I have a second cousin (or maybe he’s once removed- I can never figure that out) who sings and dances like Michael Jackson. When he was 8 it was adorable.
Nana had a 100th birthday a few years ago and the whole family came down to NY for the big celebration. His mother (my cousin, daughter of my uncle) raved on and on about him and how he was got an agent who was in the process of getting him a singing contract. He performed for us and Nana.
What was adorable at 8 was downright embarrassing at 19. And yet the whole family clapped and acted as if he was Chris Brown. And although I didn’t clap and cheer, I didn’t run up to him and tell him he sucked. I could see him being humiliated on AI-- especially if the producers pump him full of lies beforehand.
I wonder just how much the producers egg on the losing contestants, too. We know they string them along and give them false hope before the inevitable smack-down by the Big 3, but there’s starting to be a noticeable difference in reactions.
Fr’instance, Glitter Girl wasn’t actually smacked down, all three judges were decent to her and actually complimented her voice while saying this particular venue wasn’t right for her. She was disappointed and surprised but politely thankful for their nice comments. Immediately upon exiting she was a little upset but then they cut to what’s obviously a different “sound off here!” spot and is telling Simon off, even though he’s the one that particularly favored her talent. I can just see an ex-Jerry Springer producer working on them between reactions; come on, I can’t believe they didn’t like you, you’re fabulous, how could they pass you up, how can Simon be so blind, yadda yadda.
Too many of the meltdowns seemed forced, they’re being whipped into a full-lather frenzy when they had some poise left initially.
I just wonder, are there people out there that enjoy the freaky stupid meltdowns a la Glitter Girl? Remember that girl from a few years ago in the silver tube top and miniskirt that kept cussing and screaming and making a fool of herself? The cameras followed her down the street and everything. I thought “Yeah, let’s watch her screech and bleep, so that next year someone will try to top her”. Wasn’t her name Rhonette or something?
I wish they wouldn’t give freak-outs like that the time of day. It brings down the whole tone of the show. I was reading Chris Daughtry’s retraction of his Rolling Stone interview, and he said something about no wonder people don’t think of AI contestants and real performers, with a show that focuses so much on the bad and crazy at the beginning, people with real star qualities won’t try out. (Sorry for that run-on – it’s been a long day.)
Oh well, I do still like Hollywood and those types of freak-outs, so I’m anxiously awaiting that week!
I have a weakness for people who sing songs I love. I’ll Stand By You is a favorite of mine and I didn’t want to stop the girl who sang it to stop, but what did she look like?
I got home from school just in time to tune in, but spent the last half hour wondering why no pizza joints in my area are hooked into the intarwebs, grr. Hard to Idolize when starving!
However, now that food is indeed on the way, I liked Stand by you girl too. I felt so sorry for the baseball guy, he’s got to have some sort of diminished capacity. Virgin guy didn’t suck, but you know they only bothered with him for the freak factor, he was at least as worthy of a Hollywood ticket as others we’ve seen. Background Mohawk is interesting, I wonder what she models.
The virgin had THE worst phrasing I’ve ever heard. It was so awful it made his pretty decent voice sound as if he’s retarded.
Oh my God, that bag of nails is disgusting!
I think impersonator blonde will have a knack for picking good songs, if she makes it that far. That song was perfect to show off her voice without inevitably comparing it to the original.
Hi guys. After 6 seasons of AI, I finally have a laptop and can join the discussion during the show. Yay!
I think that car crash girl is probably one of those that the producers wanted through to Hollywood. It seems like the last few seasons, they let one freakshow get through just for laughs. Simon didn’t seem at all sincere when he said yes to her.
While I liked that Nail Bag (nice one, Queen Tonya) sang “Rich Girl” (I love Hall and Oates) and I think he’s got a decent voice, it’s unfortunate that his nickname for the remainder of his time on AI* will be Nail Bag.
*Or it could follow him for the rest of his days. I still refer to John Peter Lewis as “Pen Boy”.
Katy was good, but instead of Britney, I would have preferred to hear her Rascal Flats singer impersonation.