Simon Cowell called tonight’s episode of American Idol "officially the strangest show we’ve ever done," and I don’t know about y’all, but from where I sat inside the Idol studios at CBS Television City, I’d say Simon was referring to that glorious moment when, halfway through the show, Paula Abdul critiqued both of Jason Castro’s songs after he’d sung only one.
Let’s take a quick step back. With the final five contestants each cramming two Neil Diamond tunes into the hour-long production, it was indeed an unusually frenzied evening, and the judges refrained from commenting on the singers’ first songs. At the end of the first half of the show, Ryan invited all the Idol contestants on stage and then had the judges run through their thoughts on the first half of the show. (Stage manager Debbie Williams had to step on stage herself to motion the Idols to come out to the stage, as if, perhaps, this half-way check-in wasn’t entirely planned.) Randy shocked no one —"just OK…doing your thing…the bomb"—and then, with executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and Debbie watching from the wings, it was Paula’s turn.
"Oh gosh—we’ve never had to write these things down, uh, fast enough," she said. "Jason, the first song, I loved hearing your lower register, which we never really hear." So far so good. "Um, the second song, I felt like your usual charm, it was missing for me. It kind of left me a little empty." Huh? The audience began tittering with confusion, and Nigel and Debbie both began quietly freaking out. Paula continued, unaware. "The two songs made me feel like you’re not fighting hard enough to get into the top four." By this point, several audience members were openly cracking up, Debbie had to stop herself from stepping on camera to end the madness, and Nigel was frantically gesturing a single finger to anyone who could see him: ONE SONG! THEY’VE ONLY SUNG ONE SONG!
"So, David Cook," Paula continued, until Randy saved the day: "Oh, they’ve just done the first song though, just the first one." The tension was finally broken with this apology (of sorts) from Paula: "I thought you—Oh my god, I thought you sang twice!…You know what, this is hard! You know what, I’m looking at, it’s your notes, David [Cook]. You were fantastic." As Simon swooped in for his chance to scold the Idols, Nigel stepped off stage to, I’m assuming, get the on-site EMTs to give him some oxygen. At the ad break, the judges were all whisked out of the studio, Syesha Mercado, David Cook, David Archuleta and Brooke White left waving to the audience, and Jason Castro was left on a stool, stage center, contemplating what, exactly, had just happened. (Get more on last night’s shenanigans in Slezak’s TV Watch.)
A Fox spokesperson declined to comment, and Paula’s rep did not return e-mails seeking comment. Below is the clip in question. What do you think, PopWatchers? Was this just an honest mistake, or did the whole event strike you as bit more…curious? (If you’re looking for our regular on-the-scene write-up, don’t fret, it’s coming soon. It’s just that this was too juicy not to bring up as soon as possible.)
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Paula, you may have just killed the show. The thing is, she has had many insane moments on the show where she just says ridiculous things. But she was literally READING HER NOTES. She already knew what she was going to say before Jason sang. Maybe the producers told her to say that or maybe they were her own comments. Either way, the fact is that Jason had not sung yet, and she already knew what she was going to say. This stinks on so many levels. Slezak has been saying for weeks that they want an all-David finale. Never has his theory been more proven to be correct.
Now I actually feel sorry for Paula. All I can say is wow.
And the “David, they’re your notes… you’re fantastic” cover up? That was priceless. Especially after she already said that the performance wasn’t good.
I don’t think there is anything fishy. Paula has mentioned rehearsals before, I think she made notes during rehearsal to use for the show. However, she is still not clear-headed enough to realize the mistake she made, and passed it off as David’s critique.
Medication? Alcohol? Just stupidity? Or a ratings ploy? I’m not sure but I certainly cracked up. It may make me tune in for the results show instead of looking it up on-line after it airs on the East coast.
I was just waiting for Paula to turn to Nigel and say, “You know, I can’t quite make out what you wrote for me here.”
combining Paula’s seeming stupidity with a list of things to say in a critique AND the strange format of the episode… was not a smart move
OBVIOUSLY the show is scripted and the producers want to throw Jason under the bus.
I had to mute my tv because I was so embarressed for Paula. It was awkward. Poor Jason (even though I did end up agreeing with her critque)
This just proves what a brilliant host Ryan Seacrest is. He may be annoying, but any other host would have gotten flustered. He just threw the seeing the future bit out there and moved it along. These are the moments that make or break a host. Can you imagine Julie Chen or Chris Harrison handling that so well? No way!
To me it just seemed that Paula was so confused that she should comment now and… did not have any notes, so she made her usual generic bla up.
I think all those conspiracy theories are a bit stupid.
And those were definitely rehearsal notes. No way anyone else could come up with the crap she spouts every week!
It sure looked to me like she was reading from previously written notes and already knew what she was going to say. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. Paula just “outed” Nigel Lythgoe’s agenda.
Jason’s had to go out and sing his second song after this fiasco. Plus he already knew it was going to be canned. If AI wants to retain any credibility, no one should be eliminated tomorrow night!
Did anyone notice that Paula called Syesha Brooke at the end of the show?? I had 2 classes of wine before watching the show, and I still managed to figure out that they had only sung one song AND I knew that Syesha does not have blonde hair and blue eyes………
Simple. She wrote her notes during the dress rehearsal, and then relied on them, instead of revising them during the live performances. Also, I read on a board that someone there saw Paula in the studio during the dress rehearsal and she fell. Maybe she was on medication that disoriented her during the show, so she just started reading her notes on auto pilot.
i don’t think the show is scripted. I think they may take notes during dress. couldn’t have been easy for Jason Castro to sing September Morn knowing that she already thought it sucked.
Clearly the wine affected me more than I thought………I meant to say glasses of wine NOT classes……..
They just threw Jason under the bus… Never have I’ve been so disappointed in this REALITY SHOW. They want a certain outcome no matter what the cost. Well it may have cost them the show if not several thousand viewers.
Rumor has it Paula wasn’t even at Jason’s dress rehearsal, which would mean these were fed to her. Just a rumor at this point, but if confirmed, AI is in some serious trouble…
I think RANDY wrote those notes for Paula to read (at the appropriate time). He’s been wanting Jason out all along, especially after his girl Carly is gone. How obvious can they be? Jason doesn’t fit their moldy mold of what an AI should be, so they want rid of him. Do they not know he’s the ONLY thing keeping this season from being as boring as last year?? He’s the only reason I’m watching & listening & can’t wait for his CD. I considered going to the tour ONLY for Jason, but now I’m not so sure I want to give any $$$ to these AI clowns. Jason will be fine, but it sure hurts to see his spirit & passion for music trampled on so blatantly on the show. He deserves so much better than that! Get rid of Paula & Randy–they’re boring & so un-original & add nothing to the show anymore. Just suck the life & joy out of it & some of the more unique & refreshing contestants. NOT a good night for the show at all, or for Jason, who performed fine on his 1st song & composed on his 2nd.
Why do people go immediately to conspiracy theories? Do you really think Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick write scripts for the judges? Really? Come on. She wrote notes during dress rehearsal and then just read them during the show because (I theorize) she was on a medication and mentally unplugged.
This is one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen on television. I was watching the show with my mom and I turned to her and said “What did she just say?”
I didn’t immediately think of the “rigged” concept, but it’s possible they gave her a script. But it’s also possible that she was just really out of it. I feel bad and I hope it was just an accident.
I still love Paula Abdul.
And Jason sucked as usual, singing on his little stool.
The judges watch the soundcheck every Tuesday, she’s obviously commenting on the second song that she heard earlier before the show aired. Not that I’m at all excusing her for her air-headedness!
I can’t believe Jason was able to sing after that fiasco, basically being told he sucked before he even started! If they eliminate anyone tomorrow night, I am not watching this show again. I’ve watched seven seasons in good faith, and now I don’t know what to think. The judges shouldn’t be basing their critiques on rehearsals anyway! I’ve been to rehearsals and they are sometimes substantially different than the live performance!
They see the dress on closed circuit tvs in their dressing rooms. She may have had the fall in the studio before the dress rehearsal and then watched the performances in her dressing room.
So – on “ive tv” one can’t start a botched song over, but one can hide their face from the camera’s glare.
Too late, Paula. We all saw it.
The emperor has no clothes.
The show should sink now, but likely won’t.
She ought to be sent home.
Paula, I mean.
I would pity whoever wins this contest. His/Her winning is already tainted by this fiasco.
They clearly wants to throw Jason off the show. He is becoming a threat to a David vs. David finale.
Paula was obviously under the influence. She acted very confused even after Randy and Simon tried to make her stop. But it did look like she was instructed to give a negative review of Jason. They want to throw him under the bus after his attitude last week (“I don’t want to sing again”, yawn, etc), and this is reflected on Paula’s scripted comment that he is not trying hard enough to make it to the top 4. Paula used to love Jason. Very weird.
Also, Randy looked guilty when he awkwardly said “no, this is just about the first song”. Oh, so now you’re Paula’s translator? B. please.
I read on the AI board from people that were at the dress rehearsal–that Paula was not there. They had fake judges in those seats. TPTB have been doing thier best to get rid of Jason since IGB week or the week after. They are very nervous about his large fanbase and they don’t want him upsetting their agenda. Why do you think he is edited so badly. If any other contestant said that they didn’t know about Cats–that soundbite would have been left on the cutting room floor. Well, Nigel–do rotten thing to a very nice kid ant the karma is going to come back at bite you on the butt. You are all outed.
And speaking about agenda, how ridiculous was Simon’s comment to Syesha, that she was great, but she might be in trouble? Says who? So far on Dial Idol she’s first place. God, I’d LOOOOOVE if Jason and Syesha stayed and Archie got voted off.
hmmm… My first thought was Paula already has notes for two songs because it’s FIXED. The producers have already decided Syesha will not win – they’ve dubbed her Broadway girl. And they keep pimping David A. no matter how bad he flubs, so why not have scripted notes for Paula?