Posted May 9th 2008 10:03AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, TV Squad Lists
Watching
American Idol this season, I've come to the not-so-astute realization that we can't all like everyone who makes it to the top ten each season. There are different musical styles, personalities and, let's face it, some pretty crappy singers who make it through.
So I've begun to fantasize about an all-star
AI top ten. Imagine if everyone that you really liked from the top ten of all the past seasons of
AI were in the top ten together. I know the top ten can't be all the handsome rocker men I so adore, but it can be a good mix of good music, memorable personalities, and lasting talent.
If memory serves me correctly (and we all know it probably doesn't), these are the contestants that I'd pick, in no particular order:
1. Brooke White, season seven, fifth placeNo, I'm not a sucker for a crier. I simply love her singer/songwriter style, something we really haven't ever seen in
Idol and something I hope we see more of. When
AI started, it was the boy-band voice, then it moved to the rockers; hopefully Brooke has started a new force of no-nonsense talent coming through.
Continue reading American Idol: My fantasy top ten
Posted May 8th 2008 5:22PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Predictions and Trends
At this point an argument can be made for any of the Top 3 to win the whole thing. In fact, that's just what we're going to do. Now that we've said goodbye to so many other hopefuls we're down to a Final Three every bit as strong as Season Two's Kimberly Locke, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, though drastically different. All three have proven that they have great voices. All three have proven that they have tremendous fan support. And all three seem to tap into a very different fan-base.
But who's the most deserving of the win? David Archuleta has wowed the judges and audience week after week with his polished vocals, but lacks a commanding stage presence. Syesha Mercado has played the role of the underdog throughout this competition, but has been coming on strong these past few weeks with passion and conviction. David Cook quickly emerged as a front-runner with his powerful rock vocals and innovative arrangements, but is he too limited to be the next Idol?
Continue reading Who should win American Idol?
Posted May 8th 2008 2:02PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, Predictions and Trends, News and Gossip
Welcome back to our weekly
American Idol polls round-up. Each week we look at various online polls that were conducted from the end of last week's results up to the performance show Tuesday. And then a few that were conducted after the performance show, but before the results were revealed.
This way we can analyze how the week's performances affected a contestant's overall popularity, which turns out to be not very much except in a few select cases anymore. Well, Syesha managed to take all those last place poll positions right into the Top 3 while Jason's miscues and forgotten lyrics made his fans forget to call in for him. It's been building toward a David-David finale, but if we believe that Jason has never placed number one in the votes, then that means Syesha has proven herself capable of beating the Davids head-to-head. Will the inevitable play out or will a David go home? We'll see next week.
Continue reading Idol Polls: The Top 4
Posted May 7th 2008 8:45PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Performances, Episode Reviews
(S07E38) Tonight, Maroon 5 joins in the fun as we narrow down the remaining finalists to the Top 3. Where did Brooke's voting constituents go? If they went to Jason Castro then maybe he can pull of a huge upset and supplant a David or Syesha. If they went Syesha's way, it may be the end of the road for Jason Castro. If they all swung my way, who knows what will happen because Ryan forgot to give out my numbers ... again! Chime in through the show and critique the amazing Ford commercials, sound off on the amazing live viewer call-in feature (*cough*crap*cough*) and let us know who you think is going home.
You can join the chat by following this link. Look for the full episode review right here later tonight.Continue reading American Idol: Top 3 revealed
Posted May 7th 2008 6:22PM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: American Idol, Video, Bones, Alumni, Casting, Reality-Free
Before the writers strike shut down the set of
Bones, the cast and crew completed an episode titled "The Wannabe in the Weeds." If you recall, in mid-December, I told you that former
American Idol contestants Brandon Rogers and Ace Young would guest star in this
American Idol-themed episode. Finally, months after the episode was completed, we will get to see the two
Idol finalist perform both on and off the stage on
Bones.
Continue reading American Idol fans make sure you watch the next Bones - VIDEO
Posted May 6th 2008 7:45PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Alumni, Performances, Episode Reviews
(S07E37) Finally, the plethora of mentors is gone and we have a potentially more expansive theme with "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." I'm not sure what it means exactly but if it means music by artists in the Hall that's a lot of good songs to select from, and artists that better suit the individual contestants than some of the mentors. I like the idea of mentors, I just don't think it should be limited to their specific body of work on those weeks. What do you think? Chime in about that, the performances tonight or whatever's on your mind in the live chat tonight.
You can join the chat by following this link. Look for the full episode review right here later tonight.Continue reading American Idol: Top 4 perform
Posted May 6th 2008 11:02AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, News and Gossip
Welcome back to
"AI Aftermath," where we explore
Idol's past. Each week, as one more
American Idol hopeful is eliminated from the competition, we take a look back at contestants past who were eliminated in the same week. We'll examine how they did on the show and what they've been up to since their eliminations. In honor of
Brooke White's elimination last week we'll be looking at other fifth place finishers.
This week: 5th place finishers, featuring featuring RJ Helton (Season 1), Trenyce (Season 2), George Huff (Season 3), Scott Savol (Season 4), Paris Bennett (Season 5) and Chris Richardson (Season 6).
Continue reading AI Aftermath: 5th place finishers - VIDEOS
Posted May 5th 2008 3:39PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Programming, American Idol, Battlestar Galactica, Boston Legal, CSI, Desperate Housewives, ER, House, Law and Order, Lost, Scrubs, The Simpsons, Smallville, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, Family Guy, My Name Is Earl, Bones, Supernatural, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, King of the Hill, The Office, America's Next Top Model, Dancing With The Stars, Shark, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, Brothers and Sisters, NCIS, TV Squad Lists, Reaper, Moonlight, Samantha Who?, Reality-Free, Gossip Girl
Holy frik! We've only just started to embrace the return of our shows after a shortened strike season. Now, they are almost over. In the next few weeks all of our network favorites will say good-bye for the summer to be replaced with reality shows, reality game shows, reality soap operas, and Regis on primetime (again).
Needless to say, I'm a bit depressed. As I am sure you are as well. But, we will do our duty and press on. Thusly, we here at the sprawling lakefront offices of TV Squad (you choose the lakefront) have compiled list of when your favorite, and not so favorite, shows will be saying good-bye for their summer vacation. As usual, taking the fickleness of the networks, these times and days can change at a moment's notices. We will try to update you of those changes as quickly as our little fingers can type it out.
So, with a leaden heart, here are your season and series finales.
Continue reading It's finale time again! No, really.
Posted May 2nd 2008 7:25PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, Performances
When the end finally came for Brooke White, none of us were too surprised, and her least of all. "I've been packed for two weeks," she said in the
Brooke White exit interview. But while she may have expected to go, she had mixed feelings about it. "Part of me wanted to keep going," she indicated. "Song selection and the pressure has really increased with two songs and preparing for the finale. So in that sense, it does feel kind of good to be done with that, but I was welcoming the challenge as well."
There were times throughout her run where Brooke was clearly in over her head, but that was generally more due to the restricted theme week being so far out of the zone of what she does. As she herself said, she really connects with "the singer/songwriters of the '70s." Thus, while a pop career would seem very much not in Brooke's future, if she can find a place in the modern music scene for a modern singer/songwriter, like a Tori Amos, then she should do just fine.
Continue reading AI OD: A farewell to Brooke White - VIDEOS
Posted May 1st 2008 12:41PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, Predictions and Trends
Welcome back to our weekly
American Idol polls round-up. Each week we look at various online polls that were conducted from the end of last week's results up to the performance show Tuesday. And then a few that were conducted after the performance show, but before the results were revealed.
This way we can analyze how the week's performances affected a contestant's overall popularity, which turns out to be not very much except in a few select cases. After a fairly lackluster night in which he deserved at least a Bottom Two slot, Jason skated into the Top 4. The question now is can the comeback queen break into the axis of testosterone and keep her hopes alive. Syesha has been at the bottom of these polls for over two months now and despite occasionally Bottom Three/Two finishes she's still alive and in the Final Four. Has her time finally run out? She's the last woman standing; does that stand for anything? We'll see next week.
Continue reading Idol Polls: The Top 5
Posted Apr 30th 2008 8:45PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Performances, Celebrity Commentary, Episode Reviews
(S07E36) What an underwhelming evening for the most part. In fact, I'd like to scrub that first round of songs from my memory banks completely. The contestants should be ashamed that they took a good catalog of songs (Neil Diamond's catalog) and made it so interminably boring. As Simon said, luckily they had second songs to redeem themselves, and a few of them even managed to do so. Only Syesha had two strong performances with true heart and emotion, so we'll see how that plays out. Is it the end of the road for Jason? Brooke? Neil Diamond and Natasha Bedingfield are performing. Won't you join our live chat and let us know what you think, starting just before 9:00 PM ET? There's virtual cookies and milk.
You can join the chat by following this link. Look for the full episode review right here later tonight.Continue reading American Idol: Top 4 Revealed
Posted Apr 30th 2008 3:41PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, News and Gossip
Note I said faltering and not failing.
American Idol is still far and away the number one show on television. But ratings are down for the second season in a row, so those in charge would be fools to simply ignore this. And since you are the ones tuning the show out more than you used to, they've reached out to the viewing public to see what they feel is and isn't working.
That's right,
American Idol conducted a market research survey to find out what we really think about the current season and the show in general. Basically they asked if we like the Top 12, why we watch the show and how we watch the show (DVR, live, etc.). Do we visit the web site, blah, blah, blah. Interestingly, there are several questions specifically eliciting feedback on each of the four main components of the
Idol machine. It seems they're feeling out the public on how important Ryan, Paula, Randy and Simon are to the show.
Continue reading FOX courting fans to tweak faltering American Idol formula
Posted Apr 29th 2008 7:45PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Performances, Celebrity Commentary
(S07E35) Hey look, another mentor that's a solid hundred years older than every single contestant. But Neil Diamond's still a cool cat so I forgive him. Oh and what do you know? Neil has an album,
Home Before Dark, coming out next week. I'm sure that's just a coincidence. He really did the show because he enjoys it and truly wants to help the contestants. Not to promote an album. That Neil he's a swell guy. Why don't you drop by tonight and chat us up about it in our live chat?
You can join the chat by following this link. Look for the full episode review right here later tonight.Continue reading American Idol: Top 5 perform
Posted Apr 29th 2008 4:41PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, News and Gossip, Software
Tired of your fingers bleeding and still only getting 219 calls in for your favorite contestant each Tuesday night? Do you go to bed with hand spasms, because let's face it your fingers aren't as young as they used to be? Well, now you can still vote for your favorites like a teenager with more free time than you have left in the rest of your life without all the hassle and stress (do I sound like an infomercial yet?).
Gizmo5 is a software package that can be installed on your computer (XP, Vista and Mac!) as well as your mobile phone. A new contact is created named "Idol Voting." Simply select this contact and select 1 to
cast 25 consecutive votes for your favorite Idol contestant automagically (I know what I said; it's
magical to me!). I know it works because I tested it last week voting for Brooke and Jason and ... oh! ... um ... sorry about that, Carly fans. Well, you can still save your favorites
this week. And your fingers, too.
PS: If someone at Gizmo5 is reading this, Carly was cut last week so you can remove her from your site. Cool?
Posted Apr 29th 2008 1:20PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, Predictions and Trends, TV Squad Lists
The fine folks over at AOL Television put together their "
11 Biggest American Idol Cliches," but as the self-proclaimed guru of all things
Idol, I figured my legions of fan (yes it's singular on purpose) are clamoring for my take. You have to figure that after nearly eight years on the air any show is going to rack up it's long, long list of annoying things.
And yet, I don't get nearly as annoyed when Jeff Probst yells "Come on in guys. [Team A] getting their first look at the new [Team B]. [Contestant Name] voted out at the last tribal council," even though he does it every single week. "[Team members], you're the last team to arrive. I'm sorry to tell you that you've both been eliminated from
The Amazing Race." No big deal. So why do Ryan, Simon and the gang at
American Idol drive us so crazy week after week?
Continue reading Five annoying American Idol cliches
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It's finale time again! No, really.
