April 11--American Idol Anyone?

I’m not sure where my camera is. It was in my purse because I thought I might want to take pictures at the park yesterday, but it’s not there now that I’m looking for it. I’m sure it’s around, but that is why I haven’t uploaded pictures yet. I will–just as soon as I can get myself up off this chair and down on the ground to start looking for it (I have a feeling that is where I will find it, because Allie woke me up this morning by bringing me a few things she took out of my wallet).

In the meantime, I have a few thoughts on American Idol. I have withheld until now, but since my regularly planned post is being postponed, I will write a few of them down. Mostly I haven’t written about it because I truly don’t know how I feel about it. I always look forward to watching it and usually there is something (or someone) that I really love, but I just haven’t gotten as excited about it as I have been in the past. And there’s no one I am consistently rooting for, which makes things a little strange. My thoughts are everywhere, so I’m going to go to the list format to get them out.

#1-I miss Gina. I didn’t think that I would, and I really didn’t like watching her cry so much, but it just wasn’t the same last night without her. One of the highlights for me this year was her version of “I’ll Stand by You,” which was awesome.
#2-I really couldn’t care less about all this Sanjay hoopla. Last week there were thousands of posts on yahoo about how keeping him on the show is turning AI into a joke and a laughingstock. I wondered if the show was really suffering and you might be surprised to find out that it is still the #1 show in the country, averaging about 30 million viewers a week. Also, there are shows in the top 10 that don’t get 15 million viewers a week, so it’s not only doing fine, it’s far from falling. I may have felt differently (outraged?) about Sanjaya if this were the first time it had happened on the show. But it’s not. It happens almost every season, starting with Nikki outlasting Tamyra in season 1. Look, Sanjaya is not going to win. And everyone who has gone home before him wasn’t/isn’t going to win either, so it doesn’t really matter when he finally exits. Now, if somehow votefortheworst.com managed to get him crowned THE American Idol, that would be reason to complain. Until then, let everyone have their fun and leave the poor kid alone.
#3-Melinda Doolittle. Have we ever seen a better person, someone you’d want to be friends with in a heartbeat, on the show? No. Is she the least bit attractive? No. Can you honestly see her winning it all, even with her likeability and her amazing voice? I don’t know. Honestly. Some weeks I love her (W-O-M-A-N comes to mind) and some weeks I find her a little too old fashioned for my liking. But how can you do anything but root for her?
#4-Blake. He’s impressed me, especially last night. Everything Chris does, Blake does better. Chris makes a song contemporary, Blake does it better. Chris is sexy, Blake is sexier. I really am liking him more and more every week.
#5-Keep a hat on Phil all the time. Is it because his eyebrows are so thick that he looks so funny? I really like his voice, and he is the hometown guy, but he’s just not attractive, and his assortment of hats has helped to mask that.
#6-Paula has not been nearly as drunk as I have come to expect. In a way, it’s good, because I don’t cringe every time she’s about to talk, but it’s also taken away some of the funnier moments of the show.
#7-Haley is lucky there’s no one very pretty on the show. I mean, how long would she have lasted last year competing against Katharine’s looks and voice?
#8-I don’t think Lakisha is as good as everyone else seems to think she is. There’s no denying the girl can sing, but sometimes her tone is very abrasive and she sort of sings with that lisp of hers. I like her, but I definitely don’t think she should win.
#9-Compared with season 1 when Ryan had the fake-bake look and the blonde highlights, I have to say, I think he looks a lot better this year. Plus, he’s not wearing those silly t-shirt/suit jacket combos anymore, which always helps. I’m still not sold on the skinny tie, but I think his banter with the judges, particularly Simon, has gotten very witty.
#10-What was Gwen Stefani doing as a guest on the show? Did she seem to have anything to offer, other than another horrible outfit that I hope goes out of style very quickly? That was pretty pathetic. And I was also bugged that Tony Bennett didn’t perform. Now, though, after J-Lo, I’m wondering who is going to be the next guest? Hilary Duff? Seriously, are these the best people we can find to guide our contestants?
#11-I don’t like Gloria Estefan and I don’t like her music much more. So, needless to say, last night was not my favorite night of songs. My favorite from last night was Blake, and I’m very glad we’re a couple years removed from the radio’s overkilling of that song.
#12-At this point, my favorite in the competition is Jordin (If We Hold On and I Who Have Nothing) were two of my favorites so far this season. But do I think a 17-year old kid is going to win? Especially one who seems to be as goofy as she is? Not really.
Basically, I am at a loss for how this season is going to wind up. Anything can happen and I think that’s part of the fun. We’ll see who really steps it up, and you know I’ll be watching intently each week to find out. Who’s your pick?