Full Metal Jeer God, the Marines and American Idol

laweekly.com ^ | 3/27/03 | by Nikki Finke

[paltz]

He opens his big mouth and sounds off twice a week, lives large inside a paid-by-Hollywood mansion in Los Angeles, chooses Eminem's 8 Mile soundtrack as his favorite music, has a well-known stylist fashioning his put-together look, and gets free head-to-toe wardrobes from a famous clothing store. Yes, there he is, showing off in prime time while young guys his age are shown on television weathering crude conditions in Iraq, waging pitched battles with the enemy and putting their lives on the line for America.

Hollywood's harshest critics could say this spotlighted star personifies the self-involvement and self-indulgency of the U.S. entertainment industry in wartime.

They could, but they're not. In fact, they're saying nothing about Lance Corporal Josh Gracin, the Marine who's still safe and sound and singing on American Idol 2.

They're saying nothing even though the military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported on March 17 that "many Marines from Gracin's unit, the 1st Force Service Group, have been deployed to Kuwait" — which contradicts a claim by Camp Pendleton officials back on January 27 that Gracin's unit was scheduled to remain stateside.

[republicangel]

ouch

[Free ThinkerNY]

Nikki Finke is a piece of Left Coast fecal matter.

[xsrdx]

Americans are seeing the real Marines performing their real jobs

The author is an idiot. Gracin is a larger than life, full color recruiting ad for the USMC, a talented contender on a top rated TV show.

Everybody has a job to do - Gracin will probably encourage several truckloads of jaded High Schoolers to head to the recruiting station.

He is more valuable to the Corps on American Idol than he is in a LAV in Iraq, or else he'd be there.

[Desecrated]

I can see how Gracin's deferrment could ruffle some feathers, but geez, it's not we had to postpone the war because of it. I'm sure there are a lot of situations where people are held back for certain reasons.

[BreitbartSentMe]

WWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Joe 6-pack]

"He is more valuable to the Corps on American Idol than he is in a LAV in Iraq, or else he'd be there."

You're 100% right...and though one cannot truly know the heart of another man, he probably wishes he had been deployed.

I like your tagline, BRO.

[glory]

Yeah, that came through loud and clear as his peice(of crap) went on!

Like someone else said, Gracin may play a wonderful role for the Marines in being a poster boy for recruitment. *If* he got out of deployment, it was not because the Marines wanted to give him a chance to become a star(although they may even have phrased it that way), but because they knew it was good for the Marines. If last nights show is any indication(lot's of patriotic music) than it was and probably will be a success for recruitment(The group sand "Proud to be an American"). No doubt Gracin's presence has helped the direction of the show and it's support the troops, flag waving songs it played last night.

BTW, this "jounalist" forgot to mention the whole time that this young man has stated over and over again, he will go where he is called. There is nothing in his presence that tells me that he is hesitant to go if called.

[MomwithHope]

We vote for Josh every week. He has a lot of talent and would be a great role model as the American Idol.

[BreitbartSentMe]

He's on a 24 hour notice, just like the rest of his unit. The producers know this, and said if he had to leave early, they would allow him to compete next year, automatically place him in the top 10.

He's a fine example of our military, loves God, country, and his wife.

[cactusSharp]

Finke....hmmm ? Irish ?
would love to see how many in her family tree fought for America....probably the thinnest book EVER written

said it umpteen times...two kinds of jews...the first is like us.....the other like Finke believe every thought and action is a required benefit to them

[OldFriend]

This loathing of the military sure runs deep in some folks.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Geez... Did the Marine kill this columnist's dog or something like that? I haven't read such a vicious hit piece in a long time. What a petty, hateful person.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

People can think what they want about Gracin and opine about whether they think he's right or wrong. However, back in 1990 there was a Marine Captain by the name of Chase Moseley who had a pretty cushy job flying Blue Angel #2. He could have stayed and finished the season but he requested to be released and returned to his Marine Corps F/A-18 squadron which was deploying to the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield.

[Hildy]

Does this pos writer have anything better to do than sound off against a young man who is doing more for the Marines Stateside than he could in Kuwait. This really is a war, isn't it? I don't mean Iraq, I mean between the camps here.

[Dark Watch]

Gracin is a larger than life, full color recruiting ad for the USMC

Met a few of them in my time in service.....all show and no go....

[reboot]

I'll bet every Marine in Iraq is pulling for this fine U.S. soldier to win! What a boost of morale for our fighting men than to see one of their own compete for excellence!

I heard David Robinson (The Admiral) of the San Antonio Spurs asked if we should continue with the Final Four and the NBA playoffs while the war was on. He Said "Absolutely, our service men need something to cheer about. They're no different than the rest of us. They look forward to any news from home, even their favorite sports teams!

God Bless Our Service Men!

[The Californian]

This article had nothing to do with Gracin. It had everything to do with the Academy Awards. It seems obvious that this person is infuriated at the reactions to the A.A. and wants to compare American Idol to that cesspool. She also wants to compare Gracin to that loudmouth Michael Moore.

Josh Gracin seems to be a nice, young, singer doing his best. He is probably giving the military a boost in recruiting - that may be his best job. He also seems to be potentially great C&W singer.

This woman just had an ax to grind and Josh was her way.

Consider the source and move on.

[gg188]

Would the situation with Gracin parallel that of WWII when many actors were deployed in Hollywood helping with pro-war communications, film shorts, etc.? Various people are given different assignments.

[P-Marlowe]

Josh Gracin is doing his job. Undoubtedly he is under orders to stay on American Idol and make the marines proud. If the marines thought he could be of any more assistance to them in the field than he is on American Idol he would be in the field. Right now he is the best recruitment tool they have. It would be insane to pull him off right now. Just like the author of this article.