(CNN) — This season on “American Idol,” there’s a huge question looming around Adam Lambert.
Love him or hate him, Lambert has added an element to the competition that has been woefully lacking in seasons past: a contestant so unique that you can’t wait to see what he will pull next out of his bag of tricks.
Regardless on how the season concludes, with Lambert being named “American Idol” or losing the title to competitor Kris Allen, it’s obvious that a star has been born, and we all got to watch.
“I don’t think there would be nearly the interest that there is if it weren’t for Adam,” said Brian Mansfield, who blogs about the show for USA Today. “Really, all season long it’s been Adam and the rest of the field, and is there anybody in the rest of the field that can beat Adam.”
Indeed, the talent level for “Idol’s” 2009 edition has been fairly high. Once upon a time, the show plucked apparent unknowns from auditions and thrust them before millions of viewers for a ready-made career.
Now, “unknown” has become a relative term as more contestants like Lambert, who toured with a production of “Wicked,” have shown the polish of veteran professionals.
But not everything has worked at a high level. The show’s ratings have declined a bit from unbelievable to simply juggernaut.
And then there’s the tried-and-true format, which producers attempted to mix up a bit this season. Among the changes: more semifinalists — and fewer semifinal performance shows.
That meant viewers didn’t have the opportunity to see the contestants perform more than once. At least a few felt cheated.
“It’s a situation where they get who they want to get, and they pimp those people, which takes away from some of the really good singers,” said “Idol” fan Ricky Hoggard Hollman, who gained fame during season six for correctly guessing the top 24 semifinalists.
This season’s robust group of 36 contained some fine potential finalists, Hoggard said, but he believed it wasn’t a level playing field partly because producers chose to focus more on back stories than talent.
There was also the addition of a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, to the longtime triumvirate of Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, which in the end added nothing but time. Producers also added a “judges’ save,” which became a throwaway.
Much of the criticism has fallen on DioGuardi, a Grammy-nominated songwriter who was supposed to bring a fresh and informed perspective.
Instead, she brought uninspiring critiques, some crazy costumes based on the week’s theme and the magical ability to force Abdul into a few weeks of coherent comments.
Even Cowell wasn’t acting like the Simon we have come to alternately adore and want to shake a finger at.
He engaged in juvenile antics with Abdul (at one point drawing on her face) and at times stared into space with such complete boredom that you wondered whether Susan Boyle’s “Britain’s Got Talent” performance had forever altered his state of consciousness.
“Simon has shown a level of disinterest and a level disdain for the show that I think is kind of alarming,” said Michael Slezak, who writes about the show for Entertainment Weekly.
“We sort of expect Simon to speak for us as viewers. We expect him to be up-front and honest and the voice of reason, and he’s just been completely disinterested.
“I think it’s disrespectful to the contestants, and I think even more so it’s disrespectful to us as viewers,” Slezak added. “For better or for worse, and crazy or not, we take this show and what’s happening up on that stage seriously. It’s our escape from reality for the week.”
And boy, do viewers take it seriously. iReport.com: Who do you want to win?
As CNN.com’s regular “Idol” blogger, I have never been more lambasted — pardon the pun — than on the weeks I have dared to give Adam Lambert anything less than a flawless critique on the “American Idol” blog.
My sanity has been questioned. So has my nationality. (Hey, critics: My last name is “France.” It’s not the location of my blog posts.) Question Lambert’s ability, and the Lambs — his devoted fans — come out in force.
I haven’t been completely sold on Lambert. He can be over the top with the dramatics, and the way his tongue hangs out during certain notes is, frankly, bizarre to me.
Yet, for all of his antics, Lambert is unbelievably interesting to watch.
*sigh* I am afraid that articles like this will only hurt Adam (though, truth be told, how many articles HAVE been written about Kris?). There has never been anyone like Adam on Idol, that’s for sure, and I don’t think there ever will be again.
ADAM FTW
ADAM FTW!!!!
I’ll vote like there’s no tomorrow!
“As CNN.com’s regular “Idol” blogger, I have never been more lambasted — pardon the pun — than on the weeks I have dared to give Adam Lambert anything less than a flawless critique on the “American Idol” blog.”
I just hope they VOTE!!!!
That’s a good point Sue. How many articles have been written about Kris? Kris alone – not with Adam or other Idols. Not many that I’ve seen. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing for Adam or not. They say any publicity is good publicity but I’m not sure. If peeps get tired of Adam’s publicity little-known Kris could seem like a breath of fresh air. Never mind the talent inequities.
Adam has made this season worth watching. Kris, Danny, Anoop….totally boring. There is nothing to say about them.
For entertainment on stage, Adam is a CLEAR winner over Kris. For just listening on your IPOD, some people might give Kris a slight edge. So who was the best? Allison by a mile! (:
I had hope for an Allison v Adam finale, but it was not to be…
Anyway, I continue to fear a backlash. If you are a fan of Kris, would you want to hear about Adam 24/7? I sure wouldn’t. Yes, Adam is a polarizing figure, but it is clear that both he and Kris want to focus on their singing alone, and the press won’t let anything go. Can’t they write about, I don’t know, the economy or the war in Afghanistan?
Geez…
Just for the record, I don’t see Adam as too much a polarizing figure other than some folks may think he’s a little theatrical and has a high voice, and HE”S BEEN A FAVORITE by the judges. I like Adam (not like Allison), but in this day and age, I think people can tell how well-mannered, courteous and great guy he is. I think the “gay” issue would only hurt him much if he acted like Nathaniel in the round of the top 36. Let’s face it, Adam is Ferris Buehler in terms of “coolness”…the most cool guy ever on Idol. (…save the Rocker though).
Doug… Joe…
How about we celebrate life, love, and happiness and unban me for the finale?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sunyata
So the end is almost here. I’m tempted to rally behind my favorite, but honestly I’m exhausted. I am excited about both contestants song lists and think that it will be a really great show. I hope that they both do their best and I will be voting for the full four hours…if I can stay up and my batteries last.
I will be pleased when the contest is over because I am so tired of a certain section of the blogosphere attempting to turn this into an election. Maybe it is an attempt to feel vindicated about their loss last November. All I know is that at 1am this morning it will all be over and tomorrow I will enjoy the final no matter who wins.
Remove this if you want. Doug is a terrible MOD—talking that Adam should be an interntational porn star. What a freak of mod. I will not post here again. He just banned me- He should be booted!! Booted! Shame on you, Doug. That was dreadful!