‘American Idol’: Why is this night different?
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It is not insignificant that on the second night of Passover, as the world’s Jewish people celebrate their liberation from slavery thousands of years ago, the Idol contestants gather to celebrate their own flight from bondage. This night was different from all other nights of Idol because tonight, the chains of Seasons Four and Five were broken and The Nine, led by the prophet Tony Bennett, became full-fledged members of the American Idol community at last. No asterisks necessary.
‘Twasn’t always so. Just a few short weeks ago this group of contestants seemed hopelessly lightweight; cries of sorrow rattled the nation at the thought of building a season around these children. Just last week, they seemed an exhausted, spent clan -- on the brink of implosion.
But on swing night, while not all contestants were equal, the stood in their own shoes. Now that the field has been winnowed, at least half of the surviving contestants delivered performances on the par of Idol’s legendary assemblages of yore. The group had, to all appearances, shaken off the fatigue of last week -– the tone of the night, racing through nine intros and performances in an hour –- was brisk, upbeat and professional.
Time has clearly smoothed the group out. Gone are the tears at judging time, the pre-song panic attacks.
They all take their places, hit their marks and line up to wave goodbye like Idol contestants in the community of Idol contestants, free singers at last.
Some notes from the Idoldome:
+ Betraying his legacy as the show’s anti-hero, Sanjaya actually made an effort tonight, turning in a merely mediocre performance instead of an aggressively bad one. Upping the Sanjaya wars a notch, the show seemed to be trying reverse psychology on its Vote for the Worst demographic -– with Bennett and Randy Jackson praising him as a great “entertainer.”
+ My estimable college David Keeps was also in the house, where he was singled out for mockery by the warm up comic. David sagely pointed out after the show that there seemed a heavy musical theater aspect to the show, with the contestants doing extra emoting and acting on the songs. Indeed, musical theater is an important sub-current of Idol culture - clearly a huge influence on many of the contestants and in its showiness, constantly at war with their attempts to be current and hip, which call for understated cool. Constantine Maroulis has the apotheosis of the divided Idol soul thus far. However, Blake Lewis in his mugging and scenery chewing and need to insert himself into the center of every group hug, seems a man of the high school stage if ever there was one - at odds with his Mr. Now posture
+ That said, when Blake does his moonwalking stuff -– and most of what he was doing Tuesday night couldn’t be seen on TV, the children in the crowd explode in raptures of delight.
+ LaKisha, who has been warming up in recent weeks and has actually been seen joking around with her fellow contestants, totally blew off Tony Bennett’s admonishment not to put her little flourish at the end of “Stormy Weather.” Kiki takes her orders from nobody.
+ Eliminated top 24’er Alaina Alexander was back in the audience for I believe the 4th time just to hang out and sign autographs for children. At what point does hanging around the show you were eliminated from get weird? It’s would be interesting if on “Survivor” eliminated contestants could return just to hang out.
+ The biggest ovations of the night by far went to Melinda and Blake.
+ Haley’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” routine seemed even more bump and grindy in person. Someone commented she looked like she wanted to be jumping out of a cake. Having found her niche, she’s definitely saying, “In for a dime, in for a dollar.”
+ Phil Stacey’s “I was singing to my wife” comment won over the crowd in a big way after his disappointment before the judges.
The Nine now know their freedom. They will forever stand in the pantheon of Idols. But is it enough? For the nine their Idol journeys will continue with the tour this summer, but is that enough? They have made friends and had experiences beyond their wildest dreams? But is that enough?
Last week, in his exit interview Chris Sligh declared he never really wanted to win. Seeing his uncomfortable demeanor on the Idol stage, that is entirely believable. However, for The Nine, now for the first time in sight of the Promised Land, will just getting this far truly be enough? With freedom comes responsibilities, and the competition begins in deadly earnest now.
(Photo courtesy Fox)