My annual thank you to the ‘Idol’ blog regulars
AMERICAN IDOL: The Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips performs his victory song during the sason 11 AMERICAN IDOL GRAND FINALE at the Nokia Theatre on Weds. May 23, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. CR: Michael Becker/FOX
Sure, the “Idol” blog is dead. (Long live the “Idol” blog!)
But the “Idol” blog community migrated over here for season 11 and I am forever grateful. Since season four, Carrie Underwood’s year, I’ve been writing daily screeds about this show. Eight seasons, 3,000-plus entries and more than 200,000 comments later, we arrive here. A few of you have been around for much of that time and still wonder how Taylor Hicks won season five. Others arrived more recently.
I apologize if I miss a few names but here are folks that I can’t help but give a shout out to:
First and foremost, the official moderator of this blog Deirdre held fort again for no pay, just glory and massive ego gratification. She kept the fly-by nasties at bay, welcomed the newbies and expressed her opinions with smarts and perspective. She also made my job easier – much easier.
So thanks to Rickster, for actually looking forward to this “thank you” column yesterday. (You knew you wanted to get referenced first but Deirdre is always No. 1 here.)
And JTesla, thanks for being my biggest fan. You are way too kind, even when I make typos and go way too long between “Idol” entries. Then there’s my bud Kelly & Carrie Fan, the one person who knows more trivia about “Idol” than I do.
Others who spiced up the group’s snark-a-meter or just gave us blog-level gravitas: Alex, Sam-A, Highlander, Harriett, Nana, RxDawg, JD, Mercedes S, Jenny, Pitchy, bknsty14, Seth T, DanJ, Karen, Andi, missnadine, G, Vast Wastrel, RK, Jubie, Woodpappy, MyPatootie.
Then there were some funny folks over on the Cover it Live blog who seldom if ever came over here. In fact, most will probably never see this but I have to give them credit, too. There was our most valuable contributor, the frequently funny Weary Traveller, who used his hotel room time to join us here. Jennifer Hopez was far more amusing than Jennifer Lopez. Yummiecake2001 was sweet as can be. Uncle Buck gave us the phrase “songbot.” (Thank you!). Then there’s Carrie, Sierra, Sheila, Always Late (who was indeed Always Late), emily and Josh, to name a few. Live blogging is a bit distracting but often rewarding when things get dull on screen.
Without you all, I’d have nothing, paraphrasing the most over-used song in “Idol” history. (No offense, Whitney.) I’d just be talking to myself. And as my wife knows, I do that enough as it is.
For those who wander off during the off season, don’t! I will continue to blog about all things “Idol,” plus “Duets,” “The X Factor” and “The Voice.” And since you’re in my much broader land of TV and radio, other topics far and wide as well.
I will listen in on the press conferences this afternoon for Phillip and Jessica and will add those to the blog later.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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250 comments Add your comment
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
3:48 pm
I agree Jenny. A few of his I actually could not finish..that is almost unheard of from me! Loved the Stand and also The Dead Zone. Those two are my faves from him. When he is good he is excellent but when he is bad he is awful!
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
and Barb, thanks about Mockingjay, if only we weren’t so far apart! Have you seen the Hunger Games movie? I finally saw it this past weekend, and wow. Just as I imagined it! (I waited to see it until I’d finished the book though, and was glad. So much backstory that helped me ‘get’ stuff that wasn’t clear to husband, who hasn’t read it yet.)
Dick Lark
May 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
Thanks for the shout out G, it was fun disagreeing with you on PP. Keep playing those drums man!
bknsty14
May 24th, 2012
3:50 pm
Sam-A – That survey was fun. Tore into the judges.
bknsty14
May 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
I’m below the age average and from Illinois if we’re keeping score
G
May 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
Born and raised in the heart of Middle Georgia! However, I don’t claim pp’s win as a Georgia victory. Not ALL of us Gawgins were in his corner. IJS
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
I did see the movie opening weekend Jenny. They did a fantastic job!! I think you almost need to read the book before you see the movie or you miss the back story and motavation. Not to mention the emotional connections.
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
Barb, the Dead Zone, yes!! Another good one. And The Shining. First one of his I ever read (and the Jack Nicholson movie made me nuts with its inaccuracies.) But the movies can never, ever capture the depths of what he does in the books. I wish they’d just stop trying.
Pet Sematary – quite literally the scariest book I’ve EVER read. (But a joke of a movie.)
IT – best for character development. (Movie couldn’t possibly capture it.)
And if you liked Hunger Games, try The Long Walk (if you haven’t read it already. It’s a novella in one of his ‘collection’ books.)
Mercedes S.
May 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
Thanks for no spoiler, Harriett – I have TWO Revenges to catch up on!!
Best King for me – “The Shining”. Neither movie/TV show did it justice.
Mercedes S.
May 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
And I’ve been an Atlantan for the past 40 years.
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
3:55 pm
Exactly about the HG movie, Barb. Though my husband loved it, he left with so many questions. Luckily he had me to explain every detail!
Mercedes S.
May 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
Forgot “Dead Zone.” Decent movie too. And “IT” made me see there is NOTHING funny about clowns,,, nothing.
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
I know, Mercedes. That’s the one of his I’ve re-read the second most. The miniseries at least came closer than the Jack N. movie… at least it kept the hedge animals. But there’s still just no way to capture it. (And Wendy was supposed to be pretty… not look like Olive Oyl from Popeye…)
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
I have read the Long Walk as well as his Running Man? I wondered if those stories of his helped to give birth to The Hunger Games. Just a thought.
Mercedes S.
May 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
And thanks, Sam-A, for link to Idol. Felt good to vent about the judges. POinted out that their incompetence/favoritism ruined the whole season.
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
3:59 pm
Actually, Barb, it might have! I’ve seen that referenced somewhere.
bknsty14
May 24th, 2012
4:00 pm
Jenny – I’m with you on HIMYM. Loved Barney with Quinn. It’s worn a little thin and probably in the last year, but at least we will get an answer at the end. Also agree with Survivor. It’s entertaining. The Bachelor and Bachelorette. (Like the Bachelor better). Slow moving train wreck. Grey’s and PP. Lots of other shows, too. I really do need a life.
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
4:00 pm
Mercedes, what about the Stand miniseries? It was decent… as much as it can be. Except argh, the casting for Nadine was absolutely terrible. Now I can’t re-read the book without picturing her that way…
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
4:01 pm
The movie and the remake of the Shining were just bad! My imagination always does a better job! I get so into a book I can scare myself silly. As I did reading The Exorsist!!
Rickster
May 24th, 2012
4:02 pm
Native Georgian here, Jenny – plus a native Atlantan to boot!
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
4:04 pm
Yep, bk14, I meant both Bach and Bach-ette. I like Bachelor better because of the catty girl trainwrecks. (One word for you…. Courtney.)
HIMYM – I just can’t see a brand new character as the mother. That just won’t ring true. They sure love to fool us, so I will always have hope it’s Robin.
And Survivor… I was almost jumping up and down waiting for Jeff to call out Colton at the live show. Worst. Character. EVER!!!
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
4:04 pm
oh Barbara, then read Pet Sematary. You will sleep with the lights on for WEEKS.
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
4:05 pm
Colton on Survivor was a sorry excuse for a human being! Best show this season was him leaving!!!
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
4:07 pm
Rickster, me too! There are very few of us.
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
4:08 pm
Jenny I read that one too. I could not finish Needful Things nor Desperation but have read most all else of his but 1963 and last 2 of the Dark Tower series.
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
4:10 pm
His Salems Lot was my first vampire book back in the 70’s and the creepy factor was right up there for me. I refused to look at my windows at night for days after that!!
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
4:10 pm
Barb – YES. Once he left, I loved the season! Kim and Chelsea were my faves. What about Kat – she was so selfish and bratty, and I was thrilled when she got blindsided… but then in her final Tribal speech she was a whole different person!
G
May 24th, 2012
4:11 pm
In the grand scheme of things, I don’t think the loss really phased Jessica that much. It probably phased her fans harder. Of course she would’ve been happy with the cherry on top win, but I think her plate was full of so many offers and plans that her head has been spinning for weeks. Essentially, Jess won weeks ago, along with Josh. PP will do whatever it is he does, but I think Jess will be big.
SN: Look for Jessica to perform the national anthem at one of the upcoming Pacquio fights.
Deirdre
May 24th, 2012
4:13 pm
Jenny, 1963 is excellent. Love How I Met Your Mother! Finished the Hunger Games series a few weeks ago. Read Every King book, Koontz book, very fond of Lisa Gardner, Alex Kava, Lincoln and Child.
bknsty14
May 24th, 2012
4:13 pm
Ted always calls her Aunt Robin, though. Loved Chelsea on Survivor (any guy would). And that accent. Colton was the worst. Hated courtney on the bachelor. Ben was an idiot. They deserve each other. Until the Fan/Man duo last night, Courtney was the worst thing ever on television.
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
4:14 pm
Salem’s Lot, yes! The second of his I read, after The Shining. And after that I was addicted.
I couldn’t finish Misery, then couldn’t finish the Tommyknockers, then he lost me. I read somewhere that after his terrible car accident, his stories literally changed. I believe it.
Mercedes S.
May 24th, 2012
4:15 pm
Jenny, “The Stand” was a decent TV-show. More than decent. I also liked ’salem’s Lot” (book). “Cujo” was my first “off” King book – hated ending.
“Th Exorcist” did creep me out – three times. Reading book, then watching movie, then watching movie with additional footage.
Scariest non-fiction book – “Helter Skelter”. Read it when hubby was off on business trip and every light in the house stayed on for those two nights I was home alone,
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
4:15 pm
Oh Deirdre LOVE Dean Koontz and Linclon and Child Pendergast series!
Deirdre
May 24th, 2012
4:16 pm
Salem’s Lot was the only book that ever made me jump…how does a book do that????
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
4:18 pm
Lol Deirdre King was just that good!!
What is your favorite Koontz book?
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
4:19 pm
I know, bk14. I’m hoping “Aunt Robin” is just a trick. Probably not… but I’m a diehard. (Hollie, anyone?)
D… but you didn’t weigh in, Robin with Barney or Ted?? And Team Gale or Team Peeta? I thought I was Gale, but the cave scenes swayed me to Peeta.
Bk, actually I thought Courtney was the worst thing ever on TV… until Colton. The show almost became unwatchable for me. Thank goodness he left when he did. And it took me all season to figure out that Chelsea looks just like one of my best college friends.
Mercedes S.
May 24th, 2012
4:19 pm
Should have guessed Deirde is a fellow-Koontzer – “Lightning” and “Watchers” (I think – the one about the good and bad dog?) my favortes there.
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
4:19 pm
Mine is Watchers! Love that dog!!!
Harriett
May 24th, 2012
4:20 pm
Now, to me Salem’s Lot scared the h e l l out of me. That hovering outside the window scene was the scariest.
Mercedes, you are in for a treat with the last two episodes of Revenge!! And, I never try to give a spoiler when I know so many these days DVR and watch later. I am going to be in a quandary soon, with all the shows coming on the same nights and the DVR only recording two at the same time. I watch Person of Interest on Thursdays after Idol and now there is Duets and SYTYCD on at the same time. This week, thankfully, Person of Interest is a re-run, so I can watch Duets and record SYTYCD.
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
4:20 pm
Lightening too Mercedes and Strangers was good too!
Rickster
May 24th, 2012
4:21 pm
Where about were you born, Jenny?
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
4:21 pm
D, Pet Sematary made me jump. I am completely serious when I say I slept with the lights on. And yeah, I’ve re-read it several more times… but NEVER when in the house alone.
It was the trek to the Indian burial ground. And the Wendigo… and the stones they set aside. For the cairn.
****SHIVER****
bknsty14
May 24th, 2012
4:22 pm
Jenny – Is your college friend single?
Rickster
May 24th, 2012
4:23 pm
In looking at some older pictures of Diana Degarmo v. now – she’s HAD to have a lot of work done.
Barbara B
May 24th, 2012
4:24 pm
Need to go shower my hubby. He has stage 4 cancer and it hasn’t been kind. Be back later!
Sam-A
May 24th, 2012
4:27 pm
Harriett: I was a come-lately on “Revenge” – my sister insisted I needed to watch it. Have been watching 5 weeks, and saw on demand the two shows prior to the first of those. She caught me up on what happened in the first few.
She’s quite the resourceful young lady, eh?! The show last week about Jack’s dog about killed me – cried and cried. I suspect the big event last night either didn’t really happen, or Victoria was not onboard (trying to be discreet in case anyone hasn’t seen last night’s show). ‘Emily” needs to come clean with Jack and get this mess of theirs sorted out.
Jenny: “The Stand” was outstanding, both the book and the mini-series. My alltime fave is “Salem’s Lot” – I’ve always liked vampires in the Bela Lugosi mode, not the Twilight variety over-romanticised.
I did enjoy the “Hunger Games” trilogy – but missed all the complications and plots of my beloved Harry Potter series – my all time favorites. They are so rich in characters, atmosphere and story I’ve read them over and over.
Am anxiously awaiting “The Closer”, “Pretty Little Liars”, “Falling Skies” and “Walking Dead” – and looking forward to giving Kelly’s show a shot tonight. Just a bit saturated with singing shows right now, but I like Kelly enough to give it a good try.
Jenny
May 24th, 2012
4:29 pm
oh, and this line.
“And Gage, who now had less than two months to live, laughed shrilly and joyously. “Kite flyne! Kite flyne, Daddy!”
Rickster
May 24th, 2012
4:30 pm
and the thing is.. it didn’t make her look better.
Deirdre
May 24th, 2012
4:31 pm
Harriett…the hovering outside the window scene was the one that made me jump…holy,moley! That scared the livin’ c r a p out of me!
As for HIMYM, obviously Robin and Barney. Ted has always referred to Aunt Robin when talking to the kids.
Re Koontz. loved Watchers. Very much into the Odd Thomas series as well. He has such a fun sense of humor added to the scary story telling.
Rickster
May 24th, 2012
4:32 pm
aaaahh geez Barbara, what a horrible thing to be dealing with. Our prayers are with you.