious AE… I did the same thing over the weekend… just fell onto it… it was soooo funny!!
What? A superstar every year? This year in particular? Or a superstar…at long last?
I’m assuming that “superstar” is defined here as multi-platinum, multiple endorsements, magazine covers, opportunities on stage/screen/etc, and industry recognition. Idol has already produced some of those. But given the underperformance for the last two Idol winners, I guess they need at least two million in sales within the first year to be declared minimally successful as an Idol winner.
As much as I’m pulling for my little Archie, I do wonder if he can achieve that level of success. With a strong fan base and a boo-free radio hit or two, it’s doable. (All depends on the team behind the record. After all, who’d have thunk I’d enjoy anything sung by the likes of Miley Cyrus but “See You Again” is a guilty pleasure. Very guilty.)
But I’ll admit I think Cook would be the safer investment, mostly because he’s a grown up with broad appeal and know-it-all Simon who predicted the mind numbing success of Carriebot thinks so. But it’s hard to know these days. Since I don’t have a particular interest in Cook or in his style of music, it’s hard for me to know just how much safer.
MJ, You were fabulous! How freakin fun to talk idol with other idol fanatics, peeps who want to digest the performances, the cheesy group numbers and the wacky weird manipulations of our beloved,lol, AI producers.
I hope that they watch and listen to this roundtable discussion, you guys had lots of good suggestions for the show. My friends roll their eyes when I talk idol, and I thank my lucky stars I found this place
Congrats, MJ
Thanks for posting the link to the MTV roundtable. You spoke very well, mj!
I’m happy to see Hallelujah and Always Be My Baby receiving a lot of roundtable love- those are my favorites as well!
Me either :( But congrats MJ!! How very cool for you, and nice to have a face to go with the name. :)
Carrie Underwood was the last one produced and that was season 4. They also need to produce a successful male winner.
MJ, that was SO cool. Congrats!!!!
That was really great to watch and I think you all did a great job with it. I agree with everything said except for David A winning, lol. And it was really awesome to see all the love for Jason. Thanks for that!
Very enjoyable discussion. I’m glad that A’Lush got some props; she went before her time. I remember her last performance, and she had a look on her face even before she started that said she knew she was going home that week. I always wondered about that….
I loved the suggestion that someone made about AI taking a page from Project Runway and showing more behind-the-scenes action of rehearsals and working it out with the band. The judges somehow have gotten the idea that they are the show. And MJ, you are right: the kids are the show. Let them unfold and grow how they will. TPTB will never make a predetermined storyline as intersting as one that emerges organically. I fear they are too arrogant to realize that.
Wow MJ I’m IMPRESSED! You’re perfect personality/professional/fun! Loved it.
Great fun, MJ - now, if TPTB woul djust listen to the suggestions that were given at that roundtable.
I would have loved to see Alexandrea make Top 12, rather than KLCook.
Some great choices for best performances, Jason & Cookie definitely laid some new AI ground with their originality.
Great job, and, I agree with most everything everyone said, except I’ve never been a Carly fan. Someone should’ve mentioned raising the age to 18. And, like I’ve said before, I do hope DC wins.
MJ!!! Way to go girl! You did great AND you looked super cute! :)
I’m in Canada, so I can’t see any MTV videos. Anyone know how I might be able to watch the roundtable?
w00t! THAT BLOGGER has hit the big time, eh? Noice.
BTW, you and Slezak are Idol-blogging OTP. Pretty much dead-on about everything, especially his observation about showing the Top 24’s auditions. Or at least getting all the Top 24 more or less equal exposure before the semis, no more of this “Who is this poor cannon fodder?” crap. If they’re allegedly good enough to be in the last 2 dozen to contend for the title, there’s no excuse for hiding them until the very last minute.
IOW, Idol PTB, the viewing audience is getting hipper to your ruse with each passing year. Refuse to make the competition “anyone’s ballgame” at your own peril.
Nice job MJ! You did great I agree with whoever said that Carly got the shaft this year, as they were always grading her on a higher curve. She was the voice of this season.
I think Idol has never really produced a superstar. The term “superstar” is overused. Kelly and Carrie have come the closest, but they can’t fill stadiums as headliners. Carrie is relatively unknown outside the US. In a few years they all will probably find their level on the state fair circuit. That is not my definition of a superstar.
Examples of superstars: Sinatra. Elvis, Beatles, Elton, Streisand, Michael Jackson, Madonna
I’ll will be 10 years before I attempt to proclaim anyone from AI a true superstar.
Very informative round table there with some legends of the Internet. lol
I’m a huge Carly fan and don’t get over here very often but I was surprised how pro-Carly Rickey was…shocked actually. Slezak did a pretty good job of downplaying his Carly love though, he is practically a groupie.
Nice to finally have a face to attach to those “two letters”.
Let’s hope the producers do something positive and concrete to freshen up the show next year.
Great round table video! I have read all the bloggers thoughts and getting to “sit down” with them was so much fun, they sound just like their blogging! Great commentary from everyone, although Rickey was much quieter than I expected. It seemed there was much respect for Castro, Cook and Carly going around that table.
CRB, I actually think Slezak is more of a Castro groupie than he is for Carly. He always ranked Castro as a frontrunner, ever since Daydream, even after some of his less stellar performances.
MJ…really nice job. You came across very very well!
MJ,
Great Job. I hope it was as big a thrill for you as it was for all of us idolfans watching! You and Michael Slezak were both well spoken and made great points. Keep up the good work!!
Looking forward to watching AI Finale tomorrow night and the top five duets.
MJ,
I hope that was really fun for you. Being on the MTV set has to be one of those “moments” you will always remember. Enjoyed it!
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Yeah, I have wondered about the show and its goal (other than obviously making a lot of money for the producers) for a long time. If it is just to find a superstar recording artist it seems like they would take the performance aspect of it out of the equation until it was determined the person could actually sell records. I guess that would be difficult to do in a tv show.
By the way, great job MJ! Must be nice to be an expert. Bet you didn’t see that coming when you started this blog.
Congrats MJ! You were incredibly good, and I love having a face to put with the name. Great views, well stated. Loved the whole roundtable… entertaining and well done.
The discussion about best performances was fascinating. Each year, there are clear standout performances… and invariably the performer(s) responsible are eliminated before the final. It’s the nature of this beast, I think.
Really enjoyed watching that, MJ! Wonderful to finally put a face to your name. My only complaint is it was too short. I hope they decide to show the footage they cut somewhere.
Terrific discussions and opinions. I think they should take the section on suggestions for improvements and send it to Nigel. Ask Jim to add a p.s. to raise the age.
Glad to be a part of the community you’ve built here, MJ!
Great job and congratulations MJ! What a great day for you to remember. Agree with pretty much everything said, aside from the David A. winning part and Rickey’s reasoning it as what the show is about.
I love hearing other Idol geeks discuss Idol!
Here’s to David Cook standing on stage with “flames” of confetti!
Really nice job MJ!!! I thoroughly enjoyed the video. So pleased you and Michael are DC supporters.
And you are so right! AI ow needs a first place winner to be a superstar and that is David Cook! With his sexy charisma he would make some great videos.
Thanks again for putting up the video.
i cant get the vid :( but congrats mj :)
Great job, MJ–and how cool to have a face to go with the words! And so nice to hear smart people talking intelligently about something I’m obssessed by. (I feel so much less geeky now!)
I’m typing on the blog of a STAH!!
Please, PTB, take heed of these wise words!!
That was great. Everyone made some excellent observations.
And congrats MJ for making it to MTV. That’s really cool.
Wow MJ, You’re a Star. Your loyal readers can say “we knew you when”! Congratulations on making it to the Big Time!
This is so cool MJ!! I’m so glad you’re getting the recognition you deserve. I’ve just watched the vids, and you did a great job. It’s nice to put a face with a name. Thanks for all you do! :)
Finally got to watch this; very cool! You guys all seem to have great chemistry, and how fun to see Idol given the Best Damn Sports Show treatment (and even more fun: the consensus that Randy is useless). You more than held your own as always! Also, I love that you gave props to Chikezie for “She’s a Woman”; it’s got to be in my all-time top 10 or 20 Idol performances.