Video Beat EXTRA EXTRA - IS AMERICAN IDOL A DUD? - APRIL 2008

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

This was the week that the contestant eliminated would finish as number seven in the race to find the 2008 American idol. In the past there has been some notable number seven's. In most recent memory last season Snajaya Malakar was eliminated in this position. In season three it was Jennifer Holiday and look what happened to her as she moved on to fame and fortune. - CONTENDER ASIA FINAL Australian vs. Thai. 31-year-old Australian John Wayne Parr challenges Thai champion Yodsaenklai - NBA ON TV - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday April 20, 2008

Number Seven Elimination Week Takes Cook

This was the week that the contestant eliminated would finish as number seven in the race to find the 2008 American idol. In the past there has been some notable number seven's. In most recent memory last season Snajaya Malakar was eliminated in this position. In season three it was Jennifer Holiday and look what happened to her as she moved on to fame and fortune. But that was then and this is now.

When it was all said and done long shot Kristy Lee Cook took her place among the American Idol eliminated at number seven. The country singing, horse loving 24-year-old from Oregon finally was voted off the show in a week that featured the contestants singing songs written by Mariah Carey who also tutored the group.

A teary eyed Cook sang her last song to Simon Cowell while sitting on the judges table next her most passionate critic who often said Cook lacked personality. And that critique brought up a glaring fault with this edition of American Idol.

From the beginning of Hollywood week the judges and host Ryan Seacrest keep beating the drum of how great this group of contestants are. They repeatedly say that they are the best of all time in American Idol history. We could never figure out why they repeatedly kept drumming this beat since we disagreed. In our four years of coverage of the contest we felt that this was the WEAKEST of all.

From the final 12 there were only four contestants that had good quality or entertaining voices. Those five voices being David Archuleta, Carley Smithson, Syesha Mercado, Michael johns and David Cook who is more of an entertaining voice.

As the shows have progressed so has the improvement of the quality in Cook's voice. When he relaxes and sings with the bottom range of his voice he reveals his true quality and individuality. When he screams a rock song he's not as effective. But here's the stinger.

Jason Castro and Brook White are the least interesting. When you take Cowell's no personality critique into account it's amazing that he never stressed this point with these two contestants. All of the judges have been overly kind to both Castro and White so much so it raises suspicion that something is up in someone's grand plan. Neither of these singers was worthy of being in the top 12.

White, though seemingly a very nice person has the weakest voice of all of the singers in the final 24 This past week Cowell rained some negative critique on White noting after singing her song that it was like ordering a hamburger and only receiving a bun. Nothing could be closer to the truth. Her voice often breaks up and her pitch is off quite a bit.

Castro is effective on some songs but as Cowell once pointed out on the Larry King show he acts as though he doesn't want to be there. His voice can't touch the abolished Michael Johns or Ramiele Malubay.

So now it's down to the final six and this is the weakest of all the final sixes that we've ever seen. When you consider that Jennifer Holiday was eliminated at # 7 it truly shows that America has lost the plot and can't judge talent.

Whoever dreamed up this obvious PR stunt that this is the best AI contestant group ever needs to change whatever they are smoking or better yet do as doctors recommend…. QUIT SMOKING.

NOTE

Within a week of being published our column on American Idol's Ramiele Malubay American Idol Say Bye Bye to Malubay leaped to the # 4 position on our all-time American Idol listings.

The American Idol judges revealed on the Larry King show that they all agreed to be the judges on two more seasons of American Idol.

AMERICAN IDOL RESULTS

12. David Hernandez

11. Amanda Overmyer

10. Chikezie Smith

9. Ramiele Malubay

8. Michael johns

7. Kristy Lee Cook

CONTENDER ASIA FINAL Australian vs. Thai

Well its almost over as the Contender Asia will telecast its final this Wednesday when 31-year-old Australian John Wayne Parr challenges Thai champion Yodsaenklai who defeated Parr in the past in Australia. Parr is depicted as an old man who has lost his skills.

NOTE:

The FINAL is a special two hour program that is scheduled to air one hour earlier than previously scheduled. Check you local listings for the time in your area.

This should be an easy win for Yodsaenklai who is younger, stronger and faster. Parr admits that he has lost speed with age but claims when he hits, he hits hard. Parr failed to show that in his previous three matches that went the five round distance. He is the only fighter in the competition to fight 15 rounds.

Yodsaenklai is younger and hungrier. He comes from a poor family and is indebted to his mother and wants badly to win the $150,000 first prize so he could give it to his mom. He is one of only three of the 16 fighters in the competition who has a killer instinct. He displayed that when he knocked out one of his best friends and fellow club member Naruepol Fairtex.

Russian Dzhabar Askerov who lost a decision to Parr in the semifinal also possesses that killer instinct. Frenchman Rafik Bakkouri has the most killer instinct as he lost a questionable decision to Parr after he gave the Australian a cut on his face that required stitches. He is the only fighter worthy of fighting the winner of the competition, an event that the series has been promoting since its inception.

This reality series really needs to get a grip of what production is all about if it intends to return for another season. It's a dud without a commentator describing a sport that very few people know about. Another glaring fault is they way the director and editor call and edits the shots (pictures). When the fight is on they use too many cutaways to host Jaymee Ong. What has she to do with the fight and why so many shots of her? Aren't there other people in the audience that have a reaction to the fights? It raises the question is this show about Mauy Thai fighting or is it a vehicle to promote Jaymee Ong? Go figure.

NBA GAMES ON TV

NBA (National Basketball Association) playoff games are televised in the Southeast Asia region on the Star Sports television Network on Friday and ESPN Saturday's. Start times vary depending on the start time in the region of the USA from where the games is televised.

TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time and date in your area.

MONDAY

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

6:00 PM - TOP MODEL CYCLE 9 - Channel V - NEW EPISODE

10:00 PM - TOP MODEL CYCLE 9 - Channel V

TUESDAY

7:00 AM - TOP MODEL - CYCLE 9 - Channel V

11:00 AM - TOP MODEL - CYCLE 9 - Channel V

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

WEDNESDAY

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - repeat of 5 PM telecast

7:00 PM - CONTENDER ASIA - AXN - FINAL

10:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - repeat of 5/7 PM telecast

10:00 PM - CONTENDER ASIA - AXN - repeat of 8 PM telecast

THURSDAY

10:00 AM - CONTENDER ASIA - FINAL - AXN

12 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - repeat of previous day

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL ELIMINATION SHOW - Star World

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL ELIMINATION SHOW - Star World - repeat of 5 PM telecast

10:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL ELIMINATION SHOW - Star World - repeat of 5/7 PM telecast

FRIDAY

??:?? AM - NBA GAME - Star Sports

12 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL ELIMINATION SHOW - Star World - repeat of previous day

2:00 PM - TOP MODEL - CYCLE 9 - Channel V

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

9:00 PM - NBA GAME - Star Sports - Replay of earlier game)

SATURDAY

6:30 AM - CONTENDER ASIA - FINAL AXN

??:?? AM - NBA GAME - ESPN

3:00 PM - TOP MODEL - CYCLE 9 - Channel V

4:00 PM - CONTENDER ASIA - FINAL AXN

7:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

11:00 PM - CONTENDER ASIA - FINAL AXN

SUNDAY

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

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