# American Idol 2/17-18 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288 "2009-02-17T16:50:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/181 "2009-02-19T18:00:36Z")
I think they’re going to bring back Jamar. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/182 "2009-02-19T18:23:57Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > I think the way they pick the top 3 pretty much sucks. Assume the top 4 vote getters are all guys. The’ll pick the top guy to fill the guy slot, then they’ll move all the way down to the 5th best person to fill the girl slot, then back up to the 2nd best overall vote-getter to fill the 3rd slot. So the 3rd and 4th best overall vote getters go home, even though they actually got more votes than any of the girls. > > Why does gender have to trump the actual favorites of the voters? Stupid. American Idol Finalist Elect. ---
**Author:** ![RachelChristine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RachelChristine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RachelChristine)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/183 "2009-02-19T20:06:15Z")
Well how did they do the WIld Card in the past? The first year they had 3 rounds of 10, with 3 people advancing. That made the top 9. Then for the Wild Card, they had 5 contestants sing again, then the judges picked R.J. after discussion amongst themselves. BAM! Top 10 that year. The second year they had 4 rounds of 8, with 2 people advancing. That made the top 8. Then they had 9 people on the wild card round, some from the previous nights, and some from Hollywood. They did a call-in vote, with Clay getting the most votes, and then each of the three judges picked one more person to round out the top 12. The third year, the followed the same path as year 2, with JPL being the viewers choice. So this year we have 3 weeks of 3, giving us a top 9. I wonder what will happen Wild Card night? Here is what wikipedia says: " In the wild card round, the next highest finishers plus other eliminated semi-finalists will return for one more chance to compete. The judges will pick the 3 performers left that they consider the best. No voting by the public will be done at this stage." ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/184 "2009-02-19T20:35:59Z")
If I don’t get to keep Anoop or Norman Gentle, I am out of here, American Idol! You hear me? OUT! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/185 "2009-02-19T21:15:47Z")
> [@RachelChristine](#): > > Here is what wikipedia says: " In the wild card round, the next highest finishers plus other eliminated semi-finalists will return for one more chance to compete. The judges will pick the 3 performers left that they consider the best. No voting by the public will be done at this stage." If that’s true (and when has wikipedia ever misled us?) they could’ve announced last night that Anoop would be returning in the WC round. They just chose not to, to keep us in (woooo…!) suspense. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/186 "2009-02-19T21:58:38Z")
> [@LilyoftheValley](#): > > Thanks! You’re welcome. Well, I voted a few times each for Alexis and Danny, and they both got through. I had high hopes that the 3rd one would be Tatiana (though I didn’t do any voting for her), because she really can sing, but maybe she’ll be back for the wild card round. I honestly don’t get the Danny Hate, though. He seems like a genuinely nice young man, he seems grateful for the opportunity and not arrogant about it at all, and he’s actually got a great voice. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/187 "2009-02-19T22:21:02Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > You’re welcome. > > I honestly don’t get the Danny Hate, though. He seems like a genuinely nice young man, he seems grateful for the opportunity and not arrogant about it at all, and he’s actually got a great voice. _shrug_ I don’t get it either. He isn’t the one talking constantly about his deceased wife - that would be AI and his friends. He isn’t overly modest, or overly cocky, and he seems to be fairly genuine. On top of that, he sounds nothing like any contemporary christian artist I’ve ever heard, and I live in the South. (Not that I think he’s predominantly a christian singer, just that I’ve heard the comparison made here.) ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/188 "2009-02-19T22:21:16Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > I honestly don’t get the Danny Hate, though. He seems like a genuinely nice young man, he seems grateful for the opportunity and not arrogant about it at all, and he’s actually got a great voice. _shrug_ Me too. I like how he sings. Of course I’m usually reading a magazine while watching Idol and mentally tune out all the glurgy bits between the actual singing. So my perception of contestants is based on their on-stage behavior. I didn’t even know Danny had a dead wife until I read it here on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/189 "2009-02-19T22:43:25Z")
I like Danny too. The part I don’t get is the Anoop love. He seems nice enough and has a nice enough voice, but my overall impression is of bland and unremarkable. The most obvious hook for the show is that he’s someone other than white or black, for once, but I doubt that he wants to just be known as “the Indian guy”. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/190 "2009-02-19T22:57:42Z")
> [@Caricci](#): > > I think they’re going to bring back Jamar. I’ll bet your right. I was shocked when he didn’t make the 36, considering some of the ones they did let through. Did you see him on camera right after Danny sang? Dude looked really bitter! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/191 "2009-02-19T23:15:58Z")
> [@Risha](#): > > The part I don’t get is the Anoop love. He seems nice enough and has a nice enough voice, but my overall impression is of bland and unremarkable. The most obvious hook for the show is that he’s someone other than white or black, for once, but I doubt that he wants to just be known as “the Indian guy”. For me, I was stunned & delighted by the contrast between his look (ie, Indian) and his style. I’m sure the novelty will wear off, but I started rooting for him as soon as he opened his mouth and started doing Boys II Men. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/192 "2009-02-19T23:57:51Z")
Firstly, I think I may finally grok a question that has bemused me all season: why Kara? I think I figured out her niche. Randy is the vocals guy (“Kinda pitchy, dawg”). Paula is the cheerleader (“Uh…you look really nice tonight”). Simon is focused on charisma or star power or x factor (“You’re bored me to tears”). Kara is the image person (“You sang country last week, rock this week. Make up your mind!”) AI contestants that have done the best are strongly tied to one genre, eg. Carrie Underwood (Country) and Chris Daughtry (RAWK!) They way they select winners, the most versatile wins and they end up the next great Broadway star, not pop singer. Secondly, I don’t understand why America voted for Michael. IMO, he beat out two more deserving and worthy contestants, in both singing talent and compelling TV, Tatiana and Anoop. I want to see him fail miserably and fall flat soon, but it’s hard to work up the hate for someone so bland. I can’t see his appeal beyond his “Roughneck” label and I wouldn’t think that would be strong enough to win a spot even among AI aficionados. I don’t think his singing was that great, nor was it bad enough for VFTW. How did he make it? ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/193 "2009-02-20T01:21:07Z")
> [@Risha](#): > > The part I don’t get is the Anoop love. He seems nice enough and has a nice enough voice, but my overall impression is of bland and unremarkable. The most obvious hook for the show is that he’s someone other than white or black, for once, but I doubt that he wants to just be known as “the Indian guy”. You haven’t caught the ‘Anoop magic’ yet. Just wait ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/194 "2009-02-20T02:41:25Z")
Well, damn. It’s a day later, and I’m still mourning the loss of Tatiana. Yeah, OK, I’m an opera and drag show fan so I have a high tolerance for drama queens. (Surprise, surprise, I’m rooting for Norman, too!). But, dagnabit, the girl can actually sing. I really wanted to hear more of what she can do. She has the vocal chops to do some interesting stuff. Besides, she made that Whitney Houston song her own and didn’t just try to imitate. I liked that. Country oil rig guy was booooooring. Toss him out and bring back Tatiana. ---
**Author:** ![RachelChristine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RachelChristine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RachelChristine)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/195 "2009-02-20T03:22:07Z")
I think Ruffneck is probably a really nice guy and all, but how on earth did he beat out Anoop? His singing was just mediocre. Anoop and Tatianna should both get another chance in the Wildcard round (Tatianna just because I want to see what she can/will do). I liked Jackie and Ann Marie too, but someone has to go. Alexis was definitely the best girl, and Danny was the best of the guys, so I am okay with them going on, but I want my Anoop-Dog!! ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/196 "2009-02-20T03:29:43Z")
Was it unusual for the judges to talk about the Tatiana drama? And the Anoop Dawg nickname? I don’t remember them acknowledging “buzz” and gossipy stuff in prior seasons. I suppose Oil Rig Guy got the country votes, even though IMHO he wasn’t very country, just bland and boring. Which applies to a lot of country music today, so maybe he earned those votes. Can you imagine a record company or a producer (or backup singers) wanting to work with Tatiana? I can’t. She did do a good job with that song, especially after she got going. I could barely hear her when she first got started. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/197 "2009-02-20T14:23:06Z")
OK, here’s the deal with Tatiana. Yes, she can sing. But despite the judges constantly reminding the contestants that “it’s a singing competition”, it’s not. It’s more than that. It’s an image competition for good singers. Past winners and finalists- Kelly Clarkson, Reuben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, David Cook, Daughtry- have generally been well spoken, normal, humble and malleable into a certain image. Tatiana would be a nightmare to work with. The best she can offer producers right now is drama to get eyeballs on the screens, but however well she sings will always be overshadowed by her ‘crazy’ baggage and image. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288/198 "2009-02-20T15:05:53Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > OK, here’s the deal with Tatiana. Yes, she can sing. But despite the judges constantly reminding the contestants that “it’s a singing competition”, it’s not. It’s more than that. It’s an image competition for good singers. Past winners and finalists- Kelly Clarkson, Reuben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, David Cook, Daughtry- have generally been well spoken, normal, humble and malleable into a certain image. > > Tatiana would be a nightmare to work with. The best she can offer producers right now is drama to get eyeballs on the screens, but however well she sings will always be overshadowed by her ‘crazy’ baggage and image. I don’t think anyone is disputing that. The judges shouldn’t have let her out of Hollywood week, though. The drama ceases to be as much of a story once they get to the final 36, b/c the camera isn’t on them behind the scenes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-17-18/486288.md?page=9)