The Train Wreck that is American Idol

[Tony]

I am fascinated by this show! First of all, how do they pick a complete non-talent like Ryan Seacrest to host? I cringe whenever I see him. Then look at the judges. Randy, a has-been with some really bad grammar ("dawg, that song wasn't my best for you"... WHAT?), Paula, Ms. Perky Positive occasionally drunk or on meds, and Simon, who I have decided half the time doesn't even watch the performances. (he is by far the only legitimate judge of talent of the three).

And then, you really have to wonder how these 24 contestants could be the best 24 in the entire USA to have tried out? Clearly the contestants are not chosen for their talent, but to fit some type of demographic for the TV ratings.

And THEN, "60's Night"? "Baby Please Don't Go", originally recorded in 1935, and "Jailhouse Rock", originally recorded in 1957? 60's Night?????

And yet, I can't wait every Tuesday to watch it with my family....

[IronJoe]

Originally Posted by Tony

And yet, I can't wait every Tuesday to watch it with my family....

Yeah, I watch it every week, too. I like that it's family friendly and it makes for good water cooler talk the next morning at work.

Originally Posted by Tony

how do they pick a complete non-talent like Ryan Seacrest

Disasgree. In the early seasons he was annoying and had that cheesy tag-line ("Seacrest... out!"). Since then, I think he's gotten a LOT better at what he does. When the judges are all over the place, he tries to bring their message to a point. When Simon goes overboard with his cruelty, he engages him, deflects the criticism and softens the blow on the performer. He has a good sense of when to be silly and when to take a serious tone. Also consider that he has no script up there -- he's responding to unpredictable performers and unpredictable judges. I think he does a pretty good job.

[Mark Davis]

Ive watched it every year cause I like horrible embarrasing stuff. I like Simon also cause he tells the truth.

I must say this years crop of talent is the worst ever. I dont think there is 1 person thats even as good as Kelly Clarkson! LOL

[Tony]

that I just can't stand Seacrest... I'm probably not seeing his talent just because, well, he drives me NUTS!

[Joe Chaney]

i want to beat Simon Cowell over the head with something heavy, like a Les Paul, he makes me ashamed to be english

[pengipete]

The show originated over here and was called Pop Idol which is far more descriptive of the styles and standards expected.

The franchise is sold all over the world and many versions include the country's name.

[fenderfan]

I really enjoy how the show gives a singer the chance to go from nothing to a real career in music (and not just for the final winner, but even for those who make it into the final rounds).
A singer from my previous band made it to the Hollywood round two seasons back. When we would be rehearsing, she used to run upstairs to watch Idol and talk about how much she would like to be part of it, so it was pretty surreal to then actually see her on the show (she had a bad cold/throat thing in Hollywood that kept her from doing well and moving farther. If that had not happened, her vocal skill and overall appeal would have gotten her into the later rounds without a doubt, although there's no way to tell if she would have won the whole thing)

[andy__woods]

I always watch American Idol. I'm a singer myself, and usually at this point, I feel like the talent is really good, and think "wow, I couldn't do that." This year though.....I'm completely unimpressed. There may be one or two people who could sell a cd, but mostly I'm not going for it.

I agree that Simon is the only one that usually judges talent well. You can always tell who they (the producers) want to win, because if Simon likes you, especially after a mediocre performance, then you're getting a big push.

I'll still watch, and I'm hoping they get better as the weeks go on

[hekawi]

The kids do seem to get their decades mixed up. Producers have them choose songs from a list, so it's not entirely their fault if they pick something like "Jailhouse Rock". the show staff needs to do it's homework/research.

that being said, there are thousands of great songs from the 60s and a guy picks "Moon River"...that's just stupid. same with one of the girls singing "Where the Boys Are"...one of the lamest songs of all time.

for all it's faults though it is appointment television at my house and the only show my whole family watches together.

got a favorite yet? my wife likes Michael Johns, the"Australian" guy who sang "Light My Fire" and Jason Castro, the dreadlock boy who sang Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream". my daughter likes David Archuleta, the 17 year old who sang "Shop Around".

i like Alaina Whitaker:

[Mark Davis]

What AI wants is a young unexperienced person who will sign over 1/2 of their profits for the 1st year thats what they make them do.

The best thing as I see it is use the show for exposure and get voted off around 3rd or 4th place like Daughtry did. That way you can get signed by another record company other than Simons sony and make more $$.

[copytekk]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Ive watched it every year cause I like horrible embarrasing stuff. I like Simon also cause he tells the truth.

I must say this years crop of talent is the worst ever. I dont think there is 1 person thats even as good as Kelly Clarkson! LOL

I agree, with the exception of Carrie Underwood. She has a few songs in rotation on the local country station and man is she amazing! Granted the studio helps but I love the way she sings.

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by hekawi

i like Alaina Whitaker:

I have seen eactly five minutes of the show this season, and it was her performance.

Not too shabby. The song was awful, but the performance was far above the karaoke bar level I'm used to seeing on that show.


Jake

[Guitarzan]

Those that have won have not fared particularly well, on average.

Kelly Clarkston and Carrie Underwood are the only ones that have really performed. And I guess that Dautry guy has done pretty well.

A number of them have been dropped by the label recently.

I was astounded to hear the size of Simon Cowell's deal--like $100mm. When you hear something like that, it's hard to say what "100 million dollar deal" means, because you don't know if production costs come out of that. In any event, he ain't hurting.

I saw a published item recently that estimated that Ryan Seacrest was making around $20mm a year with radio and TV. That's amazing. He grew up in Atlanta, this is his father:

http://www.sktblaw.com/L2.asp?SID=4&CID=2

[blue water girl]

Once you start watching you can hardly wrench yourself away from the TV.

Brent always insists he think the show is ridiculous and cheesy. He is usually working when the show airs and I tivo it so he can see it when he gets home.

Every time I start to play it back when he gets home he always says "Oh no, not American Idol!" But then he watches the entire show like he is in a trance. If I try to talk to him during one of the performances, or even worse, one of the judges giving their opinion, he shushes me. Then the next day if anyone mentions it he always says "that is the most ridiculous show. I can't believe anybody watches it".........

so it truly is like a train wreck.......

Both Brent and I seem to go along most of the time with Randy Jackson's opinion at the end of the performance - not Simon's. Last night the girl who performed "Spinning Wheel" - she sang as she came down the stairs at the beginning of the song- we thought she was awesome. Simon hated it. HOW could he so viciously rip apart that great performance. Her vocals were so in the pocket - she was our favorite last night. And it is hard not to love David Archuletta, the adorable 17 year old, even if he did win Star Search as a child.

I think I enjoy the show more at this stage rather than near the end. By that time it is hard to stay into it it has been on for so many weeks I've lost interest. And I was trying to name all the past six winners, it took me a while, I had already forgotten Jordin Sparks from last year!

[John Backlund]

I heard two of them do a Turtle's song, one of the males, and last night, a female......they're obviously good singers, but listening to them do some of these old songs just makes me appreciate all the more just how great most of the original singers of these songs were (or still are), which in the case of the aformentioned Turtles number was Howard Kaylan, one of the absolutely best rock/pop voices of the 60's groups.

[Joisey]

I have never watched the show but last season I "voted for the worst" each week.

[kittycatclock]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

What AI wants is a young unexperienced person who will sign over 1/2 of their profits for the 1st year thats what they make them do.

The best thing as I see it is use the show for exposure and get voted off around 3rd or 4th place like Daughtry did. That way you can get signed by another record company other than Simons sony and make more $$.

I've heard all kinds of bad things about the contract the winners must sign, and I have no reason to doubt any of it. They really do make a killing off the winners, assuming they do well. The winners that do not sell well are given the boot and put out to pasture at record speed and rarely, if ever, mentioned again. I believe I also heard that the ruuners up have to agree to some pretty unfavorable terms as well.

The show is a money making machine in every way except record sales, which have been pretty dismal for nearly every winner except Kelly and Carrie. The corporate sponsorship is getting to a disgusting level though.

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by Joisey

I have never watched the show but last season I "voted for the worst" each week.

As long as it makes you feel better about things.

[Dan German]

When they held auditions for our version of this abomination, I was delivering glassware. I asked the Concert Hall security guard who signed for the goods I brought "How's it going?" Just small talk, you know. And he answered (I'll do my best, but try to imagine a 75 year old Groundskeeper Willie):

"Ach, ye neverr seen sech a lot o' daft wee buggers. A'crrrryin' an' a'pyookin'......"

Still makes me laugh, anyway.

[Hockey Rocker]

I too disagree about Seacrest. The man is a born game show host and he's getting better at it.

[getbent]

always good family entertainment! We watch and comment and have fun with it... I don't care about who gets paid and who doesn't. I think they dealt with the one woman's 'controversial' deal with Randy Jackson pretty deftly last night... and his responses last night were more calculated than usual.

Like the old shows of the 60's there is more afoot than we ever see. I am sure they don't care if folks watch and hate it and vote to derail it as long as they can show you as a viewer and charge the advertisers!

More fun to watch people sing than eat bugs or cheat on spouses or all that other reality stuff... sometimes I think the judges can't hear the mix too well and on several occasions they've apologized the next day... I suspect that RJ might have such an apology for the first girl last night. I think he couldn't hear her....

but, generally, the talent is pretty good and they seem like pretty nice kids etc...

[Tony]

still bugs me, no matter what you guys say...

[getbent]

chich, chich (this is the sound Cesar Millan makes on Dog Whisperer) ignore it Tony... we all do.

getbent........ out.

[Chuck 909]

I haven't seen it in quite awhile but I was lucky? enough to see the episode with William Hung. I've never laughed so hard in my life. It was a great family moment, we were all over my mothers house having dinner that night. We end up watching AI and we just fell out laughing.