American Idol 2008!

[jazzbo]

Oh and I really have to say I like Juan Castro too. He's a lot like a few guys I hung around with in the summers of my college years. Way back then. I think he can make a connection with listeners.

[RDK]

Oh and I really have to say I like Juan Castro too. He's a lot like a few guys I hung around with in the summers of my college years. Way back then. I think he can make a connection with listeners.

Yeah, he's very entertaining. Not the greatest voice, perhaps, but a good singer in a style that I tend to like. And I really love his attitude. He seems to care less - and be genuinely surprised - that he's even made it this far. Always seems a bit stoned and goofy; a breath of fresh air. Meanwhile, I'm in love with Brooke, who seems so genuine.

[Dan Gould]

Oh and I really have to say I like Juan Castro too. He's a lot like a few guys I hung around with in the summers of my college years. Way back then. I think he can make a connection with listeners.

Yeah, he's very entertaining. Not the greatest voice, perhaps, but a good singer in a style that I tend to like. And I really love his attitude. He seems to care less - and be genuinely surprised - that he's even made it this far. Always seems a bit stoned and goofy; a breath of fresh air. Meanwhile, I'm in love with Brooke, who seems so genuine.

I can't stand the guy for that mf hair.

Brooke does seem genuinely nice and could probably make a nice living if there was such a thing as a "Carole King cover band"; unfortunately I don't think she's capable of performing without a piano, which will ultimately be her undoing.

The boy singer is surely the most skilled and polished, so the fact that he is has come this far can't be simply ascribed to his Tiger Beat appearance. Between his talent and his unthreatening-to-the-barely-pubescent sex appeal, I think it would take a major upset to beat him.

[jazzbo]

I guess she's genuine, but she doesn't seem as versatile or compelling a singer to ME. She's cute, she's sort of the kind of gal I'd find very annoying to be around a lot. . . maye that is why she's not one of my favorite contestants.

[jazzbo]

Oh and I really have to say I like Juan Castro too. He's a lot like a few guys I hung around with in the summers of my college years. Way back then. I think he can make a connection with listeners.

Yeah, he's very entertaining. Not the greatest voice, perhaps, but a good singer in a style that I tend to like. And I really love his attitude. He seems to care less - and be genuinely surprised - that he's even made it this far. Always seems a bit stoned and goofy; a breath of fresh air. Meanwhile, I'm in love with Brooke, who seems so genuine.

I can't stand the guy for that mf hair.

I can see not liking the guy for that hair, but I know a few young guys with hair like that are genuinely nice persons who I'd much rather be around than many others with carefully coiffed conservative hair.

[Dan Gould]

Oh and I really have to say I like Juan Castro too. He's a lot like a few guys I hung around with in the summers of my college years. Way back then. I think he can make a connection with listeners.

Yeah, he's very entertaining. Not the greatest voice, perhaps, but a good singer in a style that I tend to like. And I really love his attitude. He seems to care less - and be genuinely surprised - that he's even made it this far. Always seems a bit stoned and goofy; a breath of fresh air. Meanwhile, I'm in love with Brooke, who seems so genuine.

I can't stand the guy for that mf hair.

I can see not liking the guy for that hair, but I know a few young guys with hair like that are genuinely nice persons who I'd much rather be around than many others with carefully coiffed conservative hair.

I'm sure that's true, but that doesn't take away from the fact that his hair is ridiculous.

[jazzbo]

OKAY, It's just that I don't think it's ridiculous, myself.

[Soul Stream]

Oh well...my pick got the boot tonight. Not surprising. Didn't think she sounded very good on her farewell performance at the end of the show. I have no doubt she's got a contract hot off the press from SOMEBODY in the country arena with a hit song ready for her to record. Like Paula said at the CMT awards this year...feels like a AI reunion (with Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler cleaning up)....I think Cook's headed for the same destination perhaps.

Yeah Lon, I dig Siesha (?sp) too...she's almost a little TOO good looking for her own good if you know what I mean ( you could say the same about Cook too I think). I don't really have much of a fav anymore. But I will say Brooke really gets on my nerves.... a little too ready-for-the-muppet-show-guestspot. She cries at the drop of a hat...maybe a soap opera is in her future if the "Tapestry" thing don't work out...

[jazzbo]

She sure acted like she thoght she had a label or two waiting in line!

Actually she had a contract and albums out before Idol, so I don't know what the odds are she'll be given another chance.

Syesha has that child entertainer syndrome going on I think, yes, too pretty for her own good, definitely "hammy". . . but I like her singing and I hope she lasts a few more weeks.

[Dan Gould]

She sure acted like she thoght she had a label or two waiting in line!

Actually she had a contract and albums out before Idol, so I don't know what the odds are she'll be given another chance.

I think the odds are very good she'll be given another chance because publicity from a run on Idol is probably worth 100 times whatever publicity she got for her first record. Add in the track record of successful country singers starting on the show, and you can be sure she'll be getting her push on the radio very soon.

[jazzbo]

Yeah, you're right. Just wishful thinking on my part because although she's one heckuva cutie I think her singing is dreadful and she has the personality of . . . well, maybe she just doesn't have one.

[Soul Stream]

Yeah, you're right. Just wishful thinking on my part because although she's one heckuva cutie I think her singing is dreadful and she has the personality of . . . well, maybe she just doesn't have one.

You've just described the perfect qualifications for today's country superstars!!!!

Yeah Lon, I like Syesha quite a lot too. The story about her father passing away in a car wreck the day before her audition was pretty heart-wrenching.

[Parkertown]

I used to think CLK was kinda robotic...in a bad way (is there ever a good way to be robotic? )

But she really had improved, a lot, the last few weeks. I wish her success.

[Dan Gould]

Well, Neil Diamond is kicking the young 'uns asses tonight, I'd say. (Why he would be selected, and slotted for this week is beyond me). And that performance of "September Morn" by the dude in dreadlocks - he sure as hell looked and sounded stoned on that one. I'd say the boy band and the rocker are probably safe - the rest all deserve to go in one fell swoop.

[Joe G]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3suy4Wj9SA

[RDK]

Well, Neil Diamond is kicking the young 'uns asses tonight, I'd say. (Why he would be selected, and slotted for this week is beyond me).

New album out next week. Duh.

[ejp626]

I read that Castro is kind of bored and ready to go home. Of all of them he's the one that wants it the least -- and will probably be the most balanced after the show win lose or draw.

Paula's meltdowns aside, this has seemed to be a very boring season. Of course I've never been a fan (my wife is unfortunately -- I liked the INXS one much better) partly because I find the ever-changing rules so contrived, I hate Seacrest, and I can't bear most of the song styles (this season esp. -- Neil Diamond, Mariah Carey, country, blah!).

[Dan Gould]

Well I figured Syesha (who I've grown to appreciate quite a bit more than I did at the start, and that isn't just because of the clothes they've given her to wear) would be the one to go, until stoner messed up his lyrics (how appropriate is that). Its clear to me though that the kid and the rocker dude are the most accomplished, polished singers. Whoever gets the boot, they should end up in the finals.

[jazzbo]

I think you're right it will be the two Davids, which would be a shame, I think Syesha deserves to at least be in the final two. . . And I really dislike that Archuleta dude.

Maybe she'll get lucky. . .wouldn't hurt if she wore one more short skirt, would it? She looked beautiful Tuesday night!

(Not a picture from Tuesday night)

[Dan Gould]

Jim Lampley? Sparring scenes? What the fucking hell were they thinking?

Anyway - to me the rocker dude should win, but I think the one man boy band is more up the Idol demographic alley. But Cook can both perform and sing, and could probably match Daughtry (or whatever his name is) for success, which is more than most Idol winners can say.

[Dan Gould]

Well in the end the rocker won, and it wasn't even close.

And now here is an early word on possible changes for next year, from the NYT:

Among the changes being discussed, according to people involved in the show’s production, who spoke on condition of anonymity because decisions have not yet been made, are lowering the minimum age for contestants, which is now 16. (Mr. Cowell predicted in a recent television interview that it would soon be lowered to 14.)

In addition, the programmers are exploring whether to modify the several weeks of episodes that open the season in January. Traditionally those episodes are given over to taped segments of the previous summer’s stadium-size auditions. One idea under consideration is to start the season with an extended version of Hollywood Week, narrowing the field to 24 contestants from about 200, and interweaving those more intimate auditions with tapes of the first-round tryouts, which attract as many delusional fans eager to grab the spotlight as they do serious contenders.

Since I really don't care much about the back stories of the contestants, an extended Hollywood Week at the start would probably be annoying. They do need to freshen up the beginning in some way though. But I much prefer the delusional losers in big doses, interspersed with half decent talents. I don't know that I could stand to watch the profiles of finalists, waiting to see the trainwrecks.

But count me as strongly opposed to the idea of 14 year olds competing. That's just plain nuts. What are you going to get? A lot more inexperienced performers with even worse karaoke impressions. Going up in age gave them more experienced and polished performers. Does anyone think a 14 year old can win and become a hit-maker immediately?

[Swinging Swede]

Well, 6-year-old Connie Talbot went to the final in Britain's Got Talent (Simon Cowell is one of the judges there too), only losing to Paul Potts. She has since released her debut album which has sold over 100,000 copies.

[jazzbo]

Well, I guess I'm happy Cook won.

Glad it's over. I generally like this show til it gets down to three or four.

[Dan Gould]

Well, 6-year-old Connie Talbot went to the final in Britain's Got Talent (Simon Cowell is one of the judges there too), only losing to Paul Potts. She has since released her debut album which has sold over 100,000 copies.

She's adorable and all but 100,000 copies is nothing. And I'll say again that the vast majority of 14 year old contestants will suck or be poor imitations of the horrid noise that currently passes for "singing" on the radio. But that's not what Idol's producers really care about - they want to fix their problem with a declining audience in the younger demographics. Here's an idea: don't book Neil Diamond or Dolly Parton or have two nights of Beatles tunes either. I mean, I'll quit watching but you'll get a few more youngsters interested then.

[ejp626]

Largely agree with Dan here. If they really want to skew younger (and that appears to be their intent) why do they insist on songs of the 70s and ancient singer-songwriters coming on. Mariah (who did appear) is a much more plausible candidate, but really it ought to be Black Eyed Peas or something even more contemporary (Fall Out Boy, Gnarls Barkley as suprise judges?). It strikes me as too many cooks syndrome, where the labels are pushing adult contemporary songs and trying to bring in the parents, and then they wonder why the kids aren't interested anymore.

I think Cook did take more chances and I did find him more interesting, but honestly I think he will find being the #1 Idol too confining. Career-wise he probably would have been better off being #2.