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  Is 'Idol' stacking the deck?

  Michael Alan Harvey 8:14 am on April 30, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Adam Lambert (3), AdamLambert, AllisonIraheta, American Idol (4), American Idol Series, AmericanIdol, DannyGokey, Fox (10), Kris Allen (2), Paula Abdul (3)

  

  Play some funky music, Adam.

  Right off the bat I want to make it clear that this is not a case of sour grapes or fan frustration. I like Adam Lambert, considered by many to be the front-runner on Season 8 of Fox’s “American Idol.” While I’m rooting for Kris Allen, I still think the theatrical Lambert will take home the crown, and no worries: Allen still has a solid career ahead of him and I’m looking forward to his first album.

  What’s irritating, however, is how the producers of “Idol” seem to be running a full-fledged campaign for Lambert, based on the way they’ve been staging his performances. Take, for instance, his recent belt of “Feeling Good.” Unlike the four other finalists, Lambert was allowed to use the staircase to make his grand entrance. (There was even a nice reverse shot.) And often Lambert is the final act (although 1. this could be determined by lot, and 2. this is not always a good thing, particularly when the show runs long; one week most folks’ DVRs cut off Lambert’s song entirely).

  And while it didn’t happen this week, on two prior weeks the director has cut away from Lambert to a close-up of judge Paula Abdul, overcome with emotion.

  It could be argued that even if the “Idol” producers are, indeed, showing favoritism in staging toward Lambert, it’s not working; after all, he was in the bottom three this week. But when you have only five contestants and 47 million people have voted, odds are this isn’t exactly panic time for Lambert.

  And perhaps the producers are allowing a little extra camera wizardry and staging for certain performers simply to make their show more of an entertainment series and less of an amateur hour. But that extra camera move or close-up or flashy entrance can impact the voting.

  If Lambert indeed is this year’s “Idol,” it will be well-deserved, but shame on the “Idol” producers and directors if they’ve made the young man their pet project.

  
   

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  An 'Idol' baker's dozen

  Michael Alan Harvey 10:16 am on March 6, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: American Idol (4), American Idol Series, Danny Gokey (2), Reality-Based, Tatiana Del Toro (2), Television (15)

  OK, don’t worry, this won’t become just another “American Idol” fan blog, but we do admit to being longtime fans, and we’re eager to see the upcoming finals, featuring an interesting baker’s dozen of finalists.

  Yes, we are disappointed that Tatiana Del Toro didn’t make it (see our previous post), and we can easily think of a viewer-selected finalist that isn’t as talented as the superior Ricky Braddy (cough-krisallen-cough!), but for the most part we’re satisfied with the lineup.

  We hope for a long experience on the show for Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Jorge Nunez, Matt Giraud and Michael Sarver. We’re convinced that Kris Allen and Jasmine Murray will be among the first to go (although we also think Giraud won’t last beyond the first few weeks).

  Our prediction for the winner, however, is Lil Rounds, one of the finest voices on the show in the long time and someone with definite star quality. Every season there’s a contestant who causes me to think, “I cannot wait for their CD to be released,” and this year it’s Lil Rounds.