I'm not watching Idol this year.

Cafe Society
1

This really belongs in MPSIMS, not the Cafe, but I’m putting it here anyway.

Every year (from season 2 on), I watch the auditions with the understanding that if there’s no one I want to root for, I won’t watch the semis. It happened that way in season 2; they announced the final 32 (as it was at the time) and I said “Meh” and tuned out. Seasons 3, 4, 5 and 6, there was always at least one person who captivated me – I remember saying in season 5, “I’ll watch until Taylor Hicks gets eliminated,” – and I end up watching until the finale.

But this year there’s no one I care about enough. Or at all, really. It’s also made me realize, a lot of times I don’t like the music they choose, so it’s not even worth tuning in just to hear the singing. Won’t watch, won’t vote, won’t take any notice at all. I feel free!

2

I’m having hard time getting interested too. They’ve got a dog of a cast this year. They took all the fun out of the Hollywood round in the last episode they carefully eliminated anybody with even a hint of personality or eccentricity. I think the show has finally jumped the shark.

3

Well, OK, but you’ll have to tell Seacrest yourself. I can’t stand to see him all weepy.

4

I tuned in to see a procession of the Young, Hot, ‘n’ Fancy get up and - one after the other - do weepy ballads singing seventeen notes for every word. I’d sooner watch old As Time Goes By reruns on PBS.

5

Me neither. I voted for several contestants last season, but I don’t see that the music world is losing anything if none of those singers get a contract.

6

I don’t agree. I think there are a number of good candidates, especially among the men this time.

7

I’m not so sure. I think this might be the most interesting season in a while.

First of all, we haven’t even seen a handful of these contestants - there were a few picked who weren’t shown on any of the previous audition shows. This suggests that they are either there because they’re fantastic and the producers are waiting to surprise everyone to keep it interesting, or they’re marginal and will be the first cut. Either way, we haven’t seen them.

Second, there seems to be a lot of ‘rock’ types this year. I suspect that has to do with Daughtry’s album being a big hit. In the past, Idol has always gravitated towards female and male pop/R&B singers. I’m not sure they’re going to do that this year. Jordin Sparks didn’t exactly light the world on fire.

Also, in the past there were always a couple of contestants who were unimpressive right up until the first main episode, and then they impressed mightily. Remember, there are many months between the audition shows, which happen in summer, and the real show, which happens in February. That’s months to get in shape physically and vocally, to get voice training, dance training, instrumental training, etc.

Then there’s the instruments. That’s going to add a whole new dimension, both good and bad. Some will suck, and some will be great. Either way, that will be interesting.

I’m going to hang in there for at least the first couple of live shows, then pass judgement. I just have a suspicion that there may be a surprise or two this year. The Aussie guy might be fun to watch. I like the Irish rocker chick. The Biker nurse, I’m not so sure. She strikes me as a low-rent Dilana, as impossible as that sounds. But she’s probably got a few good performances in her. Then there’s the rocker guy who sang Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” in the first audition show. He also plays guitar, and he could be interesting. And the Carly Simon/Carole King piano player.

For my tastes, that’s the best lineup they’ve had in a long time. I get SO tired of the Britney/Christina/Whitney/Underwood clones. There are a few of those again this year, but at least there’s a good selection of others.

I wish they had put Josiah through, just because the train wreck would have been great fun to watch. And the kid had talent when he knew how to use it.

8

That’s it! If you aren’t, then by damn I won’t either!

9

I agree. I think they are deliberately trying to avoid another Sanjaya. (And it seemed to me that they narrowed the field down to 24 more quickly than in previous seasons. Is that the case?)

Also, I think on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, someone pointed out that there was a one-month gap between the auditions during Hollywood Week and the selection of the top 24. They suggested that the producers used that time to run background checks on all of the possible top 24, and to avoid selecting anyone with a criminal background, or embarassing pictures out there.

10

I’ve had my grumbles about this show (which, in my estimation, has always wavered between “not bad” and “tiresome”). Amazingly, not only has not a single one changed, they all can be boiled down to one principle: "Mix it up!"

That’s all I need. Mix things up. Don’t stand pat. Change what isn’t working. Tweak. Overhaul. Inject a little excitement into the contest. Look at Survivor, for crying out loud. Every season has a new twist, tweak, or revamp, sometimes several. They know they can’t afford to sit still if they want to keep it entertaining.

The elimination system has been a crushing, catastrpohic, horrific failure. America is a lot savvier about this type of contest than before. We can take something a little more fine-tuned. Anything that minimizes the impact of the speed-dialing teenyboppers and fanatic hometown diehards is fine by us. Sure, we’re reluctant to embrace change, but it’s been six seasons. We’re ready to move ahead.

There’s too little damn variety in the music. “Rock”, you say? To whom, Simon Cowell’s mother? Alternative rock was a nationwide phenomenon that defined an entire decade, and it’s barely been touched on. Let’s have Vertical Horizon, Pearl Jam, Gin Blossoms, Matchbox 20, Green Day, Toad The Wet Sprocket, 3 Doors Down, Savage Garden. Let’s also have a little hard stuff, INXS and Puddle of Mudd and the like…hell, it’s not much of a departure from all that R&B screeching we’ve had shoved down our throats. While we’re at it, let’s have some fun bands: Five Iron Frenzy, They Might Be Giants, Outkast, Men Without Hats, Aqua. Let’s have some of those other iconic vocalists: Enya, Bryan Adams, Phil Collins, Madonna (believe it or not, she has a ton of stuff that has nothing to do with sex or religion), Christopher Cross, Tom Petty, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Sarah MacLachlan. TONS of material perfectly suitable for primetime, loved by huge swatches of this country, and a good test of singing ability that are not the same old insipid pop/soul/country pablum done ad nauseum.

Personalities are a good thing. I cannot believe anyone would even want to exclude someone like Sanjaya Malakar. I don’t want or need 10 Carrie Underwood clones, dangit. And it’s not like he won, so what the hell’s the problem? Let’s have our Malakar, heck, let’s have our Jasmine Trias and Scott Savol and actually give the non-fanatics a reason to watch. If you don’t like them, don’t vote for them. It’s that simple.

The judges’ sideshow. “But criticism is a critical part of the show,” you say? Fine. Have their critiques in private and unheard by the studio crowd, LIKE IT WAS DURING AUDITIONS. (Okay, small crowd near the end, but you get my point.) Don’t subject me to constant knee-jerk cheering and booing…I know and I don’t care, and you’re wasting everyone’s time, all right? And if the contestants want to fire back, let them. Where the hell is it written that being a judge makes you exempt from criticism? It’s unprofessional? It’s immature? They should take it like a man/woman? That’s for the voters to decide. What the hell, for some contestants it’s the most entertainment we’ll get out of them, so why not let them go nuts.

Ah, well. Better get used to it…my mother isn’t losing interest anytime soon, and the heck she’s going to record this just for my sake.

11

We used to be religious “Idol” watchers but lost interest at some point early last year, due to the interminable freaks-vying-for-attention audition shows. When I read Jordin Sparks’s name in a news story a few weeks ago I did not know who it was, and was shocked to learn she had won “American Idol.”

12

I’ve never watched. The entire concept raises great waves of apathy in me.

The little bits I’ve caught, though, clearly indicates that what they think is “good music” is severely limited.

13

If you don’t like the ‘freaks-vying-for-attention’ shows, you should do what I do and avoid watching before the top 24. Admittedly, there’s always one weirdo (or more) who survives past Hollywood, but at least you don’t have to suffer through the worst of the embarrassing wannabes.

I actually liked last year’s contestants, especially Melinda and, to a much lesser extent, Phil. This year, which I started watching as of Wednesday’s results show, the all-round talent seems a bit higher on average; definitely no Sanjaya, thank God. Of the folks I saw, I liked, um, Ramielle, I think her name was? Soft-spoken woman with a big voice. (Qualities that remind me of Melinda, in a way.) Like Mel, I’d like to see her come out of her shell over the next few weeks, assuming she survives. Simon seemed to like her too, judging from his smile.

But to the OP: I don’t blame you for not wanting to get sucked in. Each time my favorite gets eliminated (the only year that didn’t happen was S3’s Fantasia), I vow, never again, dammit!!! It sucks getting ridiculously invested in certain performers, particularly Clay and Melinda, despite warning myself year after year that my thirty/fortysomething, ex-opera/musical theater singer’s taste doesn’t exactly mesh with the main AI demographic. (Not that my taste is better than theirs, it’s just different, so I shouldn’t expect it to match up.) Well, if nothing else, I’ve learned about a few singers whose careers it’ll be interesting to follow.

So here I am, going back to my abusive lover just 'cause he’s come 'round promising this time it’ll be different. You’re smart, Rilchiam. Get out while you can!

14

I’ll watch. I’ll watch for precisely the same reasons as I have in the past: an hour or so’s worth of interesting singing of various quality; an opportunity to snark at Randy’s useless criticism, Paula’s incoherence/substance-influenced meanderings, and Simon’s obvious favoritism; and Ryan’s attempts to bring the whole thing together into cohesive whole.

I’ve never voted; I never watch the filler-rich boot-off show. I just check the web in the morning to find the outcome.

Which isn’t to say I don’t care or have my favorites–I grind my teeth hard when a John Stevens (sp?) or a Chicken Little or a Sanjaya lasts past more talented wannabes. I don’t want to come off like some above-it-all, too-cool-to-care viewer. I do care, but I just try not to get too invested in it all. It’s easier that way.

[Shameful Secret] I like Ryan Seacrest. I like his banter, his look, his faux (?)earnestness with the contestants, his love/hate affair with Simon[/SS]

15

Me too. He’s grown on me. During his “Seacrest Out!” days I could do easily without him. Now I find that he seems to really help the singers after their sometimes brutal judging.

I will say it loud and proud… I like Ryan Seacrest.

16

I like Seacrest a lot. He’s the perfect host for that show. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, he’s willing to poke fun at all the judges, he’s nice to the contestants while still managing to be sarcastic and witty.

17

Word.

I’m also considering letting it go this year, mostly because I can’t afford to get hooked on a TV show that takes up four hours a week. However, we haven’t seen all the contestants yet. I should probably watch just a little longer…

I like Seacrest too!

18

The single best thing the show could do is change the elimination system so that the audience can vote for who to kick out instead of who to keep.

19

That’s an excellent idea, which means they will never do it. It would be sure to be criticized as “too negative.” Also they get more TXT message revenue when people (read: teenagers) vote over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. They are more likely to do that for people they love (eeeeeeeeee!) than those they don’t.

This year was the first time I watched most of the auditions. I don’t love the audition shows, and dislike that many of the people they focused on got booted. Then what is the point, really? But I agree with those above - many of the top 24 I’ve never seen before so I’m curious enough to keep watching until I either get sucked in or all my favorites get voted out. We’ll see.

20

Another vote for Seacrest. He does a good job here as well as handling several other jobs.