An idea pierced the calm of my post-American Idol sleep early this morning: Could those nogoodniks at Vote for the Worst have had something to do with the inferior artist and performer taking the singing-contest crown last night?
Vote for the Worst is the destructive force that kept contestant Scott Savol on the show for far longer than he deserved to be. After Savol's long-delayed expulsion from AI, the VFTW baddies, naughty scamps that they are, had to go forward in their goal to keep "bad singers in the competition" in an effort to stick it to the American Idol powers that be. Would they use their evil powers to boost Carrie over Bo in their insidious plot to vote for the worst?
Ladies and gentlemen and everyone else, it appears VFTW may have played at least a small role in the anointing of the Mediocre Maiden from Oklahoma. Its site is talking smack about it today:
Hate to say we told you so... Bo and Carrie final 2? Farmbot wins? Hmmm... who called this a long time ago. That's ok, it's still a Vote for the Worst victory! Carrie warbled her way into the finals and then it was all rigged to help her win anyway. Thanks to the Independent in England for exposing the fact that American Idol was probably rigged, now let's see the backlash! Make sure to tell everyone to check out our scandals page. Poor Carrie, an unwitting accomplise [sic]. Then again, she never seemed that bright on the show anyway...
Underwood's ascendance, if not rigged, seems to have been predestined: Between VFTW, the hypnotic powers Simon Cowell has over the stupid and gullible, last week's Independent story announcing that Carrie was the winner, America's insistence on mediocrity at all costs, people who abandoned Bo Bice after news of his past drug arrests, and genuine Carrie fans, a true artist like Bice could not stand a chance. I actually read a 'Net message forum comment from some stupid US hausfrau who said that after single mom Fantasia Barrino won last year, it was time to reward a proper role model who had never made mistakes. Hey, if she hit bum notes (and most of them were bad in her atrocious final competition performances), as judge Paula Abdul said, "Who cares?"
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - BRICKLAYER
But oh, that booty.
2 - Carolyn
Hey Bo should of won and we all know it Carrie was great but she was mostly country and Bo well he could sing all kinds of music. Carrie definately deserves to be the runner up. But I can't wait to see them both in concert in Worchester. I really can not wait until Bo's c.d comes out
3 - Natalie Davis
Yeah, I will get Bo's disc for sure. I'll skip the Idol tour and wait to catch Bo (with or without Sugar Money, his band) and Pray for the Soul of Betty when they hit the road. But my money will NOT go to 19 Entertainment. And while I wish Carrie the best as your (but not my) American Idol, I won't buy her music because it does not interest me in the slightest.
4 - Eric Olsen
thanks Nat, interesting thoughts. I like Carrie fine but Bo was the man, nad 19 sucks, no question there
5 - Eric Olsen
by the way, I think it was very good for the show's credibility for two gen-U-wine rockers to do so well this season
6 - The Theory
in a competition like this you have to vote for the prettiest, since they all suck at singing.
7 - June
If a skinny, geeky looking guy with glasses, red hair, freckles, and ears that stick out can become American Idols biggest success story, then I say the future looks bright indeed for Bo!! That geeky guy was even an unabashed christian which isn't exactly a plus in Hollywood either. Actually the only thing this nerdy kid (whom everyone loves to love or hate) had going for him was a set of pipes, a sense of humor, smarts and a strong work ethic.(oh - and a loyal following) That said - Bo has pipes as well as 'the look' and a built in fan base, so the rest is up to him to show that you don't have to win the crown to win the race!!!!
8 - jarboy
does bo have a significant other? i wanna do him.
9 - Natalie Davis
Bo has a longtime girlfriend to whom he is devoted, according to his band's bassist. And did you know that Bo is a born-again Christian, just like Clay?
10 - Mark Saleski
y'know, i thought i had good ears...so i was surprised to see the judges talking up carrie's final performance, which i thought was kinda shrill and full of off notes.
very strange.
11 - Natalie Davis
Mr. Saleski, you do have good ears. I suffered through every bum note, then heard the judges praise her. Then the local news aired a music instructor who ripped her performance to shreds and pointed out the hideous last note that the judges say won the thing for her. I felt vindicated.
12 - jarboy
i don't think clay is born-again, i think he's always been a jesus-junkie. as for bo, it is not uncommon for recovering addicts to find religion. and if we're lucky, he's a straight as tom cruise.
13 - jenn
I think Bo should've won but I'm still pretty excited that Carrie won cuz i liked her 2. I am going to buy both their CDs when they come out. Heaven help us so Bo comes out with a CD quick. HE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yea, I'm crazy for Bo but who cares? Isn't over half the country crazy for voting for Ruben and Fantasia over Clay and Diana? I think so. And you can't blame me cuz i never voted, only this year. Once. For Bo, OF COURSE.
14 - Ashley
Even though Bo didnt win, he's my American Idol!
15 - Dan
Yeah, Bo's more talented, but Carrie really nailed that "Independence Day" song.
I think it would be safe to say that "Vote for the worst" probably overestimates their influence. It would be interesting to see what the percentage breakdown of the vote actually was. Is that secret information?
16 - Natalie Davis
Mr. Dan, mileage varies, apparently. Obviously.
I haven't liked Carrie's take on anything since her good job on "Sin Wagon" by the Dixie Chicks. And I liked her best early on when she covered Heart's "Alone." Despite my belief that she is a talented singer (one ill-equipped for prime time, Idol or not) the sound of her voice lately, particularly on Tuesday, made me want to nail my ears shut.
But I agree: Bo is more talented and a much more exciting, attractive performer. That should have netted him a victory in a rational world, however, this IS America. That being the unfortunate case, it is probably better that he placed.
17 - eloise
If Carrie won, and Bo placed, does that mean that Vonzell showed? I know that last night was all about Carrie and Bo, but I think some people are overlooking Vonzell. When the three of them sing "United We Stand", it is Bo and Vonzell's voice which stand out the most. Idol NEEDED country, liked the fact that they are appeasing the rockers by having Bo get a good contract from Clive Davis, and didn't really need Vonzell. Plain and simple. I still am wondering where Fantasia was last night???? and why they did not even mention how close or not close the vote was for the finale. The week before they announced that there was just 1% of the vote between each of the three finalists. Where did all of Vonzell's votes go???????????? I think I actually know the answer to both questions I am asking, but I am certainly willing hear other opinions.
18 - Natalie Davis
If I recall correctly, we didn't see much of the third-place contestants in any of the finales. In fact, this year, all the reviews say the top 12 got more airtime and attention (to fill up two hours, apparently) than in any previous AI finale.
19 - eloise
Natalie , You are correct in your assertion that this was the first season in which all of the finalists got much more air time. Some deserved it, and some did not. I just wish they had eliminated all of the "worst" Idols. Why did that one female singer get to sing the entire National Anthem and then get live air time? Maybe it was the William Hung mentality. Wait....I think William Hung got some air time last night, too. Oh well, if anyone wants to see a really good show, tune into A&E tonight at 9pm. It will make up for all of the "idle" time wasted last night.
20 - TylerNewton
"Vote for the Worst is the destructive force that kept contestant Scott Savol on the show for far longer than he deserved to be."
VFTW encouraged people to vote for Scott Savol, but Scott stayed on because AI fans wanted to get rid of the black contestants. That's why Nikko, Nadia and Anwar went consecutively. Vonzell only survived, because, as the last remaining black person, all of the black people who watch AI pooled their votes to save Vonzell.
THAT was enough to keep Vonzell on when Bo, Carrie, and Constantine fans were throwing votes to Anthony and Scott to get rid of Vonzell.
Vote for the Worst had very little to do with Scott Savol's run. It had much more to do with AI dynamics AND race.
***Bo/Carrie/Constantine fans did NOT want to see Vonzell (or any black person) in the finals, because they know the black person would AUTOMATICALLY win, even if the white person outperformed the black person.***
21 - TylerNewton
"Where did all of Vonzell's votes go????????????"
Black people generally abstained from the AI finale, considering this was the first final without anyone with African-American decent (they love it when a black person gets to the finals, because the black person is a shoo-in).
I suspect if hardcore Vonzell fans watched AI, they voted for Carrie. I heard many Vonzell "fans" (really just black people supporting the last remaining black contestant..damn racists!) say they liked and could relate to Carrie.
Rock and Country are two types of unwelcoming music to black people, but apparently rock is less inviting to blacks than pop-country. I didn't know any black people who liked Bo. In fact I was surprised to see a few black people in Bo's cheering section in Alabama.
This makes sense though: I know black people who will admit to liking Shania Twain and Faith Hill. I don't know ANY black people (especially young black people aged 12-30) that listen to the kinds of songs BO sings or even songs that Bo listens to.
22 - sister
I cannot believe what I am reading here. If Bo out-performed Carrie, why didn't he get more votes? And don't rant on and on about a conspiracy. I really thought Bo was way too 70's. Although country music is not my favorite, I definitely thought Carrie was the better performer.
23 - Marty Thau
More disposable music. Neither singer is doing anything new, or memorable. Carrie can't stay in tune and Bo will not be accepted in the real rock world.
Bo's greatest trait is his personal demeanor but his talent is suspect. Carrie's, too. Also, the control that Simon's company has over their careers -- management, recordings, touring, etc. -- tends to suggest that the show is rigged. More business -- as usual.
24 - bob
now why is it i couldnt even get though to vote for bo all 4 hrs. But ppl i talked to got right though to vote for carrie. Now carrie wins i dont think something adds up here.
25 - Natalie Davis
Mr. Newton, you are too frightening for words. Prayers...