Bad Singing Show #1: Philadelphia

Posted by Professor Chan on January 16th, 2008 at 1:32 PM
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Howdy Class, and welcome back to another exciting season of Mocking America’s favorite show. If you were one of the hardened survivors who suffered through On The Lot and America’s Next Band with us, then my condolences and I’ll bake you a cookie. I’m almost thankful that American Idol has crept upon us once again. “Almost” thankful because we have to suffer through about 7 weeks of crappy singing. Who likes this stuff? Sure it gets higher ratings than regular Idol, but hasn’t clueless knuckleheads and shameless bozos selling their dignity for 30 seconds of TV time gotten old? Just a little bit? Admit it, who really wants to see yet another psycho girl spew a bleep-filled rant about how Simon sucks. Sure, they’re only telling the truth, but now it’s kind of old after about the 30th one.

This entire two hour snoozefest had “retread” written all over it. I really felt like I’d seen this all before. Even Randy and Simon admitted that this felt old hat. And when the dulcet tones of Seacrest’s bland narration declares “it feels like (Idol) never went away” then it’s really time to CHANGE THE FREAKIN’ FORMAT! Anyways, that’s what I’m going to do.
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SEEN IT BEFORES -- These are clones of previous failed Idol contestants. I merely have to describe them in one sentence and you know the person I’m talking about. Not that specific person, because a healthy human brain will expunge such useless information to remember batting averages, top grossing movies and Martha Stewart turnip recipes.

-- The clueless foreigner who considers himself a love god and sings in broken English.

-- The pudgy guy with glasses who sings a melody-free Sinatra song.

-- The single mom who is an okay singer but has no chance of winning this competition.

-- The anorexic blonde girl who sings “Feelin’ Good” and jumps from 0 to 60 in histrionics.

-- The aforementioned psycho girl wearing too much sparkly eye-shade who upon receiving tepid criticism from Simon, “You should start a band” goes on a totally unnecessary and over the top swearing tirade about how Idol sucks.

-- The Milli-Vanilli stand-in with a pretty voice who will be bounced from the competition in week two of the Finals.

-- The wholesome, skinny blonde girl with an okay voice who will never win because despite what the critics say about Idol and how the pretty girl always does well, the PRETTY, SKINNY GIRL NEVER WINS. NEVER. That goes for skinny, blonde kickboxer girl too.
--The Dr. Phil looking guy with a leopard vest who sings a love song to abstinence. Come on, like that dude isn’t getting laid because it’s HIS CHOICE? HAHAHAHA. Okay Abstinence dude is a new one. But still not worth the 5 minutes he gets on TV.
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VFTW Potential -- These are the guys we’re keeping our eye on to be the next Taylor Hicks or Sanjaya.

-- Formerly Fat Joey who sings a falsetto Maroon 5 song. He looks like Scott Savol’s younger brother. I can’t wait to hear how he lost 200 pounds EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

-- Junot the Ruben Impersonator. Who sings well, but his left eye goes squinty when he hits the high notes. VFTW potential.

-- Jose who sings a Mark Anthony song IN SPANISH. I hope he sings every song in Spanish. Real VFTW Potential.

-- Jonathan - Gangly guy with a funny haircut who clips off the ends of his lines. Trainwreck potential in longer, dramatic songs. We’ll keep our eyes on him.
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And finally, I just have to mention the duelling Princess Leias:

Hairy, Bearded Slave Outfit Leia. This whole thing seemed like a bad AI sketch. Did this guy really find a body waxing place and come back in time to audition again? I call shenanigans. You know it’s contrived when Simon calls him a fat, idiot acting like a fool to be on TV. Damn, that’s harsh criticism of Randy.

Creepy Disco Leia -- This girl goes from amusing, quirky dork to bitter, hateful bitch in about 30 seconds. And this is despite the fact that her rant against how Idol only picks generic, attractive people to be on the show is pretty much true. Still she always has her memories of that out of sight 30th Anniversary Star Wars convention to tide her through the dark times.

And I can’t forget Paula Stalker Paul, who is clearly doing a comedy bit, and sings a funny song about caulking Paula. And Simon and Randy freak out like he’s really a nut-job. But it’s still not as wonderful as my Paula Abdul love-song which you can see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUA463avH_U
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And that is the show. Thoroughly missable. Two hours of snore-ville.

See you after tonight’s totally unnecessary show.

--Chan

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FenderBender
Posted: January 16, 2008 - 6:31pm
Joined: 20 Mar 2007

Great review, as always, but you forgot one.

The repulsive fatass "dressing" like a belly dancer.

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keelhaulrose
Posted: January 16, 2008 - 7:16pm
Joined: 24 Apr 2007

I just got an idea. We need to establish an "Idol Bingo" game, where we take the cliched characters/sayings/moves we see every audtion cycle, put them on a bingo board, and see who can play "cover all" first.

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UZ
Posted: January 16, 2008 - 9:23pm
Joined: 22 Apr 2007

I believe that was the "first" of the two leias.

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sadecou
Posted: January 16, 2008 - 10:01pm
Joined: 01 Apr 2007

I think that all of you people are real troopers for wanting to sit through another season of American Idol. I have watched most seasons but I think that I will be passing this season only because I am sick of watching the crappy TV. I did watch the first episode last night and for the exception of the 2nd Princess Leia I just thought the episode sucked. BIG TIME! And, it is not a matter that the 2nd Princess Leia could actually sing but that was an entertaining audition because it was so creepy.

I just can't fathom sitting through 2 hours of auditions with judges who are barely music literate. Simon is not even a musician, calling Paula a musician is a very lose term, and Randy...he is the most literate in music but not truly the best. I don't want to see washed up music stars on the show trying to revive their careers that are already over. NO MORE BARRY, PLEASE!!!! The musicians that are what I call "real musicians" will not even touch the show. It is a violation of their artistic talent.

In the end...BORING. You are right, Chan, for stating that American Idol needs a serious change in show format because I think I do not even want to waste my life watching another season of what the judges consider decent singers. They are just as bad and maybe even worse than the people cut in these initial auditions.

Example, the blonde picked in Philly. Who decided to take her? She can't sing. In fact, I think that dorky Princess Leia sang better than the blonde that followed her. AND, that does not say very much. Princess Leia #2 was right, period. They are looking for the next sane Brittany. PLEASE NO!

Give me my classic YES or the former OPERA singer Pat Benetar and hopefully someone will come onto the music scene to emulate that kind of talent again.

Professor Chan
Posted: January 17, 2008 - 2:14am
Joined: 10 Jan 2007

At my house we have the Idol drinking game.  We make up the guidelines each weak but usually it's take a drink whenever Simon uses ridiculous hyperbole, "That was the WORST SINGING EVER" or makes a gay joke about Ryan.  Take a drink when Paula dances.  Take a Drink when Randy "Ain't feeling it tonight" and finally finish your drink whenever Seacrest innapropriately touches a male contestant.

THAT is how I make it through each and every show.  You are welcome.

 

--Chan 

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magooish
Posted: January 17, 2008 - 9:11am
Joined: 02 Apr 2007

How do I sign up to receive the cookie? I slogged thru "The Lot" and NGAB as well as CLASH of the CHOIRS, so can I please have a double chocolate chip cookie with nuts?

Wait, forget the nuts. I have my fill from last night's Idol painfest.

Magooish

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magooish
Posted: January 17, 2008 - 9:15am
Joined: 02 Apr 2007

If you check out the Randy Jackson forum on AI7, there is a drinking game that has to do with Randy's tired assed "Dawg, Yo, Pitchy " sayings.

But you may want to save that for a real voting show where he speaks more. I only got one good chug of Tequila in last night and it was not even close to enough alcohol to block out the visual/audial assault that is AI7.

Magooish

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Nightwing69
Posted: January 18, 2008 - 3:13pm
Joined: 31 Mar 2007

Whoa, sadecou - brilliant commentary! Now, if some 70-odd million more folks could just follow your logical thinking...

Oh, yeah...Bush is still the president. Sorry...my bad...

M-Dawg

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Nightwing69
Posted: January 18, 2008 - 3:14pm
Joined: 31 Mar 2007

Chan - I TOTALLY have earned my cookie, too...in fact, Magooish, Smartie and I should each get a bakers' dozen worth...

M-Dawg

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Nightwing69
Posted: January 18, 2008 - 3:16pm
Joined: 31 Mar 2007

Outstanding review as always, Chan...and thanks for the drinking game idea! We'll alternate between Magooish's game and your game...

M-Dawg

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