AMERICAN IDOL (Fox)
IDOL opened up last week. I finally sat down and FF my way through the first few eps. I think I need to review IDOL in 3 parts - the auditions, the Hollywood stuff, and the competition. As far as the auditions, Ellen is not there yet (I find Ellen pretty annoying on her own show - I'm sure I'll hate her on Idol but I'm keeping an open mind.)
Kara has come into her own and still sounds like an idiot. Her exchange with that weird dude "you need a spanking" sounded like Kara wanted to sleep with the guy. Their treatment of that guy singing "Pants on the ground" was kind of shameful - but the guy was about 55 years old and sand a terible version of his own song.
For a stellar version of PANTS ON THE GROUND, check out this clip from the usually cringe-worthy JIMMMY FALLON show. One thing Fallon does right is his impression of Neil Young. Check it out here - sorry - still don't know how to add links. I wish someone would write in and tell me so this is still a cut and paste job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2WfUzNYPwo
Fallon is not a good talk show host but he does a mean Neil Young impression. Thanks to the Stern Show for tipping me off about this.
Back to Idol, I thought they did what they do every year since season 3. They forecast the auditions. If they run a bunch of goofy footage of someone you know they're going to suck. If they run a whole taped piece with shots of the persons family and video of the person singing when they were 5, believe me - they're going to make it to Hollywood. They have overedited all the joy out of these auditions.
The beauty of seasons 1 & 2 were that people were just walking in and singing and you kind of got a fly-on-the-wall vibe where anything could happen. Now you know just by the over-enunciating in Ryan Seacrest's voice if the person will make it or not "this gentlemen sure knew how to creep Kara out."
As far as Paula not being there; it's sad to see some of that miserable tension gone, but in all honesty, I think where you'll really miss her is during the live shows when she can't hide her insanity and Simon can't hide his delight in her retardation.
This is supposedly Simon's last year as he leaves next season to launch the American version of THE X FACTOR (allegedly with Paula at his side.)
But I love IDOL and yet, still find these auditions both nessessary and grueling. And yeah, I know that by the time they audition for the judges, they've already been seen twice by associate producers who think the judges will have fun with them. I don't care. I still love the show and kind of like that we have to wait for January every year to watch it.
THE AUDITIONS: B
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