The 2008 American Idol Thread.....

[wvrevy]

Right at the end of the show is a disclaimer that says that the producers have the right to do what they want with the votes. It specifically says that the votes are used "at the producer's discretion." It says that at the end of almost every single "vote for the contestants" show to avoid lawsuits. The producers are running the show and have been from the beginning.

That caveat is in place solely to give them the ability to block "multi-dialer" programs that are capable of casting tens of thousands of votes in the two hour time period. Also, the vote count is performed by an independant company, not one that is beholden to the producers of this show.

As damo pointed out, if the voting was rigged, extremely popular candidates like Daughtry and Latoya London and Jennifer Hudson would never have been voted off when they were. It's an awful lot more likely that people like Howard Stern and his mental equivalent VFTW fans are simply trying to ruin the show out of (spite? jealousy? sheer stupidity? take your pick), than it is that the producers are manipulating the vote to generate controversy and cause people to lose faith in the show.

 

[disney100666]

my favorite Idol is Sanjaya. XD even though he didn't win.

But I have my two favorites.
http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/brooke_white/

http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/danny_noriega/
I couldn't remember his name so I called him the guy that wore Scarfs and Skinny Jeans and they said you just like him cuz he dresses like a Jonas Brother. XD NOT TRUE!

 

[babieemelly]

As damo pointed out, if the voting was rigged, extremely popular candidates like Daughtry and Latoya London and Jennifer Hudson would never have been voted off when they were. It's an awful lot more likely that people like Howard Stern and his mental equivalent VFTW fans are simply trying to ruin the show out of (spite? jealousy? sheer stupidity? take your pick), than it is that the producers are manipulating the vote to generate controversy and cause people to lose faith in the show.

I doubt that VFTW has that much of an influence. It's been said time and time again that the producer's manipulate the show. They know what kind of winner's they want and they make sure those people go as far as they can. I truly don't think the votes count and lots of other shows d the same thing. The AI producers didn't think Chris Daughtry would make a good idol so they didn't keep putting him through. He was a fan favorite and it made for good TV for him to be kicked off, it got people talking. If fans were actually voting, people like Chris would have won seeing as he has a ridiculous amount of fans. It was the same for Ruben and Clay... if so many people spent hours on end voting for Ruben, where did they all go once he released his album? All those people just disappeared and he went nowhere. The same thing happened with Taylor Hicks. If people were willing to spend so much of their time voting for him to win, he'd have more support out in the real world but Chris was the one who had all the fans. And after he did so well, notice how many rock singers there are this season!

 

[DarthKTrava]

I agree. If the voting was rigged, we would have seen Daughtry win.

The voting was rigged or else he would've won.

 

[DarthKTrava]

my favorite Idol is Sanjaya. XD even though he didn't win.

He was certainly fun to watch. The "ponyhawk" was funny.

That caveat is in place solely to give them the ability to block "multi-dialer" programs that are capable of casting tens of thousands of votes in the two hour time period. Also, the vote count is performed by an independant company, not one that is beholden to the producers of this show.

Then create a program that recognizes only one vote per valid phone number. Discard if multiples from the same number are shown.

As damo pointed out, if the voting was rigged, extremely popular candidates like Daughtry and Latoya London and Jennifer Hudson would never have been voted off when they were. It's an awful lot more likely that people like Howard Stern and his mental equivalent VFTW fans are simply trying to ruin the show out of (spite? jealousy? sheer stupidity? take your pick), than it is that the producers are manipulating the vote to generate controversy and cause people to lose faith in the show.

I think Chris Daughty would've gone just as far had he won than getting booted off. I mean, c'mon, the guy is OPENING FOR BON JOVI!!!!

I doubt that VFTW has that much of an influence. It's been said time and time again that the producer's manipulate the show. They know what kind of winner's they want and they make sure those people go as far as they can. I truly don't think the votes count and lots of other shows d the same thing. The AI producers didn't think Chris Daughtry would make a good idol so they didn't keep putting him through. He was a fan favorite and it made for good TV for him to be kicked off, it got people talking. If fans were actually voting, people like Chris would have won seeing as he has a ridiculous amount of fans. It was the same for Ruben and Clay... if so many people spent hours on end voting for Ruben, where did they all go once he released his album? All those people just disappeared and he went nowhere. The same thing happened with Taylor Hicks. If people were willing to spend so much of their time voting for him to win, he'd have more support out in the real world but Chris was the one who had all the fans. And after he did so well, notice how many rock singers there are this season!

I don't know about anyone else, but I usually don't buy an album unless I've heard something off it. Which is why Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson are the only idols where I have their albums. The rest have not made it to the radio stations I listen to.

But it does wonder just where the "soul patrol" went.....

 

[Lil Lil]

Can somebody please tell me if the young kid who lived out of his car made it to the top 24? I missed a lot of Wednesday's show.

Thanks!

 

[DarthKTrava]

No he didn't.

 

[LauraC]

Speaking of guys we know nothing about:

Who is THIS Hugh Jackman lookalike?

Luke Menard

He's in an acapella group called Chapter 6 which was formed during a college class at Millikin University. They give master classes and concerts at high schools, colleges, and churches. They have produced a few CD's on their own, but they are not signed by anyone. You can see some of their videos from college campus performances on You Tube. The high school and college kids love them. You can find Luke's bio on www.chapter6.com

He sings lead on Bohemian Rhapsody on this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbB7JI4Qj2s&feature=related

I've seen them perform and have been a fan of the group for a couple of years. Luke tried out for American Idol last year in Nashville. He made it to Randy, Paula, and Simon but didn't make it to Hollywood. Since they hadn't been showing him on Idol this year, I wasn't expecting to see him suddenly appear in the final 24!

 

[WeatherbySwann]

my favorite Idol is Sanjaya. XD even though he didn't win.

Well he certainly entertained us.
I kinda thought that if they let that Kyle politician guy through, he would be this season's "Sanjaya" figure.

 

[Sandy22]

He's in an acapella group called Chapter 6 which was formed during a college class at Millikin University. They give master classes and concerts at high schools, colleges, and churches. They have produced a few CD's on their own, but they are not signed by anyone. You can see some of their videos from college campus performances on You Tube. The high school and college kids love them. You can find Luke's bio on www.chapter6.com

He sings lead on Bohemian Rhapsody on this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbB7JI4Qj2s&feature=related

I've seen them perform and have been a fan of the group for a couple of years. Luke tried out for American Idol last year in Nashville. He made it to Randy, Paula, and Simon but didn't make it to Hollywood. Since they hadn't been showing him on Idol this year, I wasn't expecting to see him suddenly appear in the final 24!

I was favoring Michael Johns but after watching a bunch of youtube videos with Chapter 6 and Luke Menard - I think I've found a new guy to root for!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Well he certainly entertained us.
I kinda thought that if they let that Kyle politician guy through, he would be this season's "Sanjaya" figure.

I thought the exact thing. The fact that Ryan Seacrest said a bazillion times "this is the most talented season YET" made me think they were fearing another Sanjaya fiasco!

 

[Robinrs]

Hey Tarmand!!! Somebody beat ya on the top 24 LOOKALIKES!!!

These are good but I'll bet you can do better!!

http://idolnoise.yuku.com/topic/3231/t/So-lets-play-who-do-they-remind-you-of.html?page=1

 

[WeatherbySwann]

I'm just now remembering this part, but did anybody else think that the opening segment of Wednesday's show (with Anakin Skywalker and Ryan in Egypt) was super CHEESY?! I mean, it was just embarassing to watch and totally random.

 

[agnes!]

Even if it might be true I am tired of Seacrest saying over and over and over that THIS IS THE MOST TALENTED SEASON YET, it's a slap in the face to all the contestants from other years.

One more time...IT'S THE MOST TALENTED SEASON YET :rolleyes

Weatherby Swann - Hayden Christiansen (Annie Skywalker) is always cheesy in my opinion.

agnes!

 

[wvrevy]

Then create a program that recognizes only one vote per valid phone number. Discard if multiples from the same number are shown.

They have plenty of those programs available now, and they're used on most shows. My personal opinion is that Simon Fuller and company like touting those huge voting tallies too much to go to that format. If you look at last year's thread, I was one of the ones on board with modifying the voting system. 10 votes from any one phone. That's it. If they'd do that, there would never be another Sanjaya (thank god).

I think Chris Daughty would've gone just as far had he won than getting booted off. I mean, c'mon, the guy is OPENING FOR BON JOVI!!!!

True, and don't you think that they would have liked to have that success on their label for the standard idol deal? He didn't win, so he got to negotiate his own deal, which may not have been as lucrative for Fuller's company. There is absolutely no way they would have "rigged" it for Taylor Hicks, who had a very vocal following but, ultimately, not a lot of crossover appeal.

I don't know about anyone else, but I usually don't buy an album unless I've heard something off it. Which is why Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson are the only idols where I have their albums. The rest have not made it to the radio stations I listen to.

But it does wonder just where the "soul patrol" went.....

The Soul Patrol still bought the album. The problem was that no single group of fans for one contestant is going to be big enough to support a career. That's the reason Kelly, Carrie, and Chris have all been successful beyond belief...they appeal to people that aren't fans of the show.

I'm just now remembering this part, but did anybody else think that the opening segment of Wednesday's show (with Anakin Skywalker and Ryan in Egypt) was super CHEESY?! I mean, it was just embarassing to watch and totally random.

They're just pushing Jumper. If you aren't bothered by the 473 Coke product placements, that shouldn't have bothered you either.

 

[agnes!]

Regarding the AI voting...
I think the main reason that their system hasn't been modified to limited voting is because AI is addicted to all the $$$$ from the per text-messaging charges. I'm *sure* AI gets a cut of that action.

agnes!

 

[babieemelly]

True, and don't you think that they would have liked to have that success on their label for the standard idol deal? He didn't win, so he got to negotiate his own deal, which may not have been as lucrative for Fuller's company. There is absolutely no way they would have "rigged" it for Taylor Hicks, who had a very vocal following but, ultimately, not a lot of crossover appeal.

I don't think the producer's knew that Chris would have so much appeal in the real world. Most people who listen to rock music don't at all take American Idol seriously. They knew that and probably figured that no one would take him seriously and the didn't want to deal with it. Dealing with Taylor's huge fan base they probably thought he'd do better out in the real world, but all his "fans" just disappeared!

 

[Nancy]

That is most likely because a lot of taylor's fans weren't the ones atht go out and actually buy a lot of music. Plus I think half of Taylors appeal was watching him sing. He just had so much fun.

I tend to watch the show without "watching" I either close my eyes or don't look at the TV while they sing, that way I just judge by how they sound not by how they look. It was very different from when I would watch the playbacks on Rickey.org.

 

[cruiserkaren]

Hey Tarmand!!! Somebody beat ya on the top 24 LOOKALIKES!!!

These are good but I'll bet you can do better!!

http://idolnoise.yuku.com/topic/3231/t/So-lets-play-who-do-they-remind-you-of.html?page=1

Oh yeah, tarmand's were much funnier!

 

[Nynaeve]

I don't think the producer's knew that Chris would have so much appeal in the real world. Most people who listen to rock music don't at all take American Idol seriously. They knew that and probably figured that no one would take him seriously and the didn't want to deal with it. Dealing with Taylor's huge fan base they probably thought he'd do better out in the real world, but all his "fans" just disappeared!

That's what I always thought. He was (and is) popular and and talented on the show. But the people in charge were concerned about his marketing appeal. After all, it's a mostly pop/with some R&b based show, and the old contestants who did well in that, and only that. They wanted Kat or Taylor to win, to stay with what worked in the previous seasons. But after he got booted off, and there was that whole big deal about the voting and people accusing of it being rigged, people who didn't watch the show started listening to him. The 2 rock stations here in Vegas were ripping on him when he first got booted off, because he wasn't a 'real rocker' because he was on the heavy pop formated show. And once his CD came out and started doing well on the regular/adult rock stations and making huge sales, the harder rock stations started playing his songs too.

That's just how I see it and my opinion of course. I honestly think that he was the most talented on that season, and he should have won but TPTB did not want him to win. But I think not winning was the best thing for him. More people took him seriously, and he had more control of his music. And his fan base supported and promoted him, because they felt that he was wronged.

And it doesn't hurt that he's hot.