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The day of reckoning for Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard is here : Singapore
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Thursday, 22 May 2003
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The feeling is excruciating, a mind-numbing agony that seems to have no end.
This may be what American Idol contestants feel each time they are addressed by fork-tongued Brit judge Simon Cowell.
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It will also be how two people will soon feel before one experiences the joy of success.
The search for “a moment like this” approaches its conclusion when the two-part finale for American Idol 2, staged in the United States yesterday and this morning (Singapore time), is shown tonight on MediaCorp TV Channel 5.
Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, the two finalists left standing after months of gruelling competition - there were an initial 70,000 hopefuls - are aiming for the magical feeling previous winner Kelly Clarkson had eight months ago, after her masterful rendition of A Moment Like This.
While Clarkson, Aiken, Studdard and some notable others - Kimberly Locke, for instance - have proven that they’ve got the ability, the singing is arguably not the best part of the Idol extravaganza.
It’s the core premise for the show, no doubt.
But the reason that this Talentime-cum-Survivor series has become such a cultural and commercial phenomenon is its mixing of styles from the reality genre, creating a killer format that allows it to be a ratings-grabber even when shown two (or even three) times a week in America.
The programme, frequently among the top 10 rated with about 20 million viewers per episode, has been especially good in recent weeks as the most talented singers this year showcased their vocal skills.
Aiken, Studdard and Locke, who was eliminated last week, have proved that the cream does rise to the top; they were easily the best in this season’s cohort.
But as a friend told me recently, she found the singing segments a drag, because they prolonged the wait for the priceless judging segments!
An integral part of these is obviously Cowell.
For many, he’s the devil incarnate, always ready with a sulphur-tipped comment.
But his brutal honesty as the devil’s advocate as well as willingness to play the bad guy and take constant pot shots from his fellow judges and host Ryan Seacrest make him a pivotal cog in the show.
The nostalgia element also helps to make the show a hit, with music legends, including Billy Joel, Neil Sedaka and Smokey Robinson invited each week to sit on the panel of regular judges, Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, while the contestants belt out their classic favourites.
The complimentary platitudes are boring and cheesy.
Abdul is sickeningly sweet.
Jackson keeps saying: “Dawg, you did your thang” and the guest judge, whoever it may be, invariably tries not to offend.
Cowell, delightfully, has no qualms in speaking his mind.
Everyone wants to hear what Simon says, especially when he couches his opinions in the most outrageous terms (“There was one great part to your song, it was the end!”).
Any contestant who extracts praise from someone as hard to please as him must feel gratified or at least relieved.
Other key elements for the show’s success is the fact that audiences, by calling and text messaging, have a say in who gets voted off each week.
The length of the competition, which began on Jan 23, also makes it truly a matter of survival.
Another reality television hallmark is the long goodbye, replete with close-up interviews and wistful montages, each eliminated finalist makes.
Prolonging the moment, whether enjoyable or humiliating, has been turned into an art here.
One who never did say goodbye was last season’s champion, Clarkson, a bright-eyed, toothy 20-year-old from small-town Texas.
The former cocktail waitress must be giddy finding out what fame can do.
Her triumph watched by nearly 30 million in the US, Clarkson was already a household name when she signed a million-dollar recording contract with RCA Records.
Her winning song (packaged with Before Your Love) hit No 1 last September, ending up as 2002’s best-selling single in the US, and her debut album, Thankful, also reached the top of the charts last month there.
These are among the huge rewards that an American Idol winner reaps.
Television viewers and music fans the world over are also winners, given the rich entertainment this show delivers.
And the cynical truth is, many of the contestants who had fallen before the finishing line don’t come out empty-handed either.
The commercial might of the Idol phenomenon has spawned numerous books, multimedia and concert tours.
Clarkson, runner-up Justin Guarini and many of last year’s finalists have all been involved.
The top two, Clarkson and Guarini, who has an album of his own coming out next month, will also feature soon in a fluffy, quickly made movie called From Justin to Kelly, while another finalist, Tamyra Gray, has a recurring role on the drama, Boston Public.
Whoever gets crowned winner tonight, it’s nearly inconceivable that the runner-up and Locke won’t also be considering recording deals, such is their visibility and appeal.
The threesome will also be reunited with seven other Idol finalists for a staggering 39-city tour starting on July 8.
Winning isn’t everything, it seems.
For Idol wannabes, along with the select few winners, the time of their lives has started.
While people still watch and the sound of music - and money rolling in - is still sweet, long may the grand moments and putdowns continue.
The finals of American Idol 2 will be shown in two parts tonight at 8 and 10pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 5.
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