American Idol

[MasterWhedon]

It's trashy, it's contrived, it's all that is wrong with the world today... and yet, I can't stop watching.



C'mon, am I the only one who gets a kick out of that guy?

To be honest, this show generally starts sucking when they get down to about eight or so left, but until then I find it rater compelling.

Am I alone on this?

[The Ginger Man]

I'm with you Whedon. No one brings the hate quite like Cowell, and I love him for it.

[athenabodicea]

Shouldn't this be in the aicn confessional or something??? (LOL)
I know exactly what you mean though... I swear every season that I WILL NOT WATCH and yet I continue to do so....
I now record it on DVR and it is much better since I can watch just a little bit of each singer & then fast forward... I have actually gotten the hour long show down to around 20 minutes that way.....

[Bean]

I watch this show for the first few episodes, when we get to see all the awful people. It starts sucking after.

On a personal note, one of my good friends went to Boston to try out for American Idol, she has a record deal with Sony and she wanted to get her name out. The producers of Idol flat out told her they were looking for 'bad singers', and said that if she wanted to get to the judges, she'd have to go to another city.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

I gotta to tell a you... the Dino, he's a the avid fan, eh? You gotta to hand it to a the Kelly Clarkson, no? Holy crappa can a that girl belt outta the tune, eh? She gotta the chops, there's a no doubt.

The best a move a she make was a to get out from a the American Idol contract though, no? Look at alla the other Idols... i.e. inna the "Where are a the putzes now?" file. Reuben, Fantasia, anna even Carrie... what inna the hell?

I think a the big problem with a the show is a that the public's attention span, she's a too short too remember the Idol's after a they win anna then go onna the tour (anna drop out of a the TV eye) anna then a they have to wait a for a the NEXT season to release a the first single from a the previous idol, no? Anna by then, we're alla like "who?"

[MasterWhedon]

I love that Kelly Clarkson said they couldn't cover her songs on the show. As much as Cowell and Fuller might take that as a slap in the face, it's the right step for her to take to continue as a legitimate artist. You can't be the "contest winner" forever.

Oh, and I fucking LOVE Since You Been Gone and Miss Independent.

[brainiac]

I need to get one of those DVRs.

I still morn for Justin, Constantine, and Clay! They was robbed!

Yes, I'm watching every episode...

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Holy crappa donna even a get a me started onna that goddamn putz Constantine, eh?

Clay I gonna to give a you... he was a robbed.

Justin who? Hehehehe....

Oh anna biggest mistake of a the decade? The fact that a the Lynard Skynard dinna sign Bo onna the Season 4 Finale anna tour the country for a the Lynard Skynard Reunion Tour... holy crappa they could have a just a toured the south for a the whole year anna made a the goddamn millions.

[MasterWhedon]

Bo Bice singing "Whipping Post" last year was my favorite moment from any season. That one made me sit up and take notice.

[ThisIsTheGirl]

I watch this show for the first few episodes, when we get to see all the awful people. It starts sucking after.

Wiser words never spoken. For some reason, we get this show at pretty much the same time as you guys (probably Cowell's involvement - I think he owns the rights). I recently saw the one where that Sheriff, I think he was from North Carolina, came on and just repeated the words "I shot the Sheriff, but I did not shoot the Deputy" over and over again. That was hilarious, odd and frightening all at the same time!

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Iffa you look back onna the seasons... number 3, she was a the biggest letdown, no? They just dinna have a the talent anna we left with a Fantasia who basically sang like a the cartoon character, no?

The other 3 seasons though, they had a some a good talent, especially when it come a down to a the Final Two.

But still, that Kelly Clarkson... iffa you look back onna the shows, there was a not a ONE mis-step for her, no? Remember back inna the first a season when a they just a throw alla the genres at a the contestants? There was a not a the single genre she dinna conquer with a those pipes, eh?

In alla the other seasons... alla the contestants have a had at least a one mis-step or off-week, no?

But Kelly, she was a the real deal, eh? When a you compare to a the lip-syncing anna over processing of a the Britney anna Ashley anna such.... that's a why she won a the contest... she got a the voice.

[Seppuku]

But still, that Kelly Clarkson... iffa you look back onna the shows, there was a not a ONE mis-step for her, no? Remember back inna the first a season when a they just a throw alla the genres at a the contestants? There was a not a the single genre she dinna conquer with a those pipes, eh?

Not that I watched it, or remember watching it, but I'm willing to bet that old high-pants Cowelly didn't ask her to do her interpretation of Acid House Music... Maybe a fetching cover of that song which went, "I wanna kill a hippie and I wanna get stoned!!!"

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

She would have a kicked it inna the ass, paisan... donna dis a the Kelly, eh?

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Alla you gotta to do is a listen to her belt outta the "Yeah Yeah!" inna the "Since U Been a Gone, eh?" anna you know she gotta one of a the best "Yeah Yeahs" inna the business, eh?



Look inna to a your geek a heart, eh? You know it to be a true...

[so sorry]

i too am an ashamed watched of Idol, as well as Danicing with the Stars...

[MasterWhedon]

Dino's got a little soft spot for Ms. Clarkson, methinks.

You're very right though, about her and Season 3. Fantasia was kinda the boring, obvious choice. And then Diana DiGarmo--WTF? How the fuck did THAT useless heap ever make it to the finals?

[Seppuku]

Yes...it is true Dino. I have ashamed myself in front of my peers. I will now play Dino Kong for sixteen hours straight until I learn to respect Ms. Clarkson and her amazing ability to say the word Yeah.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

i too am an ashamed watched of Idol, as well as Danicing with the Stars...

Dancing with a the Goddamn Stars!??!?!

Holy crappa paisan... you are a the lost to us...

[so sorry]

hey, that Stacey Keibler is enough to get any red-blooded hetero to watch!

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Yes...it is true Dino. I have ashamed myself in front of my peers. I will now play Dino Kong for sixteen hours straight until I learn to respect Ms. Clarkson and her amazing ability to say the word Yeah.

Laugh a while a you can, a monkey boy... you gotta to remember, the show, she was originally called a the "Pop Idol" inna Britain, no? Anna you gotta to take a the show for what it is, eh? It's a not called a the "Find a the Next Bob Dylan, eh?" It's a the Pop Idol...

That means a you gotta to find a someone who looks a good onna the TV anna can a captivate a the audience anna be able to belt out a the "YEAH YEAH!" like a the life, she depend on it, eh? A 'cos a that's what a the pop, she's alla about, no?

[MasterWhedon]

Dino's goddamn right about the "looks good." Kelly Clarkson can be my Miss Independent any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.

[so sorry]

i have a quick (threadjack) question that i'm hoping someone can answer:
on the first episode of Dancing with the Stars this year, none other than David fucking Carradine was in the audience. he was sitting back there, plain as day, i swear!
and i have no idea why... MasterWhedon, i bow to your knowledge of all things hollywierd, cna you explain this?

[Seppuku]

Yes...it is true Dino. I have ashamed myself in front of my peers. I will now play Dino Kong for sixteen hours straight until I learn to respect Ms. Clarkson and her amazing ability to say the word Yeah.

Laugh a while a you can, a monkey boy... you gotta to remember, the show, she was originally called a the "Pop Idol" inna Britain, no? Anna you gotta to take a the show for what it is, eh? It's a not called a the "Find a the Next Bob Dylan, eh?" It's a the Pop Idol...

That means a you gotta to find a someone who looks a good onna the TV anna can a captivate a the audience anna be able to belt out a the "YEAH YEAH!" like a the life, she depend on it, eh? A 'cos a that's what a the pop, she's alla about, no?

Point taken Dino. I'm thinking you read sarcasm in that comment, which shocks me muchly!

Well not really seeing as how I was being sarcastic.

Anyway come to think of it I think I did watch the first series of American Idol (your freaky under-the-floorboards contestants are nowhere near as freaky as ours...sheriffs singing Bob Marley? pfft! We've had braindead butchers on trying to get their way around Britney Spears covers). I just can't watch after they filter out the first rounds. Who wants to listen to some studly dude called Clay when you can hear Bill from Maines doing his own little interpretation of Gloria Gaynes' I Will Survive?

[athenabodicea]

Iffa you look back onna the seasons... number 3, she was a the biggest letdown, no? They just dinna have a the talent anna we left with a Fantasia who basically sang like a the cartoon character, no?

The other 3 seasons though, they had a some a good talent, especially when it come a down to a the Final Two.

But still, that Kelly Clarkson... iffa you look back onna the shows, there was a not a ONE mis-step for her, no? Remember back inna the first a season when a they just a throw alla the genres at a the contestants? There was a not a the single genre she dinna conquer with a those pipes, eh?

In alla the other seasons... alla the contestants have a had at least a one mis-step or off-week, no?

But Kelly, she was a the real deal, eh? When a you compare to a the lip-syncing anna over processing of a the Britney anna Ashley anna such.... that's a why she won a the contest... she got a the voice.

I remember during one of Kelly's performances (which was fantastic as usual) where she didn't miss a single note... But when she stepped up to the judges, she couldn't even speak because her voice was just shot... She had lost her voice prior to singing but she still managed to sing the song perfectly... That's how you can tell she was born to be a star..... I also loved her because she was really humble and down to earth... She seemed like she would be really fun to hang out with...That was actually the only season that I picked up the phone and voted after every episode...

[MasterWhedon]

i have a quick (threadjack) question that i'm hoping someone can answer:
on the first episode of Dancing with the Stars this year, none other than David fucking Carradine was in the audience. he was sitting back there, plain as day, i swear!
and i have no idea why... MasterWhedon, i bow to your knowledge of all things hollywierd, cna you explain this?

Umm, because he was trying to ape Tarantino's fuck awful appearance on American Idol? Zero clue.

[MasterWhedon]

That was actually the only season that I picked up the phone and voted after every episode...

Athena, you VOTE?! God, what are you, like, thirteen?!!

[cap]

I guess I am the only one who doesn't watch this show. I think it is exactly what is wrong with the music industry. They would rather see an "artist" in a glorified popularity contest than a musician. Oh well.

[athenabodicea]

That was actually the only season that I picked up the phone and voted after every episode...

Athena, you VOTE?! God, what are you, like, thirteen?!!

I only voted for Kelly (not Bush).....
From the sound of it I would take a shot in the dark and guess that you have the Idol number on your speed dial

13??? C'mon....

[MasterWhedon]

From the sound of it I would take a shot in the dark and guess that you have the Idol number on your speed dial

[brainiac]

i have a quick (threadjack) question that i'm hoping someone can answer:
on the first episode of Dancing with the Stars this year, none other than David fucking Carradine was in the audience. he was sitting back there, plain as day, i swear!
and i have no idea why... MasterWhedon, i bow to your knowledge of all things hollywierd, cna you explain this?

Here is a funny article in TVGasm -- it mentions Carradine about a third of the way down w/ pic.
http://www.tvgasm.com/archives/dancing_with_the_stars/001567.php

I love this writer...now I wanna look up his/her take on Am. Idol and the Batchelor (which was scary funny last night).

[Ribbons]

I think the reason a lot of them don't succeed after the fact is because the team of producers and writers they assemble around them don't play to their strengths, and, for the most part, these singers don't care enough to say anything about it. I mean Bo frickin' Bice has a song on his CD called "U R 2 Cute" or some other such fun with numbers bullplop. He's a southern rock dude, and he should have made a southern rock album.

[RogueScribner]

I like the idea of AI, it gives people with no ties to the industry a shot at a musical career. Even if they fail, they can see they tried once. Unless the contestants are really good, I tend to stop watching about halfway through, though. I like watching them weed out the people who are convinced they've got "it" when they clearly don't.

[El Scorcho]

No. You are not alone. In fact, no one knows this, but I sit in my dorm room and watch every episode, at least until there are only 10 or 12 people left. Then it tends to bore me. But the first month or so is pure crack (or what I imagine crack to be like).

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

I guess I am the only one who doesn't watch this show. I think it is exactly what is wrong with the music industry. They would rather see an "artist" in a glorified popularity contest than a musician. Oh well.

You know who else donna watch a the show? This a putz:

[Carolian]

STONE HIM!

[You Know My Name]

I think the show sucks.

[MasterWhedon]

That young girl whose mom is the voice coach, the bald rocker dude and the guy with gray hair are my early favorites.

That little elf-like cowboy kid makes my girlfriend cry every time he comes on screen.

And am I the only one getting sick of those two twins, the cocky as shit ones who are currently in jail?

[Ribbons]

And am I the only one getting sick of those two twins, the cocky as shit ones who are currently in jail?

Zuh?

Also, it behooves me to present this video for anyone who did not or does not watch "American Idol":

I give you... the screamo audition!

[MasterWhedon]

And am I the only one getting sick of those two twins, the cocky as shit ones who are currently in jail?

Zuh?

Story is HERE.

[Fievel]

And am I the only one getting sick of those two twins, the cocky as shit ones who are currently in jail?

Zuh?

Also, it behooves me to present this video for anyone who did not or does not watch "American Idol":

I give you... the screamo audition!

god.... I hate most pop music, but I hate that kid, his attitude, his audition, and his poor excuse of music even more. But I love this show - my biggest guilty pleasure on tv.

-Paris is my early favorite (grandmother... or was it mother?...was in Sounds of Blackness). Very cool voice, and seems really humble in nature despite her musical lineage.

-The grey-haired dude gets props. I dig his Joe Cocker thing he has going. He gets a DeNiro look sometimes when he sings, and that makes me laugh.

-The Senator's daughter that is going to Boston College on a basketball scholarship? Her spoon is silver enough.

[MasterWhedon]

-Paris is my early favorite (grandmother... or was it mother?...was in Sounds of Blackness). Very cool voice, and seems really humble in nature despite her musical lineage.

I forgot about her. She's definitely gonna go far.

A guy needs to win this year. I want a rocker.

[MasterWhedon]

Am I the only one who thought last night sucked balls? Just about everyone had an off night.

I say the annoying-as-fuck girl that poses all the time is going, with either the old cowboy black girl or the deer-in-the-headlights blondie.

And Paula Abdul makes me want to throw things at the screen. She just doesn't know how to put coherent thoughts together! If she's not heavily medicated for something, she's just plain dumb. Or both.

[havocSchultz]

Am I the only one who thought last night sucked balls? Just about everyone had an off night.

I say the annoying-as-fuck girl that poses all the time is going, with either the old cowboy black girl or the deer-in-the-headlights blondie.

And Paula Abdul makes me want to throw things at the screen. She just doesn't know how to put coherent thoughts together! If she's not heavily medicated for something, she's just plain dumb. Or both.

i think paula is either drunk and/or stoned every episode - at least this season - she seems completely and utterly out of it... i hope a dude (rocker) wins this year too - Bo Bice should've won last year - last night was pretty meh - the 2 younglins (paris and lisa) are arguably the best - but they also seem to be trying too hard to be mature/classy women... tonight should be good though...

[RaulMonkey]

Last night did suck balls. Brenna Gethers just isn't bringing it! And Paris, goddamnit, that was a sweet ass rendition of Bette Midler's HERO, but the problem was that it was a sweet ass rendition of *Bette Midler's HERO*!! Give me Gladys Knight any night.

[MasterWhedon]

As much as I think Paris and Lisa are cute, I'm just no blown away by their voices. They're good, don't get me wrong--and Paris had really great energy last week--but I just haven't been wowed yet.

[WinslowLeach]

I love this show!!! Ive been watching it since the first show of the season.

I thought Paris was really good (talk about a cutie!!) although none of them really blew me away last night. Pickles is cute as hell too but I thought her singing was pretty average.

I did like Madisa's performance probably the most out of them all. I'm getting sick of all the ballads though. I want to hear some upbeat tunes!!

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

The Dino, he misses a the "theme" nights, eh? Alla these putzes playing it safe with a the ballads, no? I kind of a like it a when a they gotta stretch a their talents a bit anna sing a the songs out of a the genre comfort zone, no? That's a when a you can a separate a the putzes with a the real talent from a the putzes that can a do a the good rendition of a one or a two songs, eh?

[MasterWhedon]

I agree, Dino. I think the theme nights return once they get down to 12. Which, by the way, I really can't wait for, becuase this drawing it all out to 90 minutes or 2 hours bullshit is for the birds.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

this drawing it all out to 90 minutes or 2 hours bullshit is for the birds.

Hehehe... about a 26 million birds, give or a take a the few, no?

Ka-ching!

[RaulMonkey]

I was WOWED by Paris last week. And damn straight, Dino, they're gonna play it safe if they're allowed to. Fuckers. If any of them GOT what the judges were saying they'd know that playing it safe is a dangerous game.