Disappointing Idols and Ex-Idols

I realize that when you say something negative about an Idol contestant, you run the risk of offending their fans. I mean, we idol fans are fiercely loyal to our favorites, aren’t we?! I sometimes think I’d poke someone’s eye out if they said something bad about Bo, Chris D., Constantine, Bucky, Jordin, Gina, or Blake. Maybe both eyes, depending upon what they said and how much caffeine I’d had that day.

So, I apologize ahead of time for the following, because I’m probably going to be in trouble – times three!

First of all, I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Hudson’s since the first time I heard her sing on Idol. Amazing voice, amazing presence, amazing smile (that isn’t unleashed nearly often enough) – I’ve always been a fan, and I’m a fan now. However, I’m kind of disappointed in something she recently said in an interview.

She told Esquire Magazine, “On American Idol, you go through this mental thing; you’ve got to get yourself back together. You’ve been abused, misled and brainwashed to believe whatever they want you to think.”

Hudson also told the magazine that the contestants “become a character,” saying “I became the character in the turkey wrapping,” referring to an hideous outfit she once wore on the show. Then she had the audacity to say, “I don’t believe in looking back, and I didn’t look back.”

Sweetie, you just did!

Come on – Misled?! Abused?! Brainwashed?!

Nope, I wouldn’t word it like that – I’d say, instead that you were Discovered and, literally, awarded a Golden Ticket. Had it not been for American Idol giving you the opportunity, you wouldn’t be beautifully gracing the magazine covers you’re on, you wouldn’t be winning the awards you’re winning, and you wouldn’t be giving interviews in which you come across as a total ingrate.

As for the ridiculous outfit you wore, if you put something on like that without a gun to your head – you’re asking for ridicule. The same kind of ridicule you’re begging for by acting like you’re a victim of abuse and brainwashing. American Idol has been so proud of, and for, you – and to treat them this way just makes you come across as bitter, not better.

Second up: Sanjaya. After I had, on this blog as well as on forums, defended him – he came out the last time with a hideous, stupid hairstyle and a terrible, sort of an “in your face” type of performance. The look on his face was defiant, cocky, and reeked of a “What are you going to do about it?” type of attitude. It turned me totally off and I was very disappointed. Then, when he tried to one-up Simon – what respect I had for the kid died.

Last but not least, Chris Sligh. Like Jennifer, I was a fan of his from the start. In Hollywood, however, he never lived up to his potential. I don’t know what came over him. On the one hand, you have Phil and Gina – who have continued to improve each week – then you have our guy Chris Sligh who seems to keep going downhill. But that’s not what has really bothered me – God knows I couldn’t sing any better – what annoys me is the way he’s handling himself.

Check this out:

“I never came into this wanting to win it,” he told The Greenville News on Thursday. “I made the Top Ten. That was my goal.” He said the reason he decided not to quit was because the top 10 go on tour and, with that, comes a nice paycheck. “I wanted to make the tour. I wanted to be able to make music for my living, so I don’t have to work at the marketing company that I was working at.”

I can’t tell you how much I wish Brandon had made the top 10 instead of him. Especially now!

Can you imagine? Admitting that the only reason you didn’t quit wasn’t for your fans but for money. I’m not saying that he doesn’t like his fans, I’m sure he does. And I’m not saying he isn’t a great guy – I’m just saying that his comments have left me cold, and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone.

Overall, I think last week’s performances were pretty good, overall, they just didn’t blow me away. At least they were modern songs – unlike next week’s theme! But the only one’s I’ve gone back to rewatch are Gina’s (She has joined Blake and Jordin as my favorites), Blake’s and Phil’s. I thought the three of them stood out. Melinda and Lakisha are flawless – I just didn’t care for their songs. As for Jordin – I just didn’t get it.

I loved seeing Gwen Stefani, though. She’s a favorite of mine and she looked gorgeous.

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