|
|
|
American Idol Off-Season Update: Paula out, Ellen in
The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.
American Idol Off-Season Update: Paula out, Ellen in
Remember way back in the glorious days of a couple months ago when the likes of Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert and whoever that white dude is that beat Adam Lambert serenaded us weekly on American Idol? Tommy Button and I, your faithful American Idol re-cappers, certainly do. There's been a lot of action in the Idol camps in the off-season and I've coaxed Se'or Button out of hibernation to comment on the hub bub. Take it way Tom-Tom:
I don't know whether it was her thinly veiled alcohol and drug abuse or fourth grade vocabulary but when I heard Paula Abdul was leaving American Idol this summer part me died inside. I was inconsolable, having to go to extra AA meetings every week. Sometimes one every day. And with Glenn Beck as my sponsor, needless to say, I had a few relapses. When rumors started up that Victoria Beckham might take Abdul's spot permanently, I became an ever-erupting alcoholic volcano of hatred--spewing my burning anger juice on all that disturbed me. Posh Spice? Really?! What red blooded American really cares about what Victoria Beckham has to say? Her husband's abs are probably the best thing about her. I mean, I'll occasionally pop Spice World into the DVD player but only because I have serious self-esteem issues and need a constant reminder of how painful life can actually be. Not to mention if she got the job half of American Idol would be British. Unacceptable.
Anywho, it's been confirmed that the lovable lesbian Covergirl Ellen Degeneres will be taking over Paula's spot and I couldn't be more tickled. I like Ellen and I think most of America likes her (they just don't wanna see her get married). I'm happy there will be a judge now that can go toe-to-toe with the wit of Mr. Cowell. Paula, while I love her for her outlandish and alien-like behavior, was a fucking moron. The shit that came outta her mouth hurt my head. Also, Ellen will fill the 'nice' void Paula left. I can't see Ellen being a bitch to any contestant; she's just too damn happy. And that's my main qualm with Ellen ' her perpetual happiness. People who are really happy all the time tend to wind up irritating me. My other concern: Will there be enough crazy on the show to give it that spectacle we love so much? There's no longer guaranteed crazy. AI is going to have to hunt it down with their GPS guided crazy-detectors. But for some reason, I think they're going to be able to find it.
January, get here already, dammit. I got some blogging to do!
I gotta agree with Tommy here. I think Ellen will fill the 'nice' spot well. And to the detractors who say that Ellen has no connection to the music business, I think they never really understood Paula's role: She was there because she is a performer and not a musician. Her expertise is in stage presence, charisma and other rock star intangibles.
Thoughts on Ellen's hiring? Will you stop watching because of this denigration by Degeneres or will you start because you simply don't have enough lez in your Tuesday night viewing schedules? Parse it out in the comments.
I love Ellen. She will be a big plus to AI.
Ellen is a very funny and likable person but let's be honest here; what we don't need is another Ellen Degeneres show and I think she might get carried away with blabbing. Sure she is famous, etc. but she admits that she knows zero about the music business or on-stage music performance. So how is that going to help the contestants? Yes, remember those contestants are the real purpose of the show. Ellen is great on her own show but she isn't needed on this one. Either get Paula back or find someone who knows what they're talking about. Its not a comedy show!
I like Ellen. I think she's a good addition to the show honestly. She's funny but she's truthful too. I really wish she'd have been on the judge's panel when Gokey did his "scream" during Rock week LOL. That would've been classic. It's clear Ellen has an appreciation for music and she's certainly been supportive of the idols in previous seasons.
I do wonder though how her judging duties will conflict with her talk show. Will she still be able to interview the eliminated contestants? She conducts some of the best interviews with the idols and it would be a shame to lose that.
I'm taking a wait and see approach. I had decided I wasn't watching anymore after Adam lost and with the way the show had really devolved into being more about Simon and Pauls moronic bantering and less about the contestants. However, Ellen might be able to pull me back in, IF they have decent talent and now that Paula is gone and Simon perhaps will have someone who is his intellectual equal on the panel with him and therefore the drawing moustaches and other such nonsense will be gone.
I care not who the judges are. I will not AI again.. sorry the winner didn't work for me.
I love this! First we have Adam as the most talked about Idol of all time, and then Ellen, who is so cute and lovable and all on FOX! Hahahahahah! This is perfect. The most gay friendly show on tv and on FOX! Did anyone hear Billo trying to discredit Adam on his show. Hilarious! Don't bite the hand that feeds you, Billo! He had to back off. AI made Fox lots and lots of money!
Ellen is fine. That's not the issue. It's the damn voting. If they don't fix it, I'm not watching either. Why can't it follow other shows example and limit to 10 texts/10 calls? Nothing personal here, but the winner was all wrong. And everyone knows it. FIX the system!!!
Idol just lost another longtime viewer. I don't like Ellen and don't feel she has the expertise to be a judge on Idol.The show is just going down the tubes more and more. Good-bye Idol!!!!!!
I like that Ellen doesn't have a background in music. She will be able to represent the average viewer.
American Idol just lost me. There are 2 people that could have lost me as a viewer. One was Ellen Degeneres and the other is Rosie O'Donnell. Neither one is funny and I certainly wouldn't care for their opinion on anything. They can have each other, I'm sure that they would like that.
AI lost me last year anyway. There will never again be the likes of a adam lambert, pure entertainer, so it would just be another boring year anyway. I won't say to much about ellen replacing paula, because paula abdul is being a class act about the whole thing. I don't see what real imput ellen can give to the aspiring singers. all she can say is nice job, relax, etc. but i like ellen, i think she is funny, but a singing judge? really?
love Ellen but the voting system is flawed..that's what they gotta change, not the judge.
What a joke! Ellen nor Cara can hold a candle to Paula! Of all the season's I've very much watched and enjoyed, I'll be sitting this one out. My prediction is the ratings will CRASH!
I will never watch IA again. Not because the "Ellen" thing, but there will never be another Adam, so this show is out the door.....
@ Justin ~ Absolutely! The voting system is the worst ever devised (or allowed)!! A limited number of votes (like ten) would be SO much more fair. As far as Ellen's new job, at first I didn't understand it ... but then I heard what she said about it, and I think it's brilliant - Unlike the other, music-industry judges, she will be the 'consumer's voice.' After all, she loves music, and would judge on what she would enjoy and buy. I look forward to her wit and humor. I'm an Adam fan, and don't expect anybody like him to come along for a while, but I might watch the show mostly to see how Ellen contributes.
This should turn out to be a win win for Idol. First off we no longer will have to put up with Paula's vapid ramblings, Cara will be there with Randy and Simon to exercise expertise and Ellen will add little comic relief and the average music listeners input. After seeing Ellen on the "So you Thing You Can Dance" segment I think this marriage should work well.
Ellen is a funny, witty, intelligent woman and will be a good addition to AI. What she doesn't know she will quicly learn. No one can fill lovable Paula's shoes but Ellen will establish her own niche on the show. It's the contestants that will miss Paula's guidance and love the most. I hope that Ellen will fill that role. I agree wholeheartedly with the comments above about fixing the voting process for AI. I like Kris and respect his well-rounded musical talents BUT, Adam should have won. Simon Fuller, please fix this flawed voting system, maybe on the lines of SYTYCD? I do not plan on being involved with AI this year. I've found my super idol in Adam Lambert. I've been to 9 tour concerts this summer and plan on being at the last one to see Adam one last time on the East Coast before he becomes the international superstar that is his destiny. Good luck Ellen...wishing you the best!
AI really needed a shot this time around due to last season's upset win and then Paula's exit. I only watched after hearing about Adam Lambert and he slipped in and turned that show upside down. THAT will never happen again! The rest of those contestants try hard but most of them are not as skilled as Lambert so, let the tweens enjoy the show as it is.
The voting procedure--is insane and it toys with real talent like Lambert's (Daughtery) and makes a mockery of someone who offered audiences what no contestant could deliver and he deserved that win. BUT at the same time, Lambert is so talented that he has gone on to be #1 in the hearts of millions of people around the world so, it's not a problem anymore. But it is an insult to all voters that Arkansas got away with a voting scandal and AI produces blew it off like it was not a big deal.
Who would trust them in the future? They are looking for Ellen to bring in her huge audience because they are loosing ground. Any show post Adam Lambert will be dull, dull, dull. But that is just my opinion.
As much as I love Ellen I don't think this will fly. When she was a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance, at first her comments for funny but the constant joking got irritating and added nothing of constuctive value to the dancers which what the show is supposed to be about, just like Idol is supposed to be about the singers. And this new gimmick of Idol having Ellen on won't induce me to watch it. There will never be another Adam Lambert and the voting system is so ridiculous, it becomes an emotional political thing and not about the real talent.
I'll miss Paula, but she's a Class Act! Paula likes Ellen and I do too, but on HER show. When Ellen was on SYTYCD she rambled and added nothing to the judging - and that was just one show! What will she do when she has to judge the same people every week?
After Season 7 I said I'd never watch it again - but then I happened to catch Adam's "Ring of Fire" and I was hooked! (Still am, but to HIM! Not AI.) But after the voting mess I decided I was done - never again! But now - I'll look in, just to see how Ellen's doing. But will NEVER vote again - it's a waste of time!
Why are we even talking about this anyway? They've already signed Ellen to a 5 yr contract. Untested - it's a done deal. I don't know why. They would've been just fine with 3 judges - even an occasional guest judge. A 4th judge really wasn't needed - esp one you can't get rid of if she doesn't work out.
Can't believe you choose Ellen for the new American Idol judge! What a joke! What does she know about music? Four judges are to many anyway. Randy, Paula, and Simon were great together, especially Paula and Simon. What can a comedian bring to a serious show like American Idol? You are doing the contestants a tremendous disservice. I foresee your show on a downhill slide. Doubt that my family will be watching this season!
I have had enough of American Idol, bringing in Ellen who knows nothing about the music business to be a Judge is just too much for me. This move is going to cost AI a lot of veiwers. It will be like The View bringing in Rosie O'donnel.
Here's an idea - maybe they could bring in a judge with actual musical knowlege, an advanced vocal coach, for instance, who could comment with real perception of talent, technique, range, etc.- not harshly, because we recognize most contestants are amatuers, and not in deep technical terms, just honest evaluation based on fact. Maybe that would give the show a little credibility back after the debacle of Adam Lambert losing, oh wait, they already hired the comedian/celebrity/"ratings draw". They don't care about the music.
You have to be kidding. MILLIONS OF VIEWERS JUST EVAPORATED. Ya, smart move... bring in a lesbian (and an ugly one at that) that has absolutely no connection to the music business.
Here is a novel concept... why not bring in someone that is an accomplished talent themselves? That way their opinions carry some weight with the TV audience.
This just shows how out of touch Hollywood is with regular Americans. The vast majority of Americans do not approve of her deviant lifestyle. What a stupid move to bring someone in like her that has strikes against her before the first show airs.
SHE LASTS ONE SEASON WHICH WILL BE AI's LOWEST-RATED EVER.
I'm with posters Justin and Tagrid above. It's not the judges it's the voting, stupid!!! The voting is out of control. The show is a mockery if it can't pick the real winner. The tour showed that Adam was the winner. Will AI be able to equal or top Adam next year? Not a chance. BTW, Paula was right behind Adam from the beginning - she picked the winner with gut instincts, and she should've gotten her 10 mill. We shouldn't even be TALKING about Ellen on the show. She's a quick fix. After last year, I'm done with AI. They have a LOT MORE TO FIX before I tune in again.
After the "find" of Adam Lambert, why would we ever need to watch AI again anyway???
I agree, I was probably not going to watch Idol again after several years as a regular viewer because 1. everyone is boring compared to Adam. 2. there isn't enough focus on the contestants 3. four judges is one too many 4. the voting system is totally unfair and biased toward AT&T wireless territory (Southeast). The addition of Ellen -- an ametuer, comedian judge -- is just the final insult to the viewers. I have better things to do with my time than to watch a reality show disguised as a talent contest!!
I was really looking forward to the new season. I know I won't watch anymore.
- Activism
- Arts
- Arts Events
- Books
- Dance
- First Person Fest
- Last Chance
- Museum
- On the Fringe
- Philly Artists
- The Curator
- Theater
- Visual Art
- Arts News
- Artist Profile
- Arts Preview
- Street Art
- Been There, Done That
- Big Ups
- Comedy
- LOL With It
- Stand-up
- Critical Mass
- DVD
- Events
- Friday Fill-in
- Ice Cubes
- In Memoriam
- Interview
- Just Do It
- Just Opened
- Kaleidoscopic
- LGBTQ
- Art Phag
- Mailbag
- Movies
- Film Fest
- Movie Review
- On set
- Scenester
- screening
- trailer!
- Music
- 10 Track Mind
- Album
- Album Review
- Concert Review
- DJs
- Local Support
- Now Hear This
- One Track Mind
- Philly Bands
- Show
- Somebody Else Was There
- Song
- The Showdown
- concert photos
- jazz
- DJ Nights Blogged
- Night Watch
- Now See This
- Poetic License
- Printed Matter
- Radio
- Shopping
- Coveted
- Fashion
- What We Heart
- TV
- 24
- Idol Hands
- Mad Men
- ProjRun
- True Blood
- Useless Lost Recaps
- Couch Potato
- Shore Trash
- Turned ONN
- TopMod
- Video Games
- Free Online Game
- PSP
- PlayStation 2
- The 1-Upper
- Wii
- Web Junk
- CAGE MATCH
- Free Online Toy
- Weekend Omnibus
- Win
