tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post2270264700542620303..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Open letter to AMERICAN IDOL producersBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60184814108841080922010-08-18T04:19:09.188-07:002010-08-18T04:19:09.188-07:00Patti Smith and Bob Schieffer?Patti Smith and Bob Schieffer?stevinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52301512143595886652010-08-13T07:39:27.807-07:002010-08-13T07:39:27.807-07:00Ted McGinley, Tanya Roberts and Dick Sargent (if y...Ted McGinley, Tanya Roberts and Dick Sargent (if you can't exhume Oscar Levant).Gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11267270930691955112010-08-03T05:30:55.026-07:002010-08-03T05:30:55.026-07:00Boat race celebrity shows need to die in a fiery, ...Boat race celebrity shows need to die in a fiery, twisted car crash that fills the air with wails of agony.<br /><br />Oh wait, did that already happen?Michael Tassonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11521564220735949602010-08-03T04:29:46.211-07:002010-08-03T04:29:46.211-07:00Boy...you guys are really missing out on the "...Boy...you guys are really missing out on the "big" picture.<br />Of course, the solution is a spinoff show, "American Idol Judge!", <br />where people from all over the US compete to get the coveted position of judge on American Idol!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8961396226167699082010-08-02T22:51:44.420-07:002010-08-02T22:51:44.420-07:00How about Mikhail Gorbachev and Lesley Ann Down? (...How about Mikhail Gorbachev and Lesley Ann Down? (to attract the younger viewers) Or Jimmy Cliff and Vera Wang? Donnie Wahlberg and Madeleine Albright?Steve H Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32249832383073529962010-08-02T22:49:39.944-07:002010-08-02T22:49:39.944-07:00Very funny and insightful as always, Ken. How abou...Very funny and insightful as always, Ken. How about Mikhail Gorbachev and Rita Moreno (to attract more young viewers)? Or Sandy Koufax and Debi Mazur? Jimmy Cliff and Fergie (the princess, not the singer)?stevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04820810082654085427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62526188779366474192010-08-02T20:12:10.020-07:002010-08-02T20:12:10.020-07:00Harry Connick & Neil Patrick would be awesome!...Harry Connick & Neil Patrick would be awesome! Simon was good because he was RIGHT! He came off as rude because he didn't sugar coat it, he told it like it was and was honest. All of the past contestants have said they respected what he said the most. So don't replace him with someone who's just going to be an ass, that's not going to work. Steven Tyler will suck, J. Lo won't be much better.<br /><br />Honestly, I feel this will be the last year. The guest mentors are only there to push their latest CD or tour. I mean Miley Cyrus? Seriously?? She can't legally drink (not that she doesn't). What the hell did SHE know?? Barry Manilow was AWESOME! This has become a show about selling crap, not finding talent. It's an awesome show because we have found some real and amazing talent (Daughtry is fantastic), but while it has always been a show and about ratings, it's even more about ratings and money now.<br /><br />I REALLY want it to continue because it can be a really fun show and find us some very cool talent. But I just don't see that happening because they only care about money, which will doom the show. :(Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14406852065310986639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78960698075066813012010-08-02T20:05:11.496-07:002010-08-02T20:05:11.496-07:00How about Joan Rivers & William Hung?How about Joan Rivers & William Hung?J S Swansonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58962067128320947672010-08-02T19:55:06.870-07:002010-08-02T19:55:06.870-07:00J-Lo can offer the contestants her expertise on th...J-Lo can offer the contestants her expertise on the most important factor in getting your songs on the radio: payola. <br /><br />I liked Simon Cowell because he was funny, brutally honest and was actually part of the music business. I also didn't like him precisely because he was part of the music business. He was the guy who created Il Divo and whose key to success was always to have whatever marginally talented celebrity was currently hot on TV rerecord one of my most hated tunes, "Unchained Melody." If singers didn't ululate like a terrorist at Ground Zero, and actually hit notes and held them, he'd dismiss them as "cabaret" or "too Broadway." Those weren't necessarily traits of cabaret or stage singers. They used to be traits of the greatest pop singers, like Frank Sinatra and Keely Smith. Simon has a narrow definition of pop, which coincides perfectly with my definition of "juvenile, overproduced crap." <br /><br />VW: "Slugh" - What I groan whenever I listen to an "American Idol" singer.Pat Reedernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25554645137554005732010-08-02T19:03:40.166-07:002010-08-02T19:03:40.166-07:00I thought my Scientology radar was pretty sharp, b...I thought my Scientology radar was pretty sharp, but this is the first time I've heard JLo is one of them. Is this true, Ken, or are you just being funny (which you are, BTW). <br /><br />As a judge, I hear Phil Spector isn't busy, other than fending off Bubba in the showers. They could set up a monitor at his place on the table.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77674808017218129232010-08-02T17:54:11.150-07:002010-08-02T17:54:11.150-07:00My dream panel...Brian Wilson, Jerry Lewis, Norm M...My dream panel...Brian Wilson, Jerry Lewis, Norm MacDonald, Sarah SilvermanBob Gasselnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26468824342994822232010-08-02T17:02:30.294-07:002010-08-02T17:02:30.294-07:00Thanks, Rebecca!... I'll be here all week (d...Thanks, Rebecca!... I'll be here all week (don't forget to tip your waitress)... :-)<br /><br />tqTom Quigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959628996361620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84608141364618610492010-08-02T16:31:37.907-07:002010-08-02T16:31:37.907-07:00Tom Quigley, your Barry Gibb song was awesome!Tom Quigley, your Barry Gibb song was awesome!Rebeccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41913071295823001342010-08-02T16:20:24.276-07:002010-08-02T16:20:24.276-07:00Sandra Bernhard and Ozzy Osbourne.Sandra Bernhard and Ozzy Osbourne.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80252347937285931102010-08-02T15:37:50.077-07:002010-08-02T15:37:50.077-07:00Here's a win-win thought. Move the lovely Ryan...Here's a win-win thought. Move the lovely Ryan over to the judge table and bring in hot Cat Deeley (from SYTYCD) as hostess. The third judge: eat a little crow and bring back Paula!jackscribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07128217315905954305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40120977384277095772010-08-02T14:46:46.114-07:002010-08-02T14:46:46.114-07:00Kathy Griffin?Kathy Griffin?Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17979568666799220972010-08-02T13:20:04.825-07:002010-08-02T13:20:04.825-07:00American Idol is dead. Long live American Idol. ...American Idol is dead. Long live American Idol. Simon Cowell not only has plenty of money but great timing. I don't think Kara Dioguardi is a bad person; just on the wrong TV show. Why Ellen DeGeneres even <b>considered</b> doing AI is beyond me. Ken makes some good points but the biggest point should be the show is dead. Let's move on.sean in ashburnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4374689537823032422010-08-02T12:58:42.759-07:002010-08-02T12:58:42.759-07:00I love the Oscar Levant idea. In fact, my next &qu...I love the Oscar Levant idea. In fact, my next "Ken Levine dream post" would be a transcript of a Levant-judged Idol episode. Make it happen!Jason Crane | The Jazz Sessionhttp://thejazzsession.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4744190131229356422010-08-02T12:31:51.601-07:002010-08-02T12:31:51.601-07:00Started thinking that an ideal judge to replace on...Started thinking that an ideal judge to replace one of the departing panelists might be Barry Gibb, but then also started thinking "What if he offered all his criticisms in that irritating falsetto singing voice?" We'd probably end up being treated to an hour of...<br /><br />GIBB: (singing)<br /><br /><i>"Well you can tell by the way I stuck out my tongue<br />That I didn't like the way that song was sung.<br />You sang too loud, you sang it all wrong --<br />You completely killed and butchered that song.<br /><br />So it's not all right, not okay, And you'd better listen to what I say.<br />Your odds of winning are pretty bleak,<br />And you prob'ly won't be back next week.<br /><br />Based on your performing, <br />I'm-a giving you the warning <br />That you're barely alive, barely alive.<br />Your singing's a pariah --<br />You could lose out to Sanjaya <br />'Cause you're barely alive, barely alive...<br />Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! -- Barely alive! Barely alive!<br />Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! -- Barely aliii--iii--iiii--iive... Yeah!"</i><br /><br />And then Randy would give Monsieur Gibb a sideward glance with the observation: "A little pitchy that time, Dawg...."Tom Quigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959628996361620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83705108703384543572010-08-02T11:36:34.502-07:002010-08-02T11:36:34.502-07:00Larry David? Er, how about Roman Polanski? Great a...Larry David? Er, how about Roman Polanski? Great analysis Ken.blogwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362291687463326731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88792347837062822642010-08-02T10:18:32.539-07:002010-08-02T10:18:32.539-07:00"Otherwise, this year America is going to vot..."Otherwise, this year America is going to vote off YOU."<br /><br />We should be so lucky.Sally creeping down the alleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4153583648201986412010-08-02T10:16:10.357-07:002010-08-02T10:16:10.357-07:00Harry Connick JR would be on my short list. He wa...Harry Connick JR would be on my short list. He was fantastic working with the kids and giving them honest feedback. <br /><br />Also why not Dolly Pardon, I think she would be great. Not only would we get some great wigs and outfits, she knows the business better than most. She does it all so she knows what it takes to be a singer/songwriter. She is also great with the soundbites. <br /><br />that's my two choices..... Harry and Dolly! I love it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16774274418952357072010-08-02T09:54:10.117-07:002010-08-02T09:54:10.117-07:00Love the David Lee Roth idea! Credible, perfect w...Love the David Lee Roth idea! Credible, perfect with the one-liners, very quick on his feet with the quips, and he would be "over the top". Make it so!<br /><br /><br /><br />peepl: The slang Arkansas version of "peephole" as in "I'm goin' down yonder to look in dat der peepl and see some girly tings"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14892708172743197672010-08-02T09:42:51.559-07:002010-08-02T09:42:51.559-07:00Who should be the new judge? Three words: Weird Al...Who should be the new judge? Three words: Weird Al Yankovic. Smart, funny, musically knowledgeable, full of personality, and would bring in the oft-underestimated Geek Demographic.<br /><br />Only downside? He's far too nice to fill Simon's shoes.dogganshttp://twitter.com/doggansnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77055499483146868282010-08-02T09:02:56.188-07:002010-08-02T09:02:56.188-07:00Giving American Idol new judges is like giving Sop...Giving American Idol new judges is like giving Sophia Loren another facelift. Harry Connick was auditioning so heavy for the job I thought he was going to actually crap charm and piss whimsy. Liza Minelli? She's dead. It's just that no one's told her. Steven Tyler? Replace the Coke cups with Stoli. No one replaces Simon Cowell, although with all his expertise as a music producer how is it that when left to his own devices with all the world's musicians at his disposal, the best he could come up with was Il Divo? Four tuxedoed operatic metrosexuals? The Beatles meet the Gay Mens choir. Living proof that it's much easier to slam people trying to do something creative than to actually do something creative.KOKOROhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11276899621664495272noreply@blogger.com