Archive through May 01, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: American Idol (FOX): WAKE UP AMERICA!!!: Archive through May 01, 2003

Maris

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 07:41 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I think they do have a level playing field. I think the judges were pro Ruben because he was put on the block. If it had been Clay they would have been throwing him flowers too. The judges knew as did everyone else, it should have been Josh and Trenyce up there. Even the camera panned to Josh when Ruben was called.

I dont think anyone can say with a straight face that Josh has equal talent to Clay, Ruben or Kim. The judges just wanted to let Ruben know they didnt agree with the voting. They would have done the same for Kim and Clay.

I think at the end of the day we may end up seeing Josh the final winner. It will be a shame but I am betting that the other three will get recording contracts and will also get a bigger marketing budget than Josh the winner will get. Josh may win this and as part of the prize will get to record a CD but I dont see anyone putting any real dollars behind marketing it.

Brenda1966

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 08:01 am EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL Donut -- I'm buying into that conspiracy theory!

I don't agree with charging for calls. That would keep some people from voting at all. I think we are seeing the effects of people not voting because their favorite is a sure thing. Well, we all know that isn't true! I voted at least 20 times for Clay this week, thinking "Why am I don't this -- there's no way he'll be booted". I had trouble getting through to Clay's line for an hour or more. I'm sure many people give up. But, since there are less contestants to vote for, the lines are going to be busy longer.

Bottom line: vote for your favorite a lot! Vote Clay! :)

Tabbyking

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 08:27 am EditMoveDeleteIP
i am still thinking maybe our votes don't count at all and that's why they are free, so we can't sue! LOL... this whole show can be set up to have 'shocks' like last night, with ruben really maybe never being close to the bottom. i still think it's the 3 coke-users (okay, drinkers, but users sounds more shady!) who ultimately pick the american idol and we are just all along for the ride...they are driving the car. last night they were driving an Edsel...lol

honestly, how would we ever know if this is scripted or if our calls 'count'?

Walker

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 08:54 am EditMoveDeleteIP
hobbs..i totally agree

Snee

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 09:12 am EditMoveDeleteIP
there was some shock and awe in sneeworld last night! i agree with maris that the judges would have reacted similarly had the other bottom person been kim or clay. i also noticed that ryan said millions instead of saying how many million like he usually does. and yes, josh knew it should have been him, i think. he couldn't raise his head from his hands and i don't think it was all because of relief. anyway, PLEASE vote for your favourites, people! (sneeworld is not in the u.s. so snees cannot vote for ruuuuuuuben. *sigh*)

Rabbit

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 09:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I am voting for SNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!!

Hummingbird

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 09:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I can't see Rueben's church having that many members to influence the vote. It reminds me of everyone getting upset over Chicken George's whole town voting for him.

Meli456

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 09:52 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm that person who votes on personality and I've put some votes in for Josh because my brother was off to war. I figured if he was home watching it he probably would have voted for his fellow Marine. I was enjoying Josh earlier in the competition, but I agree he has has gone downhill. I didn't vote last night, I just forgot to, but I wouldn't have voted for Josh and doubt I will ever again. I think its becoming bad for Josh to still be there, it seems to be screwing with him psychologically. That's why he's packing on the pounds and overplaying the twang instead of even attempting to show his talents. He's using the judges not liking country as a crutch at this point and not even bothering to show off his range anymore. I'm glad Treynece is gone, I honestly thought she should have been gone the week after her mug shot came out. There is something about her that I really dislike, she just seems a little shady to me. However, in her defense, I am historically an awful judge of character. Next week, I'll be voting for Clay, Ruben and Kim because I can't pick a favorite. I think they are all great.

Meli456

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 10:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My husband is from Chicken George's hometown and we lived there for a year. People there are pretty freaky and George is still a "celebrity" there. My biggest fear was running into George, cause the guy creeps the hell out of me.

Anyways, I recall the Chicken George incident was a big deal because the calls were being paid for by a radio station. I believe this station paid thousands to finance the "Save George" drive and did so by elimiating the most popular person. Since American Idol is free and people vote like crazy anyways, its really apples and oranges.

Jedisan

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 11:04 am EditMoveDeleteIP
COunt me as one who suspects that Rub was NOT in the last two, but that producers used this as an opportunity to have an episode that would have a "water cooler" effect. Things were just getting too hum-drum.

Meanhwile, I notice a few posters who are concerned about Josh's "day job" if he were to win this competition.
Let's not forget that the final 10 (that's TEN) are all obligated to do a tour immediaetly following this season (i bet you see that Burt Bacharach song on the set list). What are the Marines doing to accomodate that? He is getting special treatment all the way around.

Heavenly

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 11:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Does anyone know why American Idol
does not give out the total number of
votes for each contestant or even inform
us of the percentage of the votes each of them received? I am bothered by the number of
votes NOT being revealed.

In this day of technology, "someone could
hit us with those digits." (Star Search)

If one person votes a thousand times for one of their favorites, so be it, but show us the final count.

We all are entitled to our favorites and have
the right to vote numerous times for them, but
some of us don't have the technology to get our
computers to dial 50,000 times for one person.

I don't deny that I love Ruben, Clay and Kim L.
and think there was a malfunction in the voting
process this past week. (Maybe that cell phone
voting went haywire and they need to check to
see if others can "hear me now?"

Hobbs

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 11:25 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Jedisan, I repeat myself. Ever hear of Elvis Presley?

Jedisan

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 12:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I will give you that Hobbs.
HOWEVER, Elvis was drafted. he did not have a say.
And, he was already established as a singer/celebrity. He also did his time as a soldier, albeit driving, but hey you never know even the drivers are heroes (Jessica Lynch)

My point is that, earlier in the season AI insisted that if he was called up, they would hold his place, and let him return if necessary.
Meanwhile, every other unit in San Diego is sent to the Middle East except for his. He has not spent time as a "war time soldier" (feel free to flame me)
He was never in any danger of being sent as long as he was on the show. But as soon as the show is over, I feel that they are giving him special considerations AGAIN, by letting him go on tour, and not staying on base to be a reservist /husband/dad.

I do feel bad for the kid - he was visibly upset at the happenings of last night. I also think he rued the moments that he was sassy and confrontational the night before.

and Hobbs, luv ya, luv your posts, but comparing Josh Gracin to ELVIS????
Mighty big stretch...

Jed245

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 12:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
*walks in with a convincing jedisan suit on*

Shhhhh everyone .... if anyone comes in just say you can't tell which of is the real jedisan and you don't know who the fake is. :o)

*sits in the corner hoping to avoid being stalked*

Onlyhuman

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 12:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Let me start by saying that this is only my opinion...

Personally, I am at the point where I WANT Josh to win, simply to teach the producers and Simon Cowell a lesson.

From the things that I have seen and read, there were plenty of people who did not make it to the round of 32 who were very good singers. They didn't make it because they didn't have the "story" or the "personality" or the right look. So, from the start, we weren't offered the most talented to choose from, we were offered who they thought would make good TV. It wasn't about talent, it was about ratings.

When Frenchy was kicked off for doing something that WAS NOT illegal but that didn't "fit the image of the American Idol" we saw her talent overlooked by producers who didn't want any possible "taint" to their product. I thought at the time it sent a bad message and I think it even more now.

Top this off with the fact that people in the wild card round didn't even make the final cut and that CARMEN was chosen by Simon and you have a clear pattern of choosing image over talent.

AI producers were more than happy to milk the "Josh is a Marine" image during the conflict in Iraq. It let them promote that "patriotic" theme. They repeatedly showed the red, white and blue posters and sang "God Bless the USA" with Josh front and center.

Now Kimberley Locke, who I have always thought was talented, has risen to the top and is the poster child for talent. The thing is, I seriously doubt that she would be getting Simon's praise if she hadn't also changed her image. After all, the show spent her entire Halfway Home interview dwelling on how her image has improved.

This is a TV show whose main purpose is to get ratings. It's why they allow the worst singers to make it through several rounds of auditions...people love laughing at the losers and the rating soar. Talent-shmalent...it's all about image!

Now everyone associated with the show is SHOCKED that people are not voting on TALENT alone??? They set this pattern and now I hope it comes back to bite them in the butt!!!

P.S. It's not that I wish anything bad for the others but I know that they'll get the recording contracts and other stuff they deserve. I just want to see the people who chose this route to get their just desserts!

Snee

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 12:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
*warbles a little ditty just for rabbit*

keep the votes comin' in, you little carrot-muncher!

Jedisan

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 12:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jed, come out, come out wherever you are.
(we will always know who is the "faker")

:)

Hobbs

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 01:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jedisan, I bow to you and your wisdom. I hearby humbly apologize to all the Elvis fans. (And to Elvis if he's on these boards).

<<Bad Hobbs. Go to your room!>>

But before I go. Has anybody verified this thing about Josh's unit being the only one to stay? I can't see the Generals saying "Oh we can't ship that unit. That's the one with the American Idol kid". Nope. Don't see that happening.

Maris

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 01:26 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I thought his unit shipped out but he was allowed to stay.

Texannie

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 01:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I don't know for sure about Josh's base, but they didn't empty out Ft. Hood in Texas. Not all divisions were sent from there.

Hobbs

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 01:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Great post, Onlyh. I agree with you except the part about Josh winning. I think to producers and partially to Americans that a lot of their recording stars are more image than talent. I would argue that about Britney and many others. (Unfortunatley due to my increasing years I don't know many current pop stars.) However the ones that are just image don't last very long and seem to disappear. The ones with the real talent stick around and change as they grow older. I bet Norah Jones will be around for a long time.

Maris

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 01:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
He served a good p.r. purpose and it wasnt unusual certainly in the early days of television to have members of the armed forces on game shows, (John Glenn on the Graucho show for example). I will say this, he showed very poor sportsmanship on Tuesdays show and in my view was not a credit to the marines. I will say, I would probably have bawled like a baby with Simons remarks but when Josh stands "at ease" while he listens to the judges, then he should not make the comments he made.

He isnt good enough to go all the way but I think he will end up winning this. Simon is right that is the way the votes go.

Hobbs

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 01:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Do you think his record will zoom to #1 like both of Kellys? Bwahahahahaha!

Maris

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 01:46 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
No I suspect the record company will have him put together an anthology of Barney's greatest hits. They meet their obligation and then its have a nice life.

Hobbs

Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 01:48 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Barney? As in Fife? Or the purple guy? But his life will be nice with that cool million.