Generica

[plonq]

We accidentally caught the last few minutes of American Idol last night when we tuned in a bit early to catch the show following it.  We arrived just in time to her them play a few seconds from each of the final 11 singers so that viewers could call in and cast their votes.

What, exactly, are people voting on?  If I'd closed my eyes, I couldn't have told you where one singer left off and the next one started - save that the song changed.  They all sang with the same timbre and inflection - almost like they'd graduated together from the same vocal coach.  Is the idea to vote out the person who sounds marginally different from the rest?

I'm surprised, not by the fact that the show isn't about talent, but by the fact that they've made it so obvious that it isn't.  They're not looking for somebody who's good, they're looking for somebody who can sing sellable generipop.  Anyway, I will watch the listings more closely to make sure I don't accidentally catch any more of the show.

Comments

[tzisorey.livejournal.com]

For some reason, we're getting American Idol here in Australia too. Not as far into the season as y'all, I'm sure but still. Does it actually finish at the time the TV guide says it's SUPPOSED to finish there? 'cos I almost fell off my seat when you said "when we tuned in a bit early to catch the show following it" - here you could tune in 15 minutes late, and still catch the end bit ;)

In the defense of the singers though, I'm told they do all undergo vocal training from the same coach while they're on the show, so that could be why they all sound the same :)