American Idol
It is saying a lot when one man can carry an entire show. It says even more
when the person is just one of three judges giving their opinion on who
should advance in a talent competition from one round to the next. But this
is exactly what is happening with the FOX series "American Idol" and record
producer Simon Cowell. Cowell is the British import who shot to fame by
dishing out insults to wannabe stars for the immensely popular European
version, "Pop Idol." He has continued throwing the barbs here in America.
Throughout the first episode, featuring open auditions, he spared no
feelings in giving his honest opinion. Telling one contestant he is the
worst singer in America and giving legal advice to another woman by
advising her to sue her singing coach are just a few of the true insults
levied at the contestants.
Cowell's comments, however, aren't just offered for a reaction - he speaks
the truth. At least that's how it appears. Never has there been a show
where one person can tell an egomaniac they have absolutely no talent.
Seeing the utter shock in the contestant's eyes was reason enough to tune
into the program. That was the whole point of the first episode anyway -
to give a dose of reality to these star wannabes. It grabbed the audience
for future episodes and Cowell is the lone reason why "American Idol" is so
popular. Now, there are other components here, as well, to make this
series a hit. Along with Cowell, there are two other judges, Paula Abdul
and Randy Jackson. Abdul is the failed singer who can't seem to say a bad
thing about anyone in the competition and Paula is more comic relief than
anything, showing she really has no idea what she is doing or saying.
Jackson is a round, sunglass-wearing record producer who seems to get more
and more jealous of Cowell as the weeks roll on. It has been the best part
of the show so far.
No doubt believing he, himself, would become a star like Cowell, Jackson
has only been pushed off into the shadows in the series where his feeling
of rejection caused him to make a complete joke of himself by challenging
Cowell to fight in the middle of a broadcast. While Cowell sat in his seat
with a smile on his face, you could tell Jackson was grasping at straws for
someone, anyone, to talk about him. Jackson's bone of contention was this
spiel made by Cowell on Tuesday's episode:
"Seriously, we have to get this competition back on track. In the last two
episodes, two losers have been chosen for one reason and, one reason only -
it was the sympathy vote and had nothing to do with talent. I think some
of the talent has been sensational and I think other people have been
chosen for the wrong reasons and I'm fed up with it." The use of the word
"losers" infuriated Jackson, but his over-the-top reaction, if not staged,
was completely unprofessional and laughable.
Only cohosts Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman (along with Abdul) give
Jackson any kind of support and that is only because everyone on the show
seems to hate Cowell. Speaking of the cohosts, these two green television
personalities are just as bad as Abdul, giving the contestants "props" no
matter how bad their performances are while chastising Cowell for any
negative comments.
Ah, the contestants. . .I didn't forget them. First approved by the judges
and, then, by the American public, the final nine have been chosen from
thousands of auditions. A 10th person will be chosen on next week's episode
(Tuesday, 9pm/8c) to set up the final showdown where one person will be
given a multimillion dollar recording contract.
Among the group of finalists chosen by the people, Tamyra Gray, 21, and
Justin Guarini, 23, have the best shot of taking home the prize. On the
other end of the spectrum, A.J. Gil, 17, and Jim Verraros, 19, were chosen
on what Cowell called the "sympathy vote." It didn't take a record
producer to see that Gil gave the worst performance of his group and did
not deserve to be voted into the top 10, proving the American public most
likely voted him in for the punishing remarks made by Cowell. In any case,
it has set up an interesting competition among the final 10 - not just only
among the talent, but the judges as well.
For the regular fan with no interest in pop singers, the whole point of
tuning in is to hear what Cowell will say next - and I am among those
people. Even if the show gets to the point when there are no more negative
comments to be made, a loyal following will have been established. For a
show given little chance to succeed because of two previous failed versions
on other networks, everyone associated with this series should thank Cowell
for making "American Idol" a hit.
Written by: Brad Carroll
Reviewers Rating: 8.5
Reader's Rating: 6.38
Reader's Votes: 35
Added: 5-Jul-2002
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