The Idle Review with Josh & Jen: A Pop-Culture, American Idol Podcast Review

Week 9: Elimination

March 14th, 2008

Filed under: Podcast Episode — Josh & Jen @ 5:39 pm

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Hey Jen and Josh!

I love your show - much more than AI itself, actually. In fact, this season, the only reason I torment my TiVo with AI recordings is not for my own personal viewing pleasure, but rather so I can be “in the loop” when I listen to your podcast.

I was wondering if you might discuss some AI “logistics” on your show - I’ve always wondered things like “do the contestants get paid, or is the exposure alone considered compensation for their time?” “Does AI pay for the contestant’s families to fly out and see the shows, or are they too cheap?” “What songs do they sing when the top 10 go on tour - brand new songs, or ones they preformed on the show?”

What can I say - inquiring minds want to know but are too lazy to google it…

I love all the obscure pop culture references that bring back such great memories, and I certainly hope your podcast will continue on past this season of AI like you did last summer. What “Scrubs” is to Josh and Jen, “Idle Review” is to me.

Thanks!
-Debi

Comment by Debi — March 29, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
Hey, Josh/Jen,

Just watched the show and I’ll be interested to hear your guys’ thoughts.

At this point, I’m immune to the holiness that is Archie (although was it just me or did I see smoke machines during his number???). I thought Jason was the best of the night, but after hearing the Triplets and Crusty’s thoughts on Larry King Live yesterday, I don’t know how much longer he’ll last…since I think TPTB are out to steamroll him under a bus. I also really enjoyed Michael’s performance, but that might be because I just really like that song. However, he MUST stop with that contraption around his neck. Speaking of clothing choices, Brooke was just alright, but I mostly stared at her dress.

Even though I normally like them, I thought Cook and and Carly were at the bottom of the totem tonight. All I remember from David’s performance is a very large hand. With writing on it. Oh David. Really? REALLY??? Carly has entered the 11th stage of desperation at this point. I thought she was going to pull out a switchblade and scream “The show must go on, bitches! The show must go or I cut you!!”

Syesha and Kristy Lee don’t even register on my radar. I assume they must have sang something. At this point, I just file them under FAKE ACTRESS and SHINY SHIRT. Here’s an idea, let’s top last year’s “surprise” IGB results and vote out TWO people.

I’m not even prepared for more than 2 hours of this show tomorrow night. I’ve heard the Idols are singing Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music,” which…….yeah.

~the other jen

Comment by jj — April 8, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
Three words:
Archuleta’s leather pants.

Yeah, I was pretty much traumatized from the word go.

Comment by jj — April 15, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
Hey Josh and Jen-

Love the show! With the wedding coming up, I’m still curious as to what song you both will agree on for the first dance. However, I’m fairly certain the Best Man’s toast will look a little like this:

http://amcvideo.com/weddings_blog/?p=30

(It’s a little drawn out at the beginning, but it’s worth the wait.)

Enjoy,
Debi

Comment by Debi — May 3, 2008 @ 2:47 pm
Man oh man, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m definitely ready for this season to be over, like, last week. Tuesday’s performances were predictable and blah, and right about now I’m really missing a certain stoner’s personality (ya I’m a “Dreadhead” i guess). Between Archie’s giggling and catch-a-falling-star dancing, Syesha’s attempts to show us (read: act) her FUN personality, and Cook’s somber dial-it-in, predictably slow start, build-to-the-glory-note one after the other performances, yep I am just about over it all. In my opinion, no one seemed to bring anything amazing to top 3 night, not like in seasons past where I remember there being some really breakout performances. The contestants just seem tired, and I’m really starting to wonder about all the crap they’re making these kids do behind the scenes because past contestants haven’t seemed this lackluster near the end.

Meanwhile, tonight sealed the deal that lil David has officially lost TCO status (I’m guessing as early as Mariah Carey week) because big David obviously got the better hometown edit. Which is okay by me since I now watch this show solely for what I call the anti-Archie watch. I think I may be evil for wanting an innocent 12-year-old to lose the key to all his hopes and dreams (and probably be beaten by his father afterward, heh ;), but this show is the epitome of evil and dream crushing and I’m fully enthusiastic about embracing the Archuleta misery. And I say this as someone who is probably in a situation where I had a 99% chance of absolutely LOVING Archuleta. I’m young, female, Mormon, and attend college in Archie’s heartland. I see “Arch Angels” wherever I go, seriously. But no, I just do. not. get. it. Gimme stoner or rocker over shits-and-giggles any day of the week.

Of course, since this show owns my soul, I’ll be watching right up till the inevitable end when the producers usher eleven losers into a state of knee worship on the stairs at the feet of David farting out a rainbow and sunshine song as the sparklers dramatically burst in the background as if we haven’t seen it a thousand times before and a ridiculously dressed Paula Abdul, rabid fangirlys, and Archuleta’s dad cry their eyes out. And hopefully this will be all for the right reasons, because Cook will have won.

Till that moment..
~the other jen

P.S. The first thing I thought when you guys asked your worst performance question was Ace Young’s scar song performance. I don’t know what the hell he sang but I know it was terrible and it was terrible because he thought it’d be meaningful to show us his own chest scar as he sang about one in his song. That was the first season I watched and I nearly quit the show that week.

Comment by jj — May 14, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
So crap, I actually liked this show and maybe even puppy dog Archie. But the boxing theme was so ONTD at first. The worst part was the Davids coming out in full boxing attire. Damn the producers are evil. That might have been even worse than forcing the contestants into matador outfits. Also, Ryan’s face nearly ruined the show. Holy crap, the makeup, the horror! And the unnatural orangeness?? At this point I suspect botox because his mouth was moving but nothing else.

As for the singing, I enjoyed Cook’s first and last performances. Totally disagreed with Simon that Archie won those rounds. Of course, snoozing during Archie’s first number maybe didn’t give me a full perspective…or maybe it did ;). And whereas Cook’s last performance was really emotional and touching, Archuleta’s performance of Imagine was another preprogrammed, well-song Archbot effort that Daddy’s been making him do since the crib. And then there was the lame ass, corny, rainbow song. Shit. No doubt Archie won the round there. For all my David Archuleta dislike, I actually teared up a little during the kid’s number. It was his little watery lamb eyes that got to me, and damn, for just a second I found myself doing something the Archbot hasn’t been able to do for me all season—I was freaking TOUCHED by his performance…and maybe even entertaining the possibility of hoping he takes the whole shebang. But then I came to my senses, cue Randy’s ten billionth “you can sing the phone book!” comment, and now I’m just ready for it all to be over. I hope Cook wins (in fact, despite Simon’s calling it in favor of Archie, I still think Cook will win) but I won’t be voting, and really I’m just looking forward to singing the Top 12 again tomorrow. The video at the end of tonight’s show made me really miss some of the early ousters—Chikezie! The Saucy Aussie! Scary Amanda! Confederate Kristy! Carly and the switchblade up her skirt! Not-stoner stoner boy! Stripper! Knowing this show, I’m sure we’ll see the Asian birdman as well and probably get a “We Are Brothers” encore. Oh goody.

~the other jen

p.s. i thought i saw teleprompters during some of the performances tonight. did you guys notice that? They’re using teleprompters now??

Comment by jj — May 20, 2008 @ 11:18 pm
Favorite Performance: Jason Castro’s “Daydream.”
Though I think his other performances like Hallelujah and Somewhere Over the Rainbow will probably be more remembered, when he busted out Daydream on Top 24 night, I just remember thinking that this guy, who i thought was canon fodder after not being featured on any previous episodes…well suddenly he was considered one of the frontrunners and definitely, for me, my favorite after only one performance. It was probably one of the most joyful performances I’ve ever seen on the show. Regrettably he never really seemed to recapture that joy as the season wore on (and probably him down).

Props also to Cook’s “Hello” (which I think did for him what Daydream did for Castro) and Chikezie’s “She’s A Woman,” which was so great that even though i wasn’t a fan of his i voted like crazy for him that night.

Least favorite: Amanda Overmeyer’s “Carry on My Wayward Son.” Just no. No. It was a terrifying minute and a half of video and audio. Also, anything by the ‘locked in a bedroom’ kid.

Comment by jj — May 21, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
First i just wanna say that you guys have been awesome to listen to this season. I discovered you guys the middle of last season after a recommendation from someone over at TWOP and i’m glad i did because you’ve made Idol ten times more bearable. (Lol, though I didn’t exactly appreciate all the Blake bashing last year, Josh. Yes, former Blake fantard here. Ironically, now I can’t stand the dude. So whaddya know? You had it right all along ;). So big thanks to you guys for doing what you do and I’m definitely gonna miss my weekly dose of Idol snark. I hope you’ll be continuing your pop culture podcast over the summer.

Lol, also you guys I was gonna clear this up earlier but I’ve been kinda amused by Josh referring to “jj” as a “he.” Ha, I’m actually a girl. Ya, my Castro and Cookie love kinda extends beyond their nice voices (as I enter shallow territory here…).

On to American Idol. Well this is Idol and what’s American Idol without predictability?

Yes i’m talking about freakin’ Asian birdman!!! DING DING DING!!
The producers couldn’t resist, could they? But you know what’s sick? I’d rather have heard another verse of the brother love song than listen to more of the BIGGEST STAR IN THE WORLD EVAH!!1! OMG!! George Michaels sing. This is what American Idol has done to me.

Anyway, I thought the finale was one of the better Idol finales. Of course i’m happy about the results. Castro was my number one, but Cook was definitely my second fave. I thought the show kept good focus on the actual contestants this time and not the mess of guest singers like last year (tho i did have to leave the room when Seal and Syesha butchered their way through their song).

I thought the filler was reduced too, even if i was temporarily traumatized during the movie promo segment by the image of hair on Archie’s, um, lower parts, no thanks to Osama bin Myers. Luckily i was able to brain bleach that thought away with Jason’s amazing Hallelujah. Which, i’m just gonna give a big hallelujah for contestants like him and Chikezie and Carly Smithson/Michael Johns (duet was hot, even if I thought Carly might slit Johns’ throat at one point) to make up for the uncomfortableness of watching Amanda Overmeyer do the pointy poses and the complete, utter pointlessness of Lullaby.

Other thoughts: Carrie Underwood must have raided Dolly’s wardrobe from earlier this season. Also, how appriopriate was it that Hernandez got the “naked” line of Father Figure? Props to him for laughing it up. What the hell was up with the shittiness of the winning coronation song? Oh wait, this is American Idol. Right. That was worse than the two cheeseballs last night. “Looking for a magic rainbow?” COME ON. All of Archie’s tween fantards must have made up the bulk of voters to that contest. Speaking of Archie, I must be on some of Castro’s weed tonight because I really, REALLY enjoyed his performance with OneRepublic. Holy hell, I never thought I’d say this but if Archie goes that route with his career and veers away from the Disney mania, i would so buy his CD. Egads! What is the world coming to??

P.S. I would recommend going to the Idol concert also. I went for the first time last year, and sure it was cheesy, but also a lot of fun. Plus, i think this year’s contestants are a milion times better than last year’s. Now i’m just hoping i can score tickets to the L.A. show cuz i heard they’re selling out fast.

Comment by jj — May 22, 2008 @ 12:26 am

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Week 9: Elimination

March 14th, 2008

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