"Idol:" The wind beneath my wings
Am I getting mean? Heartless? Simonesque? I giggled my way through a fair amount of "American Idol" tonight. And no, I'm not proud of mocking the mentally ill or the moderately-touched. But I swear, it was the editing that did it.
The "Idol" production staff clearly had fun in the editing suites, timing the music just right for a punchline when one singer's crazy sister threw a paper airplane into the audition room. And then there was...Alberto. The sensitive, long-haired crooner chose to write his own song, cliched and incomprehensible. His fingernails are going to give me nightmares. But "Idol" gave him a brilliant sendoff, complete with a classical-guitar score. He twirled, then ran, down a garden path. Dissolve to a shot of the eagle on his shirt. Dissolve to a shot of an actual eagle, soaring through the air. Brilliant.
That sequence reminded me of one of my all-time favorite reality shows, Fox's 2003 series "Joe Millionaire." It started as a concept insulting to all womanhood (reality producers dupe female contestants into thinking dumb-ish poor guy is a wealthy heir). It turned out to be an inspired, addictive spoof of "The Bachelor" and its ilk. I still remember one episode, when bachelor Evan griped that a date with Zora -- the nicest, blandest woman in the mansion -- felt like being trapped inside a Disney movie. The producers cut to scenes of little woodland animals peeking out of the brush. I'd like to think this "Idol" was an homage.
Oh, um, yeah, there was some singing, too, I guess. I liked the 16-year-old with the formerly paralyzed vocal cords, and the Australian dude has "Ace Young Heartthrob" written all over him. Simon got to tell yet another girl that she isn't as good as she thinks she is. Let's get back to the animals, please.
source: http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/blog/2008/01/am_i_getting_me.html
The "Idol" production staff clearly had fun in the editing suites, timing the music just right for a punchline when one singer's crazy sister threw a paper airplane into the audition room. And then there was...Alberto. The sensitive, long-haired crooner chose to write his own song, cliched and incomprehensible. His fingernails are going to give me nightmares. But "Idol" gave him a brilliant sendoff, complete with a classical-guitar score. He twirled, then ran, down a garden path. Dissolve to a shot of the eagle on his shirt. Dissolve to a shot of an actual eagle, soaring through the air. Brilliant.
That sequence reminded me of one of my all-time favorite reality shows, Fox's 2003 series "Joe Millionaire." It started as a concept insulting to all womanhood (reality producers dupe female contestants into thinking dumb-ish poor guy is a wealthy heir). It turned out to be an inspired, addictive spoof of "The Bachelor" and its ilk. I still remember one episode, when bachelor Evan griped that a date with Zora -- the nicest, blandest woman in the mansion -- felt like being trapped inside a Disney movie. The producers cut to scenes of little woodland animals peeking out of the brush. I'd like to think this "Idol" was an homage.
Oh, um, yeah, there was some singing, too, I guess. I liked the 16-year-old with the formerly paralyzed vocal cords, and the Australian dude has "Ace Young Heartthrob" written all over him. Simon got to tell yet another girl that she isn't as good as she thinks she is. Let's get back to the animals, please.
source: http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/blog/2008/01/am_i_getting_me.html
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