American Idol 2008--Live Thread II

americanidol.com ^ | 3-25-08

[ken5050]

Interesting take....good analysis.

[Miss Didi]

My mother, sister, cousins, etc. are all ga-ga over both Davids. There's no convincing them...but then I'm stuck on Brooke. My mother said she'd send a few votes her way this week to cheer me up. ;)

[ken5050]

Great job with the links....thanks..

I've always thought it suspiciosu that they have NEVER announced the actual vote totals. What does it remind you of? I know..Democrat caucuses...

[Miss Didi]

Clint, there are “fake” judges during rehearsals. The person who does the spoiler reports over at MJ’s mentioned it yesterday when giving a review of the performances. So obviously, the judges’ notes are prepared for showtime.

[ken5050]

Wrong my firend, sorry..but there is another perfectly reasonable explanation for Paula's observation that David Cook was "fantastic.."

Go ahead..use your imagination..(g)

[cajungirl]

You may be taking the judges too seriously. Remember, if Simon talks up someone, he loses.

THe judges make comments. THe voters vote and frequently go counter to the judges.

I think they watch the dress rehearsal to know the singers and it adds weight to their statements in my opinion. THey know if someone is consistantly bad and if someone is usually good and has a bad night on tv. THat weighs in on their comments.

THey are not in a judicial system. ANd unless they fix the phones, the show is not fixed.

I do note the camera and time on camera seems to favor some, especially Brooke. They let her have a lot of individual time.

ANd I think they are putting in code words for David A,,savant, prodigy. Neil Diamond said he was a prodigy and not in a good way, he looked a little put off by David A. I think David A may have some serious personality problems,,he is like two different people. One is 7 years old and the other is amazing, almost like an incredible mimic of an adult singer.

The winners will really be chosen by the public based on longer term career success or not. The title of AI is not as important as the durability of the performers.

[Miss Didi]

From MJ's Big Blog:

Spoilers: Jason Castro - “Forever in Blue Jeans” - When one of the fake judges told him he looked comfortable up there, Jason answered “I don’t know about that…”

[retrokitten]

DePalma is making a new Untouchables movie with Gerard Butler from 300 playing a younger Connery.

I have heard that, too. I hope it doesn't stink.

[retrokitten]

They're like the Van Buren Boys from Seinfeld :)

LMAO!! The Van Buren Monchichis.

[retrokitten]

I don’t think it’s rigged either. No way Simon would have let Taylor win. If anything, Paula’s remarks are scripted.

[Miss Didi]

Carly Simon: Nobody does it better than Brooke on 'Idol'

[Miss Didi]

Paula Abdul's stupor may have pulled back the curtain on the plot to destroy Jason Castro tonight—it was the first night that the contestants sang two songs each, so they ran through all their initial performances, then came out to be judged at the end of the first half-hour. And Paula used this opportunity to tell Jason, who went first, that while she liked the use of his lower vocal register on "Forever In Blue Jeans," his second song "felt like your usual charm was missing for me... it left me a little empty. The two songs made me feel like you're not fighting hard enough to get into the top four." But he only performed one song! Apparently those second-song comments were meant for David Cook—but then when Paula "recovered" to give Cookie her critique, he said that he was "fantastic," and that the only problem with his performance was that the song wasn't as well-known as other picks from the night. And the producers can't figure out why the ratings are down this season? Between this and the fact that David Archuleta could have an on-stage vocal cord hemorrhage and still be called "the bomb" by Randy, I think any sentient being can know that there's at least some sort of "desired outcome" that's been communicated to the judges by Nigel Lythgoe's camp.

[kevkrom]

Does Paula's mental meltdown mean that the show is scripted? IOW do the judges attend the rehearsal just before the live show, and write, or rather, in Paula's case, have someone write the comments for them??

No, Paula just can't take good notes.

Cook went second, and so she got confused reading back her notes, thinking that they applied to Jason's second performance (he went first). Apparently it's hard to both take and then decipher notes you take when you're plastered.

BTW..Monchici's "Sweet Carolina" was AWFUL..terrible arrangement, and his voice was all over the palce..

He's clearly not ready for prime-time. I'm seeing more weaknesses in his voice, and his performance skills seem to have gotten worse, not better, as the competition goes on.

[Clint N. Suhks]

You may be taking the judges too seriously. Remember, if Simon talks up someone, he loses.)

I one fell swoop you have anecdotally discounted any influence the judges have. What about when Simon "talks down someone" and they win?

To say the judges have zero influence is irrelevant even though I'm sure that's impossible. They can't be impartial if they pre-judge and say whatever about a performance no matter how good or bad it was. That's cheating and that makes the show rigged.

[Clint N. Suhks]

Go ahead..use your imagination..(g)

[Mygirlsmom]

ANd I think they are putting in code words for David A,,savant, prodigy. Neil Diamond said he was a prodigy and not in a good way, he looked a little put off by David A. I think David A may have some serious personality problems,,he is like two different people. One is 7 years old and the other is amazing, almost like an incredible mimic of an adult singer.

You could be right, but many 17 yr olds are not comfortable yet in the adult realm.

In a way, I would bet he's a bit like "Melinder" in not being comfortable receiving gushing praise for what comes naturally.

[cajungirl]

I did not say the judges had no influence.

At the outset, people can vote numerous times. Judges say things that may or may not be influential.

To expect that this is like a court of law with impartial judges making commengts on strict times of performance seems naive.

In my personal opinion, I listen to the judges and sometimes am moved to change an opinion based on what they say. I don’t care if they saw a dress rehearsal or what.

Again, this is not a court of law and saying “no fair no fair” is a bit silly.

[Clint N. Suhks]

if someone is usually good and has a bad night on tv. THat weighs in on their comments.

Let's put this in perspective.

An Olympic High Jump judge watches a participant practice the day before at 7'9" and misses every time. And another participant clears 7'9" every time during practice.

The next day during competition the guy who missed 7'9" every time yesterday makes it and the guy who did missed.

America Idol judging says the guy who did best in practice wins even though he missed and the one who cleared 7'9" loses.

THIS SHOW IS RIGGED!

[Clint N. Suhks]

You like RIGGED shows that’s fine by me.

[cajungirl]

How old are you?

THis is a television show, for entertainment and everyone knows people can vote one time or hundreds of times. The how is successful, partly, because people enjoy the judges. The judges are frankly in one camp or another and make that clear. They even say so on other television shows. They at times predict who will be voted off.

There is an outside effort to affect the results i.e. vote for the worst.

The fact that you expect that this be like an olympic trial tells me you are either very naive or love to talk about “rigging”.

I think you may need to look at the entire context and grow up.