# American Idol 5/10 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940 "2005-05-10T06:58:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/141 "2005-05-12T16:58:06Z")
I’m pleased with the results. I think we have the right top three for a change. Arguments can be made for ConstantCheese or maybe Nadia, but the rest were due to be retired at the times they were voted off, if not before. From the rumors I’ve heard, Anthony has a girlfriend…I wonder if something was going on between them though. Carrie looked like someone made her watch a snuff video about her puppy dog almost all night. I wonder if she thought she was going or if she just was upset about anyone leaving now. Those people have been living together, working together and spending time pretty much solely with one another for months now. I’m sure there are a lot of friendships and “friendships” that we never hear about somehow. You have to admit that up until this point, there have been very few rumors that got a lot of airtime surrounding American Idol. Anyway, I’m conflicted now. I’d still like Bo or Carrie to win, but if Vonz won, I wouldn’t be devastated. Next week’s results show will be nothing to cheer, no matter the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/142 "2005-05-12T19:14:36Z")
This might sound a little bit crazy, but one of the reasons I thought Carrie was crying was that Anthony had mutilated the beginning of his song so bad. She’s so tenderhearted that she might have felt mortified on his behalf, given all the circumstances. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/143 "2005-05-12T19:39:44Z")
Something about that closed captioning phone numbers thing kept bothering me, then I realized why; is there a really large deaf audience for American Idol? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/144 "2005-05-12T19:44:11Z")
I always have the closed caption on. English is not my first language, and when I first came to the US, I had trouble understanding the people on the TV who were not doing documentaries or news. So I just used the closed caption to decipher what was being said and to get the jokes. I’m now accustomed and can mostly pick up what they are saying even with the accents, but I leave it just in case… But then, I don’t vote… Perhaps there are people who vote solely on looks, not sound? ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/145 "2005-05-12T22:19:55Z")
> [@Wile E](#): > > Something about that closed captioning phone numbers thing kept bothering me, then I realized why; is there a really large deaf audience for American Idol? That’s really cruel … Funny, but cruel. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/146 "2005-05-12T22:43:46Z")
> [@Jaade](#): > > That’s really cruel … > Funny, but cruel. Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be cruel or insensitive, it just made me wonder why the closed captioning would matter at all since there can’t be much of a deaf audience. As for the numbers, the show itself flashes the numbers on screen more than they say them so I wouldn’t think anyone would rely on closed captioning for the numbers. At this point it also isn’t hard to keep track of which singer is which number. I often have closed captioning on because some shows are too quiet or have too much background noise, I just didn’t have it on during that show. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/147 "2005-05-12T22:44:20Z")
> [@Jaade](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Wile E > > Something about that closed captioning phone numbers thing kept bothering me, then I realized why; is there a really large deaf audience for American Idol? > > That’s really cruel … > Funny, but cruel. It might also explain Scott Savol’s longevity this season. Some people might have thought they were voting for someone whose image deserved to be carved into [scary stone figures.](http://www.inkas.com/tours/jpg_files/jpg_photos/chile/ei085.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/148 "2005-05-13T08:29:47Z")
I thought Anthony blew everyone away. Of course, maybe it’s because after to listening to _Picture Book_ quite a few times years ago, the Simply Red version of “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” sounds right to me. But AFed was my “eh…” candidate earlier, so it seemed weird to vote for him now. And what was with his first song this week? “I’m your imaginary friend”? I’m your dog, I’m the sunbeam, whatever… No, if you’re the kid’s dad & you’re on the road, you shouldn’t be confusing him with nonsensical lies! So, yeah, Anthony, aka Branson Karaoke, stereotypical Pop Idol boy, power-through-it torch singer, one half (with Anwar R.) of “Antoine” the annoying gestalt contestant, you can go home. It’s OK. I voted once for Baby V, got a busy signal trying to vote for AFed, & decided not to bother. The rest of the times I didn’t vote, & the rest of the votes I’m not calling in this season, can represent votes for Nadia. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/149 "2005-05-13T08:32:41Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > No swimsuit? Damn! Guess we won’t be seeing A-Fed in the blue-and-white hot pants after all … After that little pose, I figured blondie boy was safe this week. Oh, & you may have to be Natalie Maines to sing “Hell Wagon,” although Amy Adams did OK with it on last year’s AI–and got voted off that night. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/150 "2005-05-14T11:31:42Z")
I think the best three made it to the final 3. I think you can easily draw a thick line between these 3 and the rest so… Americer got it right! No matter who wins, they’re all winners. I can see them all coming out with albums in the next few months. Carrie’s still my favorite, and Vonzell 2nd so I’m pretty happy with the results. Go Carrie! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/151 "2005-05-14T11:45:57Z")
Mmm…Not knocking your favorite, but I would gladly switch Carrie and Anthony. Still, at least I don’t have to worry about a Carrie/Anthony finale, which would provide no contrast. As long as Bo is in the final 2, it’s all good. Go Bo! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/152 "2005-05-14T18:39:15Z")
Can you narrow that down any? Are these Christians crossing ranks? I mean, are the Catholic Christians and Protestant Christians joining forces? If so, are they getting their orders from the Pope or from Bush? What about Eastern Orthodox Christians? Are the Snake Handlers joining with the Episcopalians? Do Quakers count as Christians? How about Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses? I tell ya, if you’ve gotten the Methodists and the Baptists to do something together, you’ve really accomplished something. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/153 "2005-05-14T19:17:53Z")
It’s really hard to ‘vote someone off’ in this. it would take a hell of a lot of people, making a hell of a lot of calls to make up for the calls Connie got. You’d have to vote for the other…5 or 6 candidates at that time. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/154 "2005-05-14T20:44:31Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > In a way, I hope that Bo doesn’t win because I’m afraid that an American Idol contract will destroy him. Boy, it sure screwed up Kelly Clarkson. Only four or five million albums sold. Poor girl. The AI contract only lasts what, a year? Just enough to get your first album produced and lots of free publicity. ---
**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 15, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/155 "2005-05-15T03:06:44Z")
Nope, Simon was just giving an interview last Tuesday where he elaborated on all the rumors about the ‘horrible’ contracts the contestants sign. According to him, AI is a show designed to find money-makers for 19 entertainment, and as such, the kids are signed for 4-7 years. And that’s all the finalists, not just the winners. IIRC the 4-7 part was because they started out with 4 and moved up as Clarkston became more successful. Clay Aiken famously fought and bought out his contract, dunno how much it actually cost him to do so though. It’s pretty much accepted that Mario quit this season just to avoid a years long contract. ---
**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 15, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/156 "2005-05-15T03:30:08Z")
Hmm, according to [this](http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1498152/20050315/index.jhtml?headlines=true) the deal isn’t great. > [@](#): > > Past contracts have also included deals for merchandising, touring, sponsorship and movies, which “Idol” franchise creator Simon Fuller (under his 19 Entertainment) has called “one-stop shopping.” > Fuller has said in the past that he takes about 50 percent of his artists’ earnings, compared to the 10 to 20 percent industry standard. > [@](#): > > 1. Future Agreements: Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section C, I understand and agree that in the event I am one of the final ten (10) contestants in the Competition, I will be required to enter into the following agreements: (a) an agreement with 19 Recordings Ltd. (or an affiliated company) for my exclusive services as a recording artist; (b) an agreement with 19 Merchandising Ltd. for the use of my name, likeness biography in connection with advertising, endorsement, merchandising and sponsorship; and © an agreement with 19 Management Ltd. for the management of my career as an artist. I understand and agree that, unless I am the individual selected as the winner of the Competition, such agreements shall become fully effective only at the election of 19 Recordings Ltd., 19 Merchandising Ltd. and/or 19 Management Ltd." > > Each of the 10 finalists was required to enter into agreements exclusively with 19 Recordings as recording artist; 19 Merchandising for advertising, endorsements, sponsorships and merchandising; and 19 Management for the management of his or her career. All this was entirely at the option of the 19 companies, save for the winner, who was guaranteed this result. From [here](http://archive.salon.com/ent/feature/2002/09/18/idol_contract/index.html) . Did it screw up any of the previous winners? Well, no, probably not. There’s a story about Clarkston not wanting to sing the national anthem at a 9-11 commemoration event, since it could be seen as a crass marketing ploy not kosher at such a somber occasion. She was scheduled to appear, quoted in the NYTimes as saying she wouldn’t, 19 Mgt was quoted as saying she would, and she did. Certainly not the first time singers have been owned by contracts and treated more as product than artist, won’t be the last either. But selling millions of albums doesn’t necessarily mean the singer is rich or happy or whatever, either. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/157 "2005-05-15T03:49:19Z")
> [@Good Egg](#): > > Bo’s girlfriend is expecting. [No.](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/bmtwkoutwithme/Bo%20Bice/Bogf.jpg) If she was as far along as the rumor mill claims she is, she’d be showing by now. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/158 "2005-05-15T13:52:14Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > [No.](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/bmtwkoutwithme/Bo%20Bice/Bogf.jpg) If she was as far along as the rumor mill claims she is, she’d be showing by now. That depends on the person. I work with a woman who is 22 weeks pregnant, but you’d never know it at all. She has had such morning sickness since she became pregnant that she has only gained 10 pounds total. She is also a skinny girl to begin with. So it is possible to be 10-16 weeks along and not show. ---
**Author:** ![Stillwell\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Stillwell\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stillwell_Angel)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940/159 "2005-05-15T21:46:48Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > [No.](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/bmtwkoutwithme/Bo%20Bice/Bogf.jpg) If she was as far along as the rumor mill claims she is, she’d be showing by now. I didn’t need maternity clothes until I was 7 months along. I never even topped 140 my whole pregnancy. I got by easily by just leaving the top button of my jeans undone. If she started out as a very small person like I did, it’s very possible she’s not showing yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-5-10/340940.md?page=7)