American Idol has taught me a great deal

Having worked on the show in 2004, I've seen alot of stuff that shocked the hell out of me. Â*You'd be amazed how many beautiful girls trying out for the show had scars on their wrists from attempted suicide attempts. Â*Honestly I saw at least six or more.

I just picked up the DVD "The Worst of American Idol." a month ago. Â*Hilarious stuff. Â*Actually some of the people who were terrible were my handiwork. I helped the producers decide which contestants were entertainingly dismal. I beamed like a proud father when that black dude said he could sing like Brian McKnight and proceeded to suck...I totally got him onto the show!

I haven't watched a lick of this season's Idol. Â*Still, I know ALOT of stuff that goes on behind the scenes, much of it much more compelling and entertaining than what the camera shows.

Just one quick story: Â*There was this weird older muscle guy who was stalking Paula Abdul. Â*He looked like Macho Man Randy Savage and he just stood in the hotel, waiting for her to walk by. Â*He had some sort of giant gold wrestling title belt slung over his shoulder. I didn't know who he was or what he was doing so I just starting making cracks about him within earshot. Â*"Hey dude, Have you snapped into a Slim-Jim today?!" I shouted at him. Â*One of the producers got a worried look on his face and came over and told me that this guy was a crazy stalker and that I should probably not talk to him because "he eats production assistants for breakfast."

Also, one of the producer guys accidentally put his DVD porn collection in with his laundry, and when the dry cleaners found it, it was awkward and funny. Â*I personally wouldn't have cared if it had been me, but this guy was all kinds of embarrassed Â*(SEE: Monty Python's "Are You Embarrassed Easily&quot. Â*Most of the producers were British men and women, and were a hoot to work with. Â*One of the most fun experiences of my life.

I wanna see a fellow basso profondo blow everyone away on the next American Idol.

Me and gf are completely hooked on this show, must admit. I`ve seen the whole show this season, and you know; it plays down here only a bit behind of the states itself. Last Sunday it was Lisa Tucker who went out.

It`s a grazy show. Everytime I watch it I feel sinful, for some reason. I keep asking myself "why are you watching this?" - "I don`t know", I answer.

Ah, maybe I just should relax, really: It was actually very sad to see Kevin go - I loved that guy like everyone else. It was a suprise. Weird american voters. >

I hope that Mandisa will win. She`s lovely. And if not, then give me Taylor Hicks - Although I find him sometimes quite annoying, you must give the man some credit for that harmonica entrance. It was classy.

And yet finally when I think about it, to me American Idol=Simon and his funny shirts.

And, I will buy that "The worst of American Idol" soon as I find it. Price doesn`t matter. :

I agree with Paul, this year it REALLY sucks wind. None of these people have an ounce of talent, and they make me yawn. At least William Hung was fun to watch.

KO

Mandisa was out last week - I thought I liked her, til I read some crazy homophobic evangelsit blow she apparently spoke. How easily the Poldo changeth...

It is pure trash, but I'm glad we get it here in the UK. It airs on Friday nights and gives my brain something to shut down to after an exhausting week.

Besides the total lack of originality on the part of the remaining contestants, I find two aspects of this current crop of "idols" Â*both fascinating and alarming:

1. If you need any proof at all that a part of mainstream America is still living in the 50's, this show provides it in spades. Although the "live" reality-based show format is definitely appealing, the lack of real originality is appalling. One can only hope that it's the producers who actually screen out anything truly original or unsafe (except for the obvious train wrecks that they do let pass through in the beginning and which help make the first few weeks so entertaining.)

2. Given the stakes and payoff Â*for the winner and runner up (record contracts, tours, $$$, name and face recognition, etc) there is serious lack of any real "fire" in the performances of any of the contestants. Despite the histronics and the flaying about, I am not convinced that any of them really wants to win or that any of them (with the exception of Hicks and maybe Paris who is starting to get on my nerves) really enjoys performing. They all seem to be holding back instead of giving it their all (again, except for Hicks whose otherwise mildly quirky vocals and jerky moves appear almost grotesque next to the cliche delivery of the others).

At this point, I feel about the contestants the same way I do about the entire cast of characters on the Sopranos.

I don't care who wins AI (and I don't care who gets wacked on the Sopranos because they are all rats. I hope they are all killed off by the finale including those bratty spoiled kids.)


BTW, here's Mandisa's Advocate Interview

http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid29157.asp

It's hard to tell if she was being diplomatic or evasive. Maybe both. Maybe she was thinking about what happened to Donna Summers years ago when a rumor started that she made anti-gay remarks (she didn't) and her gay fan base deserted her en masse and her career nosedived for a while.

Closet hater or not, she sure can sing.

And echoing Paul's review, I thought it was also alarming how a real talent like Stevie Wonder actually seemed diminished by appearing on the show next to the contestants. Such is the power of banality I suppose.

Griff

What surprises me most is the number of poorly chosen songs. Should not there at least be competent arrangers and voice coaches to direct these kids to something that fits their song style? BTW- Griff- knocking both the 50's and the Sopranos in the same post...NOW you have crossed the line! Paulie Walnuts is a personal friend of mine, 'nuff said!

Stuigi,

Yes, and the bad song choices too. I should have used "the Pat Boone/Eisenhower/White Bread/Conservative/Conformist '50's" since there was much that was great about the 50's in America: Beat, Beebop, Abstract Expressionism, early Rock and Roll, R&B...each was in some part a rebellion against the conformity the hung over the entire decade. Too bad I was too young to remember it all.

I may hate the characters on The Sopranos but that doesn't mean I am not riveted to my TV every Sunday night. Evil has it's appeal.

Griff

Bass power anyone?