Apr 14 2007
Cowell States the Obvious: Idol has a problem…
”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,” he says. ”Sometimes there’s part of me thinking, You genuinely couldn’t care less what we’ve got to say; everything’s going to go your own way now.” And some of the Top 8 contestants confirm the attitude. Chris Richardson, who’s been on the edge of elimination more than once, tells Entertainment Weekly in the same article: ‘You don’t have to win it. To me I’ve already won, being in the top 10 and going on tour (this summer).”
I think it’s really starting to show this season, too. I appreciate Simon’s honesty, but I find it a tad disingenuous considering the top 10 will most likely end up with contracts on his label anyway. Wanna end the problem? 2 year no-compete clause and don’t sign anyone but the winner.
Technorati Tags: american idol
April 15th, 2007 at 9:52 am
In response to Chris R’s comment that you don’t have to win the competition, other singers get contracts too. That is kind of dangerous thinking there. Not everyone gets a contract! Daughtry was great! Of course he got one. But, Jennifer Hudson has yet to make an album. She was recognized from Idol and did the DreamGirl thing. The contestants need to keep on bringing it and becoming better with each show.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
The “Jennifer Hudson- and Chris Daughtry-itis” problem Idol faces is lass a reflection of the dedication of the contestants as it is a flawed system of relying on viewer votes alone to scout the best talent with the widest appeal.
Hudson had arguably the most star power in Season 3 but got bumped out largely due to a blackout in the in Chicago where her support base was.
Daughtry. What can you say about Season 5? Chris clearly should have won that one. A lot blame complacency of Daughtry supporters taking for granted that he was going to get votes.
If the judges were able to influence the outcome, we’d probably have different winners and more motivated performers.
Instead we have Sanjaya Malakar on his way to being the next American Idol and the other contestants basically caring less because they “already made it”.
Unless Cowell and Idol’s producers make some much needed drastic changes I don’t see Idol keeping its alure with the American public much longer.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Hudson winning an oscar doesn’t give her the most “star power” in season three. That’s all jennifer did was that one movie with huge names and had oscar written on the role before she landed it. When her name is no a marquee alone and it sells THEN and only then can you say she has the most star power in season three.
Fantasia’s name alone has generated over six million dollars in tickets to the color purple. Talk about “star power”. Now, she’s got rave reviews to go along with those millions of dollars. I am so sick of people dismissing (well at least idol the show hasn’t dismissed her) what she’s done for broadway in terms of dollars and talent, not only that she’s playing a part way more complex then that of the effie character. Plus, jennifer is still taking taxi’s, doesn’t sound like much star power to me. Meanwhile, fantasia’s sitting on top of a timesquare billboard smiling down on the entire city.
Hudson wasn’t bumped out by a chicago blackout as she was always in the bottom three anyway and would have never won that show.
April 16th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Bold statements at the very least, considering The Color Purple was nominated for multiple Tony’s, with LaChanze winning Best Lead Actress in a Musical with her role as Celie - the same role Fantasia is billed to play. Clearly even more a sure bet for an award than Hudson’s role in Dreamgirls was. This on top of the fact that another contestant from Season 3 who could have taken Fantasia’s title just as easily, LaToya London, has been performing in the Chicago cast of TCP who will be touring nationally.
The success of those that fell behind Barrino, Studdard, and Hicks especially are proof the viewer voting system is flawed. American Idol risks its popularity by not addressing its obvious issues.
April 16th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Whoops, the first quote was supposed to be