Phillip Phillips’ surgery postponed; ‘Idol’ runner-up contract less generous than in the past
Reflecting the waning fortunes of both the record industry and “American Idol,” the contract for the runner up on the show isn’t quite as generous as it’s been in the past.
In fact, runner-up Jessica Sanchez isn’t even guaranteed a record deal, according to Associated Press.
The agreement appears to be the first time in Idol’s history that producers are not offering the show’s runner-up an album deal that in previous years came with a guaranteed advance of at least $175,000, an Associated Press review of the Fox show’s contracts reveal.
“It makes sense. You can’t continue to offer the same sorts of rewards and incentives when the program was averaging 25 to 30 million (viewers), and (now) the finale is barely breaking 20 million,” said Northwestern University assistant professor Max Dawson, who teaches a course on reality television. Wednesday’s finale was the lowest-rated final show for Idol in its history.
“These contracts don’t pay off,” he said, contrasting the long list of Idol alumni who have been dropped by record labels with those who have thriving careers. “It seems like the successes that people like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have had are the flukes.”
Sanchez will probably get a contract, though, given how much Jimmy Iovine and the judges liked her. But even then, she could get as little as $30,000 in advances. Lauren Alaina received a guaranteed $175,000 advance for her album.
Winner Phillip Phillips of Leesburg will get the same $300,000 guarantee for an album.
And Phillips will be paid $200,000 for his Disney attraction work and Sanchez will rake in $50,000 for her appearances, according to AP. Both are also set to get a cut of merchandise profits.
Phillips, in the meantime, was supposed to have kidney surgery today for a chronic condition that creates painful kidney stones and nearly knocked him out of the competition, according to TMZ. But the surgery was postponed because he was running a high fever triggered by a bad sinus infection, so surgery has been pushed back to next week, TMZ said.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
204 comments Add your comment
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
8:23 am
Not surprised by this. I’m pretty sure that Jessica will get some kind of contract. She has enough fans to at least give her a shot.
It seems to me that more and more non-winning Idols are getting contracts at the end of the season and I was wondering how much longer that would last. The temptation for the recording companies to sign someone who shows promise is understandable but the track record is pretty poor.
I think competition shows are always in danger of losing viewers during a season, especially a season with so many popular choices. As favorites are eliminated, viewers drop out until the next season when they can pick new favorites.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
8:37 am
To be honest… the only one I would sign would be Skylar. I think she’s the only one that has the potential for long-term success of any consequence. She’ll at least be on the same level as Kellie Pickler.
In 2-3 years (providing the Mayans were wrong)
Skylar will be Country-rockin’ medium size venues like Gwinnett Arena
Phillip – if he’s lucky – will be be playing Tabernacle-size venues. More likely he’ll be doing places like Eddie’s Attic
Jessica will be the answer to the trivia question “who was the highest finishing Idol contestant who was saved by the judges?”
Mercedes S.
May 29th, 2012
8:42 am
just checking, losgt post because “requireds” were not filled in. Actually they were!
Woodpappy
May 29th, 2012
8:42 am
I’ll bet ole Joshua (Standing ovations) Ledet will have a hard time getting a record deal as well. We’ll see.
Mercedes S.
May 29th, 2012
8:50 am
You can’t compare Idol’s early viewer numbers with the numbers they have today – we don’t watch our shows the way we used to ten years ago, and there are so many more choices available.
In the early 1970s, Atlanta offered three networks, 2 PBS stations, and WTCG, Super 17. Eventually Channel 36 came along – a tiny studio in an office building on Peachtree. If there was a show you wanted to see, you stayed at home that night.
Today, we are way beyond Springsteen’s 57 channels, and we watch our shows when we want to, in the format we prefer. I frankly don’t understand how Nielsen can still be in business!
Best wishes for speedy recovery for our new Idol winner!
And good morning to all!
Hope Mrs and Mrs. Ho didn’t suffer from the big waves on their cruise. Sunday, our beach (Tybee) was closed, after life guards had to drag 60 people from riptides Saturday.
Rodney Ho
May 29th, 2012
8:54 am
Waters were a bit rocky at CoCoCay, the Royal Carribean-owned island we hung out at on Sunday, but we managed to survive!
Mercedes S.
May 29th, 2012
8:54 am
Chcked back on Rodney’s prediction post; case in my point above: still have recorded “Duets” to watch. After negative comments feels like a chore now, but I do want to see Miss K.
Mercedes S.
May 29th, 2012
8:55 am
Glad to hear about your survival at sea, Rodney!
Harriett
May 29th, 2012
9:05 am
Mercedes, excellent anaylsis of the state of television viewing today vs ten years ago. Just in my own family, my sister never watches “live” television any longer, preferring to DVR everything. I myself prefer to watch the action unfold and not wait; particularly if I have been anticipating watching it. Color me old fashioned, however, and probably in the growing minority.
I think of it like I do our phones today. Years ago, if someone called and the line was busy, it was just busy. The caller called back later. If you got a call while you were out, you were just out. The caller called back later. We have grown used to our conveniences and our expediencies and they have altered the way we do everything.
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
9:22 am
I have dvr’d all the episodes of The Killing this season and watched 5 of them on Sunday. FFing is only part of the appeal. The Killing is slow moving but engrossing and watching a bunch of episodes together is more satisfying for me than waiting a week.
On the other hand, I watch AI live if at all possible. My situation is different however. My husband is gone fro 15 to 20 days every month and taping a lot of shows helps me to pass the time.
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
9:24 am
I get panicky if I accidentally leave my cell phone at home.
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
9:29 am
Re the Idols, I think predicting success for country singers on Idol is pretty easy. Nashville is very welcoming when it comes to AI castoffs. Josh Gracin, Kellie Pickler, even Bucky Covington have seen success in the country music field after Idol. Some Idol contestants even switch to the country genre after having little success in other genres.
Sam-A
May 29th, 2012
9:51 am
I greatly resent that foolish “professors” statement: “It seems like the successes that people like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have had are the flukes.” I believe that would be TALENT, not “flukes”. He’s just too ignorant either to see that or to understand the actual meaning of “fluke”.
Harriett: I agree, for shows like Idol, I want to “be a part of the audience”, so always watch live (though often I do wish I could fly thru performances like Joshua, DeAndre, Skylar).
Mercedes: My house always had VCR’s from the very beginning. But I do remember flying home on Friday nights to watch Miami Vice – even though it was being recorded I wanted to watch it “as it happened” on tv. Remember one night sitting in a restaurant and it was about 8:00 – heard the guy at the next table say “We’ve gotta eat fast – I need to be home in time for Miami Vice” – that’s when I realized what a “must see” show it really was.
Barbara: I read thru the weekend posts. Cannot agree with you more about not wanting my fave songs being butchered by others. I galls me when some half-baked “singer” attempts to sing a Beatles song, and especially when someone refers to it as someone else’s song, ie ‘She Came In Thru The Bathroom Window” by Joe Cocker, or “Lucy in the Sky…” by Elton John – Nuh-unh! And Otis (my man) Redding is the only person truly able to sing “Try A Little Tenderness” the way he meant it to be sung. Have you ever heard his live version on the album “Otis Redding Live in Europe” – totally mesmerizing!
Woodpappy
May 29th, 2012
9:53 am
I hope that all comes out well for Phillip Phillips in his surgery today. How long before the road shows begin?
JTesla
May 29th, 2012
10:04 am
Sam-A, the success is a fluke, not the individuals. They had to work at it, Idol didn’t do it for them, so in terms of the past 10 years big success that is wanted by record companies is ultra rare.
It doesn’t surprise me that they are cutting back. I’m just surprised that it took this long.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
10:28 am
Sam… I don’t disagree with the professor at all. When you think that AI has had (now) 11 champions, the two most successful have been Kelly & Carrie. There are no others that are even close to their level. (I see no chance whatsoever that Phillip will reach that level, either.)
The professor wasn’t talking about talent – or lack thereof. They were talking about the level of success.
Just my opinion.
Sam-A
May 29th, 2012
10:37 am
Agree “successes” is the subject, but the phrase “people like Kelly & Carrie” that rubs me wrong. They just happen to be by far the most talented of the 11.
Mercedes S.
May 29th, 2012
10:55 am
Sam-A – “They just happen to be by far the most talented of the 11″ – guess you mean the 11 winners. I’d put Adam up there among the most talented.
And, Sam-A, my earliest VCR tapes were the “Miami Vice” ones – how I loved that show!! And the crinkly-faced Edward James Olmos!
Deirdre: ” I get panicky if I leave my cell phone at home” – a huge lol!
Almost as bad – discovering you forgot to charge your phone.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
11:07 am
Sam-A: “They just happen to be by far the most talented of the 11”
Which could be why they are by far the most successful of the 11.
G
May 29th, 2012
11:36 am
Really bad timing on the runner-up record deal adjustment. Jessica is the best runner up that Idol has had in years, and she gets a “Certificate of Completion” for her efforts. smdh
D, interesting point you made about success of Idol alumni based on country music genre. R&B has to be the worst. Other than Fantasia and Jenifer, r&b contestants have pretty much failed in the real world. Honestly, this year’s r&b contestants (Joshua, Jermaine, Deandre, and maybe Jessica) probably won’t fare too well either. My POV:
Deandre – Shim sounds too much like Eric Benet and Maxwell, who are “WELL” established artists. Chile please, he doesn’t have a chance.
Jermaine – Nice tone to his voice, but it doesn’t fit in today’s r&b.
Joshua – Strong vocalist, but he’s probably even too gospel for r&b. That would’ve worked in the Motown era, which is long gone. He may be able to pull a Terance Trent D’arby.
Jessica – She’s really a pop/r&b product. Too bad Beyonce has this spot locked up. What you’re faced with is having her compete against the likes of Jordin Sparks, Monica, Rihanna, and other “commercial” acts. Female artists like Ledesi, Erika Baduh, & Chrisette Michelle are safe from “Idol” threats.
My point is that American Idol is probably not the best vehicle for aspiring r&b artists to go. I think that aspiring r&b artists should try other shows (i.e. The Voice or XF) that have more of a level voting base that will actually give r&b and other genres a fair shake at winning. Maybe…..just maybe in the near future an r&b/hip-hop/pop show will provide that venue.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
11:40 am
I wonder if (hope that) the doctors, etc. have looked into diet as a possible factor towards Phillip’s chronic kidney stone condition. Being a south Georgia boy, he probably drinks a lot of sweet tea – which definitely increases one’s odds of getting them.
RK
May 29th, 2012
11:46 am
Record industry? What’s a record?
RK
May 29th, 2012
11:50 am
Reality TV has one thing going for it — I feel like I need to watch it live or same night so that I don’t get spoiled, and so that I can participate in wonderful, thought-provoking blogs such as this.
Mercedes S.
May 29th, 2012
12:02 pm
As for that naked man chewing off another man’s face in Miami last Sunday, and continuing doing so even after cop had shot him once, the attack was explained as “cocaine psychosis”. Sounds like a “walking dead” to me.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
12:14 pm
I was watching a video the other night… and some rappers were singing.
I thought Rodney must have been in the audience ’cause they were singing “Heeeeeeyyyyyyyyy Hoooooooooooooo. Heeeeeeyyyyyyyyy Hooooooooooooooo.”
Sam-A
May 29th, 2012
12:18 pm
Mercedes: Someone told me about that, said it was horrific to watch the film and that they had to shoot him several times before he stopped, and that he’d eaten half the poor victim’s face off when they got him. UGH! Does sound like “Walking Dead” and if I was on the hospital staff, think I’d keep a close eye on the victim to make sure he doesn’t “turn”.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
12:50 pm
Makes me think of “Hannibal Lecter” from “Silence of the Lambs.”
Makes me shudder.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
12:52 pm
“Flesh eating” bacteria
“Face eating” humans
Times are getting scarier and scarier folks.
Albany Uncovered
May 29th, 2012
1:05 pm
Todays surgery was cancelled. More details here. http://www.albanyuncovered.com/phillip-phillips-surgery-is-not-today-tuesday-may-29/
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
1:07 pm
The conversation has taken an odd turn.
Phil’s girlfriend has said that he is not having the surgery today but that it will be soon.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
1:13 pm
Are those zombies infected by that “flesh eating bacteria?”
DanJ
May 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
Joshua and Jessica have probably already been signed by Jimmie. My guess anyway. I would bet Clive Davis would love to sign Jessica and Hollie.
As far as Jessica’s contract goes she should have tried out for X-Factor. There’s 5 million reasons why! If I were an R&B or Pop singer I’d go for X-Factor or The Voice. If I played a guitar or sang country I’d try out for AI.
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
1:22 pm
That statement would make me question the “Functional” part.
MyPatootie
May 29th, 2012
1:45 pm
“Rickster” sure wish you would get off the “sweet tea is bad for you” kick. I am over 50, have had sweet tea(1and one-half cups per gallon) all my life and my kidneys are A-1, top notch, no problems. That is the first time I have ever heard that by the way. Basically stones are mineral deposits, mostly calcium. They are really bad by the way, as I know someone who had them. I once heard a woman, who had been thru both, say if she had the choice of having a baby or kidney stones, she would choose “the baby” and put it up for adoption. That sums it up right there.
As for your earlier comment about Skylar Laine, I predict Reba McEntire will take her under her wings and mentor her along in Nashville. You noticed I’m sure she sang with her on the finale. Reba has the ability and the money to make someone a star in country music.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
1:50 pm
MyPatootie… I’ve heard it from more than one source. Not saying that Sweet tea is bad for you, just that sweet tea drinkers have a higher incidence of kidney stones.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
1:51 pm
It just depends on the type of tea that’s in the blend, though.
MyPatootie
May 29th, 2012
1:52 pm
Agree with you Deirdre about FD, but it sure made me laugh. Why, I don’t know!
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
1:55 pm
Too much sweet tea can cause dehydration which can lead to kidney stones. Too much coffee or regular tea can do the same thing.
MyPatootie
May 29th, 2012
1:55 pm
Oh, forgot to mention. I’m from South GA also, born about 50 miles from PPs hometown of Leesburg, and that’s why I was raised on sweet tea. In SC now, where boiled peanuts are big, and there is nothing better than boiled peanuts and sweet tea. I can hear some of you gagging now!
G
May 29th, 2012
1:59 pm
@DanJ, thanks for the cliff notes version of my thesis. LOL!!! It’s a slow day at work.
I was thinking of running a Twitter and Facebook campaign for R&B and Pop acts not to audition for American Idol…..”IF” they expect to win it all. If all they want is the exposure and make it on the Idol tour, then R&B and Pop acts are good enough to make it there for now. It won’t be long before county and WGWG acts start to dominate the Top 10, and all other acts will be shut out.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
2:00 pm
Plus…. excessive sugar intake can increase the odds of a kidney stone.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
2:02 pm
Combine the wrong tea with the excess sugar… and you’re heading to the doctor doubled over in pain shouting “make it stop!!”
G
May 29th, 2012
2:02 pm
Maybe he’s holding off surgery until his CD is released. Marketing ploy.
Harriett
May 29th, 2012
2:12 pm
My P, I am in SC too, but I never eat boiled peanuts.
Vast Wastrel
May 29th, 2012
2:13 pm
Recorded music sales are down 64% from 1999 and the entire paradigm for current revenues has shifted from album sales to electronic singles downloads. Even long established recording acts have to tour now for real money as itunes and the like don’t add up like $60 per head.
As noted by Mercedes we are still awaiting the paradigm shift for broadcast television revenues and I also wonder how Neilsen is even relevant anymore. That being said though it seems at least the top ten kids could be paid at least half as much as the emcee without denting News Corp’s margin too much. If they want to cut production costs get cheaper “judges”. It wouldn’t take much to obtain puppets that could remember their lines better and remain lucid onscreen.
JTesla
May 29th, 2012
2:20 pm
All I know is that sweet tea seems to be the drink of choice for that “To catch a predator” show. So if you ever go to some ones house and they invite you in without even seeing you and say “there is some sweet tea on the counter” pour a glass for Chris Hanson because he’ll be joining you shortly.
Regarding caffeine and dehydration: it doesn’t have as much of an affect as many imagine. If someone who never drinks items with caffeine would have a caffeinated beverage they will still get more hydration from the drink than they lose to caffeine. A regular drinker of caffeinated beverages has built up a tolerance to the drug and therefore the dehydration aspect is virtually negligible.
MyPatootie
May 29th, 2012
2:22 pm
Being the S/A that I am, of course I headed to WebMD to do some research on kidney stones. In reading various articles it seems that over 50% of kidney stone problems are hereditary, and occur more in young and middle-aged people, mostly males. To your credit, Rickster, I did find one column that listed excessive sugar intake as one of about a dozen, including excess salt, as a possible contributor. It is, as I said earlier though, mostly calcium, and uric acid has a hand in it. Diuretics can also contribute heavily to the formation of kidney stones. One plus I did have in my favor though, being a heavy sweet tea drinker(love me some McDonalds) is that it’s better to drink a lot of liquids, even sweet, than to not drink enough, which leads to dehydration. Overall, lots of water is best. I do drink lots of water(mostly hot water, since I take a daily diuretic, at the suggestion of my PCC) so maybe that cancels out the sweet tea. Sure hope so. Do not want any kidney stones!
MyPatootie
May 29th, 2012
2:27 pm
Harriett, you don’t know what you are missing girl! Being from GA I was already hooked on boiled P’nuts anyway, but I find that SC grows a lot of them too. In fact, I buy a canned one in the wintertime that comes out of Effingham SC, called “Peanut Patch” and they are scrumptious. Only a dollar a can at WM. Get you some, but stay away from the “Cajun ones” as they are “rotten”(that is unless you are a Cajun, I guess).
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
2:27 pm
It’s not so much how much tea or coffee you drink, it has to do with it being the ONLY thing you drink.
Tea has caffeine which contributes to dehydration. As does coffee and cola. In other words, get some water in you then enjoy your tea!
Mercedes S.
May 29th, 2012
2:28 pm
I could do with some boiled peanuts RIGHT NOW!
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
2:30 pm
Nielson gets a lot of info from cable and satellite companies about what is dvr’d. So they can do both live and dvr’d stuff. Not sure what they do about shows watched on the internet although I think they probably have access to that as well.
MyPatootie
May 29th, 2012
2:37 pm
Deirdre, that’s exactly why I buy decaffeinated tea. Have been off caffeine since I had an ulcer years ago. Dr. said “get off caffeine and stay off of it”. Only caffeine I get now is when I regress and buy a big ol’ $1 tea at McDonald’s, which is not too often. Just wondering too, how much alcoholic drinks contribute to kidney stones, since it is really dehydrating especially in hot weather. Will have to check on that one, even though I stay away from alcohol also, but have a friend who doesn’t.
DanJ
May 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
Sorry G, My point is simply that if X-Factor is going to offer 5 million to the winner then why would anyone go for the 200 grand Idol guarantees. Honestly 19Entertainment or whatever the production company name seems cheap considering the money Idol has made off these young men and women. I understand the whole it gives them a platform but these show use them and spit them out like sunflower seeds. I do wonder how much these contestants make with the tour? I understand the shows need to make money but how much money has these kids made for AI and they’re locked into contract that may or may not come to fruition. Can they sign with any record label while they’re hot?
JTesla
May 29th, 2012
3:06 pm
If the contestants were really concerned about the money they would stay at home, do something productive, and save… save… save. They don’t pack into a stadium with 10,000 other people because a show has the best payout for the one person who wins.
Harriett
May 29th, 2012
3:15 pm
MyP, I am a city gal. State capital.
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
Agree with JT…most contestants aren’t thinking about the money. They want fame(or at least, the want recognition of their talent) The money is a perk.
G
May 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
@DanJ. Makes sense to me. Funny you should mention sunflower seeds, as I’m spitting as I type. Oooops…..there goes Deandre. LOL!
All of that media bragging about how much Ryan Seacrest makes and the lucrative deal they struck with JLO, then turn around and offer scraps to the kids. The kids are putting in the most work and getting the lesser reward. Idol makes enough dough to make the final three millionares.
A lot of AI fans pride themselves with the show being about the kids, moreso the judges. On the contrary, if you believe AI puts its money where its mouth is……..then the money is going to the host and the judges. Even Nigel is getting well paid. After the bread has been broken past the crumbs, the kids get what’s left.
bknsty14
May 29th, 2012
3:35 pm
So this may be a little off subject, but has to be said. I just started watching AGT this year (I like Stern), and one thing stands out to me. And it is SO annoying. The constant comments by Nick Cannon and the camera shots of his looking at the camera with weird looks and facial expressions really take away from the show and makes me like the show less. I seem to be enjoying what’s happening on screen, and then BAM!!! Nick Cannon mugging for the camera. enough already. Just show the “talent” and the judges. Who actually have productive and entertaining things to say on this show (I’m talking to you AI judges).
Just an observation.
peacebaby
May 29th, 2012
3:58 pm
bknsty, I have the opposite reaction to Nick Cannon on AGT. I think he’s funny and I love his antics. Different strokes for different folks.
bknsty14
May 29th, 2012
4:00 pm
Agree to disagree
DanJ
May 29th, 2012
4:12 pm
I think the contestants see Idol, XFactor, The Voice as a means to make money with their gift. Lets see I can work in a factor or plant shrubs or make money singing with a gift God gave me. The problem is they don’t know where to go to promote themselves other that these shows or youtube. Even if they do it’s next to impossible to get a break or be discovered. It’s one thing to be a great wedding singer but another to be a successful recording star. Fame, Money…everyone wants it. Why do so many people play the lottery? For the money. To live not just a good life but a great life. So money and the dream of being famous is why I think they try out.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
4:23 pm
I’ll second your comments bknsty14, and go further that I hate them panning away for the little audience comments (where someone is show going “wow!” or making weird faces.)
Plus, they waste so much time with crowd shots, (inside & outside) plus judges introductions, reactions, etc. – they could show us many more acts if they’d stop.
JTesla
May 29th, 2012
4:30 pm
I caught a few acts on AGT as the wife was watching it, I thought I was alone in not liking the hamming for the camera. Nick seems like a great guy, but I don’t need him to tell me that someone is bad. There are already audience boo’s, judges X’s, and my own ability to judge what I’m seeing, that should be enough data for my mind to understand that someone is or is not talented.
Rodney Ho
May 29th, 2012
4:43 pm
MJ is reporting that NBC is rolling out another singing competition show. NOOOOOOOO!!!!
http://www.mjsbigblog.com/nbc-announces-new-singing-competitiongame-show-the-winner-is.htm
JTesla
May 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
I’ll pass on any new singing show. Let’s face it, once they do that show with single celebrity guys sitting in spinning chairs looking for dates there really is no place to go but down.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
5:08 pm
“assistant professor Max Dawson, who teaches a course on reality television.”
Daddy: “What do you want to do when you grow up? You could be a fireman, a police man, fly airplanes. Why, you could even be the president of the United States.”
Max: “I want to teach a course on reality television at a college.”
Daddy: “You’re out of the will.”
bknsty14
May 29th, 2012
5:09 pm
JT and Rickster – Glad I’m not the only one. I thought it was just me. I agree that he seems like a good guy, and talking with people backstage before/after a performance is fine, but the hamming and commenting needs to go. And I forgot to mention the audience comments. Hate those too.
Rodney Ho
May 29th, 2012
5:11 pm
America’s Got Talent thinks subtlety is for suckers. It assume we’re all braindead and need to be mashed in the head with music and edit cuts and Nick Cannon’s muggings to ensure we know what emotion to feel at any given moment.
Rickster
May 29th, 2012
5:14 pm
Have a good evening, everyone.
MyPatootie
May 29th, 2012
5:15 pm
RoHo, let me guess. The new singing show will be about groups of little people singing barbershop style? That’s the only thing left I think.
Vast Wastrel
May 29th, 2012
5:20 pm
Apparently The Gong Show was ahead of its time.
bknsty14
May 29th, 2012
5:25 pm
well said RoHo
Not pleased
May 29th, 2012
6:35 pm
Phillip cannot sing , he’s the worst winner on history! I was ashamed he was from Georgia .He needed nasal mist, because what little he could gey out was coming from his nose! He should have been gone before everybody.Joshua and Jessica
should have been in the final.
lindas
May 29th, 2012
6:41 pm
Those deals could be offered if they weren’t paying Ryan Seacrest millions of dollars just to stand on the stand and say who’s in the bottom two.
JTesla
May 29th, 2012
6:42 pm
You’re “ashamed he was from Georgia”! Why? What a silly thing to be ashamed about.
John S.
May 29th, 2012
6:44 pm
Jessica is awful! She has major pitch problems, and should not have been saved. The poor deal for the runner-up may have less to do with the runner-up position, and more to do with it being Jessica.
Sonya Drawdy
May 29th, 2012
6:57 pm
She LOST!! She doesn’t deserve a contract. WE LOVE YOU IN LEESBURG PHILLIP!!!
Deirdre
May 29th, 2012
8:07 pm
In truth, Ryan Seacrest is worth every penny they pay him. We’ve seen mediocre M.C.’s in Nick Lachey and Carson Daly. We’ve seen manic host in Nick Cannon. They add nothing to their shows. We’ve also seen how a truly awful host can nearly destroy a show with X-Factor’s Steve Whatever. Ryan does 2 live shows a week, keeps it on time, manages to quiet the judges when they go on too long…without insulting them, keeps newbie kids from falling apart in front of the cameras, guides them, helps them, consoles them and celebrates with them, all while listening to a director in his ear and maintaining a smile on his face. He is personal, responsible and extremely professional.
JB
May 29th, 2012
8:08 pm
Woodpaddy – you are crazy dude!!! Joshua already has one. Don’t hate – congratulate!!!
JB
May 29th, 2012
8:11 pm
Joshua already has one (a reconrd deal)
Kelly
May 29th, 2012
8:11 pm
I love, love Phillip Phillip’s new single, Home. I think it will be a big hit with him. Glad to see how well it has being doing on Itunes along with a lot of other songs he performed on Idol.
Chris
May 29th, 2012
8:26 pm
John S, are you kidding me? Jessica had pitch problems? Just because you don’t like her genre does not mean she’s an awful singer. She’s one of the best singers American Idol has ever produced.
JS
May 29th, 2012
8:31 pm
She has already gotten signed by ex Chief exec Tommy Mottola who produced Mariah. She was signed the night before the finale so it doesn’t matter what they are saying in these reports Tommy’s wife tweeted the night before the finale that he was going to produce her first CD. She is all set! She probably has to finish the tour and then start recording.
RK
May 29th, 2012
9:32 pm
RoHo, this new singing show will be as successful as “The One”.
JD
May 29th, 2012
10:34 pm
Saw Jessica on Live with Kelly. Thought she missed a few notes, but was ok. Most of the discussion was about how young she is and what she thought about the judges rushing the stage with the save. It will take her a few years to develop into her abilities I think.
P2
May 29th, 2012
10:37 pm
Jessica will be the answer to the trivia question “who was the highest finishing Idol contestant who was saved by the judges?”
Hahaha! Right on with that.
P2
May 29th, 2012
10:39 pm
In truth, Ryan Seacrest is worth every penny they pay him. We’ve seen mediocre M.C.’s in Nick Lachey and Carson Daly. We’ve seen manic host in Nick Cannon. They add nothing to their shows. We’ve also seen how a truly awful host can nearly destroy a show with X-Factor’s Steve Whatever. Ryan does 2 live shows a week, keeps it on time, manages to quiet the judges when they go on too long…without insulting them, keeps newbie kids from falling apart in front of the cameras, guides them, helps them, consoles them and celebrates with them, all while listening to a director in his ear and maintaining a smile on his face. He is personal, responsible and extremely professional.
Couldn’t agree more.
JD
May 29th, 2012
10:39 pm
Some have trouble thinking before they speak.
JD
May 29th, 2012
11:01 pm
When you serve, then talk.
Seth T
May 30th, 2012
12:46 am
I see this thread has also jumped the shark. PP & Jessica will both do well in the near future, probably much better than the winner of The Voice.
For the others in this years crop, it depends on a Label willing to really invest in them, and an original, new, top 40 song that can “identify” them in the music world. Otherwise they will slip into the category of “where are they now” in a couple years, with reports of going to college, singing at weddings and the County Fair.
We can only hope that Steven Tyler leaves the National Anthem to Pia, Jordin, Jessica and Hollie – and never butchers that again.
I heard Phillip gave the new Ford Fusion to his parents and will keep driving his old ‘01 pickup for a while. The rust don’t hurt nothin’.
So remember-
trouble, it might drag you down
you get lost, you can always be found
just know that you’re not alone
I’m gonna make this place your home
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
7:13 am
Thank you, Nigel!!!!!!
In an interview, which I hope Rodney publishes because Nigel said some interesting things, the one thing I’ve believed since the show began was confirmed by Nigel:
“The television producers, of which I include myself, don’t give a damn who wins this show. The only thing we’re interested in is turning out a fabulous show for people to watch. We get no money from the record companies or anything else. Thank goodness. Because, you know, there might be every reason to be swayed if that were true. We don’t care who wins. Even our favorites. Other than that, we just want the best people to be there at the end.”
Highlander
May 30th, 2012
7:31 am
Morning, all!
I think “assistant professor Max Dawson, who teaches a course on reality television,” is probably (as an instructor of mine used to say) educated far beyond his intellect.
He probably meant to say that Kelly and Carrie were the ‘exception’ to the rule.
…And what the hell would one supposedly learn in a course on reality TV??? Don’t you learn all you need to know just by watching some of it? Must be extremely hard to fail that class!
Orlando
May 30th, 2012
7:52 am
I think you all give Ryan too much credit… Mind you, he is good, but he also has an ear bud guiding him, and a stage manager directing his every move. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to get it right.. Those others are just too dumb to get it right.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
8:06 am
Orlando, I’m pretty sure that most rocket scientists couldn’t do what Ryan does. That’s not a slam on rocket scientists, it just means that some people, Ryan for example, are good at their jobs and some aren’t, X-Factor’s robohost for example.
That ear bud is constantly telling Ryan stuff WHILE he talks to the audience, handles the judges, takes care of the contestants and keeps the show running smoothly. We saw the effect that the ear bud had on Robohost…..he practically got lost crossing from one side of the stage to another.
Some people can do the job and some can’t. Ryan is particularly good at it.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
8:43 am
Morning! It’s Wednesday… and it feels like something is missing…
Woodpappy
May 30th, 2012
8:52 am
Amen Deirdre to your 8:06am about Ryan. He reminded me of a fantastic on stage juggler, never missing a beat.
Woodpappy
May 30th, 2012
8:54 am
Mercedes, I agree….is it Friday yet?
david
May 30th, 2012
9:06 am
Ryan got paid.
Rodney Ho
May 30th, 2012
9:08 am
@Orlando. I agree with Dierdre. Being a good host in a crazy environment like “Idol” is tougher than it looks. We all truly learned to appreciate how effortless Ryan makes it look when we saw poor Steve Jones struggle with the duties on “X Factor.”
Rodney Ho
May 30th, 2012
9:10 am
@Highlander. Believe me, I’m sure I could teach a course on reality TV. I’ve watched and written more of it than most any other human being!
Rodney Ho
May 30th, 2012
9:11 am
@Deirdre And yes, Nigel is saying exactly what you and I have been saying for years. His goal is a good TV show. Who wins? He cares far less than Jimmy Iovine! He just wants successful people like Jennifer Hudson and Daughtry and Adam Lambert, win or lose.
JD
May 30th, 2012
9:13 am
I see the “normal” people are back on the blog. Nice to see you.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
9:16 am
Agree, Rodney. Idol is never hurt by the success of one of its alumni, winner or loser. Why would the show care? The cream will rise to the top if the cream is willing to work hard. All Idol really does is give them a boost onto the first rung of the ladder.
DontNeedRecordLabels
May 30th, 2012
9:17 am
IN reality Record labels to sell your music is becoming a thing of the past many artists today have found success in having their OWN labels, such as Ingrid Michaelson, and just using these companies for distribution,thereby keeping the profits for themselves instead of getting a crummy split. With companies like Tunecore and CD baby, artists can get the music on iTunes and then use social media to market it. It sounds great to say an artist made 100 million but sometimes these splits can be 80-20 and by the time you take out taxes and expenses your money isn’t enough to lead a rock start lifestyle. By controlling your music you keep the profits on music,merchandise,copyright and most of the money from appearances with a lot less split.
Rickster
May 30th, 2012
9:25 am
I wonder if factors contributing to the reduced amount of Jessica’s contract are that 1) she had to be saved after being eliminated (@ #7?) by the viewers/voters and 2) the fact that the people negotiating the contract don’t share the judge’s hyperbolic enthusiasm for her performances.
JOKE
May 30th, 2012
9:25 am
really when you look at these “sing talent shows” the only person making money are the JUDGES! On The Voice all of them ,including the horrible so called singer CEE LO (I feel sick) had music featured in the top of iTunes! It just promotes them and their fame. The stupid sheep that go on the show don’t realize it and think OH I am going to be famous! REALLY lets do the WHERE ARE THEY TODAY? DO YOU REMEMBER THE NAMES OF THE CONTESTANTS? WINNERS? NO but you know Maroone 5, Blake Sheldon and so on…Piece of advice for singers: Don’t waste your time on these shows, get yourself a good publicist, some great music recorded in the studio and work hard! Let your success be your OWN!
Sam-A
May 30th, 2012
9:29 am
OMG – the freaks have come out last night and this am. Someone please report that stupid anti-Rodney thing from Altaira! Some really nast people have, sadly, found our happy little pod.
Rodney Ho
May 30th, 2012
9:29 am
@Rickster. The contract was written before “Idol’ even knew Jessica would be runner up. The contract had to be filed with the state of California only when she made the finals. (Minors have to have these contracts filed before a judge for clearance in California, making them public.)
Rodney Ho
May 30th, 2012
9:30 am
@Sam-A I shut Altaira down pretty quickly. Wishing death upon people is a no go.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
9:33 am
@JOKE; Smart contestants shouldn’t care whether or not the judges make a lot of money. Smart contestants come on the show with their family and friends as their ONLY fans and leave with a LOT more. Whether you’ve heard of them or not, there are a LOT of former Idols out there making a living by singing…something they may not have ever done without Idol’s help.
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
9:34 am
“The television producers, of which I include myself, don’t give a damn who wins this show”
Awesome.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
9:36 am
It amazes me the number of people out there who believe that success is measured by how famous someone is.
Rodney Ho
May 30th, 2012
9:37 am
@Deirdre. That’s the warped world we live in and yes, I’m part of that world that perpetuates it!
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
9:37 am
JT…vindication!
Rickster
May 30th, 2012
9:38 am
Okay… so my thoughts were pointless. Not the first time!
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
9:42 am
Rodney, you report frequently on former Idols who may not be famous but are making a pretty good living in their chosen profession. The entertainment world revolves around fame and we all, by being on this blog, help to perpetuate that. However, many of us accept that fame isn’t necessarily the only ingredient for success.
How many former Idols are successful in their small niche? Mandisa comes to mind.
Sam-A
May 30th, 2012
9:46 am
RoHo: Taking Deirdre’s thought: Can you tell us (she and I, and probably Jenny would be pretty interested in) what the gorgeous Michael Johns is up to these days. I’ve seen the reruns several times of him on PBS singing on David Foster’s Special – looks like Foster thinks pretty highly of this cool, talented guy!
I know our unspoken (mostly) policy is not to call other posters names, but sorry, there were some real jacka$ $es posting last night/this am. Thanks RoHo for reporting that one crazy nutcase.
JD
May 30th, 2012
9:51 am
To MyPatootie: I was born in Savannah, Ga and lived in south Ga all my life. Sweet tea is the staple of my liquids. McD’s has the best. Thought I would never hear someone talk about Peanut Patch peanuts. They are great! Boiled peanut time is near in Ga……I purchase the green peanuts from Fl during this time of year. They are not as good as Ga’s but they will do until it is time to harvest (pull) them locally. What is your take on Vidalia onions?
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
10:01 am
Good morning. Thank goodness I didn’t see any of the crazy posts yesterday. Thanks to all of you who reported them. If I had, I probably would have blasted some of them.
Anyway, bknsty14, I too will disagree with your take on AGT’s host, NCannon. That dude is funny. His antics, facial contortions and interaction with the contestants definitely help the show. He has the ability to make the contestants comfortable all the while making himself sometimes look silly. It works for the mechanics of the show. And, I am surprised, but I like Stern as well. He got up on stage last night with all those buff guys and made his girly hips move. Sometimes, it’s great when one can laugh at themselves.
Oh boy, two birds are fighting (or perhaps mating) outside my window. I may need to call animal control with all the noise they’re making. WOW, I have to go watch this mayhem (lol).
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
10:14 am
JOKE’s “Piece of advice for singers… get yourself a good publicist” is as CATCH 22 as they come… it’s like telling an aspiring writer, “get yourself a good agent”.
As for Deirdre’s “It amazes me the number of people out there who believe that success is measured by how famous someone is” – would anyone, honestly, want the life of a Kardashian, a Paris Hilton, any of the umpteen Reality Housewives?
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
10:27 am
I don’t want their lives, just their house and some of their money! I prefer Caroline’s house in HWofNewJersey. I like her kitchen.
blkshepherd
May 30th, 2012
10:36 am
Deirdre
Again I am with your post 9:33. The way I see idol and the other shows is just Exposure. What the contestants do AFTER the push they receive from idol(Exposure)depends on them. As for exposure I compare idol to Ed Sullivan, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, and Don Corneilou’s Soul Train. Many folks watched those shows and many artists’ record sales increased after appearing on one of those shows.
If anyone is old enough to remember it was Ed Sullivan that introduced Elvis and the Beatles, Supremes and the Jackson Five(with a young Michael) to Vast audiences..some artists commented you have not truely made it until you appeared on Sullivan, or Bandstand and for blacks Soul Train. Why? because america tuned in and Watched those shows putting everything down to check out this New act.
Idol has Changed as far as I am concerned about choosing who has the best voice and it seems more like a popularity contest rather than an Actual Singing contest..sorry I love Phil and hes from Georgia where I reside but there were Far More stronger vocally contestants that were sent packing.
I will say this however, Just because the public Voted a contestant in to the no.1 spot or title. It does not Mean those same folks that Voted for that contestant will go out and Buy that contestant’s CD or music. If the same amount of people who voted for Talyor Hicks, David Cook, Ruben Stoddard was Buying those guys music they would be HUGE and out selling Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. or atleast just as well.
This is not the case. I wonder how many folks are going to dash out and buy Phil’s cd. or his follow up..We will see. but I am Not convinced.
Vanessa
May 30th, 2012
10:50 am
This show is awful, and I wish it would go away completely!
Sam-A
May 30th, 2012
10:57 am
Vanessa: Clue: You don’t have to watch the “awful show”, and you certainly don’t have to come to this site. There are lots of blogs around about things that you don’t find so “awful”. Buh-bye.
G
May 30th, 2012
11:04 am
I don’t have a problem with Ryan. He’s good, I think Carson Daly, Nick Lachey, and Mario Lopez are good too.
I’m no Nick Cannon fan, but I think he is a GREAT fit for the AGT type of show. Nick is a comedian by trade and it takes someone with his skill and personality to handle a show of that caliber. None of the guys I mentioned above would do a better job than Nick on AGT.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
11:07 am
Shepherd. the show is called “American Idol”, not “American Voice” or even “America’s Best Voice”. It’s a popularity contest that lasts as long as the season lasts. Do the queen bees of high school stay popular forever?
G
May 30th, 2012
11:09 am
Good post @blkshepherd as usual. It’s interesting you mentioned shows like Ed Sullivan, American Bandstand, and Soul Train to Idol. The boldest difference I see in Idol and those other shows mentioned (other than voting) is trend setting. Those historic shows “set” the trend, Idol “follows” trend.
DanJ
May 30th, 2012
11:11 am
I don’t have a problem with what anyone is paid. If Ryan gets paid 15 million then that’s what he’s worth to those who produce Idol. Same for the judges or the clowns who sit in their seats.
As for Nick Cannon I do think he’s great and would be a good fit maybe a great fit for X-Factor. Humor is under-rated especially when a show like XF can be a little hostile. Simon should bring him on board.
G
May 30th, 2012
11:15 am
Nick Cannon would be an excellent fit for XF. Only someone like Nick could turn all that sh#! from the judges to sugar. LOL!!! Can you imagine Nick’s one liners on Simon?
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
11:16 am
B-shep, thanks for your thoughts. I don’t know whether I’ll buy Phil’s album but I already bought his coronation song, which I loved.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
11:20 am
I watched AGT for the first time this season last night. Nick did just fine. He’s very personable and sometimes when he imposes his opinions, it works, while sometimes I wish he would just be quiet.
I think Howard Stern makes an excellent judge. Surprised by that. He’s smart and it’s a shame that his radio show has deteriorated into a cheap, raudry mess.
However….the title should be changed to Where is America’s Talent, It Sure Ain’t Here!
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
11:21 am
raudy? tawdry!
Harriett
May 30th, 2012
11:22 am
I have watched AGT every year but the first one. They began with Jerry Springer as host, and it was his job to comment and do the “asides” just like Nick is doing. If you will remember from the Susan Boyle appearance on BGT, there were two hosts backstage making comments to the camera as she did her thing. It has always been so with AGT. I happen to like it and think NIck Cannon’s faces and reactions are really funny. I think the commentary adds a nice dimension to the show.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
11:27 am
Does thi mean I have to watch AGT now? NO!
G
May 30th, 2012
11:35 am
As far as Nigel’s little comment about how he feels about winners, I think he’s only telling part of the truth. I learned that partial truth = a lie. I understand that once the top 10 is set, then most of it is trivial to him. However, if he didn’t care, why introduce changes, such as the save? Why flaunt with the idea of future changes?
Sure Idol continues to lead in the reality competition “singing” (I use that loosely) shows, but it’s also experiencing a steady deline in viewers. You mean to tell me the WGWG#5 is actually helping the ratings? The WGWG#5 (and shoe-in #6) is playing a major role in the decline of [diverse] viewers. We’ll see how much Nigel “doesn’t care” next season.
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
11:36 am
I saw a clip last night from a Ukrainian version of the show, didn’t understand a word of what was being said, but they did the same garbage. The clip was of a bartender juggling bottles and pouring drinks, great skill, but it really took away from his performance when they would cut mid throw to the host or the judges or the audience for their reaction.
My complaint is simple: show me don’t tell me. AGT insists that if they tell you it is a great performance and they don’t really show it to you then that is good television. It may be part of the formula, but that doesn’t mean that the formula is good.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
11:40 am
Why introduce changes????? To improve the show! If the audience isn’t happy with something, then it needs improvement. The show needs improvement. How does that not follow exactly what he said?
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
11:43 am
G: “However, if he didn’t care, why introduce changes, such as the save?”
Because it made for good television, and it was perceived that people were upset by early eliminations of talent, so why not appease those people with the save. In the end it makes for some added drama, which is good television, which IS what it is all about for Nigel.
Nigel cares about getting people to watch, for 10 years people continued to watch despite who had won the year before. He will throw out more changes, not to make the show “fair”, but to try to milk the show along for another season. 11 seasons and it’s still going strong, it will fall from its perch regardless of who wins next year or the year after. Nigel’s job is just to milk as much out of the cash cow as he can, and for him the only cash is from the television aspect of the show.
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
11:44 am
In terms of NCannon, I believe he would be good on any show as host. He is very affable and easy to relate to.
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
11:47 am
I agree JTesla. Nigel’s job is to get people to watch, by any means necessary that won’t get the show shut down. That “save” aspect went awry and will probably not be introduced next year. The Standing O’s will probably be sanctioned to only be delivered by his cue from side (lol).
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
11:49 am
Nigel’s words on the subject of WGWGs:
The last few years, without question, it has been that way. I always get the comments — and we get it on [So You Think You Can] Dance, too –”Oh, the boys are always going to win, and the girls are going to be cut off one by one.” Season 11 of [Idol], that’s been the first year I [couldn't have told] you who’d definitely be in the finale. We never really had one person win two weeks running.
TVLINE | But is it a concern for Idol, as a franchise, to have a similar type of singer winning year after year, and to not have a female winner for five years running now?
There’s nothing you can do about it. When you say to America, you vote, the only thing that can be changed is the voting system. And I would hope that next year we would look at that.
G
May 30th, 2012
12:10 pm
Yeah, controversy and negativity always sparks interest. However, when is it the last straw? When will the negativity and dissappointment portion of show backfire?
There’s nothing you can do about it if you leave things the same. But if systematic changes are made (primarily to voting) then that may balance out the results. One vote per person for instance would be a substantial change. Anyone that is mad with that is abusing the system and is part of the problem.
Come on Nigel…..everyone KNEW that Phil would be in the finale and WIN! The only question was who would be runner up. Runner up between Jess, Josh, Hollie, Colton, Skylar, etc. was the only question. Idol has been reduced to guessing second place. NEWS FLASH: 2nd place is not the winner. 2nd place has been reduced to receiving a “Certificate of Completion”.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
12:14 pm
D. at 11:49 Sounds like an admission that the voting system is flawed and will be changed!
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
12:20 pm
Voting system flawed? The money from all the past seasons says it isn’t flawed. However, if it is perceived that the voting system may lead Idol to make significantly less money (aka lose viewers) then it will be changed. Nigel still doesn’t care about the results of the voting, he cares that people tune in week after week to watch the results.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
12:49 pm
First: 2nd place has been reduced to receiving a “Certificate of Completion”.
And yet second place seems like the place to be. Justin has been making a living in music for 10 years. Clay is substantially more famous than Ruben, Diana continues to succeed. Bo is still managing to work in music. Archie is still almost as popular as he was the day he lost to Cookie. Kat is doing far better than Taylor. Adam is succeeding in the business as well.
So it seems that your argument about second place being inconsequential doesn’t hold. The winner is not necessarily the most successful singer. Therefore, once again, it doesn’t matter who wins!
Rickster
May 30th, 2012
12:50 pm
I would hope that they “look at it’, too!
And by “look at” – I hope they mean completely re-work the system to limit mass voting. Why give someone a chance to vote 10 times on-line, along unlimited texts and/or phone calls.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
12:53 pm
And I completely disagree with the one vote per person idea. Yes, I think voting should be limited however, during the course of the season, there are many times when I will vote for more than one person. Especially early on when I have no idea who I like best, I would prefer to vote for the 5 people I think should stay in the competition.
One vote per person cheats me and a lot of other people of that chance. I would say limit to 10 votes per device….or something like that. It prevents the power-texters from casting 100’s of votes and still allows people to choose more than one candidate and feel like they are giving them support.
SueT
May 30th, 2012
12:54 pm
Someone suggested that Jessica should have tried out for XFactor. She did, and didn’t make it.
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
12:58 pm
I’ve always felt 2nd place is better than 1st place on AI.
Rodney Ho
May 30th, 2012
1:13 pm
I agree with the save as a good gimmick for TV. As for the voting system, I’m of mixed minds. It inspires loyalty to the show but in the final round, it seems to inspire a particular type of singer to win. Odd. I wish Nigel would tell us what the results are after the fact. I’d be fascinating to parse out.
blkshepherd
May 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
Mercedes
Clearly I know the show is called American Idol your the one called it American Voice, Do NOT switch my words around..I have zero tolerence for that. The show was Suppose to Showcase SINGING as VOICE, Vocals. Thats Exactly the PROBLEM. Folks making the show out of something its NOT. I Stand by What I said, the show is a Popular Contest. It is what it is.
Your Welcome Dierdre and G..I knew you two would understand what I am talking about it Not being a singing contest anymore.
Spade
May 30th, 2012
1:22 pm
The show’s ratings were down because Idol has sucked since Simon left period! Really, the judges are too empathetic instead of giving real constructive criticism like Simon used to. There were times when the judges were praising contestants when they clearly sounded horrible on TV like Joshua Ledet. I still have no idea how he made it to the top 12. They need a judge on the show that isn’t afraid to speak his/her mind. Out of all the contestants this season, Phillips was the best, but he still lacks that “it” factor for me. Also, had they kept David Leather on the show they would have had more ratings. The kid put me in mind of a young talented Michael. He would have sung laps around Phillips. Yet they gave David very little “story” time so that the audience could get to know him. The camera focused on who the producers wanted on the show instead of the public. I don’t know who they could get to fill Simon’s shoes, but they need to do something before we all lose interest in the show as boring as it is now.
DanJ
May 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
Sue, Jessica tried out for America Got Talent as an 11 year old but to my knowledge she didn’t try out for X-Factor,
bknsty14
May 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
Not sure if anyone saw, but I was at the grocery store a couple days ago and saw People Magazine had an Idol where are they now for every past contestant (not sure top 24 or 12, but it was a thick magazine). A little pricey, but may be worth it for the diehards.
G
May 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
2nd place has been reduced to receiving a “Certificate of Completion”.
The operative word in the statement above is “reduced”. Which means I acknowledged the past, but implies a decline. Specifically, my interpretation of “reduced” makes reference in particular to Jessica’s so called prize, which pales in comparison to her 2nd place predecesors. Roho just quoted the contractual change for 2nd place. So, the argument is valid. It wasn’t about the success or quality of 2nd place finishers.
G
May 30th, 2012
2:08 pm
D, we can agree to disagree on the voting system of one vote per person. I don’t have a huge problem of limitting the votes to 5-10, but that’s cheating in itself. One vote per person keeps EVERYONE honest on who you support. You may have 3 favs, but one vote forces you to make a true choice.
The power-texters and the online junkies do nothing more than dilute the true voting support. It’s very possible to have more voters for one candidate and more votes for another. I think that has dominated Idol since they jumped the shark.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
2:16 pm
Blkshepherd – don’t understand your huffiness.
You obviously didn’t read my comment the way it was intended.
I did not switch any of your words around. I ws trying to clarify what kind of show “American Idol” is. It is not about who has the best snging voice, it’s…Oh, I give u
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
2:17 pm
Use of the term “jumped the shark” has jumped the shark.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
2:18 pm
Computer froze.
Nice for “Idol” to be able to tell us that the show got 132 mill votes in the final round. What’ wrong with letting us know who got how many votes?
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:20 pm
But G…how do you know who to support during the top 12? One vote could mean that a lot of really good people go home because someone else who happened to have a great night gets all the votes. Can you honestly say that every season you have picked someone out of the top 12 and stuck with them the whole season? I can’t.
I could see a graduated form of voting. Top 12/12 votes, top 11/11 votes and so on until the final two.
I really don’t see how one vote “keeps it honest” Seems to me it limits choices early on. Power-texting is still thwarted and people are more likely to vote their limit than to just throw a couple of votes at a favorite and give up. That’s just a guess but I know I personally would use all 10 of my votes if I knew that no one else could vote more times than I could.
G
May 30th, 2012
2:25 pm
Interesting article on ESPN in the Grantland section, about Jessica Sanchez and the “diva” thing. They were pretty 75% accurate on how I feel about certain diva songs performed on shows.
DISCLOSURE: If you’re squeamish about a little profanity in the article, beware. That’s just how they write.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7985909/jay-caspian-kang-only-two-songs-matter-aspiring-divas
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:30 pm
Just my opinion but I think the ratings would plummet with one vote per person. There’s not a show out there that limits the voting that much.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:31 pm
G…my kid introduced me to Grantland last year. Love it!
Rickster
May 30th, 2012
2:32 pm
How about one vote per contestant per device/IP Address, your queeness?
G
May 30th, 2012
2:35 pm
@D………..Then so be it. That’s a dynamic that will definitely change the landscape of who wins and who makes the top 10.
I usually have about 3-4 favs a show. Honestly, I had about 5 on Idol this year, which is a personal record and a testiment to the improved quality of contestants. For the record, pp was NOT one of my favs (even when I found out he was from GA).
All I’m saying is that ONE vote forces you to really place more value in your choices. You may see your favs all on the same level, but only ONE is better (by your standards) than the rest. Spreading votes is like a bailout. 1 vote= no bailouts.
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
2:39 pm
Did everyone here actually vote???
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:41 pm
You really do have to limit it by devices, don’t you, Rickster. I don’t think the technology is there for the show to know that my landline is somehow related to my cell or my computer. But you can’t make it too confusing.
Rickster
May 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
If you can get a “one-time” message telling you “your vote for” (insert contestant’s name “has been received”, why can’t the software be modified then block any more votes from that phone for that person?
Same with IP addresses.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
G:For the record, pp was not one of my favs (even when I found out he was from GA).
You’re kidding!!!! I never would have guessed that!
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
2:45 pm
One vote per person will cause Idol to lose viewers, and as Nigel has established that is what it is all about. Different types of winners may cause a slower decline, but a radical change in voting will cause more of a decline than is gained by varied winners.
So, even though I highly doubt that Idol would shoot itself in the foot, I don’t buy into the hypothesis that limiting votes will change the results. The idea that only power voters voted for WGWG#’s 1through 5 has not and cannot be proven. Just because you will cast the same amount of votes as a teenage girl it does not follow that you outnumber the teenage girls who are willing to vote. Therefore you will still lose.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
Apparently it can be modified. SYTYCD limits voting, I think. So does DWTS. The technology is there to limit a device voting more than once.
But what about Mo? If he only has a landline then who gets the one vote? Mo or his wife(just an example…he obviously has a computer!)
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:48 pm
JT, that’s so true. I agree that there’s absolutely no proof that limiting the votes would change the outcome.
There is, however, a growing belief that it would make a difference and belief, in this case, becomes reality when the viewers get discouraged and leave.
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
Curiosity question: have SYTYCD, DWTS, The Voice, X-Factor, or AGT displayed the obvious regional bias as Idol does?
It’s been a common theme since Year 4 that there is a benefit to being from the South on Idol. With that in mind, how does limiting voting affect that at all? A bias that has been present since day one will not be erased by limits.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
Thanks, G., for link at 2:25! Whatever happened to little Bianca Ryan? Her “And I’m Telling You” was beyond amzing. Also enjoyed listening to JHud’s version again. When I saw “Dreamgirls”, the movie, at a screening all those years ago the audience was electrified during JHud’s song. Tears were streaming down people’s faces and there was whooping and hollering afterward for several minutes. Never seen anything like it.
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
Deirdre: “There is, however, a growing belief that it would make a difference and belief, in this case, becomes reality when the viewers get discouraged and leave.”
I agree, and that is why the change will be made, perception. If Nigel can minimize the audience bleed off by changing the voting system, he’ll do it. He won’t do it to get a different type of winner, he’ll do it only to increase viewers. If it does the opposite you can bet that he’ll change it back very quickly.
DanJ
May 30th, 2012
2:59 pm
Pitchy I started voting at #7. I would support giving voters 1 vote per contestant but allow them to vote for more than just that 1 contestant. I kinda agree with Deirdre on that. Early on it is hard to pick a favorite at least for me. You may have a lot of people vote for all ten but my guess is no one would vote for more than 3-4 contestants.
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
3:03 pm
Thanks for answering, DanJ. I’ve always voted, but this season, I ALWAYS received a busy signal. Wait, I did get through ONCE!!!
Pandora
May 30th, 2012
3:13 pm
I KNEW that the ratings were going to be very low. The reason is plain and simple…their BEST singer (Joshua Ledet) was voted off the show! That’s why! He WAS the reason why I watched the show and voted! I’m not suprised at all. I can’t WAIT for Joshua’s album to come out. I will be one of the first of millions of people to purchase it. I am very happy that Joshua didn’t win and will get a music contract with another company because the American Idol contract SUCKS!!!
Pandora
May 30th, 2012
3:18 pm
Whenever Jessica’s album come out I will purchase it. I will probably purchase Philip Phillips album too.
blkshepherd
May 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Mercedes S.
My Comment like yours is My Opinion..it was not open for debate, a reply or discussion. You gave your take which I did not critique nor am I interested in you critiquing mine. Matter of fact I dont critique, change or rearrange anyone’s post as all are just Opinions and like Rear ends we all got one. Tootles..
G
May 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
@Pitchy. The only season I didn’t vote, was when Carrie Underwood won. Nothing against her or the show, just a busy year. If the final two sucked (like last year), I didn’t vote at all. I wasn’t too fond of the Davids, so I didn’t vote in that final either.
JT. The winner IS connected to viewers, and numbers will continue to decline when WGWG#6 wins. He will come…..he will win…..less people will participate. When it comes to television, what’s so intriguing about a show that’s predictable?
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
blkshephard, I respect your post, but even though one puts their opinion on a blog, do you really expect no one to comment on something you or anyone may write? It’s a blog, and as long as the topic is being discussed, blogging is geared toward the back and forth of differing opinions on comments typed here. Good, bad or indifferent (other than arguing and fighting).
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
I voted early because there were so many interesting singers this year. Top 13, 12, 10, but stopped voting in the middle fo awhile then picked it up again around top 6 up to the end.
Sam-A
May 30th, 2012
4:00 pm
Blkshep: Pitchy is correct. You’ve become a little bit contentious with Mercedes, which is not like you. I know Mercedes meant nothing personal against you,a nd she said as much above. We all “fuss” at one another on occasion – wouldn’t be any fun if we all thought exactly the same – even me “just found twin sister” Jenny and I have some disagreements (she doesn’t like PP, I do; she could at least tolerate Joshua, i couldn’t), and we jousted amoungst ourselves during the season. All in sister/brotherhood and fun.
Highlander
May 30th, 2012
4:10 pm
Pandora, Joshua was still on the finale so I guess you missed seeing him one more time.
And I hope you’re honest enough to come back later and admit you were wrong about “millions” of people buying his album. I would guess it will be closer to 150,000, if that.
Not knocking Joshua, just making an observation based on previous statistics.
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
4:14 pm
G, Idol will lose viewers no matter what it does at this point.
They will lose viewers next year just due to the age of the show. People are tired of it and the market is now oversaturated with Idol shows.
Idol will lose viewers if we get WGWG#6, I’m not arguing against that.
What I’m arguing is that a radical change in voting will cause Idol to lose more viewers than they would have lost if they keep the current system and get WGWG#6 next year. Limiting people to one vote is a poison pill solution. It’s like cutting off your head in order to fight a cold. The solution creates more of a problem than it cures.
What Idol needs is subtle changes in voting to help stem the loss of that first group of viewers, the group that has simply grown tired of it all. Stem that loss and any loss from WGWG#6 is mitigated.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
4:19 pm
Thanks, Pitchy and Sam-A, for support and understanding what I was trying to say -
Highlander
May 30th, 2012
4:21 pm
To answer a question posed earlier (I think by Pitchy), I haven’t voted for anyone on AI for quite a long time. My feeling is, I’m not about to waste my time voting for something when my vote is going to be made inconsequential by a vast number of power texters and others who have nothing better to do than spend 2 hours voting.
Win, place or show, I’ll vote for a contestant with my wallet when their CD comes out!
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
4:36 pm
I voted for Hollie, I didn’t vote after we hit the top 7. I’ve never been big on voting, I did more online voting this year, only picking up the phone when the judges snubbed Hollie at the end of one show. Early on I spread a few votes around, but most seasons I will only vote a few times during the early stages.
If I only voted when I felt my vote would mean something I would never vote in a Presidential election again.
bknsty14
May 30th, 2012
4:57 pm
I too voted for Hollie probably between rounds 7 until she was out. Maybe 8. didn’t vote for anyone else after that. I say just limit the online and text votes, but let people call as much as they want. It seems like the biggest hassle out of all the voting types. You can get in almost 2000 votes in 2 hours by texting. Limit it to 5-10 votes and make people call after that.
And living in Illinois, I know for a fact my vote for President doesn’t matter, but I do it anyway.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
5:01 pm
Phil’s coronation song, Home has debuted at #2 on the digital charts. That’s the highest EVER debut for an Idol winner’s coronation song.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
5:03 pm
And, according to mj:
It’s also the second-best digital sales week ever for any Idol contestant. Only original Idol, Kelly Clarkson’s 2009 song “My Life Would Suck Without You” had a higher sales when it debuted with 280,000 downloads!
Fantasia's Ripped Pants
May 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
JT – You never write anymore. I thought you were different. You just used me and then throw me aside? I deserve better than that. I’m a star. You will respect me.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
D at 5:01 pm – !!!!!!!
And I only voted for one contestant this year – Hollie. Up to the bitter end.
Only other year I voted was Adam’s season.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
5:05 pm
Phil’s download number was 278,000
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
5:11 pm
Oh don’t worry Fantasia’s Ripped Pants, I still go back and look at the picture Rodney posted of you. Everytime I need a good laugh I go back to that thread just for the pictures.
Fantasia's Ripped Pants
May 30th, 2012
5:16 pm
Aww!!! You’re so sweet.
Rodney Ho
May 30th, 2012
5:55 pm
I’m glad this blog has created new friendships like this!
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
5:56 pm
lol!
JD
May 30th, 2012
6:55 pm
JD at 9:51 am answering MyPatootie was not me. Not born in south georgia.. My comments from last night seem lonely and meaningless without the ones that I was responding to that were deleted by RoHo. Still glad he edited them.
Mercedes S.
May 31st, 2012
9:19 am
what, no page 5?
Mercedes S.
May 31st, 2012
9:19 am
Ah, that’s better. Much better.
M Davis
May 31st, 2012
10:53 am
The male “idols” don’t do as well as the female ” idols”. Jessica will long be remembered for singing beautifully beyond her 16 years. She can sing anything. She will do well after all the fuss about Phillip has died down.
I read that many more females vote than male viewers. So it is no surprise that Philip won (because of the female voters). I am disappointed though, Haley should have won last year’s idol and Jessica should have won this year’s idol.
Maybe there should be two idols every year (male and female). Jessica has a bright future and will likely outdo Philip financially in the long term.
RealMusic
June 4th, 2012
3:39 pm
Still not bad for a 16-year old. When I was 16, I only made $6.50 an hour! lol Anways, Jessica has a bright, long future ahead of her. With people like Tommy Mattola working with her on her next album and overnight world stardom, she’ll go very far. She’s the one to watch. I’m sure of it.