Down to the Wire

[mrdreamjeans]

Just watched the American Idol tally show. Down to three contestants .. Taylor, Katherine and Elliott. There were 50 million votes cast since last night's competition. Top two go to the final next week.

These are the percentages (out of 50 million votes):

33.06%
33.26%
33.68%

Who do you think went home?

33.68% = Taylor; 33.26% = Katherine; 33.06% = Elliott. Elliott goes home, but I've got to tell you ... If Elliott had sung last night like he did tonight, he'd be in the final. Now, that's he's gone, I must admit, I was really rooting for him. Damn! My prediction: Taylor wins the competition. Interesting to note ... There's been only one male winner in the first four years ... Reuben Studdard.

Comments

[theatrecub79.livejournal.com]

I just watched the elimination episode, but thank you for putting the results behind a cut.

Honestly, I'm not surprised Elliott went home tonight. Two weeks ago, I would have been shocked. Now, however, I am not as surprised. Taylor has a load of support behind him because he's the underdog and the different guy. Katharine has some great talent behind her (did she nail "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" or what?). I won't mind either one of them winning. Taylor probably will though...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Katherine did sing "Over the Rainbow" exceedingly well. By grounding herself on the floor, she also connected to the material in a much more genuine way. Taylor's body positions drive me nuts, but in the same breath I can say I've never seen anyone else like him. I agree ... Taylor will win ... He has a ready-made band, plays guitar and harmonica and writes songs ... He will be easy to package. Wasn't Reuben Studdard, the second season winner, from Birmingham too? And the guy from last year, Bo, from nearby Helena? Go Alabama! LOL! To think, I prided myself on never seeing Survivor, The Apprentice or American Idol .. Now, I've seen most of Idol this season and got hooked on Project Runway ... *shaking head* ... I liked it much better when I was working and didn't watch much TV at all:)

[use2bshy.livejournal.com]

Rueben Who? lol Don't ya mean Clay Aiken ;)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

LOL! Well, that is an example of the runner-up doing better in record sales than the winner of that season. Some would suggest that if Clay had won then all of the winners of Idol were women:)

[alpenhorn.livejournal.com]

I know this isn't a popular sentiment but I am totally lost at why anyone would find this show remotely interesting. It is a perfect example of the cultural decline in this country.

[fuzzyjay.livejournal.com]

What do you like instead?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I agree!! I've avoided all reality TV except America's Extreme Home Makeover (a guilty pleasure) until this current issue of American Idol. Since, I'm staying with my folks this summer, I got sucked in ... to my great embarrassment:) I consider the draw of most reality TV akin to the people who slow down for a car crash on the freeway. It is a perfect example of cultural decline ... one, sadly, for which I can tell you all of the details ... *grin* It's too bad that people don't vote in political elections like they do for American Idol, then perhaps we'd have a better choice there too ...Hugs!

[ubercub.livejournal.com]

Probably the same reason that people like watching and participating in sports competitions. It's people with talent, showcasing that talent, in competition with other people. It's like watching a basketball game.

How exactly is this an example of "cultural decline"? Please explain, you lost me here.

[alpenhorn.livejournal.com]

It isn't a competition. This isn't talent. It's karaoke. A competition is made up of people who are more-or-less equally skilled. American Idol is a paean to mediocrity. promoting the empty and meaningless. This is like the Gong Show from many years combined with the film "Network." Although the former didn't take itself seriously.

Read a book, go to a play, a movie, talk to friends about what you read, learn as much as you can about everything. And most of all, throw your television out the window. I am just about at that point myself (if it weren't for Law and Order marathons......) Or just cancel cable and stick to DVDs. But there is nothing worse than mindless American TV entertainment. It dulls what few senses we have left.

The Disappearance of Musical Variety Shows

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Gregg, This is an interesting discussion! I mentioned your comment to my folks today and Mom made a point that I hadn't really attached to shows like American Idol and Nashville Star. My parents are homebodies and so television has become a great part of their lives. I seldom watch TV because I usually work at nights; if I do, it's almost always HGTV where I watch the home improvement programs. The one network program I make sure I see is CSI Miami. I just plain like the story-telling. But back to Mom's point ...

She's always been a fan of musical variety shows ... When growing up, I remember watching Ted Mack's Amateur Hour, Arthur Godfrey & Friends, The Jackie Gleason Show, Ed Sullivan, Andy Williams, Tennessee Ernie Ford ... Carol Burnett, Dinah Shore, George Goebel ... also special hours with Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand ...The must-see program was Lawrence Welk every Saturday night. (Mom loved to dance before arthritis hit her.)

When presented with your comment, Mom suggested that she watches programs like American Idol because there are no other programs that offer her the possibility of music which she can relate to. She also enjoys rooting for the underdog. American Idol is the closest thing to the programs of her youth that she adored.

I completely agree with your opinion that books, theatre and movies offer us more food for the brain and heart than the boob tube; but in my folks' example, television is what they've got most of the time ... though most of the time it is mindless and mediocre. Thanks for offering your opinion. Hugs!

Re: The Disappearance of Musical Variety Shows

[deebee.livejournal.com]

but those were GOOD variety shows! add Sonny & Cher to the list, pls to make it complete! :)

but, there were SAD musical variety shows, too: donny and marie, the mandrell sisters and shields and yarnell...ugh! but, i watched them! :)

[ubercub.livejournal.com]

WOW. Okay, where to start -

A competition is made up of people who are more-or-less equally skilled.

Have you ever watched the latter part of the show, or have you only seen glimpses of the very beginning of the competition where the most of the people auditioning are awful? Maybe I'm wrong and the past several weeks of the show have been filled with completely awful singers and I just haven't realized it.

When I was in high school, I joined the baseball team. My baseball skills are about as awful as they come - I was in no way anywhere near the skill level of the rest of the players. I guess my time spent there and the fun I had with my friends despite my inabilty to play baseball was as empty and meaningless as you say American Idol is.

American Idol isn't wrong. Hell, karaoke isn't wrong - God forbid anyone ever have some fun with karaoke. It's the fawning over it, the madness that people get caught up in that's wrong. Twelve thousand people showing up at a mall to see a finalist? Yeah, that's kinda silly. But please, please, don't equate my Cub and me to the people who get caught up in the madness. There are people on the show who are genuinely enjoyable to listen to - maybe not 100% of the contestants are have wonderful fantastic voices, but we take the good with the bad. Forgive me for enjoying listening to new voices that are, indeed, pleasent to listen to and quite talented.

But there is nothing worse than mindless American TV entertainment.
Well, I can't disagree with you there. Unfortunately it seems like you're grouping all people who watch the show American Idol in with the people who fawn over truly awful shows like "Trading Spouses."

It dulls what few senses we have left.
Only if YOU let that happen. Personally, I am quite capable of thinking for myself, and ever since the very first season of "Survivor" aired I have frowned upon the concept of "reality television". It's really, really, dumb, and I agree with you that things like that are part of the "cultural decline" of American - though stating it so harshly borders on absurd. But my Cub and I enjoy American Idol. How's that possible? Because American Idol is not all bad. As I said, there is some genuine talent there - along with some really, really bad singers in the early part of the season, who are there for a few weeks at most, and then are gone. For at least the past two months, the majority of the contestants have been wonderful to listen to. My senses, empirical and otherwise, are as honed as ever.

Read a book, go to a play, a movie, talk to friends about what you read, learn as much as you can about everything.
This is good advice about life for all people at all times, not just people who enjoy watching and listening to people sing on the television once in a while :)