“In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.”
-Nietzsche
My wife and I were discussing the American Idol phenomenon the other night after Chris Daughtry got voted off and she decided to boycott any future shows.
We decided the show would be better if America didn’t vote at all.
Think about it, once they got the contestants down to the top 12 or whatever, instead of America voting, (multiple times each, diluting whatever intrinsic value a single vote can have) they should introduce a celebrity panel of Judges. A panel of musicians, producers and entertainers from all facets and genres of music and entertainment. A panel of ten would be plenty. Let the panel decide who stays and who goes, majority rules. But stock the panel with a good variety… somebody from a rock band, a pure vocalist, a country artist, a producer, a song writer, a music-manager, maybe even a film celebrity.
Each judge could grade the contestant from their own perspective: things like stage-presence, vocal-ability, raw-talent, attitude, appearance etc… would all become meaningful. America wouldn’t be able to vote to keep a sub-par contestant on the show for weeks past their expiration date just because Simon made fun of her. (I’m convinced many votes come from people simply voting against Simon)
Each new season they could make a big deal out of presenting the celebrity panel. Maybe each member could take turns being a “guest judge” with Paula, Simon and Dog during those initial tryouts (the only episodes I really watch). That seemed to go over well when they did something similar with guest judges last season (or was it the season before?)
Besides, if the previous AI winners are any indication, America cannot pick the next pop star. It took Kelly Clarkson (Season One) almost five years before she got so popular I could see her CD’s at Wal-Mart. Not that Wal-Mart is the litmus test for popularity, but I don’t like Kelly Clarkson’s music and I’m not going to go looking for it. But if I see a stand-up or a poster or a rack of CD’s in a store whether I’m looking for them or not – then I guess she’s popular.
Unfortunately, I’d bet that American Idol has some big partnership with Cingular or whatever phone company that tabulates all those millions of votes and wouldn’t want to part with the extra money they make from that deal just so we could find true well-rounded stars.
It will continue until people stop voting. Or stop watching. Yeah, like that’ll happen.
The best comment I’ve heard since Chris Daughtry was voted off:
“Remember, this is coming from the same country that elected George W Bush”
