American Idol

Okay, then: so it's not exactly news that I've been watching American Idol, and I'm sure there's a few of us who are just as hopelessly addicted to the show as well, for a lot of other reasons.

But nothing makes me love American Idol more than the fact that this show, more than anything else I know of in all these years that I've lived in Hawaii, has whipped up the stalwarts of Hawaii's media in such a rabid frenzy.

Not since the last episode of Seinfeld has a show inspired so many column inches of editorial space and so much worthless banter in between headlines to fill in broadcast air time.

Already Rick Hamada (in MidWeek) and Lee Cataluna (in the Advertiser) have already written columns stating American Idol as a perfect example of What's Wrong With Society. While I love the fact that Rick loves Simon as much as I do, I just don't like the way he takes Paula Abdul's glad-handling of contestants as his example of What's Wrong; he thinks that Paula's weakly constructive criticism, if anything, is merely a bunch of empty compliments that only encourage mediocrity. (Um, Rick? That's why they call it television.)

Lee Cataluna, on the other hand, obviously has gotten her panties in a bunch over the fact that there were more folks who voted on Fox2's call-in lines than actual voters ("...68,096 Hawai'i viewers called during a two-hour window to cast their votes. That's more than the number of registered voters for Maui County in the 1998 general election. That's almost five times the number of votes that put Kaua'i Mayor Maryanne Kusaka into office.") Personally, her rant over "reality TV" smacks of the same pissing and moaning she did over the HTA's deal to promote Lilo and Stitch, but I'll hold my tongue on that one; there are worse things that I could say about her writing, but I'm just going to save them for a less public forum.

(And I'm not even going to wait for her review of Blue Crush, either. Repeat after me, Lee: I am no longer a spring chicken. I am no longer a sprightly colt.)

But all of this whining pales in contrast to the deliciously contemptuous look on Joe Moore's face whenever he has to go on television to deliver the "up-to-the-minute headlines" during Idol nights, especially when he tells us that he has to "remind the viewers of American Idol" that the call-in numbers will be provided during the Channel 2 News at 10. Outside of Simon Cowell himself, you can't get any better sarcastic remarks from anyone on television than this - and it even makes Kirk Matthews' Idol post-mortems with Bernadette Baraquio look even more strained. Bwahahahaha!

Let's face it; so what if somebody actually wins this thing? Give me one more season of dry commentary over ten more of naked scheming (I'm talking to you, Big Brother 3 and Anna Nicole Smith) any day.

Comments

For better or worse, I never really got sucked into any "reality series." (And I include in the category shows that do stretch the definition of "reality.") From "Survivor" to "Big Brother" to "Temptation Island" to "American Idol," I don't find the doings of these people at all compelling. (Which is odd, given my otherwise strong passion for web journals, and the documented experiences of "everyday folks.")

I did catch one episode of "American Idol," and I found myself quickly tapping my foot during every performance... impatient to just get to the judging. I don't want to watch "Star Search." But to see those judges - and yes, Simon - pass judgement on these starry-eyed kids? That was at least remotely entertaining.

The huge following each individual contestant has is amazing to me. It's to the point where folks are predicting the finalists, not the winner, will have the biggest success commercially, in part because of the contract the "big winner" will be subject to under the terms of the contest.

After maintaining a music review webzine after four years, I'm getting to the point where I'm thinking all music sucks -- even the good stuff.

That said, I haven't watched American Idol because my crystal ball tells me the show is about as far as these kids' careers are going to go.

Idol-hood is a quick way to make a buck if you're successful, but man is it fleeting. Quick flip through MTV2 and MuchMusic and what do you see nowadays? Nü metal and hip-hop. Pop idols are, like, so 1999.

Ugh. I can't stand the show, haven't heard such awful "talent" since Hawaii Stars gave up the ghost.

But it is funny how poor Joe Moore has to plug the show on the ten o'clock "news", especially his little side cracks about how they'd never mention it if it were on a different network.

One very good reason to hate this show: It really is fixed, baby!

Bah, the show was much more fun when Simon could tear those with no talent to shreds. Now that they've whittled down the contestants to those who can sing on key (for the most part) it's gotten boring.

Just give the damn recording contract to Tamyra, I say...

It's official: I have actually stopped watching the show as of last night.

This pretty much explains it...

There's probably some sort of racial slant to this mess with Tamyra.

::sigh:: Well, I've stopped watching. Let's see, they'll probably give it to Kelly instead.

I never watched this show but I am assuming that the singers get to sing their way instead of trying to emulate some other well known singer (like that show Your Big Break)?

Does anybody know if American Idol is going to come to hawaii, because there are really good talented people here who would like to be noticed. And I know that my sister has a beautiful voice, and I wish somebody would listen to her. My sister and I sing, but there are a lot of really good singers in Waipahu High School, which is located in Hawaii. I know that there are other talented teenagers in Hawaii at different other schools.

NuNu

American Idol doesn't really go anywhere, but Hawaii artists did have a chance to audition. It was at an I-94 sponsored audition that sent Jordan Segundo to Hollywood... and he's made the "American Idol" semifinals.

The show is the best and my birthday is on August 17. YEAH!

I REALLY HOPE IT'S TRUE THAT AMERICAN IDOL COMES 2 HAWAII DIS MONTH CUZ I REALLY WANNA GET MY COUSIN 2 GO CUZ HEZ PROBABYLEE WIN BUT IM 2 YOUNG CUZ U GOTTA B 16 OH WELLZ...

Well, I want Cheyne to go on "American Idol" when it comes to Hawaii. Ms Glory Ho would definitely give that silly show a boost. :)

You are gay.

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