# American Idol 4/29-4/30 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 29, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374 "2008-04-29T18:15:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/201 "2008-05-06T00:48:34Z")
**Lib** we’re criticizing reality show contestants, you’re criticizing _us_. Yet you continue to be surprised and disappointed that your tut-tutting in our general direction hasn’t altered our behavior enough to suit you. Howzabout I hold this here stepladder for you? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/202 "2008-05-06T01:15:33Z")
I would like to see a _Here We Go Again_ week where the contestants sing a song sung by another contestant during the season. I’d love to hear David Cook’s take on _Hallelujah_, for example, or Syesha’s take on _Over the Rainbow_ or Archuleta on _I’m a Believer_. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/203 "2008-05-06T03:05:12Z")
I just want to say that David A’s licking of his lips IS annoying and distracting. And it’s as valid to point it out, just as it’s valid to comment on Carly’s tattoos or David C’s combover. Yes, AI is a singing competition, but it’s also most certainly a personality competition, too. It’s akin to when an actress gets on a talk show and like can’t stop saying like every other word. It’s annoying and distracting. And it prevents her audience from fully appreciating his talent. In fact, the fact that so many people bring it up makes it MORE legitimate of a complaint. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/204 "2008-05-06T04:35:26Z")
(Did anyone else catch David admitting that his previous hairdo involved “filling in the bald spots”? It’s at about 2:30 [here](http://www.americanidol.com/videos/?vid=1171)) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/205 "2008-05-06T10:25:58Z")
[QUOTE=Queen Tonya] **Lib** we’re criticizing reality show contestants, you’re criticizing _us_. … Howzabout I hold this here stepladder for you? [/QUOTE] The irony. It burns. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/206 "2008-05-06T13:40:56Z")
What, you’re calling it irony because we’re finally calling you on it? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/207 "2008-05-06T14:13:13Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] What, you’re calling it irony because we’re finally calling you on it? [/QUOTE] What, you’re saying it really is a conspiracy? Why can’t you just drop it, for God’s sake, or do you have to tag out? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/208 "2008-05-06T17:36:10Z")
Huh? Conspiracy? What the heck are you even talking about, Lib? We’re trying to explain a concept to you that you seem to not be getting, so we try to reexplain it. Let me try one last time. If you don’t get it this time we’ll assume it’s beyond you and move on. At least from my perspective, and that of several other people here, it seems like this is what is happening: We give criticism to all the contestants based on their ability, their stage presence, their ability to conduct themselves on camera, etc. Just about all of the contestants have gotten negative criticism. You one time criticized us on a point of semantics when people were referring to David Cook’s haircut as a “combover” which you seem to be now claiming as defending David Cook on the same level as your constantly rising to defend David A’s performances. You consistently defend against any attempt to criticize David A and attempt to dismiss legitimate criticism of him, his voice, and his mannerisms. You do this at a rather strident level, and in doing so you are making an (albeit mild) attack on us, the people doing the criticizing, basically claiming that we’re either exaggerating, have other motives, or we don’t know what we’re talking about. You do not rise to this level of defensiveness about any other contestant. Yet you charge in on your white horse every time anyone says anything bad about your little angel. (Except that you admit he’s goofy looking.) That’s all it is. Nothing more than that. It would be nice if you’d at least acknowledge that you do this–it’s _ok_ if you do it, just don’t deny that you’re doing it. There is nothing wrong with being a devoted fan and defending your favorites or whatever, but just don’t try to pretend that isn’t what you’re doing or claim that you’re doing it evenly across the board. That’s all I ask anyway. This isn’t the Most Important Thing Ever or whatever you seem to think we’re seeing it as, it’s simply some comments that were made that you seem to totally not understand, so we tried to clarify. Ok, I’m done, I’m not talking about this any more. If you don’t understand by now you never will. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/209 "2008-05-06T17:49:52Z")
For anyone interested, there’s a new thread for this week that’s fast slipping off the front page. > **[American Idol, 5/6 & 5/7](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466943)** > > The theme is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and for what seems to be the first time all season, the kids have a very diverse and very long song list to choose from. 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll I don’t have spoilers yet, but may have them later... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374.md?page=10)