'American Idol' chat
Are you caught up in this season of "American Idol"? Have you already picked a winner? The Boston Globe's Joanna Weiss was online Wednesday, April 11, at 1 p.m.
The archives: Read past chat transcripts
The transcript of this week's chat follows.
Joanna_Weiss: Hi everyone...who else was bored with Latin Week?
Joanna_Weiss: Hi everyone...who else was bored with Latin Week?
JasonHicks__Guest_: Funny how Simon repeatedly pointed out that the songs weren't "singers" songs. Talk to the producers for picking a theme that isn't about the singers!! Lakisha's choice was SAFE?! C'mon Paula, Melinda's choice was safe, Lakisha took a chance.
Joanna_Weiss: Precisely, on the bad choice of theme. And I suppose you're right about LaKisha.
Rick__Guest_: I am taking my daughter to see the show on April 17th! I'm 46. What on earth do you wear to something like this?
Joanna_Weiss: Wow, that sounds like a hot ticket. Based on what I see from the audience, casual is best, and anything goes.
Milford_Idol__Guest_: Raise hand. Felt a mid-season crisis.
Rick__Guest_: Who wasn't?
Wiltsan__Guest_: Very lackluster, which I was suprised with really - they could have had a lot of fun. I thought J-Lo was good though, enine and interested.
Joanna_Weiss: Agreed, agreed, agreed. Including on the J.Lo issue. I thought she had decent thoughts, I liked watching her dance. She's certainly a master of image over vocal power. But it's hard to ask people who aren't familiar with the form (and don't have rhythm themselves) to credibly pull off Latin songs, I think.
Milford_Idol__Guest_: Did you like Chris' redition of Smooth? I didn't but my wife raved. Did I miss something?
Joanna_Weiss: I thought it was fine, but I hardly thought it was a Latin song. It's a Rob Thomas song, built around some Santana riffs. Not the same thing.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: I couldn't believe how bad it was. Turns out it was a diffciult category.
Joanna_Weiss: I predict this category won't be returning next season. And I suspect they were trying to find some way to thematically work around J.Lo. Bad idea.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: Rick: make sure your daughter cries and they'll bring her up on the stage! lol
Joanna_Weiss: Good advice!!
JasonHicks__Guest_: So are people thinking is going home tonight? I'm going with Legs....er.... Haley.
coddy_boy__Guest_: It seems as if LaKeisha had one of the weakest performances
Joanna_Weiss: I'm with coddy boy. LaKisha might make it to the bottom three, along with Phil and Haley. That's probably most likely. But even Melinda isn't safe tonight.
Wiltsan__Guest_: While I am a big Melinda fan because I think she is the whole package, I don't think she is Idol or Pop enough to win. My faves to win: Jordan and Blake. Do you think Jordan has a chance or is she too cheeky ala bunny ears behind Ryan?
Joanna_Weiss: I think that sort of energy probably works well for Jordin. Unlike Melinda, she comes across as youthful and fun and sincere. And she manages to pull off "whimsy" a bit better than Sanjaya. I give him credit for lots of stuff, but his sassiness always seems force.
rich__Guest_: I found myself waiting for Sanjaya to come on. Everyone else bored me.
Joanna_Weiss: You, me, and my two-year-old daughter, Rich.
jerry__Guest_: Sanjaya is on fiya!
Joanna_Weiss: He provided much-needed entertainment value last night. He's brilliant, in his accidental-turned-deliberate way. He has America waiting with baited breath to see his hairdo. And the producers now know how to milk it.
Wiltsan__Guest_: Chris sounds like Jason Mraz - and the head side bop thing is getting old
Joanna_Weiss: I've never been a giant fan. As many have said, he's Timberlake lite. Without enough personality to pull it off.
JasonHicks__Guest_: I have to admit, I actually thought Scary Phil was pretty good this week.... aside from the Peter Brady crack.
Joanna_Weiss: The most interesting part of his vocal, I thought! I find the song pretty boring, and I just can't get into Phil, though I agree he has a fairly nice tone to his voice. Not enough "yo" factor, I guess.
jerry__Guest_: Who's better, Lakisha or Melinda?
Joanna_Weiss: Melinda is technically flawless. She'll do great on Broadway. LaKisha is appealing because of her raw power. But I'm not sure either one of them would sell a million records.
Newbie__Guest_: the only strong performacen was from Blake and since when did a song become Latin just because Gloria Estefan sang it?!!
Joanna_Weiss: Totally with you there. Haley was singing a '70s disco song, however much J.Lo tried to coach her into a Latin beat.
Rick__Guest_: This weekly "theme" crap has got to go. Let the singers sing what they want!
Joanna_Weiss: I think I disagree there. We'd get a lot more Celine Dion that way, and I'd be dying. I like the idea that these folks have to challenge themselves. It's just that some themes work better than others.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: If Haley stays on and Lakisha or Melinda go home, I may have to give up my Idol addiction.
Joanna_Weiss: If all remains right in the world, in a cosmic sense, this will be Haley's night to go. She's completely out of her league. And I think she knows it by now.
DW_Johnson__Guest_: I like the Theme idea but the Theme's they have chosen are borrrriiiiinnngg... Especially last weeks with Tony Bennet...
Joanna_Weiss: They haven't had a true winner since British Invasion week. I do think the older songs tend to work better for singers, because they're more melodic. I'd like to take Jordin's advice and do an 80s week, though.
JasonHicks__Guest_: At very least make "Pop" a theme instead of Tony freakin' Bennett, how is he current?! Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Tony but he's no pop idol. Why are forcing the contestants into these themes that have nothing to do with the contest's goal? At the very least these themes are allowing Melinda and Lakisha to "old school" their way through. Do they sound good, absolutely. But like you said, they're not going to sell albums. Is this Obscure Idol?!
Joanna_Weiss: This is Attempting To Accomodate Celebrities Who Want To Glom On To The Publicity Idol.
Milford_Idol__Guest_: I agree, the themes keep everyone on the same playing field and next week's Country theme should be interesting.
Joanna_Weiss: I've been saying this for weeks now, but: Watch Melinda and LaKisha do that.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: I didn't think J.Lo was a good coach at all. It seemed she was mainly trying to teach them how to move.
Joanna_Weiss: I hardly think she's an expert singer. Although it seems everyone needs to give these folks the same advice - think about the lyrics - and she managed to bring that up, too.
Elly__Guest_: Did anyone see Gina with The Oak Ridge Boys on Jay Leno last week? Look it up on YouTube if you haven't. It was hilarious.
Joanna_Weiss: Good tip. I'll check it out. She seems to have a good personality, so she'll probably get some mileage out of this.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: In defense of Tony Bennett--my guess is the producers want to bring in a wide demographic of viewers, and Tony was a good choice since he's done work with so many contemporary musicians, like on his "unplugged" album.
Joanna_Weiss: True. And, again, old songs are often well-suited to singers. Like, you know, Tony.
Milford_Idol__Guest_: Did Sanjaya look Latin? Kinda freaked me out....
Joanna_Weiss: Hee. I don't know if he wanted to look Latin or just male.
JasonHicks__Guest_: Melinda will choose a country song from the early 1900's and do it up cabaret style.
Joanna_Weiss: Good point!
Wiltsan__Guest_: It seemed lilke they had better themes last season, more variety where the kids could take a risk - Chris Daughtery always seemed to have something new to sing - Johnny Cash, contemporary stuff etc.
Joanna_Weiss: Well, Chris pilfered a couple of covers by Live and the Chili Peppers. My favorite performance of his was when he sang "Wonderful World." That was breakout for him, proved he could stretch. Which, again, is my point about themes.
tashiri__Guest_: Sanjaya did very well, I thought-Im issed Melinda and Lekisha, but the recap showed me that Lekisha didn't do well at all.
Joanna_Weiss: Sanjaya did distinguish himself a bit. LaKisha had trouble keeping up with the beat.
giragos__Guest_: Haley looks hoarish. She needs to tone it down. Its pretty sad she is taking this tactic. She will be booted tonight!
Joanna_Weiss: I hope you're right. I'm tired of the schtick. The question is, are there enough men out there who aren't? And who vote?
Wiltsan__Guest_: You think Haley is worse than Sanjaya? They both are just relying on their "acts"
Joanna_Weiss: I think Haley is a less original and interesting presence than Sanjaya. He has expanded his act, in a sense. She is one-note.
Joanna_Weiss: That one note being "hot pants in the key of C"
Newbie__Guest_: Even money either Lakisha or Melinda will belt out Dolly's version of I will always love you.
Joanna_Weiss: A very good thought for Country Week. If Haley doesn't survive, and claim it first. She loves her those ballads.
Wiltsan__Guest_: Offbest question I have always wondered about...do you think we will ever see Paula dance on the show. I know it is a singing show and not SYTYCD but...while a huge fan of her lite pop songs when she was a hitmaker, the thing that really sold her records was the videos and her incredible dancing. I always wondered why they chose her (lucky for her) to be a vocal judge as she was weak but I love to see her get up there and do a couple of steps - her true forte.
Joanna_Weiss: An interesting thought. I wonder if she still has it in her. I think she sort of likes hiding behind the desk.
Marcus_Ben_Karkis__Guest_: Joanna - Isn't it time to admit that Sanjaya and Blake are the only two worth watching. I was bored to tears last night. I like Sanjaya - as Randy said he is the smartest contestant. The boy knows what he's doing.
Joanna_Weiss: Marcus, I'm with you completely. Last night, I was bored, bored, bored until the final two. And Sanjaya (with an assist from the producers and makeup artists) is almost singlehandedly keeping the show alive.
Joanna_Weiss: I also think the producers are trying to drop Melinda a notch, because the "Melinda Win is Inevitable" storyline makes for a duller season.
laura__Guest_: Just joined late; had to read to catch up...Do you think they are putting Sanjaya on at the end to get more people to watch?
Joanna_Weiss: They rotate that last slot every week, but I think they realize, by now, that Sanjaya is a huge draw.
Milford_Idol__Guest_: Maybe Hayley needs a new act - "Short Skirt in the Key of A"?
Joanna_Weiss: At this rate, she'll be going onstage in a bikini next week, and not bothering to sing at all.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: This is why i'm annoyed at vote for the worst: they are sticking with Sanjaya, but after last nigh'ts performance--if they really want to keep the worst --they'd have picked haley.
Joanna_Weiss: Interesting point, though I think Sanjaya is sort of their bread and butter by now. Incidentally, don't you wish Sundance Head were still in the contest?
Milford_Idol__Guest_: Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hxSXuY5lTc
Joanna_Weiss: I think this is the Gina link - thanks!!
Wiltsan__Guest_: Call me crazy but I am in the camp that Sanjaya brings the show down. I am not amused by him, he creeps me out. I find his Dad more entertaining.
Joanna_Weiss: You're not alone. But I think the producers have succumbed to Sanjaya fever. And I happen to think he's kept the show interesting this season, amid some fairly lackluster contestants.
kt1969__Guest_: I hadn't heard Melinda's song "Sway" before, but I really liked it...she was my fave of the night.
Joanna_Weiss: She always puts in a professional-caliber performance, but yet I'm always sort of deflated afterward.
tashiri__Guest_: I agree-If Melinda rides through, it will kill the season-especially since she is already a "professional" singer.
Joanna_Weiss: A lot of these folks have sung in public before. But yes, Melinda comes across as a little too polished, which messes with the nice idea that this show is supposed to pluck someone from obscurity. I think that's why they spent so many of the early weeks plugging the "Melinda doesn't know how good she is" theme.
Wiltsan__Guest_: Aside from the contestants, what do you think of Ryan? I continue to be impressed by him and think he is a real class act. We know he is a hard worker with all his "shows," he is kick on his feet with a comment or compliment and after seeing him w/ Dick Clark on NYEve, I thought he was a gem.
Joanna_Weiss: I agree with you 100 percent. Ryan is a key to the success of the show, and what I like best about him is that, in moments when a contestant is upset, he always manages to say something incredibly sweet. He's got heart.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: ah, vote for the worst is "sticking with their bread and butter," sort of what they accuse A.I. of doing...
Joanna_Weiss: They're becoming an institution themselves. In a teensy way.
laura__Guest_: Joanna, who is your bottom 3 tonight? Mine is Haley, Phil & Chris - did Chris NOT listen to JLo and sing in the key she suggested?
Joanna_Weiss: A lot of chatters here think Phil is in trouble. I'll predict that the bottom 3 is Phil, Haley, and LaKisha. Just for fun.
Joanna_Weiss: I'm not sure if Chris took J.Lo's suggestion or not, but the key still sounded too low for him.
Wiltsan__Guest_: And I think it is genuine, when Gina was so upset, he put his arm around her, understood, didn't demean her..good guy and I agree the heart of the show.
Joanna_Weiss: Right. I first noticed this last season when Boston's own Ayla Brown was knocked off. She was crying, and he said something incredibly sweet, like, "Just think about how much you've accomplished." It was incredibly human, and this show obviously has some pretty inhuman moments.
laura__Guest_: I wondered last night if the judges have given up on critiquing Sanjaya and are just going with the flow (to sort of change tactics as they tried to blatantly before).
Joanna_Weiss: I think the producers recognize that Sanjaya provides entertainment. They don't want him to win, but they don't mind at all if he sticks around for a long time.
Milford_Idol__Guest_: I read that Bon Jovi and Barry Gibb are also due to coach this year. I'll give a pass to Bon Jovi but Barry Gibb, how is he relevant to today's music scene?
Joanna_Weiss: Hey, Barry Manilow was a fantastic judge last year, and he's hardly relevant outside of Vegas. I think some 70s songs might be fun, though I'm tired of disco tunes from LaKisha.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: did they say the show would be an hour long tonight?
Joanna_Weiss: I believe this is the first week of the new Hour Long Results Show era. Which means we can expect a medley!
laura__Guest_: She raised the key for him and it didn't sound like he followed her advice. I would put Melinda in the bottom three THIS WEEK before LaKisha - just for fun! I like LaKisha's performance more than Melinda's.
Joanna_Weiss: I kind of liked LaKisha more myself, but I think Melinda has more of a built-in fan base, composed of those people who actually believe the show should reward the very best singer.
rich__Guest_: I think Haley should pull a Jenny from Forrest Gump - come out wearing nothing but a guitar and sit down and try to sing!
Joanna_Weiss: The men in the audience base can only hope, I suppose. The cameramen, too, given the joy they seem to take in those ankle-to-neck pans of Haley's outfits.
Wiltsan__Guest_: Barry Manilow was a riot last year. Barry Gibb would be fantastic because he is a true talent. While most think of SNF - the Brothers Gibb are actually really talented songwriters and have written for many that most are unaware. He certainly could tell them how to hit the high notes : )
Joanna_Weiss: If Phil survives, he'd have a chance to really show off that falsetto. I agree, it would be fun.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: That's a very long medley! And can you remember when they each start to sing two songs each? The top five?
Joanna_Weiss: It all starts blurring together. But it's either top five or top four, I think. It's all about filling an hour of airtime.
Joanna_Weiss: Tonight I guess we'll get a medley, a long J.Lo song, some prepackaged interview stuff, and a very drawn out results drama, with people moving to various corners of the stage.
laura__Guest_: True; that's why it'd be fun if Melinda ended up in the bottom 3!!! For all we know, the bottom three could turn out to be Jordan (didn't like that long, high note at the end of her song last night - it was unnecessary!)...it happened beofre with the Three Divas from Season 3 (?)
Joanna_Weiss: Dialidol predicts that nobody but Blake is safe. And yes, I think Melinda in the final three would really get everyone worked up. Launch a new wave of "Would 'Idol' be ruined if..." stories.
sanfan__Guest_: just joined this chat. ... so who's out?
Joanna_Weiss: The group consensus seems to be Haley or Phil. With LaKisha or even maybe possibly Melinda in the danger zone.
Joanna_Weiss: I think I'm going to go with a Haley boot. Because I believe in justice, I don't believe in overuse of hot pants, and I think Phil deftly threw out a reference to his little daughter last night.
laura__Guest_: And they'll probably have a very long plug for "Idol Gives Back"!!! I agree - Blake was the best last night and the only one safe tonight.
Joanna_Weiss: One thing that struck me about Blake's safety is that a lot of people seem to hew to the judges' comments. He defintely got the most love tonight.
DW_Johnson__Guest_: I now think this is Blake's to lose......
Joanna_Weiss: I'm not sure he can best Jordin in the end, given the pop-leanings of the Idol fanbase. And Melinda is still in the running, even if she flirts with trouble tonight.
Joanna_Weiss: And then there's my Sanjaya scenario...
sanfan__Guest_: that was so cheesy, what phil did.
laura__Guest_: OMG....I heard that from Phil and thought he must be doing it for the save!!!! hahahaha...
everyonesacritic__Guest_: have you seen phil's myspace page? he sings with his daughter...or it's only his daughter with a backbeat, can't remember. but it's funny!
Joanna_Weiss: These guys have figured out how to use what they've got. Perhaps they learned this from Sanjaya, the Jedi Master.
sanfan__Guest_: sanjaya is clearly the best and smartest performer/competitor.
Joanna_Weiss: Not sure about "best," but he's played this very smart. My personal theory is that he was a lost little boy for awhile, and then decided to just play the game. I'm a little worried he'll get cocky and unlikable though.
sanfan__Guest_: in many ways, i also think sanjay rivals blake for originality. i thought for sure that blake would do a cooler song and sing in spanish.
Joanna_Weiss: I give Sanjaya a ton of credit for singing in Spanish. I can't believe no one else attempted it. I wanted Blake to do "Girl from Ipanema."
Marcus_Ben_Karkis__Guest_: Very cheesy of Phil. Also, he can be really good and incredibly bad all in the same song.
Joanna_Weiss: I think that's usually Paula's point, though made in a way that's indecipherable. He has a nice tone to his voice, but he doesn't seem to understand the songs.
laura__Guest_: Joanna, I think it's too late....he's already cocky. And too scary for me to be likable. Sanjaya probably figured less people would hear him mess up the words if some were en espanol...
Joanna_Weiss: I think it was a safe choice for him, for that very reason! And yes, he has moments of seeming a little arrogant, though some of it (if you want to be kind) could be self-preservation. I shudder to think what this whole experience is doing to his psyche.
everyonesacritic__Guest_: Uh, isn't girl from ipanema a brazilian tune??
Joanna_Weiss: It is...so yes, I suppose technically that isn't Latin. Got me there. I suppose I'm thinking of all of Latin and South America. And I love that song.
sanfan__Guest_: out of all of them, i think sanjaya, jordin and blake are the only ones who really connect with the songs they sing. it's funny, all the "coaches" stress that, but most of them miss that point. even kenny rogers talked about that.
Joanna_Weiss: I do think success in singing involves the ability to sell a song. Melinda does that, too, I think. Her trouble is that she seems like someone plucked from the past. Plus the whole false-modesty thing.
sanfan__Guest_: it's a bossa nova wrtten by the guy who invented the form, jobim
Joanna_Weiss: It's a gorgeous song, and really hard to sing, and much better than anything Gloria Estefan ever covered. Thus, I'd want to bend the rules.
JasonHicks__Guest_: Sanjaya should've done "She Bangs"
Joanna_Weiss: I was really shocked that no Ricky Martin tunes made it in there. But I think Sanjaya chose the right song for himself, and the right hairdo.
Joanna_Weiss: The question is: will the peach fuzz be shaved by tonight?
laura__Guest_: Girl from Ipanema is a heck of a lot closer to Latin than a Rob Thomas song...whoever allowed that?????
Joanna_Weiss: I agree completely!
Joanna_Weiss: Sorry folks, a little technical difficulty here. If you're still with us, I'll post the last few comments.
sanfan__Guest_: wouldn't it be fun if they picked "punk" as a genre, or a free week where they could do anything?
Joanna_Weiss: I think they'll get to a bit more free choice in the future. But remember, the first few weeks were free.
laura__Guest_: THAT, JasonHicks, was LAUGH OUT LOUD HYSTERICAL!!!!
Joanna_Weiss: Props to a "She Bangs" comment! And you're right, Laura - I didn't even get the double-entrendre at first. D'oh.
sanfan__Guest_: imagine melinda singing "I fought the law" and blake doing "I'm all lost in the Supermarket" Sanjaya could do "I want to be Sedated." oh, i should be a show consultant!
Joanna_Weiss: Apply! They need you!
Milford_Idol__Guest_: please please please shave Sanjaya
laura__Guest_: The peach fuzz probably washed off in the shower
Joanna_Weiss: Tonight will tell. I predict: No facial hair.
sanjaya_in_saugus__Guest_: tell milford i'm done shaving!
Joanna_Weiss: You heard it here first, folks.
DW_Johnson__Guest_: Would the Idol producers actually let Sanjaya win... You can stick me in the category of that will never happen, no matter how many votes he gets
Joanna_Weiss: The beauty of it is, they really don't have the ultimate control. But I think they trust that in the end, they have more audience members who want to vote for good singers than they have haters and tweens.
sanjaya_in_saugus__Guest_: ...and i'm singing the ramones's "blitzkreig bop'' tonight!
Joanna_Weiss: Well, Sanjaya has spoken. Which gets me thinking...if you have ideas for songs Sanjaya must take on, e-mail them to me at weiss@globe.com and I'll post them on the blog.
Joanna_Weiss: In the meantime, happy viewing. This was tons of fun and my fingers are tired. I hope you come back for next week's chat. I have a feeling we'll have much more Sanjaya to discuss.
DW_Johnson__Guest_: They will rig the voting if it looks like he's gonna win. Bank on it.... They have total control because no one really know how many votes and for whom.
Joanna_Weiss: Last thought: DW, not a chance. That would destroy the show - even more than a Sanjaya win.
DW_Johnson__Guest_: Sanjaya should do Break on Through to the Other Side by the doors..
Joanna_Weiss: Ooh, I like it. Everyone, send me more! Looking forward to chatting more next week.
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