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Real TV. Real life.
Okay, okay, so I was sucked in. Despite any previous remarks I may or may not have once made about not getting the whole American Idol thing, I have been secretly watching - and voting - for about five weeks now.
What I have really gotten to like about the show is that it's real with real emotions and real people. How much more perfect could it have been a few weeks ago when Phil exited so dramatically in his own Blaze of Glory? (I liked Phil.) And I understand that the Ryan/Simon animosity is part of the show, but there's an edginess to it that I enjoy. I don't know, but I kind of get the feeling that something might happen one day and I want to be there to see it.
And, I'll just admit it: I love Ryan Seacrest who is far, far, far from being just a pretty face. He is funny in a very dry way (I cracked up at his "lock up your daughters, America" comment when announcing that the obviously gay Sanjaya would be touring this summer, something his many adolescent fans are clearly clueless about) and nothing seems to throw him. And, yes, Ryan, along with Simon, makes the show.
Now on to my reactions. Blake: I just don't get it. At all. He isn't cute. He is frequently flat. And that beat boxing thing just sounds dumb to me. Jordin: Adorable - in fact, it's fair to say that she takes adorable to entirely new heights. And, while she's so much fun to watch - and I wanted her to be in the finale - she's got a long way to go before she's ready to go pro. Something that Melinda so obviously already is.
Can I say how blown away I was by her? Everybody I know saw it the same way and we all just assumed that America agreed and that the wild card last night would have been whether the immensely talented Melinda would be facing Jordin or Blake in the finale. But shocking things have happened on Idol before (a friend of mine points out how surprising it was when Jennifer Hudson was out) and I guess I should have been prepared, but I wasn't.
So, 29-year old Melinda was defeated by youth and beauty and adolescent girls. (Never underestimate the power of adolescent girls.) But, like Simon and everyone else, I know she's got a great career in front of her and I can't wait to see what she does next.
I was ruminating about it all this morning and thinking again how it's the real nature of the show that so totally sucked me in. It doesn't get much more real than what happened last night when we were all reminded of one of the greatest truisms and hardest lessons we all have to learn: Life isn't always fair.
Sandy, in the German version the adolescent girls win each time, too. If I
remember correctly, there has never been a female winner of that show in
Germany. And there were several who would have deserved it!
Those adolescent girls have a lot of power, Sandra. (Now if he looked like
Henry, I'd sort of understand it, but he doesn't. Not even close.) And
the sad truth is I think he's going to win.
Hi Sandy,
Donna, it's all new to me, but I've really enjoyed it this year. Simon
does seem to patronize Paula, though, doesn't he? At this point I'm
pulling for Jordin, too, but, sadly, I think Blake's going to win. Girl
Power is behind him.
We have watched American Idol this season, and it's a first for us. We used
to just watch the auditions, laugh, and move on. This time we got sucked
in. What's absolutely hilarious to me, Sandy, is that my reactions to all
the contestants you mentioned were almost completely the opposite of yours.
I hated Phil. HATED him. I found him creepy, and the only time I ever
thought he sounded remotely good was on the one country song he did.
Blythe, you like Blake? Gak! Yes, he's from this decade, but he's got a
very weak voice! And he's geeky! I agree that Jordin's song choices were
too old for her, but not Melinda. She channeled every diva I can think of
and nailed it every single time. I think Blake is going to win. But,
gak!
Sandy, I'm stunned! You're now a fan of American Idol! Yes, it's fun
seeing amateur singers vying for a chance for a recording contract and
entertaining you, good or bad, in their renditions. I'm glad you're
enjoying it. Me, I couldn't stand the negative aspects anymore - the
meaness of Simon, the bickering judges, the flat singing, the surging
favoritism one way here or there, the emotional mistreatment of the
contestants, etc. - and quit watching it after season 3.
Sandy, I'll have to admit I've been secretly watching as well. Melinda was
definitely my favorite, so I'm definitely disappointed, but I guess not
surprised. I haven't watched every season, but I've seen things like this
happen before. In addition to the young girl fans of Blake (as well as
some non-young girls), I've suspected that Melinda, Jordin, and Latesha
(Sp?), and even the earlier Stephanie shared some of the same
audience....people who like blues-belt-it-out female singers. In contrast,
when it got to the final 3, Blake was clearly different from Jordin and
Melinda.
LinnieGayle, I do love belt-it-out bluesy singers. And Melinda kicked
proverbial butt every single week. On the positive side, though, I'm a
whole lot less interested now which is a good thing since the finale will
interfere with the first hour of the two-hour Lost finale about which I am
totally pumped. Makes choosing a whole lot easier! (Though the producers
have promised that nothing important will happen on Lost between 9:50 and
10 so people can change over to see who wins, which I think is kind of
cool. A 10-minute check in is about all I'm willing to go with now.)