Australian Idol

Seen ads for this show for years, finally decided to watch an episode. Low, sick 'entertainment' that is completely devoid of 'reality'. Basically a show that preys on low-talent dreamers and dangles a carrot in order to humiliate them for viewer entertainment while throwing Chemist Warehouse ads at viewers in the break to make a shameless buck. These contestants have 0 chance of making something of themselves and everyone involved in the production of the show knows it. Maybe the worst culprits are the viewers that support this crap. Shame on the producers, has-been judges and sick viewers. The world would be a better place without this show and all it's vapid clones.

Early on in the semi-final stages of the Australian Idol competition the judges, and indeed the serious viewing public were worried that AI was going to be a competition of "boy band" singers. Luckily, and perhaps conveniently, by the time the Final Twelve had been decided there was a variety of different singing styles battling it out to become the winner.

Unfortunately the demographic of people watching this competition favoured looks and character over talent and for this reason contestant Rob Mills progressed further than he probably should have, and over performers who could sing better than him. This was further exampled when Runner Up Shannon Noll made it to the Grand Final with a weak voice, but large amounts of charisma and after the exit of Mills, the teenage girl fanbase.

The final twelve were all fine performers. Some outshone others. Some couldn't handle the schedule (Contestant Rebekah LaVauney fell apart for the majority of her final series, whilst Cosima De Vito had to withdraw all together), whilst others went from strength to strength (Winner Guy Sebastian was, by the end, far beyond the other contestants in performance). But what made AI the success what it was, was the controversy. Contestant Paulini Curuenavuli's dress which sparked a public outcry, Lauren Buckley's emotional breakdown when she was eliminated, a contestant's disqualification and Daniel Wakefield's withdrawal from the final series, giving Levi Kereama a chance to shine, and create controversy himself when he was eliminated. And who can forget everyone's favorite transvestite Courtney Act, who had every guy watching the show lusting after him until she was revealed to be, in fact, a guy. Can AI2 live up to this year? I'd have to say no.

When Channel 10 hosted the show, each episode had some form of quality. There were several episodes per week, and we had quality time with the contestants and watching their learning curve, as well as the backing musicians.

Channel 7 has reduced it to one episode per week, and a laborious drag of a results show. We only see minimal interaction with the (very good) voice coach.

The backing musicians are awesome, it is unfortunate that we see nothing of them. It is they, who make the contestants shine.

Channel 10 would put the contestants through their paces, introducing styles outside their comfort zone. I always looked forward to the Big Band episode; many of the contestants had no real experience in that genre, yet most of them, when they performed in that style had the best musical experience of their life. Channel 7, the closest contestants had was a Judges Choice episode, where the judges choose 4 songs, for the contestant to select one.

There are only two meaningful judges. Harry Connick Jr, and Amy Shark. Meghan Trainor on occasion has helpful remarks, but her screaming throws her credibility out of the window. It was refreshing to have Marcia Hines return briefly. Kyle Sandilands is an enigma, most of the time he is a fool and brings the show down, yet on occasion, he can have the greatest insight. Harry Connick Jr is a real musician, he is really the most knowledgable. It's a shame though we haven't got an Australian as good.

Channel 7s revisioning is a train wreck. It may have the biggest live audience ever, it does not make it better. It's like they just want to get through to the end as quickly as possible, as cheaply as possible, much like their revisioning of Channel 10s Big Brother. (They wrecked that too). We are not seeing a journey, we can't see the contestants highs and lows along their journey, and most of all they are not pushed far outside their comfort zone. It is an insult to the contestants to rush them through and whittle them down as quickly as they have done in this new inferior format. Channel 7, you are an embarrassment.

The country boy should be through rather than Harry......seriously - he was great - just needed some help, styling, not too much really. But there seems to be a bit of an agenda with the judges. Most are ok - but the choices are really predictable. And the songs are either karaoke or 'who's dat?' Boring. Maybe I need a new sound system on my TV! Harry's touchdown was great and very musical, but the others could use some training! Meghan loves everyone in her teensy, tiny little girly voice. I don't normally like Kyle but he does say it as it is. Bit disappointing so far - hope it approves - love Idol and the format.

Whats the big deal about Paulini and Guy, GO COSIMA! It's too easy if Paulini and Guy win, I think if Shannon and Cosima are the final two, the last episode will be interesting, not soo predictable!!