American Idol: For "Red States" Only?

[MallRat]

Admittedly, I missed the first two seasons of American Idol, but I've gotten hooked on this season, starting with the final 12 contestants. I've kinda enjoyed it... that is, until last night.

Last night's outcome was utterly shameful and baffling. I can only think of two reasons why LaToya, Fantasia, and Jennifer-- 3 of the 4 most talented performers in the competition-- ended up on the chopping block:

1. They don't have enough friends to frantically call up the 800 numbers to pad their vote totals, OR,

2. Ruben Studdard aside, do American Idol's demographics skew heavily against black performers and their performance styles?

Anyone with a remote sense of appreciation for music would realize that three of the remaining performers (John, Diana, and Jasmine) are not in the same league as the other four (the "three divas" and George). What do John, Diana, and Jasmine have in common? You fill in the blank.

Now let me be clear: I don't think it's necessarily racism that's going on here. What I am concerned about is that because of who's watching, AI voters may have a serious lack of appreciation of musical styles inherent to the "black" experience- soul, R&B, gospel, etc.

How do you explain why John Stevens (aka, the 21st century Pat Boone) continues to survive on this show, week after week, after repeatedly awful, white-bread, bland, and often out-of-tune performances?

In short: is American Idol a "red state" program?

-MR

[Endangered Specie]

1. They dont want "too many" black people to win...

Otherwise the reich wing would be on them with the usual anti affirmitive action crap.

[RobertSeattle]

2. Why can't they us a technqiue to defeath the auto dialers?

Some kind of system that would require the caller to input a number that is "spoken" to them first - kind of like how ticketmaster requires you do enter the "secret" word in the graphic.

[MallRat]

5. I thought they should have...

...phone numbers or User IDs registered. That way, one person = one vote.

-MR

[Syrinx]

3. it's not a "red state" show

It's a teenage girl show.

[MallRat]

4. Yes, it's a "teenage girl" show...

...but is it a "red state teenage girl" show?

-MR

[skippysmom]

6. I don't watch the show

but I do think it was telling how many people claimed it was fixed when Ruben beat Clay. Because the black guy could have NEVER beaten the white guy.

As my husband once said, since when has anything ever been fixed for the fat black guy?

:)

[Frederic Bastiat]

7. Well I read somewhere that Simon was not happy....

... with the selection process. He was particularly livid that the kid from Idaho made it so far and the lady from Hawaii that got booted out a few weeks back.

I tend to agree, if you have more fans you stand a better chance - look at Stevens :eyes:

[Frederic Bastiat]

8. MSNBC: Voting system stinks for American idol

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4649112/

Unlike the general public, which would probably be capable of trimming a list of candidates down to a serviceable pop singer by the end of a season, the People are systematically ruining it for everyone. The People must be stopped.

Witness again this week's "Idol," when Jennifer Hudson was tossed in a bottom-three group that included two of the competition's best talent -- Fantasia Barino and LaToya London. Meanwhile, escaping elimination was redheaded born-behind-his-time crooner John Stevens. Stevens has consistently been ripped by the coaches after so many flat tunes and even forgetting words during his performance last month. It was a ridiculous result, and although I can't prove it, I blame the People.

To understand why People are powerful, you have to understand the basics of "Idol" voting. Voting is free, and you can vote as many times as you can get through. And we're not talking about voting two or three times, either. The People redial constantly for the entire time that the phone lines are open. Remember, you don't vote for contestants to be eliminated; you vote for the ones you like. A good stable of People, therefore, can take a performer several rounds farther than his talent or his general appeal ever would have.