American Idol narrowed it down to two last night. Fox's license to print money megahit reported 88 million votes from Americans wanting to have a say in who goes on and who stays behind to clean up the pile of junk sitting on the floor between Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. Reportedly, it was Paula's mess of empty coke Coke containers, mascara bombs and love/hate notes between Paula and the inimitable Cowell. Not-so-reportedly, it was Danny Gokey who got the call to clean up the uncomfortable memories of PaulaCowell's antics.Danny Gokey's gone, and I'm sad about that, but I'm not about to say that America got it wrong. He's talented; there's no arguing that. But what makes him interesting is his story. Four weeks before his audition last year, Danny's wife Sophia, his high school sweetheart, died on the operating table undergoing surgery for a congenital heart defect. Needless to say, the producers at American Idol milked that one for all it's worth, but eventually even Idol producers have to move on and focus on what the show's supposed to be about. Bags upon bags of cash. Talent. The young Gokey, a devout Christian who regularly leads his church in prayer in Milwaukee, WI, came down on the negative side of America's judgment, and it's probably the best thing that ever happened to him.
American Idol's track record ain't stellar. The show's seven winners – Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook – have arguably had a mixed bag of success, with only a couple of those names really taking off and having significant careers. Don't get me wrong. It's still a pretty good track record, but the idea of the show was to take a barometer reading of America by having them vote by phone. Theoretically, if twenty or thirty million people care enough to pick up the phone and vote for one person multiple times in any given week, then twenty or thirty million should want to buy that person's album, right?
But a few names are missing. Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Kimberly Locke, Diana DeGarmo, Josh Gracin, and so-on. Former contestants who got booted early or ended up as runner-up, they all went on to have pretty decent careers despite America's itchy and questionable (remember Sanjaya Malakar?) phone fingers. Of the list above, Jennifer Hudson is easily the most successful, with a Grammy and an Oscar to her name. Not bad for someone who was the seventh runner-up in the third season of American Idol.
So I don't think Danny has to worry. His gravelly voice and his compelling story pretty much guarantee him some sort of success, and given the track record of those who have gone on to win the whole ball of wax, I'd rather see him avoid the Curse of Idol and get ousted early.
But the judges are another story. What sometimes seems to be poorly-choreographed tension between Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell has turned into an uncomfortable exchange of egos. DioGuardi, who takes all her leads from Randy Jackson, has proven to be a bad addition to an already ill-conceived cast of characters. Normally, I might find their exchanges interesting, but the arguing and petty beefs now seem to overshadow what should matter: the talent. In so many instances that's it's impossible to count them this season, the judges have wasted their time bickering instead of doing what they're supposed to do. Provide critical analysis of the performers standing nervously in front of them. It's tough enough for these kids without having to stand there with everything exposed, while watching the inexplicable antics (like Paula giving Simon a pack of crayons).
As I stated in previous posts, I think it's time for this show to end, and I won't miss it. I can always get downloads of Simon from Britain's Got Talent.
American Idol's track record ain't stellar. The show's seven winners – Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook – have arguably had a mixed bag of success, with only a couple of those names really taking off and having significant careers. Don't get me wrong. It's still a pretty good track record, but the idea of the show was to take a barometer reading of America by having them vote by phone. Theoretically, if twenty or thirty million people care enough to pick up the phone and vote for one person multiple times in any given week, then twenty or thirty million should want to buy that person's album, right?
But a few names are missing. Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Kimberly Locke, Diana DeGarmo, Josh Gracin, and so-on. Former contestants who got booted early or ended up as runner-up, they all went on to have pretty decent careers despite America's itchy and questionable (remember Sanjaya Malakar?) phone fingers. Of the list above, Jennifer Hudson is easily the most successful, with a Grammy and an Oscar to her name. Not bad for someone who was the seventh runner-up in the third season of American Idol.
So I don't think Danny has to worry. His gravelly voice and his compelling story pretty much guarantee him some sort of success, and given the track record of those who have gone on to win the whole ball of wax, I'd rather see him avoid the Curse of Idol and get ousted early.
But the judges are another story. What sometimes seems to be poorly-choreographed tension between Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell has turned into an uncomfortable exchange of egos. DioGuardi, who takes all her leads from Randy Jackson, has proven to be a bad addition to an already ill-conceived cast of characters. Normally, I might find their exchanges interesting, but the arguing and petty beefs now seem to overshadow what should matter: the talent. In so many instances that's it's impossible to count them this season, the judges have wasted their time bickering instead of doing what they're supposed to do. Provide critical analysis of the performers standing nervously in front of them. It's tough enough for these kids without having to stand there with everything exposed, while watching the inexplicable antics (like Paula giving Simon a pack of crayons).
As I stated in previous posts, I think it's time for this show to end, and I won't miss it. I can always get downloads of Simon from Britain's Got Talent.
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