# American Idol 3/9/04: Wild Card Round **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2004, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388 "2004-03-10T01:28:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/41 "2004-03-11T13:25:26Z")
Hmmm…Leah’s mother is a aged, washed-up, faded pop star from yesteryear, correct? And Leah made it through on Paula’s pick? Yeah, I think I can connect the dots here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/42 "2004-03-11T13:32:07Z")
I was surprised talking to a couple of people who only know Paul Abdul as an American Idol judge and not as a singer/dancer. And I keep hoping that MC Skat Cat from her videos will be a celebrity judge. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/43 "2004-03-11T14:29:07Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > He looked like a fratboy whose prank has gone on far longer than he expected. You nailed it, **featherlou**! I cannot _believe_ he was America’s Choice! Sure, he was goofy. But I thought we were going for talent, here. He won’t make it very far… I hope. ---
**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 11, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/44 "2004-03-11T14:42:31Z")
I was really shocked at “America’s” choice. I thought when none of the judges picked Suzy she would be the America vote, I certainly wasn’t expecting JPL. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/45 "2004-03-11T14:54:49Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > I bet ya Leah is gone the first week. MAN, does she suck. It was like listening to a train wreck tonight. > > Liked George and Jennifer going through (knew they were going to). Didn’t mind Penboy. As long at Matt wasn’t picked (yay… let’s pick the guy who looks good and can’t sing!), I don’t mind. Remember that last year, the first two eliminations were Vanessa Olivarez and Carles Grigsby, both nice enough people and good singers, while the utterly talentless Carmen Rasmussen, Corey Clark and Julia DeMato survived longer. The fact that the awful Leah Lebelle is it is absurd - there were probably five thousand better singers who tried out, and she has the personality of a mannequin - but it’s my perception that there are fewer joke entries than in either of the first two seasons. Leah is really the only awful one. The pen salesman isn’t much of a singer but he’s fun, at least. Last year they had three joke entries (the aforementioned trifecta) and the year before that half the lineup couldn’t sing, including the runner-up. The first 8-9 eliminations will be nigh on random. The really good ones seem to survive through to the end though. ---
**Author:** ![evilhomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@evilhomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhomer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/46 "2004-03-11T15:16:52Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Hey, I like JPL! He’s got that Samwise quality, yanno! And that was a great faint! [Very Secret Diaries]Penboy will kill Simon if he tries anything![/VSD] > [@](#): > > I thought Simon didn’t like George: always telling him he was too old. Or was that another brother? You’re right, but on Tuesday he also said that George is someone who the audience will love to root for. And he said something similar again when he announced his pick, saying he chose George because he’s someone the audience will like. I think Leah is the easy first round vote-out, just to get the viewers back into the swing of things. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/47 "2004-03-11T15:38:35Z")
Leah is only in the finals because she keeps getting put through by Paula. She’s been rejected twice by America. Of course you could say the same for George, but I have a feeling he’ll last a few weeks. So the lineup is thus: Amy Camille Diana Fantasia George Jasmine Jennifer John Jon Peter LaToya Leah Matthew Obvious discrimination against the back half of the alphabet! The last alphabetically is Matthew! Not a single Wanda or Xena or Yolanda or Zenobia in the bunch. Not even a Raoul or Titus. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/48 "2004-03-11T17:24:22Z")
You know, I don’t like Sean Astin/Samwise, either. Must be my thing. Thanks for the reminder, **evilhomer** - I’ve been meaning to look those up again and bookmark them for future reference. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/49 "2004-03-11T22:05:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Remember that last year, the first two eliminations were Vanessa Olivarez and Carles Grigsby, both nice enough people and good singers, while the utterly talentless Carmen Rasmussen, Corey Clark and Julia DeMato survived longer. Yes… but Carmen, Corey and Julia at least got by on their looks, IMO. Leah isn’t that good looking. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/50 "2004-03-12T00:05:00Z")
Jon Peter is this years Josh. Average singer, but the girls think he’s hot. Simon mentioned that George looked like he was a third or fourth Temptation. Jon Peter is a fourth place Backstreet Boy. Why does everyone hate Leah? I thought she was as good as anyone else. Is it that tough chick gum popping attitude? Her mother? The girl with the died hair has got to go first. They had someone like that last year, and she was the first to go. The Bette Midler, half comedian, half singer thing doesn’t work for this show. OK, it doesn’t work for me. And if Matthew would drop the Will Sasso thing, he might go far. Or is that part of his charm? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/51 "2004-03-12T00:55:12Z")
Just looked at the official site. Why are the finalists listed alphabetically by **first** name? Last year it was by **last** name. (As such, Clay was always first, and I took that as an omen.) ---
**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 12, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/52 "2004-03-12T01:23:17Z")
When will I stop being afraid to hear them start singing? The only finalist who I remember wasn’t off-pitch at least once was Fantasia and some people have a problem with her tone. The rest have all hit clunkers at least once. Most more than once. Were all the other Idol shows this wince-producing? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/53 "2004-03-12T01:57:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Jon Peter is this years Josh. Average singer, but the girls think he’s hot. Aroo? I haven’t heard any female say he’s hot. Matt Metzger, maybe, but NOT Jon Peter. Jon Peter is more Clay-looking that Josh-looking. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/54 "2004-03-12T02:02:52Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > When will I stop being afraid to hear them start singing? > > The only finalist who I remember wasn’t off-pitch at least once was Fantasia and some people have a problem with her tone. The rest have all hit clunkers at least once. Most more than once. > > Were all the other Idol shows this wince-producing? Overall, I think this is the worst batch they’ve had. They had clunkers on both of the first two seasons but they always had at least afew who could deliver the goods. Last year was probably the best in that they had four quality contenders (Ruben, Clay, K-Lo and Treynice) but even the good ones went out of key occasionally. The only two contestants I think of who never once sang a bad note were Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/55 "2004-03-12T02:09:55Z")
Well I’m glad I ain’t the only one that thought last year’s batch was a better crew than this year’s. There just isn’t that STAR in this group so far. Maybe Fantasia. But last year, you had that one group of 8 (I’m talking about in the group of 32), that had Ruben, Kimberly Locke, AND (wildcard) Clay Aiken! I mean WOW… nothing like that this go around. Though I’m reeeeeeealy holding out hope that Red-haired Jon will bring up his game and will wow… I love his voice. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/56 "2004-03-12T02:53:09Z")
> [@kevja](#): > > \ > Why does everyone hate Leah? I thought she was as good as anyone else. Is it that tough chick gum popping attitude? Her mother? > \ I dislike her because she can’t sing. Her rendition of Let’s Stay Together on Wednesday’s show was a crime against nature. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388/57 "2004-03-12T03:46:22Z")
On Tuesday night, I nearly posted that Al Green was spinning in his grave. But it turns out he’s still alive. So maybe he heard it and had a heart attack and now he’s spinning in his grave. Seriously, one question to ask for any of these is, “why would I listen to this person sing this song instead of whoever is famous for singing it?” I think only John Stevens has a pure voice and is unique to maybe have his own stamp on songs – someday (he’s only 16) – the others are good singers, but they’ll only be famous as American Idol contestants and NOT as singers. It doesn’t seem the songwriting/backup on the CDs are that great. So I wonder how long a singer is stuck with the AI contract. This applies to the winner plus anyone else from the finals who still puts out an AI CD, like that kid from season 1 or Clay from season 2. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-9-04-wild-card-round/233388.md?page=2)