|
Eye on 'Idol': Whittling down without the drama |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Hunter Hauk, McClatchy-Tribune
|
|
Friday, 16 February 2007 |
|
|
|
|
Most people, including myself, thought that this week's Hollywood round would be deliciously melodramatic. Not so much.
The "American Idol" folks couldn't seem to squeeze any drama out of the whittling-down process, unless you count contestant Matt Sato's overblown cellphone calls to his mother or Baylie Brown's group-performance catfight. And those moments were minor - less compelling, even, than the inexplicable Simpsons Movie segment on Wednesday.
Yeah, the Hollywood round came off like C-SPAN with musical performances.
Singers took the stage, singers got cut, and so on. Why was it so dry? Because it was the closest to music-business reality that this show gets.
The earlier auditions provided outrageous distractions such as panther-men and people dressed as food. The live shows to come will give amateur singers uncommon access to millions of viewers, as if they aren't even auditioning anymore.
But this week, many good singers were cut without explanation. It ain't pretty, but that's how it works outside the "Idol" bubble. Even early standouts were given the boot with only a passing mention from pun-happy Ryan Seacrest.
Bearded wonder Sean Michel? Gone with no footage to explain why. Pedi-cab driver Tami Gosnell? Her dream similarly came to a screeching halt. Houston singer Robyn Troup? I only recognized her because she ended up winning that knockoff singing competition at the Grammy Awards. Robyn may have been good enough to perform with Justin Timberlake, but 24 others will realize the glory of a live "Idol" stage.
Which is better? Just look at the Nielsen ratings for an answer.
Of the 12 guys and 12 girls whom we'll soon know on a first-name basis, I'm already feelin' a few. Single mom Lakisha Jones and former background singers Melinda Doolittle and Brandon Rogers blow the rest of the field away, vocally. There's also something refreshing about poolboy Paul Kim and new dad Phil Stacy. And don't even get me started on funnyman Chris Sligh, whose quick wit even catches Simon off-guard.
Just be sure to learn the names and study up on the Top 24 by Tuesday, because you now have a say in this crazy thing. To quote the wise-yet-ousted contestant Marisa Rhodes, "Ohmigod, this so is, like, so intense!"
___
THE TOP 24
Profiles and interviews at www.americanidol.com
GUYS: Sanjaya Malakar, Brandon Rogers, Phil Stacy, Chris Sligh, Blake Lewis, Rudy Cardenas, Paul Kim, A.J. Tabaldo, Nick Pedro, Chris Richardson, Jared Cotter, Sundance Head
GIRLS: Melinda Doolittle, Gina Glocksen, Haley Scarnato, Jordin Sparks, Stephanie Edwards, Leslie Hunt, Alaina Alexander, Sabrina Sloan, Lakisha Jones, Nicole Tranquillo, Amy Krebs, Antonella Barba | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
