American Idol

by Ruth Anne Boulet Three hundred and twenty-seven contestants were put through to Hollywood. That’s a crazy amount of people to cut down to 40. Round one is the lines of 10, each singing a capella with no feedback. It’s sudden death — you are either in or you’re out. Heidi Klum does not give you an auf wiedersehen. Instead Randy, Jennifer or Steven tells you it’s the end of the road. Of course we only really see the chosen folks that were featured in audition rounds. There are hundreds of singers we never hear, and will never hear on […]

by Ruth Anne Boulet We’ve finally hit the last night of auditions. And there was much rejoicing. Even Steven Tyler has had it at this point. Jennifer thinks Steven is mean! Gosh! And I think the viewing audience also reaches that point with the Idol auditions. Thankfully we only had 7 audition shows, but the formula is pretty predictable. 1. Pretend that all the auditions happen over the span of 2 days. They don’t. Most people know that they don’t. Can we stop the charade? It’s ok to acknowledge that the celeb judges only see about 100 folks in each […]

by Ruth Anne Boulet Hollywood is usually the victory lap for American Idol auditioners. It’s the prize. But this season Hollywood is hosting auditions for the show. Those who move on will get to go to… Hollywood. I wonder if you still get put up at a nice hotel if you’re local. I hope so. I’d want to use the pool. Victoria Garrett thinks that God has brought the Idol auditions to LA for a reason. That reason is her. That editing tells us right off the bat that she’s going to be horrible. Idol does not disappoint in that […]

by Ruth Anne Boulet Ok, so Idol didn’t really apologize for Steven. Steven Tyler almost saying swear words is now what people tune into Idol for. That and listen to Steven Tyler hit on underage girls. This is also the season of weepy people getting through to Hollywood just because they’re weepy. Seventeen year old Holly gets a second chance to sing because she gets a crying jag. She can’t even make it through her second song without getting emotional. Hollywood is going to chew her up & spit her out. Steven is not shown hitting on her, thankfully.

by Ruth Anne Boulet This episode begins with a guy who claims he can hit a really high note. I don’t know if the note was actually that high, but it was disturbingly bad. So bad my cat stopped in her tracks & whipped her head around to look at the TV. She remained transfixed until the screeching stopped. And isn’t that one of the reasons many of us tune in to American Idol? It’s those auditions, good or bad, that make us stop in our tracks to watch. When Simon Cowell was in his prime, he was also a […]

by Ruth Anne Boulet Ok, so I’ve been reading some of the blogs talking about the first week of season 10 of American Idol. Most folks, it seems, like the new judges especially Steven Tyler. While I agree that he seems entertaining & quite articulate about each contestant, I’m not sure how any of them will be once we get going with the live show. I’m going to reserve final judgment on them until that time. In the meantime, 3 things. 1. Can we cut down on the ‘pervy Steven’ clips, Idol? Huh? I’m not a prude but ew. 2. […]

by Ruth Anne Boulet Tonight’s post-workout dinner of hot dogs & beer is fitting sustenance for two hours of American Idol. Hot dogs — for their carny goodness. Beer because, well, it’s Thursday and in Milwaukee, that means I’m down already. Don’t judge. I had a salad with my lunch & I’m one of those freaks that likes salad greens without dressing. Why am I writing this? Oh, yes, American Idol. Tonight we’re treated to the trials & tribulations of great singers from New Orleans. I’m fully expecting at least one Katrina story. I’m hopeful that at least one guy […]

by Ruth Anne Boulet I’ve had a workout, eaten some dinner, and am comfortably set up on my couch. I have, optimistically, not selected an alcoholic beverage. Yet. I leave that option open. There’s been a lot of buzz this season about just how far Idol will fall. Am I expecting it to fall? Oh yes. But you never know — maybe Steven Tyler will have some kind of witty insight. Maybe Jennifer Lopez is really a Rhodes scholar. Or maybe not. There’s always Randy. The show doesn’t start off well. The opening “controversy” montage is commanding us to remember […]