# American Idol - 21, 22, 23 Feb **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532 "2006-02-21T21:48:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/381 "2006-02-24T16:10:08Z")
> [@Walter Windchill](#): > > I don’t understand your remark about Taylor. He was the same as he’s always been. Enthusiastic, sure, but hardly a schmoe off the street… he’s experienced, and never pretended to be otherwise. The remark is not so much about **Taylor** , who I like and think is a hell of a performer, as it is about **American Idol**. The show is being very carefully shot and edited to present Taylor as a near-manic aw-shucks dude off the street with funny hair. As was mentioned upthread, they even made him redo his initial audition to look more manic and shucksy. He’s an experienced professional musician who’s performed with some genuinely A-list stars, not some starry-eyed goober. No, he’s never come out and said “I am a starry-eyed goober with no musical experience” but AI shoots and edits to make his persona seem that way. His level of experience frankly bends the spirit of the competition’s rules, if not its word. Hey, I have nothing against him. He’s my favourite contestant. There’s a lot of money at stake. I’m just saying that what we are seeing is very, very prepared. In particular ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/382 "2006-02-24T16:11:37Z")
side note - I got into a heated debate with my SO last night regarding the people voted off. He kept saying “America got it wrong” - ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/383 "2006-02-24T16:11:34Z")
side note - I got into a heated debate with my SO last night regarding the people voted off. He kept saying “America got it wrong” - ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/384 "2006-02-24T16:12:58Z")
> [@jali](#): > > side note - I got into a heated debate with my SO last night regarding the people voted off. He kept saying “America got it wrong” - I dont know what happened… Since he didn’t vote I say that HE got it wrong! ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/385 "2006-02-24T16:35:29Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > You missed shiny happy people holding hands and singing a decidedly forgettable mutilation of a 60s/70s pop tune. Aren’t you sorry now? And I gave up all that for an alien baby. Shame on me. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/386 "2006-02-24T18:11:17Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Oddly enough, though, John Stevens did sing that song on the AI3 tour, in a duet with Fantasia, and it went over quite well. Really? Hmm. Either Fantasia is that good (arguable), or David just really sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/387 "2006-02-24T19:07:22Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I thought Becky’s look of absolute and total shock when Stevie was told to sit down and she was told to come to the front of the stage was genuine and comical. _She’s_ sitting and _I’m_ standing? Noooooooooo. Yes, and compare that to Bobby’s reaction. Ryan toyed with him a bit, IIRC: “Bobbyyyyyyyyyyy…itsyou.” “Okay.” I got the impression that Bobby had been preparing himself all day, maybe even since the night before, for that possibility, and his acceptance of it. Which all contestants should do, I think. Even if they weren’t as bad as he was, sometimes it’s just arbitrary. **rockle** , John got good reviews on tour, and was well received by audiences. Not having to perform under extreme pressure, and not having to sing outside his genre, made a world of difference. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/388 "2006-02-24T23:05:18Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Yes, and compare that to Bobby’s reaction. Ryan toyed with him a bit, IIRC: “Bobbyyyyyyyyyyy…itsyou.” “Okay.” I don’t even think he said “Okay.” I think he said “I know.” Which may show self-awareness or it may just be depressing. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/389 "2006-02-27T11:29:17Z")
> [@jali](#): > > side note - I got into a heated debate with my SO last night regarding the people voted off. He kept saying “America got it wrong” - FWIW, I think America got it right. Two of the three worst (IMO) were voted off for each sex. I’m starting to lose my lack of faith in humanity. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/390 "2006-02-27T12:16:03Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > **rockle** , John got good reviews on tour, and was well received by audiences. Not having to perform under extreme pressure, and not having to sing outside his genre, made a world of difference. Interesting. Good for him, I guess. He seems like a nice enough kid, so I’m glad he hasn’t been ruined forever and turned to a life of recreational drugs and mindless sex. That I know of, anyway. ---
**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 27, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532/391 "2006-02-27T14:22:34Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > Interesting. Good for him, I guess. He seems like a nice enough kid, so I’m glad he hasn’t been ruined forever and turned to a life of recreational drugs and mindless sex. That I know of, anyway. You really don’t like him because I can’t think of a better way to spend your youth than recreational drugs and mindless sex. Unless it’s mindless drugs and recreational sex. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-21-22-23-feb/345532.md?page=19)