vashti1999
05-03-2005, 11:19 AM
I agree with this article 100%. When Anwar got voted off I stopped caring. I still like Bo and Vonzell and think Carrie's going to win, it's not a must watch like in the past.
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Latest 'Idol' lacks pop
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005
If you go to the Fox "American Idol" Web site right now, the poll of the moment asks the question, "What do you think about Constantine being voted off?"
It provides five choices: 1) injustice, 2) fair, 3) shocking, 4) exactly right, and 5) America let me down.
It overlooked one, the one I would have chosen:
6) I couldn't care less.
In its fourth season, "American Idol" remains a ratings powerhouse - so formidable that rival ABC is trying to ride its wave by airing a controversy-seeking "Fallen Idols" edition of "Primetime Live" tomorrow night.
The real controversy about the show this year, though, may turn out to be how unworthy its finalists are of receiving the "Idol" crown.
We're down to the Final Five in this fourth season of "American Idol" - and for the first time in the history of this normally addictive series, I'm not waiting eagerly to see whether the most talented finalist will amass enough votes to be crowned the winner. That's because, this year, there's not a single contestant left worthy of receiving anything resembling pop-idol status.
The first year, when this Americanized version of Britain's "Pop Idol" show and acerbic judge Simon Cowell were equally fresh to our shores, there was the satisfying drama of watching Kelly Clarkson - neither the thinnest nor the most charismatic finalist - make it to the end by the strength of her vocals alone.
The second season, in 2003, brought us the down-to-the-wire showdown between Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. Both camps were fervent, and their vocal styles very different. Again, neither singer could be called a heartthrob, and though Studdard won, Aiken has forged his own post-"Idol" career.
Last season, there was, at the midway point, what remains the standout vocal performance of any "Idol" season: Fantasia Barrino singing "Summertime," and making that standard wholly her own. She not only won the competition, but also won the right to one-name diva status.
Before this year's "American Idol" started, Fox executive Gail Berman was predicting a drop in the ratings. Instead, the show actually has increased in popularity, grabbed an even stronger hold with younger audiences, and helped float all boats, making a hit of "House" and rescuing what looked to be, until "Idol" returned in January, a dismal Fox season.
Unfortunately, most of the performances and performers this year are not worthy of the loyal viewership they're attracting.
Just as the Top 12 were announced this time, one of them, Mario Vasquez, walked away, surrendering his seat at the table to formerly ousted Nikko Smith. And by the time last week's vote ousted the play-to-the-camera Constantine Maroulis, there wasn't much megawatt talent left on the stage.
The previous two weeks' eliminated victims, Anwar Robinson and especially Nadia Turner, should still be competing. Instead, what we have left is one solid rocker (Bo Bice, 29), one country singer (Carrie Underwood, 21), two crooners (Anthony Fedorov, 19, and Scott Savol, 28), and a wanna-be diva (Vonzell Solomon, 21).
Whoever wins among this quintet will become the weakest link to date in an otherwise strong chain of "Idol" winners.
Savol may still be here only because judge Cowell told him to pack his bags - voters could be getting protective, and casting more votes for whichever contestant seems most vulnerable.
Or, though I'm only kidding here, it could be that the rival networks have banded together to weaken the formidable "Idol" show the only way they can: by casting millions of votes for the least deserving singers.
No, the networks aren't really doing that; they're not smart enough. But America seems to be dumb enough to do it, at least the portion of America that loves to participate in phone voting.
So far, the result has been an "Idol" season so dull that the most excitement generated all year has when someone at the program got a few of the voting numbers wrong.
Getting it wrong, this year, seems to be the overall theme.
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Latest 'Idol' lacks pop
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005
If you go to the Fox "American Idol" Web site right now, the poll of the moment asks the question, "What do you think about Constantine being voted off?"
It provides five choices: 1) injustice, 2) fair, 3) shocking, 4) exactly right, and 5) America let me down.
It overlooked one, the one I would have chosen:
6) I couldn't care less.
In its fourth season, "American Idol" remains a ratings powerhouse - so formidable that rival ABC is trying to ride its wave by airing a controversy-seeking "Fallen Idols" edition of "Primetime Live" tomorrow night.
The real controversy about the show this year, though, may turn out to be how unworthy its finalists are of receiving the "Idol" crown.
We're down to the Final Five in this fourth season of "American Idol" - and for the first time in the history of this normally addictive series, I'm not waiting eagerly to see whether the most talented finalist will amass enough votes to be crowned the winner. That's because, this year, there's not a single contestant left worthy of receiving anything resembling pop-idol status.
The first year, when this Americanized version of Britain's "Pop Idol" show and acerbic judge Simon Cowell were equally fresh to our shores, there was the satisfying drama of watching Kelly Clarkson - neither the thinnest nor the most charismatic finalist - make it to the end by the strength of her vocals alone.
The second season, in 2003, brought us the down-to-the-wire showdown between Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. Both camps were fervent, and their vocal styles very different. Again, neither singer could be called a heartthrob, and though Studdard won, Aiken has forged his own post-"Idol" career.
Last season, there was, at the midway point, what remains the standout vocal performance of any "Idol" season: Fantasia Barrino singing "Summertime," and making that standard wholly her own. She not only won the competition, but also won the right to one-name diva status.
Before this year's "American Idol" started, Fox executive Gail Berman was predicting a drop in the ratings. Instead, the show actually has increased in popularity, grabbed an even stronger hold with younger audiences, and helped float all boats, making a hit of "House" and rescuing what looked to be, until "Idol" returned in January, a dismal Fox season.
Unfortunately, most of the performances and performers this year are not worthy of the loyal viewership they're attracting.
Just as the Top 12 were announced this time, one of them, Mario Vasquez, walked away, surrendering his seat at the table to formerly ousted Nikko Smith. And by the time last week's vote ousted the play-to-the-camera Constantine Maroulis, there wasn't much megawatt talent left on the stage.
The previous two weeks' eliminated victims, Anwar Robinson and especially Nadia Turner, should still be competing. Instead, what we have left is one solid rocker (Bo Bice, 29), one country singer (Carrie Underwood, 21), two crooners (Anthony Fedorov, 19, and Scott Savol, 28), and a wanna-be diva (Vonzell Solomon, 21).
Whoever wins among this quintet will become the weakest link to date in an otherwise strong chain of "Idol" winners.
Savol may still be here only because judge Cowell told him to pack his bags - voters could be getting protective, and casting more votes for whichever contestant seems most vulnerable.
Or, though I'm only kidding here, it could be that the rival networks have banded together to weaken the formidable "Idol" show the only way they can: by casting millions of votes for the least deserving singers.
No, the networks aren't really doing that; they're not smart enough. But America seems to be dumb enough to do it, at least the portion of America that loves to participate in phone voting.
So far, the result has been an "Idol" season so dull that the most excitement generated all year has when someone at the program got a few of the voting numbers wrong.
Getting it wrong, this year, seems to be the overall theme.