‘Idology’: Is it too soon to panic about this top 20?

by Nick Roman
March 4, 2013 at 3:38 pm

idology is it too soon to panic about this top 20 Idology: Is it too soon to panic about this top 20?

Credit: TVLine.com

TVLine.com’s Michael Slezak and American Idol Season 6 finalist Melinda Doolittle are back to to discuss the top 20 of American Idol Season 12 on an all-new Idology. In this episode, they discuss some of the unfortunate choices the judges made in assembling their top 20, while offering contentious opinions about which favorites should not have gotten through. Check out the video below:

Honestly, I find myself agreeing about Lazaro. For me, at least, Josh Holiday and David Oliver Willis were leagues better. And realistically, it’s not doing Lazaro any kind of a favor to put him through on the strength of his story when, vocally, I’m not entirely sure he’s ready (if his vocal in Vegas is any indication). But who knows? Maybe he’ll shut me up during the live shows. Some people come out of their shells when they’re on live TV (hey there, Haley Reinhart).

Also, still totally heartbroken about Juliana Chahayed. But I suppose not nearly as heartbroken as I was about Jesiah Baer, who didn’t make it anywhere near as far. But they can’t all be winners, I suppose.

What do you think? Did Lazaro deserve to go through? Is Season 12 “going down in flames”? Sound off in the comments!

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21 comments

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djfabian

LAZARO has Star quality which almost all the other guys dont.....I assure you he will be the last guy standing! Alot of the guys are completely forgettable Im afraid. Zoanette also has massive star quality. I would have taken rachel or Julianna over the barbie dolls that got picked for their looks....Nickis side eyes made this whole clip worthwhile watching...PRICELESS

myargie22

@djfabian we all love him. his story was all over the place since the show started.,..and how about the others...we just see them on the night of the vegas rounds.

KariCook

I was all in when I heard Keith Urban was a judge but now it's just so blah. He hardly made a peep throughout the auditions b/c Nicki never shut up. And the people they put through all sound the same, except a few here and there. They're trying too hard to make it so different from what it used to be that it's almost an entirely different show. And I, for one, am sick of hearing the words "marketable", " potential" and "you've got the look". Is this not a SINGING competition? Shut up about the looks. And the people they've let go so far have been much more marketable than half of the ones they've put through this season. I swear, Nicki is on drugs and is only there to flirt, Randy just wants a diva to win, Mariah agrees with whatever Randy says and Keith sits there and lets Nicki stare at him like he's insane. I was looking forward to this season and now I don't even want to watch it. I can't sit there for 2 hours and watch the girls perform when I only like 2 of them or the guys when I only sort of like 3 of them. The brightest spot in this season is Cortez. He's the only reason that I'm still watching.

JulianPerry6

1 Like

I am kind of bored with the show, but don't fret everyone - the judges are still entertaining and have their own merits:

- Keith Urban: hot (I'm going to ignore the "Nicole" tattoo); laughs at the contestants mid-performance so you're not completely sure if he's making fun of them; he's the only one mobile enough to get up and give hugs to the contestants

- Nicki Minaj: accents; black/white opinions (they're either right on or of the "WTF" brand, which are hilarious); hits on contestants; side eye

- Mariah Carey: BOOBS!

- Randy Jackson:

elementalman

I like the well worded, intelligent, and slightly bias opinions that appear in some of these comments. They help put things into a new perspective and help to formulate new opinions.... As for the others I'm not really sure why some of take the time to read and write anything. You hate it but you're here.

Mikhail XO moderator

2 Like

@elementalman So why did you take time to write this then?

doobeedoo

3 Like

Why don't they take kids who just miss the top 20 and train them for a year and give us some artists?

Disney's program gave us Christina, Gosling, Timberlake, Britney.

It just seems vicious and selfish to put a kid like Lazaro out there who has a good tone and some talent but not nearly enough music education or control or experience to succeed post-show. And having done Idol once, he won't be able to get on this or another singing show.

But Idol has taken the cheap and lazy way for a dozen years. They've gotten away with it thanks to a few exceptional talents. But its really such a crap way to go about things.

NickRoman1 moderator

@doobeedoo YES, to all of this.

Trey_

1 Like

Melinda & Michael always keep it 100% Agreed on basically everything - especially about the judges. They all bring something new and even though some of their decisions are flawed - they own their opinions and that is something very fresh about season 12.

Mikhail XO moderator

2 Like

@Trey_

That's like... 4 cliches. ;)

And how does someone "own" their own opinion? Curious.

NickRoman1 moderator

@Mikhail XO @Trey_ They get into this in the video, but "owning" ones opinion is essentially backing up whatever your opinion is. This is contrasted with past eras of Idol where the judges seemed to be just spouting whatever nonsense the producers told them to, and not really owning the opinion as their own. In essence, it's the difference between sounded authoritative and sounding like a puppet. For instance, while Mariah is kind of lousy in how she feels the need to cushion every one of her criticisms with the cotton candy of forced positivity, there's no doubting that the woman knows her shit.

KevinB

@Mikhail XO @NickRoman1 @Trey_

I agree that Mariah is not as good as a judge as Nikki or Keith (they might be the 2 best judges the show has ever had) -- but she is WAY better than Randy. Plus she brings a soothing, calming tone to the judges panel -- which is a nice counter to Keith and Nikki.

Randy really has has to go after this season -- it would be good to finally see an ex-contestant from the show make an appearance as a judge. Wonder if Chris Daughtry would ever consider a stint on the panel

Mathieu R

@Mikhail XO @NickRoman1 @Trey_ Plus I think she finds it physically painful to be in agreement with Minaj, so she probably has to cross out a lot of her notes once Nicki is done speaking. heh

Mathieu R

@Mikhail XO @NickRoman1 @Trey_ Is it possible you are both correct? Nick is right in that they "own" their opinions. Meaning that Nicki has no problems saying that your performance sucked but we think you are hot. Or your performance sucked but you are crazy and entertaining. Or your performance sucked, but your sob story is unparalleled so we are letting you through. The previous judging panel would try to convince us that the performance was "beautiful" and that's why the contestant was going through. It's still bad judging, but at least they are being somewhat blunt about it, which we can somewhat appreciate. OK, we are keeping him because he's hot. Got it.

Mikhail is also right though. Sometimes the comments don't seem to match up to the actual performance. It's like they knew who were going through already, which makes it seem like they are being fed lines.

I would like to see the order reversed for the panel to speak. Keith is super articulate and Nicki is very opinionated. Randy is very long winded. In Mimi's defense, it might be somewhat difficult to have to find something new to say after those 3 judges have already commented. They should change the order up to see what works best. Mimi is slooowly starting to find her footing but, yeah, she struggles to find something different to say in that last spot sometimes.

Mikhail XO moderator

1 Like

@NickRoman1 @Mikhail XO @Trey_

I don't "understand" why they make most choices (though this is not restricted to this season's judging panal), and I don't believe they 'back up their opinion" any better or less than the previous clowns. BUT...all in all, I like them better. Keith is good, and the other 2 are better than Steven and J-Ho.

I hate to be the one to be negative (haha!!) but I don't see the judging as that honest. Nicki seems to be somewhat unedited and impromptu...but my bf Keith's and Mariah's responses last week, particularly, seemed prepared, canned and certainly not aligned with the songs each contestant performed.

NickRoman1 moderator

@Mikhail XO @NickRoman1 @Trey_ It's as they say in the video. Even if the opinion of one of these judges is lousy and we disagree with it, at least the opinion is theirs, informed by their own knowledge base (whether limited or expansive) and tastes. That's more than can be said for the talking puppet they had in Steven Tyler ("Beautiful", rinse, repeat). So while it might not equate to *good* judging, at least it's honest judging. They back up their opinion and explain themselves to the point where we understand why they made those choices, even if we don't agree with them.

Mikhail XO moderator

2 Like

@NickRoman1 @Mikhail XO @Trey_

It was a rhetorical question of sorts ;) I think the now cliched "own their opinion" is nothing more than a tired, hackneyed phrase. Meaningless.

Mariah says nothing substantive. Sure, she can sing...she has strong pipes, baby...and she knows the business from her individual perspective. But...truth is...she garbles nonsense as a judge. Still like her better than J-Ho. Nothing authoritative from any of them...except Keith. Hell. Even Nicky offers better feedback (if you can read between her sass) than Queen Mariah.

And if their opinions are "flawed" but they back up the defective opinion by "owning" it...how does that equate to good judging? Because they sound authoritative when they spout their inaccurate opinions?

Trey_

@Mikhail XO @Trey_ In the sense that the J.Lo/Steven Tyler era we just basically heard the same thing from them, no variation, and no sense of an attempt to understand the performance where as here - their opinions, as flawed as they may be at times seem to be more valuable points of views that they are invested in.

tonyt_78

1 Like

The season was doomed when the hired Nicki. Not even worth watching.

djfabian

@tonyt_78 Nicki is the best judge since Simon...most TV critics have agreed on this ....shes blunt and to the point...and almost always I find myself agreeing with her

SammyIAM

Panic now or panic later. The guys are terrible and the girls are boring. This season isn't worth watching. I guess I'm one of those new haters! lols!