American Idol Season 11 (Is Anyone Watching?)

I'm surprised there isn't a thread for this. Does no one care this season? Anyway, here are my thoughts.

Philip is hotter and more talented than Scotty last year so I'm OK with him being the winner (y'all know it's going to happen. Why pretend anyone else has a shot. Everyone else is playing for 2nd place). Heejun cracks me up but he's a mediocre to awful singer. I loved Deandre after "Lord have mercy!" and Skylar and Hollie are adorable and talented. Joshua can sing but makes horrible faces when he does. The rasp in Elise's voice is appealing but MAN does she have entitlement stank-face or what? Jessica is obviously the best singer so...I guess she's the runner-up this season? I always forget Erika, Colton and Shannon are on the show. And now I don't have to try to remember Shannon anymore.

Oh and Mariah Carey is rolling over in her grave...because Shannon singing "One Sweet Day" was so godawful it fucking KILLED her.

This is my other favorite "reality/competition" show after BB. I agree with you Nikolas that Jessica is obviously the best singer, and after an all female bottom 3 tonight, I am hoping that a girl will pull through and win this year. The guys for me are forgettable...even Philip, but I think he will make it to Final 5 at least. I like Hollie, Jessica, Skylar, Joshua , and Philip. They are the most consistent finalists left. I want to like Erika more, but her and Elise are so similar. Heejun is the Sanjaya/Tim Urban contestant,,that is going to last until Final 7. Elise seems so unhappy all the time. DeAndre is cool and could make Final 6. I agree with you on Colton...he is not as strong as an Adam Lambert/James Durbin singer. Wonder if the judges use the safe how that will work, now that the show is a week ahead of itself since two people left this week? They will probably use the save and instead of two people leaving the show the following week, only one would be voted off. Perhaps they will have a non elimination week that no one will know about thus making a shocking results show. That would be cool.

nicolefan75 wrote:

I agree with you Nikolas that Jessica is obviously the best singer, and after an all female bottom 3 tonight, I am hoping that a girl will pull through and win this year.

I want that so bad too. I can't believe we haven't had a female winner since Jordan Sparks!

Just to be clear, I wasn't saying I want Philip to win. Just that he fits the profile of the past four winners -- generically cute guy who plays an instrument and can kinda sorta sing -- and this show has been hijacked by tween and teen girl power-texters. I mean for godsakes Lee Dewyze BOMBED on finale night and Crystal Bowersox was sublime, and he still beat her by a lot. So I'm worried that Jessica/Hollie is just playing for second place.

Sadly no one was more of an Idol fan then I was a few years ago but I just can't anymore. I cannot stand Steven Tyler leering at the teenage girls, its just creepy to me. Collectively all three judges bore me to tears and it was just not the same without Simon to me. I tried to watch the first season after Simon left. One of my favorite parts of Idol was the auditions and Hollywood week. I didn't even make it to Hollywood week as it was unwatchable to me. I switched to The Voice...LOL!
However, I am glad this thread was started. Can someone please fill me in on the disqualified guy and what that was all about? Thanks!

Lorraine wrote:

Can someone please fill me in on the disqualified guy and what that was all about? Thanks!

Lorraine, his name was Jermaine Jones. The reason for is DQ was that he apparently had four warrants out for his arrest which included violence. He provided police officers fake names when he was questioned by authority. This investigation initiated when Jermaine told producers that he has not spoken with his father over 10 years and his father later reported that this information was false. Apparently this look like a way to get sympathy votes. He was speaking with his son regularly.
What makes this DQ even more interesting was that Jermaine (also referred to as the "gentle giant", being 6' 8"), was brought back as an additional male contestant after being cut by the judges before the Top 24 live shows, making it a Top 13 male vs. Top 12 females competition. America did vote him into the Top 13, but it probably had more to do with him performing last that night, and the special twist that the show broadcasting all week with bringing a recently eliminated male finalist back into the competition. After seeing all the top 13 singers perform, he was not considered by many as a strong finalist, so it really only was a matter of weeks before he was going to get voted off. He landed in the bottom 4 on the first results show...it was a weird show, and when he was declared safe, he could barely contain himself from excitement and did not console the other contestants left onstage in danger of leaving, and still hooting and hollering across the stage as Ryan was trying to announce more voting results. It was a bit disturbing. I am happy he is gone.

nicolefan75 wrote:

Lorraine wrote:

Can someone please fill me in on the disqualified guy and what that was all about? Thanks!

Lorraine, his name was Jermaine Jones. The reason for is DQ was that he apparently had four warrants out for his arrest which included violence. He provided police officers fake names when he was questioned by authority. This investigation initiated when Jermaine told producers that he has not spoken with his father over 10 years and his father later reported that this information was false. Apparently this look like a way to get sympathy votes. He was speaking with his son regularly.
What makes this DQ even more interesting was that Jermaine (also referred to as the "gentle giant", being 6' 8"), was brought back as an additional male contestant after being cut by the judges before the Top 24 live shows, making it a Top 13 male vs. Top 12 females competition. America did vote him into the Top 13, but it probably had more to do with him performing last that night, and the special twist that the show broadcasting all week with bringing a recently eliminated male finalist back into the competition. After seeing all the top 13 singers perform, he was not considered by many as a strong finalist, so it really only was a matter of weeks before he was going to get voted off. He landed in the bottom 4 on the first results show...it was a weird show, and when he was declared safe, he could barely contain himself from excitement and did not console the other contestants left onstage in danger of leaving, and still hooting and hollering across the stage as Ryan was trying to announce more voting results. It was a bit disturbing. I am happy he is gone.

hmmm that might have been worth seeing...lol. Thanks for the update Lloyd!

Great explanation nicolefan75! You beat me to it.

I'm also glad Jermaine is gone. He seemed to have an inflated esteem of his own mediocre talent, and he was a bore on stage. I do feel the show handled his exit in the least classy way possible though (an announcement from Ryan at the beginning of the show was all that was necessary, they really didn't need to shame him by showing us that footage of him with the producers) and a lot of people are wondering if they brought him back after an early elimination solely to get that kind of footage on the show. It certainly had people talking and I wouldn't put it past Nigel et al.

Colton is my boothang.

Nikolas wrote:

Great explanation nicolefan75! You beat me to it.

I'm also glad Jermaine is gone. He seemed to have an inflated esteem of his own mediocre talent, and he was a bore on stage. I do feel the show handled his exit in the least classy way possible though (an announcement from Ryan at the beginning of the show was all that was necessary, they really didn't need to shame him by showing us that footage of him with the producers) and a lot of people are wondering if they brought him back after an early elimination solely to get that kind of footage on the show. It certainly had people talking and I wouldn't put it past Nigel et al.

I haven't been watching this season but based on what you and Lloyd have said, it sounds like that's exactly what their intentions were. I don't know if this is true or not but I heard that American Idol had been getting news of him and his aliases all along and I'm sure they wanted to use that in order to build drama thus getting more viewers to tune in as I am sure their viewer ship has dropped significantly.

I still watch Idol and enjoy the performances. I dont really pick whos going to win because as we know its whoever the tweens are crushing on for the season.

I think its time that Idol puts forth a call limit like dwts does. I think they have a 5 call per household limit. Even if they went to 10 calls it would still make the competition more fair and the better singers might get to the end.

bostongirl wrote:

I still watch Idol and enjoy the performances. I dont really pick whos going to win because as we know its whoever the tweens are crushing on for the season.

I think its time that Idol puts forth a call limit like dwts does. I think they have a 5 call per household limit. Even if they went to 10 calls it would still make the competition more fair and the better singers might get to the end.

I have to agree with that as we saw how long Sanjaya stuck around long past his expiration date..lol.

bostongirl wrote:

I think its time that Idol puts forth a call limit like dwts does. I think they have a 5 call per household limit. Even if they went to 10 calls it would still make the competition more fair and the better singers might get to the end.

I couldn't agree more! I've been saying the same thing for the past few years (and so have lots of other disgruntled fans). The thing is, Idol has the technology to do this but they won't because then they couldn't boast those inflated vote totals.

Allowing one person to vote endless times basically hands the power over to the tween and teen girl power texters, and these are super-fans who don't care if their favorite (i.e. a generically attractive white guy who plays an instrument and can kinda sorta sing) has a bad performance. They'll vote for him every week until he wins and it has changed the show for the worse. I mean do you realize we haven't had a female winner since Jordin Sparks FIVE years ago? Since then we've had David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee Dewyse and Scotty McCreery. The first two were OK but Adam Lambert was clearly the star of Season 8, Crystal Bowersox OWNED Lee on finale night, and Scotty is a one note bore.

Mark my words, Philip Phillips will win this season. Jessica and Hollie are playing for 2nd place (and that's IF they can get past Colton too).

Erika wrote:

Isn't this why you want Jay to win on Survivor? LOL

Haha! I'm not really sure I want him to WIN just yet. He's one of three people I'm rooting for at the moment but of course that can change.

And just to be clear, I don't think there's anything "wrong" with a teen girl voting based on likability. Just like I don't think there's anything "wrong" with a juror on Survivor voting based on that. But the juror on Survivor is limited to one vote. The teen girl texting to American Idol should be limited to the same.

Well it figures the one guy with a personality (Heejun) is also the worst singer. But god he's hilarious and I love that J Lo and Randy haven't figured out it's all a joke yet, and keep critiquing him like this is some serious Juliard shit. Hello? He's deadpan and he's laughing at you! This is why we need Simon. He would've known what Heejun was up to, called it "absolutely dreadful", and turned him into the next Sanjaya, which would've been amazing! And I can't believe Steven woke up from his nap long enough to be the most perceptive judge, but he totally had Heejun's number and was PISSED about it. "Music is gonna kick your ass."

I have to say though, a lot of the singing is surprising me from week to week. Jessica owned the night on Whitney week, then Joshua ripped off his jacket all "Take THAT bitch!", and now Older Blonde Chick and Girl Formerly Known as Other Older Blonde Chick* told those youngsters to sit their asses down because Elise and Erika are gonna blow it up tonight!

It's too bad we know how this is all gonna pan out (Philip/Jessica F2 duh) cuz man, think how enjoyable this show would be if we had Simon and two judges worth a damn who'd have the balls to call Jessica the worst performance last week (thereby setting up her spectacular comeback this week) and tell Philip he's falling into a douchey, lazy rut and stop dressing like a hobo already. How the competition would seem like it could go in any direction with Jessica, Philip, Colton, Erika, Elise and Joshua all delivering at least one GREAT performance already and Hollie and Skylar seem capable of doing that soon. We could then feel as if we're discovering a frontrunner rather than being force-fed one. The way Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks, David Cook and Kris Allen weren't preordained winners and we were somehow a part of their evolution.

But instead we get "Everyone's great!", crawfish, goosies (still not happening, J Lo), arrest warrants, real time with Jimmy, and -- to borrow from Deandre who's totally going home tomorrow night -- LORD HAVE MERCY, let's just fucking read Jessica the runner-up speech (if the reigning Idol can't fulfill his duties blah blah) and give Philip Phillips the sash he won't wear cuz it's not grey, and call it a day already.

(*Hollie Cavanagh is threatening to turn into Other Older Blonde Chick if she keeps raiding Miss Havisham's closet and doesn't lose her stiff stage presence)

The performance of the night was Colton! He FINALLY showe what he can do! I just hope he didn't peak with Piano Man and can keep up the great work!

So let's see, Erika gives her best performance to date, and along with Jessica and Elise, outperforms ALL the boys last night, but still gets the boot over fucking Deandre and Heejun? Do we really need more proof about how this is all gonna go down?

The tween girls have spoken again and their message is clear: four seasons in a row of cute boys who can play an instrument and kinda sorta sing weren't enough. They WILL see Philip Phillips to victory no matter how beautifully Jessica Sanchez can hit notes or deliver an actual melody!

I don't think Erica deserved to be eliminated, but I've never been all too impressed with her. Sometimes I fast forward past the last half of her performances because she bores me. #TeamColton he had BY FAR the beat performance of the night, an one of the best of the season in my opinion :)

Jessica slowing down Beyonce's "Sweet Dreams" and finding something heartfelt, emotional, and dramatically powerful in it was the best of the night. If she were a guy, she'd have gotten credit for her "artistry" in reinterpreting a song.

And apparently if you're a guy giving awful performances and finally gives a mediocre one, you get a Standing O (Heejun and Deandre) but if you're a girl who is consistently good and gives your most artful performance, you don't (Jessica). When did a Standing O become A for Effort?

American Idol. Where double standards live happily ever after.

Spolier Alert West Coast Watchers

I cannot believe the best female in the competition, Jessica Sanchez received the lowest number of votes tonight. The judges, however, DID USE their one save, thankfully, so the Top 7 remain intact for another week. Jessica IMO gave the best performance last night...she should be the winner of this season.

Sadly, these saves have not helped much in the past as these singers eventually get voted off for good by fifth or fourth place....therefore, it's a foregone conclusion that Jessica is not going to win. With 7 singers left, only Colton and Phillip have never been in danger, whereas all the females left and Joshua, the only other male left have been in the bottom 3. I always wonder why these results occur around this point of the season almost every year? I don't agree with Randy's statement that in 11 seasons this never happened. Ironically, in Season 3 of Top 7 week, three of the strongest singers, Fantasia, Latoya, and Jennifer (who performed tonight and was voted off that evening) were the lowest vote getters. Fantasia who was in the Bottom 2 that season DID win, but it was the wrong outcome off that week. I can go on and on about this, but it sadly looks like a Phillip and Colton F2....yawn,yawn, and yawn....and o wrong. This show this year was doing so well until tonight. The voting was correct every week. Was this a ratings ploy? I think it was....I don't believe Jessica was truly at the bottom. Well, t least the season is back on schedule and only one person goes home next week instead of two after the save usually happens. I don't get Phillip, and Colton is still middle of the pack for me even though that is where the competition is at this point. Oh, well.

nicolefan75 wrote:

I cannot believe the best female in the competition, Jessica Sanchez received the lowest number of votes tonight.

To me, she's not the best female in the competition. She's the best in the competition PERIOD.

nicolefan75 wrote:

Was this a ratings ploy? I think it was....I don't believe Jessica was truly at the bottom.

The only thing that worries me that this might be real is J Lo's horrified face when Ryan proclaimed Jessica the lowest vote-getter. Because as the Fiat-hawker's film career has proven, she's not that good of an actress.



But I hope to god this WAS all a production ploy to drum up drama and headlines because it's bad enough knowing that Philip Phillips is gonna win this thing pants down without also imagining a F2 bereft of Jessica's talent and stage presence. I mean OK maybe her fans got complaisant but I can't really believe she got less votes than fucking Hollie. HOLLIE! How is that possible???

I'm hoping they did this for publicity, to give Jessica even more of a spotlight (they must want a female winner with a big voice after four straight wins by cute guys playing an instrument who can only kinda sorta sing) and to justify the save after three seasons of it being used on dead men walking.

If that's not the case and these really were the results then I really don't know what to say about this show anymore except...

Jessica has a great voice, but there's nothing at all unique about it. You can find that same voice at just about any church in the nation. That combined with her lack of personality make me believe that this wasn't just a ratings ploy. People are just getting bored of her doing the same thing every week. The real shock for me was that Hollie wasn't in the bottom 2! I think the judges being so unfairly hard on her is making people vote for her more! I was convinced that her group was the bottom, but I'm glad it wasn't because I'm rooting for Colton!

I'll say this for your favorite leahtahd , if another cute boy has to win this thing, I'd MUCH rather it be Colton than Philip. I don't always love Colton, but to my ears, he's never been terrible and he's delivered a couple of performances that I liked enough to replay the next day ("Piano Man", "Love the Way You Lie") whereas Philip has NEVER had a moment on that stage, I've NEVER replayed any of his performances and I even have trouble remembering what he sang ten minutes after he sang it. Philip has actively sounded terrible/the worst a few weeks, and he's a one note bore.

I never thought Jessica could win this thing because this show has been hijacked by teen girl power-texters. My only realistic hope was that she would at least make it to the finals and lose to Colton. But now both of those things seem unlikely.

Oh Kris Allen. Still making music that tunes me out, while still making faces that turn me on.

As for the results? You'd think I'd be happy to see one of the cute guys who can only kinda sorta sing go home, but even when Idol gets it right, they get it wrong. Colton was WAY better than Philip week after week.

And since he's now up against four girls and Joshua, congratulations on your victory, Phillip.

I'm so over the american public. I might just move my ass to Cuba.