American Pie Idol

Well the results are in, and after what was for me a typical & disappointing season of American Idol, we have a winner. Scott Mcreery. Yawn. I mean Congratulations Scott! Good job! You worked hard. It's not your fault America is boring. 

The season started with a buzz. Simon was leaving, Kara was fired. I don't think I heard anyone say they were excited for the addition of Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joining as Idol judges. The whole thing was supposed to be a flop because of them, but I think they saved it. I like Simon a lot and would be happy to see him again, but I didn't miss him. Jennifer and Steven were a lot of fun and offered good direction, in my opinion.  I also liked that they didn't show as much audition silliness as they have in the past. I know it can be funny, but I don't think it's in the spirit of American Idol to make fun of people. It's like suddenly seeing nudity on broadcast channels. I don't necessarily mind it, but it's outside my box of appropriateness. I want to go to cable for my nudity. And I want to tune in to Chelsea Handler to make fun of people, not American Idol. 

So the bones of the show, for me, were good this year. And the talent was turning out to be pretty great too. In fact, everything was going pretty much how I would have orchestrated everything, given the chance. I even didn't mind when Pia went home. She is a beautiful girl with a beautiful voice but she was a little dull for me. So I wasn't too worked up when she got the boot early on. I thought, "Good for you Americans, you might be getting it right this time."  I was very disappointed to see Casey leave, but I realized he wasn't everyone's cup of tea. I just knew it was going to be James and one of the country kids in the finale. I was wrong.

After the James Durbin elimination I quit watching. Not because I was being a poor sport, but simply because I had come to look forward to his performances above everyone else's. Since there was going to be no Durby performance, I didn't feel compelled to watch. And I couldn't bare to watch Haley send Lauren or Scotty home. I would have exploded. I just didn't see how Scotty and Lauren, both being country artists, could together get the most votes. I thought for sure they would be competing for the same fan base while Haley sailed right through to the top two. I think that's what Haley thought too.

Like I said, I didn't watch the week she was eliminated but I heard that she looked pretty shocked when she was eliminated. I find that hilarious because to me, she should have looked shocked every week that she was allowed to be there. In fact, it was her attitude that really turned me on her.  Early on I didn't understand how she was staying in there but I am aware that not everyone's taste is the same as mine so it made sense she was appealing to somebody. But as the weeks went on and she was in the bottom every week and she received negative feedback she became increasingly bratty. I was surprised she didn't turn more people off with that. But in the end, maybe that's what got her. I didn't see her face when she got eliminated but I saw her smiling when James did. I know it's a competition and strategically his elimination meant a lot for her. But after the last couple weeks of talking back to the judges and pouting on stage, that was the last straw for me. Maybe for others too.  

All day I was thinking about the surprise of two country performers, the two most conservative, red white & blue, apple pie, wholesome good Christian, kids in the competition, getting the majority of votes together. They had to be competing for the same demographic. How did this happen? 

Haley happened. She effed it up. James Durbin's fans took a day off that night, comfortable in the knowledge that between James, Lauren, and Scotty, Haley was the no brainer to go home. By contrast, Haley's fans knew that she needed all the help she could get to make it to the next round. And they voted their fingers to the bone. With James gone, all his votes went to the country kids. Finally, it all makes sense. 

Even so, the season was still lackluster to me. There was no IDOL GIVES BACK this season, which I love. I missed that. And the finale left me wanting more. I will be honest, I can't remember one thing about last year's finale. But  the year before, the year Adam Lamber was robbed of his tiara, THAT was a good show. Kiss, Queen, Black Eyed Peas, Santana... it  was AMAZING. There were a few good people on this year's finale, too, but they just showed up. They didn't merge with the contestants the way they did with Lambert & Allen.  There were a few cute moments for sure. But all I really wanted out of the whole show was to see James and Steven rock it out together. But they never did. The depths of that lameness, compounded by Steven's mini performance all by himself, cast a dark cloud over the whole season for me. 

I declare I am done with Idol. And this time I mean it. Just like I did last year, the time before, and the time before. Who's with me?

Comments

[Brian Richard Allen]

Your every opinion is mine and I declare I am with you and that I am done with Idol. And this time I mean it. Just like I did last year, the time before and the time before.