1/25/2007

DoublePlusPost

This is Season 1.5 of American Idol for me. I began watching the auditions last year and then broke up with the show for a while. I did reunite with the gang in time to see a whittled down group drown in the grey wave that was Taylor.

It’s refreshing to see that the format and people are pretty much identical to last year's group. The adorable ragtag band of mental defectives, kids on a lark and a few people who might get the break they deserve are all here. If I was stuck in a room for days judging people for a singing competition where most of the contestants shouldn’t have made it to this point, I’d be a lot more vicious than Simon, on more medication than Paula and even more worthless than Randy.

The person who doesn’t seem to get painted with the same mean brush might turn out to be the cruelest of all. Ryan Seabreeze. What are you doing? How can you be creating those awful TV moments and getting away with it?

The dippier contestants land outside the audition room for their exit interview and Ryan asks them a question or two they can’t answer because they don’t know what’s just happened. And then he stares. And stares some more. The not so TV savvy contestant tries to answer, eyes darting around for safe haven and then little Ryan stares just a little big longer.

Excruciating and brilliant.

I also posted this over on funtimegoodsnarkyplaceblog We Judge The Idols where other incisive commentary is available. Act now.

19 comments:

chelene said...

Dale, did you mean Taylor? Unless of course there was another boring, lameass, grey-haired never-was that I missed while drinking.

Dale said...

I can't believe I did that. Thanks Chelene, I've changed it. I hang my greying head in shame.

Berry said...

I don't care how unpopular the following statement is: I love Ryan Seacrest! Seriously, he has a subtle wit that he lets come through now and then, and me likey.

Johnny Yen said...

I've never willingly watched that show, but I've happened to be within earshot and sight of a television that is playing it. And my thought was "who told these people they had a lick of talent?" Was it some sort of collective joke everybody in their lives pulled, or were people just too polite to tell them that they couldn't hold a tune in a bag?

Tanya Espanya said...

I mentioned in my latest post that I'm newly addicted to this and now I blame you.

Barbara Bruederlin said...

I'm on-side with Johnny Yen on this one. I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a spoon than watch that, I'm afraid.

Chancelucky said...

Ed Sullivan was never my favorite show when I was a child, but it was the one show in primetime that had genuinely iconic status. You could walk up to most anyone start a conversation about whoever was on the Ed Sullivan and wouldn't get a blank stare back. Idol seems to play that role now and I think it's good to have cultural markers of that sort.

Of course, Ed Sullivan introduced, the Beatles, the Doors, the Rolling Stones, etc. to the mainstream American public and Senor Wences.

Erik said...

I used to snub AI mercilessly, but it's grown on me. Sure, it's dedicated to the ruthless, slightly disheartening exploitation of mediocrity, but where else can you watch kids who probably (mercifully) never heard of Journey being forced to sing one of their relentless power ballads? I'm totally with you on the whole Seacrest thing: he's apparently discovered some kind of evil inner child, which is making this season a whole lot more fun to watch already.

Cup said...

I just can't get into American Idol. I wish I could, just for the blogging fun of it all.

anne altman said...

ryan seacrest can be witty at times. but i wouldn't bang him. he has a vageeeny.

Dale said...

Yes, he does have a stubble wit Berry!

I bet you've accidentally watched hours of it Johnny. What did the judges tell you that made you pretend like this?

You can't blame me, you were watching it when you called me.

Please don't Barbara. I don't want it to be like that with us.

After that comment, you're my blogtural touchstone Chancelucky.

You've no doubt found other things to snub as have I Erik. Oh Sherry.

You've got Runway Beth and that's enough.

It's a short vageeeny but a vageeeny just the same Anne.

Allison said...

LOL, Ryan Seabreeze. Nice.

But I'm with Barbara. Except it'd be a fork, not a spoon. Its really because I can't stand watching people embarrass themselves.

Dale said...

It's tough going Allison and that's why I'm taking this on for you and only leaving plastic cutlery around.

Mob said...

The uncomfortable dead-air silences that Seacrest seems to love are quite puzzling to me.

If I had to listen to the tone-deaf parade that the hosts sit through, I'd be throwing bottles and attacking people with a hammer instead of being a catty bitch.

darling said...

I like the start of the season which boasts hints of who has talent and I am tickled with the ones that could use some help or just plain want to try somehting for the sake of trying something.

The end of the season I like for the performances :)

Dale said...

Those moments are definitely calculated for maximum squirm Mob. It'd be a short season with you on the panel!

Darling, you're a dear. And a member of the viewing public.

nouseforaname said...

I can not watch that show during the audition process.... too many losers, too many hopefuls with their dreams crushed, too much Simon, Paula and Randy just tooo much, i'd rather tweeze my pubes!

X. Dell said...

If I were forced to watch "American Idol" for more than ten minutes, I would be meaner than Simon, on more medications than Paula, and more worthless than Randy.

I've been meaning to write a comedy skit where Bob Dylan auditions for "American Idol." But every time I sit down and attempt it, the damn thing writes itself. That's no fun.

Dale said...

A lot of people would rather be watching you Shroom-Monkey!

It would be funnier if he were still alive X. Dell. What?!