The American Idol judges with Rylie O’Neill and Breanna Nix after being forced to cut one or the other at the ned of Monday’s show. (ABC Photo)
Sunday night, American Idol aired a fabulous Showstopper episode from Hollywood, filled with great solo performances.
Monday night, American Idol tried a new format for selecting this season’s Top 24.
It was a complete misfire. And a poor concept from the word go.
I mean, if the goal was to mimic The Voice, mission accomplished.
If the goal was to continue to stand out as the best singing show on television … well, let’s toss this format into the garbage can and never dig it out again.
The first mistake was using duets to determine who would and wouldn’t make the Top 24 on a show where the contestants’ fate will never again be judged on their ability to sing a duet.
We had singers singing songs they didn’t know. We had singers singing songs that were a better fit for one partner than the other, something the quite often happens — and is quite predictable — with duets.
Hell, we had three pairings singing the same damn song — “Shallow.”
Yep, I know, I know. Idol has used duets in the past. They used group performances too.
But that was usually on the second night of Hollywood, not in the round that determined who made the Top 24.
And, when the night began, it appeared the judges were deciding who advanced and who didn’t at the end of each performance.
This can’t be happening, I thought to myself. Idol producers can’t be that silly, that unfair.
Surely, the judges listened to everyone perform, then summoned the contestants back to the stage in pairs to deliver their fate.
Well, if they heard everyone sing before deciding singers’ fates, it sure didn’t seem like it as the night progressed.
Especially when Breanna Nix and Rylie O’Neill took the stage for the evening’s final duet.
When they finished singing, Carrie Underwood said: “I’m sure you’ve done the math. We’ve one spot left.”
So, yep, Idol producers apparently must have been that silly, that unfair. They must have advanced singers before hearing everyone. In the process, creating a situation where Breanna and Rylie couldn’t possibly both advance, in spite of stellar performances from both singers.
And what was up with Jelly Roll interrupting that brilliant performance repeatedly by getting the original singer on his cell phone and having the camera cut to him and his cell phone screen backstage? I swear, I thought I was watching The Voice with its performance-interrupting shenanigans for a moment.
Other baffling decisions over the course of the night didn’t help matters.
Krystal Molina, who we hadn’t heard all season, absolutely carried her duet with Isaiah Misailegalu. Idol told her to come back in a couple of years when she was better prepared for the competition. Then they advanced Isaiah, who is the same age and has virtually no performance experience.
What? How does that make any sense?
By the way, advance Krystal, advance Rylie, cut a couple of the guys who delivered mediocre performances — and a handful of guys advanced in spite of mediocre performances — and Idol would have a 12-12 split between gals and guys instead of 14 guys and just 10 gals in the Top 24.
I’m still anticipating a great season on American Idol. The show has found — or in some cases rediscovered — several incredibly talented singers.
And, hey, voting starts Sunday night, weeks before anyone will get to cast a vote for singers on The Voice.
But this head-to-head format on the final night of Hollywood Week?
Here’s hoping we never see it again.
Krystal Molina, carrying her duet with Isaiah Misailegalu, before being eliminated. (ABC Photo)
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8 Comments
“American Idol” has copied “The Voice” before.
In Season 14, they used the Twitter Save.
During the “Idol'” whole run, it has shown itself to be silly and unfair.
During the Wild Card round in Season 3, twelve contestants were invited back to participate. However, after being evaluated during the week in rehearsals, only eight were chosen by the judges to perform that night. One performer was chosen by public vote, and one performer was chosen by each of the three judges.
Four contestants in the wildcard round were eliminated by the judges before they had the chance to sing: Lisa Leuschner, Eric Yoder, Tiara Purifoy, and Marque Lynche.
The Three Divas in Season 3 in the Bottom Three.
Season 4 finalist Scott Savol outlasting several vastly more talented finalists.
Season 6 voting campaign for Sanjaya.
Season 7 Paula Abdul judges song before it’s sung.
Season 9 semifinals shock eliminations.
Season 19 Arthur Gunn comeback.
Alyssa Raghu making the top 24 in Season 16, the top 6 in Season 17, and then auditioning again in Season 22–cheating out other contestants.
Also, the notable product placements in the show.
Bring back Crews
Also, the padding of those hour long results shows during the FOX years of “Idol”
Much of it was Seacrest and the judges filling up time with their banter.
I don’t like the judges knowing about the sad life stories of the singers before they perform. I believe they give them the card based on the sad stories. That should be after they preform so the judges won’t have a feel sorry for feeling for the singer.I don’t enjoy the show at all.
I understand the reasoning behind having the fans vote once they reach the Top 24, but, to be honest, that is the worst part of this show. Popularity contests are never a good thing. Let the experts pick the winners if you really want a fair singing competition.
I can’t believe what happened to Rylie O’Neil . Both ladies should have advanced. When others were much less talented went through. Both of those singers Breana and Rylie are exceptional talented.
Two great singers at the end with a flawless performance. Others went through it, but not as well in their performance. But because all the spots were taken ahead, one had to be eliminated. So sad. They need to change the way they do this or open it up for that one more. So sad and very disappointed.
Two great singers at the end with a flawless performance. Others went through it, but not as well in their performance. But because all the spots were taken ahead, one had to be eliminated. So sad. They need to change the way they do this or open it up for that one more. So sad and very disappointed.