To Quote Fantasia: "Finally, I Believe..."
After a season so boring that i couldn't even be bothered to post most nights...
After a Tuesday night finale so dull that I hit pause and went to bed because I didn't care if I missed it live...
After a year of heart ache and anger and rants and raves about WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY FAVORITE SHOW...
...the finale was spectacular.
Yes, y'all. I'm a believer once again. Never thought it would happen. But I'm in. I'm back. I could not stay away after that.
Look. Carrie was good. Bo was good. Whoever won, it was all good. But I felt no passion. Had no favorites. Frankly, did not give a crap who won. Whatever. But tonight...
...tonight...
...tonight, after about an hour and thirty-two minutes of some of the lamest time-filling skits and montages and bad Ryan Seacrest banter I've ever seen (and I've seen a'plenty)...
...tonight...
...they gave us a series of musical numbers so good that I rewound to watch not one, not two, not three, but FOUR times in a row.
Babyface?
Vonzell on a piano?
GEORGE BENSON?
Lynnrd Freakin' Skynnrd?
Did you SEE that?
It was good. It was GREAT. It was FLAWLESS in its TV-perfection. It was pure Idol.
(I'd like to take a moment to give a shout out to Jessica's belly bulge hanging over her pants -- the one dark spot in the evening. Y'all know I have nothing against a girl with meat on her bones. As long as that meat ain't served up in my face.)
But back to the beauty. That musical medley ALMOST made up for an entire top 12 season of some of the worst and dullest performances I've ever witnessed. It ALMOST made up for the fact that there were no makeovers this year. It ALMOST covered up my pain at the lack of "Real World"-style footage of our contestants living in a giant but blandly decorated mansion in the hills.
ALMOST.
Not quite.
ALMOST.
You know what FULLY made up for all of AI's crimes in 2005?
Carrie.
Yep. I said it.
Carrie.
JonBenet Barbie herself.
In about five seconds -- the time it took Ryan to rip open that envelope and announce the winner --- she went from freaky boring singing automaton back to that cute milkmaid from Oklahoma who sang to her cows. She went from icky to sweet. I hate Carrie. Y'all know I do. But in the end, Carrie did the thing.
She did what every Idol winner in the history of AI does.
She got the magic.
They called her name. Her face lit up. She cried. And she turned into the American Dream.
It's corny. It's so downright cheese-y that it makes me want to hurl. It's lame. It's naive. It's stupid. It's a corny, cheese-y, lame, naive, stupid modern day Miss America pageant complete with confetti and a closing song.
And I love every minute of it. Every year. Every time.
Damn that Idol show for making me cry.
That's the genuis of Idol. It's why the show works. No matter how cynical you are feeling going into the final night, by the end, you are wiping away tears, swaying to the freakin' music and thinking to yourself, "God, I love this show."
I hope that next year, I am more glass half full about the show. I hope they bring back the makeovers. I hope they have contestants I can get behind with a crazed passion. I hope Idol 2006 is the season of my dreams.
But even if it isn't, I will get suckered into watching. Because I love that last five minutes. Because I am a fool in love for the confetti and the tears and the song. Because Idol is always Idol no matter how much they try to mess it up.
And until next season...
...is it just me or can you NOT WAIT to watch the dueling Dance Competition shows on Fox and ABC?
Dancing. To votes. It's like...Dirty Dancing with Baby out of the corner. It's Footloose without the barns. It's EVERY SINGLE MADONNA VIDEO EVER MADE.
Joy.
Oh, happy joy.
This is Shonda, reporting alive once again from my sofa.
posted by Writers at 10:40 PM
14 Comments:
It was soooooooooo obvious this season that they wanted something different, in an American Idol star.
From day one, there was a lot of hype and hoopla over the fact that "finally, we got some 'rockers' on this show" (which I think was uttered by Randy, early on).
Midway through the show, I was convinced that it would be either Bo or Constantine, as the winner in the end. After Constatine was eliminated, I was positive that it would be Bo.
However, I hadn't considered the "unknown" factor. That factor being Simon. I never used to pay attention to his ramblings, and often dimissed him as a bit of a dolt. But, looking back, I can now see how instrumental he has been in influencing the elimination of several REALLY good singers.
I have noticed how he seems to target the really good singers. Initially, I attributed his comments to just being a really poor judge of talent. Now, I realize that he was actually exerting his influence on the "Idol" voting audience.
Let's face it, Simon has been drooling over Carrie from the beginning. And, in the final weeks when Bo and Carrie were virtually tied, Simon threw his support to Carrie. And, that my friends, is what gave Carrie the edge that she needed, and ultimately the American Idol crown!
Perhaps, Simon has been inspired by the character Ellsworth Toomey from Ayn Rand's, "The Fountainhead."
Well, it's all said and done...Snoozefest Carrie won. In a way I'm happy--Bo's album will be so much more awesome. Did you see how elated he was to be up there with Lynrd Skynrd?? I think at that point, he could care less if he won. He's got a new car and got to sing with his own idols. It was also the best performance of the night--which is why it was last.I almost think that the judges "sabatoged" him, knowing that him being able to do more of his own thing would be much more lucrative in the long run (especially if Clive Davis still signs the top two, like he did with Clay and Rueben).So. I guess it's cool that Carrie can go ahead and play AI puppet girl and deal with all the BS that comes with it. That will just give Bo that much more time to rock out and do his thing. Till next year.....
I agree with you Erika. I have been a Bo fan since I first heard him. At first I was a little disappointed that he didn't win, but I know that his album will be much better given that it won't be produced by American Idol. Rock on Bo!
Isn't it funny how we all watch and enjoy teh show but we're glad when our favorite doesn't win so they can make a recording their own way, not the AI way? Does that say something about us or the show or the entertainment industry or what!!!
To what Erika said, I say "Amen!"
Bo can front his band. He won't be forced to sing at NASCAR events. He won't be stuck with the national anthem at the Lilac Festival and he won't be having his own Christmas show unless he just flat out wants to.
Two observations though:
I fail to see much difference between Diana DeGarmo, pageant queen and Carrie Underwood, country princess. They both have the pipes. They both scream the lyrics they really don't understand. They both giggle like 14-year-olds, and show approximately the same amount of intelligence, and yet Diana was dismissed as being too programmed and Carrie is heralded as the second coming of Kelly.
I just don't get it. Maybe somebody will explain it to me.
Second, if someone somewhere doesn't recognize the magic between Billy Preston and Vonzell, somebody somewhere is missing out on a sure-fire hit.
First let me state that Shonda is on the money once again. That last half hour of Idol was spectacular.
Second let me state that I prefer Rock and Jazz...so I was pumped with Skynard, Shepard and Benson (Kenny G was not included in the group on purpose).
And even though I'm not a country fan Carrie and Rascal Flack's voices were perfect together.
Baby V and Preston where outstanding. By far the best of a great evening.
I would have loved to seen Constantine solo with Kenny Wayne Shepard. No Neck and Rooster should have been paired with another star.
I maybe in the minority but I enjoyed this year's competition. Lots more variety. My only regrets were the final show was weak, Constantine did not making the top 4 and Mario pulling out.
Lastly, I want to thank AI for toning down the band and background singers in the final.
Ok the differences between Carrie and Diana.
1. Carrie has a lot of potential.
2. She is prettier than Diana.
3. Less of a weight problem...but Carrie will have to watch that.
4. Carrie was good with no training from day 1, Diana got better as the competition progressed.
5. Carrie will have cross over appeal...she will do country, pop rock and country rock.
If I were an agent, Carrie would be #1 of all the Idol singers I would want to represent because she is raw and can be manipulated to fit difference situations.
Remember Mattel Barbie sells and she has no talent or personality.
There is no way Diana would have made the top 3 this year. Nor would have she made top 3 in season 2.
Diana is the girl next door, Carrie is the girl you wish you lived next door.
BTW, the only vote I cast this year was for Baby V. Personally I think she is the best total package AI has ever had (voice, looks, personality, likeability ...she just lacked in uniqueness).
Thought you Idol fans might get a kick out of this...
off all the contestants - Mary Roach memorabilia on Ebay.
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In brief -
Bo dropped the balland looked either over confident or full of himself in the end. He did not look to me as if he was truly trying to be the best that he can.
Carrie stepped up and stole the win from under the self-assured Bo. I thought she would have to be near perfect and that he wuld have to falter for her to win and I was right.
As for the claim that Simon is targeting the good singers, are you on crack? He slapped around Anthony and a few others that should have been gone from the beginning. He has been the only consistent one from the start of the AI phenomenon. Let's take Randy who first loved every dog and their bone and now, all of a sudden, actually has thoughts and criticisms (probably due to his creds being laughed at in the rel world for his silly love-in in season one).
Paula has gone from super sweet to sweet crack induced with whatever the hell you want to call her performance this season. She needs to check into Betty Ford or Mount Sinai or where ever they can fix whatever she has contracted. I don't believe the claims of her sleeping with those two losers that's for sure but something is definitely off with her.
Anyhow, thank you for having such a great site. It gave me many evenings of quiet as the good wife was occupied with reading it. Seriously, we will see you next season.
As a side note, it would be interesting to see what you thought about our version of Idol, Canadian Idol. We have our own set of four strange judges and our own boatload of crappy singers and delusional wannabees. If you can get it, check it out. If not, send me an email and I will see if I can host it somewhere for you to d/l. We tape all the shows on our computer PVRs so it may be possible.
Ciao.
what does "cracks" have to do with anything???
anyhoo, getting back to the "targeting" scenario... anyone who was inclined to "tape" AI this past season can go back and review the perfomances. there were some people who had given solid performances, and were totally bashed by Simon, and they would be followed by someone with a mediocre performance and he would hail them as the greatest thing since "caviar" (which i have always regarded as a pompous and much overrated delicacy. but different strokes, for different folks). so, i would have to say that either he has really, really poor taste... or, he was putting something else into play.
with that said, i don't mean to imply that Simon has some "sinister" plot up his sleeve. but, i do think, perhaps for the sake of boosting ratings, or to give some of the struggling performers an equal footing, he may have used his influence to that end. and, if you have those AI tapes, you can go back and "see" that a fairly high percentage of contestants that Simon ragged on either a) ended up in the bottom three,the following night, b) barely squeaked to the next week of competitions, or c) were outright eliminated by the voting audience. that's NOT a mere coincidence, my friends.
a classic example would be that girl, Micaylah (unsure of spelling). granted she was very bubbly, cute & kinda sexy... but, the reality is she couldn't sing a song in key if her life depended on it. however, i think she might have a great career on the WB in one of those youth oriented TV shows. how she lasted in the competition as long as she did, still amazes me. some might say it was her charming personality... but i thought it was a "talent" contest... duh???
lastly, my obscure reference to Ellsworth Toomey, was about a well-known and respected critic of things "artistic." he had reached a status akin to "lord of the art critics." generally, when he said something, it was immediately accepted as gospel, by all.
it later turns out in the book that Toomey was so full of himself, that he had long since stopped caring about art, artists, or their works. instead, he became intoxicated by the power that his column wielded. so much so, that he began purposely promoting fakes and charlatans, while lambasting true artists just for sport. that, plus the twisted satisftaction of seeing how far yeilding his "power of influence" actually was. in fact, one of the strangest scenes in the book is when he reveals this fact to a group of his fellow critics, while exposing the successes of the artistic frauds, whom he once promoted, as nothing more than the by-product of his manufactured creation.
it was a scene that was both cruelly bizarre, and hilariously surrealistic.
________________
as for the outcome of AI... i don't really care. besides, i stopped watching the show midway thru the season and just began reading about the results the following day, online (wink).
When Carrie sang "Alone", that was when I truly believed she was on her way to stardom... that song still runs through my head!
I'm satisfied that Carrie won and Bo was 2nd. They are both winners equally. Bo can go equally as far as Carrie or further, and can pick his own contracts.
I didn't think AI was boring this year, it was just frustrating seeing unworthy contestants stay on week after week because of unfair voting. They need to figure out a better voting system. Simon says America picks the winners but we don't... the messed up voting system does. I also wish the judges would explain how they pick or cut all the contestants in Hollywood, because sometimes they seem to cut a good singer and keep someone who doesn't seem as good.
I wish Constantine could have been in the final 3 or 4 so we could hear him sing 3 times a show.
I absolutely loved the finale, and yes it does make me cry too.
Boring or not, frustrating or not, AI is still the best reality show, and I'm excited for next year!
hey!
HEY!
Hello?
Where my girls at?
don't you even do us like this!
helllloooooo shonda! sandie!!!
it's 2006!!! american idol has started! where are you??? we want your comments!!!
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