INTERNATIONAL
Hammid Karzai, that dashing man in the brocade cape, paid a visit to the US this week. Poppies, of all things, were greatly discussed during this visit.
Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine, also paid a visit to America this week. President Bush announced one thing about Israel while Mr. Abbas came out with a
whole nother story.
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CONGRESS
The Democrats promised not to filibuster but on the following day?
They filibustered John Bolton!
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SUPREME COURT
Why did the Supreme Court get involved with fashion?
And the Supremes will soon be deciding how we handle our children’s health.
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WAR
Remember Fallujah?
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TRUE CRIME
Jay Leno testifies in the Michael Jackson case.
The Defense Rests in the Michael Jackson Case.
Man Comes Up With Odd Way to Elude Police
Runaway Bride Indicted.
Summary of Idaho Murders.
Update on Idaho Murders.
Police Believe Children Alive.
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POLITICAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK
American Idol 2005-Final Notes, Thoughts and Opinions
And so, after weeks of hype, the 2005 competition for the new American Idol is a fait accompli.
The competition has been ongoing for a few years now and I am reminded of my thoughts the year of the series’ premiere.
We are living in a world that gets fair-ER every year.
Only some people simply can’t handle a fair world.
This is not to say that there are never shenanigans with the voting or, say, a female judge gets it on with a male contestant.
Only the judges on American Idol don’t decide the winner. A factoid that has eluded rival networks. One such rival network wasting an hour’s time on a horrific revelation that AI Judge Paula Abdul had a romantic affair with a former contestant. What was the point? Paula doesn’t decide the winner and both participants in the love interlude were of adult age.
It took no time for the whole seamy revelation to become a subject of ridicule, what with Paula’s kiss-and-tell former amour having a new CD in the works and the network airing the expose standing to benefit from attacking a rival.
Technology, via the Internet, cell phones, satellites and all manner of modern froufrou have made it easier for instant communication and broadcast of opinions. Any idiot can have a Blog and any idiot can spout an opinion. Just like the idiot moi is doing right now.
So who says that there are only a certain subset of people who can succeed in certain genres? Such as singing, just throwing it out there.
I am reminded of Liza Minelli, an ugly has-been, daughter of a superstar, bride of questionable males. Does Liza sing better than, say, Carrie Underwood?
Yet some, those who can’t handle complete fairness, eschew American Idol as mindless hype and the winners naught but amateurs, unworthy of their “questionable” fame.
For sure the American Idol series is a fine example of hype gone wild. Fox certainly has honed on promoting this contest to include even showcasing their horrible entrants.
This is bad because …?
The channel on the TV set allows the discontent to flip on by. The browser on the computer goes backwards and forwards. No one is forced to participate in this new freedom of choice.
Still they grouse.
Around my house it is husband’s job to be curmudgeon of all things pop culture. And he does a fine job of it. By his logic, would-be singer superstars should have to suffer for their craft. Only those who tool around with songs and music their entire life should succeed in the business. American Idol bypasses that whole aspect and curmudgeon husband disdains the entire process.
The contestants who make their way up on this series suffer for their craft. They are born with a wonderful voice, a God-given talent we cannot control. Still and so, they must find the place for tryouts, they must sweat and beg, they must stand in long lines. The worst are winnowed out. Those with talent who hung in there move on.
The jealous cry “UNFAIR”. There was no such opportunity for musicians of yore. Thus there should never be such opportunities for singers today.
Under the old system we got Liza Minelli.
The 2005 American Idol series produced two very fine singers. Husband harrumphed that they were no better than karaoke singers. Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood had star presence and wonderful voices. They took advantage of an opportunity available and the American public made the choice.
Pretty Carrie Underwood won the final title but the top twelve are not done and forgotten. They all had a chance of exposure that talented singers before them never had. They took advantage of it and suffered through to the top.
They too suffered for their craft is what I’m saying here.
Myself, a Blogger who would logically think this way, thinks American Idol is an amazing concept and yes, I know many people vote for their favorite contestant four of five thousand times. In the end, this year and all years before for the series, the best really did win. Notice the many new “fair” contests that have sprung from the concept.
The Apprentice comes to mind. There are others, The Contender, Survivor ordeals, The Bachelor. They’ll come and they’ll go but get used to it. God Bless America for the marketplace will ALWAYS win.
No more will your parentage, connections, or wealth insure ascent of the talentless to a fame and fortune they do not deserve.
It’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Says this Blogger, who, I must add, can write as well as most pundits now gracing the pages of the editorials.
I too choose to “compete” in a fair-er forum.
FIRST AI ENTRY HERE
FINAL TEN HERE
EARLY ON AI HERE
AI UPDATE HERE
EIGHT LEFT HERE
MID APRIL UPDATE HERE
LATE APRIL UPDATE HERE
FIVE LEFT HERE
FOUR LEFT HERE
FINAL THREE HERE
5/2/05 UPDATE HERE
5/9/05 UPDATE HERE
5/16/05 UPDATE HERE
AI-FINAL TWO HERE
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