# American Idol 2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135 "2003-01-22T02:43:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/41 "2003-01-22T19:10:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cmburns \* > \*\*Either the Ford and Coke slogans and product placements were a lot more subtle than last year or I’m just getting used to them. They are still pretty bad, but didn’t seem to be as distracting. \*\* Don’t forget the newest sponsor, AT&T Wireless. I wonder if they’ll be some “mLifey” thing to go with the Coca-Cola Moments and the new Ford Focus Room? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/42 "2003-01-22T19:20:42Z")
Ditto on ‘urban yodeling’, r&b vocal styling. You know somebody is really, truly bad if you can tell they’re off key despite the fact they hit every note on a chromatic scale while vocalizing a single syllable. That’s why the “Fever” girl stood out: nice & simple. Remains to be seen if she can do anything other than a Peggy Lee impression. The twins sounded awesome: alternating between tight harmonies & dead-perfect alignment-- although their stage presence wasn’t much. Glad to see they made the cut. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/43 "2003-01-22T19:25:18Z")
Based on the newspaper articles that came out in LA when they were doing the auditions at the Rose Bowl, the 10,000 or so in the parking lot were pre-screened by production assistant types, based on 4 or 5 seconds of singing. Out of the 10,000 they picked some number to go in front of the judges. Clearly, they hand-picked some truly awful singers just for the humor value. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/44 "2003-01-22T19:45:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shelbo \* > \*\*Clearly, they hand-picked some truly awful singers just for the humor value. \*\* I don’t know about that; the judges seemed genuinely disappointed by the level of talent. What might have happened is, as others have mentioned, people who sound decent up close are terrible when they have to project their voices. So if the production assistants went through the line and asked them to sing briefly, they may have sounded just good enough to pass muster. That seemed the case with a lot of them to me. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/45 "2003-01-23T01:42:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mobo85 \* > \*\*Don’t forget the newest sponsor, AT&T Wireless. I wonder if they’ll be some “mLifey” thing to go with the Coca-Cola Moments and the new Ford Focus Room? \*\* There was an article in this morning’s New York Times about the product placement being scaled back. It will still be there, but not as “in your face.” Two new sponsors are Herbal Essences and Old Navy. The article said that the placement for Herbal Essences will be when the 10 finalists get “made over” by a stylist that will use Herbal Essences products. The finalists will get some sort of a shopping spree to Old Navy. Both are only supposed to be involved in one episode, not a series long thing. We can all thank TiVo for all the wonderful product placement that will be clubbing us over the head for years to come. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/46 "2003-01-23T02:31:31Z")
For those of you claiming that people were trying deliberately to be horrible to get on TV or what have you, the judges were able to detect and weed out fakers, according to [this](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/21/DD154434.DTL) article: > [@](#): > > Cowell and Jackson said three people were clearly trying to be bad on purpose, so they would get on television, a bizarre exercise in faux humiliation for fame. They were spotted – and told they were good by Cowell, which flummoxed them. That said, I think the Enrique guy wasn’t joking, I thought he had serious problems. There was something not right about him. ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/47 "2003-01-23T04:57:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > \*\*This was my first time to watch the show. How can it ever be as interesting as the auditions? \*\* I’m not sure if it could be because the only reason why I was even remotely interested in the show was for the auditions. I could care less afterwards. But, then again, this is my first “American Idol”, so I might change my mind later. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Wolfman_ > **The big girl, and the gap-toothed guy arn’t going to win, no matter how they sing** I’m actually not so certain because if one went by looks more than anything, then Aretha Franklin, Mama Cass, Fatz Domino, Elton John, etc etc…would have never made it. But, I see what you’re saying, especially since I am forgetting that it’s POP IDOL. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/48 "2003-01-23T05:03:38Z")
I’ve been getting most of my info from appearances on The Daily Show. Simon said they have prescreeners that week out a lot of the contestants for them. The dimbulb that hosts the show was on as well, and spent the whole time talking about the cosmetic procedures he goes through. He explained how to properly use a tanning bed naked, for instance. But I really liked how he talked about getting his eyelashes colored. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/49 "2003-01-23T05:36:58Z")
Did anybody notice that girl in the yellow halter top had pointed teeth? That was scary, but not as much as that boxer chick. Some of these people are so horrible, it makes me wonder why their friends and families especially their parents, allow them to be humiliated on national tv. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/50 "2003-01-23T05:41:13Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m actually not so certain because if one went by looks more than anything, then Aretha Franklin, Mama Cass, Fatz Domino, Elton John, etc etc…would have never made it. But, I see what you’re saying, especially since I am forgetting that it’s POP IDOL. And Aretha, Mama, Fatz and Elton were given recording contracts by _professionals_ who actually knew what they were doing. The person who wins the recording contract on AI is picked by teenage girls. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/51 "2003-01-23T12:47:36Z")
Did anyone else have a flashback to “Buh-Wheet Sings” from Saturday Night Live when that guy was singing “The Tar-Pangled Banno”? Jesus, I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. I wanted badly for someone to suggest that his rendition of the national anthem might have qualified as a renouncement of his citizenship. 🙂 **Knead** Wookin’ pa nub ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/52 "2003-01-23T14:40:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Happy Lendervedder \* > \*\*And Aretha, Mama, Fatz and Elton were given recording contracts by _professionals_ who actually knew what they were doing. The person who wins the recording contract on AI is picked by teenage girls. \*\* But that’s just not true. The great majority of the selecting is being done by music industry veterans - namely, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson. I mean, you might think Simon’s an ass or Paula Abdul’s a flake, but these people know what they’re doing; they’re professionals who’ve been doing this for years. And in practice, it’s them, and other music producers doing the initial screening, who are weeding the 30,000-or-so applicants down to - well, what is it? 16 people before the audience starts picking? I can’t remember at what point audience voting kicks in, but the fact of the matter is you don’t get a vote until at least 99% of the applicants have already been kicked off, maybe 99.5%. And even THEN, the judges still have influence. There’s just no way the eventual winner WON’T be a hell of a singer. I mean, look at last year’s finalists. Kelly Clarkson can friggin’ SING; she’s got a one in a million voice. Justin Guarini is a terrific performer. They were all better than 99.99% of the peanut gallery; any one of the last 10-20 performers could be a legitimately Grade A performer. If you let the judges pick 199 out of every 200 applicants for dismissal, you’ll be left with the top half of the top one percent of all interested applicants between 16 and 27, and that’s narrowing it down quite a bit. In the end the audience will only have some influence over a choice between a lot of legitimately first-rate singers. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/53 "2003-01-23T15:15:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \* > \*\*Did anyone else have a flashback to “Buh-Wheet Sings” from Saturday Night Live when that guy was singing “The Tar-Pangled Banno”? Jesus, I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. I wanted badly for someone to suggest that his rendition of the national anthem might have qualified as a renouncement of his citizenship. 🙂 > > **Knead** > Wookin’ pa nub \*\* I thought EXACTLY the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/54 "2003-01-23T15:18:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*But that’s just not true. The great majority of the selecting is being done by music industry veterans - namely, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson. I mean, you might think Simon’s an ass or Paula Abdul’s a flake, but these people know what they’re doing; they’re professionals who’ve been doing this for years. And in practice, it’s them, and other music producers doing the initial screening, who are weeding the 30,000-or-so applicants down to - well, what is it? 16 people before the audience starts picking? I can’t remember at what point audience voting kicks in, but the fact of the matter is you don’t get a vote until at least 99% of the applicants have already been kicked off, maybe 99.5%. And even THEN, the judges still have influence. > > There’s just no way the eventual winner WON’T be a hell of a singer. I mean, look at last year’s finalists. Kelly Clarkson can friggin’ SING; she’s got a one in a million voice. Justin Guarini is a terrific performer. They were all better than 99.99% of the peanut gallery; any one of the last 10-20 performers could be a legitimately Grade A performer. If you let the judges pick 199 out of every 200 applicants for dismissal, you’ll be left with the top half of the top one percent of all interested applicants between 16 and 27, and that’s narrowing it down quite a bit. In the end the audience will only have some influence over a choice between a lot of legitimately first-rate singers. \*\* But the producers and judges are influenced by the fact that they need to pick pretty faces for the kiddies to vote on. If the producers had to choose between Mama Cass and Justin Guarini, they’d most definitely go with Guarini, even though Mama Cass was a better singer IMHO. The producers (and judges) _know_ who ultimately decides the outcome of this thing, and make their choices accordingly. Their primary goal is to produce a TV show that’s entertaining for its core demographic (read: put as many freak shows as possible on camera early on, but then be left with as many pretty faces as possible). Their secondary goal is to find the best singer. Teenage girls pick the winner, and the producers know this. They make their early-on cuts accordingly. Happy ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/55 "2003-01-23T16:02:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Happy Lendervedder \* > \*\*But the producers and judges are influenced by the fact that they need to pick pretty faces for the kiddies to vote on. If the producers had to choose between Mama Cass and Justin Guarini, they’d most definitely go with Guarini, even though Mama Cass was a better singer IMHO. > \*\* As the AI judges have said many times, they are looking for “Hollywood”, not just the better singer. And my early on favorite is the “Fever” girl. I hope America gives her a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/56 "2003-01-23T16:37:59Z")
If anyone’s in the mood to get ready for this season by recapping last season, check out this hilarious AI site: [http://fyd.fuxored.net/idol.html](http://fyd.fuxored.net/idol.html) ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/57 "2003-01-23T17:23:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dignan \* > **There was an article in this morning’s New York Times about the product placement being scaled back. It will still be there, but not as “in your face.” Two new sponsors are Herbal Essences and Old Navy.** I guess they aren’t ready to step in yet, as an Herbal Essences logo on a banner was blurred last night. I wonder if the Old Navy partnership comes from the “Family Fleece” ad? ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/58 "2003-01-23T17:25:29Z")
As entertaining as it was to watch all of the goobers trying out, I’m really only hoping for one outcome from all of this. IMO, the ubertalented heavyset black woman from the Tuesday show is one of the most talented singers I’ve ever seen, and even though I know that her body is going to prevent her from winning it all, I hope that she stays in it long enough to get some exposure and possibly a recording contract offer of her own. I noticed that in the show that tracked the “Where are they now?” status from the finalists from last season, it seems like most of them had independent offers, and I’m crossing my fingers that the same happens for this woman. She was too fabulous not to get _something_ out of it, even if she doesn’t have The Look that the producers are going for. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/59 "2003-01-23T18:10:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\* In the end the audience will only have some influence over a choice between a lot of legitimately first-rate singers. \*\* Your points are well made, but a process like this one will end up giving us something bland and obvious like Kelly (CelineBarbraMariahMichealBoltonWhitney), it will never give us exciting-but-not-obvious talents like Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, or anyone else who doesn’t look great and doesn’t sing in a classically pretty way. But then, hardly any of those are making it these days anyway, because of video. I couldn’t believe that Macy Gray got such good play, but I was happy about it. ---
**Author:** ![Sagasumono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Sagasumono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sagasumono)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135/60 "2003-01-23T18:21:42Z")
Last night was my first time watching it. I gotta admit, I see why people love it now. I missed most of the guys you’ve mentioned (plump black woman/Asian guy) and I think Enrique too, unless he’s the one that tried to sing “Greatest love of all.” I was cracking up about that one guy who did the national anthem, but the one who made me cry with laughter was the one from Motown who was only on for a few seconds. He had one black glove on and all I remember was him sining the line “People will see me and cry…” And Simon says “I think we’ll stop it on that verse.” Funniest damn thing I’ve heard in about a week. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-2/150135.md?page=4)