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The Wreckoning Is Coming at You: Inside the Trainwreck Studio
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Alice Cooper, Ace Frehley @ Nokia Theater 10/28/09
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Simply Wrong Food: IHOP's Holiday Pancakes
The producers behind Fox’s American Idol 5 must use subliminal messaging or the Vulcan mind meld behind the scenes. How else can you explain the popularity of this high school-esque talent show?
It’s certainly not the hi-larious hijinks of its too perfectly coiffed host, Ryan Seacrest (but we admit that we did laugh when the height-challenged Seacrest stood on a box to talk to a taller female contestant). Nor is it the witty repartee between Paula Abdul, Randy “Yo Dawg” Jackson or Simon Cowell. For reasons unknown, the AI juggernaut seems to cut a wide swath, assailing even the most innocent of bystanders, to capture about 20 to 30 million viewers each night. The Hollywood life is the new American dream. It's just as well because no one can afford houses here anyway.
This LAist poster, in particular, would like to admit – confess – an addiction to the show that sucks hours from the lives of its viewers, which we will never, ever get back. Take last night’s show, for example. AI narrowed its search to 24 finalists. (Which by the way, you’d think after trying out thousands and thousands of folks in football stadiums, you’d find 24 that could keep on pitch…but that’s another post.)
The Thursday show’s task was simple: Announce the four contestants with the lowest votes. Easy, right? Wrong. After all the finalists sang one song together – “Take It Easy” by the Eagles – the show stretched the booting to a full hour and then some. The kids who got kicked off were asked to sing one last time.
Now does this make sense? “Sorry contestant, but America thought you sucked. Can you sing again to confirm…” And the four who went home last night – Big Boy Bobby Bennett, Stevie the opera girl, Patrick the boring guy, and model girl Becky (pictured above, with Seacrest) pretty much deserved it.
Do you see what this show has reduced us to? We desperately need to get off this gravy train, but we can’t. AI is like that wreck on the freeway; no matter how hard you try you can’t look away. The only consolation we can take is that at least LAist never got into Dancing with the Stars.
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Christine,
I think you're incorrect. I find the success of AI to be a beacon to the fact that Americans in general are tired of listening to the limited garbage being force-fed to them by radio stations these days, Clear Channel in particular. I think it exposes the fact that America is frustrated with the talentless Britney Spear's of the world (who equates to a dye-job version of ex-contestant Becky after some dance training) taking up space in the music industry while legitimate and talented artists play there fingers to the bone with little to no recognition at all. As for AI's entertainment value, it's very like the Gong Show of the new millenium, IMO..... now if they'd only add some jugglers.
I think AI works for the audience on a number of levels. First, it's participatory and participatory in a very simple way. All they want you to do is vote for who you like.
Second, it is built like a sporting event and structured in three parts (5 if you count the cutting from 24 to 12 as a separate section and the finale as a separate section). It keeps the show fresh and each part appeals to different audiences.
Three, rooting for and against people is like crack for the average human mind.
This is pretty much the point when I stop caring about the show. I'm one who loves the comedy of the auditions and the drama of Hollywood week but could care less when it becomes American Karaoke every week...and 5 hours of tv like this week is just a little too much.