Image Credit: FoxFor nigh on many seasons now, fans of American Idol have grown accustomed to watching the wannabe superstars who flood into Hollywood each season dissolve into puddles of tears and heartache amid the pressure (and sleep deprivation) of the competition, the devastation of getting cut, and even the elation of making it on to the next round. Year after year, it always makes for a fizzy cocktail of empathy and melodrama, spiked with a shot of schadenfreude — in other words, it’s usually darn good television.
But watching Jennifer Lopez crumple into the ugly cry in the face of (SPOILER ALERT!) letting contestant Chris Medina go? Chris Medina, the young man whose audition package and backstory reduced this hardened Idol-covering veteran to spill his own copious tears, but whose later performances (when we got to see them, anyhow) were decidedly, and unfortunately, kinda meh? And Jennifer Lopez, the kind of superlatively gorgeous, A-list-y mega-star who is only ever allowed to be that vulnerably, emotionally naked in front of a national television audience when accepting an Academy Award for Best Actress?
Now that was some damn good TV.
It helped that Steven Tyler provided his own, quieter-but-no-less-powerful display of emotion when he softly kissed Chris on the cheek, twice. And that Tyler and Randy Jackson felt compelled to comfort Lopez like kind older brothers. Was it perhaps all a bit much? Yup. Did it become far more about the judges than Medina? Totally. Doesn’t that fly in the face of the show’s insistence that it’s all about the contestants, a claim producers had up to that point done a solid job of backing up? Oh you bet.
Doesn’t matter: I was still riveted to my television. But tell me, PopWatchers, were you?
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A very genuine moment.How refreshing to have judges who realy care about these kids.**note randy was yawning and strecthing as Chris walked away
Not sure if I believe the tears 100% but YES! I did see Randy yawning as Chris walked away – I was like “what!” bad dawg!
She got embarrassed because of how she said it. She didn’t do that good at explaining it to Chris and then after he said his thank you and goodbye with so much class…she ended up feeling bad.
I thought it was genuine for sure, but the producers let it go on for too long…I was tired of crying myself and was wishing they’d move along. Heard on The View fans of Chris’ gave him $ and a new handicapped van. Hope it’s true.
Fake!!! It’s common knowledge that J-Lo has no soul, just like ginger people.
I don’t buy it for a second. It was a chance for her to falsely show America what a nice person she is… and it was completely phony. How can anyone fall for this?
It all felt a bit contrived to me. It was almost like Idol had to go that far to feel like less of a jerk for shoving Chris Medina and his heartbreaking story off the air. Should Medina have been cut..hell yes. Is Idol probably over compensating to pander to it’s audience? I think it’s really possible here.
I thought it was very real and honest. They kept sending him through in hopes that he’d take off but he didn’t and they were as disappointed if not more so than Chris.
I’m sure that they will give Chris some help in the future (quietly) and I hope he comes back.
I thought it was genuine also. I’m really loving Jennifer and Steven! But Randy’s just gotten mean, and he seems bored.
I think they only kept Randy this year so there wouldn’t be all new judges. I would expect him to be gone next year.
Randy’s stretch was an “oh boy that was tough” reaction to relieve the stress of the moment. Hasn’t anyone else seen or done that in a highly emotional situation?
No.
yes. I have seen many people do that when they are nervous or have pent up energy. I am pretty sure you could cut the tension with the knife. But I do have to admit – the fresh energy and compassion from the new judges is a sharp contrast to Randy’s additude most of the time, but we have to realize he has been doing this for a decade now… sometimes you just gotta desensitize yourself so you can stay sane. I don’t blame him, telling people no to their dream would be hard for anyone with even a hint of a heart.
Totally. I knew exactly what he was doing when I saw him stretch like that – it was a difficult moment, and that was Randy’s attempt to “shake it off” and prepare for the next contestant.
No one cares about this crap.
@LOL. You are soooo cool. You go from one blog to another writing the same thing. No one cares about YOU
LOL owns you emotionally it seems. Why care so much about a message board?
Why care enough to comment on a comment Watson? Oh right to make yourself feel better.
Puh-lease. Fake, fake, FAKE! There were may shots of Jennifer appearing to cry, but did anyone spot any actual tears? And how convenient that the breakdown also coincided with the end of last night’s show to draw viewers back tomorrow…
Barf….J.Lo is the worst.
Your an idiot. you have no business watching American Idol.
Oh, please. I hated Paula, but watched anyway. What I liked about last night’s drama was the judges’ willingness to cut a contestant with a compelling backstory because he didn’t earn the spot. Now we won’t have uncomfortable reminders of the likes of Danny Gokey or Scott MacIntyre, who Paula pushed because of his story. Drama: 1. Integrity: 1. It was a win-win for viewers and celebrity vanity.
I don’t watch anything with her, so there you go. I just commented because I think she is awful. She’s an insufferable singer and a mediocre actress at best.
Oh, and it’s YOU’RE, not YOUR, who’s the idiot here?
I think kk miller is the idiot here. He’s probably some high school drop-out who likes to dress up in drag and pretend he is J-Lo. Hey, kk miller… Perhaps you should pick some better idols to emulate. J-Lo is a mean-spirited, pretentious hoochie mamma.
That is not cool. She is awesome. I would love to meet her. I know those were real tears latina’s are very emotional. We are genuine baby
and asians are good at math, and white people love granola and bicycles.
Granola and bicycles? That is hilarious!!!
And all black people are great dancers.
As I have stated before, Jennifer Lopez is the most beautiful, sexy, desirable, stunning and gorgeous woman I have ever seen. Her tears last night just proves that she is beautiful inside as well as out.
She must have really been upset because she is not that good of an actress.
hahaha good one, so true!!
Hater’s at least she is acting are you? thought so
Cilla, your English is broken.. Please fix it.
It made me cry too. Chris was a great guy, but the talent wasn’t at the level it needed to be at to go to the next level on Idol. I think anyone who had a heart would have a hard time in that moment. Jennifer and Steven have brought a lot of heart back into the show. The judges on the last few seasons really weren’t there for the right reasons. It’s really nice to see them encouraging the eliminated contestants this season- such as Hollie and Deandre.
SING! Stop the Talk, Talk, Talk.
Sick of behind the scenes.
I agree with 100%. Why on earth couldn’t they have dispensed from the time it took to walk that ridiculously long airplane hanger walk and actually SHOWED us their last solo? Why do they always do this? Last night was like 1% singing. No wonder the show is on a decline – and it was my fav.
I don’t like the way they schedule these shows like this. They could have done all of this on ONE SHOW instead of two. They could have their top 24 right now and start the semifinals next week. Not let us sit through 4 hours of 2 shows to see who made the cut. And they should finish the competition in April,not May, just speed it up a bit–it goes on far too long sometimes.
you’d have to be a really, REALLY good actress to pull off some believable fake tears. that being said, i think j. lo’s tears were genuine
Wouldn’t it be nice if Idol went back to being about the contestants instead of the judges? Guess that’s all you can expect from egotists like JLo and Tyler.
Yep, knew it woudl become all about JLO and the JLO hour.
Who didn’t see this coming. Anyway JLo could get the attention to revolve around her in the newly titled “The JLo Idol”
how about “about the singing” – geez don’t even know if they have actually shown every one of them singing for more than 15 seconds
Not fair and not kind. How easy it is for you to judge others. You people are very harsh.
I agree with you. This is the best season of idol I’ve seen. The judges are great and even Randy got to be less verbal abusive.
Best season? Seriously? Without Simon?
Kind of thought it was not genuine, but a moment put there deliberately.
I thought it was genuine, but if it was contrived, I believe it was a dramatization of what happened behind the scenes. I think cutting him was hard for a variety of reasons.
You’re right. It might have been genuine, but the producers showed to showcase it. If you think about it, there is just a lot of stuff, hours and hours of footage that never airs.
This is what Jlo said to Medina: “It was just honestly a pleasure to meet you… For me that was a blessing in my life that I’ll always remember — somebody who has the conviction that you do; the love in your heart that you do; who stands up as a man in the way that you do.” Now, that’s American judging. She’s bringing back the heart and soul to Idol along with Steven.
Thank you. I think it was a genuine moment and I love her for it. Yes, AI milked it for all it’s worth but that doesn’t mean it didn’t actually happen.
ha! ha!and then she said “thad LITLLE voice of yours!”yeah,and she have BIG…….voice,so funny
Again, true and i love her too. I didn’t dislike her but now we really know JLO better. I’m a fan. Love Tyler too.
Hard to say how real it was, JLO is an actress after all, and they played up the Chris Medina story so much. But it was convincing, and it was touching, and Chris’ story is very moving. I agree, pretty good tv. So far, love this season — judges and talent alike. Idol feels more genuine than it has in years. Simon was so borrreeed.
I thought letting chris go was not at all on what I excepted. J LO has a big heart n Steven Tyler was funny as hell at first but he is still my guy. Randy has just been in it to long.
My hubby and I watched the whole thing and I cried(unusual for me) and I think maybe hubby got a little misty-eyed.
I appreciated it, even though I do agree it took away from the contestants a bit. But Simon just became so apathetic over the last few seasons that it’s refreshing to see three judges who take their job seriously, work well together, and want what’s best for the contestants.
I agree with you, but only on two of the judges. I think Steven and JLo are refreshing (especially Steven), but Randy is now coming off as the jaded one. I just think he’s been doing it too long, and it becomes more obvious because there are two new people there to contrast and compare him with. I’m not a Randy hater, and in fact in some past seasons I have felt he was the most moderate judge, but this season he just seems to be past his prime. I expect this to be his last season.
I agree. Randy seemed more bitchy than ever and besides he shouldn’t be judging singers if he can’t sing himself! Ugghh. It’s just seem power tripping to me and yes he looks like he’s been doing this too long and needs to put on his pajamas and let other more qualified judges take the seat.
But other than that, I am most bothered by that mean vocal coach.
Does she works for AI or she’s the coach of either the two girls.
Talk about bullying and in front of the camera!!! I hate her..
We are so jaded into thinking that everything we see is contrived. It is truly unfortunate. It was a very nice, touching moment that I’m perfectly willing to accept at face value. I believe J Lo’s emotions were real, and I believe that Steven Tyler’s emotions were real as well as he first said goodbye to Medina, and then tried to console Lopez. This was not Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi up there. They are gone. These are two new, soulful people.
Next week when they go live, we’ll get a better idea of how their emotions play out, but for now, I believe what I saw to be real.
Very well stated!! thank you
Yes well said.