Because of my OCD and addictive personality I try not to
start watching a TV show from the very first episode, because the OCD means I
will have to watch it until the bitter end and the addictive personality means
I will want to watch it until the bitter end.
And I am not a fan of the reality TV genre.
It is a wonder then that I watched (every single episode
of) American Idol (live). No exaggeration. I did not DVR it because it started
after my bedtime (Revenge, The Americans, Impractical Jokers) and I did not
miss an ep because I was having a midlife crisis and relocating 750 miles
(Lost, season three, episode 14, original air date March 28, 2007, the one
featuring that smoking hot Brazilian guy who was in Love Actually. I was
driving through Utah at the time. I caught up with it online a few days later
but it remains the only episode of Lost I did not watch live).
But Idol was an exception. Mainly because of its British
component (which is also the same reason I started reading the Harry Potter
books (and once I started to read the books, I had to watch the movies because
I always do)).
I have voted for some contestants. I have borrowed from
the library and copied on to my iPod some performers’ CDs (but not purchased –
I may be a super fan but I am still cheap). And I once even had a viewing party
for a finale. That is rare. The only other time I have ever done that is for
Friends. Although I guess party is a slight exaggeration because in both cases
the guest list consisted of only one other person - D. for Friends and my
former friend K. for Idol (former because she got engaged and turned into
Bridezilla; D. also got engaged but did not). I also crushed on the occasional
judge (I would go down under with Keith any time), one or two contestants, and
of course the only host that mattered, Brian Dunkleman. It also provided fodder
for this blog.
And, yeah, I thought the final episode was damn near
perfect. I have always thought using the song One Voice the way they did would
be a great start to a show or a concert. And then there was Simon, the British
component that got me started with this show. I could have done without the
fake surprise when he showed up because seriously, did anyone think he would
not? The judging panel was never the same without him - he told it like it was;
yes, he was harsh but he was never unfair. I am very glad there were subtitles
of all the singers because I did not recognize a ton of them – Bo’s new look is
hot although I do miss Justin’s Sideshow Bob hair style. I enjoyed the fact
that Kree got more airtime than that bitch she lost to; and I loved that the producers
owned the white guys with guitars criticism with that medley.
And then there was Brian. I crushed on Brian from the
very start. I almost considered not watching anymore when he left. I would
dislike Ryan anyway (I do not like hypocrites – get out of the damn closet
already, you are not fooling anyone) but the fact that he remained and Brian
left was devastating to me. But his bit on the finale was a perfect bookend, I
thought: it was funny and humble and he was as hot as he was back in the day.
And then there was that result. I do think La’Porsha is
talented, and maybe more so than Trent but I am very glad she did not win
because of the way she was treated during the season. The way the judges gushed
over her annoyed me. I have always been that way, though: if anyone is getting preferential
treatment, I automatically am against him or her. I am sure there are
deep-seated psychological reasons for this (like maybe the fact that I have
NEVER gotten preferential treatment? OK, maybe not so deep-seated after all!).
But Idol is done. “For now.” What the fuck does that
mean, Seacrest? Way to end a show, shithead. Don’t you know how annoying that
is for people with addictive personalities? Will Idol come back? Will I obsess
over it? Watch this space.
