(Late) Idol and SYTYCD Rants

I know I completely trailed off almost as soon as I started writing for Idol this year, and haven't blogged in months, but work has calmed down now (read that "I've become unemployed at present") and I should be able to start really paying attention and writing again now.

Now that SYTYCD is through with a stellar 4th season, I'd like to take a moment to comment on American Idol. My early affection for David Archuleta began to fade the longer I watched. His voice, pleasant at first, soon became dull, and his utter lack of dimension started to grate on me. By the end of the competition, I found that I hated him, his flat, boring performances, and his father.

At the same time, David Cook just got better and better and became (in my mind) the first time the right person has ever won on American Idol. This was bolstered when I managed to get my hands on Analog Heart, Cook's 2006 solo album. All I can say is that you really need to buy this album. On first listen, it seemed only very good, but knowing that first impressions are NEVER correct, I listened again.

Damn. Brilliant. Just brilliant. (Trivia for the Wikipedia-impaired - David Cook is planning to release his 'debut' album in November, songs to be written by Cook himself, Ed Roland of the great Collective Soul, the singer from Our Lady Peace, Ryan Tedder of the excellent OneRepublic, and blooming songwriting talent Jesse McCartney, whose prior career I refuse to acknowledge)

But enough Idol. About this year's So You Think You Can Dance.

The top two, Joshua and Twitch, had been my favorites from the beginning. I was happy to see the two of them as the first street dancers to ever make the top four. I thought Joshua was very deserving, though Twitch was my favorite.

What irks me is the illogical decision to give the highest ranking dancer of the opposite gender of the winner $50,000. There's nothing wrong with runner-up prizes, and I don't hate Katie, but she placed 3rd. Twitch placed 2nd. By all accounts, Twitch deserved a runner-up prize as well. Katie was a lovely girl and a wonderful dancer, but the prize seemed a bit contrived and a little unfair.

However, I'm happy to say that this competition opened doors for its contestants, as many of them are planning on moving to LA after the tour this year for work. Twitch doesn't have to join the Navy anymore!

I discovered at season's end that I'm hopelessly addicted to the SYTYCD formula, and so have begun torrenting SYTYCD Australia. Also, when SYTYCD Canada (thank heaven they didn't try to be clever and call it "So You Think You Canadance") starts on September 24th, I plan to cover it here each week. (Really this time. Honest.)

So, until next time, keep your stick on the ice. (No, I'm not Canadian. I'm just getting myself ready.)