Here it is folks (and sorry for the delay): Idolatry’s hotly anticipated, five-part interview with Danny Gokey. With apologies to fans of the profoundly awkward, neither Kristen Baldwin, nor her alter ego Kristen With Glasses, participated in this sit-down chat. Idolatry’s commentary episodes may be brutally scathing — a place where EW staffers and I can vent our visceral feelings about American Idol – but if a contestant is game enough to pay us a visit, we’d never go out of our way to make him or her feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. In fact, the goal of these interview segments is to be as unfiltered as possible, but just as important, to give you a better sense of each and every Idol finalist — as I think we’ve seen all season, the best portions of contestants’ personalities often seem to end up on Fox’s editing-room floors. And so it was in that spirit we approached our conversation with Danny. Press play below to hear his thoughts on wanting people to like him, shopping in the "women’s department," and dreaming about trying out for season 9. Danny also responds to record producer Howard Benson’s contention that he’ll never make a record, gives a surprising answer about the way certain media outlets painted season 8 as a referendum on social issues, and addresses the criticism that followed his semifinal performance of "Hero" (after a relative held up a picture of Danny’s late wife for the camera). Check back later this weekend for the cherry on top of the Idolatry season sundae: An action-packed interview with Kris Allen. (In the interim, check out bonus outtakes of Missy Schwartz’s most excellent feature story on the season 8 champ from this week’s issue of EW.) We’ll also be serving up a LaKisha Jones conference-room performance during the week, so keep checking back, or better yet, click here and sign up for our Idol email alerts, which will alert you to our coverage of America’s favorite talent show all through the unbearable off season.
More on ‘American Idol’:
‘Idolatry’: Adam Lambert dishes song choices, naughty lyrics, and Bill O’Reilly!
‘Idolatry’: Now on ‘The O’Reilly Factor’!
Adam Lambert: A role model? Really?
EW.com’s American Idol HQ
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Wahh!!! I’d rather have Kris Allen!
Oh poor Slezak, I wish I could’ve heard your inner thoughts during that interview. You look pained through most of it. And I don’t blame you. He’s a horrible interviewee. I feel sorry for him, he has no idea how douchey he comes off.
cant believe im about to write this…but i actually like danny. not his singing style on idol, but as a guy, he seems A-OK in my book. hope he gets to do a record, and wish him nothing but the best. give this guy a break EW readers LOL
Slezak, I’m extremely impressed with this interview. I couldn’t listen to it all at once because he seems to lack a certain self awareness which embarrasses me to listen to.
That said, you are killing us with your teasing on the Kris interview!
He is so socially awkward and so completely clueless that this was painful to watch. Can we have a follow-up Idolatry where you and Kristen dissect his every word in your typical Gokey-hating ways? Because you looked so damn bored and like you didn’t believe a single word he was saying.
Also… WHERE IS KRIS?! It better be 10 parts of awesome-ness to make up for the delay (and the Gokey).
Wow – Slezak, how did you keep a straight face? As another poster said, I would have LOVED to have been able to read your mind during that interview. Kudos for keeping it together. That interview makes me a little sad for danny – he seems like a nice kid, just a little confused about stuff…
K that was awful. He has no idea how to convey his thoughts. I’m going to have to watch Adam’s interview a couple of times to put me back in a happy place.
I will say i think danny has alot of work ahead.If he helps kids god bless him.Danny i think you went from 1 bubble to the AI bubble.The music biz. is not for you on the mainsteam level.Slezak i think you had at least 2 shots after that interview.
He comes across really inarticlate.
Looking forward to Kris’!!
He said in the past(and his buddy who got cut) that he used his wife to get attention in the beginning.
He’s a bad interview. No poise, tangents, and clueless.
I also love this portion of your intro paragraph: “as I think we’ve seen all season, the best portions of contestants’ personalities often seem to end up on Fox’s editing-room floors. And so it was in that spirit we approached our conversation with Danny.” How long did it take you to figure out the right phrasing on THAT, such that you sound really nice but actually say nothing about danny? love it. Again, I feel kind of bad for Danny……I think he has good intentions.
What???? Danny Gokey is as clear as mud. Thanks, Michael, for trying. Now where is the Kris interview you referenced several times?
Michael, you are gentleman and scholar! I never could have gotten through that without laughing. Way too keep a start face. And the Kris Allen interview is action packed? OH! *So Excited!!* I hope it’s epic. Like 10 Part Epic!
I’m glad you actually listened to him speak for himself. I think I had prejudged him a lot (even though I sincerely like the guy), and now that he got to clear somethings through the interview, I see Danny in a whole new light. Good job Slezak!!! And a great round of applause for Idolatry this year, the only thing that kept me watching this season of Idol!
This felt like it went on foreverrr. And it was basically just Gokey making excuses for himself and talking around questions instead of answering them. Ugh.