Confession time: I was scared when the call came from on high to help cover American Idol this year. Yes, I've watched it from the beginning and got wrapped up with the whole Kelly/Justin thing like the rest of the country, and unlike the rest of the country, I actually saw From Justin to Kelly (thank you, $5 WalMart DVD bin). After the first few seasons, however, I started to lose interest.
I was right there when Ruben and Carrie won, but was in no way a member of "The Soul Patrol." I didn't really care which David took the crown, and I didn't exactly rush out to see Fantasia on Broadway. After seven seasons, all of the contestants started to look the same to me. Everyone ran together, and no one stood out. I know that Daughtry has gone on to have a decent career, but I couldn't for the life of me tell you which season he was on. It was all white noise.
That is, until Nick Mitchell came on the scene.
Nick Mitchell never should have made it through to Hollywood week. He is the guy who makes it onto the audition episode mainly so people can make fun of him. He broke the cardinal rule of auditions: He dressed up in costume. The judges, especially Simon, hate costumes. I don't care if you're Aretha Franklin herself. If you come dressed up in a bunny costume, you're not getting to Hollywood week. That's just a fact.
The judges take this show (and themselves) very seriously, and any indication that you don't think that this is The Most Important Singing Competition In The History of Ever, gets you a swift kick in the ass. To be fair, this isn't exactly uncommon in reality-competition shows (see: Tyra Banks' crazy eyes on Top Model), but Idol holds itself in high esteem and expects you to as well. Nick, however, managed to slip through. Whether it was his likability, his talent, or the sheer WTF-ness of his whole act, he has the potential to become the next American Idol-- and boy does that piss people off.
Most people say that Nick Mitchell, who goes by the stage name Norman Gentle and performs in a costume made up of a shiny shirt, khaki shorts, over-sized glasses and a sweat band, doesn't take this competition seriously; and for that he is committing a great sin. I disagree on both fronts.
Mitchell isn't making a mockery out of the competition. I believe 100% that like every other contestant who has graced that stage, he believes that Idol is his best chance at stardom. If he's making a mockery out of anything, it's the self-importance that drags the show down, and the cookie-cutter images of both pop stars in general and Idol contestants specifically, and what's wrong with that?
Look, he said himself that he's not going to be the next Justin Timberlake, but neither is he the next Sanjaya. He's not going to rock your body, but the guy can sing. Just based on singing alone, he was one of the best contestants up there last night, and he was the only contestant that was even remotely memorable. He performed, in every sense of the word.
Choosing the next president should be serious. Choosing the next American Idol should not. Very few people get to perform live for 30 million television viewers. It's an exciting and rare opportunity, and if Nick Mitchell wants to, God forbid, have fun with it, why should anyone have a problem with that? He's taking a reality show in the autumn of its years and making it exciting. If anything, he's the hero in this situation-- not the villain.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-26-2009 @ 7:16PM
Joe Brooks said...
I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Parody musical performers can be just as popular and "idolistic" as normal music brats. William Hung, Weird Al, Tony Clifton. It's just another genre. While it may not be mainstream, it exists.
Norman/Nick should never be considered serious. He's not aiming to be part of that market.
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2-27-2009 @ 12:43AM
Phish said...
with the exception of wierd al (who writes great lyrics), there rest are idiots with no talent who are famous because of their idiocy and nothing else. wierd al has a cult following, and his songs are well written and incredibly funny, pls dont compare him to william hung and your mom.
2-27-2009 @ 12:22PM
scott said...
wow joe, andy kaufman is your mom?? who knew?
2-26-2009 @ 7:50PM
gmmr said...
Norman Gentle cracked me up last night. And all throughout the day I would think of him yelling "Doogie" and laugh all over again. I don't think he should be in the Top 12 but I'd like to see him get a shot at performing a few times throughout the season. IDOL could be a great platform for whatever it is he wants from a career.
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2-26-2009 @ 7:58PM
Pudie said...
I've never really watched the show beyond auditions and having it as background noise. At last night it was background noise again. This dude made me actually pay attention though. Everyone else seemed so fake and showy and trying to the the "right" motions. This guy went up there, rocked the song, and performed his ass of. At this point if anyone should win it's this guy.
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2-26-2009 @ 10:24PM
TheH2s said...
Since the first time I saw him on AI I thought he was brilliant. He is being himself and if someone doesn't give him his own show or at the very least a Vegas act then they aren't doing their job. He's funny as hell, he's entertaining and he can sing.
He actually makes AI interesting and something that's fun to watch.
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2-26-2009 @ 11:45PM
deebopalula said...
I agree with all the commenters here thusfar. There are people who audition who attempt to play the parody card and fail miserably. It takes a rare talent who can pull it off successfully. All I know is that I've watched since season one faithfully. There have been winners I agreed with (Kelly Clarkson) and those I didn't (Taylor Hicks), but this is the first performer who has made me laugh - and not at him - WITH him. He knows what he's doing and he's doing it well. Personally, I'd like to see him make Top 12 and then alternate Norman with Nick. He has a good enough voice to be able to do that.
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2-27-2009 @ 12:50AM
Phish said...
I dont think he should be on american idol. lets break it down for you slow people: AMERICAN IDOL.
Do you think he can be an idol for the general american audience?
He is more suited for a show like America's got talent, etc..
he can do a cabaret act, or a broadway type show.
I'm not saying this guy isnt talented, he sure is, i enjoyed his performances but i would never vote for him to be the next american idol, he doesnt fit the profile, and he would not want to fit that profile.
he is trying to get his 15 mins of fame, so he can launch into some solo career, and i respect him for that, i am sure he himself would not want to be crowned 'american idol' and get stuck with a 10 year contract singing david foster churned crap.
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2-28-2009 @ 4:30AM
Wedding Singer said...
Music isn't set into stone. It doesn't have rules. What you are describing is a factory product. The right look, the right sound and Voila'!,...... Not.
As a professional singer, I've watched a lot of other vocalists who were prettier and had a better voices than mine. But when they would take my place on stage the place would empty out. I've shared the spot light with a lot of former music stars. Who each one, despite all of their successes have told me that they wouldn't have a stood a chance on American Idol. Now imagine that?
Tom Petty was one of them.Dave Mathews another.
You can't open up a box of cake mix,add ingredients, follow the procedure and bake a new Star. It doesn't work like that.The audience will always look for heart,stage presence,that inner glow. We in the music business call it that certain "it".
And believe it or not,Norman (goofball) Gentle has it.
I hear that Taylor Hicks is acting in a play now.
2-27-2009 @ 1:36AM
Himanshu said...
Nick was one of the few second-group semifinalists who made a lasting impression, as some of the group's strongest contenders were lost in a blur of bad song choices.
It’s extra frustrating because many of these people were early favorites, and for good reason – they can sing. Unfortunately the songs they picked, did nothing to show that off.
http://www.truckuser.com
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2-27-2009 @ 7:57AM
Nate said...
If Norman wants his 15 minutes of fame to promote his career and can inexplicably con the judges into putting him in the final 36, well then, good for him. If you enjoy him, thats fine also, hopefully he will find the appropriate venue to do whatever it is he is doing and he and his fans can be happy. Just please dont tell me that he can sing and that he is talented. His whole act lowers the bar of expectation to the level of farce, so if he occasionally hits a few decent notes we say "hey, he can really sing" . I dont know if he can sing or not, cause he hasnt been trying to. While I will admit that his performance Wednesday night was somewhat entertaining in a what the hell was that kind of way, I didnt think it was really good and it didnt leave me wanting more. Norman stands out on Idol because he is the thing that doesnt fit. If you put him in a competition with comics or comic performers, I dont think his clownish antics would be quite as interesting or effective. Slapstick, hey look at me foolishness plays out rather quickly when measured against well crafted, well performed comedy acts.
If the judges put Norman through to play the fool and stir up some interest, well then, he has done that wonderfully. But that doesnt make it right. His inclusion is a disservice to the fans who watch the show for its stated purpose, singing.
What I think is really interesting about Norman is that when he is in his Nick mode, if you watch carefully, he seems to be genuinely pained and disappointed when the judges or Ryan make dismissive or negative statements about his Norman act. It doesnt make sense. If he is going to present himself in such a ridiculous fashion, he cant reasonably be offended when he is ridiculed for it. You cant have it both ways. Is he as clueless as all of the horrible singers we have seen over the years who come out on stage and absolutely stink the place up, thinking the whole time that they are blowing us away,when really they are just blowing?
So, now Norman is gone, possibly for good, and he can go on to appear in Vegas, his own reality show or whatever it is that awaits him. His fans can watch him and adore him and it will be great for you all. Then, in the middle of it all, I hope some guy, or girl, comes out and starts singing a song in a serious fashion. All his fans will scream "What the hell is that doing here, its out of place"! Then they will know how so many of us Idol fans feel when Norman trashes a show about singing we are trying to watch
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2-27-2009 @ 8:34AM
danoak said...
Norman has been the only bright spot in what has become a cookie cutter, same as it ever was, show.
After watching the blonde with the sleeve tattoo get knocked out I cheered. ENOUGH with the chicks with sleeve tattoos. Great so you've got a sleeve tattoo, now I have to watch as EVERY week your in some outfit that shows off how you F'ed your whole arm.
Thats the end of my rant now I'm going back to making soap
T
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2-27-2009 @ 11:23AM
Ceerubin said...
Nick/Norman is awesome. Not only is he funny and entertaining he has an amazing voice!!! I say good for him for doing what he loves. I hope he gets back on in the Wild Card. if you go by how the kick people off, then last night he came in 4th!!
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2-27-2009 @ 12:12PM
Dan said...
Nick/Norman would be awesome in Vegas as an opening act for a comedian or magician.
But his presence at this level in the competition is a joke. There were quite a few talented men who got turned away because the producers wanted to have Nick/Norman's ratings boost.
If his presence after Hollywood wasn't a "Jump the Shark" moment, the addition of the obnoxious Kara DioGuardi was. Either way, this season has to be considered "the beginning of the end" for Idol.
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2-27-2009 @ 12:20PM
Joanne said...
I love him, and am bummed he didn't make it through last night. But there's always the Wild Card Round!
Joanne Brokaw
host of the Gospel Soundcheck blog
http://blog.beliefnet.com/gospelsoundcheck/2009/02/norman-gentle-this-seasons-san.html
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2-27-2009 @ 1:12PM
Cheri said...
I just wish he would be included in the Idol tour. I have never gone to a tour show, can't imagine I ever would, unless Norman Gentle was performing! He cracks me up. I don't think Nick is doing so well, though. Did anyone notice how completely lost and unsure he was in the group song last night?
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2-27-2009 @ 1:02PM
Eludium-Q36 said...
I'm with Phish on this BIG TIME ! I realize alot of people like the Norman act, but THIS is American Idol (as Ryan emphasizes every open) and it should focus on singing talent, this is NOT Star Search or America Has Talent.
This show needs to focus on singing, not on entertaining with singing thrown in. Thus, I think Norman is bad for Idol, yes he's funny/entertaining, but he doesn't belong there, it hurts the show and trivializes the others attempts at real singing performance. I FF through his stage time because of this.
Having said that, that's a purist view, that it hurts the Amer Idol "brand". However, you can argue, as many have, that it draws viewers and that's the business aspect of the show. Fine, but why not just show cheerleaders in daisy duke cutoffs if you're interested in a cheap way to draw viewers ?! And that's the problem! Idol is cheating itself with Nick, it needs to keep to its core mission - singing! Leave Nick and his Norman act to the other talent shows, he doesn't belong on Idol.
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2-27-2009 @ 1:32PM
metz said...
I think it's hilarious that people actually think American Idol is about music. It's not. If it was about looking for great singers it would be on the radio. It's not. American Idol is about 1 thing. It's trying to be a highly watch television show. That's why the finalists cut across all demographics, that's why they are force fed different musical themes each week. They are trying to appeal to as broad an audience as possible and get viewers. That's the only reason they have the audition shows and they tweak the format each season.
It's not about finding good singers. It's about producing highly watched TV. Norman is unique and brings in viewers. Up to a certain point in the season, he's valuable to them. That's why he's made it as far as he has.
Singers with real talent and drive are signed to contracts without American Idol.
2-27-2009 @ 4:16PM
lawl said...
No, the show is a fucking joke (ha, just like TVSquad) anyway. Let him have his fun.
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2-27-2009 @ 8:14PM
Lori said...
I think Nick/Norman is heeeelarious! Yes, I agree that he shouldn't take a spot from someone who can seriously sing. If he took Danny's spot, I'd be upset. However, that said, he is most definately an entertainer. Saturday Night Live and Mad Tv....take notice!! You should snatch this man up pronto!! And please don't compare him to Sanjaya, because he just plain sucked.
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