American Idol - January 14, 2009

Its quite clear the four judge format is not working, but since these auditions were taped, we are stuck with it for a while. The two women seem reduced to silly schoolgirls while Simon and Randy sit awkwardly to the side. Something has been lost, or maybe the show has just run its course with viewers.

Last night....... I can't even remember anyone. Oh, wait, Lil Rounds! Now there's a talented lady who has the whole thing going on. Perhaps a little too much going on, with the husband, the three kids all at the age of 23. So far, she's a favorite.

Then there was Danny Gokey, the young widower. His wife Sophia had just passed away twelve weeks before the audition and he had a lot of emotion going on. He's a likable guy with a decent voice.

Hank Williams was no doubt turning in his grave last night, when Michael Nicewonder auditioned and claimed to be related to Mr. Williams.

Then we had Jason Castro's brother Michael. Sitting there with his effeminate hair do, he had the nerve to call his brother the girlie one. He was arrogant enough to claim he had just started singing a few days prior to the audition because he figured if his brother could do it, so could he. I can't wait to see the arrogant little prick humbled in Hollywood.

So there we have it - four hours of our lives this week. Four hours of lots of commercials with a little American Idol thrown in here and there.

Why do we watch?

American Idol - A Judge Too Many

Make a choice. Paula or Kara. Its clear from the season opener that the addition of another judge doesn't work. Watching Kara and Paula digress into pajama party mentality didn't spice the show up and this show needs something, because even the really bad auditions have, eight seasons in, lost their shock value.

The season opener's bad auditions seemed not so much bad as pathetic. Randy Madden, would-be rock and roller and self proclaimed Rock Star in a Box, tried his best to look the part, but somehow crying through the whole audition process negated the bad-ass-dude image he so desperately wanted to portray. He's a prime example of what working in a cubicle does to people's mental well being.

Michael Gurr needed a laxative or a labotomy or both.

Then there is the Queen of Mediocrity, Katrina Darrell. There are millions of people on this planet with talent. Having a fantastic derriere is not a talent, but it did seem to gum up the ears of Randy and Simon. They should have had the blind fellow replace the male judges for this annoying and pathetic audition.

Which reminds me, did you see Ryan Seacrest try to High Five Scott McIntyre?




Emily Wynne-Hughes, Stevie Wright and Arianna Afsar will be worth watching before we forget all about them, just like the throngs of hopefuls before them. Look back. Who do you remember from American Idol?

American Idol Season 8

Its that time again. Are you ready?

Split: David Cook and Kimberly Caldwell

Apparently just before the holidays David and Kimberly called it quits.

Caldwell's rep had this to say:

"The couple remain good friends and, being very private people, appreciate their privacy at this time."

Very private? Here is a little reminder of how private they were when he asked her out on a first date:

American Idol Anthem

Give us your nut jobs, your freaks

Your delusional masses yearning
to be famous
The laughing stocks of your
teeming streets
Send these, the rejects, the misfits,
to us
We lift the microphone beside the
Golden Door to Hollywood
and mock them, that they ever dared
to dream the Idol dream.
- jo gillis