Idol '10

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[Bill]

I think it's interesting that no one has commented on this year's season of Idol.  Last year there was a moderately active thread and the year before it went on for pages.  We're now into several weeks of the show and there seems to be a ho hum reaction.

Bill

[scuzzy]

And years later, I still don't watch the show. I have "peeked in" once or twice, but I never gathered enough interest to watch regularly.

Simon being such a miserable jerk doesn't help.

[Bill]

On the East Coast, there is a program featuring venture capitalists and would be entrepreneurs pitching their businesses for investment money.  The program is called 'Sharks.'  Simon fits that model and it's the way he runs his record label looking for new talent.  I think he is part of the show's attraction but he is scheduled to leave at the end of this season to be replaced, at the moment, by Howard Stern, a NY shock-jock presently on one of the subscription radio networks.  I think the jury is still way out on whether Idol will continue its draw after the transition.

Bill

[JA]

Howard Stern? Are you kidding me?
Count me out big time if he comes on the show!

At grand daughter's behest, I watched Idrool last night.
I enjoyed what I was awake to watch.  Moving day and all.

The first singer and the last one were okay.

I hooked up my 12" woofer Jensen speakers to the set's amp and enjoyed handsome audio.  The pic was fuzzy (not scuzzy), but Time Warner will be here tomorrow for a service call.

Ellen turns out to be a good judge, as was that doogie howser guy earlier.
Simon is way overdue to vacate that seat, IMHO.  So was silly person who left last season.

I guess I am invested already in the new crop.
They grow on me as the season progresses and they get better.

How they manage to get better is fascinating to me.
And where were they last season, and the seasons before that?


A

[scuzzy]

I am not a fan of Howard Stern. In my much younger and "stupid" days I used to listen to his morning show while I was in New Jersey.

Today, I wouldn't give him the time of day.

[JA]

One of my brothers has a saying for that time of day thing, but it shall remain under wraps here.

New Jersay, you sey?  I figured you for a Western kinda guy all the way.
(remember "Westerns"?)

Have Gun Will Travel, yippee ki yo, ghost riders in the sky.

Oh, Cisco!
Oh, Pancho!

Or at least The Brisco Kid!

[Ace]

Last legs. Death knell. Going going...
The End of Idol is near; pretty much when this year's mercifully ends.  It's passed the sell-by date.
And who woulda thunk dumping Paula wouldn't have revived it...

For all his personal charm, Simon is the only one with his eye on the target and is on task.  He consistently reminds all (contestant and judge) that the purpose is not to be "adequate" but to rise to stardom.  the other judges are more than pleased if someone doesn't faint or blow up or keel over dead.  Not that I wouldn't want a few to try it.

I'm a fan of Ellen's; but I don't find her doing much but taking up the odd chair on one side of Randy.  When she started imitating the meaningless and over-used trite "that was pitchy" complaint I lost any hope of her raising the bar.  She likes things, or doesn't, but she's not a music critic.  None of them are really, since none but Simon have a clue about the criteria that apply to music production and development.  His perspective is his alone...

I do enjoy watching this year's hopeless drop off.. I can't believe the talent pool is this depleted.  The guys are horrifically stage frightful, and look like they'd rather be anywhere else.  And none show any promise of being much of anything better than "average" (as in H.S. Musical Average).  No Lambert, or Kris Allen or even Gokey, comparing to last year.  And the bipolar advice of the judges is sure to ruin anyone trying to pay attention... "Make the song your own/Quit changing them up!"  "Don't dance/Dance More!"  "Do Something special/Just Stand and Sing!"  "It's cool you do that 70's thing/All you seem to do is mimic the 70's!"

In the long history of Idol I'd say there are 2 true Star-Level Winners:  Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood.  One loser big winner: Chris Daughtry.  Maybe Lambert, over time, if he keeps from career suicide. David Cook might be ok, if he can find some actual songs.  Some good losers as far as pro careers, and some abysmal winners (Ruben, Fantasia, Cat McPhee, Taylor Hicks, whoever that girl was from 2 years ago who got fat and (more) annoying...  Even some well down the food chain are making progress professionally (Alison from last year and Gokey, even Kelly Pickler).  So it can be a means to a pro career, at least.

Simon goes, it goes, in my view.  What's the point of watching non-music people judge musicians, especially singers?  Yes, I know Randy played bass once on a Journey "off" tour and Kara must have written a song or two.  But they're really not entrenched in the "biz" and don't seem to know anything more than most people off the street (see "Ellen").  Stern as a judge?
Geez, why not Rush Limbaugh or Katie Couric or Mickey Mouse.... Simon's it, as far as sensing the music business at all plus TV success (drama/friction/enough controversy to tune in).  he's like Chef Ramsey, only not in the kitchen.  And as far as criticism, that's his job.  I only wish the others knew how.

They are trimming from the bottom this year I think, as I'm absolutely in agreement with who's going in the order they are.  Last night's was absolutely on target, to me.  The problem I foresee is that there won't be anyone left of any particular worth, or value.  If Bowersox or Siobhan or Dewyze or Todrick wind up winning, as the "best of the rest," then yawn...   Maybe they'll have a career in music, but really I'm not sensing "star power" or anything noteworthy.  It's getting worse, and finally has hit "pretty darn lousy"... 

Ace; and very pitchy.

[Bill]

Here, here! Well said. I also happened to like Big Mike or maybe I just really like James Brown.  Next week will tell....

Bill

[Ace]

You know, I like him too. First off, he's pretty likeable anyway. And I think he's pretty good.. but can't see him really being "great."  What I thought he should do, now that he pulled off the soul thing, is to do "Crazy."  By Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse/Gnarls Barkley.  I think his range is right there, and that could really be stunning. 

Definitely anyone's for the taking, this year... not sure what you get if you get it, though.

Ace; maybe if one of the guys kissed a guy in the band...

[Mark H]

There doesn't seem to be any personality among the IDOL hopefuls. Last year, Danny, Alison, Chris, Matt, and Adam had interesting personalities. This year, they seem boring.

IDOL dies at the end of next season, which will be the first season without Simon in my opinion.

As to the judges, Simon is the only really truthful one, Ellen is more like a viewer, Randy is kind of like a viewer and Kara is just plain annoying!

Mark H

[Ace]

Ellen nuzzling Simon was just twisted, Sister.
You know, the problem I'm having this year is that I so don't care about so many I don't even know/care what their names are.  So it's hard to discuss them.
I thought Bowersox is the real deal; I absolutely detest Tracy Chapman but her doing her song was really good.  She does the Joplin phrasings without even trying.  Eventually she'll probably do Joplin, and really well.  I kind of like the blonde who did the Rhiannon thing, although it wasn't that exeptional.  I like Siobohnay, although House of the Rising Sun is sorta a weird choice and especially it's from a guy perspective.  But her voice is exceptional. 

"Smile", Patsy Cline, the first throw-away were all just one-off messes.  There's some quirky, but not "good."  I felt like half were fine, half were dismal.  A really clean split in the women's side.  And the winner's circle. 

Tomorrow: men against boys against themselves.  Sort of.  And Ellen.

Ace; she has a Porsche.

[JA]

Yeah, Shibahn Autobahn and Bowersox were my only faves, as last week.
Fox in Cleveland said Simon made a bold prediction as to the winner.  I did not see it, but did anyone see it on your local?

Am starting to get into the singers and enjoying the series again this year. That was dubious two weeks ago, but doable now.

Tomorrow at 2100 hours is the boys, buoys, byes, bi's, or buys.

Bye; and hello to AZE

[Bill]

The only clear winner is Ryan Seacrest but Bowersox seems head and shoulders above the rest of the performers.  We spent the hour switching between Idol and NCIS; even reruns of NCIS are more entertaining IMO.

Bill

[Ace]

Old NCIS or the new NCIS? 
Remember the guy who was on with Ryan, the first season..?  Where is he now...  (should've kept him and dumped Ryan).

I wonder who supplied Bowersox the maple necked Les Paul and new Paul Reed Smith amp for last night (those aren't cheap...).  Definitely more than that funky old Wurlitzer piano "Curly" played (not well) last night. 

Ace; I fear the men, tonight.  It's gonna get ugly-er.

[Bill]

Rent-A-Center, who else?

The original NCIS, the new one, IMO, seems more about technology than crime solving.

[Ace]

And then there were; well, a couple.  The rest can be flushed.
I believe Dewyze is on the downward spiral; I did not care much at all for his unmelodic "firefly" song, and can only imagine how lousy the original is if that sounded better.  "Hallelujah" was ok but a bit understated and by the book. The little country boy and the bigger blonder country boy were throwaways.  
I could tolerate Christina Aquillara as a genie in a bottle, but that guy rubbed me the wrong way.
Big Mike is the real deal, that I'll admit.  He's become the show stopper, and deserved the pole position at the end.  Todrick did fine with Somebody to Love (Queen, not Airplane) and was the only one to take a big chance.  But I found it strange he was in falsetto to start and then too low a key for the main tune to really deliver on it... plus, that song presented a wall of sound behind the vocals on the original and it just sounded like him/background girls last night without any support.

Gibson guitars are still being promoted, along with a Paul Reed Smith (and a Paul Reed Smith strap on a Gibson, for the Hallelujah piece. ?.).

I like the dog commercial with the "Trouble" song where he buries/loses/finds his bone, but not that Lambert sap's rendition.  I thought Ellen should sit still and not come out for a hug.  That was awkward.  And Kara was spot on with her criticism of a kid singing a song about an adult with children.  It was just way out of context, and dumb... much like Shabooney singing about the downfall of many a poor boy, of which she's one (?).  Simon enjoys being contrary, but sounded like an idiot to me on that argument of "oh, you can sing anything you want.  There aren't wrong choices."  Geez Louise, just wait for him to contradict himself on that one.  Kara obviously capitulates to him, as she sat smiling and didn't stand up for herself.

Ace; Whoever leaves deserves to.  Unless it's the giant.

[JA]

Big Mike and Crystal Bowersox are headed to the final dual.  What say you? Number three spot goes to Sheboyington.

That's pretty funny, as they all can grow and improve so much over the next months, that my early predictions can be way off.

The early crop is in danger of a late frost, though. Do we have to suffer thru the losers singing the same song the same way AGAIN, as they say goodbye?
Hello! They just got voted OFF, not BACK ON!  And the rejection notice being so fresh cannot improve the loser's approach under such scrutiny.

I loved Ellen's jump up.  It was a first for the show, and paved the way for the otherwise terminally annoying Kara D. to lay on some heartfelt crying for joy.

That cry was terrific, I thought.  Probably the only truly authentic thing that has happened in the entire series. Not acting, but the real deal, right in front of the cameras.  Wonderful live TV!  That was a "moment".  IMHO, of course.

I have her under my skin....

[Bill]

I think your predictions are spot on.  The difficult part is sitting through the process from now to then.

I catch snippets of Ellen's own show in the afternoon where she is funny and entertaining.  But here, she seems out of her comfort zone and awkwardly searching for positive things to say.  Not the best choice for a judge in hindsight.

Bill

[Ace]

You know, the NCIS with L. L. CoolJ might have more talent...
That is absolutely right about them singing the failure, again.  Ironic how they have to relive the moment that killed them.
If Ellen would have danced up there, then I might have found it more pertinent.  I guess a hug from Ellen is like one from your brother...  I think Kara teared up just to justify comforting from Simon.
Which might be like a hug from a porcupine.  I don't want to sample either.

Ace; big Mike could make me cry.  I'm pretty sure he could hurt me more than I could him.

[JA]

The survivors do tend to get better over time, so that's something to look forward to...I guess...if I have to!

Evidently, "The Bigs"........ brings out the best in singers.

Shoot, I am already missing the show, whenever it will be gone.
They really do work hard and deserve a lot of credit.

[Ace]

I think the losers get worse over time, at least the amount it takes for them to resing.

Talk about Shock and Awe.  (and "Awwww" from the crowd).  I couldn't argue with 3/4 of the results, but no way Todrick should go with that group.  He even sang "Somebody to Love" better last night, and it's clear he's talented.  Even if Broadway is where he winds up, he's a talented stage performer.  I guess he just didn't get a voting block going but I'd think he would've been the cross over favorite.  He's the only one where I sensed some drama over what he might do, week in and week out... like Adam L. last year.

The rest: fuggetaboudit.  Night of the Living Dead Tall Blondes.  Geez Louise was Lilly Scott one ticked off Diva. Hey, I think she's talented and has potential but that Patsy Cline squeaky toy thing was beyond "quirky" to just gawshawful.  Including her grin/grimace expressions.  I found it telling that she was so put out and put off and then switched immediately to the Smiley Scott mode to reperform after "falling to pieces."  fake fake fake.  Katelyn fared no better without the Wurlitzer on not touching Carole King.  Talk about not getting it/getting into it.  

And then there was Alex ("Crying.. over me...") Lambert.  Mullethead was a mess, and hit even fewer notes just standing and singing than he did previously with a guitar.  Maybe an instrumental version would have fared better, because he definitely has serious flaws in his vocals.  And, no, "coming out of his shell" wasn't going to make him sing better than he can sing.  I think we heard enough to know "that's pretty much it" and there's no hidden motherlode of talent bubbling beneath the surface.  It's all surface.  

For the victors, Mikey was hugging/crushing all.  I'm a bit dismayed by Bowersox gloomy countenance...  I know they're supposed to feel for their departing "friends" but she just doesn't seem that happy to be anywhere right now.  Almost like she dreads winning this thing...?  Not only are they the most consistent, and seemingly talented (and deeper than the others) but I'd have to figure Big Mike and Bowersox are the most popular.  I'd figure them for the finals... unless he makes some incredibly stupid move ("Sympathy for the Devil" next week...?) or she bails out/gives up on it prematurely.

The Rolling Stones catalog offers everything; but if anyone doesn't dig too deep (please: no "Satisfaction"...) they could bomb.

Ace; maybe Bowersox will perform "Happy"...

[JA]

For my money, I select Ace as the replacement judge for the departing
Simon, See? You can text it in for all to read on the old TV screen.  Its a gig!

You can text in your peformance when its your turn to sing and play your axe.  Wait.. use the video on a cellular phone.

Don't be grumpy like Bowersox.
She had some issues last night that she had better put behind her.
I think The Bower is taking a dive. Might not want to leave northwestern Ohio for the summer tour. (hehheee!)

So, who is the front runner in the popularity race?

[Ace]

Hey, if it includes money, I'll be glad to serve.  I'm about as popular as Simon. 
I don't text, and I have no idea how to do video on our cell phone.  I never see the thing, so usually I can't figure how to even call out on it.
I have phoned in some performances, so that might not be that much of a hinderance.

Funny that Ellen now is playing the "I'll pick a winner" game...  I expect Simon to play "Simon Says" and trump her, soon.  And I am glad the "you're a banana" game is over, with her.  Alex Lambert would be a peeled banana at this point, and is only consequential if someone slipped on him on the way out last night.

Ace; I think Big Mike is going to go with "Mother's Little Helper" next week.

[JA]

I am liking Simon's demeanor this year.. finally.
Kara was on a talk show the other night looking and acting hot, so she is also on my like list now.
The season is becoming fun.
Some weaker ones will drop away and leave the three best of the crop, so it will be a fun deal to the bitter end.

Kara had flashbacks to Adam Lambert with Shebouygen.
I need to crank up my volume to get that, but I do hope she wins.
Fun show, all in all.

Thanks to Simon for trading nasty for a decent way for a change.
I was about to put out an APB on his action.
Maybe shine a super flashlight into his brain and shake it up a bit.  LOL
Scuzzy, get a carnival searchlgiht or a 35mm projector light source from an old theater.  Bright!

[Ace]

I think it a hoax that Ryan and Simon are really good friends and that whole thing of them rubbing each other the wrong way is just good-natured joshing..  They truly do detest each other.  Besides Ryan annoying Simon from the opening number, I found his weird affront to Ellen about whether she's a natural blonde proof he could annoy anyone within seconds.   After her hilarious comment about her "being different"... by being blonde.  If looks could kill Ryan would be dead.  Twice.

Otherwise; glad the boys and girls are together, because there's sure not enough for a show with half of them. 
On horrific choices:  Tim Urban's "Under My Thumb" proved someone can not only pick the wrong thing (one of the most misogynistic tunes of all times, and thus requiring a definite attitude and disposition of which this kid is clueless) but also do it entirely wrong (as a lighthearted Island reggae romp... see "clueless").  "Gimme Shelter" naturally lacked the backing (band, and backup vocals) that makes that tune what it is, leaving it gutted as an "a capella" number.  Plus, since they have to squeeze things into a ridiculuous time constraint (two verses, one chorus, end) that song can't be summarized that quickly. 

Big Mike had a kinda interesting arrangement; Sheboygan was in the Adam L. zone of the dramatic on Paint It, Black (note the comma).  I thought "Angie" was delivered surprisingly well.  Although choppy, Bowersox came through ok once she finally rocked out and left the bluesy zone.  I thought Casey did fine with blues slide guitar singing/playing rendition. 

Ruby Tuesday was another sing songy breathy cutesy rendition, and I hope she leaves next.  "Play with Fire" lacked any; that song builds by the backing instrumentation, not the vocal.. the vocal is actually pretty "flat" and consistent (the fire is under the surface...).  Jim Morrison could probably do it solo, but not Didi... Dweyze is running on empty; he should have done "The Last Time", grabbed a mic and let go instead of strumming his way downstream again.  Paige's "Honky Tonk Man" was one of those misplaced gender botchups that just make you (well, me) shake my head and ask "why?".  I can't tell what it was supposed to be.. bluesy country honky tonk?  I'm sure that'd be a biiiig hit.

Oh, and "prom dress girl" on Wild Horses.  One verse, big repetitive build up (?) of wild horses. Wild Horses, WILD HORSES... geez.  go back to HS and sing in the musical.

Ace; missing "Lady Jane"... let alone "Sweet Virginia".

[Mark H]

I thought the women were supposed to be so much better than the men this year. So far 3 women and zero men have been voted off this season. I guess America didn't agree with the judges. I do think a couple of the women should be in the top 4 along with a couple of the guys. Overall, this season's contestants seem to have much less personality than last season. I don't believe them to be as talented top to bottom as last season either.

No wonder Simon is leaving the show!

Mark

[JA]

Was kinda hoping for Lee to win as it neared the end.
Two weird people in consecutive years is a bit much.

12 year old grand daughter states (well, if anyone "states" anymore) that the 2% overage that got Lee the crown was from girls.

This whole singing talent flow to Idol begs the question... where were they in past seasons, and are there any left for remaining seasons?

Any why has no one tripped on the stairs yet?

A little league father here wailed on his son's team's coach the other day.
More likely having a steps trip than that happening.

Maybe next season.

[Bill]

Some DJ somewhere said it all, "As long as 12 yr. old girls have cellphones, people like Lee will always win."

IMO Bowersock's performance was head and shoulders over his.

Another ho hum season ends.........

[JA]

Well, sure she is better.
She was the presumptive winner from early on.

She nearly made it, too.  Only 2% was the margin.

She is not constrained by AI winner contract, though.  Probably a good thing for her indy nature.

She was the northern Ohio favorite because she is from the northwest area.

Been meaning to Google her name to find the story that her BF dumped her the day of the final show.

People!  That includes me, I suppose.