American Idol Series Finale - 4/7/16 (SPOILERS)

Cafe Society
1

The fact that a thread for this doesn’t exist yet may indicate that I’m the only one who watched/cares, but what the heck… :wink:

Last night American Idol ended its 15-year run. The +2-hour event was…underwhelming.

Many, many past contestants sang many, many medleys, and far too often my reaction when each person opened his/her mouth was “meh.” The Jackson/Abdul/Cowell reunion was forced and weird, and there was also a very dull tribute to David Bowie (5 guys with guitars lined up across the stage). The announcement of the winner was almost an afterthought, and then the show just…ended. Like any other episode. The credits started rolling while the tickertape was still falling, and Ryan Seacrest gave a barely-emotional final “goodbye” – with a quick “for now” tacked on at the very last second. If that was supposed to have been a bombshell, it bombed.

And Trent Harmon won! I mean, don’t get me wrong: he is phenomenally talented and seems like a genuine sweetheart who is deserving of fame and fortune (plus his single was the best of the three), but come on. I still can’t quite believe that he got more votes than La’Porsha. I’m happy for Trent, just a little shocked.

Maybe I would have appreciated last night better if I’d watched more than just the last two seaons. From the first year I always tuned in for the auditions, because they were generally entertaining, but I’d stop watching as soon as Hollywood Week began. I just didn’t care enough, plus I’m very picky about singers (I am one, myself). And during the Urban/Carey/Minaj season I stopped watching the auditions, because I couldn’t stand Nicki Minaj. But for whatever reason I decided to watch the auditions again last season, and I wound up watching the entire show. So I decided to watch again this year, especially after learning this would be the final season.

It just seemed like the finale could have been so much more.

Anyone else?

2

I watched parts of the show and the ending. The medleys were overwhelming (not in a good way). I sense that they felt they needed to cram in so much, that it just got messy. So many singers ruining the soup.

We were also surprised that Trent won. LaPorsha’s voice was just so much more interesting. I suppose the voting is legit. I’m assuming American Idol is bound by the game show laws that went into effect after the 20 questions scandal, but the conspiracy theorist in me thinks the fix was in.

In my opinion, LaPorsha was going to get her opportunity regardless of whether or not she won american idol. That was clear weeks ago. In our household, we discussed the possibility that losing would be better for LaPorsha so she wouldn’t be saddled with whatever shitty contract and that shady looking dude who made her sing that terrible song. Trent on the other hand, sort of needs the “I won American Idol” moniker to jumpstart his career. Then I read that BOTH have been signed to shitty contact and shady looking dude, and a wacky conspiracy theory makes even more sense.

3

I’m just glad I never* have to hear about this show again (not that it’s been as hard to avoid lately as it was the first few years).

No offense to the people that like this stuff, but man, I blame this show for at least half of the interesting shows Fox has wound up cancelling over the years because they needed several hours of their schedule each week for this show leaving little room for the stuff that was in desperate need of finding its footing. If it had stuck to an hour a week or Fox had more than 2 hrs a night of primetime like a normal network (seriously, why do they still not have 3 hrs of primetime? local news? tell them to move to 11 like ABC, NBC, CBS do… but I digress) it might not have been nearly as annoying.

I hope my look at the show from the “other side” doesn’t annoy those of you who liked it too badly.

*until the inevitable revival a few years down the road… sigh…

4

That’s actually how I feel about most reality shows: Survivor, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Biggest Loser, Dancing With The Stars…I’d be happy to never hear about any of them again. :wink:

I (used to) faithfully watch So You Think You Can Dance, because (a) part of me wishes I were a dancer and (b) as far as I’m concerned, everyone who has ever made it on the show has been amazing. Plus the choreography is often extremely touching/beautiful/fun. I put “used to” in parentheses, though, because this year the competition is for children. I have little interest in watching kids dance, and even less interest in watching them compete on a national TV show. I’m disappointed and a little surprised that SYTYCD is going there.

5

Well, the lack of response to this thread may explain why Idol is saying goodbye this year… maybe.

Idol hasn’t been appointment watching for me, but I do DVR it because it’s good background listening while I’m doing other things.

I was shocked that La Porsha didn’t win. Trent was quite good, but I thought that she was outstanding, and it certainly looked as if the judges had been planning on her winning.

I think Fox shoots its own reality shows in the foot. I like to watch the show for an hour a week. They feel that they have to take over your entire weeks with these show. I used to love “So You Think You Can Dance,” but I really don’t like being expected to set aside multiple hours on multiple nights per week. Work on your format so you can knock it out in one, or at most two, hours per week.

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William hung and Sanjaya (spelling?) made appearances, haha

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I wasn’t the least surprised that Trent won, and I’m glad that he made it to the end rather than the other two guys who made it to the top 4. At least Trent can sing. LaPorsha can definitely sing, too. Nothing against her personally, but she is just the latest of many black, women, gospel, loud, mostly-overweight singers who have gone far on AI, but didn’t win. I seriously doubt there is any vote fixing, but it’s pretty clear that the big voting blocs like a) cute white guys who often play guitar, b) big black women who sing loud and use a lot of runs, and then c) everyone else. Not sure that Trent exactly fit the white guy with a guitar mold, but he was pretty close.

I watched many episodes this season, but not all. I’m pretty impressed with the talent they find on the show, as well as how much the singers improve during the season. But the show is the exact same year after year. You have the aforementioned black gospel women singers who are completely unfamiliar with any rock songs, including the biggest hits of the past 40 years. You have tons of contestants who think melodies are completely over-rated, but who think 30 long runs in a song are a great idea.

Going back to the last full season I watched, the fact that the dopey guy beat Adam Lambert just shows the limitations in viewer voting.

Yeah, it’s time for it to end. But I don’t watch any other singing shows, either.

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I didn’t watch the finale as I had moved past Idol when the original judges left, the results were determined by tween voting blocks who invariably chose WGWGs, and when vocal shows were a dime a dozen on every channel. It stopped being special. But in the beginning, I’d still argue that is was great.

The first I heard of Idol was halfway through the first season. The kids were down in the basement and I’d gone down to do a laundry swap. As I was heading back toward the stairway, I suddenly heard this amazing voice. I spun around to see who it was and saw young brown haired girl I’d never seen before just tearing up “Natural Woman”. Amazingly good. I asked what they were watching and turned it on for myself upstairs. I watched it religiously after that for years - always thrilled with the occasional amazing singer and annoyed by all the truly bad ones.

As a musician myself, I really appreciated that the show gave young talent with little chance to be noticed a vehicle to be seen and heard. It didn’t produce too many real ‘stars’, but it gave careers to quite a few people with talent, and for that, I liked it.

It’s a shame how much it deteriorated in later years, but I checked out the two finalists from this year and was surprised and pleased that they were both quite good.

9

I didn’t see Sanjaya (I’ve always felt sorry for him- no kid the age he was then is prepared for that), but Clay Aiken looked eerily like Julie Andrews’s Victor in VICTOR/VICTORIA.

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Trent Harmonreminds me a lot of Olly Murs. I think they’re recycling singing show stars internationally.

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Yep, Sanjaya showed up. I didn’t watch his season, but it was hard to avoid hearing about him!

Neither do I. I kepe hearing that I should watch The Voice, but I just haven’t been bothered to check it out yet.

In looks, yes, I can see that; but I think their talents and personalities are worlds apart.

12

I watched The Voice a couple of times, but didn’t get hooked. AI was really good the first few years, with the original judges. It was also new and novel. The show hit a horrible middle period, with really lousy judges like Kara DioGuardi and Mariah Carey and Niki Minaj and Ellen Degeneres. They should have had Harry Connick on a long time before they did, and the last two seasons were better than the several before, I think. But still, the bloom was off the rose, and it is time to quit before all interest is lost.

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[QUOTE=Misnomer]

In looks, yes, I can see that; but I think their talents and personalities are worlds apart.
[/QUOTE]

I didn’t watch a single episode this season. Which one would you say is the more talented?

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I think I’ve seen every competition episode of every season of this damn show (I often skipped the results shows). I was disappointed-- though not surprised-- that Trent won. I will grudgingly admit that he’s talented but I personally found his voice to be downright unpleasant.

15

I don’t think either is clearly more talented than the other; their talents are just different. I don’t see them as similar, other than a physical resemblance.

16

I watched it, and liked it, I mean how can they make all interesting? Their aim was to make a look back on all the contestants and memorable moments and people from the show over the course of the years. I remember when it debuted, seems the time flew by.

Katharine Mcphee looked incredible, best looking and beter singers from the show. I was disappointed that Crystal Bowersox, runner up in 2010 did not show up for the finale.

17

I did not recognize Bo Bice AT ALL. But he still sounds great and I don’t know much about his career but I hope he’s doing well.

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I used to follow this show, and I remember auld lang syne actually having fun commenting on it, so what the heck, I can do a sendoff.

If nothing else, I will always be amazed at the incredible metamorphosis American Idol went through over its existence. The paradigm did a complete 180. This is the only reality show I’ve ever watched where nothing I’d learned and internalized about it in the first two or three seasons was still present at the end.

Dancing With The Stars? Super-cheesy, goofy, hideously rigged, utterly meaningless amateur nite that takes itself waaaaay too seriously and needs to have more than one frickin’ prize. Other than becoming more irritating than ever, nothing’s changed. American Ninja Warrior? Potentially revolutionary no-limits competition unfortunately hobbled by excessive sappy stories, worthless announcers, endless edit finagling, and cutting out way too many freaking runs. Same deal now. Hell’s Kitchen? Occasionally entertaining freakshow-slash-frequently funny competition, held together by one of the better hosts. Same deal (and surprisingly, I actually think it slightly improved this season). The Voice? Celebrity chest-thumping continually overshadowing the utterly meaningless contestants. 'Nuff said.

Here’s the impressions I got from early AI:

  • Oh, what a surprise, boomer music. Then, now, and forevermore. Just don’t even acknowledge that the 90’s ever happened. Wait, they’re trying to get the rights to Beatles music? This is going to su-u-u-ck.
  • God damn, this anuddah-wun-bite-da-dus crap has got to go! It punishes those who make big efforts early and tire themselves out and leads to all kinds of fluke eliminations just because the contestant had one lousy off night! And there’s no incentive to finish at or even near the top! As long as you’re anything but the absolute worst, you’re golden!
  • Man, that Simon Cowell is such a hack! How can anyone consider him any kind of authority on what makes an idol? It’s plainly obvious that all he does is troll and badger and stir the pot. And what’s everyone got against Paula Abdul, anyway? At least she’s quiet! Wow, someone who actually understands that the judges’ opinions mean jack squat, what a weirdo, huh?
  • Arrgh! Stupid voters! “Well, I thought (s)he was safe, so I figured I’d cast votes to this random schlub.” Pick your horse and BACK IT! You never assume anyone is safe! You never assume ANYTHING! Hey, if Kellie Pickler ends up winning this thing, don’t come crying to me!
  • Oh look, the meaningless irrelevant 7th place finisher just won an Oscar. Better buckle up; there’s gonna be a lot more where that came from.
  • DAY-UM, did Bo Bice dodge a bullet or what? Think you can just assume he’s safe now, you goddam idiots?
  • Geez, I sure hope they don’t ever pick Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey for mindless celebrity worship night. If there’s a deep-voiced male still in at that point, he is screwed.
  • This Vote For the Worst thing looks like it’s really picking up steam. Oh well, it’s not like they can mess things up even more than they already are.

So what happened? The songs got far more varied; I even recognized a few from my alt-rock radio stations. I actually, against all odds, enjoyed both Beatles nights (outrageously overrated or not, I won’t deny that they had some really nice music). Burnout never was that big a factor as they’re all working very hard from start to finish. Clear favorites became stronger, killing rock bottom plus one* as a viable option; if you didn’t start strong, you didn’t have a chance. Cowell and Abdul left for greener pastures. Voting blocs solidified and became enormously powerful, killing the sentimental fool vote entirely (and leading to the dreary and seemingly endless WGWG parade, but that’s another issue). The much-needed judges’ save was implemented, ending ones-that-got-away and Bice scares**. David Cook got the most horrific low blow imaginable with Mariah Carey night (someone I never liked, BTW) and deflected it with the deftness of a fencing master, cementing his eventual victory. Vote For The Worst had one shining triumph with Taylor Hicks, collapsed under its own weight, and became just another cesspool of jerkishness and intolerance on the Internet.

So when you really look at it, on the whole things got a heckuva lot better (except for the endlessly clowning judges…seriously, did you even try to rip off any of The Voice’s GOOD ideas??). Sadly, at this point winning the contest was now so irrelevant that I couldn’t muster up any interest anymore. At least Hell’s Kitchen guarantees a comfy six-figure job for as long as they can avoid getting fired.

Final verdicts? Good, not great. A game-changer, but not in the ways it was supposed to be. Occasionally fun to watch, but could’ve been a lot more fun. Fixed its mistakes, but usually a little too late.

That’s television.

  • May as well get one last ride out this one, eh? :slight_smile:

** This too. :smiley: