I think I started watching AI in the middle of the first season, mainly just to see what the hype was about. It was all right. I felt elated for Kelly Clarkson when she won and I enjoyed Cowell’s scathing remarks, cringed at Paula’s simpering, and thought if Randy Jackson says, “Dawg” one more time I may have to be committed.
When it was over, I didn’t think about it much. The next season, I watched through the excruciating auditions until soulful Ruben beat out Rick Astley wannabe, Clay Aiken. Then I persevered through season three when Fantasia won.
And then… I couldn’t be bothered to watch it anymore. It’s as simple as that. The show seemed stale to me. Simon was still snarky, Paula was still simpering and I teetered on the brink of sanity with every “Dawg” out of Randy’s mouth. Please, for the love of Elvis find a new euphemism.
So I was kept up-to-date - not by choice mind you - on the following seasons by friends and coworkers who were still tuning in. That’s what I can’t understand. It’s the same show ever season. Same judges, same squeaky clean host, same set of rags to riches stories of the contestants, same manufactured music geared at making money rather than being an art form (you could say I’m… cynical.) - what the hell is the appeal? Why does this show continue to be such a juggernaut and ratings draw?
I haven’t got a clue. I just know I’m tired of watching it, tired of hearing about it, tired of the judges, tired of Seacrest, tired of entertainment news filled with the boring gossip on the contestants. I don’t know how much life is left in the show, but with my luck, it will end up like the annual Eurovision song contest and never ever end.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I haven’t watched American Idol since Season 2 and I feel the same way as you do. Why bother to watch something that already has the outcome chosen anyway? When the American public realizes that their votes mean squat, that will be the end of the show. Ryan Seacrest is all about himself. Simon Cowell is a waste of space. Paula is just a waste and Randy still hasn’t found another word but ‘dawg’.
I hope with the networks now going back to regularly scheduled programming and not just reruns due to the writers strike, that AI will finally meet its demise. They aren’t looking for innocent rags to riches stories anymore. They are now looking for people who couldn’t make it already with their recording contracts, so let’s give them a bigger platform. BORING!!!
March 14th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Uh, just to burst your bubble a little bit-Ruben did NOT beat Clay—if Clay wa s receiving 80 percent of the vote every week he was on-and yes, it was EVERY SINGLE WEEK-according to TWO of the producers-there was no way Ruben garnered more votes than Clay the final night-especially with Clay’s incredible BOTW and Ruben’s snore-inducing FWOW. What, exactly, has Ruben done in the past 5 years to make anyone think he was the ‘winner’??? NADA. Clay has solo-toured at least 8 times; is currently starring on Broadway and receiving rave reviews and selling out the theatre; done more tv and interviews than all the other contestants combined; his 3rd solo full-length cd due out in May (also sold 2 xmas cds-the first which was the biggest selling xmas cd in more than 30 years!); has a multi-million foundation for mentally and physically disabled children, has been named Toys For Tots ambassador (in which they had their most successful year ever the year Clay reigned); is presently a UNICEF Amabassador and has traveled extensively for them—need more????? Yes, AI has NOT been the same since the 2nd year. IDOL FOUND, GAME OVER! And…Clay isn’t a ‘wannabe’—he doesn’t need to copy ANYONE. Clay is his OWN, unique, incredible, person. No other contestant on AI will ever match him. He is exactly what the producers wanted in an “IDOL’ when the show was conceived. And they do know it!!!
March 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Yikes, looks like I struck a nerve. Sorry, but officially, Ruben won as far as I’m concerned. not that I care all that much. I know Clay has done well for himself since his season and I applaud it. And sorry, but I see semi-cute, kinda geeky looking guy with a deep, rich voice, and being a child of the 80s, I think Rick Astley. Can’t help it. just be glad I didn’t rick roll anyone in this post
March 14th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Clay is NO longer ‘geeky’ looking. Far from it!
March 14th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Matter of opinion I suppose. Look, obviously you feel extremely strong about Clay, and that’s totally cool. I never said he was a bad guy
But to me, he’s kinda geeky looking. All opinion is subjective. I happen to like the geeky looking people of the world.
He lost his season, but went on to bigger and better which is great. I still think AI is boring, am tired of the show, and I haven’t even given Clay Aiken any sort of thought whatsoever - until today - since his season aired. I’m glad you dig on him. I am ambivalent.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
[...] were played by two AI contestants. I’ve no idea if they got far in the contest because I stopped watching. Anyway, they solved the crime (and the killer was lame) but along the way Booth picked up a psycho [...]