Comments on: ‘American Idol,’ we have your Paula Abdul replacement: Jody Watley!

By: Leslie Gray Streeter

Leslie Gray Streeter — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:44:06 +0000

Adam fans: I know that in the auditions, the judges may have been dubious about him. But by the first Final 13 show, which was the Michael Jackson show, and which I watched again recently when MJ died, Adam was the favorite, along with Danny Gokey. He was the second or third singer, on the first performance show, and Paula named him the winner. Simon actually told her “He’s the second singer!” But by the end of the show, they were judging the other performers by saying “Too bad you’re not Adam.”

ON THE FIRST FINALIST’S SHOW.

So while he’s amazingly talented – AMAZING – and while he was very smart to use his knowledge of the theater and lighting – it’s documented that the judges were sold on him very early, at least verbally, at the expense of the other contestants. I love Adam, but if you were a fan of any other contestant, from the very beginning, it was really discouraging, because the judges were pretty discouraging about everybody else (except for Gokey).

And while I was joking about the apple crate, it was apparent that the judges had their two favorites. That might not have had anything to do with the lighting, and it certainly doesn’t mean he wasn’t talented, because he’s amazing. But it certainly wasn’t even-handed. That’s what Jody was talking about, and that’s what I meant. Sorry to offend, Glambert fans.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:42:02 +0000

NO PAULA = NO IDOL, Her and Simon make the show and the producers are stupid if they think they can afford to lose her and if she is not back I will not watch a minute of the show this year. They should just take Kara’s money and give it to Paula I don’t mind Kara but she is not vital to the show like Paula is! So swallow your pride FOX and get her back before its too late!

By: Angel

Angel — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:37:56 +0000

From ADAM’s audition, Simon already branded him as theatrical, therefore not ‘current’. In Hollywood week, Kara said she does not feel the connection. ADAM took the criticism, adjusted and won them over. Whatever high praises showered upon him all throughout were well-deserved every iota of it . . . ADAM does not belong to the ‘current’ thing Simon mentioned. ADAM has now created himself a platform for the public’s acceptance of who he is and appreciation for real and true talent in this era of blandness and mediocrity except for a chosen few. It’s time to celebrate ADAM!
And after AI, his being theatrical is now to his great advantage. Because all those concert entertainers laughing all the way to the bank are the THEATRICAL ONES . . . ADAM is proving Simon wrong that one has to be current to sell. Well, ADAM is The Exception. It takes ADAM’s explosion of talents, electrifying stage presence, charismatic and magnetic persona, sensational singing, smoking hotness and sexiness and drop dead gorgeousness to be an astounding phenomenon ADAM is! Of course, he has proven Kara wrong early on. ADAM’s singing has connected to millions of people around the world.

By: terie

terie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:53:37 +0000

ADAM was not the favorite … his TALENT and stage presence won over the judges .. at the outset of the show KARA told him she did not feel a connection to the song … ergo he changed it so that she DID feel a connection. He showed everyone week after week that he was good and gained popularity BECAUSE he was GOOD. The lighting and everything else was available to ALL the contestants … all they had to do was ASK! BTW the BEST one doesn’t always win and the WINNER isn’t always the BEST one on AI … anyone who has watched this show should know that … whether the judges like you or not!!!

By: Tina

Tina — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:05:13 +0000

“We laughed a lot this season that (judge favorite and runner-up Adam Lambert) always had the best lighting.”

A lot of people like to point to this as an example of Adam being heavily favored, however, it was he himself who asked for the lighting and/or props. The contestants are free to ask for whatever they want, they just didn’t. Adam’s stage background came in handy on Idol. :)

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 09:49:49 +0000

paula abdul is irreplacable. i still think idol will take her back- for live shows.

By: Manzanita

Manzanita — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:52:27 +0000

Lucy, you say you’ll never watch Idol again, and that it’s “so yesterday”. And yet, you took the time to read Leslie’s blog about AI and made the effort to write a comment. I have no doubt you’ll be glued to the television for the first audition show of Season 9.

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:30:01 +0000

Chico and Lucy are exactly right. Stage lighting, sets and wardrobe were Adam’s ideas and the producers let him go for it. The other contestants could have done it too but they didn’t. Adam did. Too bad you are so misinformed. Next!

By: Lucy

Lucy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:35:32 +0000

I will never watch Idol again because of their unfair voting system that allowed people from one state to vote thousands of times each to the tune of 38 million votes for an inferior singer. Adam is the one who staged his presentations. Idol did not favor Adam. If the other contestants did not have the imagination to do anything but stand there and sing, shame on them. Do not blame Idol or Adam. As far as I am concerned, Idol is so yesterday. Allowing cheaters is their destruction.

By: chico

chico — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:32:21 +0000

Uhh, you’re such a fail and you wanna be AI judge. Adam had the lighting because he REQUESTED it himself and actually put thoughts into stage set and lighting, unlike the other contestants who had no clue about these things.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:28:36 +0000

Glad to see Jody Watley is still around. Remember her well from Shalamar as well as some solo hits. It would be good for her to impart her experience to AI contestants.

By: Randy Pena

Randy Pena — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:00:35 +0000

Great Blog post. I am going to bookmark and read more often. I love the Blog template