There's some discontent in "American Idol"-land as we head into tonight's country-themed performances. Though "Idol" still beats everything else on TV, its ratings are down significantly from previous years, and considering that this season's biggest highlight has been a weird crying girl, I'm not entirely surprised.
Simon Cowell, the man who can make or break an "Idol" hopeful's chances, finally weighed in on this lackluster season for a recent Entertainment Weekly cover story, and he blamed the fact that several recent contestants who didn't win "Idol" have found success. Said Simon:
"I think that we suffer from Jennifer Hudson- and Chris Daughtry-itis, which is people who didn't win getting great careers and now a lot of the contestants believing it absolutely doesn't matter.
Does Daughtry-itis involve constantly feeling like there's a Live cover band playing in your head? If so, I think I had it last season.
Anyway, I see Simon's point; J. Hud has an Oscar, after all, and Chris Daughtry had a No. 1 album this year that's still in the top 10. But I think I have a cure for Daughtry-itis — three cures, actually, named Kelly, Carrie and Fantasia — so read more
- Fantasia seemed like one of those "Idol" winners destined for obscurity. There was that whole Life is Not a Fairytale thing, and her album didn't really take off. But now she's hitting her stride: When she joined the cast of The Color Purple on Broadway last week, the musical had its highest sales ever.
- Carrie Underwood keeps racking up the awards, most recently a couple of CMTs to add to her Grammys and Country Music Awards.
- Kelly Clarkson — who won "Idol" before "Idol" was "Idol," if you know what I mean — is the show's one true breakout star, the only one who can stand on her own so far. She's become a guilty pleasure of otherwise high-minded music fans everywhere, while Justin Guarini is ... hosting "Idol Tonight" on the TV Guide Channel.
Simon's logic is better than, say, blaming "Idol"'s rut on Daylight Savings Time. But — take note, "Idol" hopefuls — just being in the top 12 is no guarantee of success. Neither is winning — whither Reuben and Taylor? — but at least the chances are better. After all, could you name any of the people who finished behind Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice? Exactly.
Valentino
Dress for Less
Fornarina
Stars are destined to be stars whether they're on Idol or not. Daughtry had the drive, and definitely has the talent. I'm convinced he would have made it big, even sans Idol.
"Party like a rock star, pound like a porn star, play like an all star!"
1Does Daughtry-itis involve constantly feeling like there's a Live cover band playing in your head? If so, I think I had it last season.
Touche!
2Daughtry deserves everything that he has received this past year. He turned down the Fuel contract and formed his own band. His success was based on his drive, Idol was just his starting point. It shows how the show is not based on talent.
3Well, people have to be pretty talented to have made it to the top 10 or so in Idol, so it doesn't surprise me that the others would get great careers as well! Plus I think people in teh media biz have realized that if they got that far they have a big fan base already built-in.
4I think that the real stars win out in the end no matter what the voting says. In the case of Carrie, Fantasia and Kelly, voters got it right and they all have great careers. Last year, people didn't really vote for the best person, but the people who were really great are winning anyway, at least when it comes to record sales. I think the reason that less people are watching this year is b/c the judges just didn't put through particularly interesting people. Even the best ones this year are pretty bland, I think they have had way better batched of contestants in the past.
5I am so sick of their single. Play something new already!
6Daughtry is amazing, i was so mad when he got voted off, and he definitly deserves everything he is getting, he just has a unique and amazing style about him and i hope he will keep making music cause i love him!
7oh and P.S was anyone else mad that Taylor Hicks won over him?
Idol itself is to blame for their boring season. If they hadn't picked such boring people, and people weren't already pretty bored with it it would be so lame.
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