Jordin wins!

Here's a quick video with the new 'American Idol':



I'm excited for her... and expect big things to come.

'Idol,' what's going down?

As this glorious season of 'American Idol' draws to a close, Newsday's trusty TV guy (and Melinda Doolittle super fan), Verne Gay, writes on the Jordin vs. Blake showdown:

Ceremoniously dumped last week, Melinda Doolittle was the most brilliant performer on the show this - or any other - season.

But she'll do just fine. In the business, we call this "a given."

Blake Lewis, Mister Beat-boxer, is a nice kid and a terrific talent, too. Jordin Sparks has incredible screen presence, and is hugely appealing. Plus, she's only a kid. Just wonderful.

Either will make a perfectly respectable "Idol" victor. (They perform Tuesday at 8, with the winner being named Wednesday night at 8 on Fox/5.) The republic will endure, and so - of course - will "Idol."

For Fox and for the most important show on TV, however, there are much larger issues than simply who's in/who's out, or who wins or who loses. As "Idol" ends its sixth and most abysmal season so far, the show has problems. Will Fox and the producers lift their veil of arrogance to fix them?

To read the full article, go here.

Don't forget in our poll. Who do you think will be the next 'Idol'?

Giving Idol new life

FOX needs to fix Idol.

There’s no point waiting until the overall ratings start to decline—it’ll be too late by then. Most Idol fans agree that this year’s lineup is decidedly blah; we’ll keep watching next year out of loyalty and habit, but Idol is in danger of starting that downward slide.

So what can FOX do without destroying the show, as usually happens when TV executives start to meddle? Some suggestions:

-Find younger finalists. Everyone who’s left is too old and set in their ways, except for Sanjaya and Jordin. Sure, have a couple of ‘older pros’ around like Melinda and LaKisha to mix it up. But the show badly needs more youthful, even nervous energy.

-Bring back celebrity judging. In past years the celebrity-of-the-week wouldn’t just mentor, but would also sit in and judge (often hilariously) during the finals. A new voice every week would shake Paula/Randy/Simon out of their nice/schitzo/mean pattern.

-Stop singing old songs. What’s with all the stuff from the 60s? And then the judges complain the contestants aren’t youthful enough?! Cut the deals that will let the contestants sing more of what they actually listen to. And who knows, maybe even introduce America to some overlooked songs.

-Change up the venue. Put them in a nightclub one week, a beachside stage the next—it’ll help them match their performances to the themes, and will make each week’s show seem less same-old.

-Replace Ryan. I go back-and-forth on him; he actually does a hard job well, balancing a lot of demands and keeping things running. But I think he’s outgrown the host’s role, and is too much of a force unto himself. Replacing him is the quickest way to keep the show fresh… just don’t ask David Letterman.

-Go behind-the-scenes. A Real World-style peek at what everyone’s doing when they’re not on stage would be fun, and might help us care more about some of the contestants who are a bit charisma-challenged.

I’m picturing Sanjaya and Jordin trading hair care tips, Chris and Blake engaged in vicious wrestling matches, LaKisha and Phil talking about Don Imus…..

Whose time is up? YOU tell us.

Another Monday, another 'Idol' poll.

From the last poll (results at right), Melinda Doolittle is the clear favorite to win with almost 50% of the vote.

This week we ask: Who will get kicked off of 'Idol' next?

Will Sanjaya prevail? Will Blake beatbox his way through another week? Vote and then tell us what you think.

Our official votes on Wednesday afternoon.

Just like clockwork...

Here are our picks of who is out tonight:

Eileen Fredes (6 for 15)
-Haley

Anne Machalinski (5 for 15)
-Haley

Jonathan McCarthy (4 for 11)
-Haley

Jamshid Mousavinezhad (5 for 15)
-Haley

Not so exciting when all of us vote for the same person, but it is what it is.

Stay tuned for live blogging tonight.

Fighting Idol fatigue

So, let's talk about something other than Sanjaya's hair, and whether he ‘deserves’ to still be on the show.

(I'd say as long as Chris Richardson and Haley Scarnato are still around, Sanjaya's not the one we should be ripping for lack of vocal talent).

How about Melinda—she's great, right? Blake—can't wait to see him do the mellow beatbox thing again this week. LaKisha—boy, she sure belts it out. Phil—can he look any more ET-ish? Gina—rock on, girl.

See what the problem is? Other than the two 17-year-olds, Sanjaya and Jordin, this really is an uninteresting remaining group of American Idol contestants.

After three months of exposure, there’s not much, if anything, to say about them. Even for us professional bloggers.

For the most part, they're all polished and can sing fairly-to-really well. But honestly, nobody tunes in to AI to hear great singing.

It's all about the story; the personalities; the hint of controversy. Maybe because the contestants skew older this year and are all playing it safe, there's just nothing about these people that's sucking me in.

Except Sanjaya, and his continuing struggle to overcome his nerves. Not to mention the snide remarks coming from the likes of the odious Howard Stern (who's just trying to ride TV's biggest hit back into the spotlight).

I also keep watching to see Jordin, and how she'll deploy her undeniably huge talent (and goofy wit) this week. Everyone else is the same every week.

Because of its poor 'casting', if you will, American Idol is in danger of hitting its Who Wants to Be a Millionnaire moment, where people talk about it more than they actually watch it.

As our TV critic Verne Gay points out, sagging ratings among the fickle 18-49 group may have Idol's producers feeling like they've got to step up the song-and-dance to keep our interest.

And as we all know from the dating world, sometimes the harder you try, the more of a turn-off it becomes.

I'm hanging in there, for now. Am curious to see the likes of J.Lo, Jon Bon Jovi and Bono on the show in the next few weeks.

And, I'm telling you—Sanjaya can sing. If he ever gets over his nerves and starts picking better songs, we'll all have something real to buzz over.

Idol 'brain trust' returns

Well, we're back with our (steadily improving) predictions on who'll get the boot tonight from Idol.

As always, don't use these as the basis for any wagers--unless it's for charity.

Eileen Fredes (4 for 12)
-Brandon

Jamshid Mousavinezhad (4 for 12)
-Haley

Anne Machalinski (4 for 12)
-Sanjaya

Jonathan McCarthy (3 for 8)
-Sanjaya

Screaming for Sanjaya

Ah, Sanjaya—welcome to the club of Can’t Sing But Still Around. It’s a pretty fun club, you know.

Waiting for you inside the clubhouse: the very blonde Kellie Pickler, Long Island’s own Kevin ‘Chicken Little’ Covais, badboy Scott Savol, sob story Anthony Fedorov, Hawaiian Jasmine Trias, and the stumbling Jon Peter Lewis.

All past American Idol contestants who, detractors screamed, ‘stole’ spots from more deserving contestants. Yet also all contestants who had giant fan clubs that blithely kept voting for them.

Except for Scott, they all had two other things in common with Sanjaya—the ‘likeability’ factor, and they weren't just like everyone else.The opposite of the carbon copy, petulant stars Hollywood keeps pushing at us.

It’s in part why people keep voting for Sanjaya, even if he hasn’t performed well so far. Don’t underestimate the likeability thing; heck, it was pretty much George Bush’s gameplan against Al Gore.

There is, of course, another reason Sanjaya’s sticking around: He’s the only guy left under the age of 21.

Like Halloween, American Idol is something adults are in the process of hijacking from the kids. But Idol’s most dedicated voters, the ones who vote using four cell phones, who text message like mad, who ring up hundreds of votes a night, are still middle school girls.

And if you read the AI message boards, you know that they like Sanjaya—a lot. Because of the hair, because of the shy smile, because of his awkwardness, because he’s getting slammed by adults.

Because he’s their age and they can relate to him, and it doesn’t seem ridiculous to have a crush on him. So they’re voting for him, and thus buying him time.

Who knows, maybe Sanjaya can still turn it around and sing the way he did before the bright lights got turned on. After all, he’s only 17; he’s not set in stone.

I have no problem with someone not liking Sanjaya--there are times when I even cringe and wonder if he wouldn't be happier without all the fan support.

But we forget sometimes American Idol is just a TV show to pass the time, not something that really matters. And what’s more interesting than watching a good person, out of his element, struggling to turn it around, trying to get better each week.

I say, let the kids have their fun and vote for who they want to--even if us disapproving adults 'know better.' (He won't win; even Jasmine could only make third).

And definitely lay off the racist comments, people. What, you think only ‘Indians’ are voting for Sanjaya? It’s 2007, yo—Sanjaya’s just as American as anyone.

Those of you who have no problem anonymously slurring a teen in the comments section--your own daughters or sons are probably voting for him.

Maybe Barack Obama should come on the show?

AP Photo of Sanjaya Malakar by Phil McCarte