For months, I’ve been grading performances on American Idol Season 12.
With the season finale later this week, it’s time to grade the judges.
Yep, that Season 12 panel that included three new faces and turned out to be every bit as dysfunctional as the rumor mill suggested it might be last summer.
American Idol judges Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson and Mariah Carey applaud a performance on Top 5 night. How many would applaud their performance in Season 12? (FOX Photo)
We already know Randy Jackson won’t be back next season. The rumor mill now suggests Idol might clean house.
Here’s a look at who’s salvageable and who isn’t. It’s the first in a series of blogs looking back at Season 12.
Keith Urban
He’s not the most charismatic judge, but he takes the job seriously. That alone puts him miles ahead of his predecessor, Steven Tyler, who slept through an entire season. In fact, Keith comes across as the most earnest member of the panel. He also showed a knack for being able to deliver a negative critique with a touch of kindness, and I found myself agreeing with those critiques more as the season progressed. He’d also score high marks under the category of “plays well with others.” Whether he stays should come down to what Idol wants from its judges. If the show wants the focus on the contestants, he stays. If the show wants judges who entertain (think Blake Shelton, Adam Levine), it had best look elsewhere.
Grade: B-
Nicki Minaj
During a mid-season conference call, Nicki was asked to pinpoint her best and worst moments on the show. Her response: “I don’t have a worst Idol moment. I’ve been spectacular.” My response: Can someone please get me a ticket to Nicki’s dreamland? The truth: Nicki’s the most entertaining judge. The judge most willing to deliver harsh critiques when needed, yet mix in enough compliments to keep the critique from being too harsh. The fashion advice doesn’t even bother me. BUT … she’s also the first judge ever to show up late for a live show. And the Twitter tirades — entirely unprofessional, especially when aimed at a contestant (Devin Velez). Salvageable only with the right mix at the judges’ table.
Grade: C+
American Idol judges Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj, back when the season was first starting. (FOX Photo)
Randy Jackson
We already know he won’t be around for Season 13, news that would have gotten a standing ovation from the entire Idol nation had it not broken on the same night we learned the names of the Season 12 finalists. The “in-it-to-win-it” cliches wore thin years ago. Worse: Randy’s willingness to go along with the Idol agenda — even be its biggest cheerleader — when the show’s trying to promote someone like Amber Holcomb over the obviously more talented Candice Glover. Then there were the idiotic inconsistencies in his critiques. One week, he told the contestants that he expected knockout performances at that stage of the competition. The very next, he said the voice, not the performance, was what mattered. Yep, his departure is long overdue.
Grade: D
Mariah Carey
Have you ever flushed $15 million down a toilet? That’s how much Idol paid Mariah Carey for a season’s worth of self-indulgent babble. Favorite moments: When it took her more than 300 words to tell Lazaro Arbos he missed a key change. And when she wanted to give standing ovations on two occasions but couldn’t, first because her dress was too tight, then because the train of her dress was caught on her chair. Clearly, no one gave Ms. Carey a screen test to see if she was capable of doing what she would be paid $15 million to do. Flushing $15 million? Must be a really sick feeling.
Grade: F
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11 Comments
I agree with some of your remarks but I certainly don’t agree with your bland and unentertaining description of Keith Urban. My God, he and the contestants were the only reason I watched the show. His enjoyment and enthusiasm were contagious. He was up out of his chair half the night and his energy reached out to me. His knowledge of music is unbelievable, and he did everything possible to inspire the contestants. All of them have commented on how kind he was. Even though he was paid less than the other judges, he was the only judge who seemed to get along with all the contestants and the other judges. His whole commitment seemed to have been towards finding the best talent to represent the American Idol winner. I think he was the missing link to class for this show. He was overshadowed by comments about pink lipstick and stupid questions like “Do you have a girlfriend” or sexist remarks that put contestants on the spot, or long and rambling critiques that made you forget what the person was saying in the first place or staid repetitions of phrases like “Inittowinit”. He was a perfect gentleman throughout the show, the first to help a proud grandmother on and off the stage, the first to grab a well liked guest monitor and take him to the judges’ table, giving him his own seat. I’ve watched the AI loyally for twelve years, and in my opinion, this past season, this judge was simply too good for the worst season of them all, Season 12. He was not just a country judge, he knew all kinds of music, and would often sit at his seat and sing the lyrics under his breath right along with the contestants. You consider someone like that as having no charisma? I considered it a breath of fresh air that kept me watching when otherwise I would have turned the whole show off. He impressed me as really caring about the contestants, and I think he still does. There were many times a certain performance of a contestant would bring this sensitive man to tears, and if he did have to give them constructive criticism, he did it with tact and diplomancy like a professional and not like an amateur. I am a member of the older AI audience. I think It’s sad that a network would even think of getting rid of a judge like that–he would be an asset to the AI if they would put him with two new judges or use him as a monitor. He kept me tuned in to the AI–I think he deserves an A+.
I totally agree with your post Lowezl…. A+ for Keith Urban. For the first time in years I enjoyed the critiquing, need to change the format and update the music. Changing judges will not boost ratings at this point. Again, update the format !!!! If Keith is gone I’m gone as a viewer.
Wow, Lowezl. You da man (or woman)! I couldn’t have said it better. I agree with every point you spoke on. This was my first time watching Idol. I watched because of Keith being a judge. He truly is the best judge on the panel. He is an A+ judge as far as I’m concerned.
I couldn’t have said it better, Lowezl!
They should keep Nicki she’s honest and gets people talking about the show
Lowezl said it all. KEEP KEITH URBAN FOR SURE. If he goes, so do I!
Keith Urban was the only reason I continued to watch this show. Randy Jackson was a bore, Minaj made me cringe, and Mariah was a total airhead with nothing worthwhile to say. The only judge who knew what he was talking about, whether it was the music, the performance, the presentation or the character of the contestants he was viewing was Keith Urban. Plus he was kind, caring, honest, and gave these youngsters great advice which should help them if they pursue their dreams in the world of music. If he goes, I’m gone too.
I’m with y’all when it comes to Urban. I thought he was one charismatic guy. Anyone who could sit next to Nicki Minaj and manage to keep his cool was special!
The only reason I tuned in this year was because of
Keith Urban. He’s proven to be in my opinion the only
judge that knows all genres of music. How can you critique
a song if you’ve never heard it before. And Keith knew
every song that was sung. You can critize without being
mean about it. Plus he’s a gentleman. I’m sure he’s gained
a lot of fans, I’m sure there were lots of people that never
heard of him before.
Keith Urban is definitely a class act and deserves an A++ !! He is the reason I tuned in again this year. I won’t be watching next year unless he’s there to deliver credible critiques.