Let me understand this. American Idol removed the multi-Grammy award winning, platinum selling artist Paula Abdul for Ellen DeGeneres, a comedian and talk show host? I just don’t get it.
If you watch her talk show weekdays at 4:00 PM, you will see she enters in gallant fashion, a long dance to some new pop song that is rocking the charts. It’s fun, and that is how DeGeneres is. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a comedian. However, on her show I have seen her sing over and over again, and she herself admits she can’t but tries, and I so agree.
So, where is the magic for her on American Idol? If this was So You Think You Can Dance or Dance Your Ass Off, you know she would be a better fit. DeGeneres will be the first to say music is her life, but is it the beat she likes or the careful ear to ensure it’s sung well. I have a feeling it’s more the beat, but what do I know.
DeGeneres, I think, was brought to the show to ease some tensions a bit on the judges panel for the contestants. You have the very truthful and downright nasty Simon Cowell. There’s Randy Jackson, who is more smooth with his criticism but recently has been just as hard. You also have Kara Dioguardi who can be sweet and encouraging one minute, but then turns into a raging bull the next minute almost to the point of being bi-polar. And of course there was Paula Abdul. It seemed that no matter how bad you were, she made you feel good about the performance in some way and gave helpful advice. It balanced out the panel for contestants that just got their heart destroyed by the other three, so at least there was some solace in one. DeGeneres has that same personality so I feel she will either ease the singers or unintentionally embarass them, as that is what comedians do.
Personally, I think this is showing how desperate and vulnerable American Idol is becoming. They needed Kara Dioguardi to be in a two piece bikini with a contestant last year. They lost their rock in Paula Abdul which really angered Americans everywhere. And then there are the accusations from past contestants and observations from the audience that the show is rigged. If they don’t pull something great out of their dark abyss, American Idol may be in the history books after May of 2010. At least you know Ryan Seacrest won’t be jobless.
I have no problem with DeGeneres; I think she is a wonderful person and humanitarian, however, the equation for this concoction just doesn’t compute.
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