BlogHer - American Idol - Comments

Too, Too and Too

Megan Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:15:34 -0600

Give him time, he'll get it together.

And I bet he's a great kisser!

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

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He's Taking the Heat Like A Man

Megan Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:01:39 -0600

For all his visibility because of "Idol" he's still just starting out. He's such a good talent, once he gets some really good material, I think he's going to do very well.

But I like him anyway, and I also respect his responses about the show in interviews: an admission that he got carried away, but taking the heat like a man.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

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Loooooooooooove Adam

kimsisto — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:08 -0600

Loooooooooooove Adam Lambert...in fact, I want to kiss him real bad...

But I must say, I think his performance at the AMA's went too far...just tooooo much, toooo overboard....sort of like when Madonna was masterbating to "Like A Virgin."

Get a freaking room, kids!

I wanted to hear his voice, that gorgeous voice. I wanted him to make love to me with his guy-lined eyes. I wanted more...

Great post, as usual. :)

Good Points

Megan Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:54:10 -0600

Hi Mata,

No, you definitely shouldn't have to choose between excessive violence or excessive sex. I guess when it comes to modern, rock performances, I tend to expect a certain amount of "in your face-ness." It's part of the selling of the product these days.

Having said that, if your vocals and your performance aren't top notch all the extra stuff is like you say, just a "look at me, look at me" stunt. And Adam's peformance vocals and performance on Sunday weren't top notch.

Thanks for letting me know what you think.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

I actually admire him in his

Expat Mum — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:00:35 -0600

I actually admire him in his interviews for saying he's not a babysitter. He's not - it was a late night show and parents should be in control of what their kids are watching. However, I agree with him - it was not his strongest vocal performance. He also admits that the moves weren't choreographed which is possibly why they looked a little cheesy. I don't really care about all the kissing and stuff, and yes, there is a double standard going on as most have agreed.

He's still learning, as he said this morning on TV, so perhaps next time he'll think about what he's doing beforehand and then decide accordingly. He may decide to do the same thing and that's fine, but hopefully it won't look as amatuerish.

Do we have to choose

Mata H — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:22:25 -0600

I'm just hoping we don't have to choose between gratuitous sex and gratuitous vilence -- cuz I am one of those "none of the above, thankyouverymuch" people. I just don't think someone rubbing someone ele's head into their crotch in front of a crowd is really very artsy. And I'd rather that people rubbed their groins somewhere other than national TV. It doesn't offend me. I just can't imagine why anyone would want to do it. You want to sing? Fine, sing. You want to lead sex slaves around? Go to the Eulenspiegel Society.

I am just too old to be shocked. And don't tell me I am not au courant because I found it boring. Lady Gaga is cool because she delivers entertaining music in addition to her performance-persona. Lambert was not cool because the song deivery sucked and it was all about him performing. Ego Ego Ego. The lyrics should have been "Look at me me me, I am wicked and cool." over and over again.

I just think his act was like kids dressing in scary clothes and sticking their fingers up their noses, thinking they are especially cool and gross at the same time. I do not give a rat's patoot about his sexuality. I would just rather hear him sing. His act made me forget he could.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

I'm Feelin' Ya'

Megan Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:48:22 -0600

Believe me Laurie, I'm feelin' ya'--though not in a literal sense of course.

I agree with you. There are too many bad images out there and kids need to be carefully exposed. At the same time I think they need to be taught how to handle what's out there when they encounter it.

However, I also think there are positive images out there as well. We might just have to look a little harder to find them.

I don't think you're archaic and out-of-touch at all. Just because I can appreciate Adam's performance for what it was doesn't mean that I don't think he should accept responsibility for the heat he'll take because of it.

There's a lot of great stuff in the real world and ultimately all that good stuff out weighs the bad.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

Yeah, I'm REALLY equal

LMAshton — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:22:56 -0600

Yeah, I'm REALLY equal opportunity prude, then. :) I don't like the violence, either. I don't think it's necessary for any of us to have hundreds of thousands of images of people being shot, stabbed, bombed, choked, strangled, or hung thanks to TV and movies. There's too much violence, blood, and gore, too, in my opinion.

But the same can be said of glorifying drinking, doing drugs, adultery and fornication (whether shown on screen or not), and behaving badly with no self control. There's also too much of the blame-everyone-else thing going on. There's not enough of taking personal responsibilities for one's actions. There aren't enough good examples of balanced, emotionally healthy people making mostly good, responsible decisions. Although, in some people's minds, that wouldn't sell enough TV shows, movies, books, news, whatever.

Yeah, I know - to some, I seem like an archaic, out-of-touch person who doesn't understand the real world. In reality, I understand it all too well. I just prefer to not have certain things be a part of my own personal reality and instead choose other things. :)

Laurie in Sri Lanka

Chilli & Chocolate | A Canadian in King Parakramabahu's Court | LMAshton on Twitter

Diversity Is What Makes The World Go 'Round

Megan Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:06:14 -0600

Hi LM,

I get where you're coming from. Diversity is what makes the world go 'round and while I wasn't offended by Adam's performance I could see where other people might be.

But for me, I'm much more offended by some of the images of violence parading across our screens, than by some of the images of sex.

Thanks for commenting.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

I Have The Address Of That Gated Gay Community

Megan Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:04 -0600

Hi Leighbra,

That gated gay community lives right next store to the gated black community.

And it just goes to show that along with more visibility of gays comes a variety of images. All gay people are not alike, live alike, think alike--just as all black people are not alike, live alike, think alike.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

A Kiss Equals Love...Sort Of

Megan Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:54:39 -0600

Hi Maria,

Yeah, as I said I thought the kiss was kinda hot. But even if a few of Adam's younger fans were up watching, I would much prefer them seeing that performance, oral sex simulation and all, than say a guy getting his head blown off by a semi-automatic in extreme closeup.

But that's just me.

Tell Sis, I said, "Hey!"

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

I Think You're On To Something!

Megan Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:49:59 -0600

Hi Deb,

I think you could be on to something with that line dance idea. That would give "Achy, Breaky Heart" a run for its money!

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

Um, here's the thing. Not

LMAshton — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:37:11 -0600

Um, here's the thing. Not everyone IS okay with straight people grabbing crotches or making out on screen.

Personally, I'm equal opportunity prude. I don't care whether it's homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, or multi-sexual - I don't want to watch it. I really don't. I don't care if the performers are kids, teenagers, adults, if they're married in real life or on the screen, I don't want to watch it. I don't want to see male or female nudity, partial or full. I don't.

I'm in the camp of there's way too much overt sexuality, sex scenes, making out, whatever on television and in movies already. There's already a lot of stuff I won't watch because of it, and it only seems to be getting worse.

I've started enjoying a lot more cartoons/animated/kids stuff, although not even all of that is totally safe...

And you know what? I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Laurie in Sri Lanka

Chilli & Chocolate | A Canadian in King Parakramabahu's Court | LMAshton on Twitter

if he had been face-humping

Leighbra — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:28:22 -0600

if he had been face-humping a woman in that same bizarrely uncoordinated manner (can't quite tell from the camera angle just what he did to the woman on the stair's face...) people would be upset about objectifying women and condoning sexual aggression towards woman...

Like you said, NOT sexy. I know for a fact that I would slap my husband crazy if he tried to emulate that little move... I'm pretty sure then *I* would be condoning sexual aggression towards men!

I've been seeing a lot of the backlash from the gay community (where IS this gay community, and is it gated? Can anyone get in?) against gay people that are "rubbing their sexuality" in the faces of straight people lately...

I get it, I really do, but I have to wonder if it's similar to the pressure on black people in earlier years (and still now...) to lose their culture and trade it in for one the whites find more acceptable (white/straight culture/behavior).

But worse because straight people can grab crotches and simulate anal sex in their dances, and that's okay with everybody, as long as Hannah Montana doesn't dance around the umbrella of an ice cream cart, because that's not okay with anyone....

Why the fuss?

Maria Niles — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:49:26 -0600

About the kiss? Why would ABC freak out and cancel GMA when they show men kissing in the daytime on One Life To Live and at night on Brothers and Sisters when I'm certain they get the same kinds of complaints?

Yes kids should have been in bed but given his likely substantial teeny-bopper fan base from AI some parents might have allowed their younguns to see this. That's my guess.

I agree that the outrage should be over the weak material and tired, cliched performance. My sister is a huge fan of Adam's (and how I know his music) and even she was meh on the show (and thought he went a bit too far over the top). He's a talented singer - here's hoping he gets a better showcase.

Also, excellent deconstruction, Megan. I'm going to share this with my sister. :)

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