American Idol: Singing competition or popularity contest?

First of all,  I want to congratulate Jordan Sparks for winning American Idol!!!  Amazing to me that she has that much talent at the young age of only 17yrs old.  Congratulations to you!!!!!

Well as another season of American Idol ends I believe the show is now at a serious crossroad which will either make or break future ratings.  Lets be honest here and say the most talented singer this season was Melinda Doolittle and she should have won American Idol but there is a trend on this show which I think is going to kill the ratings next season unless some changes are done.  The question American Idol needs to ask itself now is are we a singing talent competition or a popularity contest?  The trend started last year and now this season it really showed that Idol is nothing more now than a popularity contest.  Why do we need judges anyway?  What is the reason for Paula, Randy or Simon if the only thing that matters is the vote of the fans?  To me you don’t have to be great but just be popular.  So no need for judges, right?  Idol should just let the contestants sing with no judges or feedback and just let the public vote if this a popularity contest.  If this is truly a singing competition then make it one!!  I believe Idol needs to make some changes if this show will continue on being the number one show but if this trend continues the ratings will show it next season. 

Honestly, I lost interest in the show after Melinda Doolittle was voted off the show because how could the best talented singer of this competition be voted off unless she was not as popular as Blake or Jordan.  To me Idol is nothing more than a popularity contest bottom line.  Last year we saw Chris Daughtry get voted off the show and clearly he was the most talented and accomplished singer.  Is it me or is there a trend that the Idol producers need to see and be aware of?   American Idol needs to change its name to America’s most popular singer.  Take away the judges and feedback and just let the singers sing with no criticism or judging because it don’t matter anyway, right?  If it comes down to a popular vote then why do we need judges?  The voters seem to know who they like and why so really no need for judges. 

I am sorry for being negative about the show but I have been an Idol fan for several years now and I have to be honest and say that if this trend continues I will watch something else worth my time because I am tired of watching the most talented singers get voted off.  Yes, in earlier Idol years we saw Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood the most talented singers actually win the competition and go on to be recording superstars.  Does anybody know Taylor Hicks now?  Nobody would know him if he did not win Idol last year.  I think everybody knows the group Daughtry and the millions of dollars that Chris is making.  Will Jordan Sparks be the next Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood? Nobody can predict the future but at 17yrs old there is no rush for her because she still is a teenager.  Jordan, take it slow!!!  Enjoy being a teen that is popular.  No need to hurry up and become a pop star.  Enjoy life!!  I am glad Jordan won Idol because Melinda did not.  Jordan to me was another talented singer but not as good as Melinda.  Melinda did not win because she was not popular and young as Jordan.  Melinda, you should have won but your girl Jordan did.  At least Idol ended with someone talented winning but the negative part is the most talented did not win.  For another season Idol again has seen the most popular win not the most talented win.  Sorry Jordan, but Melinda had the total package.  Jordan you are just getting your feet wet and no doubt will be big but this year Melinda was the winner in my mind and millions of others too.  Regardless of your opinion of the show but I think most of you can agree that changes need to be done on this show or the ratings will go down next season.  I ask the Idol producers, “is this a singing competition anymore or a popularity contest?”  Whatever changes you need to make then do it because next season if you don’t make changes the ratings will change and not for the better.   Trust me on that one………..

Go Redsox!!!

What about those Redsox!!!!!  So what they loss two out of three to the Yankees but still have a commanding lead in their division.  So Curt Schilling did not have a great outing tonight but when you play a division opponent as often as they play the Yankeeschances are that the other team will have your number one of those games.  Tonight the Yankees had Curt’s number for sure.  I know all of Redsox Nation years ago would start to panic already expecting another Redsox collapse but this a different type of Redsox team that has not even gotten hot yet.  Just imagine when Manny, Big Pappi and JT really start hitting the way they can.  Also just imagine when Lugo starts to get on base more along with Coco causing havoc on the bases.  When the big guns get hot then the AL will be in trouble.  The Redsox pitching has been outstanding while Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell have been hitting lights out.  Lets not forget the role players like Cora, Hinske and Pena because they have been a spark to a team that is about to even get better.   Just think when John Lester returns to the starting pitching although Tavarez has pitched well considering he is a bullpen guy.   OH have I mentioned the possible Cy Young candidate Josh Beckett yet?  Hmnn………..OH wait Timlin  and Beckett are enjoying some DL time but wait till they comeback………..Also, you cannot forget the importance of our captain Varitek and of course knuckeball catcher and the underrated Mirabelli.  Hey, Redsox Nation when this team really gets hot watch out because this could be the best Redsox team to date in recent history.  Oh sorry I forgot to mention the bullpen and the outstanding job it has done in the early going.  Yes, there is much of the season that remains and the only thing that will stop the Redsox this year is the Redsox themselves.   This team from top to bottom is one of the best teams in the MLB this year and should contend for their second World Championship!!!  Redsox nation should be excited and looking forward to the next five months of baseball because the Redsox are going to do great things.  I will roll the “dice” and say the Sox will strikeout the competition this year on their way to a second Championship!!!!!   Go Sox!!!!   Redsox Nation is behind you!!!!!!!!