Simon Cowell Says Last Tuesday’s Show “Didn’t Quite Gel” Plus, He Explains the Wildcard Round, Sorta

As if Simon would ever admit he was wrong.

THIS. LOL!

As long as TPTB/Judges bring back Anoop, I’m okay with the show :P

Edited cos I found the Headlines thread..sry MJ! :D

So, Simon, the contestants weren’t good enough to crack the top 36 but now you are going to bring them back via a wildcard spot just because the 36 you chose were (or maybe) crap during the semi-final round. And that’s a load of crap!

I’ll bet that they bring back Jamar (or Jamal) as one of the nine just to heighten the tension. No matter who makes it through on wildcard Thursday, they will all make it through to the top 10 and tour. The sheep out there will, obviously, vote for whomever Simon and the gang tells them to.

Based on Voices alone (not song choice or backstory) the finalists last week should have been Anoop, Ricky, and (God forgive me) Danny. And there ain’t know way in he!! that both Anoop and Ricky make it into the final 12 via the wildcard. I’ll bet that the gender gap will be filled in with the wildcard.

Could it be that they deliberately cut some good ones for the express purpose of livening up the wildcard? I hope, I hope….

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I think when we put the 12 together, there will be more personality, more interest and just more diversityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

More personality, interest and diversity does not equal more talent. It’s a shame that’s not where the focus is this year.

Speaking of speaking, the addition of a fourth judge meant last week’s critiques went on too long. “I’d almost fallen asleep at one point because it was taking so long to get to me,” he says. “So we’re going to have to speed things up a little bit.”

YES! Pleasseee do something about that…

Kara and Randy should draw straws each night to see who gets to talk. Or better yet, maybe they should alternate weeks.

Hmm..I have a feeling that they might bring Jamar back in, but Jamar and Frankie have got their own thing now, right?

Call me crazy, but anyone else seeing David Osmond coming back and possibly making it? I think its very possible

Ugh, I hope they don’t use this as an excuse to bring Bikini Girl back.

Maybe they’ll bring back some of the sing-off losers?

but anyone else seeing David Osmond coming back and possibly making it?

No.

Jamar and Frankie have got their own thing now, right?

Like Sundance and Sabrina?

More personality, interest and diversity does not equal more talent.

True, that. But, I think this season does have some talent that we haven’t seen yet.

Interesting. Can’t wait to see Ricky Braddy back!!!

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I think when we put the 12 together, there will be more personality, more interest and just more diversity,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  says Cowell, who wouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t specify standouts.

Yeah sure like Carmen Rasumenseun, Leah LaBelle and R. J. Helton were interesting. NOT!

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I think when we put the 12 together, there will be more personality, more interest and just more diversity,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  says Cowell, who wouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t specify standouts.

Not more…talent? Yar, I’m starting to think this is a throwaway season…I suppose they can only promote so many Idols at once before there’s saturation.

“I think when we put the 12 together, there will be more personality, more interest and just more diversity,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Well, that would be great if it was a personality contest, and not a singing competition. Nigel Lythgoe is looking pretty good to me right now, I have to say.

More personality, interest and diversity does not equal more talent.

My thoughts exactly. Plus, there may be a diversity in look (or backstory), but there is little diversity in style. so far this season is shaping up to be R&B Idol.

But, I think this season does have some talent that we havenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t seen yet.

How I hope you are right… I hope that the singers are actually really good tonight (I’m looking at you Adam and Matt).

Not moreà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦talent? Yar, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m starting to think this is a throwaway seasonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦I suppose they can only promote so many Idols at once before thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s saturation.

Truer words were never spoken. I don’t think AI ever thought that their winners (and other finalists) would have as much staying power as they have in the industry. I’m sure they didn’t think Kelly would be around after 8 years, and that Carrie would still be dominating country charts, that Jennifer would have won an oscar, and that Fantasia would be starring in a movie adaptation and that both of the Davids would have gotten off to such a good start despite the economic woes of the country…etc. etc.

Even though 19 has dropped some of the earlier idols they must be amazed at how many past contestants are making albums and selling reasonably well. And with viewership down there are far fewer AI devotees to throw their purchasing power behind a new winner.

I really think this year is completely about the show and monies generated from the show. I don’t think that TBTB have vested any thought, time, or eventual monies into the winner.

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I think when we put the 12 together, there will be more personality, more interest and just more diversity,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Like Tatiana and Nick/Normund??
Ratings at the expense of talent, no surprise there.

Jamar, Ricky, Osmond and Michael Castro will all return. You watch! I think this year sucks in what they are doing. So much manipulation going on. It’s so blatent too! It was one thing with the judges pimping with comments, and singing spots but this show has gone over the top! I refuse to give AI any more chances. They blew it big time for me!

I think maybe the biggest problem the show has this year is that the guys WAY overshadow the girls in terms of talent. The way it’s shaping up, the Top 12 could very well fill its quota of guys before wildcard. Maybe there would be room for one more (probably Anoop), but what happens if there isn’t? Has the show made any indication that it might have an uneven gender ratio this year? (If it has, please ignore this post.)

Just bring Anoop back. I don’t care about the rest.

Keyser, that is kind of what I’m wondering. If two guys were to make it through from each group of 12, are the judges going to try and balance out the girls with the wildcard? But of course that would suck for Anoop and Ricky and any other talented guys.

I could see them bringing back Jamar as a “shock”. The others, not so much. If they didn’t give Michael Castro any airtime in the first place they aren’t going to bring him back now.

Based on Voices alone (not song choice or backstory) the finalists last week should have been Anoop, Ricky, and (God forgive me) Danny.

I think Alexis deserved her spot. Sarver, not so much.

Hmm..I have a feeling that they might bring Jamar back in, but Jamar and Frankie have got their own thing now, right?

Do they have an actual deal, or just putting something together themselves while working at PF Changs? I bet Jamar would jump at the opportunity, if offered.

I could see them bringing back Jamar as a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“shockà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ . The others, not so much. If they didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t give Michael Castro any airtime in the first place they arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t going to bring him back now.

Yeah, Castro won’t be a wildcard, especially if they’re looking for oversized personalities.

Can’t wait for the dress rehearsal spoilers. They’re the only ones I truly trust.

Has the show made any indication that it might have an uneven gender ratio this year? (If it has, please ignore this post.)

With the new (old) format, they’ve thrown out gender equality. Season 3 had more girls than boys. I expect Season 8 to have more boys than girls.

I could see them bringing back Jamar as a “shock”.

Gah! Please just No. The dude over sang his songs, and I’m so sick of the Danny/Jamar backstory. Seriously. Just stop the madness.

Hee mj. I didn’t say I wanted Jamar back. If the judges didn’t put these people through to the Top 36 in the first place, then it makes no sense that they need to be given a second shot. Especially since it is solely the judges (and producers) deciding these picks. But I’m sure any of them would jump at the opportunity if given the call.

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Yeah sure like Carmen Rasumenseun, Leah LaBelle and R. J. Helton were interesting. NOT!

Yeah, I know the judges basically suck when it comes deciding who gets picked from wildcard rounds. They are a few exceptions like Jennifer and Clay but they really have no idea what their doing when picking their own contestants.

Well, that would be great if it was a personality contest, and not a singing competition. Nigel Lythgoe is looking pretty good to me right now, I have to say

Well, here’s the thing do you think Idol could pick someone who can sing and have personality. When I say personality I mean a performer/enteratiner who can sing his/her ass off. I know some people aren’t really into Fantasia like that but she definately knew how to put on a show and don’t mean people like Norman, ewww!!!

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll bet that they bring back Jamar (or Jamal) as one of the nine just to heighten the tension. No matter who makes it through on wildcard Thursday, they will all make it through to the top 10 and tour. The sheep out there will, obviously, vote for whomever Simon and the gang tells them to.

I do see them bringing back Jamar just to see somemore drama having to do with Danny. Is Danny’s friend going to make it top the 12 and compete against him or I can see them bringing him back just to shaft him again. We all know Jamar should’ve made the top 36 but he didn’t make it just to make it because of Danny. No matter if Jamar or whoever comes back the judges will just pick people who are unlike anyone else who already made the top 12 no matter if that person sucks at not just to balance it out for ex. Carmen Rasumenseun. The only reason Carmen was picked because their was no one else with her style in shit already picked and she ended up sucking.

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I think when we put the 12 together, there will be more personality, more interest and just more diversity,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Well, that would be great if it was a personality contest, and not a singing competition. Nigel Lythgoe is looking pretty good to me right now, I have to say.

Thank you!

I am so over this season. Just bring back the musical instruments, the band and drop the freakin drama.

If I want “drama” … I’ll change the damn channel. :thumbdown_tb:

I could see Jamar and Laneshe coming back but probably not making it to the top 12.

Just bring Anoop back. I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t care about the rest.

Me too.

Gah! Please just No. The dude over sang his songs, and Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m so sick of the Danny/Jamar backstory

C’mon, mj! Imagine all the nice close-ups of Danny we could get while Jamar waits for his results each week, the power of Danny’s emotions when Jamar gets the boot again, etc. More Jamar means more Danny!

I think they’ll pick Jamar for the Top 12 if they decide they want an African American male in it (he seems more “total package” than Stephen or Junot even though his singing is weird), otherwise, I think he’s out (for the record, I don’t think he’s any worse than Danny or half the girls that made Top 36).

I’m all for bringing Anoop back and I hope they don’t ditch him for a “personality” contestant. Even though he was sort of bleh last week, I like him more than most of the remaining guys.

I’d love to see Leneshe back in the wildcard round, but I’m pretty sure it won’t happen. (Because I think Jasmine will already be in the top 12, and they’re too much alike.) But who else got enough screen time pre-top 36? Jamar and David Osmond are good guesses. Can’t think of anyone else that most viewers would remember …

Gah! Please just No. The dude over sang his songs, and Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m so sick of the Danny/Jamar backstory. Seriously. Just stop the madness.

Okay MJ, you say Jamar oversang his songs but didn’t Von and Adam do the same thing. I don’t want to hear anything more about Danny/Jamar but Jamar has way more star potential than a lot of those people. On to Adam, I know many people love Adam but I’m really not into his type of singing and style and I don’t care no what nobody says he was shouting during the Hollywood Round. Would really like Adam that much if we didn’t know he was in Wicked and there was no utube clips of him and this is just my opinion ppl, don’t kill me.

We all know Jamar shouldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve made the top 36 but he didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t make it just to make it because of Danny.

I didn’t think Jamar should have made Top 36. His ‘Delilah’ was odd and off and like nails on a chalkboard to me. There were a couple we weren’t shown much of that I thought definitely should have made it, Ryan Johnson and John Twiford to name a couple, along with Felicia Barton but she’s already back in. I’m betting many that sounded great in auditions but weren’t shown at all in HOllywood weren’t ditched because they sucked, but were ditched because they didn’t come complete with a backstory or a gimmick or a BFF with a backstory & a gimmick.

I would love for David Osmond to come back. I thought they should have given him another chance anyway after the laryngitis. If they don’t bring him back, bring back Deanna Brown!

Canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think of anyone else that most viewers would remember à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

Rose Flack was getting a lot of love until she stumbled in Hollywood.

Ryan Johnson and John Twiford

Yes.

To bring back contestants who didn’t make top-36 seems really unfair, but I won’t put it past TPTB to pull something like that. How about bring back singers who didn’t even audition this year? Bring back those three cowboys from a few years ago…or that Tami who should have made top-24 and didn’t? Or that Clay look-alike who sang in the finale one year? Or the guy Simon called a Bush Baby?

Would shake things up…wouldn’t give us, you know, better singers necessarily, but it might create buzz/ratings.

Ugh, just bring back Anoop and stop with the shark-jumping.

The problem last year wasn’t the lack of personality, but the lame editing that didn’t allow the audience to get to know anybody. The only way I knew what season 7 contestants were about was by watching American Idol Extra and viewing the backstage clips on AI.com. Season 7 had a lot of fun and funny people, but TPTB simply missed the boat and failed to show that. You can’t get what people are about just by seeing them for about 90 seconds on stage each week during a highly stressful moment. In some cases contestants were weighted down by inaccurate personas (“Jason is stupid and lazy” and “Archie is nervous and inarticulate”).

So I get why Simon wants to emphasize personality–if it’s done right it will give us more insight into these people. His problem, though, is that he’s talking as if this year’s flock is more interesting than years’ past, when it doesn’t seem that way so far (now that I know the personalities of many of the past contestants). Season 8, in fact, is turning out to be a bit of a dull lot, save the wacko (Tatiana) and the clown (Nick). No wonder they kept them around. Even Adam, who has gotten a lot of screen time, hasn’t shown much of the personality that he is supposed to have. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind Nick in the top 12. He actually has a good voice, and he’s the only contestant that I think has the guts to talk back to the judges (since that practice has been beaten out of contestants too scared to cause a scene for fear of getting eliminated). If he were terrible I would get annoyed by his presence but, seriously, he’s better than a lot of the top 36, vocally.

So, anyway, if season 8 contestants aren’t really more interesting, and they have yet to show they are more talented, then Simon is just talking out of his ass as usual.

I’m starting to develop an irrational fear that Anoop is going to be “Lisa Leuschner’ed”. God help him if he is.

i miss season 7.

Yeah sure like Carmen Rasumenseun, Leah LaBelle and R. J. Helton were interesting. NOT!

To be fair, RJ was much better than several of the ones that America voted in, like Jim Verraros. That boy was horrible! RJ, on the other hand, is actually a very talented singer. His first album was phenomenal, in my opinion.

And while I really disliked Carmen’s wildcard show performance, I actually ended up liking her in the finals. Her album is also very good.

Leah LaBelle had a really good semi-final group performance, in my opinion, but overall was very weak. I agree that they shouldn’t have put her through. They should have gone for Suzy (or better yet, Lisa Leuschner!) or one of the other stronger singers. And let’s not forget that this season was when America’s wildcard choice was Jon Peter Lewis. Jennifer Hudson only got through by being a Judge’s Choice.

All in all, I suppose I usually don’t have a problem with the judges’ picks. Not any more than I sometimes have with America’s picks, anyway.

As long as they don’t give wildcard spots (as in being through to the Top 12) to people like Tatiana and Nick Mitchell instead of actual people who show potential, I’ll be okay.

Imagine all the nice close-ups of Danny we could get while Jamar waits for his results each week, the power of Dannyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s emotions when Jamar gets the boot again, etc. More Jamar means more Danny!

More Danny? No thanks.

i miss season 7.

AMEN.

Just bring back Anoop and Ricky and I’ll be happy, asuming Megan and Adman get through this week. And no more Tatiana!

RJ, on the other hand, is actually a very talented singer. His first album was phenomenal, in my opinion.

I do love RJ Helton. He totally earned that wildcard spot. That was a total no-brainer.

Shorter Simon: We have a handful of talent we want, throw in a few to add color, then we throw darts at headshots on a cork board to select the rest of the Top 36. When they don’t pan out in live performances, we bring back a few who might be more interesting to the home audience than this pack of duds.

If they do bring back non-semifinalists, I hope Leneshe in among them. She’s the kind of kid who really could use a break. Plus, I thought she was adorable and talented.

Would really like Adam that much if we didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know he was in Wicked and there was no utube clips of him and this is just my opinion ppl, donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t kill me.

Yes we would. I, for one, first heard Adam sing Crazy, and saw his video f Dust In the Wind before I ever heard he was in Wicked. I have only very recently listened or watched his performance in the show. I was hooked by the fact that the same performer who could display such bravado in a performance such as over-the-top Crazy could also be so emotionally honest in Dust. I love his voice and love his theatricality. Although I know some folks would object, I wouldn’t mind if he flamed on stage tonight as long as he doesn’t go down in flames like so many did last week.

ETA: I realize that I am using YouTube clips in my justification of liking Adam. I do think I would have been drawn to his performances even without my “outside” knowledge. He certainly was a highlight in the group song footage, even though he was only on a for a second or two. He also has performed at least as well as his fellow singers on every level (usually, but not always, better). But I look up the videos of EVERYone I am interested in on the show. I think that helps form my own opinion rather than the one shown to me by AI.

If I had to pick 9 people cut in Hollywood week (there was no one worthy cut earlier shown) to join the field, they would be:

David Osmond
Deanna Brown
Frankie Jordan
Jamar Rogers
Jennifer Samoranos
Jessica Furney
Leneshe Young
Ryan Johnson
Sharon Wilbur

Since only Anoop and possibly Ricky deserve advancing from group 1 to the wildcard, there would be at least one spot open.

Would really like Adam that much if we didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know he was in Wicked and there was no utube clips of him and this is just my opinion ppl, donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t kill me.

I’ve only ever seen the “Crazy” youtube, which I only watched once. Based solely on his appearance on American Idol and what he’s shown I’m not all that impressed. Yeah, he’s got a huge vocal range, but IMO, it’s not a very pretty vocal up at the top. He shows barely any of the personality that people say he’s supposed to have. He just looks emo and sings really high diva songs like he’s auditioning for another roll in a musical. I don’t care if he was super freakin’ fantastic in “Wicked” and he has a gazillion amazing youtubes. If he doesn’t show any of that specialness on the show then he’s not going to get enough people to believe he’s got “star power.”

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve only ever seen the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Crazyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  youtube, which I only watched once. Based solely on his appearance on American Idol and what heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s shown Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not all that impressed. Yeah, heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s got a huge vocal range, but IMO, ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not a very pretty vocal up at the top. He shows barely any of the personality that people say heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s supposed to have. He just looks emo and sings really high diva songs like heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s auditioning for another roll in a musical I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t care if he was super freakinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ fantastic in à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Wickedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  and he has a gazillion amazing youtubes. If he doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t show any of that specialness on the show then heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not going to get enough people to believe heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s got à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“star power.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Thank U, I’ve been saying this all along. This is not Musical Idol, he should be on Broadway oh wait he was on Broadway, now he’s on this show. What I was saying in the other post is that most people are like in love with him just because he was Wicked and they saw these utube clips of him, take away that and just go by what you’ve seen on Adam the show already would you all love him. I’m sorry to any Adam fans, but I just don’t get his style or voice at all.

Nah, I’m in love with Adam because I love theatrical campy vampy singers like him, and besides, the guy can really sing. There’s room for lots of kinds of singers on the show, from country to r&b to rock to whatever. He’s going to be fun and entertaining, at the very least, so what does it matter. If I have to listen to singers like KLC then others might have to listen to someone like Adam. Fair’s fair. :)

As for Simon: “there will be more personality, more interest and just more diversity” — iirc there was plenty of personality and diversity last season. It was a great season, imo, and will be hard to match this year.

I don’t know what to say/think anymore about season eight.

Just bring back Anoop Desai.

And Nigel Lythgoe? Comeeee baaaaaack!