'American Idol' Season 12

[joesman]

Zoanette just might turn out to be as big as she thinks she is. She certainly blew holes in the universe when she sang Circle of Life and she may have stole some of Vincent's thunder with all that manic jumping and turning, but you knew he was as thru as she was her night.

I thought the guy who sang Fever was robbed. He was really good.

[slipintothefog]

I just slogged through the second week of the top 20 girls and WOW it was so abysmal and soporific until Zoanette came on. As much as Idol wants, none of these chicks are going to win. Especially not Angela who is clearly their Chosen One -- tomorrow starts the first week of the season with the audience voting, and they've already handed that girl the fucking pimp spot, apparently, while Zoanette got the death spot -- and will go out mid-season just like Pia and Jessica (before receiving the save) did.

[BreakTheIce]

Stopped watching so far, but plan to tune in on top 12. Have they reached that point yet? I'm not interested in the top 20 girls/guys rounds

[Sgt Pepper]

I just slogged through the second week of the top 20 girls and WOW it was so abysmal and soporific until Zoanette came on. As much as Idol wants, none of these chicks are going to win. Especially not Angela who is clearly their Chosen One

That's interesting. I thought Angela was their runner-up favorite, with Kree being their Chosen One. If Nigel has his way, the F3 will be Kree/Angela/Candice in that order...I think.

That said, which one of the guys do you think can break out and get that tween/cougar vote to prevent a guy from winning? Because from what I can tell, they've intentionally gutted the competition of any guy even remotely in that range unless you think Lazaro or that Asian/Hispanic Bieber can do it?

[slipintothefog]

I don't know, maybe there's intentional misdirection of the fans on the producer's part. Like they clearly seemed to want Pia to win it all two years ago but when she crashed and burned due to overpimpage, they still had Miss Piggy waiting in the wings to push their new TCO (until Kermit beat her in the end anyway). Because right now, Angela is DEFINITELY the one who the show is going out its way to slobber over, but by now they HAVE to know that being that blatantly transparent in their favoritism never works (Adam, Crystal, Jessica, etc).

I'm not sure which guy could actually win. I haven't watched Thursday's episode yet so I don't even know who the top ten guys are. The so-called talent this year is pretty underwhelming on both sides IMO. >_> Lazaro HAS been pretty heavily featured though. Or maybe it just feels like that to me because I tire of listening to him talk pretty quickly. (P.S. I'm a monster, I know.)

[Sgt Pepper]

Lazaro HAS been pretty heavily featured though. Or maybe it just feels like that to me because I tire of listening to him talk pretty quickly. (P.S. I'm a monster, I know.)

Then I join you in monster-solidarity because his performances have been mediocre to godawful and this week after he sang, all I kept thinking was, "P...p...p please let him g...g...go."

If you ever get around to watching last week's guys, I think you'll see why I'm skeptical that a guy could still pull it off. The girls are just way better -- or at least getting a better edit -- and it's obvious the producers stacked it that way. I just don't see which one of these guys could get the tween/cougar vote, even as a backlash against production gerrymandering. I find it hilarious/uncomfortable that this is the one season where multiple non-cute guys of color doing the R&B/soul thing got pushed through with the tacit reasoning being that even if they're good, racist America isn't voting for them anyway, so that helps the girls.

I only ask one thing of VTFW this year. PLEASE choose Zoanette over that annoying Askew guy. The former is an example of the kind of entertaining trainwreck I always find endearing (Sanjaya/Tim Urban) while the latter is the kind of insufferable douchebag I always loathe (Casey/Danny Gokey).

[FanofFiction]

LAZARO LAZARO LAZARO LAZARO LAZARO LAZARO LAZARO


For the girls, I like Angela and Kree. Angela's original piece was so good, I'd buy that album today. But I'm enjoying the boys' winning streak. It would be hilarious is a boy won again this year. The producers don't want it. In fact, another male victory might doom the show, especially after the gender war that the producers have started.

Lazaro for the win!

[slipintothefog]

ZOANETTE'S CARICATURE OMG. <3

I just don't see which one of these guys could get the tween/cougar vote,

Tweens/cougars don't really have any standards when it comes to swooning though. See also: McCreery, Scotty.

[Sgt Pepper]

Tweens/cougars don't really have any standards when it comes to swooning though. See also: McCreery, Scotty.

Shudder. You're right. I will never understand that one. Scotty McCreery's face made me want to hide under the covers and hug my teddy bear. All the others -- even a dope like Lee Dewyze -- if I squint hard enough or look at them after downing a pitcher of sangria, I can see the appeal. But not Scotty. The only thing I can come up with is that his deep voice "hit them somewhere." (Nicki Minaj)™

Speaking of which, can we talk about all the awesome side eyes and WTF faces Nicki throws at the camera when Randy is talking? We finally have someone on the panel standing in for the audience and asking, "Srsly??" at the dumbest judge of all time. For all the media hype about her feud with Mariah, it's pretty clear Randy is the one she has zero respect for.

[FuryOfFirestorm]

Scotty McCreepy looked like the bastard child of George W. Bush and Bobby Flay.

Also agree about Nicki giving the side eye to Randy. Dude either repeats "yo dawg" 2 dozen times in a row, or he treats every contestant like precious little snowflakes. He should have left when Paula and Simon did.

[Sgt Pepper]

The best was when Nicki used her Candice judging time to throw shade at Randy instead all, How could this girl NOT make it to the live show last season? What kinda Grade A morons were judging the show back then??

[Sgt Pepper]

These pics say it all. Her side-eye should have its own twitter.

[joesman]

OK America, there were your girls and Zoanette bombed bigtime and took the heat for it - but then almost everyone else came up short for me. I did like Breanna a little but it all came off as a bad audition show for most of the girls.. If they want a girl to win then they better get them some material that makes an impression.

[Sausy]

I'm almost at a loss on how the idiots behind American Idol are intent to keep trashing things with judge panel gimmicks(enough with the four member panel and enough with the overemphasis on name judges already) and instead of spotlighting compelling top flight talent again have their nondescript roster with a few shamelessly pimped to win. Didn't watch more than once or twice last year and not really looking good for me to want to tune in for this year's debacle. Keep it simple, stupid... three judges who may or may not be famous, good chemistry, some good cop/ bad cop differentials but first and foremost really talented young performers with some really nice backstories. Great concepts are usually ruined with success because the powers that be just can't leave well enough alone and the Idol producers have been full of shit in their approach for quite a while now.

[Sgt Pepper]

Tweens/cougars don't really have any standards when it comes to swooning though.

You called it. After tonight, it's clear the l...l...ladies l...l...love L...L...Lazaro. UGH!

[joesman]

I love Burnell. Cortez is the prettiest - Liu the Biebs - Lazaro did a fine job with some great vocals.

[Stoowii]

Team Lazaro all the way! He did great tonight.

[Sgt Pepper]

I really must be hearing something different from you guys -- and the American Idol audience and the judges too apparently -- because once again I thought Lazaro was terrible and he has yet to deliver a performance that I even remember five minutes after it's done. There's just nothing there in terms of talent, not even a big bland voice.

[FuryOfFirestorm]

First Charlie did Elton John's "Rocket Man", and now he does "Mama" by Genesis?

I want to marry him. If he sings anything off the Invisible Touch album, I'll have his babies.

[FuryOfFirestorm]

First Charlie did Elton John's "Rocket Man", and now he does "Mama" by Genesis?

I want to marry him. If he sings anything off the Invisible Touch album, I'll have his babies.

[Sgt Pepper]

Charlie is the worst singer this show has ever had. Seriously.

[Sgt Pepper]

I was ecstatic when Charlie Askew didn't make it into the Top 10 tonight, but my joy was short-lived when Zoanette didn't make it either. Damn you Worsters! This is why you focus all your voting power on ONE awesome candidate (Zoanette) rather than splitting your time between two and causing them both to be eliminated.

That said Angela, Candice and Kree all made it and since by all rights that should be the F3, I'm cool with the results. Though I have to admit Lazaro is making me nervous. He's the only boy who's even remotely cute and as slipintothefog pointed out, the tween/cougar block isn't terribly discriminating when it comes to choosing a TV boyfriend. If they can't get a harmless Pooh Bear, they'll settle for a harmless Piglet (come on, give me credit for at least finding a stuttering animated character to make this analogy work).



It would be horrific/hilarious if Lazaro ends up winning in the most gerrymandered season for a female yet, all because producers totally misjudged the ability of even a handicapped hunk to make dried-up vaginas go, "Ah, that old feeling!" and pubescent vaginas go, "Ooh, a new feeling!"

[joesman]

I still love Burnell and am really sorry Breanna didn't make it. After that fiasco that Zoanette did the other night I am not surprised she didn't make it - But Jolley going thru was an insult to singing.

[slipintothefog]

I was ecstatic when Charlie Askew didn't make it into the Top 10 tonight, but my joy was short-lived when Zoanette didn't make it either. Damn you Worsters! This is why you focus all your voting power on ONE awesome candidate (Zoanette) rather than splitting your time between two and causing them both to be eliminated.

A few things, Pepper. First is that VFTW never splits the votes; they pick one option and stick with him/her. The reason they supported Zoanette and Charlie is because the male and female votes were handled separately with the top five votegetters of each gender going on. If they both somehow survived this week, VFTW would have picked ONE of them (most likely Zoanette, of course) and stuck with that single person for the finals. It happened in Season 9 where we supported Paige Miles and Tim Urban when the votes were done for the semifinalists by gender, and then VFTW supported Tim over Paige -- instead of supporting them both -- once everyone was integrated into the same field during the finals.

The other thing is that it's much, much harder to actually get a VFTW pick into the top ___ out of a field of candidates rather than just to keep one person from being the very bottom one. It's how all of the VFTW picks -- including the amazing Tatiana Del Toro and Normand Gentle -- were absolutely killed in the top 36 of Season 8. It was much, MUCH harder to make somebody top 3 out of a field of twelve than not twelfth in a field of twelve. (Or top five out of ten rather than not tenth, in this year's case.)

P.S. I think Paul could have just as much swoon potential for the female fans as Lazaro. It doesn't help that he sings country which always guarantees an extended life on AI compared to what he should have.

[Sgt Pepper]

The other thing is that it's much, much harder to actually get a VFTW pick into the top ___ out of a field of candidates rather than just to keep one person from being the very bottom one. It's how all of the VFTW picks -- including the amazing Tatiana Del Toro and Normand Gentle -- were absolutely killed in the top 36 of Season 8. It was much, MUCH harder to make somebody top 3 out of a field of twelve than not twelfth in a field of twelve. (Or top five out of ten rather than not tenth, in this year's case.)

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for explaining it to me. So who does VFTW try to save each week now? (I'm assuming a boy since the producers want a girl and none of them outright suck?)

[knobby]

Worst season ever -- From the judges right down to the talent -- Time to pull the plug on the show --

[FanofFiction]

Charlie is the worst singer this show has ever had. Seriously.

Charlie is a runner up for that honour, but in my opinion the worst is still Sanjaya Malakar. The worst. Simply the worst.

[Sgt Pepper]

Charlie is a runner up for that honour, but in my opinion the worst is still Sanjaya Malakar. The worst. Simply the worst.

For me, Sanjaya still had at least one decent performance (Besame Mucho) whereas Charlie has been tuneless, screeching and an assault on the ears every single time. Even at his worst, Sanjaya wasn't that terrible (and I found him way more likable/entertaining).

Worst season ever -- From the judges right down to the talent -- Time to pull the plug on the show --

Every year people say this and every year people forget that it's still the highest rated non-sports show on TV. We can gripe about the quality of the singers or the judges or whatever, but the show is still a big cash cow for FOX. Which means they don't have an incentive to "fix" it and they're certainly nowhere close to pulling the plug on it.

[slipintothefog]

Thankfully, this season's ratings are crashing hard. Their average last year was 18-19 million? This year it's like 13-14 million. Unless something changes, Idol can't stay at #1 for much longer (although it might take until next year). Nicki Minaj outshines all of these hos anyway.

[Sgt Pepper]

This year it's like 13-14 million.

Yes but those are still numbers that most shows today would kill to have. Which is why Idol isn't going anywhere.

[joesman]

BUT NCIS and NCIS LA both beat Idol in the ratings Tuesday night. I have a feeling with this line up of singers they will sink lower. Not a great bunch over all with a couple of minor differences.

[Sausy]

Makes more sense for FOX to want to keep the ratings and ad revenue rates up, and not just settle. Go back to three judges after this season. Emphasize the talent and get more talented people through. Then again, these hacks don't give a shit it seems.

[Sgt Pepper]

Makes more sense for FOX to want to keep the ratings and ad revenue rates up, and not just settle. Go back to three judges after this season. Emphasize the talent and get more talented people through. Then again, these hacks don't give a shit it seems.

I keep wondering why they can't just get Simon back. X Factor is a hot mess and (even worse) totally irrelevant to the pop culture conversation. I can't imagine it would be that difficult to lure him back with the right amount of money.

That said, I actually think they've finally hit on the right combination of judges that harkens to the show's glory days. If they would just get rid of Randy -- like we've all been saying for years now -- and as you said, put the focus back on the contestants, then Nicki/Mariah/Keith could actually fill the original slots nicely. Nicki is clearly the new Simon, willing to call out a bad performance and just...be the bad guy. Mariah is SO the new Paula, practically starting all her critiques with "You look lovely tonight" and thereby adding that soft touch that balances out Nicki. And Keith is the new Randy because he talks funny (Australian-English vs Randy-English).

[FuryOfFirestorm]

Makes more sense for FOX to want to keep the ratings and ad revenue rates up, and not just settle. Go back to three judges after this season. Emphasize the talent and get more talented people through. Then again, these hacks don't give a shit it seems.

I'd actually care enough to watch again if:

1. They get rid of Randy. That "yo dawg" and "it's kinda pitchy" shit got old in Season 2.

2. Ban Keith Urban's songs. They are boring as fuck, and the contestants do it to kiss his ass.

3. Replace Ms. Seacrest. Her smug face makes me want to beat the crap out of a kitten, using a puppy as a bludgeon.

[pat grimshaw]

^ Yes, I think I kind of agree with you.

I get annoyed when the singer sings for like 80 seconds and those damned judges go on and on for five minutes.

[BreakTheIce]

Idol isn't going anywhere as long as it pulls in 10-15 million viewers. It's ratings continue to erode, but it's important to remember that there are more reality competitions on now, so it probably affects ratings on all of them, even if they are on at different times of the year, people could just be sick of them.

Billboard released the top 100 American Idol Hits Of All Time, ranking the singles released by American Idol contestants based on their performance on the Hot 100.

- Carrie Underwood has the most singles on the list (20)
- Kelly Clarkson has the most singles in the top 10 (6). She also has 18 singles total on the list, and holds the both #1 and #2 spot on the list.
- Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" is the top selling "Idol" single of all time, but will probably get overtaken by Phillip Phillip's "Home" later this year.

The Top 5 are

5. Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
4. Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson
3. No Air - Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown
2. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson
1. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

[Stoowii]

Idol isn't going anywhere as long as it pulls in 10-15 million viewers. It's ratings continue to erode, but it's important to remember that there are more reality competitions on now, so it probably affects ratings on all of them, even if they are on at different times of the year, people could just be sick of them.

Billboard released the top 100 American Idol Hits Of All Time, ranking the singles released by American Idol contestants based on their performance on the Hot 100.

- Carrie Underwood has the most singles on the list (20)
- Kelly Clarkson has the most singles in the top 10 (6). She also has 18 singles total on the list, and holds the both #1 and #2 spot on the list.
- Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" is the top selling "Idol" single of all time, but will probably get overtaken by Phillip Phillip's "Home" later this year.

The Top 5 are

5. Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
4. Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson
3. No Air - Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown
2. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson
1. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

Oooh, I'll be sure to check the list out. Carrie Underwood has and always will be my favorite Idol alumni.

[BreakTheIce]

^My step mom got me hooked on Two Black Cadillacs by Carrie. I feel so old liking music she likes! But I love that song. I love Carrie as a vocalist, even though I don't love country music. Her performance on the Grammys this year was amazing.

[sammyyummy]

there seems to be more effeminate male performers this year.

[pinoaguilar]

My favorite idol is DAVID Cook. And I am cheering for Paul this year.

[Native Son]

Hey, Pats, what do you think of your homeboy Keith Urban as a judge on American Idol?

(Be honest.)

[pat grimshaw]

Hey, Pats, what do you think of your homeboy Keith Urban …

I have to say I think higher of him as a judge than a singer— because I have NEVER listened to him sing.

I hate the whiney twang of Country and Western and I don't know why an Aussie would take it up if wasn't for the money.

And I have this really strong urge to lean over with some scissors and cut his hair— it makes him look so drooby.

[Sausy]

I keep wondering why they can't just get Simon back. X Factor is a hot mess and (even worse) totally irrelevant to the pop culture conversation. I can't imagine it would be that difficult to lure him back with the right amount of money.

That said, I actually think they've finally hit on the right combination of judges that harkens to the show's glory days. If they would just get rid of Randy -- like we've all been saying for years now -- and as you said, put the focus back on the contestants, then Nicki/Mariah/Keith could actually fill the original slots nicely. Nicki is clearly the new Simon, willing to call out a bad performance and just...be the bad guy. Mariah is SO the new Paula, practically starting all her critiques with "You look lovely tonight" and thereby adding that soft touch that balances out Nicki. And Keith is the new Randy because he talks funny (Australian-English vs Randy-English).

Yep, the judges in the old days served a nice compliment but it all flowed through their reactions to the singer's performances... now it's like this big thing to pull in name judges and let them be the center of attention when aren't they supposed to find, in theory, the newest pop "sensation"? Other shows doing that have become wrecks(Simon's own" X Factor" is fast becoming irrelevant here as you mentioned). Your suggestion about keeping the current newcomers and axing the tired Randy Jackson is a good one...not a huge Nicki fan but she has her part right from all I read. Thing is it was enjoyable the first few years but has become dramatically less watchable and the producers are doing everything it seems to make things worse. Change is good over time, but too much and being done without a coherent plan is a recipe for the disaster Idol is fast heading to. It's getting damn close to not only jumping the shark but flying over the moon.

[joesman]

For me there were two really good performances last night. I thought Candice tore a new hole in I Who Have Nothing and Burnell Taylor doing Flying Without Wings. Jolley did a lot better than I expected with Amazed.

[Stoowii]

Lazaro was very flat last night. I'm still a fan and would love to fuck his little brains out and I'm sure his fans will keep him there (he has the most Twitter followers of any alumni this season), but he needs to step it up big time. Hometown girl Amber did well, though. I don't know if it was Whitney-esque as Nicki mentioned, but it was still good nonetheless.

[Sgt Pepper]

Nicki Minaj: "Curtis if you go home, I go home."

Mariah Carey cornering Nigel during the commercial break: "Y'all better send Curtis the fuck home."

[slipintothefog]

I don't know if I like that they're revealing the full voting results. It just seems like a ploy to keep the fanbases of the chosen ones from getting too complacent.

Seems my hunch that Lazaro had the best chance to win out of the guys was correct, though.

[sammyyummy]

seeing that adolescent hormonally driven teen girls often decide the final outcome of the show, isnt having not so manly male contestants weaken the possibility of another male winner this year?

[joesman]

I think 4 out of the five guys are gay. Curtis got sent home so that leaves 3 out of 4.

I don't like the way they are doing results either. I don't read blogs or twitter or do Facebook so I don't keep up - and since any one person can cast as many as 50 votes by app gives a lot of power to any group that decides to throw a wrench or a bouquet of roses to any contestant.

Not as committed as yet to the show since only Burnell moves me in any way at all. Jolley I listened to without looking at him because I see plexiglass every time I look at him. He sounded good though. Lazaro, though he has a good voice, seems like he is on the verge of a breakdown any time he has to speak at any length - like when Keith asked him after his song why he chose the song and he looked pale and nervous.

When Candice walked on stage to do her song she was as confident as any singer I have ever seen and she totally hit all the right spots in the right way. I was not as bowled over by Amber as the judges wanted me to be.

[PreTTy PeTe]

Charlie is the worst singer this show has ever had. Seriously.

then you don't rememeber sanjaya. poor guy is singing in the nyc subway now.

http://perezhilton.com/2013-03-13-am...hoto=1#gallery