Or were we just spoiled by season 5? Hard to say. Lots of buzz around here (and when I say "buzz around here" it usually means "Slezak and I are IM-ing") that people are just not havin’ it with Idol this time around. It’s clear on the message boards too — as the appropriately named reader Bored2Death pointed out this morning, "this is the weakest AI ever!!!! There is talent up there on the stage but NOTHING like in seasons past." Four exclamation points indicates that Bored2Death means BUSINESS.
Now, I am by no means an Idol-through-the-years expert, but I am completely underwhelmed by this season. So what’s to blame? Song selection? Randy’s vocab? Commercialism (pictured) at all costs? Haley’s uncanny ability to remind us of the Lunesta butterfly? Will you be patient or ride it out or (gasp! but it might be okay, try it!) quit watching altogether? Which past seasons were your favorites and which did you find utterly ghaaaastly? Whoa, that was eight questions in a row. Do I really need to know all the answers right now?! Yes!
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There are two or three singers worth listening to, but my husband and I talk over the others. I miss the vocals, showmanship and variety of last season.
Oh, and I never watch the result shows. I just come here on Thursday morning for the news. Slezak is far more entertaining than AI commercials for Ford.
Yes, it’s the worst season of Idol ever. As far as I can see, it will continue down the same tedious road for the next eight weeks, after which the choices should be down to LaKisha, Melinda and Jordin. At that point we’ll have a bit of a competition on our hands. Until then … zzzzzzzzz.
No worse than any other season. You can take that as you like…
Nah, it’s the weakest male lineup since maybe season 1. But it’s not the weakest season or worst. Show could be better off only being females racing for the title. But I think there is plenty of potential. It’s too early to really say it’s bad, maybe the guys will stand up and get better and blow us out of the water. I think Haley and Gina have the capacity to surprise us. And maybe a Kelly Clarkson come out of nowhere to win. It’s unfortunate the guys are so weak, and only two of the females sing something other than R&B. But I still there is some good talent to watch.
They should have kept the fat guy that sang “Jeremy”. I can’t believe he got beaten out by that skinny gay kid or indeterminate national origin.
I have never watched AI and never will. In my opinion, it is a waste of airtime and it bugs me no end that other networks don’t even TRY to fight it by running new episodes of their own shows. Nope! Everyone just bows down to the AI juggernaut.
Here’s a hint for the networks: THAT’S HOW IT BECAME A JUGGERNAUT, DUMMIES!!!
Having said all of that however, let me add that, obviously, a lot of people enjoy the show so I would never go on a tirade screaming that it should be cancelled (Studio 60, anyone?). I have found that there are controls on my TV that allow me to watch only what I want to watch.
Oops I meant: “I can’t believe he got beaten out by that skinny gay kid of indeterminate national origin”, not “I can’t believe he got beaten out by that skinny gay kid or indeterminate national origin”.
I’m having an awful time with the fumble finger today.
Seriously? ANOTHER AI post? EW.com might as well change its name to AI.whore.com. Yesterday the home page was 90% American Idol stories. Can you PLEASE find something else to write about?!
Season 5 wasn’t that great either. Not to go all Tyra Banks, but that group had so much potential yet that potential was hardly ever captured in a good performance. Many of the contestants, such as Katharine McPhee, were overrated and several of the themes were terrible. Season 6 is just more of the same.
I second GOB. I watch AI but come on… Where are the funny youtube clips you usually bring us Annie??
Okay…… the guys aren’t that good….. but the season is actually really good I think. The girls make it good. The Travis from ‘So you think you can dance’ look-a-like makes it pretty good to me. I think Melinda and Lakisha are good, but alright already….. the music industry is already crowded with jennifer hudson wannabes. I like Stephanie Edwards the best but unless any of these fools write their own songs which happen to be good (a la Kelly Clarkson) then none of them will be stars after the show ends. Once the smoke clears they’re in charge of their own careers & the only one this season who looks like he could have a career separate from idol as a beat-bop teen heart throb is Blake Lewis (aka Travis look-a-like). Don’t think he’ll win idol, cause he’s definately not good enough, but he does write songs and beats…… & could probably write a few hit records. I’m hoping Stephanie or Melinda win, but don’t think that this year’s winner will become a legend like H-Hud!
Since I have recently been watching the syndicated reruns of the first season, I can say with some authority that this is definitely NOT the worst Idol has ever been. The product placement has always been omnipresent, the judges’ comments have never been very insightful and there is always at least one sub-par competitor kept around longer than necessary because he or she appeals to the core voting block of teenage girls (and as weak as he is, I’d take Sanjaya over Kevin Covais any day). Which is not to say I’m not obsessed with the show, because I am, but some occasional moments of greatness it is still defintely a guilty pleasure.
I think it’s because the bar is set too high this season. Dolittle and LIKEisha are far beyond the rest. With Simon already saying that Dolittle and LIKEisha should record their own record, it’s no wonder there isn’t any competition.
Well Kaybar, Jericho’s underwhelming ratings since its return easily disproves your claim. AI’s audience DOES have a big influence against other shows in the same time slots. I can’t say I blame them for being cautious. Even ABC said ‘no thanks’ and moved Lost to 10 EST to avoid it (though I think the move was prompted more from avoiding embarassment by CBS claiming the mediocre Criminal Minds beat Lost in the ratings again).
If it’s any consolation, Fox’s fall lineup seems to be getting weaker because they’re relying on American Idol too much for huge ratings. They need to realize that quick, because after losing Arrested Development and the O.C., viewers are losing pateince on Fox.
Absolutely it is the worst season ever, and I blame it completely on the judges and the producers. You can’t tell me that of all the auditioners out there, these were the best singers, especially on the male side, which is weaker than a vegan bodybuilder. Because I remeber better singers than them in the auditions and usually they only show us the BAD auditions. Only four females deserve to be in the competition at all, only four of them deserve to go on tour, the rest should go sing at that fictional hotel lounge that simon keeps mentioning, cause I don’t know any actual hotel lounge that would let such mediocrity sing.
Out of the completed seasons, 3 was my least favorite. Looking back, there wasn’t one contestant I was particularly attached to, whereas all other five seasons, I have at least one person I’m rooting for. While I believe this is the weakest season since season 3, at least now I have Melinda to root for. If she’s out before the final 4, I’m done.
Let’s break it down:
Taylor vs. Melinda – Melinda wins (she’s talented AND humble, unlike a certain Mr. Hicks).
Katherine vs. Lakisha – Lakisha, and it’s not even close.
Elliott Yamin vs. Chris Sligh – in the nerdy-but-sweet category, Elliott takes it for singer better, choosing better tunes, and never once sounding in dire need of an oxygen mask.
Chris Daughtry vs. Blake Lewis – in the race for the most commercial AI contestant, it’s a draw Chris clearly has the better voice, but Blake gets bonus points for being far more interesting and for looking like he actually enjoys performing.
Paris vs. Jordin – it’s early still, but Jordin wins because she embraces her youthful enthusiasm and doesn’t try to act and look like she’s 40 when playing up her age works far better.
Kellie Pickler vs. Haley Scarnato – Ok, Kellie wins this one. She actually sang a few songs well and was always entertaining. And, she didn’t butcher the words to her tunes (even if she didn’t understand them).
This season does not even compare to the horridness that was Season 3. By far the WORST season ever. I really thought Chris Sligh was going to give this season some much needed excitement after his charisma from his first audition. Sadly, that did not pan out.
And I would like for the judges to quit their b*tchn about Sanjaya still being in the competition. While I am not a fan of his, they are the ones who put him through to let the public vote for him. Going into the Top 24, he was 1 of a handful of contestants that the public knew well and had a “connection” with. It is their own fault for flaunting his story during the auditions and now they are stuck with little girls and grandmothers devoted to keeping him on the show. Mocking him and insulting him is not helping, that sympathy vote is as strong as ever. Maybe this will teach the producers from selecting only a few of the top contestants and showcasing their stories; instead lets see something from all the singers in the top.
Okay, this is a bit off topic, but I just read someone else ripping up “Criminal Minds” again. I see alot of that. Is there something I’m not getting? I think it’s a pretty good show. It’s a damn sight more compelling than “Lost” is these days. And watching Simon and Sea-hag trade farts would be more compelling than glorified karaoke to me. So what gives? What is so awful about “Criminal Minds”?
The dude are pretty weak, but most of the ladies bring it. I actually watch it more than I did in the past few seasons just to see the Melinda-Lakisha throw-down. And Stephanie can bring it too. Jordin’s pretty good. I though I can’t stand him, Blake at least mixes it up. So no, I don’t think this is the worst season. Remember when we had to deal with Constantine making googly eyes at the camera???
I sat out last season, but was around for season 4. From my recollection, they did ford focus ads with cool songs over them in that season, and the ads were actually kinda cool.
The issue with this year is the lack of solid singing talent on the male side. Usually it was relatively balanced out, but this year the girls are just topping out the fellas.
As for the cause, the show is getting a little old. Less talented folks are coming out, which means longer audition sessions. It also means that most the talented folks who had a dream to sing on the show have had 6 opportunities to try out by now, and most of them have probably taken that chance already.
I haven’t seen all of ‘em sing, so I can’t speak for their talent…but with a couple of exceptions (Blake!) they are the funniest looking bunch of people ever assembled on one stage. I did see Melinda Doolitle the other night and she gave me goosebumps, but she looks a little strange. It’s a motley crew, to be sure.
I do think that there are probably a lot of talented people who didn’t make the cut this year, in favor of people that were more “commercial”. I have to admit though, that even in the best of years the Top 12 isn’t always made up of amazing vocal talents. Last year brought us Kevin, Bucky, and Kellie Pickler.
And I have to give the participants a little bit of a break, since we are all comparing them to current artists, who we mostly hear on CDs that took months to put together. All their mistakes are edited out. These people are singing LIVE, and even the most talented of performers is going to hit a bum note every once and a while, especially when they haven’t had years of professional experience.
This has to be the most disappointing season to date. The judges did a lousy job in picking the people that they brought to Holy wood in my opinion and now they are wondering why these kids can’t produce. Get it over with ASAP
Continuing…
Ace Young vs. Chris Richardson – Ace wins, because he’s prettier and because that George Michael performance week one was so much better than anything Chris has ever or could ever sing (if only Ace had continued to shine…).
Bucky vs. Phil – Phil wins. Even if he was in the bottom three, his voice soars and he has the added advantage of not being named after a Beaver.
Mandisa vs. Stephanie – some might say a Mandisa-Lakisha comparison is more apt, but Lakisha is going to place in the top two so that’s not a fair match. In this one, I’d say Mandisa takes it. Her “I’m Every Woman” had more charisma than Stephanie could ever summon.
Lisa Tucker vs. Gina Glockson – Gina wins. She may be screetchy but, as Simon might say, Lisa is 100 packets of sugar in your coffee when you only want 1. She gives you cavities.
Kevin vs. Sanjaya – Draw. Both are silly and useless. But Sanjaya does have better hair.
Melissa vs. Brandon – Who?
Final vote: 5-4 for Season 6!!!
Doolitle and LaKeisha are so much better than the other two that it’s like watching paint dry as we wonder which of this “minor league” singers will be picked off first.
It’s not that this season is really any worse, it’s just more of the same again. Of course Sanjaya and Haley are going to stick around and pick off some of the more talented ones. It happens every year–Nikki McKibbin, Josh Gracin, Jasmine Trias, John Stevens, Scott Savol, Kevin Covais, Bucky Covington sound familiar? The themes are ridiculous (Diana Ross? Gloria Estefan? Inspirational Songs?) and the judges will say one thing one week and completely change their tune the next.
Ryan and Simon have their ridiculous banter, everyone boos Simon, it’s just getting boring.
It’s time to shake the show up a bit, IMHO. Some of the talent this year is exceptional. But some of it is clearly not. And while the manufactured drama of the show is part of its “charm” it’s all starting to wear a bit thin for me.
I feel like it’s unfair to compare this year to Season 5. Chris and Taylor were seasoned veterans, so their performances shouldn’t be a litmus test for current Idol wannabes. We have to remember that the show is about DISCOVERING talent–which should allow America to discover someone good and watch them become great. And for my money, I am rooting for Chris Richardson and Jordin Sparks, because they have energy, excitement, and they try something new each week. Melinda and Lakisha are good, but so are real pop stars. I want to watch someone grow into their talent, like Kelly did. We rooted for her because of the transformation, not because she began as an amazing performer.
This is definitely a snoozer. Melissa and Lakisha are both great singers, but they still have nothing that would want me to go see them perform in person. Blake has a bit a pizzaz in his style, but I don’t think I could really stand a full length concert of his. This is really a waste of time. Thank goodness for Tivo. I can get through the two hours of torture in about half an hour.