UPDATE: Don't forget to take my "Mo Wants To Know" poll on the reason behind deaf actress Marlee Matlin's appearance at last night's Idol. Click here!
Tonight Jordin will be crowned the 6th American Idol, for four reasons:
1. She is, as has been said over and over, the "whole package" - beautiful, with a terrific voice, plus she's got great teeth and lips. When she opens her mouth wide for the big notes, she's thrilling. (She stubbornly anchors herself to the standing mic, but so what? Her future is in recordings, not live concerts.)
2. She's multiracial. America's Melting Pot is a more complex ever, with far more than two "ingredients." Jordin's the Tiger Woods of Idol.
3. She got handed a gift with "This Is My Now," the original song written by the winning team from Seattle. It's a dopey song, but perfectly suited for Jordin's big notes. A disaster for Blake.
And perhaps most importantly...
4. She cried at the end of her song. She played the victor before any votes were even cast. (The equivalent of being crowned Miss America before the swimsuit competition.) This was a brilliant stroke on Jordin's part. She conditioned us all to see her as the inevitable winner before we even began dialing or texting.
It's a strategy that Melinda tried back in mid-March, weeping along with Paula at the end of her performance, prompting Simon to ask "why are you crying?" At the time I criticized Melinda strongly. I felt that the audience needed to be warned against a strategy clearly intended to circumvent the rest of the competition. Readers were furious with me, but I stand by what I wrote then. Melinda's chief miscalculation was that she played the winner, deployed these tactics, too early. Once the crying and the "Who, me?" surprise looks were called out by Simon, Melinda had to drop both - and the audience then decided she was boring.
Jordin's perfectly calibrated strategy will pay off. She played the winner - and shed the tears - just at the right moment.
As for Blake, the constant plaudits from the judges for his "creativity" never moved me. Isn't that what teachers and guidance counselors often say about special ed kids or troublemakers? "Ryan faces many challenges, but he's got such 'creativity.'"
I do think he deserves points for graciously deferring to Jordin after winning the coin toss.
In general, America is not ready for a beat-boxing Idol - nor should it be. This country has problems, yes, but electing a beat-boxer to AI is a sign of desperation.
****
Other things I noticed last night:
Paula named her dog ("Julep") after a drink. No further comment.
Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson bordered on undignified - stomping, whooping, hollering and on their feet for Blake, but reserved for Jordin. Established protocol for the bottom 8 at an AI finals is that they remain neutral, like Supreme Court Justices at the State of the Union.
The hilarious Kathy Griffin has taken on the "crying celebrity in the audience" role. Last year the role was played by David Hasselhoff - unavailable this year, after too many of his own Juleps.
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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The Tears Of A Crown: This is Jordin's Now ... PLUS: Paula's Dog Is Named After A Drink ... Chris and Phil's Startling Behavior
Posted May 23rd 2007 7:23AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: American Idol, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Blake Lewis, Chris Richardson
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3. The dog's name is Tulip, not Julep.
gieneh at 6:22PM on May 23rd 2007
4. Mo, you are an ass.
Anyone could see that there was nothing artificial about Melinda. What annoyed people was that they thought she should have know that she was great, so any look of surprise MUST have been an act.
Bull. We are so used to people touting their own horns in this selfish country that we cannot fathom someone who maybe was raised not to think their own crap doesn't stink. We can't hndle it and must ascribe suspicious motives.
This then leads os to elevate mediocrity into supreme talent if they act the way we like. A lower lip tremble, a big mouth full of white chicklets, and a young smile, and people like Mo Rocca climb aboard. Forget a set of pipes that pale in comparison to the truly talented, this, folks, is what makes a package. So what if Jordin's voices makes coyotes howl in the low registers?
Carly at 8:42AM on May 23rd 2007
5. Jordin pretty much cried after every single one of her performances... It's a little annoying. She has a wonderful voice, great lips and teeth (as you've pointed out), and I'm definitely not about to argue that she's a better vocalist than Blake, but I've never seen anyone driven to tears by their own voice (&so often) in my life.
Every week her favourite CD just happened to be the guest judge's. And she always chose their songs to sing. I don't know.
Bleh, you know, it's all obviously staged in quite a few ways. And that's one of the reasons we all tune in.
Mary at 8:54AM on May 23rd 2007
6. TULIP, Moe, Paula's chihuahua is named Tulip.
gina-bo-bina at 9:07AM on May 23rd 2007
7. I though I heard Paula's dog was named Chula (Spanish for beautiful). I hope America doesn't make last year mistake and pick the wrong guy (Blake) as they did last year (can't even remember his name) Katherine McPhee was even better than Jordin and didn't win.
ranjolie at 9:26AM on May 23rd 2007
8. So what that Jordin sang the last song better? It was an awful, whiny ballad, just her type of song. There's no way Blake could hve sung that in a contemporary way. The song choice was purely done for Jordin's sake. She was pushed from mid season on to be the winner. Randy Jackson all but cleaned her shoes with his tongue.
What a weak season. The fact that these two have been touted as the best tells the whole story. The fact that Mo Rocca thinks Jordin is the best tells us that mediocrity seeks its own level.
Ellen at 9:32AM on May 23rd 2007
9. Ellen and Carly -
You're both angry. I can tell. You're lashing out. But it's time to set our differences aside and accept Jordin as our American Idol. We must come together.
Mo Rocca at 9:42AM on May 23rd 2007
10. Mo -
Teachers and guidance counselors tell special ed students and troublemakers that they are special and unique. Very rarely would a teacher tell a troublemaker that he/she was creative. "Oh Joe, the way you beat up those kids was so creative." or "Oh Michelle, your graffiti techniques are so creative."
Creativity and originality are things that get kids accepted to Juilliard. I'm tired of hearing that American Idol is a singing competition. American Idol is a popularity contest. You pick the person you like and hope for the best. A true American Idol does not need to be able to outsing an Opera star. Look at Madonna or Springsteen - they're idols because they're performers. Their personalities are infused into their music, which makes them who they are.
Blake is the true performer. That sappy song he had to sing at the end was obviously forced upon him when it was geared for a Kelly Clarkson or in this case, a Jordin Sparks. The arrangement was obviously unable to be changed, cause I seriously don't believe Blake would have chosen to sing it that way. I hope Jordin wins, cause if "This is My Now" is the kind of garbage they'll choose for Blake to sing on an album, he's better off taking second place.
FuSoYa at 4:00PM on May 23rd 2007
11. Tulip is the name of the pooch, but the Julep comment was hilarious nonetheless . Blake has some talent, but it's more than obvious that Jordin is the whole package. Either way, the final 3 will find themselves rolling in cash soon.
And so what if Jordin cries? She's 17 people! And I'm sure it's a rollercoaster for the contestants ever since Day 1. I think it's sweet, and at times she even brings a tear to my eye when she sings so pfffft. Blake tries to beat-box his way through every song, is that better than crying?
Michele B at 11:04AM on May 23rd 2007
12. I HONESTLY THINK MELINDA , SHOULD WIN THE AMERICAN IDOL. SHE HAS BEEN GOOD FROM THE VERY BEGINING, SHE CAN SING AND HER STAGE PRESENTS IS GREAT. JORDIN SHOULD WIN OVER BLAKE BUT NOT OVER MELINDA, AMERICA KNOWS MELINDA SHOULD HAVE WON THIS ONE. I KNOW MELINDA WILL GO ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS AND SHE HAS REMAINED A LADY THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.
JOAN at 11:11AM on May 23rd 2007
13. The dog's name is Tulip, though I certainly heard her say 'Julep' last night. Then again, she does tend to slur her words. Go figure.
Juju at 11:10AM on May 23rd 2007
14. I love Jordin! You are absolutely right about nearly everything you've said...She is the best!!! I will definitely be tuning in tonite...I always watch at the end to see who wins!!!
P.S.
Everyone Who is hating on Jordin, please stop...she's beautiful, talented, and she will be the next idol!
Camryn at 11:11AM on May 23rd 2007
15. Why dosen't everyone forget the smile or not, the good looking teeth or lips what they were wearing. Their heritage and just consentrate on talent. This is suppose to be looking for American Idol right. This is the first year I have ever watched the whole show from start to finish and my last.
BJ at 11:00AM on May 26th 2007