Help me out here, folks, because I think I might have fallen asleep into some sort of weird classic-soul nightmare during last night’s Idol finale. Did I actually see the stars of Tropic Thunder singing backup for a holographic recreation of Gladys Knight circa 1973? And if so… why?! Kate and Mandi didn’t seem to mind, and I admit that it was way, way less painful than Mike Myers’ Love Guru shilling. But that’s no excuse. Look, I’ve made it clear how profoundly these beyond-the-grave duets creep me out before. And this was arguably even worse, since, as even TMZ realized (hat tip), it is way unseemly to do one of those jobs on a person who is still totally alive! That’s why they call the lady a living legend. Would it really have been that hard to get the actual Gladys Knight to show up? Her voice can’t have aged any more harshly than Graham Nash‘s. (Graham, I respect and admire your work very much, but you should probably not sing in public sans Crosby and Stills if you’re gonna sound that hoarse). Also, I haven’t seen Tropic Thunder yet, but does "Midnight Train to Georgia" have some connection to that movie that I’m not getting, or was this whole thing just completely random?
Anyway, I won’t blame the Tropic Thunder dudes since they were pretty funny and this was probably not their idea. But seriously, Idol producers: When TMZ thinks you’ve crossed a taste line, you know it’s time to reconsider your priorities. Anyone else’s mind boggled by this gratuitous digital karaoke bit (preserved below, for those who dare)?
UPDATE: Thanks to the poster who reminded me that this video is also on sale at iTunes, with proceeds going to charity — which sorta makes up for this bizarre spectacle. But only sorta!
Can you say 30 Rock rip-off?
Although I was impressed by Robert Downey, Jr.’s moves and it was a silly, fun thing, I think the joke went on about two minutes too long (and I think the song itself was about three minutes).
Yes it sucked, but you shouldn’t link to a youtube video of it as legal downloads of the video GO TO CHARITY at the comedians’ request. Simon Vozick-Levinson, please remove link, that is more offensive.
I agree with Dominique L. Gladys Knight was just on 30 Rock so why couldn’t they get her to actually perform?
Simon, give it a rest…it was a comedy bit. Part of the joke was that it was supposed to look like a recording from 1973. Using the real Gladys Knight wouldn’t have made sense in that context.
Oh how sad that you didn’t get it. I thought the fact that it was hologrammed was what MADE it funny. If Jack Black, Ben Stiller and RDJ were dancing behind an OLD Gladys Knight it would have been odd…and not in a funny way. Oh well.
I agree it was way too long, but it was a brilliant bit of marketing. The movie doesn’t come out until August, but Robert Downey Jr. is in Iron Man now, and Jack Black is coming up in Kung Fu Panda. All three movies, of course, are from Paramount. Smart kids they got there.
Plus, RDJ is unbelievably hot while dancing.
I actually thought it was
I actually thought it was
And am I the only one who thought RDJ was totally hot in that suit?
I love this song! By far it’s my favorite by Ms. Knight and her famous Pips.
I am a fan of Jack Black’s and of Robert Downey’s. So it was fun to see them play the pips. My wife laughed the whole way through as Jack Black’s antics were enteraining.
As for Gladys, why not show her in all her glory? I find the flashbacks creepy when the singer’s dead, but less so if the singer’s still around.
On that, could we maybe see some older singers do a duet with a younger version of themselves? It might be cool to see an old Mick Jagger try to out perform a hologram of the young version…
What’s the problem? It was funny, like someone before said the joke was that it WAS a hologram. Lighten up.
Who cares why they did it, I just want to take RDJ out for a night of dancing!
I thought it was hilarious and the author of the column should lighten up!
I agree with BrandonK and nay-lo…it was supposed to be humorous, and was done in a completely different context than the previous “hologram” duets. I actually thought Ben Stiller’s facial expressions and stiff dance moves were hysterical.