Who to Blame? The 5 Biggest Culprits in American Idol's Worst Season
Even if Crystal Bowersox ranks among American Idol's finest talents (and I believe she does), something's rotten in the state of Seacrest this year. Last season, Idol rejuvenated itself with a blend of personalities -- from subtle craftsman Kris Allen to sparkle sorcerer Adam Lambert. This season's Idol cast is dogged by a number of distracting elements -- and worst, the Idol-consuming populace is confused over the true culprits in this fiasco. Thus, we're ranking the five biggest contributors to Idol's weakest year. Hopefully number one will start to garner the skewering it deserves. Daggers ready!
5. The Kara/Simon Sideshow
This unfortunate non-drama subsided in recent weeks, but the memory burns on: Kara DioGuardi, who gives arguably the best criticisms most nights, confused herself for the star of the show and wasted our time caressing Simon's shoulders and gnawing his chest. At season's start, DioGuardi mentioned to the press that she felt obligated to revive some of Paula Abdul's shtick, which included contestant sympathy and an unpredictability factor. Well, that explains her flagrant attempt to stir up a saucy, buddy-buddy relationship with Simon, but it doesn't justify why she thought it should be so time-consuming.
4. Contestant Nervousness
No one should be crucified for showing nerves on a national stage, at least to start. But if these contestants are serious about pop idol status, shouldn't this platform be more empowering than discouraging? Lee DeWyze's worried warble, Aaron Kelly's prenatal shakes, Casey James' cautious bleat, and Alex Lambert's post-vomit trembles were eye- and ear-sores all season long. It made them seem like unwilling combatants, the least telegenic quality an Idol contestant can have.
3. The Themes/Song Selection
By this time in Idol's run, we need cooler themes. These months of outdated ideas ("Inspirational Week," anyone? "Frank Sinatra Week"? "Elvis Week"?) have transformed the talent pool into a mushy, urgency-deprived karaoke machine. Some of the burden is on the contestants themselves, who don't need to choose "I Believe I Can Fly" or "When You Believe" but labor our tolerance anyway. Still, the quantity of available goodness is seriously limited, and I can only think of a handful of times where the singers mined gems -- aside from Rolling Stones week, the competition's best moment.
2. Ellen DeGeneres
Let's put it bluntly: Ellen DeGeneres could not have been any worse this season. She was scarcely funny. She almost always agreed with and watered down Randy's "points." She couldn't authoritatively stand behind a negative criticism. Worst of all, she never justified her position on the panel, resembling a specter of the TV icon we once knew. Reviewing her comments from throughout the season, she said a version of the phrase, "You know I'm a fan" or "You know I think you're great" to nearly every contestant. You'd think a new presence infiltrating Idol's long-established panel would do more to substantiate her gig than pander to contestants.
1. The Voters
Surprise! You did this to yourselves! As much as we can lay into the judges' inconsistency, Ryan Seacrest's unhinged showmanship, or a cast of wheezing wannabes, the main problem with season nine is horrible home-viewer voting. There's a reason we were promised a year of standout female talents at season's start: Your Top 5 should've been Crystal Bowersox, Siobhan Magnus, Didi Benami, Lilly Scott and Katelyn Epperly. Lee DeWyze's (GrizzLee Bore) tuneless whimper-growls, Casey James' unassuming coffeehouse appeal, and Michael Lynche's Cool Whip commercial "soul" should've deserted Hollywood weeks ago.
We've witnessed so much sympathy voting this year -- from Tim Urban's continued survival to a grim use of the Judges' Save, all on behalf of the lagging male talent pool. Siobhan and Didi -- discernible personalities who not only had great voices but utilized them singularly -- gave one "off" performance apiece. Lilly Scott and Katelyn Epperly were voted out after some of their best efforts. When you reinspect the oeuvre of the four remaining guys, you find plenty more misses than hits.
While viewers can claim that Idol's personnel shifts have added a layer of annoyance to the show, they can't claim they didn't design this strangely uninteresting turnout themselves.
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Comments
I havent read all the comments, but after surveying several on a few different sites, I think one thing we need to remember is who is voting for these contestants, especially as we get towards the end of the season... Lee is from outside of Chicago, which is bigger than the Ohio market Crystal is from... his hometown support likely helped pushed him over the top. I agree that Crystal SHOULD have won, but unless they put the judging in the hands of the judges instead of the at-home viewers, things like this will happen more often... whether for this or another reason. I don't think the votes are fixed, I just think Lee got more of them. Besides, if Crystal really is that good, losing the contest won't mean that much in the long run (see: Chris Doughtry).
I am so dissapointed this year....I said early on that if Chrystal did not win then I will never watch AI again. This is absurd, Lee DeWyse is nothing compared to Chrystal. The voting is terrible all the little tweens are given too many votes, therefore the real talent is overlooked. The only winners that america's tweens picked that really became famous is Carrie Underwood. America did not pick Jennifer Hudson and she is more famous than any of the other winners. America did not pick Adam Lambert and he is doing better than the other winners, and now Lee DeWise....I'm sure you won't be seeing much of him either, he has NO star quality, has NO personality and always sings off-key. You will sure hear more from Chrystal. I guess the best thing to all the American Idol contestants can do is hope that they come in second or third place because those are the one's who succeed...not the winners (except for Carrie Underwood) I now HATE American Idol.
i commented way back in the first season that ryan seacrest needed to go he has always been obnoxious and rude. All the judges have been biased at different times, Simon has state over and over he does not like country music. Randy always favors the r&b and soul singers.
both paula and kara rooted for the boy toys and Ellen copied Randy's comments. Itruely believe that the judges use their power to influeence who moves on by their negative comments or praise not because of their talent.
OK Tom, settle down and listen to the music, your blog screams homophobe, an unimportant point.
I'm so glad that the people who watch the show pick the next american Idol and not the idiot that wrote this column. both of the contestants in the final were great. siobahn should'nt have been in the top ten.
What's it like to have a shoe size bigger than an IQ?
I agree, Crystal should have won this. She happened to be the best performer. She has a voice where Lee was good, but not the best performer or volcalist! That's how I rate a performer!
People...... if you have an issue with the outcome of the show, I ask the question....did you vote. Secondly, the result merely reflects the viewers taste in music, questionable I know, but it is what it is.
This was not one of Idol's best years and I think one of the things that made it hard for the contestants was the large no. of high profile mentors and performers who were brought in for promotion, and to compensate for the lack of great starpower in the contestants. The guests overshadowed the competitors to such a degree that it was no longer a good star search program. It just made the performers look bad by comparison.
Also, I totally agree that the judges comments were the ho-hum part of the performance each night, a time to head for the fridge or lav. AI does not need four judges. One vote per household would create more interest at home and actually mean something. I don't bother voting because it is meaningless. The present voting process is detracting from the believability of the results. Just upping the starpower of the guests and the judges is not going to be helpful; it will be the downfall of the show for the contestants.
I agree with Frank Crystal should have won but she will go much farther then Lee will and i believe she will have a hit before the year is out.the show was sad with Simon who had left before the farewell.he was the only true judge who looked only at talent.THey keep telling us the show will continue but i doubt it.It was very sad to enjoy the tribute to Sikmon leaving and not really care about the rest.Oh well i must find something else to watch.
It's funny because initially, when they announced who was taking over, I thought Ellen was wrong for the show. I even swore there was no way I would watch it, because she's one of those character's that annoy me, but I decided to give it a chance, and I really don't think she was that bad. I actually laughed a few times. It must be difficult to find something different to say so many times. I mean, really, what more could you say to Crystal than "You're great".
Care to make a wager on that prediction, Rudewaitress?
Agree 100% with you David
I think what was missing this year is the star power that Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson have. Crystal and Lee both do not have it, although I think Lee might morph into it. Crystal was only concerned with her family, and having fun, etc. There was no connection to the audience. I think she will still make some hit records. I also think the judges should include one common person that would buy the CD's or not. That is the true test of their making it or not.
Little teenage girls voting nonstop for the goodlooking boy contestants is the problem. They should limit voting to one per viewer.
if you don't like it, then here's an idea. DON'T WATCH! why even bother commenting if all you have is narrow minded crap to say?
Lee is incredibly talented, and as much as i hate it (i can't stand her) Crystal doesn't suck either. Some people like them, so quit ragging. it does nothing but make you look like a jerk with poor taste and too much time on your hands.
the reason Lee had all the "bells and whistles" is because he has BETTER TASTE than the others! The contestants pick out what's going to happen, and work with the soun/light crew and the band to make arrangements. if Crystal sucked it up, its her own damn fault. And Lee was amazing because of his decisions, and the fact that he knows how to pick good songs and that Simon picked his other, because he's the last judge who knew what he was doing. But if Simon had picked for Crystal you wouldn't want people saying THAT was the only reason he won.
There is nothing more pathetic and annoying than people who make excuses. The show's not rigged, Lee won, and the majority of the country believe he deserved it. Get over it already.
I agree that Lee blew away Crystal. But what the hell is with people thinking that teenage girls are incapable of forming an opinion based on anything other than LOOKS! that is such bull crap. I'm seventeen, and i happen to have voted for Lee because i think his VOICE is amazing. He may be good looking, but that didn't factor in at all. i also voted for Clay Aiken when he was on, and he isn't cute, plus he's gay, which means it would be stupid to crush on him at all. Teenage girls can have logical opinions, and guess what, we are fully capable of HEARING!
And to all you haters bitching about the best NEVER winning. New flash, idiots, the "BEST" is an OPINION! I happen to think that Lee WAS the best vocalist of the season! Crystal's voice had too much vibrato, and was too rough for a girl for me to like it. Sioban screamed twice as much as Adam, with less than half the skill. Mike, while singing beautifully, had a voice i can hear in my church choir every Sunday. And Casey, who i did like, just never WOWed me. So all of you get over yourselves, quit making lame excuses for why your person didn't win, and quit saying that no one in this season had talent! again, that is OPINION! and 51% of America's opinion (BASED ON VOCALS, YOU JUDGEMENTAL JERKS!) was that Lee owned Crystal, and deserved the title.
I also thought that Kris (SPELLED with a "K" for the idiots that got that wrong) was the best, as well as David Cook before him. It is based on personal preferance, and that's all. It isn't rigged, and it isn't our (as in teens) fault that you don't vote enough to keep your favorites in. that's on you, so quit saying it isn't.
Also, I know ten people who also watch and ALL of them voted for Lee. Six of them are MALE! And STRAIGHT! And voted based on the sound of his voice, and that fact that Crystal has always come across as an awkward, emotionless stiff who doesn't want it bad enough and was willing to quit. He wanted it, and in our OPINION (which is no worse than yours because of age difference. I'm seventeen, but I'm also an outspoken genius who was published at age ten, so I'm not stupid and am perfectly capable of deciding who i want seeing as there is NO wrong answer) he deserved it.
Move on with your pathetic, judgmental lives, and get over your loss. i
did it when stupid Fantasia, Rubin, and Taylor won. None of which i could stand. And i did so without making excuses and blaming it on others. I may have been a kid, but i acted with far more maturity than any of you haters.
Sarah you got it right...as for the boring show...the judges picked a lousy top 20 to begin with.
wheres paula!wwsa a very good show with paula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree it was the voters fault. The tweens & soccer mon's have been voting for the cutest & the most lovable. They act like he was going to date them. They shold charge a $1.00 a vote & you won't be seeing them vote 900 times each. You also had people voting for the most improved that's OK but, if you in the top 4 & you still can't sing in tune then you should no longer vote for that person. Now we have a winner who still can't sing in tune. How pathetic. This has been happening for several seasons.
I require assist with criticism. The issue I've with it, I consider it to seriously and it ends up obtaining to me and lowering my self-esteem large time. I require assist discovering methods to get more than what people say that ends up hurting my feelings. Any advice? Thanks.
I agree Big time..
waay to many comments about idol. sad really.
Even people who don't like Adam talk about him for hours. It means Adam is a big STAR!!
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