tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7682442049508564949..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: It's time for AMERICAN IDOL to say goodbyeBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38344877278283527442013-04-18T16:42:28.714-07:002013-04-18T16:42:28.714-07:00Dumb!Dumb!Paul Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28035815197435351772013-03-19T09:14:29.254-07:002013-03-19T09:14:29.254-07:00And Ryan is… Ryan. Just biding his time until he ...And Ryan is… Ryan. Just biding his time until he can oust Matt Lauer.<br /><br />You laugh, but Seacrest would probably do a good job as a news broadcaster.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76274451776712866822013-03-15T17:59:12.913-07:002013-03-15T17:59:12.913-07:00The most irritating aspect to me, in addition to t...The most irritating aspect to me, in addition to the screaming and unbearable vocal gymnastics (the latter especially is why I can't stand to listen to the phony Christina Aguilera and it's sad that she is some kind of standard by which to judge vocal quality), is when the "talent" announces that he/she is going sing "Feelin' Good" by [insert name of artist here]. "Feeling Good" was written/composed by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for the musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd." It was not written by the artist that the contestant has chosen to emulate. Amateurs, you bet. AI should encourage references to the REAL songwriters so viewers can be better informed...but, alas, I realize music education is low on AI's to-do list. Lorimartiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11304265071310997962013-03-15T16:26:58.724-07:002013-03-15T16:26:58.724-07:00Hate the show. Only watched a handful of episodes ...Hate the show. Only watched a handful of episodes the year McPhee and Hicks (or whatever their names are) were in the running, and then only because of an Elvis night.<br /><br />My wife likes Keith Urban, so I've seen snippets this season. I like nice guys like Urban, but I also know what drives shows, even "reality" shows like this one. Simon Cowell was IDOL's J.R. Ewing. Without him, it sucks, even more than it did.<br /><br />But I'm biased. I like scripted shows (in the true sense) that actually employ writers.Jake Mabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908036270824377919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17334310263766214002013-03-15T16:25:23.746-07:002013-03-15T16:25:23.746-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jake Mabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908036270824377919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24263291134930383602013-03-15T10:38:01.831-07:002013-03-15T10:38:01.831-07:00AI is one of those reality shows that figured out ...AI is one of those reality shows that figured out a winning format, nailed it, and then never changed. Except for the one thing that gave it life: Simon.<br />Everyone hates Simon. But Simon was the foil. You need a foil, yes?<br /><br />The weird thing is that X Factor took all of that potential magic, and removed all spark by putting the vast majority of the decisions into the hands of the judges. So you were basically watching the judges vision of what each person should be doing, instead of their own originality... thus stripping out the only original portion of AI, the performer.ChicagoJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15963409952606722977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81528541803563560912013-03-14T21:14:33.016-07:002013-03-14T21:14:33.016-07:00Maybe they should just start featuring screeching,...Maybe they should just start featuring screeching, middle-aged menopausal women and call it "American Midol"....oh wait, there's already a show like that.... It's called "The View"YEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18584805366248203872013-03-14T20:14:43.760-07:002013-03-14T20:14:43.760-07:00I have read your blog since 2006. Was in your fir...I have read your blog since 2006. Was in your first Sitcom Room and to me, this was the funniest post I have ever read. Inspired. Spot on. "And both are similar in that they feature masturbation," On the floor. Thank you. Thank you. As a musician, thank you. You are my hero.<br /><br />Mark Bennett<br />Class of 2007.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90148438876935965602013-03-14T16:32:49.067-07:002013-03-14T16:32:49.067-07:00Okay, was Selma Diamond the first female tobacco a...<i>Okay, was Selma Diamond the first female tobacco addicted baliff with the raspy voice or was she the second tobacco addicted baliff who was short and fat?</i><br /><br />I presume you mean on NIGHT COURT. Selma Diamond ("raspy voice") was the first female baliff. Florence Halop ("short and fat") was the second. Both died of lung cancer. I'm sure the first question the producers asked Marsha Warfield was, "Do you smoke?"Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84234793737914069462013-03-14T15:54:15.870-07:002013-03-14T15:54:15.870-07:00The BEST moment on American Idol. Not phony, not c...The BEST moment on American Idol. Not phony, not contrived, and damn good singing. <br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfyJBfqSsUEFredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10078245303776789247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65992783593878947352013-03-14T15:01:30.972-07:002013-03-14T15:01:30.972-07:00Couldn't disagree more about Minaj. I don'...Couldn't disagree more about Minaj. I don't watch AI, but I saw her on The Tonight Show a month or so back and she annoyed me with every word she spoke. The accent was bad enough, but the vapididity of her remarks and her attitude made me want to leap through the TV screen and strangle her. I can't get past those idiotic costumes, either. Not my bag, as we used to say in the Dark Ages.<br /><br />Thanks for the review, though, Ken. It assures me that my decision to miss this show is correct.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10266762796541012042013-03-14T14:57:30.642-07:002013-03-14T14:57:30.642-07:00And oh yeah, that Candice Glover is pretty darn go...And oh yeah, that Candice Glover is pretty darn good, too. Maybe I will tune in a bit to see what she does. Or just check out the clips online.jbryantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9864910916559379732013-03-14T14:49:28.432-07:002013-03-14T14:49:28.432-07:00I, too, used to watch the show regularly, but this...I, too, used to watch the show regularly, but this season have sampled it only once--last week's whittling down to the top 10. Kree stood out, and a couple others were fine, but I didn't see anything to keep me coming back. At this point, there's far more entertainment value in just reading Dave Holmes' hilarious recaps on New York magazine's Vulture site. Minaj seems to be by far the most interesting/astute judge; Urban is fine; Mariah is, um, present; and Randy is Randy (unfortunately). <br /><br />One thing that Holmes and others have noted is that it seems like the producers are trying to engineer a female win this year--after several white-guys-with-guitars wins that haven't exactly lit up the charts--by ensuring that most all of the male contestants are gay (or at least read as gay). The theory goes that the little girls who vote the most often won't throw enough support to a gay contestant for a win. jbryantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40546012988404873932013-03-14T13:16:12.835-07:002013-03-14T13:16:12.835-07:00i was a regular viewer of Idol up until 2010. Simo...i was a regular viewer of Idol up until 2010. Simon left and left a huge hole that has not been filled. To me, all these singers sound alike..all have great voices and they always end their song with that expected high note. Its all been done before and much better. I saw it once last season and I was bored to death.<br />....and from 2006 to 2009 I wouldn't miss an episode. Now, i could care less.<br /><br />90 minutes or 2 hours that could easily be cut to 30 minutes.ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44763165280148120222013-03-14T13:14:41.093-07:002013-03-14T13:14:41.093-07:00Not even Howard Stern can help!Not even Howard Stern can help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80351837060140751012013-03-14T12:59:38.482-07:002013-03-14T12:59:38.482-07:00Selma Diamond, yes! Either her or Betty Walker of...Selma Diamond, yes! Either her or Betty Walker of "Hello, Ceil?" fameVictor Velasconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34198966850594417552013-03-14T11:41:00.675-07:002013-03-14T11:41:00.675-07:00Okay, was Selma Diamond the first female tobacco a...Okay, was Selma Diamond the first female tobacco addicted baliff with the raspy voice or was she the second tobacco addicted baliff who was short and fat?Jamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40888127302872554572013-03-14T11:39:35.301-07:002013-03-14T11:39:35.301-07:00Ken, you missed some rather entertaining lead-up e...Ken, you missed some rather entertaining lead-up episodes where Minaj was the best, funniest, and dare I say - most thoughtful - of judges Idol has had in a long time.<br /><br />I am serious. i knew next to nothing about Nicki Minaj until this season. What I learned was she has an active, imaginative - even logical - brain, and her comments about the contestants were generally spot on. She is not a dummy - she's a smart businesswoman, if one can get past the wigs. <br /><br />And, she IS the new Simon - or was. Last night's episode found Nicki to be bland in her comments, so you didn't truly get a good representation of the fun she brings to the show.<br /><br />Yeah - waffles. Sure. But you missed when she told Kree that she was her wife. <br /><br />I also actually enjoyed when she called the female contestants "little lady bug" - there was a genuine sweetness to it. <br /><br />One thing Minaj and Urban did - they actually listened to each contestant and tried to offer advice. Urban has been a bit more tactful when he didn't like something; Minaj - not so much. She is the one who will say the performance is bad. As for comments that only offer a compliment about clothes or swag - well, mark that comment as "if you can't say something nice..."<br /><br />NOW, here's the thing. Since the judges really have no input other than comments from here on in (or so we have always been lead to believe; I don't think they ever have much input as to who proceeds on American Idol), I think Minaj may continue to be as bland as she was last night. I think she feels her "work" is done.<br /><br />I hope not, but she was not the Nicki last night that we've seen in the past few weeks.<br /><br />Anyway, for me, it's still entertaining to watch since, well, I don't have cable.Eleanornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71991411655599393622013-03-14T11:18:37.118-07:002013-03-14T11:18:37.118-07:00It's too bad you didn't watch sooner, Ken....It's too bad you didn't watch sooner, Ken. There were some strange contestants you would have enjoyed just before this last cut.<br /><br />This is the first year I probably won't keep watching. I'm torn because I looove Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban as judges. She gives great advice actually, and they don't love everything.<br /><br />But the contestants they ended up with are really boring. Not that they can't sing, I just don't care. Every other year there were people I looked forward to seeing perform. This year, not a one. I'd rather see some personality and originality, with a little less singing talent. Preferably both. <br /><br />I guess I still have The Voice to look forward to.<br /><br />The X Factor is god awful. cshelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1257519018616359042013-03-14T11:11:00.560-07:002013-03-14T11:11:00.560-07:00Is that show still on?Is that show still on?chuckcdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77004052330893002252013-03-14T11:04:35.269-07:002013-03-14T11:04:35.269-07:00So how am I now supposed to get Selma Diamond on m...So how am I now supposed to get Selma Diamond on morphine singing hip-hop out of my head?<br /><br />I've always loved your way with words. "The contestants were all central casting versions of past hopefuls" speaks volumes.RareWaveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778784501326773464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37577442622625896232013-03-14T11:00:05.238-07:002013-03-14T11:00:05.238-07:00I was in Vegas a couple of weeks ago and Taylor Hi...I was in Vegas a couple of weeks ago and Taylor Hicks was playing there: in a venue at the Paris that holds about 50 people. Most people were waiting for the "Dueling Pianos" act to start. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41628071043671466072013-03-14T10:56:55.919-07:002013-03-14T10:56:55.919-07:00Yes it's Spam, and, speaking of Spam, there...Yes it's Spam, and, speaking of Spam, there's some in this thread with a plug for some satellite dvr product. But look, the show still showcases good singing talent (Kree is the next Trisha Yearwood, and that's NOT a bad thing), Nikki Minaj is a hoot to watch (skip the rest), and if you do DVR it, as you must, you can watch a two hour show in about 25 minutes, as you suggest. Plus, it's one of the few things you can watch with your kids that doesn't fast forward them straight past puberty to jaded adulthood.Hollywoodaholichttp://www.hollywoodaholic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17209594489820956672013-03-14T10:50:08.598-07:002013-03-14T10:50:08.598-07:00A young woman I occasionally work with was on the ...A young woman I occasionally work with was on the show and went to Hollywood week. She isn't bitter she got blown out, but she thinks the show truly sucks these days. All of the women sound the same as does all of the guys. I can't even remember past winners except for Taylor Hicks and where the hell is he these days. Oh, and what about that David something - the little guy who won some years back. Where is he today?Jeffrey Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44692843963507731242013-03-14T10:18:11.553-07:002013-03-14T10:18:11.553-07:00I'm thinking you should turn your blog into a ...I'm thinking you should turn your blog into a podcast. I betcha lots of people wold love to hear the sarcasm in your pice as you read this stuff out loud.A Fannoreply@blogger.com