The Train Wreck that is American Idol - Page 4

getbent · February 28th, 2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tboy

As for the other mention, mmmmmm. You were creating a simile to his extensive cache of knowledge in all things media, no?

No, I think he was the child mascot for the SLA!

I have heard from Wilsey and Joel that skully has a scope on his tele... and like Maxwell Smart's pen, his tele might actually be loaded. (but not loaded like Foster Brooks)

for my part, I will only admit to having bought a baseball glove at the Mel's Sporting Goods that they robbed. The fact that I may have owned a zither named cinque is totally incidental.

tboy · February 28th, 2008, 01:08 PM

I can't even admit to having been in a Mels' Sporting Goods. Or won't, I forget which.
Anyway, I'm getting a great idea for a movie manuscript. Title, "Chat Room." A mild disagreement over some incidental matter evolves, and next thing you know, weirdness and mayhem ensue. Maybe something like what happens to Bill Pullman and his gal at the beginning of Lost Highway.

Maybe I can pitch it to Fred Savage if I happen run into him in a restaurant. He might act, but probably rather direct.

A zither named cinque. Sounds interesting but it's beyond me, but then a lot is.

Skully · February 28th, 2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

No, I think he was the child mascot for the SLA!

Well, their safe house was in a town (Concord) neighboring the one I grew up in (Pleasant Hill). Other than that, I have no comment.

Quote:

I have heard from Wilsey and Joel that skully has a scope on his tele... and like Maxwell Smart's pen, his tele might actually be loaded. (but not loaded like Foster Brooks)

I you'd hear me play it, you'd realize it has no ammo whatsoever.

Quote:

for my part, I will only admit to having bought a baseball glove at the Mel's Sporting Goods that they robbed. The fact that I may have owned a zither named cinque is totally incidental.

Is Cinque actually the third man? Damn. The plum wine is on me.

If you haven't read Patty Hearsts SLA memoir "Every Secret Thing," I highly recommend it.

tboy · February 28th, 2008, 01:09 PM

The Third Man, of course!

getbent · February 28th, 2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tboy

Anyway, I'm getting a great idea for a movie manuscript. Title, "Chat Room." A mild disagreement over some incidental matter evolves, and next thing you know, weirdness and mayhem ensue. Maybe something like what happens to Bill Pullman and his gal at the beginning of Lost Highway.

There was a story awhile back about a feud in a discussion group where a guy drove hundreds of miles and either shot or set fire to the other guys trailer.

The whole discussion forum thing is ripe for a rework of some of the cool 19th century epistlery style... I think it would be cool to use a noir style set of voices reading their posts as narration while watching them do what they are writing about.... and seeing the nuances... it could even have a light aspect with editing of scenes or as the conversation transpires there is clarification lent to the action...

tboy · February 28th, 2008, 01:51 PM

Yea, it really lends itself to epistlery style and some noir type narrative. (Double Indemnity, one of my faves) And postmodern, where disconnected scenes converge into a climax that's much larger than the sum of the parts. Maybe even some time play, if that's not become too passe after Momento. Gotta think on this. I'm liking it.

getbent · February 28th, 2008, 02:29 PM

do the discussion forum as the linking agent... Like Short Cuts but with the forum as the common link rather than Los Angeles...

McFly · February 28th, 2008, 02:53 PM

...... if this is an 'Idol' thread,

Who's getting kicked off tonight?

My vote:
Guy - Long haired blonde guy who sang 'Hot Blooded'
Girl - Alexandrea?? sang 'Magic Man' ...i think

tboy · February 28th, 2008, 04:01 PM

That was my thought also. A link that the whole story hangs on, but ultimately, is maybe not the only link. Use it as a false link. Like the viewer is led to believe that the connections are formed serendipitously through the chat link, but the mayhem instigator (whose identity is kept secret, of course) identifies them first and somehow lures them into the chat situation because of a strong common interest.

Something seedy and sexual would offer a level of zing and pop. Like one Vertigo plus one Rear Window, add a pinch of T&A and a few other great elements, and out pops Body Double. Good enough for DePalma. All we need now is a polished screenplay, actors, a crew, a few mil and a solid connect at Sundance. One step at a time. I hear that the polished screenplay can actually bring rest running.

One question. What's happening in the chat room that moviegoers will be captivated by? Maybe an S&M thing where members occasionally meet up to act out the stuff they write about, and then they start disappearing? Just a thought. Something else?

getbent · February 28th, 2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tboy

One question. What's happening in the chat room that moviegoers will be captivated by? Maybe an S&M thing where members occasionally meet up to act out the stuff they write about, and then they start disappearing? Just a thought. Something else?

TDPRI, of course. A small single engine airplane discussion group... maybe focusing on a cool plane like the Mooney, and maybe a 'burning man' type group.

Groups like the TDPRI have loosely related get togethers.. the key here would be the ties among the people in both groups... The story might have some of the elements you describe but they wouldn't be central to the plot. The them is reality/knowledge creation and absorbtion.

The situation is this: People have a need to communicate, to teach and a hunger to learn, experience and try things out and to confess. Discussion groups facilitate every facet of this.

The story can run as fast or as slow as you want... again the stories just have to be good not necessarily pandering to the obvious...

The complication in the film will be in the areas where the two realities meet and within each reality where there is natural conflict...

The climax will be whatever the major action is going to be... maybe a tdpri meeting where guys are going via their mooney's or in their 4 wheelers to zhurh's in alaska and a disgruntled former member 'crashes' the get together (kinda corny) but some major action occurs... The key will be that the audience will see who has a consonant view of reality and who has a disparate view... it will be when these two groups try to interact in the alternate media that the drama will explode.

and the resolution is that everyone returns to talking about their reality in the group and shaping in a variety of ways.... some need to show themselves in a positive light, some in a dangerous light, aggressive light etc... the teaser of course will be all the know characters returning to form... and a new member or two pop in with very major separations of their two realities.

ROADMAN · February 28th, 2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFly

...... if this is an 'Idol' thread,

Who's getting kicked off tonight?

My vote:
Guy - Long haired blonde guy who sang 'Hot Blooded'
Girl - Alexandrea?? sang 'Magic Man' ...i think

I don't think this is an AI thread anymore it was derailed quite awhile back.

tboy · February 28th, 2008, 05:01 PM

Damn good. If I'm reading you, this becomes about what ultimately fuels peoples' concepts of reality, where those concepts originate and how those concepts interact and conflict. The physical context becomes a vehicle and catalyst to discover that end.

Sorry AI fans. This thing kind of carried me away. I suppose it should be restarted on a new thread.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Actually, I'm just mad at AI for booting off the girl that lives a few miles from my house last week. (or was it the week before)

I've actually carried two twins. Hence the string of operations and long recovery time.

getbent · February 28th, 2008, 05:31 PM

tboy, yep.

McFly, sorry amigo. I agree with you. those would be the two I would let go too.

superchicken_VI · February 28th, 2008, 06:18 PM

The girls are doing much better than the guys again this year. I'll go with 2 picks each, a little bit of hedging.

Guy to go:

Jason Yeager. Too schmaltzy, and was smiling and happy while singing about a woman who won't ever see her family again. He gives me the willies. Reminds me of my wife's first fiance.

Luke Menard. I don't even remember what he sang, it was so unmemorable. I remember that it stunk.

Girl to go:

Kady Malloy. Did she get any notes right in Magic Man?

Aleandrea Lushington. 3/4s of the song was in no key, just faltering around in limbo and bad notes. No core.

Favorites?

Kristy Lee Cook, Carly Smithson.

On an appearance note, Carly is tough to look at for me with all of that ink ruining her arm. The video of her a few seasons ago was much more attractive than with that woman's face on her bicep. I really liked her husband with his face tattood.

jmoore65 · February 28th, 2008, 07:20 PM

For some reason we get American Idol on one of our cable channels here in Australia, maybe because the new season of Australian Idol hasn't started yet (don't get me started on Australian Idol...)

Anyway, the funniest thing about American Idol on our tv is the message that comes up along the bottom of the screen "Voting not available in Australia"...

McFly · February 29th, 2008, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superchicken_VI

Jason Yeager. Too schmaltzy, and was smiling and happy while singing about a woman who won't ever see her family again. He gives me the willies. Reminds me of my wife's first fiance.

I was a bit dissapointed to see him go, I thought he was miles ahead of
Luke in entertainment factor. Of course Killer Queen is a much more difficult vocal that Long Train Runnin', but LTR came accross as more entertaining to me.

At the same time I do get some of that vibe you mentioned...

superchicken_VI · February 29th, 2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFly

I was a bit dissapointed to see him go, I thought he was miles ahead of
Luke in entertainment factor. Of course Killer Queen is a much more difficult vocal that Long Train Runnin', but LTR came accross as more entertaining to me.

At the same time I do get some of that vibe you mentioned...

I couldn't get past the fact that he didn't have the emotional depth to understand what the song was talking about. It was even worse in his farewell performance--it's not a happy little love song, and that's what he did with it. If you can't pick that up, then you have no believability.

I thought Luke should have gone home, too, but the Axl Rose/Kid Rock-wannabe was destined to go home soon anyway. I think it's only a matter of time for Luke unless he makes better song choices. Killer Queen is such a moment of music, that to try to replicate it is foolish unless you're with Brian May on stage.

I was sorry for the little pageant girl, she didn't deserve to go home. Her performance was good, and Kady's was bad. Kady seemed resigned to leaving when they were brought forward. I don't think that Alaina had a shot to win, but she should have been around another week.

Alexandrea didn't seem to know who she was, which is understandable with a 17 year old. I think she might have quite a good jazz career if she goes to music school and learns control. There were Anita Bryant/Dianne Reeves moments in her performance, but then she got lost in an r&b melisma and ruined her purity.

I hope that Amanda Overmeyer will get some big rocker songs to do where she can blow the top off. I like her, but to this point her competition work hasn't been top 4. I think that the single most marketable girl is Kristy Lee Cook, and she needs to go country. Second is Carly Smithson, and she needs to keep an edge. Those two are the class of the field. I don't think any of the guys has the marketability of any of the women left in the show.

McFly · February 29th, 2008, 08:55 AM

Carly seems like the one to beat IMHO. I like Kristy Lee Cook, she looks great and sounds good, but something just doesn't add up when she's on stage. It's a bit like watching your favorite supermodel act. Her stage presence may be her downfall.

If Amanda can break out and mix up her vocal styling a bit, she could be around a while. It's tough to say though because she seems very one dimensional so far. Yes, it's a rockin' type of sound that we like to hear in these shows, but a good rock singer usually has a few more tricks in the bag too.

geddins · February 29th, 2008, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superchicken_VI

The girls are doing much better than the guys again this year.

For those who truly wonder why AI appeals to so many people..this is a great example.

Superchicken is sure the gals are killing the guys, and I'm the polar opposite on this...I think overall the guys are much better than the girls so far.....

I did agree with SC's picks to go home though....that Menard guy won't last I don't think....but I see young David Archuletta as the one to beat.....if he would just get a bit of "swagger" to him he would win this going away I think.

superchicken_VI · February 29th, 2008, 09:57 AM

I do think that Archuletta is the guy to beat. I just think that it will come down to the girls.

Kristy Lee Cook reminds me of Trisha Yearwood, in that I can't feel a connection to her when she's performing. Great singer, easy on the eyes, and very marketable. I'm hoping that it has just been her flu that has made her a bit of a cold fish, because I really dig a girl who does her interviews in a Browning hat and wants to go camping and fishing.

Amanda is a one-trick pony, and she needs to keep pulling out that trick. But her Janis style needs the right songs, and she hasn't picked them. I was amazed that she didn't do a Heart song, because that's a better choice than Kansas. That arrangement was so hacked up to get it to fit in the time allotment, it kept her from making any consistency in performance.

Skully · February 29th, 2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Amanda is a one-trick pony, and she needs to keep pulling out that trick. But her Janis style needs the right songs, and she hasn't picked them. I was amazed that she didn't do a Heart song, because that's a better choice than Kansas. That arrangement was so hacked up to get it to fit in the time allotment, it kept her from making any consistency in performance.

She couldn't sing the verses (too low), and it through her off on the chorus when she went back into it.

Whenever a female singer tries to do the Janis thing on AI, I always think, "Mistake, mistake, mistake." I think it's a bad strategy for the show, and I have a personal prejudice against singers who try to do that bluesy rock mama thing.

Amanda can move well, but the Lily Munster-cum-biker girl look is annoying and her vocals have gotten worse and worse. She was way off on the Brady Bunch group sing last night.

freshmattyp · February 29th, 2008, 07:03 PM

Per my 4 year old daughter, the family will be supporting Ramiele this year.

The Bone2 · February 29th, 2008, 07:41 PM

Good boy singers: Archuleta, David Hernandez
Average: David Cook, Chekezie, David Johns, Jason Castro (I believe I'm being very generous with two of these guys)
Poor: Noriega, Luke (please, please eliminate Noriega - snap).

Good girl singers: Brooke, The Irish Girl, Sayesha, Ramielle
Average: Asiah, and the fine looking horse trainer chick.
Poor: Amanda, Kody (OMG - terrible)

February 28th, 2008, 02:29 PM	#127 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 7,748 35 Photos	do the discussion forum as the linking agent... Like Short Cuts but with the forum as the common link rather than Los Angeles... __________________ Be big... like Jupiter.

February 28th, 2008, 02:53 PM	#128 (permalink)
McFly Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New York Age: 33 Posts: 143	so... ...... if this is an 'Idol' thread, Who's getting kicked off tonight? My vote: Guy - Long haired blonde guy who sang 'Hot Blooded' Girl - Alexandrea?? sang 'Magic Man' ...i think

February 28th, 2008, 05:01 PM	#132 (permalink)
tboy Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 505 7 Photos	Damn good. If I'm reading you, this becomes about what ultimately fuels peoples' concepts of reality, where those concepts originate and how those concepts interact and conflict. The physical context becomes a vehicle and catalyst to discover that end. Sorry AI fans. This thing kind of carried me away. I suppose it should be restarted on a new thread. Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Actually, I'm just mad at AI for booting off the girl that lives a few miles from my house last week. (or was it the week before) I've actually carried two twins. Hence the string of operations and long recovery time. Last edited by tboy : February 28th, 2008 at 05:35 PM.

February 28th, 2008, 05:31 PM	#133 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 7,748 35 Photos	tboy, yep. McFly, sorry amigo. I agree with you. those would be the two I would let go too. __________________ Be big... like Jupiter.

February 28th, 2008, 07:20 PM	#135 (permalink)
jmoore65 TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oz Age: 49 Posts: 59	AI in Oz For some reason we get American Idol on one of our cable channels here in Australia, maybe because the new season of Australian Idol hasn't started yet (don't get me started on Australian Idol...) Anyway, the funniest thing about American Idol on our tv is the message that comes up along the bottom of the screen "Voting not available in Australia"...

February 28th, 2008, 01:08 PM	#122 (permalink)
tboy Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 505 7 Photos	I can't even admit to having been in a Mels' Sporting Goods. Or won't, I forget which. Anyway, I'm getting a great idea for a movie manuscript. Title, "Chat Room." A mild disagreement over some incidental matter evolves, and next thing you know, weirdness and mayhem ensue. Maybe something like what happens to Bill Pullman and his gal at the beginning of Lost Highway. Maybe I can pitch it to Fred Savage if I happen run into him in a restaurant. He might act, but probably rather direct. A zither named cinque. Sounds interesting but it's beyond me, but then a lot is.

February 28th, 2008, 01:09 PM	#124 (permalink)
tboy Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 505 7 Photos	The Third Man, of course!

February 28th, 2008, 01:51 PM	#126 (permalink)
tboy Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 505 7 Photos	Yea, it really lends itself to epistlery style and some noir type narrative. (Double Indemnity, one of my faves) And postmodern, where disconnected scenes converge into a climax that's much larger than the sum of the parts. Maybe even some time play, if that's not become too passe after Momento. Gotta think on this. I'm liking it.

February 28th, 2008, 04:01 PM	#129 (permalink)
tboy Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 505 7 Photos	That was my thought also. A link that the whole story hangs on, but ultimately, is maybe not the only link. Use it as a false link. Like the viewer is led to believe that the connections are formed serendipitously through the chat link, but the mayhem instigator (whose identity is kept secret, of course) identifies them first and somehow lures them into the chat situation because of a strong common interest. Something seedy and sexual would offer a level of zing and pop. Like one Vertigo plus one Rear Window, add a pinch of T&A and a few other great elements, and out pops Body Double. Good enough for DePalma. All we need now is a polished screenplay, actors, a crew, a few mil and a solid connect at Sundance. One step at a time. I hear that the polished screenplay can actually bring rest running. One question. What's happening in the chat room that moviegoers will be captivated by? Maybe an S&M thing where members occasionally meet up to act out the stuff they write about, and then they start disappearing? Just a thought. Something else?

February 28th, 2008, 06:18 PM	#134 (permalink)
superchicken_VI Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Monroe, NC Age: 35 Posts: 890	The girls are doing much better than the guys again this year. I'll go with 2 picks each, a little bit of hedging. Guy to go: Jason Yeager. Too schmaltzy, and was smiling and happy while singing about a woman who won't ever see her family again. He gives me the willies. Reminds me of my wife's first fiance. Luke Menard. I don't even remember what he sang, it was so unmemorable. I remember that it stunk. Girl to go: Kady Malloy. Did she get any notes right in Magic Man? Aleandrea Lushington. 3/4s of the song was in no key, just faltering around in limbo and bad notes. No core. Favorites? Kristy Lee Cook, Carly Smithson. On an appearance note, Carly is tough to look at for me with all of that ink ruining her arm. The video of her a few seasons ago was much more attractive than with that woman's face on her bicep. I really liked her husband with his face tattood.

February 29th, 2008, 08:55 AM	#138 (permalink)
McFly Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New York Age: 33 Posts: 143	Carly seems like the one to beat IMHO. I like Kristy Lee Cook, she looks great and sounds good, but something just doesn't add up when she's on stage. It's a bit like watching your favorite supermodel act. Her stage presence may be her downfall. If Amanda can break out and mix up her vocal styling a bit, she could be around a while. It's tough to say though because she seems very one dimensional so far. Yes, it's a rockin' type of sound that we like to hear in these shows, but a good rock singer usually has a few more tricks in the bag too.

February 29th, 2008, 09:57 AM	#140 (permalink)
superchicken_VI Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Monroe, NC Age: 35 Posts: 890	I do think that Archuletta is the guy to beat. I just think that it will come down to the girls. Kristy Lee Cook reminds me of Trisha Yearwood, in that I can't feel a connection to her when she's performing. Great singer, easy on the eyes, and very marketable. I'm hoping that it has just been her flu that has made her a bit of a cold fish, because I really dig a girl who does her interviews in a Browning hat and wants to go camping and fishing. Amanda is a one-trick pony, and she needs to keep pulling out that trick. But her Janis style needs the right songs, and she hasn't picked them. I was amazed that she didn't do a Heart song, because that's a better choice than Kansas. That arrangement was so hacked up to get it to fit in the time allotment, it kept her from making any consistency in performance.

February 29th, 2008, 07:03 PM	#142 (permalink)
freshmattyp Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kansas City Age: 42 Posts: 808 18 Photos	Per my 4 year old daughter, the family will be supporting Ramiele this year.