This just in from yesterday’s New York Times: Those thoroughly abysmal group numbers that American Idol‘s season 8 contestants lamely bravely soldier through every results night? They’re lip-synched. Er, pre-recorded.
Of course, astute (and deliciously good-looking) EW.com readers have been pointing out that fact on our message boards for weeks. And as I asked in my March 12 TV Watch recap about the elimination of Jorge Nuñez: “If he hadn’t been the lowest vote-getter, could the producers have eliminated him just for his total lack of lip-synching skills?” (Remember how Jorge’s lips seemed to be moving to an entirely different song during that bunk Michael Jackson medley?)
Anyhow, for the last several weeks, I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to get a comment from Fox on the decision to pre-record the group numbers. Yesterday, the Times beat me to it, getting confirmation from Manfred Westphal, a spokesman for FremantleMedia North America: “Due to extensive choreography and to balance their voices with open mikes against a screaming audience, the Idols do sing along to their own prerecorded vocal track during the group performances only.” Okay, you say “sing along to their own prerecorded vocal track,” I say lip-synch. And “screaming audience”? Screaming in pain, maybe. I mean, even if you get past the fact that the group numbers are almost universally loathed among Idol fans, and come up with some viable reason not to cut them altogether, it still doesn’t make sense to go the pre-recorded route. Half the fun of results nights from seasons past was keeping your eyes focused on the contestants who clearly had no affinity for atroshe choreography (Jason Castro, Brooke White), and your ears attuned to the contestants whose off-pitch caterwauling killed any attempt at successful harmonizing (hi, Haley Scarnato!). Now, we’ve been robbed of even that questionable pleasure!
Read the rest of this story HERE: http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/03/idol-lip-synchi.html?iid=top25-’American+Idol’%3A+Yep%2C+the+group+performances+are+lip-synched.+But+WHY%3F
well, my theory it that. They wasnt the group performances to be together and nice. They don’t want it to be a performance to judge or a spontaneous vocal. They want it to be polished, especially since some idols arent dancers it would be a disaster. Now, if someone screwed something up or missed a word it could throw everyone off. I think that’s why they do it maybe. Have they always done it?>
I don’t care very much if they lip synch but pre-recording the group sing is lame. The only fun they provide is watching everyone screw up the choreography. Didn’t Jason fall down completely last season? Without the chance of a moment like that it seems pointless.
My theory on this is it’s because of Scott. They can’t sing AND dance with him. As harsh as this might sound, I don’t see any other reason for them to PRE-RECORD a song, let alone a song-and-dance number.
Imagine how frustrating it is for Adam, the stage dude that he is.
You know what would be great? Getting rid of the group sing altogether. Makes more time for guest artists. If it’s for Scott, okay, EXCEPT that he is going on the tour, remember…
Oh good, bathroom break. *fakesigh*
yeah scott will have fun on tour..that may be a nightmare for him..but did u notice on motown week when they were all singing, then it went to solos of adam and lil, but then they were back in their place singing, Was that also pre-recorded literally, then showed to us? because I don’t think they were standing on stage, then it shot to the footage of the solos, then back to the stage..that is soo weird. I dont understand it.
Yes. Both audio AND video are pre-recorded.
They didn’t even have them sing live in that prerecorded video. *facepalm*