A silly little blog for me to drop the excrement of my mind.
-or- the shtick is wearing thin
Published on April 27, 2005 By BlueDev In Movies & TV & Books
I completely missed season one. I was entirely disinterested.

Caught some of the auditions of season two and found them quite funny, so we started watching. And our enjoyment of American Idol was born.

We watched regularly all through season two, cheering on those we liked and agonizing over those who should have left the scene earlier. We enjoyed it, and didn’t feel embarrassed at all. It was fun, it was entertaining.

We were excited for season three. It started, and we watched regularly. But something was missing. We didn’t enjoy it nearly as much, didn’t really care about who won, and by the end were sort of Idoled out.

This season we started watching again. And that was when it hit me. For me, at least, American Idol had become American Idull. One word sums it up:

Boring.

Sure, there are some contestants who don’t fit the standard Pop Star mold. But the program is forcing them into it the best it can. After all, for all the talk of wanting something original from the judges, they simply are liars. What they really want is marketable. But that doesn’t sound as nice as original. Come on, this is cookie-cutter, pre-fab music. Originality doesn’t fit well into that formula.

Then we have the judges. They have simply become caricatures of themselves. First we have Randy. “Dawg”, “pitchy”, “you brought it”, and “it was aight” are all we get from him. Wishy-washy.

Paula has become the facially paralyzed champion of the chumps. Praising performances that deserve a guffaw at best, trying to sound enraged at Simon (all while maintaining that wrinkle-free placid look), and just generally ensuring that no one can (or at least should) take her seriously anymore. Sad.

And finally, the judge everyone loves to hate, Simon. Truth be told, I agree with him more often than not, but his act is wearing thin too. If I were to listen to him, I would think that he spends all his free time in karaoke bars. The least he could do is come up with something new to say. Predictable.

So what was, two seasons ago, fun and entertaining has now become dull and pedestrian. Bow down before your American Idull overlords. They are here for you.

Comments
on Apr 27, 2005
I completely missed season one. I was entirely disinterested.

I got one up on'ya Blue... I never saw a single episode of that show!
on Apr 27, 2005
If you would have asked me during season two I would have said "Watch it, it has some really enjoyable moments". Don't know what changed, but now I can just say you ain't missing much.
on Apr 27, 2005
I see most reality shows like this...
-Season 1 is outrageous and we watch because we can't believe anyone would make a show out of a concept like this.
-Season 2 is highly enjoyable as we're comfortable with the idea and they know what didn't work from the first season and fix it. Idea is still fresh
-Season 3, having perfected the formula to a large extent, this season is fun, but doesn't feel as satisfying. The concept is becoming safe, and safe means boring
-Season 4 + The show becomes increasingly dull as they retread the same bits over and over and over again. Eventually interest just drops off and the show goes away.
on Apr 27, 2005
Wow Zoomba, wow. That right there is truth in a nutshell. At least for me. I can see it having happened on so many levels.

Happened to me with American Idol. Happened with Survivor (not prefectly chronologically, but I watched about 3-4 seasons before I completely lost interest). It is happening right now with The Apprentice. Thanks for pointing that out.
on Apr 27, 2005
on Apr 27, 2005
Well, heck, I will always take a thumbs up as a good sign!

on Apr 27, 2005
For me, Clay Aiken really made the show in season 2. Like you, I missed season one. I caught Clay on the auditions, and I watched to see how he would do. From that moment I was hooked.

Ever since the second season, it has been Clay who has been missing. None of the contestants since him have "caught my imagination" like he had.
on Apr 27, 2005
For me, Clay Aiken really made the show in season 2. Like you, I missed season one. I caught Clay on the auditions, and I watched to see how he would do. From that moment I was hooked.

Ever since the second season, it has been Clay who has been missing. None of the contestants since him have "caught my imagination" like he had.


I have to agree 100% with you there Jamie. My wife and I both feel the same way. I gotta give it to him, there was just something about Clay that made him so easy to like and cheer for. And his voice didn't hurt either.
on Apr 27, 2005
This season, although it has better contestants, is rather boring. The last one had guest celebraties, like Elton John, Gloria Estefan and Barry Manilow, and it was interesting amd fun to watch.

I suspect the judges themselves are getting bored, which would explain the samey and predictable comments.
on Apr 28, 2005
I suspect the judges themselves are getting bored, which would explain the samey and predictable comments.


I suspect that is part of it. To me, Simon always looks bored, even after the performances her praises. Paula, well, botox only lets you have one expression: indifference. And even Randy just doesn't seem to have the energy that he used to.
on Apr 29, 2005
I watched the first season, mostly due to Kelly Clarkson. Plus, like Zoomba's accurate description, I was curious to see if people would actually like it and get into it. American Idol season 1 was appointment television for me.

But the first season was enough for me. I didn't watch any of the second season or the third.I came across an episode a couple weeks ago and I couldn't really get interested in it.

The problem with reality tv is it can't stray too far from it's formula. I used to watch so much reality tv a couple years ago but I just stopped. In the end, fiction is far more fascinating and creative than "reality." Scripted shows can transition their characters with new friends and places to move to. Reality tv can't or they risk losing viewers.

on May 01, 2005
I am proud to say I've never sat through a full episode of either American or Australian Idol. I find the very idea of these and shows like them to be a little repulsive. But good on those who find enjoyment in it. It is just not for me.
on May 03, 2005
It's the gong show revisited,revamped, and recycled, except there's no Jamie Farr to beat Simon on the head......