American Idol, Season 5 **Official Discussion Thread**

[lillygator]

it doesn't really matter now anyway...these "contests" are never fair anyway (well maybe to the winner). And if we all agreed on who was the best or who should win it all, it wouldn't make for a very interesting world!

 

[damo]

You can hate the contestant's singing and what they do on tv as much as you want, that is what reality tv is all about!!! Bash them for their performances and what they wear and what they do on screen, the producers love it. It does make for very interesting conversation.

 

[bicker]

I view American Idol as a serial audition for employment with a record company. As such, the process that would be most fair is the process that delivers to the record company that most marketable talent.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

Her mom isn't an anchor and her dad is no big shot. Her mother is a TV reporter who hardly ever appears on camera anymore and her dad is State Rep for a middle class Boston suburb. She's not a spoiled kid with a silver spoon in her mouth. There's no way she should be gone at this point.

Actually, her mom is a reporter and she IS ON CAMERA weekday mornings...maybe you just miss her. SHe is usually on the 5:30 am -7 am news. She usually does the top story. And her dad is a state SENATOR...a minor point but there are fewer senators than reps and he represents a pretty big area. And he was just in the running for the lieutenant governor's candidacy. Minor corrections, but let's be accurate.

Ayla was very good, probably does come from a more "privileged" background than some other contestants but that shouldn't matter one way or another. It's not "life makeover" it's American Idol. The best popstar potential should win. I don't think Ayla seems like a spoiled kid, but I do think she comes from more than many of them. Her private school tuition is probably about $25K a year, so they're not hurting. I think it's funny that so many people are "into" her background on these boards, I don't know too much about the other's backgrounds...

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Who gets up that early anyway? Thanks for the accuracy corrections, but my point was just that her parents aren't big shot celeb millionaires. They both work. The notion that she was a rich kid with all the breaks probably hurt her with the voting.

 

[lillygator]

I forget how it works...only one gets voted off next week right...not one of each?

 

[kdibattista]

I just don't think that Ayla had much of a personality (although I will admit a lot of that could be editing).

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

I get your point. I agree, for some reason she had a "golden girl" image that just didn't help her. I think it hurt her in the beginning when Simon would ask her "do you get all As?" And "you work hard to be successful.." It really made her seem like a goody two shoes and unfortunately, goody two shoes aren't pop stars!! Ask Britney, Jessica or Christina!!!!!

BTW, I have 3 kids and they get me up WAY EARLY...just don't ask me who's on the 11pm news!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Oh that would be Liz Bruner on Channel 5....

 

[jim and meesie]

Actually, her mom is a reporter and she IS ON CAMERA weekday mornings...maybe you just miss her. SHe is usually on the 5:30 am -7 am news. She usually does the top story. And her dad is a state SENATOR...a minor point but there are fewer senators than reps and he represents a pretty big area. And he was just in the running for the lieutenant governor's candidacy. Minor corrections, but let's be accurate.

Ayla was very good, probably does come from a more "privileged" background than some other contestants but that shouldn't matter one way or another. It's not "life makeover" it's American Idol. The best popstar potential should win. I don't think Ayla seems like a spoiled kid, but I do think she comes from more than many of them. Her private school tuition is probably about $25K a year, so they're not hurting. I think it's funny that so many people are "into" her background on these boards, I don't know too much about the other's backgrounds...

My daughter attends a rival school to Ayla's and I tell you, there are plenty of us upper middle class parents who struggle to pay the tuition because we believe we are doing something great for our kids. She comes from a two career family, they, like my husband and myself, work very hard to give our kids the advantages they have. My kids are my luxury, my guilty pleasure if you will. No country club memberships for us. Like the Browns, we too are fortunate but not rich, no silver spoon by any means. There is an expression that my children have learned from an early age "to those whom much is given, much is expected". Just based on Ayla's local work, she knows and shows the meaning of it also. She understands what it means to be a role model, no "silver spoon" for her!

 

[wdwoldtimer]

I just don't think that Ayla had much of a personality (although I will admit a lot of that could be editing).

She has a personality and she seems like a great kid. It's just she doesn't have the kind of personality that does good TV or attracts sympathy votes. She wasn't the "fish-out-of-water"....she wasn't the poor kid from a broken home...she wasn't a bubbly 16-year old...she isn't a single mom...she didn't have to overcome great odds to get there...

 

[Robinrs]

and isn't Paris' mom in entertainment, or is it just her grandmother?

It's her Grandmother... http://www.bluewireconnect.com/ann/

I didn't care for Ayla, either, but I liked her more than Kellie. I did like Melissa, though, because I like raspy voice.

Kevin should not still be there...

And speaking of looking like someone, doesn't Kellie look like the Kelly from Married with Children???? And just as BRAINY!!

 

[cats mom]

Who gets up that early anyway? Thanks for the accuracy corrections, but my point was just that her parents aren't big shot celeb millionaires. They both work. The notion that she was a rich kid with all the breaks probably hurt her with the voting.

Do you really think that played into the voting much?

I know there has been quite a bit of discussion about her background here on the Dis - but I don't remember it getting all that much attention on the show.

I never voted for Ayla - but it had nothing to do with her family/background.
I have not loved any of her performances and she has never been one of my favorites. Just a personal preferance thing I think... not any kind of political/class statement.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

The last two weeks, it seemed to me that Kellie has been singling out Chris for hugging. And, I noticed that he was nice about it, but didn't seem to initiate any of the hugs. I deleted my episodes, but I'd love to go back and look again. Last night, she had her arm around his neck at the end and to me, he looked uncomfortable. Think our country girl may not be as innocent as she acts?

I think it is nothing more than they both come from the same background. He's from McLeansville, NC and she's from Albermarle, NC. Both are very small towns. Kellie probably looks to him for support in a big brother sort of way. Bucky said he and Chris are rooming together because he likes having someone around that understands where he's from. Kellie is rooming with Katherine. You can see them hugging constantly!

 

[RyMickey]

I forget how it works...only one gets voted off next week right...not one of each?

Just one person (cough...Kevin...cough) next week and each week from here on out.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Do you really think that played into the voting much?

I know there has been quite a bit of discussion about her background here on the Dis - but I don't remember it getting all that much attention on the show.

I do...but not in the way you were thinking. I think there might have been a very small "anti" Ayla element because of her background. But where it really came into play is that she just didn't have the "colorful" story or personality compared to the others. Her story/persona may have hurt her a tiny bit....but it definitely didn't help her. On the other hand...someone like Kellie...her story helps her considerably. That's not saying she's not good, mind you...I like her a lot and I think she has talent. Look at Kevin. He's not a horrible singer, but he's still there cuz of his persona, his age, the whole pinch-the-dweeb's cheeks factor. I bet he stays in longer than a few of the other guys who are much better performers. This happens all the time on AI.

 

[damo]

I wonder if they would have played up Gedeon's story more, would he have stayed longer?

 

[Slacking]

12 - Melissa - She reminds me a bit of that cute blonde chick that was on AI a couple years ago that had a similar "husky" voice. Yeah, she couldn't sing either, and probably shouldn't have made the top 12.

Jessica Sierra not only deserved to make it into the top 12, but she dserved to have made it further than 10th place. Jessica was fantastic and got shafted because she wasn't one of the chosen ones. Melissa does remind me a bit of her, which is funny sicne they are both Tampa girls.

Yeah, Gedeon is another backstory they chose not to mention. Brenna also had a backstory (her father died when she was young and her stepfather died trying to save a kid a few weeks before Brenna was to go to college) that was not mentioned. I think its unfair for people like Kellie to manipulate voters by using a sob story.

Kevin may be out next week, but I expect Melissa and maybe Bucky to leave before him.

As for Stevie Songs, I expect nobody will sing Overjoyed as that is the song that got Jose voted off. Also, You are the sunshine of my Life was sung by Brenna, and I beleive Katharine sang a Stevie song, so I doubt those will be sung either.

 

[ekmdisney]

OK, so let me get this straight. If I didn't like or vote for Ayla, then I envy her background or her work ethic? ...ummm...NOT!

I didn't like Ayla, because I didn't like her voice. I didn't think she had the talent to sing well. I could see her having a harder and harder time if she was still on the show. I think her getting voted off the show was the best thing for her. She can now do what she really wants to do, play basketball and go back to school.

For me a truly talented singer is one that can sing and make it look effortless. And that is not what I got from Ayla. So, she did not get my vote...EVER. And if she still was in the running she still would not get my vote.

And by the way, Kellie has never gotten my vote either. Because I don't like her voice either. Guess the sob story is not working on me.

I don't like Kevin either. And I am surprised that he survived to sing another day. I didn't really care for Gedeon (has never gotten my vote either), but I think he should still be there, while Kevin should have been shown the door.

But other than Kevin, I am quite happy with the top 12. It will be interesting to see how they all handle Stevie's stuff. I am looking forward to next weeks show.

Now as for Bo, I think he was either ill or he has been singing a lot lately. I was not at all happy with his performance...but then that is not my favorite song from the CD. I think he should have tried to postponed his time, and try to come back another day.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

I don't recall hearing ANYTHING about Gedeon's background, but he could have used the boost, if it had some of the required "sob story" elements. The guy could really sing. I didn't vote for him nor would I buy one of his CD's, but he had a lot of talent.