Sanjaya Malakar: Someone’s screwing around here. He wasn’t that bad and actually has a very good voice. Like many others, I’m a bit creeped out by the Michael Jackson vibe he has and worried that he’s just not ready, but I’m not upset at all that he’ll get at least one more chance to finish puberty while on the show.
Brandon Rogers: Another guy who can sing, but Michael Jackson? I find this very interesting. Idol has seen competitors try to cover any number of artists who are very good even iconic singers like Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Aretha (way too often), and even Elvis and Sinatra. Now and then though, someone covers one of those artists well enough to be memorable. Have you ever noticed that no one ever covers Michael Jackson memorably? I suspect that the King of Pop, pre-whatever he started doing to himself, was a much more extraordinary performer than most people think. Anyway, the Idols keep trying and I keep asking “Where’s the charisma?”
Chris Richardson: Justin Timberfake.
Blake Lewis: Is my choice for the guy who’s playing the game the best so far. I thought he was pretty good with the Keane, but certainly not all that great on its own merits. Everyone was going, “Gee, he doesn’t have to beatbox. Wow.” He was also smart to come off as the first performer who didn’t seem to remember American Bandstand and Where the Action Is.
Jared Cotter: When I heard the name I was hoping this might be Jared from the Subway ads. When they brought him out, I was thinking, “Gee, maybe I should eat at Subway every day for the next twelve years,” and my pal Ryan was texting me “Now, that’s my kind of guy. You know, as a buddy, of course.”
AJ Tablado: I have to like anyone who tried out five times. I wonder if he had his collar down the first four times? Paula, who spent the last two weeks as a remarkably dignified voice of hope and encouragement after all that speculation, may be right. AJ really has an appealing voice, but I’m not sure what to make of the rest of the package. How many male contestants have been that much shorter than Ryan?
Article comments
1 - Ricky
Elliott and even Chris are way better than all the guys combined this year. Aside from Blake beat-box Lewis, nobody really stands out, no distinct voice. Just annoying. As for the girls, for me, there are at least 4 very very strong contenders.
2 - chancelucky
Ricky,
If I were to do a hundred word version of the review, that's pretty much what I'd say.
3 - Joyntex
The only season AI has been able to hold my interest the entire time and get any of my votes is season 5 and that is because of Elliott. He not only needs to phone home, he needs to come home!! There are some very talented girls this year but the special "spark" for me just isn't there like it was last year.
4 - chancelucky
I certainly understand your feeling that way Joyntex. Personally, I'd give them another couple weeks just to see how some of the contestants develop. At this point last year, very little was known about Elliott.
5 - chancelucky
I came across one of Chris Sligh's blogs that still appears to be online. He does, in fact, make his differences with Bob Jones University and his personal views quite clear there. On this particular issue, I'm happy to say that I'm glad to have found out a bit more about him. He comes across as a thoughtful fellow in his blog, something different for a would be Idol. I still didn't find the apology all that sincere though.
6 - Erik
Hi. I really enjoyed your article, but I found your comments about Chris Sligh and Bob Jones University incredibly cruel. Please understand that BJU is the largest private liberal arts college in South Carolina, and the student body consists of students from over forty foreign countries. Again, I found your article very interesting. However, please stop look at large universities monolithically and keep an open mind when it comes to individuals whose beliefs, ethnicities, or backgrounds are unfamiliar to you. (By the way, Senator McCain has never spoken at BJU. He almost did back in 2000, but the George Bush/Alan Keyes controversy happened before he actually visited).
7 - chancelucky
Erik,
thanks for your thoughtful comment. I had looked a bit into Chris Sligh after I posted the article and had posted a comment above yours acknowledging that Mr. Sligh seems to have repudiated some of BJU's policies that I object to.
I also spent some time looking into BJU itself. The school did not admit blacks until 1974 and only after the IRS threatened to take away its tax exemption. The University's defense was that it sincerely believed that God forbade the mixing of the races.
The interracial dating policy was in place until the year 2000 after George Bush spoke there. McCain was going to speak there in 2000 until a BJU professor apparently spread rumors that McCain's non-white adopted child was illegitmate.
In 1998, the school threatened to arrest a homosexual alumnus if he appeared on campus.
I won't get into some of the tangles it's had over Catholics and Mormons.
I do understand that the University now permits interracial dating and that the student body and faculty have always been diverse.
I shouldn't assume that anyone associated with Bob Jones University is necessarily racist, anti-gay, or religiously intolerant. I do recognize that there's a diversity of opinion in any institution or community. At the same time, the school itself has a pretty sad record in these areas.
I don't know that it's cruel to bring these facts up. It wasn't fair of me to impute some of these things to Chris Sligh just because he went there. I, however, have no trouble criticizing the instuttion.
8 - mamoucheca
i think the show wuz better last year but i have a feeling a girl is gonna win cause they seem lyke their doing betta than the boyz but its it anyone handz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9 - chancelucky
I think most everyone is guessing that one of the ladies will win this year, but I don't think it's anyone's ballgame.
I would be really shocked if any of the following won.
1) alaina alexander
2) antonella Barba
3) Nicholas Pedro
4) Sanjaya Malakar
there are at least 4-5 others who are basically just a matter of when they get eliminated and not can they win.