American Idol 2006--Live Thread (Part III)

Fox ^ | 5-8-06

[silent_jonny]

always for Tammy

[Wolfstar]

The celebration was really awesome. Taylor was amazing when he sang and it was something to see the audience. The guys rushing up to congratulate him with big time hugs.

I saw him sing and saw the guys go up to congratulate him. But that was just literally in the last two or three minutes of the show here. It did not run overtime here, so the whole announcement and intro of the winner part of the show here took all of about five minutes total, if that much.

[SirLinksalot]

USA TODAY

'Idol' worship

Posted 5/24/2006 10:35 PM ET

WHY IS AMERICAN IDOL SO POPULAR ?

Television, it is often said, has never been the same since the arrival of cable, satellite and the Internet. Audiences are more fragmented and shows are more targeted, making it hard for the medium to serve as the electronic public square that it once did.
Apparently, no one has told that to the producers of American Idol. Nearly 32 million households were tuned to the show Tuesday night to watch this year's two finalists, Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee, perform three songs each. Similar numbers likely watched Wednesday night when Hicks was anointed the winner. What's more, Idol's audience is growing from year to year, which is unusual for so-called reality shows that often lose viewers once their novelty wears off.

Idol might be today's equivalent to The Ed Sullivan Show, which from 1948 to '71 was must-watch fare for families around the country. Like the Sullivan show, Idol attracts huge audiences and helps launch careers. And like the Sullivan show, it's something that people of differing races, genders and generations can share.

At the risk of sounding overly effusive toward television, which is consumed in far too abundant quantities, there is a valuable function in a show like this. It has no objectionable content, no snakes or leeches, no contrived spontaneity and no Donald Trump.

Perhaps the show's success is the result of its simple concept. Virtually anyone can try out. It has a host and three judges, who select winners in the early rounds. In the later rounds, the judges merely opine while the winners are selected by millions of people who vote, often more than once, with telephones and wireless gizmos.

Or perhaps Idol's success is in how it encapsulates so much of American culture. It delivers instant celebrity, the ultimate dream in a nation of dreamers. And it almost perfectly mimics, or perhaps spoofs, the U.S. political system — with its drawn-out campaigns, its imperfect elections, its annoying commentators.

American Idol's success proves that the nation can still be brought together by a TV show. At a time of contentious political and cultural division, it's a useful reminder that Americans still share common bonds.

[retrokitten]

Scary isn't a good word choice. Jonny said it well last night, summer reality TV shows are like the leftovers in the fridge no one wants to eat.

Target rich environment, for sure. I think I'll withhold final judgment until we hear who "professional singers" and celebs are who sign on. Too bad there isn't a modern day Paul Lynde. He'd make these crappy reality shows hysterical.

[Wolfstar]

LOL! Pickle looks like she's gonna hang onto Taylor for dear life. In the meantime, he looks totally stunned.

[SirLinksalot]

Could someone please explain to me WHY this show is SO popular?

PLEASE READ MESSAGE #10,102

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

I gotta say, the Gherkin looks like she knows how to kiss a guy so he stays kissed! LOL!

Have to admit I thought she was very cute during her "Eliza Doolittle meets Wolfgang" segments. That scream when she first met the live lobster was priceless!! :)

[ken5050]

BTW..Melissa looked and sounded HOT very last night..has she gotten a gig from this?

[Wolfstar]

Have to admit I thought she was very cute during her "Eliza Doolittle meets Wolfgang" segments. That scream when she first met the live lobster was priceless!! :)

If there isn't any producer in Hollywood who will snap her up for a sitcom as fast as possible, then there isn't any producer left in town who is worthy of the title. She's a natural light commedienne. Too bad Hollywood doesn't do screwball comedies anymore. She'd be perfect for such roles.

[retrokitten]

I was a harsh critic of Kellie's earlier in the season, but her segments with Wolfgang Puck were very cute. She just about fell out of her chair when she saw the lobsters! Those were some big 'uns, too.

I loooove her new haircut. That is a bold, brave move to get so much hair cut off in one swoop of the scissors!

[retrokitten]

Not that I am aware. I liked her, too. Hopefully she gets some doors flung open for her career.

[Netizen]

That was an absolutely excellent article. Thanks for posting it!

So, who all is going to a tour concert?

[retrokitten]

I saw an article once about Sandra Bullock. She started producing her own movies is for that very reason. There weren't that many good comedies for women, especially physical comedies. The only way she could see a movie like Miss Congeniality getting made was if she did it herself.

BTW, I love that movie. "You think I'm gooorgeous...you want to kiiiiiisss me....love me and maaaarry me...."

[EmilyGeiger]

On Paul Finebaum's show they had one of the local FOX producers on who said that the mayor and other business leaders have approached Nigel about holding auditions in B'ham last year. They were real positive that this would be possible! Keep your fingers crossed. :)

[Conservative Texan Mom]

See what I mean. I told you Katharine's mom liked to wear her boobies hanging out too.

Why do I get the feeling that mom is competing with daughter.

[Sue Perkick]

I confess. So was I. Those segments were pretty doggone funny. I hope good things happen for her.

[EmilyGeiger]

Pinging you to the above post!

[OldFriend]

That's too bad. I am trying to find someone who recorded the whole show so I can see it again....and again. It certainly was a keeper. Too bad I am so untech......can't even figure out the VCR.

[Conservative Texan Mom]

Ewwwww! Creepy Constantine!

How many times did we see him this season oogling at the camera from the audience?

I'm going to say 7, including the two last night. Although one of those was so creepy it should count twice, so that would make 8.

[NinoFan]

First: Was it just me or were others a little annoyed by how Katharine didn't get out of the way and let Taylor have his moment?

And some would have criticized her if she HAD removed herself from the camera right away. I swear, she can't do anything to please her detractors.

[merry10]

Actually I just wanted more footage of all the IDOLs around Taylor.

I played Soul Thing for my daughter and she has now played it five times in a row! grrr!