AMERICAN IDOL: 15 LESSONS WE LEARNED THIS SEASON
So Idol is over for another year, and for once I’m breathing a sigh of relief!
Unlike last years triumphant series which gave us Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Alison Iraheta this year’s competition has been a rather pitiful affair – a year in which third rate singers like Tim Urban, Katie Stevens and Andrew Garcia made the Top 10, show themes bordered on the geriatric and America’s favorite comedienne replaced Paula Abdul – and added nothing to the judging panel…
I’ve already spoken extensively about my misgivings on this season – see my Fallen Idol piece (and here’s my take on the 10 Best Idol Singles ever) – but before Season 9 becomes a distant memory, and all is forgotten (if not forgiven), here are 15 of the key lessons we learned this season!
1) Ryan Seacrest Has Too Much On His Plate. Between Idol, his radio shows, E! News commitments, red carpet duties and booming production company something had to give for Ryan… from dancing with former contestants during one of Tim’s songs, cruelly mocking his former co-host Brian Dunkleman and bizarre banter with Simon Cowell – it’s clearly time Ryan took a nice long rest.
2) The Idol Producers Don’t Buy Much Music These Days. Frank Sinatra Week. Lennon and McCartney Week. Elvis Week. The Rolling Stones. Really? What – were the rights to Fleetwood Mac Week unavailable?
3) Big Mike Auditioned For The Wrong Show. Those sausage arms and cheesy on stage antics belong elsewhere – how about Dance Your Ass Off? (oh come on – Season 9’s Mr Arrogant deserves it…)
4) Ellen Really Adds Nothing To The Judging Panel. Sure she’s adorable, funny and clever – but Ellen’s lack of musical experience really hurt her critiques. I don’t want to hear that someone is still ‘great’, ‘adorable’ or ‘amazing’ after they just stank up the Idol stage.
5) America Doesn’t Pay Enough Attention In The Semi Finals. How can Alex Lambert and Lily Scott be sent packing, when one trick pony, Andrew ‘Straight Up’ Garcia makes it to the Top 10? We may berate the judges – but these slip-ups were all our fault America…
6) No One Buys Idol Albums Anymore. Exhibit A – Season 9 (the album). Sales to date – 12,000. Wow!
7) Kara Dioguardi Really Upped Her Game. Who knows what happened between seasons 8 and 9 – but Kara 2.0 is sharp, to the point, incisive and most of the time, spot on. With Simon’s departure Kara is suddenly the judging panel’s MVP.
8 ) Personality Counts. Why is Kris Allen struggling when Adam Lambert is closing in on ¾ million US album sales, and has a hit single worldwide? Why is Jordin Sparks fading fast? And why did Ruben Studdard lose his record deal? Because being a star takes more than a good voice – you also need personality and charisma – and lots of it. Every time Adam speaks the sound bites come rolling out… think David Archuleta has much to say? Or that Katie Stevens was going to charm the record buying public… Exactly… Who’s today’s biggest music star? Lady Gaga. Enough said…
9) Randy Needs New Material – Fast. Booing Simon in the opening introductions, ‘pitchy’, ‘It was just alright for me’, ‘a million, bazillion percent yes’, ‘from me to you’… can someone please get Randy some new critiques ahead of next season…
10) No One Uses The Idol Stage Anymore. Man, I miss the days when instruments were forbidden on the Idol stage. Okay – not really – but after weeks and weeks of dull performances with frightened performers cowering behind their guitars (yes Casey and Lee – that means you) maybe it’s time for a No Instrument Week once in a while.
11) Many Of Today’s Stars Wouldn’t Make It Past The First Round Of Auditions. Rihanna, Ke$ha, Diddy, Usher, Lady Gaga – one train wreck performance after another with some truly horrible vocals. Only former Idols delivered on the Idol stage this year – Kris Allen, David Cook, Adam again… what does this tell us…!
12) Backstory Is Boring. I don’t care if you lived in your car, why your parents divorce is so hard or how pregnant your wife is. I just want you to be able to sing really, really well, light up a stage, and have a personality. Thanks.
13) No One On The Idol Staff Has A Watch. How else to explain all the frustrating Season 9 over-runs – that screwed with the voting lines for DVR fans and ruined many a Glee recording. Please don’t tell me the show is live and it just happens – I’ve produced hours and hours of live TV myself. It’s sloppy producing pure and simple. This is Season 9 remember…
14) Guest Judges Were A Really Bad Idea. For all of us who criticized Paula over the years, let us remember Joe Jonas (can he speak?), Victoria Beckham (um it’s a singing contest not Top Model) and Avril Lavigne (revolting). Paula may have been loopy – but she was always entertaining.
15) Simon Is Idol. And I really don’t know if the show can survive without him… we’ll find out in 7 months time…
So what did you think of Season 9? What lessons do you think we should add to the above list? And will you be back for a Simon less Season 10… start weighing in…
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about 1 year ago
Didn't watch last year except for the two "Adam shows". Sorry like Ellen, but as a judge no! Randy needs to step it up or shut up. Can't think who can replace Simon. Do a better job of picking top singers–didn't work for Season 9.
about 1 year ago
As much as I was surprised that Lee won, Dial Idol shows that he had managed to pick up a commanding lead in the last week or two.. http://www.dialidol.com/asp/predictions/predictio…
about 1 year ago
This season was "okay" for me. I personally thought Crystal was better and I did vote for her as well. I didn't really like Adam Lambert's performances last season, but his recorded voice to me sounds better than live, and his album was great and he was the most innovative performer of last season and this season no one really measured up to that. I did want to see siobahn go farther than what she did, and I honestly did not think Lee wouldn't even get as far as he did, his voice is too monotone and sounds like any other "lifehouse" kinda vocal, and his album might sound all the same, kind of like Kris Allen's (which has maybe 1 or 2 good songs, Adam's entire album is different and great and I didn't even vote for him).
about 1 year ago
I think Lee really deserves the title he’s got, he’s the new american idol for a reason! They both can sing really good, but I think Lee is the best because he is current, Crystal may have a pure voice and hit some high notes but Lee has it all the voice, the looks, the personality and the currency needed to win this competition. SO GLED LEE WON!!! HE WILL MAKE IT VERY FAR AND SO WILL CRYSTAL!
about 1 year ago
A lackluster season, but Crystal has the talent to carve out a nice career. Not a superstar, but a solid musician. Not sure Lee won't go the way of Taylor Hicks. We'll see. For me, the judging has always been about what Simon says, and he's gone. I think a new panel would inject lots of interest in next season. Otherwise, I fear this show is gone by 2012. My choice for new judges–Shania Twain and Harry Connick, Jr. Both were solid, fun, and credible.
about 1 year ago
While I agree that some 'pros' stunk up the stage, there are a host of great vocalists who would never really make the cut during the Idol tryouts. One sang last night – Joe Cocker. Now, he's beyond his prime singing abilities, but even back in the day, when he was really great, Joe Cocker would never get past the first audition. How many of the greatest lead singers of all time would make it on Idol? I would think few. Some of the most creative talent out there do not have technically great voices, but who better to sing Mr. Tambourine Man than Bob Dylan? Or who could cut loose with Brass in Pocket better than Chrissie Hynde? Bowie, Alice Cooper, Mick Jagger, Stevie Nicks, Joey Ramone – and dozens more – all technically suck, but I love their voices more than a lot of technically perfect singers.
about 1 year ago
You missed a real big one – the one that has turned the voting into a who is the cutest boy contest. That is the voting method. Between text voting and unlimited voting it has now put teen-age girls in a position of outvoting any other demographic 10-1. Need to go to a voting limit as on D with Stars which limits # of votes to number of contestants left + or – a few. Convinced AI did it the way they do so they could bury viewership #'s by announcing every Wed how many million votes were cast. If they stay with the current unlimited they will give the voting entirely over to the tweenies cause everyone else wil just give up on it as fruitless!!!!
about 1 year ago
Great critique. This year's group not near as talented, but with IDOL wasting our time in early shows with NOT TALENTED people, more such people show up every year. Seacrest was terrible this year, from his "teases" to his embarassing Mike with his ponytail to his begging for votes to save sobbing contestants. At times he is unwatchable. Ellen doesn't make it. Kara is the lead, should take the right seat, and go with 3 next year to SPEED IT UP and somehow, some way, hit a deadline.
about 1 year ago
Wining idol is hardly a stepping stone to a great career. Crystal actually will fair much better coming in second. She writes a lot of songs and she needs the ability to be an independent artist and retain some control over her music and what material she records. Lee on the other hand has the more commercial voice and will do OK with whatever alt/rock/pop stuff they throw at him to record.
about 1 year ago
Dude, you know what you're talking about….best critique I read in a LONG time….e
about 1 year ago
Spot on!
While I agree completely with your assessment of Kara, the public soured to her last year and nothing she did this year redeemed herself in the eyes of the public. They need to start from scratch with the judges. Create a new dynamic. Adding one/substracting one here and there just interferes with the chemistry. They all need to go.
The live performances have been appalling. One of the few that I actually enjoyed was the schmuck Hilton's find, the little twinkbot with a fairly decent voice.
I'm hoping that with the absence of Simon comes more tolerance for singers with theatrical backgrounds. This show was in desperate need of big booming voices with the skills to utilize the stage. They were all swallowed up by it this year, even Crystal.
I'm going to give next years AI through the Hollywood rounds to impress me. If they put through the same crap, I'm out.
about 1 year ago
I had voting issues. I was voting for Crystal but at one point I got a call that said "Thank you for voting for contestant #1." Of course, Crystal was contestant #2. Others had the same problem (but sometimes in reverse). So, there is really no way to know who actually won. Also, I like Ellen. At least she is representative of people not in the music business, who are actually buying the music, and she was being honest and helpful to the contestant.
about 1 year ago
Highway robbery! Lee couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, has no personality and really stunk the place up these last 2 day. While Crystal wowed everyone!. She will go on to be a great recording artist and Lee will be the next where is he now. Too many teenage girls saying oh! isn't Lee cute? Maybe but, he can't sing worth a damn. Never mind he has no personality on stage. I can't believe how upset this has made me, gotta stop now. GOD!!!!!!!!
about 1 year ago
Idol has run its course why do you think Simon is running with all the money. His New show will be a hit he knows what will work since he has seen what has not worked on Idol.
Both Crystal and Lee are boring, and will not sell cd's. Cant wait for CRYSTAL TO GO TO THE DENTIST. What bad life does she really have ?
about 1 year ago
First of all Lee is a great extremely sweet guy who can sing.He just cant sing anywhere as good as Crystal.America (not me )voted for those darling puppydog shy eyes of Lee and enjoyed that he could sing ok enough.Lee will work so will Casey and Mama Sox will shine in the future but lets face it,this talent show is a joke.Look what happened last year with Adam Lambert,A artist who has a fan base like no one else out there.just listen to his songs and then listen to Kris sing,there is no comparison …but Kris does have those shy puppy dog eyes also and again he can sing pretty good ,just nothing like Adam can.I wont watch idol again.I barely got through this season.Thanks alot Adam. I believe after your exciting performances in season 8 …you may have ruined idol forever………ADAM FOR PRESIDENT!!!! yea i admit it,i am a glambert.And durn proud of it!
about 1 year ago
I would never buy Crystals CD boring everything she does sounds the same. I just didn't care for her voice that much. Also, in American Idol you need to look good. Crystals dreadlocks and body piercings just didn't do it for me. I still didn't like her dressed up. Imagine looking for her CD what would you look for the hippie with the dreadlocks. She was just not happening in this time period. I would definitely buy Lee's CD he rocks my world and I love his voice. Just wait he's going to be big and will be 2nd most popular American Idol along side of Cathie Underwood. Lee shines on stage and he looks good.
about 1 year ago
Ur article is spot on Richard. I knew right from the start that Ellen is a bad idea. The big guy is arrogant and relying solely on sympathy votes. The star performances were crappy (ie: Ke$ha=mother of all horror) and what the hell Miley Cyrus doing coaching the contestants? But, I do think Bowersox is a pure talent. She should have won this.
about 1 year ago
I think you guys need to have you heads examined. Lee and Crystal are both awesome. Either one deserved the win. I will be buying both of their albums. I look forward to next season. As for your top 15 list, this reminds me of the teacher from the Peanuts – wha wha wha wha… You are definably saying something, but it doesn't resemble anything intelligent. That is except for the Kara and Randy comments – She was awesome all season and if I hear Randy say "YO YO YO" one more time, I don't know what I'm going to do.
nuff said
about 1 year ago
Watched every single season since the first and I have two things to say about this one 1. Crystal is the absolute best that has ever been on Idol and was absolutely robbed of the title; and 2. It's over for me with Simon gone.
about 1 year ago
um for number 10 if i recall Crystal used her guitar in EVERY performance, talk about originality? At least Lee has good hair.
about 1 year ago
1. Ellen has got to go.
2. Randy has got to go.
3. Kara is the only credible judge left. and she's terrific.
4. Think about bringing Paula back, at least she understands music.
5. Ryan needs to stop the crazy suspense and the random chatter. He's great at announcing, but he needs a script. He's not nearly as good as he thinks he is.
6. Let the contestants sing what they want. Stop this theme stuff.
7. I love Ford, but the commercials with the contestants are silly.
8. Shame on the judges for not being completely honest. Sioban was incredible but they had to get her voted off so the female vote wouldn't be split. They were very unfair to her and to others on occasion.
9. Find better mentors.
10. Use original songs for the final two, one of which the winner will record.
about 1 year ago
If those results were not "fixed" I will miss my bet. No way is Lee a 10th as good as Crystal. He got off two good songs this season, Hallelujah being the top and that was hand picked by Simon. The rest were mediocre at best. Crystal was consistently excellent and deserved to win.
This should be the last year for AI. With Simon leaving and America becoming obviously totally "tone deaf" it will die. It is a joke.
about 1 year ago
The worst idol ever! what a huge dissapointment to learn that lee had won…
about 1 year ago
First . . . told ya.
Second . . . Siohban looked hot!
OK. Got that out of my system. I completely agree with your lessons learned. It'll be interesting to see what changes they make. And, it'll be critical changes. Ellen sucks, and Simon leaving really sucks. Beyond that, they really need to pick contestants who can sing. Worry less about making sure every race is represented and showcase actual talent. This season has been dismal. THey can't afford another season like that.