IDOLISM

Just a few passing thoughts on American Idol, a show I watched from it's humble beginnings, two season ago, up to last Wednesday's show, when we bid adieu to Jennifer Hudson.

I can no longer take the media hype or the buzz around the water cooler every Thursday regarding the latest finalist who was unjustly voted out, or rather, I should say, who received the least amount of votes. I just don't care anymore.

Let's face it, the cream will rise to the top. Whether voted out or voted the American Idol, the truly talented will find success, be given a record contracts and fulfill his or her dreams due to the exposure the show has given them.

Case in point -- Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of the original season, is still turning out successful records and concert tours, while her popular runner-up, Justin (whatwashisname???) had his 15 minutes of fame and is out for the count. [Though very popular with the audience while on the show, he did not generate enough CD sales to keep his recording contract, and his movie with Kelly beach-bombed big time.] Fickle fans evidently have moved on to ... John Stevens and/or possibly William Hung.

Also who was the other guy who hosted the first season along with Ryan Seacrest??? Yes there were two hosts on the first season's shows.

As the second season winner, Ruben Studdard continues to perform concert dates (with just a minor delay from the fuzz on his 'grass-root' bus tour). Although Ruben has achieved a reasonably successful music career with respectable music sales, his runner up, Clay Aiken burst onto the charts at No. 1, has been touring with first season's winner Kelly Clarkson, and is the undoubtedly, the most popular male Idol graduate to date. So it's a bit uncertain who actually is the top winner of season two.

Several other talented Idol "losers", are winners in anyone's book, with their careers blossoming, for example: Tamyra Gray and Kimberly Locke.

As for Season three's offerings:

-- Simon's comments and criticisms are becoming tired and repetitive. His only original remarks are just silly putty put-downs of vague physical characteristics, i.e. you remind me of ... Jay Leno (said to Amy) or Stan Laurel ... (what else could he say to John, he's told him for several consecutive weeks that he's just out of his league and doesn't belong in the competition).

-- Paula is still trying to maintain the adage, that if you can't say something nice... But it's not working. Her comments seem stale and insincere and her generic "good job" seems to cover everything from the excellent to the mundane.

-- Randy attitude since his weight loss shows you can teach an old 'dawg' new tricks, and with every pound lost, he's gained a super-critical attitude nit-picking at all, but the most nearly-perfect performances each week, with his especially favored 'bitchy' - oops, I mean -'pitchy' comments.

-- Ryan is so overexposed, that his five o'clock shadow is now at 6 p.m.

And so I wish good luck to: Fantasia, La Toya, Jasmine, Diana and George -- you're all winners and it doesn't matter which one of you takes top honors this season.

Chin up - Amy and Jennifer, you may be the next Tamara or Kimberly.

And to Simon Cowell, I say:

Congratulations -- you are, in fact, the biggest IDOL winner of all, reaping the most financial rewards from the finest montage of talent discovered, while enjoying the benefits of a top ranking TV show and a very "A" list celebrity profile. Sweet!

And finally, to American Idol, I say --

Boomster - O U T !

- posted by rosemary @ 7:15 PM