JUDGMENT: American Idol Style

Judging performers, and/or actors, is grand sport. America seems to greatly enjoy professional critiques of singers then waiting to see if their evaluations agree with both the critics, and with voting America. I wondered why this unusual format, quite different from that part of what used to be called 'Talent Contests' shown to an audience, the final performances, which now includes the auditioning, winnowing process. Truth be told we somehow like watching the losers lose. Simon has his fans. If he didn't have them, and in large numbers, he'd have been long gone.  

With one huge difference the spectacle of the various stages unfolding is similar to what happened in profession acting workshops such as those conducted by Lee Strasberg, Uta Hagen, Herbert Berghof, and Stella Adler. I must sadly add that all four of those giants of New York Theater are now dead. (Old age.) I was mesmerized by those classes even though no two were alike. I took copious notes. In each case I waited with great curiosity to hear what the instructor/moderator/teacher/guru would say. Each had a very distinct style. By far the most interesting and the most famous and beloved was Lee Strasberg.

The main, huge difference between the critiques of the three panelists on American Idol, and the theater people I have listed, is that the panelists judge not the performance, but the outside appearance of the performer and the performance, the exterior appeal, the energy, and the suitability of the song for the singer.  'You come over as...' as said by Simon for example, would never be said by any of the four acting teachers, even though they were quite different one from another. You can imagine what all three panelists would say to Marilyn Monroe, if they had never heard of Marilyn Monroe, if she went on American Idol and sang. "Happy birthday Mr President..."  They would try to hold their smirk and say thanks but no thanks.

However, that said, those four teachers had a profound impact on theater, movies, television and Pop singing. So, it's intriguing that I have heard from the panelists a few times mention of a singer's private way of delivery. They don't seem to have any faith in that way of performing, but they are not unaware that such a thing exists. To that extent they are somewhat ahead of the rest of America.

One of my favorite Pop songs has been Drive, by The Cars. What I have always loved about the original version is the lonely-sounding, very young male singer in love with the reckless woman who needs someone to drive her home tonight, but who, in her apparent extremity cannot return the young man's love.  Lately I've heard the song sung by a woman, a woman sounding totally indifferent to the woman needing a ride. I believe, have a hunch, that were a young woman to present that song so sung to the panelists on American Idol, she'd be told to take a hike.

We, all of us, love a song that is well acted. No?

Barry