“American Idol” commanded our attention for two hours yesterday as aspiring entertainers, nascent artists and the tone deaf grabbed opportunity by the groin for a shot at the perks associated with being on a national television show. Contrary to what Hollywood tells you, opportunity doesn’t only knock once and it took a woman with comestible hair to debunk that myth.
“It will never be your only shot, until you say it’s your only shot,” said a slumped Nicki Minaj to a disappointed “Idol” contestant. That was one of Nicki’s many messages, last night, to the melancholy hopefuls who didn’t qualify to make it to the next round.
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I’ll admit it. I only watched “American Idol” last night because Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey were on it. I decided I could stand one more of Randy’s “Dawgs” if that meant I’d get to witness Nicki’s reaction to the untalented. But Randy, probably so elated to be in the company of such beauty (no offense Steven Tyler and Keith Urban), was more relaxed than usual. He let the women shine and that’s exactly what they did. Cue Rihanna!
For a while, we thought Simon Cowell was God’s gift to judges. He was brutal but funny, knowledgeable and regal–in his own way. We were for sure that “Idol” was over after he left and not even Ryan Seacrest’s boyish smile and amicable sarcasm could do anything to save it. Not to mention, the competition… Rival shows “X-Factor,” “X-Factor UK,” “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent” swooped down on “Idol’s” prime time audience with talons the size of Nicki’s famous anus.
That brings us to the derriere in question. The “Idol” judging seat is a big one but as you know, Nicki has plenty to fill it with! Your range is better than Mariah’s,” she joked with Mimi. That was their dynamic. They laughed. They bickered. They took shots at each other’s ensembles like high school “frenemies” and even agreed at times. It was perfectly entertaining. It is the factor “Idol” had been missing over the last seasons.
Jennifer Lopez was cool, but she cried every other episode and sorry, I just couldn’t take her seriously after one of her studio sessions was leaked and we heard how awful she sounded without vocal enhancements. And let’s be clear here, Nicki isn’t the most talented but she has a spark! The same spark that is going to lift “Idol” out of its rut. Of all the judges, she has the most compassion. That could be because she’s still so new to her millions and fame. She still has some Queens left in her and it’s refreshing.
That’s why I think her fans appreciate her most–her personality is electric. They are loyal to her. Some Barbz even auditioned. 17-year-old Sarah Restuccio transformed from farm girl to rap star in a matter of seconds in front of the head Barb, spitting the lyrics to “Super bass” like she wrote them. Randy and Kevin weren’t as receptive to the teen, but Nicki saw something marketable in her. With backing from Mariah Carey, they got her the golden ticket!
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The concrete jungle didn’t bring the heat as much as a native New Yorker would like me would have hoped, but there were some gems in the contestants like the Brooklyn-born Frankie Ford who before auditioning was singing songs on the train for money. Where would “Idol” be without the sob stories?
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And then there was Benjamin Gaisey‘ who decided to don a patent leather Michael Jackson “Thriller” suit to his audition. One big fail.
Keep clicking to watch their performances, tweets and Nicki Minaj gallery!
“Idol” turned out the be better than I expected and while some disagree with me on my opinion’s about Nicki’s performance, I don’t think I will be able to turn away!
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