# American Idol 3/21 - the 1950s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2006, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270 "2006-03-21T12:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/261 "2006-03-23T18:21:53Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I do not like Pickler; I just don’t think that people should be called stupid for not knowing certain buzzwords — which is what I’ve said about it. I’ll give you that some people wouldn’t know what a “minx” was, but you’d have to be living under a rock somewhere to not know what “ballsy” meant. And if, for some reason, she was been living under a rock somewhere, she still should’ve been able to figure out what he meant when he called it a ballsy performance. If she’s the country girl she claims to be, she knew pulling off a Patsy Cline song is pretty difficult to do. ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Windchill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/262 "2006-03-23T18:30:50Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I do not like Pickler; I just don’t think that people should be called stupid for not knowing certain buzzwords — which is what I’ve said about it. In contrast, your last couple of posts call me out by name and attributesto me opinions I do not hold. I don’t know what could be more combative than that. “minx” and “ballsy” are buzzwords??? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/263 "2006-03-23T18:36:35Z")
> [@Gary T](#): > > The big deal is over someone of her age and with her life experience (neither of which is of great magnitude, but she hasn’t been totally isolated from the world and some of its complexities) is as completely clueless about so many things as she seems to be. The big deal to me is not what she knows or doesn’t know. The big deal is the way she’s constantly **calling attention** to her lack of knowledge\*. “Look at me! Ah don’t know stuff! Teehee! What? Ah still don’t get it!” And turning the judges’ commentary, or the results show ranking, into a Q&A session and making it all about her. Like **Lil’ Mahoney** said, figure it out from context. Unless, of course, you don’t really want to know, but are just an attention junkie. Since John Stevens has already been mentioned, here goes. Simon once wrapped up his commentary to JS with “…and you look like Stan Laurel.” John looked bewildered but said nothing, then the next night when Ryan repeated this, nodded and did the backwards head-scratch Stan Laurel used to do. See the difference? Instead of putting Simon on the spot by saying, “Who’s Stan Laurel?” he found out on his own, and played along. Now granted, that probably had as much to do with his always wanting to just get the hell off the stage after the judges’ comments, but whatever his reasons, that was and still is one of my reasons for favoring him: his adherence to the motto “'Tis better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” (Kevin should have thought of that, too.) \*whether at the behest of the producers or not. Makes no difference; it’s still aggravating. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/264 "2006-03-23T18:46:00Z")
Lib, if it makes you feel any better, Kellie may not _be_ stupid but she certainly _acts_ stupid. I, for one, think she’s playing it up. Okay, she may not actually know those words but she doesn’t have to admit to it in public and keep harping on it, “I thawt yew were saying I wuz a coat! _hyuk, hyuk_”. A week later she’s still playing on that. If her “What’s a ballsy” was just playing around with her previous lack of knowledge, it was still acting stupid. Most people would not gladly admit to a lack of knowledge in front of millions and they would just smile and nod and then ask someone what it meant in private instead of dragging it out over and over. It’s an act and it’s annoying, not cute. I did not watch the elimination show because there was a new Lost on but I managed to switch over during a commercial, just in time to see Kevin get the boot. I liked the kid but he needed to go. I am afraid Ace might be the one who’s going to be plaguing us for longer than he should. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/265 "2006-03-23T19:06:17Z")
> [@Wile E](#): > > I, for one, think she’s playing it up. Okay, she may not actually know those words but she doesn’t have to admit to it in public and keep harping on it, “I thawt yew were saying I wuz a coat! _hyuk, hyuk_”. A week later she’s still playing on that. If her “What’s a ballsy” was just playing around with her previous lack of knowledge, it was still acting stupid. Most people would not gladly admit to a lack of knowledge in front of millions and they would just smile and nod and then ask someone what it meant in private instead of dragging it out over and over. It’s an act and it’s annoying, not cute. I pretty much agree with that assessment. My take on it — and this is strictly a guess, based on what little I know of her — is that her behavior in that regard is a coping mechanism that she has probably used for some time. I’m not at all surprised that she doesn’t know what those words mean. A young girl like her, living in a conservative rural community, and raised by her grandfather, who probably was overprotective of her, might very well be so naive that more worldly people are shocked by its sheer extent. So I don’t buy into the she knows but she’s not admitting it argument. _However_, it does seem to me, as you say, that she milks it for all it’s worth. It might be the case that she is intimidated by the world she found in Hollywood, and she copes by allowing herself to be taken under the wing of whomever she encounters. She likely did the same thing in Albemarle. Frankly, I think it is a dangerous way to cope. Someone somewhere might take advantage of her and use her in a way that could leave her truly scarred. I also agree that it’s annoying. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/266 "2006-03-23T19:18:40Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > Well, it’s not his fault if (when?) the judges are stupid. What’s he supposed to do, correct them when they tell him they loved his version, and say, “Nope, sorry. Live did it first.” Very true. I can’t help that it bugs me though. And I **like** Chris. 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 23, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/267 "2006-03-23T20:50:43Z")
Do you know what would get me on the Ace bandwagon? If he sang-- sneering lip, googly-eyes and all-- Warren Zevon’s Mr. Bad Example. That would rock. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/268 "2006-03-23T21:23:29Z")
Does anyone know what next week’s theme is? Apologies if I missed it somewhere is this thread. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/269 "2006-03-23T21:29:06Z")
> [@JeffB](#): > > Does anyone know what next week’s theme is? Apologies if I missed it somewhere is this thread. Heh, heh. Just kidding; I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/270 "2006-03-23T21:34:03Z")
I’m leaning toward “Rag Doll” or “Big Girls Don’t Cry”. I can’t get enough of that falsetto. I honestly had to change the channel when Barry was on, as much as I like him singing his stuff. I didn’t feel like he did much with the song. Wiki says week of March 28th ~ Songs of the 21st Century. Looks like they did that one last year too. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/271 "2006-03-23T21:41:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Heh, heh. Just kidding; I have no idea. That was not nice, you big poopy head. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/272 "2006-03-23T21:50:14Z")
Mandisa – My Milkshake Lisa – Accidentally in Love (just the kind of pop song she seems to like) Ace – 100 Years or You’re Beautiful (Blunt)–anything to take advantage of the falsetto\* Pickler – These Boots are Made for Walking Chris – has to be Photograph Bucky – You and Me Katherine – Breathe [2 AM] Taylor – Vertigo Paris – Beautiful (Aguilera) \*truly, I kid ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/273 "2006-03-23T21:50:28Z")
> [@JeffB](#): > > Does anyone know what next week’s theme is? Apologies if I missed it somewhere is this thread. According to Television Without Pity, it’s: 21st century songs. (There is already some controversy over whether the year 2000 is a part of the deal.) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/274 "2006-03-23T21:51:46Z")
Oops! Sorry, Gigi. Didn’t mean to step on yours. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/275 "2006-03-23T21:58:56Z")
No idea just how much of Kellie’s dumbness is an act, but _geez_, this has to be the most bizarre AI strategy ever. Sheesh, whatever happened to sleeping with one of the judges? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/276 "2006-03-23T22:00:08Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > Sheesh, whatever happened to sleeping with one of the judges? But look where that got Corey Clark. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/277 "2006-03-23T22:01:18Z")
Too retro. Or maybe, not retro enough, yet. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/278 "2006-03-23T22:23:15Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > According to Television Without Pity, **[and as announced by Ryan at the end of the show, so no spoilers required]** it’s: > > 21st century songs. (There is already some controversy over whether the year 2000 is a part of the deal.) Insertion mine. ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Windchill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/279 "2006-03-23T22:23:59Z")
Can we all just agree that the week’s theme is not a spoiler? It’s posted on the official site and everything. 21st Century. Now, there have been some good songs over the last 5 years, but I don’t expect this show to have any of them. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/280 "2006-03-23T22:25:04Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Pickler – These Boots are Made for Walking But that’s a 20th Century song (1966). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270.md?page=15)