Last night was Elvis night on American Idol. We knew it was going to be interesting just based on the fact that there was a girl left and Elvis doesn't really fit all their styles. If anyone was expected to do better than the others, it would have had to have been Taylor. Also, it will be interesting to see the results of what appeared to be some preferential treatment by the producers on Elliott's second performance. As for the show, in chronological order . . .
Taylor started off the night with his annoying Soul Patrol chanting and what looked like an impression as much as a performance of "Jailhouse Rock." I know Taylor has a huge number of fans, but he really can't escape his own cheesiness. It brings me to the question of how these contestants will do in their careers post-Idol. I am not sure if Taylor has a career more than a year or so after AI. I mean the majority of people buying records and going to concerts aren't going to dig his act after the novelty of the show wears away. Just think about it this way. Can you imagine what his album would sound like? I think every song will easily be traced to the influence. One will sound like Harry Connick. One will sound like Michael McDonald. Etc. Etc. It will be like a collection of genres that would play better for a variety show in Vegas than anywhere else.
Chris Daughtry did "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis and while I thought it was a solid performance, he didn't take the kinds of chances, vocally, that he has gotten us used to. Maybe he was a little gun-shy after almost singing his voice out last week. The judges weren't critical and Simon even said "it worked," but I am not sure if this performance had the energy to really rile up the Chris fan-base.
Elliott Yamin did "Why Can't My Dream Come True" and he did yet another solid performance. At the same time, if he hasn't swayed all those kids out there to vote for him yet, I am not sure it was enough of a performance to make it happen. Elliott is probably the most mismatched performer on the show between his actual performances and ability and the disparity in the number of times he has been in the bottom few. If there is anyone on the show who has really progressed as a singer and performer, it is definitely Elliott Yamin. He strikes me as the type of guy who might be able to find a career with the proper kind of marketing and placement. After American Idol, I don't think he will be able to play basketball arenas around the country, but he will definitely be able to play jazzy types of clubs and the House of Blues assuming he gets a great backing band.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Judge Judi
Craig,
I usually don't blog to your write-ups because I don't particularly appreciate your assessments of the shows. And today's review confirms that. Your last remark "If Katharine had shown any cleavage at all it would be a no doubt" ... oh please!! That's a really stupid remark. Every other writer and critic and regular viewer of A.I. are ALL raving about Elliot's performance last night! How can you write that you think he's the next to go??
Are you really that much of a chauvinist to think that if Katharine hung her boobs out there, she’d get more votes!!?? It’s about singing talent, Craig!!! And Elliot blew everyone out of the water last night. Come on’ America!! Someone back me up here!!
Craig, you are WAY OFF BASE!!!
2 - Craig Lyndall
Judge Judi, I couldn't disagree more and it isn't a stupid remark just because you don't agree with it. In fact, I think the stupid remark is to say that this show is all about singing.
Have you seen the NBC show Las Vegas? How about Baywatch? These aren't riveting shows with amazing dialogue. They are/were popular shows with slow-motion, silicone enhanced shots of bombshells. My saying that Katharine would get more votes with more cleavage isn't some crazy out-of-touch revelation.
The fact is that straight male viewers like sexy women.
Are you disputing that fact Judi?
Does that really make me a chauvinist or just someone who is pointing out a fact?
To think this is only about singing is crazy.
3 - Judge Judi
Are there any "straight male viewers" out there that can see PAST Katharine's boobs to agree with me that she is NOT the best singer on the show!!?? Craig, the fact that you even watch shows like Las Vegas and Baywatch speaks volumes of your "television watching discretion!!" Fine! I know that men like watching sexy woman, but they can tune into shows like Miss America for that!!
Regardless of what you say, American Idol is a singing talent show! Yes, having the package would be nice, but are you telling me that Rueben Studdard, or Fantasia were PLEASANT to look at!!??? They won because of their voices!!! GEEZ!!
Elliot should win this competition hands down!
4 - idolboomer
Judge Judi, I agree with you. Elliot
is fantastic. I think Katherine has a
great voice, but there have been
numerous songs she sang that she just
blew it. I certainly would hope that
such an idiotic statement about her
showing more boob would not have an
influence on her being voted off or not.
5 - Jewels
When Kat's cleavage isn't popping out and she's not popping strategically placed buttons, you see what's really there. I disagree with your chosing Elliott to go home and Chris staying. Chris is teetering on the brink tonight. Let's see if he falls off...I though, am leaning towards Kat waving bye-bye and her McFather taking her home.
6 - Craig Lyndall
Judge Judi, I am not trying to actually make my opinions on the contestants when I write these reviews.
I think the two best all around talents left are Chris and Elliott, but I am just trying to review the show. It is my opinion that while the performances matter to an extent, sometimes they don't.
Remember when Kellie screwed up her song royally and America still voted to keep her on? Was American Idol "just a singing contest" that night? Or were people voting on things other than just pure vocals?
Look, you seem to be carrying some hostility toward me for my review and my opinion, but the fact remains that I am looking at the way the show, its performers, and their individual performances react with the voting public. I am not trying to say who I like the best and want to win. I am trying to keep it a little bit objective.
And as for Las Vegas, I find this show really shlocky and fun. It is kind of nice to watch one superficial show with easy to understand storylines, some eye candy and a bit of humor. It is a campy show not unlike the Charlie's Angels movies.
Baywatch was the greatest show in the world because when it was on, I was about 13 or 14 years old and it would give any 13-year-old that funny feeling climbing the rope in gym class thing. It is a fact. I have heard older guys say the same things about Lynda Carter in that Wonder Woman outfit. Is it so far out of the realm of possibility to think that Katharine could be doing the same thing for a whole new generation of boys who are watching the show?
Come on.
7 - Sizzlin
Craig, you are an idiot, go back to your dark corner in your basement and continue doing what I assume you are doing after watching the "boobs" on AI, and I really don't care that you got "the funny feeling" while doing your rope in grade school or was that just yesterday with your rope and AI?
Idolboomer and Jewels are right on, Eliott was fantastic and Taylor should go tonite.
Judge Judi, I don't know you but you go girl!!
8 - Craig Lyndall
Sizzlin, no personal attacks please. If you don't have anything constructive to say go back to your silly little message boards where there are no rules, and better yet, no real civil conversation.
9 - Melanie
Craig suggests here that Elliot had more "help" from the producers. Actually, the others have had far more help in past shows, and Elliot has been the last one to spruce up his act with production schtick. In past weeks Chris has had special classical guitarists by his side and lead rock guitarists in other numbers, and other special effects. Taylor has had guitar and saxophone band members rocking it up with him. Catherine had those special drummers last week accompanying her to great effect, and has had breasts and legs spilling out over the camera in other numbers. So, Elliot finally had some LONG OVERDUE attention from the producers.
They had been ignoring him hoping he would go away, probably because they saw the least marketing potential with him. BUT they finally must have realized that he is in the same looks catgory as James Blunt, Adam Sandler, Dylan and others who have a not-exactly-handsome-but-sexy-Cuteness that is all the rage now.
Mattola was shameless in his promotion of Catherine and Chris, with his eyes full of dollar signs at the thought of their marketing potential. He had no kind words for Elliot, but Elliot really really showed him! Mattola was condescendingly saying he hoped Elliot could remember the words- and then Catherine forgot hers! Catherine had the "Bar Mitzva" performance and Elliot was the Surprise Star!!
Elliot has had to rely only on his voice all this time and the American public was able to appreciate that and see through the others' use of body parts, special effects and glitz. The producers were probably hoping to ignore Elliot but finally had to start paying attention to him now that they see he has a devoted fan base for good reason. He has ENERGY, Likability, Cuteness, a Heart, and a good voice.
10 - NR Davis
Taylor should go tonight? Obviously, that is your opinion, but where did you get that from anything said earlier? Trust me: Taylor will not go home tonight. In fact, I am going to bite the bullet and predict that Taylor Hicks will win.
11 - Judge Judi
Sorry Craig, but you STARTED this with your remark about Katharine’s cleavage. If you were being objective (as you claim) you would recognize TALENT and put the remarks about their appearance away. You didn’t comment on my remark about Rueben or Fantasia, and their wonderful LOOKS?? And I can’t even comment on the “gym class thing” … yuck, can’t go there!!
Their looks may play a PART in it, but it’s NOT what this competition is about. I apologize if I seemed “hostile” to you in any way. I just thought your remarks were short-sighted and NOT very objective at all.
Melanie " you had a great review! Insightful and very objective!! I like your comparison to Sandler and Dylan … GO ELLIOT!!
12 - Craig Lyndall
I can't put remarks about their appearances away because it is my opinion that people vote on them. Trust me. I am not getting all hot and bothered personally by Katharine. I passed puberty over 10 years ago. It isn't my opinion that Katharine is incredibly hot or anything. It is my opinion that between her cleavage showing, and her crawling around the stage on her knees that she is playing the "Sexpot Card" and it is working on occasion with voters. For the record, I have never voted for a single contestant.
As for Reuben and Fantasia, I can't comment on Fantasia because I didn't watch that season.
As for Reuben, keep in mind that he was up against Clay. I have read some opinions that have stated something interesting about the Clay vs. Reuben thing. When it came to that vote, you had two very talented singers. I wish I had a link to the article, but it said that America's perception of Clay Aiken as an effeminate male probably hurt him extraordinarily.
And even short of pointing out America's potential homophobia, Clay Aiken is no looker. In a looks competition, who is better looking? Clay or Reuben? I can't even guess what America's answer would be.
13 - Sizzlin
Sorry for the "personal attack".
Civil conversation? I guess rubbing up against a rope is really civil, but since I like silly boards, I wouldn't know about that.
Melanie, I couldn't have said it better.
14 - Craig Lyndall
By the way, NR Davis, I have been skeptical of Taylor's chances all the way along, but honestly, I would no longer be that surprised to see Taylor win it all. I find it somewhat inexplicable because he can be so cheesy. But at the same time, he has talent and he is a whole lot of fun.
Maybe he can go all the way. You will look like something of an oracle if it does happen, NR Davis.
15 - Elliott Rules
Tonight's result show made me PUKE!!! Katharine KNOWS she should have been voted off. Maybe Mr and Mrs McPhee are paying people to vote for their pathetic daughter?? What else could this be? Even Simon KNEW Katharine SHOULD have gone home.
The only thing that makes me feel "alright" with America's decision tonight is that I KNOW Chris Daughtry will record a CD and have it go platinum!!
Katharine - please take your BOOBS and get them off of my TV!!!!
16 - Jewels
Craig Lyndall, I've been blogging and writing and promoting and writing to 'protect' Taylor Hicks from (19E)evil since January. Since you call Ms. Davis an oracle (she and I share taste in music and other things) what am I? - He will win this.
A.I. is learning an important lesson.
17 - Judge Judi
Jewels -
What does THAT mean ... "AI is learning an important lesson." ??? That you can act like a moran, and jump and scream and fall down on the stage, and THAT proves you have talent?? I will say that Taylor has a "decent" voice ... certainly better than Bucky or Kelly. But an American Idol?? I don't think so. Who's going to buy his CD's?? What kind of music is he going to perform on his CD? I'm sorry, but convulsing on stage is NOT my idea of "entertainment."
18 - Daynara
Can't believe Chris is outta here. Hope Elliott takes it over Taylor.
19 - FilteringCraig
Judge Judi, I think we can put the notion that this is a singing contest to rest. If it was really a singing contest, Katharine would have gone home this week.
20 - Judge Judi
Yep, I hate to admit it, but America has turned this reality TV show into a popularity contest for sure! And I KNOW that people are NOT voting based on each night's performances either! If they were, Katharine would have been outta there! Even Simon knew it!
I can only hope that Chris' voters will now call in for Elliot!! I'm just not going to be able to survive watching the remainder of the season, now that I have to watch Taylor and Katharine make complete idiots of themselves ... one dancing around like a fool, and the other hanging her boobs out for American to see. I know that YOU'LL like the boobs thing, Craig!
21 - Craig Lyndall
Funny. I don't even find her that hot, though. And seriously when Randy told her about some pitch problems about a month ago, and she said "Well that isn't anything they can't fix in a studio" I just wanted to shoot her. Try performing your songs. If we wanted to hear someone's performances perfected with machines, we would pick someone with more personality than you, Katharine.
22 - Judge Judi
I agree, Craig. Anyone can sing in a studio and have them "digitally" fix their performances.
See Craig!? We agree on something. We're almost friends again!
23 - Craig Lyndall
Rock on. And if the cleavage monster goes home next week, I imagine we will agree on another thing! :-)
I can't believe she survived this week.
24 - Judge Judi
Just promise me that you'll call in some votes for my man, Elliot? I'm on a "war path" to make sure that TALENT wins out, and not theatrics!
25 - Craig Lyndall
Actually, I think Taylor, while different, has a lot of talent too. I don't think either Elliott or Taylor would hurt the show's reputation. They are both worthy winners. Good luck with your crusade though. Taylor seems pretty damn popular for whatever reason.