Atonal Barba is still in it, which I find disturbing. Yes, she was one of two cute chicks I picked before anyone started singing, but great Caesar's ghost, now that they ARE singing, she's terrible. Even worse than that girl from last year who posed in Maxim.
Overall, I'm still a bit put off by the lack of talent this year. Maybe the producers need to work a bit harder on getting actually talented people in front of the judges rather than the insane and delusional. I mean, I understand why they have the crazies, but a little of that goes a long way.
Kellie Pickler? She's a big fan of Dolly Parton, and I have to say she seemed to have taken to heart Dolly's quip about putting 20 pound of mud in a 5 pound sack. And was it just me, or with that eye makeup and lighting did she not look way too much like Tammy Wynette? And not in a good way--in that sad, "I've been up fighting with George all night" way.
Who needs to go next? Ryan Seacrest. The catty banter with Simon got annoying the first time, mainly because it wasn't funny or clever, and it got in the way of the show, which (although he might not believe it) is NOT about Ryan Seacrest. Next to go after him? Randy Jackson. He's very pitchy, dog. If he could ever come up with something else to say other than pitchy, dog, or hot!, I might have a different opinion. Or not.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 10:22 AMI watch the first couple of episodes, with the delusional and the hopeless, and that's it. The power of the human mind to deny reality is an awesome thing to witness.
Please tell me you don't watch "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader." I have two otherwise fine friends who have tried to make me watch this. I despair for them. The only good thing that can be said about it is that it's only a half-hour.
Posted by: mike hollihan at March 2, 2007 10:39 AMI watched about half of the Wednesday night edition with my wife. I love my wife but will never do that again—I feel I lost IQ points.
Posted by: jim at March 2, 2007 10:42 AMAntonella is definitely Maxim material. And I happened to like Ms. Pickler's dress! However, the hairdo was pretty much a hairdon't, it made her look old. And the straight-on camera angle made it look worse, and accentuated how close together her eyes are. Nice badonkadonk, though!
Posted by: skillzy at March 2, 2007 10:51 AMI watched for a few (non-consecutive) minutes the first night--long enough to realize they'd picked the smartest kids they could find and the stupidest adults. The show ought to be called "Can You Believe These Dolts Actually Walk Around in Public!?" It's sorta like watching Leno's 'Jaywalking' segments, with less drama.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 10:52 AMAnd Skillzy, I never said I didn't like the dress! Although she looked uncomfortable in it, which made me uncomfortable for her. Then again, it coulda been some bad spahder sooshee.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 10:54 AMWhen I first saw Ms. Pickler I thought she should be standing up in the middle of an artificial corn field, ready to make a "dumb blonde" joke/comment. I hope they get her on a Hee Haw clone show before she loses her 20 minutes of fame.
I think the depth of vocal talent is better than it has been for most other seasons. After Lakisha and Melinda the talent level does drop though. Were you not sad to see redheaded Leslie shown the door? It was funny to see Sanjaya's shock at surviving. The other guy (AJ?) was a much better singer, but it still is just a popularity contest.
Posted by: Marc V at March 2, 2007 11:00 AMYes, Leslie was the other cute one I picked, and I thought if anyone should still be there it would be her. She's nowhere as good as the best, but she's better than the bottom few who've managed to stay. And Sanjaya's just too creepystrangeweird. Ick.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 11:03 AMI wish to express my appreciation to you for your watching and reviewing AI so I do not have to.
Posted by: Larry Anderson at March 2, 2007 11:08 AMYou're very welcome. I hope it makes up for continuing to miss The Jack Bauer Comedy Hour.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 11:22 AMWhy isn't Sanjaya singing with the girls? He makes Clay Aiken look like Chuck Norris.
Posted by: skillzy at March 2, 2007 12:23 PMHeck, he makes Antonella look like Chuck Norris.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 12:45 PMHe makes Michael Jackson look like ... hey, he does look like Mr. Thriller.
If Sanjaya had come out wearing one glove, started moonwalking and going "heee heee - wooo, get on girl!", I may have had to turn the channel.
Posted by: Marc V at March 2, 2007 02:08 PMHe was dangerously close to that last week with the fedora and ponytail.
::shiver::
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 02:13 PMI'm sure glad I have guitar practice to entertain me and keep me away from whatever it is y'all are jawin about.
Posted by: Nate at March 2, 2007 02:14 PMHmmm. I wonder if there would be a market for a TV show called "America's Greatest Picker"?
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 02:24 PMI'm smart enough to stay home and not embarrass myself with anything like that! Plus I'm not pretty enough for tv.
Posted by: Nate at March 2, 2007 02:49 PM"America's Greatest Picker"?
I've got a 3 year old who would give anyone a run for their "mining". Plus she would win cuteness points - whenever you pull her hand away from her nose she gives a big smile.
Posted by: Marc V at March 2, 2007 03:00 PMSpeaking of Hee-Haw--
"I'm a'pickin'!"
"And IIIIII'm a'grinnin'!"
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 03:02 PM