The American Idol Attraction at Disney World, Orlando, Florida, is throwing its Grand Opening this weekend. Much fanfare to ensue as members of note creating the show behind this attraction, such as Simon Fuller and cast mates, Paula Abdul and Ryan Seacrest make the parade on February 12th. You won’t be seeing Simon Cowell, apparently in London overseeing yet another one of his many shows, and Randy won’t be representing the Dawg House. Who knows where he is. Almost forgot, no Kara either.
Featured cast aiding in the promotion of this new Disney feature, past winners Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, and of course, my Mack Daddy, Taylor Hicks. Funtastically exciting for me – past IDOL BLUES subjects, Sanjaya Malakar and Jason Castro will be there waving to the crowd. Also on parade, beautiful Bo Bice, accompanied by Bucky Covington, Diane DeGarmo, Melinda (got new record out) Doolittle, Josh Gracin, Justin Guarini, Michael Johns, LaKisha Jones, Kimberley Locke, Mandisa, Syesha, Chris Cligh, Carly Smithson, Phil Stacey, Brooke White, and Ace Young. Noticeably absent, Chris Daughtry. Must be touring obligations or… something.
Obviously this is working in many directions regarding promotions. Everyone in attendance to receive some attention, the show gaining publicity and of course Disney’s banking on making even more cash. Anyone holding Disney stock these days?
The Money Song – Mary Poppings/(1:09)Monty Python
Yes, the pop cultural monster machine that chews up any other television program in its path is back tonight on FOX. This season, the eighth, has several differences from seasons past.
First, the producers are throwing in yet another judge to the panel, making it an even four. Considering four has no tie-breaking abilities being an even number, I say, hey, go to five while you’re at it. The Hoff has some time off, bring him to the show. Since no one of any importance on the show listens to me, they’re sticking to four. This fourth judge added to the karaoke reality show, Kara DioGuardi. The first time I had really heard of her she judged the defunct and completely awful wanna be to A.I., a show called “The One”. Heard of it? No biggie since only about 4 people beside my Idol pal, Chancelucky, and I watched it. Oh yeah, she’s also written a few pop numbers and even wrote for Taylor Hicks’ eponymous album.
Nigel Lythgoe, who quit Idol last year had said he did not want another judge for the panel, because afterall hearing what an absolute failure of a singer you are once is bad enough, but to have it reiterated fourfold a bit much. Considering how well his “So You Think You Can Dance” does in the ratings I’d not call him a stupid guy. She’s also the youngest member of the panel so perhaps the show believed that a benefit considering all the other judges are hitting the mid-century mark, albeit all are quite well botoxed preserved.
Second, the “Wild Card” round will return, something forgotten about a few seasons back. Hey, it’s how Clay Aiken stuck around in the second season – it also sheds light over which judge is biased for what contestant. With four of them in the mix that may haul four more contestants back in the ring for the battle of the fittest.
Third,the ever special “Idol Gives Back” won’t be back this season. The charitable event that tries to make the show look like it truly is about making dreams come true has been canned for this year. Guess last year’s event did not go over that well. Never heard Seacrest bragging about the gazillions raised this year like he did the previous season. Likely those gazillions did not materialize…
Fourth, instead of 24 finalists making it to the real competition and national showtime we’re to see 36 this year. Yes that’s 12 more dreamers for the television audience to dig dirt up on follow on their path to the higher ground of the fame mountain.
Last but not least,there will be more emphasis on the Hollywood round. Now before anyone gets excited thinking that with these changes the show may last until next July, the number of shows remain the same. Sadly there will be fewer audition shows, and less of the more colorful characters that make the initial weeks so endearing for me. Concentration cited as being more focused on the aspirational singers, less on the ever enjoyable ‘train wreck’ performances. One of my favorite such performances came from my city, yes, Dallas brought Idol this guy -
certainly the season would have been less bright without Simon Cowell’s biggest fan.
As has been seen in the news and on-line, American Idol may have suffered some rating decline this past season, but that “fat lady’s” not singing any odes of goodbye yet.
In the chicagotribune.com review about the recent tour stop in Chicago, the Idol’s are not being painted in exactly rainbow hues, although the reviewer did enjoy Jason Castro’s “Over the Rainbow” performance. The article, “Johns, White Castro grab center stage”, was presented as a special feature submitted by Andy Downing. Mr. Downing, as readers can be seen in the comments section of this feature is feeling the wrath of the show’s fans. This, another example of the level of fervor the fans of American Idol feel toward the hit show. It also indicates why this reality program isn’t going to go off the air anytime in the near future.
Post commentators provide an excellent example of what I see regularly in articles mentioning Taylor Hicks that may have a less than glowing slant. Many of the comments say the same thing in this post regarding supporting the show as you can read Taylor Hicks’ fans post in their attempts to ‘protect’ Mr. Hicks. Just insert “Taylor Hicks” in the place of American Idol and they sound the same.
Evidenced as fan fervor, the usual fan crying out ‘boycott’ and wanting the head of the writer, or at least he be fired. That’s laughable and censorship. Only write what everyone wants to read and never voice your opinion, or off with your head.
“This reveiw is completely ridiculous. Obviously it was from someone that was not at the show. I was at the show and the 2 Davids were both brilliant. The audience was so loud when David Archuleta came out and throughout his set stayed that way and it was the same for David Cook. I enjoyed all the performances and actually bought tickets to go see it again. This article needs to be retracted or at least an apology to all the idols and this writer needs to be replaced–what a bunch of BS and I for one will never read this paper again.”
“What kind of review is this? Obviously , this writer never liked American Idol. This is the worst I’ve come across since the beginning of the tour. He’s either blind or deaf or was not in the concert at all!”
Now I’m not bringing this up to denigrate Mr. Hicks, and I must clarify that point right now since his fans will immediately read into this that I am. What I am pointing out is the criticisms for some of the behavior of his fans has nothing to do with the man and everything to do with that reality show. It’s the avid, naive and accepting viewers that take everything that happens on that program as serious business and real life. Not real life and business for the contestants, no – rather real life as it pertains to them personally. They take this show that airs twice weekly during its seasonal run and make it about them.
Why this phenom? It’s on their televisions in their homes and they’re voting on the contestants, interacting with the show. This carries forward to the on-line portion of this reality show. The internet plays a huge part of the direction the season takes, with the fans sometimes immersing themselves into the reality story lines, on-line. They personalize themselves into the show by creating characters basically, that are a reflection of themselves out in cyberland. They create their groups to hang out together in the form of websites and forums. Often these groups fight against each other as seen with the ridiculous situation around Chris Daughtry vs Taylor Hicks’ fans. Sometimes websites rise up and act as one to attack “certain bloggers” who may write things they don’t agree with or identify with, concerning the object of their affection.
One concern that is just now beginning to pop up is the proximity and the access that some of the more, let’s say adventurous fans, are finding themselves enjoying as they attend the concerts. This testimony written in a forum about their recent concert adventures:
“TOUR BUSES were parked in the hotel parking lot, so we decided to barricade all the entrances (there were like 10 of us and then it eventually grew to like 30) and wait for them to come out… they said they wouldn’t kick us out cause there were so few of us and we can try hunting them down.”
Yep, ‘hunting them down’ – like they’re on some kind of safari. She continues with recounting how the girl’s bus driver gave them better ‘hunting’ information:
but at like 12 we met the girl’s bus driver and she said when the bus starts moving we can just follow them and it’ll lead us to where the idols will be coming out from… we chased it to the “secret” entrance”
Having gained access to the ’secret’ entrance she and her fan pals encountered Carly:
“while carly was signing my thing she’s like “i heard you guys running past our hallway like a million times…and that was just the beginning. there was no fence between us or anything we caught them off guard.”
There are also stories about some fans shooting the Idols with water pistols, and I thought what the hell is that being allowed for – when will those water pistols become just pistols and what sort of non-security is this?
“I heard someone squirted MJ with a water gun before they were rushed unto the buses at that time. Unbelievable.”
(I found a few of these little poster “gems” on Smartie’s site.)
One thought, is 19E, and the PopTart corporation so enamored of the mighty dollar they’d risk a publicized scandal? If one of the contestants were hurt or worse, certainly that would create some killer headlines… Just amazing. Amazingly disturbing on several levels.
This is some footage from the after-show in Chicago with Jason Castro signing assorted items the fans are shoving at him as they scream into his face. Man, he’s got a lot more patience than I would under those circumstances. A few of the gals are completely losing their minds and emitting this ear piercing shrieks, “Jason, Jason, Jason”. Duct tape time there, chicas.
video c/o BigYear2008
Here is a flashback to the ’80’s for those Idol fans on ’safari’.
“Obsession” Animotion
Taylor Hicks, if he’d been allowed to play his harmonica or guitar during Season 5 would have conclusively made the other contestants the definition of “moot points”. It is also very possible that his caliber of post-Idol Cd would have been much improved as well with the altered mass public perception of his talents. The “woulda, shoulda coulda” game – I could go on. Certainly there would exist a different view of Taylor Hicks, but then we would have had less entertaining and colorful commentary by Simon Cowell, such as, “Drunk Dad at a wedding”.
Taylor Hicks video,”Here Comes the Sun” by Sunnydey1
Spoilers out today indicate Jason Castro will be performing an Eagle’s tune. It is reported he will be playing his guitar again this week and the judges criticize his playing it twice in a row. Again, this is just spoilers and not confirmed truth since family and close associates are bound by the diabolical 19E to stay mum and are abiding by the rules, so far…
Since the rules have changed and now, instruments allowed, the contestants who can play and feel comfortable playing, shouldn’t consider ‘changing it up’to mean play one week and not the other. Too much of this thought process makes them seem more Organ Grinder Monkey than artist. If the contestant plans in the future, in their career, to play that guitar or keyboard, or whatever instrument they gravitate toward, now is the time to feature that side of them. It provides further identity development in the mass public eye.
The criticism regarding, changing it up, simply manipulative jargon to fool the mass public. Let’s look at the flipside. Contestants that every week stand up and just sing, how about they work to change it up? My words, “So you stood there and sang again, you need to change it up”. Really, so what if they can’t play any instruments, so what if they just want to sing, no interest in strumming the guitar or learning piano? In the spirit of 19E, and this bloody reality show, I’d add, “Grab a tamborine or for heaven’s sake beat a cowbell, something, just change it up”.
Let’s tell Ben Harper, Eddie Veddar to change it up shall we?
Jason Castro who, initially seemed a rather unlikely contestant is showing a likely strong contender status for the long haul this season. Each year I tell myself, I’m not really interested in the show any longer and then someone captures my attention. Season five, Taylor Hicks for his originality, his passion and drive and natural talent. Last year, Sanjaya Malakar. I wrote about him largely because I thought the kid was being completely abused via the media. He showed a great deal of courage and chutzpah, and for that I liked the kid.
Jason Castro is turning up the notch regarding originality. Castro takes it a step further than just having a non-traditional hairstyle. This past week Castro was the first contestant to take the show up on being able to incorporate musical instruments into this season’s performances. Not only did he get up on the Idol stage with millions watching on his first performance to sing, but he did it with grace, style and radiated star power. He stood that stage and performed Lovin’ Spoonfuls, “Daydream Believer” with an ease of conviction that he knows who he is. Castro does not seem to be someone seeking to find themselves, rather he appears to already realize who he is, and what message he wants to bring. I loved the guys’ natural ease and laid-back vibe.
Posted by spinshack 
Posted by spinshack 
Posted by spinshack 
