Just when it seemed as though Fox's American Idol had weathered the storm of revamping its judging panel, and built a strong enough season to withstand the dual onslaught of The Voice and Simon Cowell's upcoming The X Factor, the long-running musical competition show shot itself in the foot, and maybe the heart, Thursday night by refusing James Durbin entry to the Final Three.
The fatal Achilles' heel of American Idol, when this show's story is said and done, may well turn out to be its own voters...
By eliminating Durbin, perhaps the most talented and passionate singer in Idol's decade-long history, before the finals, American Idol makes itself less credible just when it needs credibility the most. Don't cry for Durbin -- like other strong singers ousted early from American Idol, he'll do just fine, and have more freedom to pursue his musical dreams than if he'd won the official Idol sash and crown.
But Idol?
Without Durbin's dramatic back story, passionate and innovative song selection and delivery, and amazing range (both vocally and emotionally), we're left with Scotty McCreery's country crooning, Lauren Alaina's beautiful but coltish vocal renditions, and Haley Reinhart's too-cool-for-school screaming and scowling. For the first time since American Idol began, I'm so frustrated by the voting results that I don't see the point of watching the rest of the season.
And, perhaps, after that.
Is this the judges' fault?
In large part, yes. Listen to Randy Jackson, and every performer he witnessed, virtually every week, was "in it to win it!" He proclaimed that phrase so often, so loudly, and so proudly, you'd think he already had a piece of the t-shirt concession.
And on the rare -- VERY rare occasions -- when the judges let harsh reality intrude, and offered critical rather than supportive notes, one of them would try to veto the others. When Randy would say someone's vocal performance was not that good, Jennifer Lopez would say he was wrong. And when Randy and Jennifer agreed that someone was not doing well (as in Haley, Wednesday night), Steven Tyler would say they were BOTH wrong... and would advise Haley not to listen to them.
So the audience, left to its own devices, went for the pretty ones and the more handsome one. Ah, for a show where you could close your eyes and be judged on your voice alone.
Oh, wait -- that's The Voice, and it's over on NBC right now.
No wonder it's a hit...
And no wonder, when James was eliminated last night, he was given time to sing a reprise of his version of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" as a final curtain call, and to say a fervent "Thank you" to the crowd -- but the program left no time for host Ryan Seacrest to ask the judges, as he had in previous seasons, their opinions of this surprise ouster.
Jennifer Lopez was crying, but to no avail. Because of the viewer votes, and a lack of discriminating support from the judges, James Durbin, Thursday night, was in it to lose it.
And as he lost, so did American Idol.