Is Danny Gokey the most talented competitor on season 8 of American Idol, or a so-so sentimentalist who’s enjoying the fruits of producer pimping? Nice guy who’s suffered a terrible tragedy, or contestant who’s exploiting said tragedy to win viewer votes? I won’t lie and say that I’m not slightly worried that this episode of Idolatry is essentially an express ticket to hell for my pal Kristen Baldwin and myself, but we’re responding honestly to what we saw on our TV screens this week (and we added some bonus footage of Michael Johns to help wash it all down).
Maybe Kristen and I are expressing exactly what’s on your mind, or maybe you’ll vehemently disagree with our opinions, but in either case, I hope you’ll take it down to the comments section below and share your thoughts on this polarizing contestant. (Interesting side note: Based on what Danny said in a Thursday-morning conference call, he’s aware of the budding backlash over the way his family tragedy has been used by Idol’s producers, and the discomfort many viewers felt when Danny’s relatives held up her photo for the TV cameras during Wednesday night’s results show. Whether or not he makes good on his promise to "lighten up" or whether a shift in tone will affect his standing with viewers remains to be seen.)
Update: Part 2 of this week’s Idolatry, in which Kristen and I discuss performances by contestants not named Danny, is now live on the site. Click here to ch-ch-check it out!
More on ‘American Idol’:
‘American Idol’ recap: Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy
‘American Idol’ Recap: Voters, Start Your Engines!
‘American Idol’: Michael Johns, Carly Smithson to duet on Wednesday night
‘Idolatry’: Making sense of American Idol’s top 36
Joanna Pacitti out of ‘American Idol,’ Felicia Barton in.
‘American Idol’: 10 Greatest ‘Hollywood Week’ Moments
EW’s ‘American Idol’ HQ
‘American Idol’: Get the scoop on what 14 of your favorite former contestants are doing now
Fantasia covers ‘Lady Marmalade’! Roof height at venue permanently altered.
Comments (1-30) of 341 Add your comment
Well, you had to do this and drag Kristen in it for support. And I had such hopes for you this season Slezak.
I love Danny Gokey. I believe that he is one of the best singers this season. I think that many people are hostile towards him since he was a former church worship leader.
I love you Kristen. If you’re going to hell, then I’m going with you! Totally agree with you both about Danny and morbid pimping though I do think he is talented. But there is a backlash brewing. Best thing for him is to be off the air and out of mind for the next 2-3 weeks. Can’t wait for Part 2 on Monday.
I completely agree with Michael and Kristen. Ugh, I’ve just had enough of it. Just the way the judges reacted to his slightly-above mediocre rendition of ‘Hero’ was ridculous, Simon is the only sane one on that panel.
Completely agree with you, Slezak. If it was just one photo or one video clip or just one “hope” statement from Gokey, then it wouldn’t be such a big deal. But what I think is upsetting a lot of us is the whole relentless packaging (the over-reaction from the judges, the constant images of Gokey’s wife being flashed on our screen, the obvious bias in screentime for Gokey, the song selections, and the “pimp spot”) that both the producers and Gokey himself have put together and cumulatively, it’s coming off as extremely manipulative. Now we can debate whether all of this was intentional or not, but the matter of fact is, at least half of us (based on the postings on the message boards) perceive this as manipulative and seedy. And as a contestant or as Gokey’s fans, you cannot dismiss a perception that’s shared by this many people as cold-hearted. Oh, and the vast collection glasses (I’ve spotted, brown, pink, and white frames to date)doesn’t help things either.
I love Danny Gokey…and it didn’t even cross my mind that he’s pandering for votes. First of all, I lost my husband to cancer when he was 32 years old, and I can tell you that when that wound is so fresh, it’s pretty all-consuming and I don’t
blame Danny for talking about it….I know it’s the producers who grabbed at this chance to play him up for the sudience! And that was not Danny showing a picture of his late wife..it was his family!!
I am also a professional singer, and I believe that Danny is one of the most talented this season. His voice is very different from the others, he stands out! And he has wonderful control over his voice…I love listening to him… I’m thrilled he made it through!
I hate danny! bring back tatiana!!!!!!
BLOW IT OUT YOUR A HOLE…YOU F…ING MORONS. HOW UGLY YOU ARE FOR EVEN GOING THERE. GET A CLUE WILL YOU…YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND FIRED FOR EVEN BRINGING THIS UP. UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN THERE AND WALKED IN HIS SHOES…and I have…YOU NEED TO SHUT YOUR F…ING MOUTH.
I actually liked Danny in the beginning and I was determined to judge his talent without the judges or producers actions and word affecting me. It’s Danny’s blatant use of his wife’s memory, his very cocky attitude and even more importantly, his lack-luster top 36 performance that has sealed my dislike of him. The additional silliness from the judges and producers only now bothers me as I don’t think his talent warrants the hype they’ve created around him. I wasn’t an Archie fan per se, but at least he was a talented singer.
I actually laughed out loud numerous times while watching this…I had never watched an Idolatry before, but I’m certainly watching it again.
I didn’t feel Danny from the onset and his back story just makes things worse. And how many pairs of glasses do you need? Reminds me of Sarah Palin
Is anyone else annoyed by the random bloggers who come here and try to sell us their dating websites? See bnihi below for an example. They are popping up all over the place now.
I’m so over Danny, I cant even tell you. And I HATE how the judges shoved him down our throats! But his holier than thou, I’m better than you shtick it annoying and I find him incredibly insincere. I’m done with him!
Where the HELL is Ricky Braddy. Now, he was fantastic! He better make it to the wild card show!
Hey, Rocky Top, do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Next time, let us know how you really feel.
Gokey scares me. He’s like that guy that kisses the bosses’ b*tt, and thinks the rest of us can’t see it. He’s a good singer, but great? C’mon.
For all those who are angry at the idolatry video, I think you need to relax. It’s clear the idolatry folk are commenting on the sleezy use of Danny’s wife, not about her passing. In fact, I think they are trying to make it clear that treating her memory with reverence would be appropriate as opposed to using it to get votes. Not sure if you’ve seen Danny’s interview earlier, but he even said that things are “easier” now with Jamar gone. When asked about Jamar and Tatiana, he switched the subject to himself – both times! He is coming off self-centered. It would behoove him to take a note from David Cook’s book and just handle his grief in private, not on TV. He just looks like he’s playing up to reality TV.
I haven’t liked him since the beginning. There’s something very oily about him.
I hope the sheep don’t win.
I thought Danny’s performace was the second-best male vocal of the night (following Ricky Braddy’s). That aside, Danny can’t really help what AI airs about him. They do what they do, and he pretty much has to let them, contractually. And really, I think it’s in pretty bad taste to say he’s exploitng his wife’s death for votes. If he could trade being on AI for having his wife back, I don’t think he’d hesitate. I’m going to say, actually, shame on you for accusing him of it.
I find his pimping and trying to ‘buy’
sympathy votes obscene. Hopefully the backlash will knock him right out of the competition. He’s not half the singer some of the folks who were elimated are. He’s wasting a spot.
The minute Danny came onto the screen I was sold- I liked him. But then the ongoing talk of his loss and his cocky attitude have put me on the verge of disliking him..and I am sorry but there was *nothing* spectacular about his performance…it was just the best of the night because the night sucked,and he did a good job, but nothing out of the ordinary. Not on his team,that’s for sure. Call my cold-hearted, I’m not in it for sympathy, I look for someone who I will actually go out of my way and buy his or her cd.
Ugh Danny is pretty much miserable. He’s not a very good singer, David Cook lite.
I’ve always hated that the producers of this show have to show emotional back stories in order for their favorites to win votes. They’ve consistently done this and it’s annoying and in bad taste. Just let them sing.
I saw Danny for the first time on Tuesday night. I do not watch Idol until the final 36 are selected so I had no idea about his tragedy. I also fast forwarded through all the “back stories” and only heard the contestants sing. Not knowing anything about him, I thought he was o.k. – I thought he was better than most of the others – but just o.k. I was shocked when I went online and heard how many people loved him.
If you were the guy that was talking to me on the Nick Mitchell’s popwatch. Hi, it’s Annabelle again.
I hope you find me.
What? Lenscrafters already has an Idol spokessinger? This is worse than Jason Castro representing the island of Jamaica!
I’m pretty sure all the contestants are fed up with Tatiana (see Marshall, Nathaniel), but Danny gave her nothing. Did his same frat boy ‘whoooo’ and he moved on. Turned away from her to sit on the martini stool. Yes, I wanted Tatiana to stay for the crazy and the self-marketing. But I think that Tatiana and Danny are playing the same game with different styles.
AND maybe she’s on Paxil now, but that’s no reason for 3 judges to egg her on and then mimic her evil, maniacal laugh. Did Kara just bring us back to 4th grade?
Danny moves on and so will I. I can’t help but compare this first show to Season 6’s first show – Melinda. Lakesha. (cough. Blake.)
AI has been on so long that Nigel can go to Kinko’s and make placards for the judges to grade. A 10 would be Carrie/Kelly/Fantasia. A 9 would be Cook/Jordin/Melinda.
Slezak! Please continue my great idea!!
That was ruthless. I’m impressed.
Any guy need a girlfriend? I’m free.
At the end of the day, it is just a TV show and is designed to make money for the FOX Network. The producers are going to promote the show anyway they can. It is a television “reality” show and nothing more. If you watch the show for any other reason than mere entertainment, you might want to think about stepping outside your house once and a while.
Danny is a good singer, and a serious contender this year. His story is compelling, and it is AI, not he, who is “pimping” the story. Also, we are going to hear plenty of other emotional back stories (single moms or spouses serving our country) over the next few months.
i think that the producers of the show are mostly to blame for bringing up his wife so much but something about him rubs me the wrong way…it’s hard to describe. he comes off as cocky and i don’t think his talent is as great as he believes it to be (at least he hasn’t shown it up to this point). plus, i don’t get how people are comparing him to robert downey jr. he looks more like bud bundy to me…
Ok, this pisses me off, people seem to take things and make them bigger than what they are. Leave the guy alone, he’s a good singer and i think he deserves to be in the top 12, he was probably one of the best of the night. Plus it wasn’t like he was the one holding the picture, and it’s all in the editing of the show. I’m sure there are other contestants who have stories that they haven’t shown. Another thing is, what about those contestants who are single parents and wine about how hard it is to be a single parent? They are essentially doing the same thing you accuse danny of doing!!
It’s a fact of his life, just like the fact that Jackie works as an entertainer, etc. He’s not “plugging” it, and his friend may have been truly emotionally reacting to the moment when he held up Danny’s wife’s picture. Don’t be so hard on him. ALL of this aside, he was the best male singer of the group, in my opinion.
Regarding the phone call–I’m SO tired of the David Cook/Danny Gokey backstory comparisons. There will be some similarities in the grief process, but there will also be differences, for the fact that Danny has already lost his wife and David’s brother is still alive. There would be different media repercussions for family members, for example, and some people may find it more difficult to face the unknown aspect of a current medical crisis than a recent death. Neither way is better or worse, so I wish people would stop trying to use a one-size-fits-all-approach.
…And I am a Cook fan, and I’m not saying that Idol and/or Gokey doesn’t need to do some damage control. Just tired of the Devil versus the Saint argument.