February 19, 2009

"You are the hero, man. You give us all hope. You were great."

I can no longer force myself to watch "American Idol." For one thing, I've never much liked the show, I hate most of the singing, and it's not as though it's my job to watch it. But what has made it intolerable is the addition of the new judge Kara DioGuardi, the source of the quote above. It wouldn't be so terrible if there were still only 3 judges, but now, instead of waiting for 2 mushy judges to get done effusing or waffling to get to the judge that says sharp, critical things, we've got to wait for 3 of them. It's perfectly idiotic. Yes, I know "AI" haters will say the show was always perfectly idiotic. I disagree. It was a nice junk TV mix of idiotic and fun. And now the mix is off.

19 comments:

Shanna said...

I did used to like the show. I watched Season 1-7, but ditched it at the end of last year and I haven't watched this season at all. Good to know that's a good call.

blake said...

Everything I could think of to say sounded more vacuous than AI. Including this.

A vast wasteland indeed. (I'm talking about my mind.)

AllenS said...

The absence of manliness makes the show unwatchable.

MadisonMan said...

The problem this season is that you never see the singers long enough to connect with them, unless they have a "compelling" BS backstory, like Danny Gokey's dead wife.

So you don't see the bad singers enough to really be irritated by them, and then celebrate when they're gone, and you don't see the good singers to connect with them. All you see are the annoying judges (Randy, NewChick) who never go away and never shut up.

SteveR said...

I think they actually have some good talent this year but the judges (except Simon) are basically worthless and the song choices are boring.

Leland said...

I have to agree. I was hoping Kara would be sort of a female Simon and at least equal out Paula, Randy, and Ryan. Nope.

Michael Haz said...

Hope is apparently still okay. No mention of change, however. That's a 50% reduction since January 20, 2009.

American Idol has devolved from a talent contest for amateurs to a gong show featuring contestants who have had voice training and may have already recorded.

With rare exception, the amateurs are mostly cannon fodder.

Smilin' Jack said...

Yes, I know "AI" haters will say the show was always perfectly idiotic.

Well, looks like no one's said it yet, and I wouldn't want you to be disappointed in us. So: the show was always perfectly idiotic.

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

Yeah, Kara doesn't have her own personality, she just seems like she says whatever Randy says. Simon and Paula have distinctive personalities, and it makes sense to have one person in addition who is the moderate, normal person, but there's no need for two of those.

You should watch next week though, cause Adam Lambert will be on.

Roy Lofquist said...

Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour was a pretty good show. It's been downhill from there. Course so have I.

Unknown said...

I only watch the singing part. The intentional infliction of emotional npain om those people is just too much--and totally hokey TV drama manipulation.

Heck of a trial by fire to get a career. Best of luck to all of them.

Daniel12 said...

I totally agree with Ann's comments. Don't you have to save some gushing for the next 20 weeks or whatever? They were going nuts on the first two singers (Clowny and Bore-do, neither of whom had a chance of ever being seen again)!!

While we're criticizing -- what's the point of MAKING IT TO SEASON EIGHT!!! if you have a two thirds chance of being eliminated after one song??? It's just another audition, basically. And we don't get enough chances to hear everyone sing, so instead of eliminating the crappy no talent losers early and giving everyone else a chance to improve, it basically comes down to indiscriminate cuts.

Anoop deserved more chances. Stevey deserved more chances. Tatiana definitely -- DEFINITELY -- was good enough for more chances, but she wouldn't be their monkey (face ripping or otherwise).

We're going to end up with a top 12 who haven't earned it, in contrast to prior years. The winner probably won't be affected. But the whole season will. I'm really bummed about this. I liked that show. But Kara sucks, and so does the elimination process. Total bummer.

hdhouse said...

if you don't have any standards or any real training then all tin foil looks like silver.

Trooper York said...

Well it just the first few weeks. You can't make a snap judgment on judges so quickly. I mean it won't be as successful as Ted Mack’s celebrated first hundred days but that was during the Depression and something had to be done. I mean she only had time for one press conference. She is bringing hope and change to American Idol. What's that matter with you? Aren't you a patriot? Do you want American Idol to fail? Are you going to build a shantytown outside of Simon's house like Sanjaya's mother Cindy did to protest his elimination? Do only want to mock a contest that is as American as mom and apple pie?

ARE YOU ALL COMMUNISTS!!!!!!!!!!!

Trooper York said...

Except for HD. We already know he is a communist.

Jennifer said...

I like her. But, it probably helps that I always skip past Randy and Paula's comments.

I'm going the opposite direction from you. I'm newly reinterested in the show after mostly skipping it last year.

Roberto said...

Anybody who watches AI deserves what they get.

Trooper York said...

See, only america hating communists hate American Idol!

jeff said...

What smiling jack said.

Personally I watch the first 3 or 4 episodes for the bad singers and crazy people, then never watch it until the next season starts.


"Anybody who watches AI deserves what they get."

Which means what, exactly? "Oh, look. Raped and murdered in her home" "what?" "she was watching AI?" "Well, then. Deserved what she got".

Oh, wait. That was from Michael. Never mind. On the vast stupidity scale, using the Michael filter, that barely registers. Never mind.