'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 18, at 1 p.m..
Read Joanna's previous chats in the archives.
The transcript of today's chat follows below.
Joanna_Weiss: Hey everyone - sorry for the delay
Joanna_Weiss: I'm with Idol fan Ava today, so things might be a bit slower than usual!
Ozzie__Guest_: Joanna, I got the sense last night that Simon was truly upset with Seacrest after he interupted Simons comments about Sanjaya. I believe the point Simon was trying to make was its time for America to wake up and smell the coffee and vote for the best singer which definatly isnt Sanjaya. He has a made a complete mockery of American Idol as was witnessed by his horrendous performance last night.
kbc__Guest_: So is this the week we say sayonara to Sanjaya?
Joanna_Weiss: Ozzie and kbc, I agree that this was the week Sanjaya seemed to overstay his welcome.
Joanna_Weiss: He didn't do a good job entertaining this week. Not at all. Bandana notwithstanding.
Joanna_Weiss: And I do think he'll wind up in the bottom three.
Joanna_Weiss: I think Chris is probably in trouble, too. Possibly LaKisha. Phil is always in trouble...
kbc__Guest_: The bandana was cute
Milford_Idol__Guest_: But will he [Sanjaya] be eliminated? I think he should be
Joanna_Weiss: I think a lot of people agree, but I wonder if his fans will still support him. Plus the Vote for the Worst crowd.
laura__Guest_: I know Ava's a Sanjaya fan, but I think he'll finally make the bottom 3 this week too...along with Chris and Phil...although I really liked Phil last night and Chris threw out the VT comment - that might help him!
Joanna_Weiss: Even Ava didn't seem too thrilled by "her boy" Sanjaya this week! Phil was surprisingly decent, particularly since he wasn't even wearing a hat. Chris's VT comment was heartfelt, I think. He hails from that area.
Ozzie__Guest_: According to DIALIDOL he is gone
Joanna_Weiss: Thanks for checking...who else is in trouble?
laura__Guest_: I really thought Ryan's comment was very inappropriate and I'm a Ryan fan. I think Simon made his point loud and clear. Let's hope this is the week to say Babaya Sanjaya!
Joanna_Weiss: I think Simon is irritated by Ryan, too, which goes a long way toward explaining that eye-rolling.
bostonIdol__Guest_: Please comment on Chris usning the Virginia Tech tragedy to his advantage....or disadvantage as it may turn out.
Joanna_Weiss: As I pointed out before, I think he was being honest. And as I mentioned on the blog last night, I am willing to give Simon the benefit of the doubt and believe he was eye-rolling over the "nasally" comment, not the VT reference.
Joanna_Weiss: But I know some people have noted that Simon doesn't like it when people give shout-outs to their mothers on their birthdays, etc.
Ms_Fit__Guest_: Granted, this was the worst timing of any of Simon's smirks, etc. but he is always making faces and acting distracted (always touching Paula, making faces at her, etc).
Joanna_Weiss: That's what I want to think. I think Simon is irritable, but not so callous as he looked last night at that moment.
SanjayaRaitt__Guest_: I read the blog, Joanna, and I think Simon was rolling his eyes to the Virginia Tech comment. My buddy made the same comment to me at that point. But I guess it's whatever you see.
Joanna_Weiss: I think that's a reasonable interpretation, too. Alas.
Milford_Idol__Guest_: It was nice that Chris mentioned VT but it would have been even better if he was wearing a hat, shirt, pin or something to show his support
Joanna_Weiss: See, I think that would have been over-the-top, and would have looked like pandering. It's tough to put on a show like this at a moment of national tragedy, and the producers were clearly struggling with that last night.
kbc__Guest_: Is Blake also from Virginia? I was confused by the timing and wording of Simon's VT mention
Joanna_Weiss: I believe one of the producers told Simon to make a VT comment to make up for the eye-rolling.
Joanna_Weiss: The last thing "Idol" needs is a ton of bad press about how it's run by callous Brits.
Maliki__Guest_: Country week is the week that we usually lose one of the better singers due to a mediocre genre. please comment
Joanna_Weiss: I think that's why LaKisha is in trouble. She didn't fit. Jordin, who is extremely versatile, did better, and Blake managed to make his song sound decidedly un-country. I'm not a big fan of new country myself. But I liked this string of song choices better than last year's, by a mile.
MG__Guest_: Honestly, I think the Seacrest comments about VT at the begining of the show - and Simon's random comments about it in the middle of his judging remarks - were very awkward. Of course we all are horritifed by what happened at VT, but this is just a silly entertainment show, and I think they are starting to become very self-important (i.e., signle-handedly saving Africa).
Joanna_Weiss: They sort of couldn't win; I think they felt they had to acknowledge the story somehow. And had it just been Ryan's opening comment, it would have been fine. The Simon comment wasn't planned. It was damage control.
laura__Guest_: I would like to believe that he is not that crass and calloused. And after seeing him with some of the kids in Africa in the Idol Gives Back pieces, I think the guy might have a heart!
Joanna_Weiss: I share your hope, Laura.
ericalina__Guest_: I also think Melinda looked AWESOME last night. Great to see her looking youthful and fun, and great to hear her sing something NEW!
Joanna_Weiss: I think she did a good job, as usual. And yes, her song was from 1999 - a revelation. (I liked the song, too.)
Milford_Idol__Guest_: How about each contestant and person wearing a ribbon pin or something?
Joanna_Weiss: That would have been a nice touch.
kbc__Guest_: Simon said something like "you guys have had a tough week"...not sure who "you" was
Joanna_Weiss: I think he was clumsily referring to the contestants.
Ms_Fit__Guest_: A mediocre genre? Wow, someone jump in here and dispute this.
Joanna_Weiss: Country fans, speak up!
Milford_Idol__Guest_: Wouldn't it be fun to hear each contestant sing the same song one week?
Joanna_Weiss: An interesting idea, but I think it would get dull by the second or third time. I think that was a problem with NBC's "Grease" reality show.
Theresa__Guest_: I liked Melinda's new look
Joanna_Weiss: The hair extensions did well by her!
DRo__Guest_: Melinda has been the most improved in terms of physical appearance
Joanna_Weiss: I think you're right. They're still not sure how best to dress LaKisha.
Theresa__Guest_: Anyone can sing country. It requires no talent
Maliki__Guest_: Sorry but Country Music sucks!
Joanna_Weiss: Sorry, Ms. Fit
Ms_Fit__Guest_: You were looking for suggestions for themes last week...has Idol ever done folk songs? show tunes? punk?
Joanna_Weiss: My husband really wants them to do punk. I wasn't a big watcher the first few seasons, but I don't think they've done folk.
SanjayaRaitt__Guest_: If -- and lets hope against it -- Sanjaya goes home tonight, who does VFTW go with from here on out? My money is on Phil, who was suprisingly good last night, or Chris, who's done nothing to impress me in recent weeks.
Joanna_Weiss: Phil has been on the bubble for weeks, so it would make sense if he went home this week, even though he was surprisingly good.
Theresa__Guest_: Yeah, she sort of had a neck!
Joanna_Weiss: Back to Melinda's makeover. She is the Elliot Yamin of this season!
SanjayaRaitt__Guest_: I never thought I would say it, but I really miss Haley.
Joanna_Weiss: Because of the outfits? Or the song choices?
Milford_Idol__Guest_: I agree [with the singing of the same song] but how about if it was not broadcast but available on ai.com? Real cotnent for their website...
Joanna_Weiss: That would make for some interesting outtakes, I suppose.
laura__Guest_: Did I miss something about mediocre genre? I think Martina McBride made a really great point last night when she told them to focus not on the genre but on the song itself!!
Joanna_Weiss: That seems the common thread among celebrity guests: telling these people to think about the lyrics and the songs. It's probably a rookie challenge - you're so intent on hitting the notes and doing those runs (which I usually hate) that you forget about the song itself.
SanjayaRaitt__Guest_: I think all the girls look better... they don't have to stand next to Haley anymore.
Joanna_Weiss: Hmm. I think there is some debate among the men of the universe over whether Haley lived up to her "hotness" reputation. I am not, personally, an expert.
Theresa__Guest_: I would so not want to see anyone singing peter-paul-and mary
Joanna_Weiss: That makes two of us. Ug.
Ms_Fit__Guest_: Obviously not everyone can sing a country song...witness last night. I make a face when a friend of mine mentions country music since I think I'm not a fan but then she keeps telling me so-and-so is country when I mention I like so and so. Two words for all the naysayers...no, not those two words...Johnny Cash!
Joanna_Weiss: I'm a big fan of classic country myself. Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline...the new stuff, I can't get into.
Milford_Idol__Guest_: It's that like saying Rap is mediocre because they use simple beats and keyboard rifs? Does a style of music require very complex arrangements to make it good? Anyone know what the most popular music format in the whole country is?
Joanna_Weiss: Yes, it's country, I know, I know. And country does lend itself to singing. More so than rap. Which is nothing against rap...
Theresa__Guest_: show tunes = big red
Joanna_Weiss: Melinda has already been doing showtunes. Jordin could hit it out of the park. Blake...that would be a challenge. Although there was a musical, "Chess," from my teenage years, that would probably suit him...
laura__Guest_: I liked everyone's songs last night except Blake's (and I typically like his songs) and of course, Sanjaya. Poor Bonnie Raitt....who is not a country singer - she's a blues artist!!!
Joanna_Weiss: Yes, it wasn't really fair to Bonnie. And poor Sanjaya couldn't pull it off by any stretch.
DRo__Guest_: I think Simon is almost always right on and did not appreciate Ryan insisting that he has it in for Sanjaya. It makes it seem like Sanjaya is being discriminated against.
Joanna_Weiss: I do think Ryan was baiting Simon at that point. Everyone knows the deal with Sanjaya. And on some level, I can understand Simon's frustration. He has an ego. (A really big one.) He likes to be listened to. He can't like being ignored, even for the sake of entertainment.
Maliki__Guest_: Why not reggae or blues? Both have a great variety of songs to choose from.
Joanna_Weiss: Blues would be fun, I think. (And, yes, a better reason to cover Bonnie Raitt.) Or the catalogue of one band; remember the Queen show last year?
DRo__Guest_: Since when did nasally become a "form" of singing? Where are the top charts for nasal singers?
Joanna_Weiss: I had the same reaction to Chris's comment. (Actually, I probably rolled my eyes, so I'm glad there were no cameras on me.) The only officially nasal singer I can think of is Bob Dylan, and he gets a pass.
Ms_Fit__Guest_: Loved that comment from Simon to Melinda last night...don't pretend you're surpised when I tell you it was good.
Joanna_Weiss: Yes, he's catching up to the rest of the country on that one, I guess. Or he really wants to rescue her from herself. It was nicely done.
kbc__Guest_: Am I alone in thinking Blake isn't the best singer? He's a good performer and does cool arrangements, makes good choices, etc. But ths alone seem slightly weaker vocal
Joanna_Weiss: I agree with you that Blake doesn't always hit the notes just right. He does have an interesting tone to his voice, though - I like it much better than Nasally Chris's - and he always finds a way to make the arrangement interesting.
DRo__Guest_: Do you think Lakisha will be forgiven for last night?
Joanna_Weiss: I think there are more Idol fans who judge on singing talent than don't, so she will probably get through. She could wind up in the bottom three, though.
laura__Guest_: Folk week would be the worst! Could you imagine Sanjaya trying to pull off a Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez or Pete Seeger song. HA!!!
Joanna_Weiss: Maybe he COULD do "Puff the Magic Dragon..." Maybe I take back the Peter, Paul & Mary thing...
SanjayaRaitt__Guest_: Song choices, obviously. All the men loved watching Haley for her song choices. And those magazines are good for the articles...
Joanna_Weiss: Ah. This is why our friend SanjayaRaitt misses Haley. Mmm-hmm.
MG__Guest_: I would watch out for Chris. He always does sound nasally, and last night in his remarks to Simon he demonstrated for the first time the same type of arrogance that got Sligh booted.
Joanna_Weiss: I agree. He's in trouble, perhaps even more so than Phil. I'm not sure his VT comment - which I do believe was heartfelt, and not a ploy for votes - will save him from himself.
nickname__Guest_: Im surprised no one has mentioned Simon's facial expression as Chris mentioned the VT shootings since he has friends there--Simon looked disgusted.---did you notice this?
Joanna_Weiss: We dealt with this earlier in the chat, nickname. There are two schools of thought here: was Simon reacting to the VT comment itself, or Chris's "nasally" snipe? I am trying to believe it was the latter.
Theresa__Guest_: martina mcbrides contacts were freaky. like phil stacy
Joanna_Weiss: She didn't look as natural as J.Lo. We'll see how she looks when she sings tonight.
Di__Guest_: Vote for the Worst guy was on Howard and Letterman last night. Do you think it back-fired? I still voted 122 times for him. ..still think it would be funny if he won. I use to like AI but I do feel all this reality stuff is dumbing down America. yes including me. I hope he makes it to the top four anyway.
Joanna_Weiss: Last week, I thought Sanjaya could make it far. Like maybe the final four. This week, not so much. But given the looming trouble for Phil and Chris, he could well be safe again.
laura__Guest_: I think most of them finally figured out that they need to stop those unnecessary runs; maybe that's why last night I thought most of them were better than usual.
Joanna_Weiss: They are doing better with that, I agree.
laura__Guest_: I don't even want to see PPM singing PPM!!!!!!
Joanna_Weiss: And I agree with this, too!
Joanna_Weiss: Guys, this has been great again. I need to skip off in a sec to get a small Sanjaya-lover ready for a nap.
Joanna_Weiss: I think I'm going to predict an early demise for Phil tonight. In the spirit of Gina having to go after her best performance of the season. It's the sort of irony that makes Idol...Idol.
Joanna_Weiss: Hope you check back in next Wednesday at 1. Wish me luck with naptime. And good luck, Phil......
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