What’s it like to be a part of American Idol’s studio audience as an alumnus? EW.com contributor and former contestant Jon Peter Lewis, who returned to Stage 36 for last night’s elimination show, reflects on how the show’s changed since he rocked Elvis’ "A Little Less Conversation" on season three, and ponders where it’s headed.
Did you see me Wednesday night? There I was, seated next to Chicken Little (a.k.a. Kevin Covais) catching up on the good old days… kind of. He’s not really the talkative kind. But what he did have to say captured my attention completely. Somewhere in the ordinary getting-to-know-you chit-chat, Kevin mentioned that he’s working on a movie at MGM studios. I think that’s cool and he seemed really excited about it. I mean, he said MGM, like, 12 times in one minute. I think he’s got a really good look for film. He could totally play the beta male roles. The story only got better and more disturbing from there, though. He started talking about how he recently moved in with Ace Young and then mentioned something about picking up Ace’s womanizing leftovers? Yikes! Now that’s a movie script waiting to be written.
All in all, it was fun to be back on the American Idol setand see a lot of familiar faces. I think I talked with Simon more lastnight than my entire time on the show. He said I looked healthy and Isuppose that’s high praise coming from someone who’s sparing on hiscomplements. I spoke with Randy and Paula too and, you know, the wholething reminded me of a class reunion, except without the graduatingclass and a lot of more expensive upgrades to the school. It’s amazinghow little they got away with spending on my season. I mean, our stagewas half the size and we didn’t get a band. Don’t think I’mcomplaining, though. Not really. I’m only having slight pangs ofjealousy.
Speaking of which, the Neil is gonna be on the show, and that’spretty awesome, but I’m still not sure about how I feel about all theperipheral stuff they cram into an episode these days. I mean, it’sstarting to become a variety show and that’s much less endearing thanwatching a Cinderella story. It’s really easy to get lost in it all.There’s the mentors, and they have to promote their new projects, thesponsors who have to have their Ford commercials and iPhone plugs,let’s not forget about Kellie Pickler, who’s pimping out her not-so-newrecord, and, of course, Idol Gives Back, which I can’t decide if I love or hate since Idolseems to get a lot more back than it gives. Is it getting to the pointwhere it’s just one big commercial? Or has it always been that way?What do you all think?
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What a great writer you are! Honestly, I didn’t vote for you that season–I voted for LaToya London and then stopped voting after she left–but i will never miss one of your popwatch blogs. Good on EW for hiring you.
It’s so completely commercial. Our family loves the singers, so we watch, but the show is twice as long as would be entertaining with all the plugs. And it’s so many millions that AI pulls in–and everyone else mooching off the singers. I mean–how much did you make on tour vs. the producers, vendors, and scalpers. It’s amazing what people will pay for! (No disrespect, I just think that paying more for a seat at a concert than the face price of the ticket is insane because it creates crime.)
Great blogs. Will keep reading.
I have only watched one season of American Idol all the way through (it was season three, by the way). I’ve tried to watch other seasons, but I get frustrated, because it’s gotten so bloated with all the adverts and the guest spots and this and that. And yeah, I’m going to say it- I get nauseated everytime I see Seacrest’s smarmy smile. Idol was never quality tv, but it’s even worse now.
I have one problem with this blog entry- it should be “compliments” in the context in which the word is used, not “complements”. Different spellings, different meanings.
I know, I know, I’m a nitpicker. I can’t help it.
Mr. Lewis,
Have you ever heard of discretion? If you ever want a celebrity (or quasi-celebrity) to talk to you again, you may want to think about how you portray them. It’s one thing when a celeb talks to someone from Access Hollywood and knows their comments will become public fodder. It’s quite another when a newbie talks to a fellow alum and ends up seeing himself portrayed publicly as pathetic. Have a heart. And be a mensch.
Discretion? On an blog? On Entertaintment Weekly? About American Idol? What else would we talk about? It’s not as if there’s any musicianship to consider.
I never understood Idol Gives Back. I mean, most producers of telethons “give” by producing the show. Idol already exists, is the #1 show so has high ad rates, and seemingly gets its talent for free. So…. exactly…. WHAT does IDOL give?????
I think that “Gypsy Queen” is like my favorite freaking song right now and I love JPL. And cool it, Lori – that’s the kind of dish “discreet” people don’t spill! Eff that! I’ll take Jon’s indiscretion!
Between Jon’s entry above, and Amanda’s exit interview, I have a glimmer of hope that these contestants (past, present, and future) have a grasp on reality. I agree with a few of his points.
Great comments, sounds like you and Amanda have stayed grounded.I did not watch season 1-2-3-but have ever since. I did not vote for Amanda since her style is not my thing, but really hope she makes it , she is not the plastic kind that so many are. Good luck Amanda! And Kisty should have been the one to go !!!!
Wait, was this written by Jon Peter Lewis? Or is this like one of those biographies where it’s “Jon Peter Lewis as interpreted by Shirley Halperin”?
The show’s gone through big changes, but we can all expect tv shows to become extended commercials. So many people have DVRs now that commercials are frequently skipped altogether. Thus, big swigs of Coca Cola and questions about “what is in your Ipod” are the only way to appease the sponsors who’re probably concerned no one watches their ads.
IMHO, no one played on this theme better than 30 Rock, who had an entire episode dedicated to “posmens” which featured over the top product placement to a hilarious effect.
Just to clarify, yes, this is *really* Jon Peter Lewis writing; Shirley just posted it through her Popwatch account.
first, i LOVE your new single ‘Break the Silence!’ saw the video on your MySpace…bravo!!! can’t wait for the album. i DID see you on the last Idol eppy…friends tipped me off that you would be on and then after i saw you i turned off the whole mess. i really like the idea of Idol, but not what they’ve done with it. it’s not really about the contestants anymore, it’s all about the machine. i know you and many others think there is nothing wrong with having those ‘ringers’ in the contest, but i do (and Idol must too, or they wouldn’t try to cover it up). here’s why it bugs me…they convince millions of Americans that their personal Cinderella story is possible, torture them with this huge audition process, then only show the out-takes of how stupid the ‘regular joes’ are for even trying to follow their dreams. instead they hire semi-pros onto the show instead. i’ve got nothing against the ‘ringers’ – they are just following the rules, but the process is deceptive. my 2 cents
Great stuff, Jon. Such candor is rare, especially from American Idol performers past and present, who seem contractually obligated to close rank and uphold their Up With People image from now to eternity. Something I’ve always wondered: Do the contestants on any given season really love each other that much? I have a hard time believing there isn’t any discord, but every Elimination Show, it’s waterworks for everyone that leaves.
i dont care who the hell he is or wat he saw or not………………BUT DAVID ARCHULETA IS HOTTTTTTTTTTTT
amanda’s exit interview lived up to my expectations; i wish like crazy she had made it into the top 10, but now i dont have to worry about getting tickets for the tour.
on to jon: the show is much worse than it was even a year ago. i am a pretty tolerant person, but i cant watch it any more. i record the performances, watch the ones i am interested in, go back and watch others that get a lot of mention here on the boards. i dont watch the elimination show AT ALL, except for the last 5 min. as a result, now i dont hate myself on thursday mornings any more.
I think it’s pretty hard to criticize any effort to raise money for charity, even if it is done by American Idol. I don’t know of any other TV show that does anything like that, and they certainly don’t have to do it. I think it’s incredible, and I’m sure the money they raised helped a lot of people.
Wow, pinkyyy, that was a really intelligent response to the blog…Anyway, isn’t Chicken Little like twelve? The thought of him picking up “womanizing leftovers” is creepy as heck. JPL, thanks for your candor. It’s nice to have someone who’s been through the whole thing discuss how absolutely bloated and ridiculously commercial show. It’s hard for me to get through the whole show (I don’t have a DVR, unlike everyone else in America…). I look forward to more of your honest, amusing blogs. Cheers!
EP, I love that episode of 30 Rock. It’s so great how they take a jab at the commercial nature of television.
you are a douchebag. go away.
I find it hard to believe that was said about Ace Young. If you knew Ace, you would know that he is far from a womanizer! He is the most gentle, caring man I have ever known. It’s a shame that things get taken out of context.
Ace lives with his single brother Ryan and they are about to be gone for a long period of time promoting his new album. So maybe Kevin will be staying there keeping the house up.
I think I remember JP Lewis name from one of the seasons, but it sounds like he’s just jealous. & to the Amandafan, so you’re the reason she lasted toooooooooooo long. You helped some real talent get the boot by voting for her. As for Kevin & Ace’s left overs, get real. No way do I believe that one.
Jon-peter….u suck hard and ur a flop, so dont hate on pickler cuz u’ll never have the career she’s having…
Well, I thought your article was interesting and gave me something to think about. Commercials though, are a big part of the sponsorship so, I guess the bigger the show…..etc. As for Amanda…she was the right pick for the elimination show…EVERYONE else has had to prove they can actually sing, unfortunately, all she had done was screaming rock..which she was awesome at, however, the show is about your ability to sign ALL genres of music..don’t think she could have sang anything else…sorry fans, but it is true! Good job JP!
As a musician, I appreciate talent and so AI is one of my fav shows. This year is awesome. I don’t care whether they spend more or less, don’t care about the politics…just really enjoy watching people sing their hearts out. But I gotta say… Simon. Sometimes, it’s great that calls crap by it’s real name. It’s a breath of fresh air. Sometimes. I think he’s wrong alot too. In any case, his laying into people so viciously wouldn’t bug me nearly so bad if he could take any form of criticism himself! It’s just so odd that someone so over-sensitive could be so aggressive in his goal of being the cruellest and rudest person ever on tv. I like him sometimes, sort of …but when people start saying “I love you Simon, you’re sexy”, my stomach turns. They must be oh so very desperate for love.
Jon Peter Lewis is a piece of sh*t. He sucks at singing and was lucky to even make the top 12 his year…He thinks he is great but the truth is nobody cares about him. He’s cocky and he sucks my disnick…
Kellie Pickler didn’t perform just to promote her album, which is fantastic btw, she was there to provide the entertainment for the night. The best past season Idols performing their great music are what I most look forward to each week, and it’s great to see the show supporting their alums. Red High Heels was Kellie’s first single but this was the first time she performed it on the show. She’s already working on her 2nd album, due out this fall.
When you said “the Neil is gonna be on the show, and that’s pretty awesome” I got excited thinking maybe you meant Neil Young, then I remembered reading that Neil Diamond is going to mentor. Oh well, I guess I’ll fall asleep watching that night.
Nice commentary, JPL…and you are better looking now than on the show. Hope you have great success in whatever you choose to do. Loved you on the show.
i do not like this article at all. this guy sounds jealous and nasty and does not know how to spell. compliments instead of complements. please find someone else to write these
i do not like this article at all. this guy sounds jealous and nasty and does not know how to spell. compliments instead of complements. please find someone else to write these
Thanks for the recap, JPL! I would expect most artists to try to sell their merchandise (Kellie Pickler and her music). I thought she was OK, although I did not like the tone of her voice in that song much (but I am not a country fan, normally). However, I do find her personality and presence on stage to be interesting.
I actually think that Kristy Lee is prettier (although not as cute) and may have more vocal ability (although she needs work in the lower register, as do many of the girls). However, Kristy Lee is really missing that charisma (off camera and on camera Kellie can blow Simon’s socks off) and performance/personality. Brooke’s performance may not have been great, but her twirling in that yellow dress (Whoo!) was not lacking personality.
My favorite quote about Kristy Lee is that someone might call her performance robotic… although this would be insulting to robots, since they have a spark (electricity).
Ummmm where is the review of the show? Nice for the JPL update but no mention of any of the contestants.