# American Idol 2/9-10 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 9, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309 "2010-02-09T18:37:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/141 "2010-02-12T00:19:26Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > No need to be such a Debbie Downer. These threads are a lot better when there’s snark. The Debbie Downers are the one who just toss out random juvenile insults without any sort of thought or wit behind them. Frankly, at least one frequent poster ought to be reported for being a thread shitter. Snark is a different thing entirely. That’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/142 "2010-02-12T00:20:31Z")
> [@Dan\_Norder](#): > > The Debbie Downers are the one who just toss out random juvenile insults without any sort of thought or wit behind them. Where’s the Retweet button on this thing? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/143 "2010-02-12T00:42:39Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Group 4 is the one that gets decimated during Hollywood Week - intentionally. The point is not to hear you sing - they’ve already heard that. The point is to find out if you can be managed, if you’re a prima-donna, if you’re too stupid or too evil or too obnoxious to make it in entertainment no matter how well you can sing. Hollywood week exposes a lot of that. They intentionally put pressure on them - it makes for good TV, but it also helps crack the nuts. For sure they do this except for the one prima donna jerkface or funnily weird nut that gets a pass so that we can all hate on/cheer for during the voting stage. That’s why Mary got through. Boo! Hiss! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/144 "2010-02-12T00:46:47Z")
AI wannabes don’t want money, they want fame, which is worse. By the way, 99% of the snark here is not based on the looks of the contestants, but their behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/145 "2010-02-12T00:51:43Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > For sure they do this except for the one prima donna jerkface or funnily weird nut that gets a pass so that we can all hate on/cheer for during the voting stage. That’s why Mary got through. Boo! Hiss! Yes, I think Simon could weed them down to a top 5 in about 20 minutes if he really wanted to, but they have a season to fill, so along with the genuine contenders, they round out the field with “characters,” and anyone who knows anything about reality television knows that it’s always good to include a villain or two. In an elimination show, especially, people will tune in week after week just hoping to see the one they hate finally get kicked to the curb. I think that Mary person could well get cast just for that reason. It’s always better for ratings to have some heels along with the faces. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/146 "2010-02-12T01:58:34Z")
I hate the group sings, the separation into different rooms. I’m so glad they didn’t do that David Cook’s year. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/147 "2010-02-12T05:20:45Z")
I quit reading last year when people made a joke out of some contestant being a widower. Did AI play that angle up? Sure. Was it beyond rude to make fun of him because of it? You betcha. I think the name calling and crass insults here are childish. Like another poster above, I read this thread to see if things have improved. Glad to see some others agree with me, but bullies usually win, so I am not hopeful. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/148 "2010-02-12T05:32:02Z")
He wasn’t made fun of for being a widower. He was made fun of because he (and the show) constantly (and cynically) milked it for attention and sympathy. Nobody said, “ha ha, he’s a widow, ha ha.” That would be stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/149 "2010-02-12T07:29:03Z")
I’m all for snark. And, heck, a few juvenile insults here and there won’t kill anybody. Those who prefer to focus on the music and/or the positive are certainly welcome to do so in this thread. It’s the mix that makes it fun. FTR, making fun of Danny Gokey for any reason is OK in my book. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/150 "2010-02-12T12:15:38Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He wasn’t made fun of for being a widower. He was made fun of because he (and the show) constantly (and cynically) milked it for attention and sympathy. Nobody said, “ha ha, he’s a widow, ha ha.” That would be stupid. You brought up Gokey’s wife WAY more often than he did. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/151 "2010-02-12T12:34:47Z")
> [@Rachael\_Rage](#): > > I’m all for snark. And, heck, a few juvenile insults here and there won’t kill anybody. No, but they discourage other people from coming in here. Like me. I don’t want to read a bunch of youtube-style crap. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/152 "2010-02-12T13:59:09Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > I quit reading last year when people made a joke out of some contestant being a widower. Did AI play that angle up? Sure. Was it beyond rude to make fun of him because of it? You betcha. I think the name calling and crass insults here are childish. Like another poster above, I read this thread to see if things have improved. Glad to see some others agree with me, but bullies usually win, so I am not hopeful. Yeah, I think the people who have spoken up this week have definitely heard (from some, not all) the message “We don’t want you here” very clearly. Point taken. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/153 "2010-02-12T14:48:50Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > You brought up Gokey’s wife WAY more often than he did. I never brought her up once. I brought up his cynical use of the story to pander for sympathy and votes. I also occasionally expressed some suspicion that he’d made her up completely. I made fun of the guy because he was a load, not because he was (maybe) a widower. If anything, I regret that I did not mock him more. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/154 "2010-02-12T15:03:30Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I never brought her up once. I brought up his cynical use of the story to pander for sympathy and votes. And you brought it up WAY more than he did. And tell me, how is somebody supposed to have a dead wife without somebody cynically presuming they are using it to pander for sympathy and votes? It’s not his fault she died. And your suggestion that he made her up is just… Bachmannesque. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/155 "2010-02-12T15:12:08Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > And you brought it up WAY more than he did. I doubt that. Actually, I think I stopped when the show finally stopped. > [@](#): > > And tell me, how is somebody supposed to have a dead wife without somebody cynically presuming they are using it to pander for sympathy and votes? It’s not his fault she died. By shutting the fuck up about it, and not running to the cameras tell the whole sob story from the second you show up ath the initial audition. There was no reason it ever had to mentioned at all. Plus, it was OBVIOUS he was using it to pander. > [@](#): > > And your suggestion that he made her up is just… Bachmannesque. It’s called a “joke” dude. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/156 "2010-02-12T15:18:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > By shutting the fuck up about it, and not running to the cameras tell the whole sob story from the second you show up ath the initial audition. There was no reason it ever had to mentioned at all. Plus, it was OBVIOUS he was using it to pander. He was asked about it, and though he may have told them about it first, he never brought up again except for that song dedication in the semifinals. he didn’t mention it once in the finals except when they did that dumb bio bit during the homecoming piece they already did (which was unavoidable). Simon mentioned it once and expressed his sympathy, but the fact is that almost the whole season went by after the auditions without a mention of his wife. You brought it up constantly, but I remember wondering then what the hell your were talking about. Was Gokey a douche? Yes. Did he keep talking about his dead wife? No. You just decided that was his narrative, and stuck to it despite an overwhelming lack of him ever talking about it. And that is Bachmannesque. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/157 "2010-02-12T15:35:52Z")
How could they have asked him about it unless he ran to tell them about it first? He didn’t have to mention it at all, and the classy thing to do would have been to tell the producers he didn’t want it mentioned on the show. Instead he milked it for all it was worth, and wouldn’t shut up about it. It wasn’t like I was the only one who found it pandering, by the way, so I don’t know why you’re acting like this is some take peculiar only to me. “Danny Deadwife” was his nickname all over the internets. ---
**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 12, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/158 "2010-02-12T15:44:33Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > No, but they discourage other people from coming in here. Like me. I don’t want to read a bunch of youtube-style crap. You seem to know a lot about what has gone on in these threads for someone who stays away. ---
**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 12, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/159 "2010-02-12T15:45:50Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I doubt that. Actually, I think I stopped when the show finally stopped. > > By shutting the fuck up about it, and not running to the cameras tell the whole sob story from the second you show up ath the initial audition. There was no reason it ever had to mentioned at all. Plus, it was OBVIOUS he was using it to pander. > > It’s called a “joke” dude. He hardly mentioned it after the first round or two. I think you’re projecting. ETA: Acting as though her death should have never been made public is the dumbest thing you’ve said so far. There is no way the AI people wouldn’t have found out about it. He was there with his best friend. If my wife died, I sure as hell wouldn’t keep it a huge secret from people. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309/160 "2010-02-12T15:50:08Z")
Exactly, **cricetus**. The name that was made up for Danny was really cruel. And Rachel, the mix may be fun for you, but less so for those of us who would love to see it toned down. The AI threads make me think of you guys in a harsh light much more than the contestants. I don’t want to think of you guys as unfeeling and immature. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2-9-10/528309.md?page=9)