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Devoted Voters For 'American Idol' Do Their Duty On A Presidential Scale

http://www.tbo.com/entertainment/tv/MGBHE99SQME.html

By WALT BELCHER

Published: May 3, 2006

"American Idol" fans do not idly cast their votes.

A study released Tuesday finds that 35 percent of "American Idol" voters say their votes for favorite singers are just as important as their votes for president of the United States.

The good news in that statistical tidbit is 65 percent still think voting for president is more important.

This survey of 1,045 adults by Pursuant Inc., a Washington, D.C., research firm, also found that one of every 10 adults in the United States has voted for an "Idol" contestant this year.

More people still vote for the president, about 120 million. "American Idol" reportedly pulled in 48 million votes this past week.

"Idol" voters can vote multiple times, but it's still an impressive tally.

(Let's hope an "Idol" contestant doesn't run for president. We might end up with an inarticulate rube who couldn't tell a mink from a minx.)

The survey also found that more than 58 percent of voters say judge Simon Cowell's opinions are the most valid. Only 6 percent put high value on judge Paula Abdul's opinions.

Other findings:

•Almost three-fourths of "American Idol" voters are women (73 percent).

•Voters are more likely to be from the South (39 percent). Most of the contestants are from the South, too, including all previous winners.

•Of the male voters, 21 percent say they base their choices on the contestants' sexiness. Only 3 percent of the women use appearance as the primary criteria.

This also proves that theory about some guys being shallow pigs.

•No male voters are swayed by the judges' opinions. Only 7 percent of females use the judges' comments as a deciding factor.

•Thirty-five percent say having "a great voice" was the primary reason for voting for a contestant.

This indicates many voters are taking it seriously, says Melissa Marcello, president of Pursuant Inc.

"They are judging rationally, evaluating talent and star quality rather than looks and perceived popularity," she says.

Marcello, a communication and culture instructor at Georgetown University, says serious viewers may think they are helping to discover a major talent who could live out the dream of being rich and famous.

Idol Thoughts, May 2: Taylor vs. Simon – Let’s Get it On!
http://www.foxesonidol.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article1888.art&page=1

by Donna Reynolds -- 05/02/2006

When he’s hot he’s smokin’, but when he’s not, he seems almost resigned to not becoming the next American Idol. But no matter what he does, Taylor Hicks doesn’t seem to be able to please Simon Cowell. What is it about Taylor that seems to bother him so much, and how can he overcome this? Donna has some ideas, so read on.

Right about now, Taylor Hicks should be sitting on top of the world. He has amassed a fanbase that rivals the Claymates in size and enthusiasm, attracted massive media attention, and had impressive interactions with all of this season’s guest artists. Ruben Studdard has endorsed him and Caroline Bice has been spotted watching the show with Taylor’s parents back home.

With all this going for him, you’d think that Taylor would be a lock for the title this year, but there’s one slight problem. Idol judge Simon Cowell seems to have a burn on for Taylor that just won’t quit. Week after week, Simon lambastes Taylor’s performances, spitting out rude comments, and one week even going so far as to wonder aloud whether Taylor was drunk. No matter what Taylor does, he doesn’t seem to be able to please Simon, and it’s beginning to become very obnoxious.

What I don’t understand is why Simon doesn’t recognize Taylor’s potential and marketability. He’s immensely popular, and that alone will translate into album sales. He’s also a good musician. I have listened to his pre-Idol music, and have no doubt that, with the right songs and producers, Taylor could do a great album that would be very well-received. I keep going back to Clay Aiken and thinking about how well he did post-Idol despite not winning. You’d think that Simon would have learned from experience that sometimes the viewers really do get it right.

Of course, Simon isn’t Taylor’s only problem. He is running into other obstacles on his journey through this year’s Idol labyrinth. Last week, in fact, Taylor’s original song choice was yanked on Monday, leaving him only a day to prepare for Tuesday’s show. In a radio interview with Television Week Editorial Director Chuck Ross, Idol Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe said that they didn’t feel that Taylor’s original choice, “Try a Little Tenderness,” fit the theme. He said that they gauged the appropriateness of the song selections by whether the guest artist would sing them. He didn’t feel that this was a song that Andrea Bocelli would sing, and Taylor was told to pick another tune. Say what? Taylor would have totally rocked on “Try a Little Tenderness,” and certainly would not have been compared to a lounge singer by Simon. Or maybe not. It’s hard to know how Simon is going to react to Taylor on any given week.

At this point, Taylor needs to forget about Simon and go for broke. He’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Taylor’s best performances have come when he’s done upbeat songs and infused them with his own particular brand of soul the way he did with “Takin’ it to the Streets” and “Livin’ for the City.” Forget about the ballads. He needs the studio audience to be with him all the way through the song so that they will erupt when it is finished. Then, Simon can say whatever he wants, the audience will boo, and voters will jump on their phones.

One of Taylor’s problems has been inconsistency. I am only guessing here, but it seems to me that when he’s singing a song that was not his first (or second) choice, he doesn’t put his all into the performance. He’s got to get over this, plain and simple. This is no time for him to be a temperamental artist, and this could cost him the competition. Taylor, listen to me, you’ve got to suck it up and make it work, no matter what song you are doing.

Once Taylor’s done his thing, the Soul Patrol and everyone else who enjoyed his performance absolutely MUST vote. This is no time to get lazy. You can complain all you want about Simon and performance placement and everything else, but unless you vote, Taylor will be eliminated. It’s that simple. I hate having to do this two-hour speed dial voting nonsense, but that’s the reality of this show.

This week, the Vote for the Worst website has come out and “endorsed” Taylor as their next target. What’s interesting is that they are not saying that Taylor is the worst; there really is no “worst” one left. What they are doing is supporting him because Simon does not! The site clarifies their position saying, “Simon wants Taylor out now, because he can't stand to promote someone so unmarketable. So what do we say? Stick it to the show and vote for Taylor! He has the Soul Patrol, and now he has us, the A-hole (edited) Patrol! Hopefully we can work together to help Taylor win this thing!”

Now, I don’t put a whole lot of stock in the effectiveness of this group. After all, every one of their picks has been voted off despite their efforts. But over four million people have visited this site, and certainly, every vote helps, especially in a race that is going to be the tightest ever.

Taylor is doing something that no other contestant has ever done before, and that is, getting people who “found” their Idol in previous seasons back into the show. I have heard from a lot of my friends from previous seasons; people who were fans of Bo and George especially, and they are all saying that the only reason they are watching this year is because of Taylor. It’s rather remarkable, actually. For me, Taylor combines George’s spirit and enthusiasm with Bo’s deep musical roots, and it’s a winning combination. I look forward to his performances each week, and want to see him in the finals.

In the end, Taylor has to want this as much as his fans want it for him. It’s on him, after all. But if he can bring it every time, every week, his fans will respond, and Taylor Hicks can indeed make it to the finals. While you’re voting, think about how amazing his winning would be. Think about how he would react and imagine the look on his face and his leap for joy. Imagine the audience going mad and the other finalists’ excitement. Think about how you would feel watching the show at home. That’s what we’re talking about here, after all.