A dancing Gladys Knight hologram? Really, 'Idol'?

cps Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 02:07 PM EST

that was the funniest thing i have ever seen and robert did look really good in that suit!

Kim Sat, May 24, 2008 at 02:52 AM EST

Come on, are you kidding me?! What's not to like, it was hilarious, I was laughing thru the whole thing.Robert Downey Jr, Jack Black, & Ben Stiller you all rocked!!!! Loved ZZ Top with David Cook, loved the whole finale, it is my favorite one so far!!! All performers did great!Also love Randy, Paula, Simon, & Ryan it wouldn't be the show it is, without them. Good Job!

Dr Sick Fri, May 23, 2008 at 11:40 PM EST

Jack Black is funny but an obnoxious attention whore. Robert Downey Jr looked like drugs had finally burned him out, he looked so old. Great makeup for "Iron Man" I guess. And Stiller is always fun. I liked it anyway. And it was great to see a young Gladys Knight even if she wasn't live. Are you saying Gladys is a Mormon or just her husband?

Joy Fri, May 23, 2008 at 09:23 PM EST

I like RDJ"s hair a little longer..

Tracie Fri, May 23, 2008 at 06:46 PM EST

I liked it :)

Abbey Fri, May 23, 2008 at 05:07 PM EST

Twas my favourite moment of the night, even if it came from waaay out of left field. Robert Downey Jr looked beautiful, and there's not much more I could ask for. =D

I also liked how there was no mention of Tropic Thunder (they didn't even play a preview during the commercial break like Myers' movie), sort of like they left their promotion to message boards and comments.

andrew barms Fri, May 23, 2008 at 04:31 PM EST

i thought it was good.

Darlene Fri, May 23, 2008 at 02:19 PM EST

I thought it was hilarious! And Jack was pulling up his pants during the song as if they were falling off of him so thought it wasn't off color. What a hoot!!!!

sw Fri, May 23, 2008 at 01:18 PM EST

Because TMZ would never blow something out of proportion just to make a blog post out of it.

The only offensive thing about that video was its utter lack of funny.

Sara Fri, May 23, 2008 at 01:00 PM EST

I couldn't disagree more-- I thought it was HILARIOUS. Definitely the best part of the show (other than DC's win).

And Gladys Knight has been on A.I. a few times; I'm sure they got her permission. The video actually reminded me why she IS a legend.

barbara Fri, May 23, 2008 at 12:23 PM EST

Glayds Knight could be in this video because she is on a entertainment misson with her husband for the LDS church for two years.

Cookie Fri, May 23, 2008 at 11:27 AM EST

Guys, guys...Simon here knows that it was a joke about failed Pip auditoners and that they used old footage! He's just sayin' he doesn't enjoy these creepy montages and is wondering why they ddin't have Gladys on the show playing herself...pretending to be 30-40 years younger? Auditioning new pips, maybe? I laughed a few times but wished i wwere even funnier than it was. LOVE Robert DJ but thought he was the weak link in the skit, causing it to fall flat. Also the pants/underwear thing was a litle iffy in terms of the family audience. AI needs to avoid tasteless PG jokes, IMO.

suzeeet Fri, May 23, 2008 at 11:26 AM EST

there is no need for these shameless plugs during this show. Put them in commercials. I would have loved to see more of the idol finalists singing, more maybe have them bring back some idol alumni. If they want higher ratings, kill the terrible plugs. And by the way, if anyone in America goes to see Mike Meyer's new movie, it is probably the small percentage of people who did NOT watch the AI finale. That skit killed all interest in the movie by me.

MC Fri, May 23, 2008 at 11:01 AM EST

I thought it was obvious that they took footage of an old performance and digitally inserted the new pips. It was very well done and such a good song, why would you want to cut it down?

Zach Fri, May 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM EST

Actually, I really liked Graham Nash's voice. I think Nash, of all the members of CSNY, had the best voice and sure, he sounds older, but still soothing.

orville Fri, May 23, 2008 at 07:30 AM EST

It was a joke! The whole point was that they were one of the failed auditions for the original Pips. I thought it was fun.

Karlover Fri, May 23, 2008 at 06:31 AM EST

This is not a racist comment (I think). But I can't help but feel like Robert Downey Jr. really moves like a black man. His movements are short and smooth. It's like seeing Sammy Davis. As you know, he "plays" a "black man" in Tropic Thunder, so maybe he was still trying to play the part.

Ungentlemanly Conduct Fri, May 23, 2008 at 12:31 AM EST

Gladys gave her permission for it. I don't care about the goofy thing or the creepiness of the "back from the grave" thing - it was just FANTASTIC to see Gladys performing that song again in the days she still used to regularly do it.

Jeff M. Thu, May 22, 2008 at 11:19 PM EST

Clearly, the whole bit was a joke. AI was making fun of itself for last year's Celine Dion/Elvis Presley duet.

Chill out Simon.

Jeff M. Thu, May 22, 2008 at 11:16 PM EST

Clearly, the whole bit was a joke. AI was making fun of itself for last year's Celine Dion/Elvis Presley duet.

Chill out Simon.

Sally in Chicago Thu, May 22, 2008 at 09:44 PM EST

Clever and funny....I laughed esp. at Jack Black.

Nix Thu, May 22, 2008 at 09:04 PM EST

OK, NOW i get it. I clicked onto Idol to check if they'd gotten to the winner yet, and for a moment I thought I was watching SNL. or that my pain medication was too strong.

Joy Thu, May 22, 2008 at 08:13 PM EST

I thought it was funny, but RDJ seemed to be holding back; IMO he didn't really go for it. I didn't like the pants removal bit; I too thought it was out of place. Jack is funny, but he needs to diversify a bit. He should have stayed more in accord with Ben and RDJ, not try to stand out. He can't help himself, can he - the same as Jim Carrey.

Anyway, it was very nice of Gladys and the Pips (and the actors) to donate all proceeds to charity.

Mar Thu, May 22, 2008 at 07:14 PM EST

The blurry picture and the utter randomness of it made me think I'd overdosed on cough syrup. Though I didn't mind seeing RDJ again and it was still a lot less objectionable than the Elvis-Celine duet. I still cringe at the thought of that.

queen of disrepair Thu, May 22, 2008 at 07:02 PM EST

I believe my late 80's crush on Downey has been reborn - Must rent "Chaplin" on netflix...must recommend "Zodiac" to all so they can drink him in...*sigh*

Kel Thu, May 22, 2008 at 06:40 PM EST

1. This is my favorite Gladys Knight song, so, YEA! 2. Ben & Jack are goofy which is always fun. 3. Robert Downey, Jr. - AWESOME! I especially loved the pouty-mouth thing he did right before he disappeared offstage. He is so cool (and makes a pretty convincing black man in Tropic Thunder, I must say - so NOT Soul Man)!

blehh Thu, May 22, 2008 at 06:26 PM EST

I thought it was funny up until Black came in with his pants down. Very bad taste for family viewing. Lots of teeny boppers around Jack! A little restraint next time.

wh Thu, May 22, 2008 at 06:09 PM EST

Didn't hurt that it covered a costume change for the final 12.

Hunter Thu, May 22, 2008 at 05:16 PM EST

At least they weren't unapologetically promoting their movie (like Mike Meyers, which I thought was mildly amusing, but overlong). It was clever and funny, but you telling Graham Nash to "not sing in public" is outrageous. His duet was beautiful and restrained.

Raven_Moon Thu, May 22, 2008 at 05:05 PM EST

I usually find these sorts of things to be off-putting, especially that Celine Dion/Elvis travesty that Idol did, but I actually thought this one was pretty funny. Robert Downey, Jr. was great.

K Thu, May 22, 2008 at 04:29 PM EST

I don't know which was worse, that Jack Black and Ben Stiller acted like they were into it, or that Robert Downey, Jr., looked like he was doing it because someone had threatened his family.

Ben Thu, May 22, 2008 at 04:18 PM EST

I thought it was hilarious and didn't see anything wrong with it. Beside, any chance to see Robert Downey Jr., who's the coolest thing to ever walk on this planet, is worth anything.

Renee Thu, May 22, 2008 at 04:12 PM EST

It was JUST PLAIN FUNNY!

EP Sato Thu, May 22, 2008 at 04:04 PM EST

OT, but how come no one's done a Popwatch Bit on how "You are my Brother, best friends forever" got a marching band? I thought that was the best moment of the night! Even better, the no talent dude was so bad that he couldn't keep rhythym with a band that played a song he wrote!

Someone, please tell me I can download THAT video off itunes...

Ryan Thu, May 22, 2008 at 04:04 PM EST

Wow, Jack Black really can only do one thing, right? Weird. Even Ben Stiller can do, like, three things. And of course, Robert Downey Jr can do any and all things because he rocks, and besides Gladys Knight, was the only reason to watch this.

Stephanie T. Thu, May 22, 2008 at 03:35 PM EST

Blacks antics were too much. It was all in fun. :-)

Nat X Thu, May 22, 2008 at 03:23 PM EST

I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought, "omg, RDJ just totally sodomized Jack Black" when he reappeared. I mean, really, what WERE they trying to insinuate by having Jack Black stumble on stage with his pants around his ankles??

Lena Thu, May 22, 2008 at 03:04 PM EST

I think it was an all-in-good-fun spoof on last year's Celine Dion-Elvis duet, but regardless of what anyone thinks, it combined two of my all-time favorite things: a smokin' hot Robert Downey Jr. and Gladys Knight singing "Midnight Train to Georgia." What's not to love?

Jayel Thu, May 22, 2008 at 02:47 PM EST

This was my 2nd favorite part of the whole show last night. I took it completely as a joke spoofing the atrocity that was the "serious" duet between Celine Dion and dead Elvis last year and all other such duets, and I thought it was hilarious. I didn't even remember that the three "Pips" have a movie coming out until I read the coverage here this morning.
Yes, Gladys Knight could certainly have performed live and wonderously well in a serious performance with the Idol contestants - she did last year. But that wasn't the point of this - the age of the footage was part of the joke. I feel exactly the same as the blogger about serious duetse with deceased singers, but I took this totally as satire, and for me, it worked.

kate Thu, May 22, 2008 at 02:41 PM EST

I thought it was pretty good. Maybe a tiny bit too long, but overall not too bad. I'm sure there could have been way more less funny things they could have shown for 3 minutes.

Heather Thu, May 22, 2008 at 02:21 PM EST

I've seen plenty of people who thought it was great. I thought it was boring. They could have shown 30 seconds of it and plugged the full thing at iTunes for the charity.

DanOregon Thu, May 22, 2008 at 02:18 PM EST

Seems to me the Tropic Thunder folks wanted to hype the movie, but were out of town last night.
Would have been funnier if they just had Jack Black pose as one of the rejects. Or even better one of the best talents seen by judges early, but who was declared ineligible due to a technicality.

Martha Thu, May 22, 2008 at 02:13 PM EST

It is weird that they used 1973-era Gladys when they might've invited the real thing to sing live. That said, however, I must add my voice to the chorus of Robert Downey Jr.-smitten ladies. He is the coolest thing ever...makes Ben and Jack look like dorky schoolboys.

Vicki Thu, May 22, 2008 at 02:12 PM EST

I agree with Simon - it was mildly amusing at the start, but became completely bizarre. And, as Winona pointe out, it was too long. I just thought it was gratuitous promotion for Tropic Thunder and that these three talented guys could have done better than this. Like, why did Jack take his pants off? My 7-year-old would have found that funny.

Jason Thu, May 22, 2008 at 02:06 PM EST

This was easily my favourite moment of the night. The rest of the night was ultra-cheese, but this moment was absurd, surreal and in the end genuinely funny. I don't understand what's to "get". It is what it is. And the fact that there was no mention of the movie tie-in made it even better. The same can not be said for Mr. Myers and his horribly unfunny looking movie. AI is consistently a parade of horrendous bits done to death (like the boxing analogy etc.). I don't understand you Simon.

easy there! Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:55 PM EST

obviously you haven't seen CSN recently - David Crosby is ok lately, but Stills completely stinks. Nash has always had that high voice and I thought his duet with Brooke was absolutely beautiful, moving to tears almost from an absolute classic musician.

That said, even if Graham was a little shaky (the man is 66!), he was far better live than that excuse for a band One Republic! how embarassing for that guy to be out sung by little david!

Zaphod Beeblebrox Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:54 PM EST

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.

Kthom Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:52 PM EST

I thought it was hilarious and the author of the column should lighten up!

Cinderella Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:50 PM EST

Who cares why they did it, I just want to take RDJ out for a night of dancing!

Rakeem Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:50 PM EST

What's the problem? It was funny, like someone before said the joke was that it WAS a hologram. Lighten up.

Ep Sato Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:44 PM EST

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...

nay-lo Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:40 PM EST

And am I the only one who thought RDJ was totally hot in that suit?

Catherine Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:39 PM EST

I actually thought it was

Catherine Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:39 PM EST

I actually thought it was

Katey Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:37 PM EST

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.

nay-lo Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:36 PM EST

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.

BrandonK Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:36 PM EST

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.

Anne Marie Thu, May 22, 2008 at 01:29 PM EST

I agree with Dominique L. Gladys Knight was just on 30 Rock so why couldn't they get her to actually perform?

StaleCake Thu, May 22, 2008 at 12:53 PM EST

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.

Winona Thu, May 22, 2008 at 12:52 PM EST

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).

Dominique L. Thu, May 22, 2008 at 12:45 PM EST

Can you say 30 Rock rip-off?