An example of the silliness American Idol fans witnessed during Monday night’s semifinals. (ABC Photo)
Ryan Seacrest opened Monday’s American Idol by reminding fans that the semifinals are one of the most magical nights of the season.
Well, it really wasn’t.
I’d call it half ridiculous, half musicially impressive, and totally misguided.
And not one iota of the blame falls on the Top 5.
Every bit of the blame falls on Idol producers.
American Idol, I’m sorry to burst your cross-promotional, nostalgic bubbles, but the semifinals should be about the semifinalists.
What did you give us?
A first half of the show in which the Top 5 sang while pros from Dancing with the Stars twirled around them.
In some cases, there was absolutely no interaction between the dancers and the singers.
In some cases, the singers seemed a bit distracted all the acrobatic twirling taking place on stage.
In every case, the TV camera tried to focus on the singers and the dancers, detracting from the impact of, for instance, Braden Rumfelt soulfully belting out “Lose Control.”
Why did this happen? Simple,
“Dancing with the Stars” also airs on ABC and Disney+ and there’s a new season in the works.
Idol judge Luke Bryan called the result “sensory overload.”
I’ll call it just plain stupid.
Then came the second part of the semifinals, duets featuring the Top 5 and standouts from American Idol Season 6 (2006).
Having watched every season of Idol, I enjoyed seeing Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin, Paris Bennett, Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington back on the Idol stage.
The performance were fun. They were musically impressive. Bucky Covington was a revelation. I didn’t remember his voice being that good. Or him being that funny.
And it was a hint of what could be in store for next spring, when American Idol celebrates its 25th season.
But — and this is a very big but — we had a Top 5 vying for spots in the finals. This round was their last chance to shine before the final votes were cast.
Why in the hell were they singing duets? Why in the hell were they sharing the spotlight with someone else?
Couldn’t Idol have staged this 20th reunion on a less consequential night during the season? Preferrably as an extra round of performances?
It could have replaced Disney Night. I sure as hell wouldn’t have minded. Oophs. Forget for a moment. Idol is all about cross-promotion these days.
Back to Ryan’s opening.
Yep, the semifinals should be magical. You know what might have made them so.
Telling a very talented Top 5 that the night was theirs. That for two rounds, they could sing whatever they wanted, provided Idol could clear the song.
Want to sing an original? Fine. Want to play it risky? Fine. Want to do what you do best? Fine.
This is your last chance to win over voters, so give us your best and give us your all.
That, Idol producers, might have been magical.
Monday night?
Nope.
Just a major misfire.
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