Chris Richardson: Desperate Idol ... Plus: It Was Worth It To Hear Martina McBride Say Verklempt

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Chris Richardson: Desperate Idol ... Plus: It Was Worth It To Hear Martina McBride Say Verklempt

Posted Apr 18th 2007 7:14AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: American Idol, Sanjaya Malakar, Sanjaya's hair, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, LaKisha Jones, Simon Cowell, Chris Richardson, Jasmine Trias

I'm going on Fox TV's "Mike and Juliet Show" this morning to discuss Idol. Here's what I'm thinking right now:

The contestants are getting desperate.

Chris Richardson's post-performance tantrum about how he really meant to sing "nasal" was embarrassing - and his invoking the tragedy at Virginia Tech was inappropriate. Yes, the camera caught Simon rolling his eyes at Chris. Although Simon clearly was not rolling his eyes at the tragedy, this could prove to be a costly camera move. The producers obviously swept in for damage control and asked Simon to express his own sorrow later in the show. It was an awkward moment.

LaKisha's latest mention about how difficult life is raising Brionne as a single mom is pushing it. I have always been a LaKisha fan and when Martina McBride lavished praise on her, I was excited. Unfortunately, when Jesus took the wheel this time, the car careened out of control. (Worse than Eddie Griffin in that Ferrari.)

As for Sanjaya, the Willie Nelson/Isaac Mizrahi doo-rag was a disappointment. It was a stunt and a shameless pander to the VFTW/Howard Stern crowd. Last week Sanjaya made a valiant and successful attempt to sing well. He was headed toward a coup, bucking the cynics who scoffed at him. Now we're not sure who Sanjaya is: Is he the guy who really wants to be an American Idol and prove himself? Or is he the jaded jokester, willing to debase himself to stay in this competition? Is he Mario Lopez ... or is he Dustin Diamond?

I feel vindicated now that Simon has called Melinda on her "Who, me?" shy act.

I'm a huge fan of Martina McBride's and look forward to her performance tonight. I expect we'll all have shpilkes in our geneckteckessoink. (Until last night Kinky Friedman was the only country singer to use the word "verklempt.")

UPDATE: I just returned from the Fox "Mike and Juliet" Idol panel. It included Season Three's Jasmine Trias (very charming) and Food Network's Paula Deen (very "country"). Outside the studio Paula wore a floor-length fur coat. Raccoon? (Presumably she spit roasted whatever animal she killed for that thing.) Jasmine was surprisingly outspoken on the subject of ethnocentric American Idol voting. She asserts that she went as far as she did by galvanizing the Polynesian vote. I pointed out that she was the only thing residents of Guam and American Samoans (two groups which historically have hated each other) could both agree to like.

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Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 3)

Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. That Nappy is as shy as the Trailer Trash Ho who lied and said three white boys raped her. Can't stand that girl, trying to act shy. Hope her ass is off and soon. Bet she was not shy applying for Welfare.

roalab at 3:19PM on Apr 18th 2007

17. And once again, lets all jump on the bandwagon and get ready to hang somebody for a normal body function when, maybe the eye roll came from trying to reset a contact lens! The heinous, cowardly, horrorific event that took place at Virginia Tech University yesterday does by no means set the stage for a "Who did what" on a television program! Yeah, I too, watched American Idol last night and as far as Chris Richardsons' performance went, for a contestant that couldn't wait to sing a country song, P. U.!!! He bagged it!! and when called on it, he hid behind yesterdays' event at V. T. U. Some American Idol!!! They should just, with all the controversy that has surrounded this season, thank all the singers for their efforts and time and let by-gons be by-gons and not name an official winner for this season and start, if there is one, next season with Fresh Ideas, Fresh Contestants, and even Fresher judges!

Sanganoski at 3:21PM on Apr 18th 2007

18. And once again, lets all jump on the bandwagon and get ready to hang somebody for a normal body function when, maybe the eye roll came from trying to reset a contact lens! The heinous, cowardly, horrorific event that took place at Virginia Tech University yesterday does by no means set the stage for a "Who did what" on a television program! Yeah, I too, watched American Idol last night and as far as Chris Richardsons' performance went, for a contestant that couldn't wait to sing a country song, P. U.!!! He bagged it!! and when called on it, he hid behind yesterdays' event at V. T. U. Some American Idol!!! They should just, with all the controversy that has surrounded this season, thank all the singers for their efforts and time and let by-gons be by-gons and not name an official winner for this season and start, if there is one, next season with Fresh Ideas, Fresh Contestants, and even Fresher judges!

Sanganoski at 3:21PM on Apr 18th 2007

19. The show sucks, just like Ryan and his lover Queen, Simon. No talent on that show. Even heard that Paula wanted first class treatment on a plane and she did NOT get it, and acted up. She is a low class cry baby. The show sucks and hope that no talent boy wins and proves how stupid the show is.

josepla at 4:12PM on Apr 18th 2007

20. 1. Phil's creepy to look at - please go home & be w/your family behind closed doors.
2. The Sanjaya Mystery is soooooo dumb. Everyone knows he should've gone home week 1. He's really, really bad.
3. Melinda DOES need to cut the shy "Who, ME???!!" act. Enough already. It was old the 2nd time.
4. Love Jordin!

But, these are not things that are new to anyone in the free world. I don't vote, and I don't watch anymore..I can't get that hour back. Why are so many of you perpetuating the Sanjaya crap?

MoRocca'sDaBomb at 6:46PM on Apr 18th 2007

21. Well, I've never really watched this show, but I feel pretty well caught up now. Thanks Mo!

Tucker at 3:41PM on Apr 18th 2007

22. Eber, I disagree with your statement. Although I know that you are saddened at this time, like many who didn't even know these people, I truly believe that Simon isn't that cold-hearted. I watched Idol last night and never thought that he was insensitive to the tragedy at Virginia Tech. I never saw him roll his eyes-I think he's been on t.v. enough to know that the camera is on him and he wouldn't do anything that would show his insensitivity to this tragedy or any other. My heart goes out to the family, friends, and faculty of Virginia Tech, and I'm sure that the statement that Simon made last night was sincere, also.

Kathy at 3:55PM on Apr 18th 2007

23. why would it even occur to anyone that simon was rolling his eyes to the tragedy at virginia tech? the contestant was defending his performance by saying he meant to sound "nasally" and simon obviously was trying to get his head around that statement and was asking "you MEANT sound that way?" why try to invent somenthing to get upset about, isn't there enough without attemting to manufacture something?

carol at 4:24PM on Apr 18th 2007

24. Hey whats with people out there whos always looking for the bad in people and making a snap judgement when they themselfs have the sam, as bad oe even worse habits then others. Simon in no way made a disrespectful eyeroll. Apparently, these people are one or first time watchers of A.I. If one has watches the idol show one will know that Simon has that habit of lowering his head and cutting his eyes 91/2 times out of ten before he makes a comment about any thing. In my opinon, he has done nothing wrong or nothing to be embarrassed about. I dont really care for him at times, but he does his job in trying to find the best talent, being honest , and trying to get the most out of each young person singing. If you think you know more or can do better go apply for the job and before you judge another, sweep your own floor clean first.

richard miller at 8:00PM on Apr 18th 2007

25. In ref. to #17 - I also heard on the news, Paula started riot when she tried to board a Southwest Airline in CA. She "screamed" she is a star and should board the plane first and than pretended the seat next to her was taken, which was not. The pilot had to tell her she could not hold the seat and on Southwest, it is first come, first serve. She did not get the special treatment, she "demanded" and was very nasty to the people.
she is nothing ..no talent little shrimp.

maybalean at 4:16PM on Apr 18th 2007

26. Mommy313 is absolutely right! I rolled my eyes when Chris said that, not because I do not feel great sorrow for all of the lives affected by the Va Tech Tragedy, but because he knew he was in trouble, because he did not have a great performance and wanted a way to get votes. Simon rolls his eyes at Chris, not the tragedy.

As far as Simon goes, he tells it like it is and you have to respect that!

Vicki at 4:38PM on Apr 18th 2007

27. I like Simon but he has always made fun of contestants who wanted to do good works. Last year or the year before he made fun of a contestant in an audition that he wouldn't send him to Hollywood because he said he wanted to give back to society by doing things to help people. That is why it doesn't ring true to me that Simon and Ryan really wanted to go to Africa for Idol Gives Back. I hope they do well for charity but they are sure tooting their own horn a little too much for my taste. I will give directly to any charities I support.

I have no doubt that Simon was rolling his eyes at what Chris said about the tragedy. I saw it and felt that. Paula was nodding and agreeing with Chris, not what Simon was doing. I am sure a producer saw what Simon did and that prompted him to tell Simon to clean it up with what he said later about the tragedy.

Jen at 5:17PM on Apr 18th 2007

28. I used to like Simon. I used to think he was funny, and although I didn�t always agree with his delivery, I usually agreed with what he said.

Whether he was reacting to Chris or not, what I felt and what I�m sure Chris felt when he saw Simon roll his eyes for the first time was deeply hurtful. To see the look on Chris�s face�I got tears in my eyes. I immediately changed my opinion to be of disgust for Simon.

Yes, he�s come out and said he was talking to Paula and that�s what he was rolling his eyes at. But he can�t change the way it looked, and he can�t change the way anyone felt when he did it.
Maybe he should listen to the contestants from now on and not talk to Paula when he shouldn�t be�

I think he owes Chris, the people at Virginia Tech, and the nation an apology.

Beth at 4:59PM on Apr 18th 2007

29. grow up! "Whatever happened to freedom of speech anyway, for one thing, I don't think he rolled his eyes at the comment, and another, people, grow a skin! All these sensitive people, you all need to get over it.

john at 5:21PM on Apr 18th 2007

30. Es macht mir nit oys.
Azoy vert dos kichel tzekrochen!

Lefty at 5:31PM on Apr 18th 2007

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.