bo bice

Finally. A reason to watch the American Idol results show. Tonight, Bo Bice makes a special appearance on the show that made him famous last year. He'll perform his new single, The Real Thing (no, it's not a Diet Coke ad). Bo's album of the same title is nearing platinum, with 550,000 copies sold. The video reached No. 1 this week on MTV's TRL. Will he wear shoes? Maybe. A shirt made by his grandmother? Probably. Will he call someone "cat"? Certainly.

After Bo's performance, four contestants will be booted off the show and we will finally have our Top 12 Finalists.

I'm glad that Paula decided to cover up her enormous cleavage tonight with a gargantuan fake flower. I'm normally a fan of big cleavage, but I don't like anything distracting me from Ace's pretty face or Taylor's super rad dance moves. My only question is whether or not that fake flower shoots out water? In Paula's case, it's probably vodka. Now, that would be cool!

So, let's get right to the best performance of the night... 

I'm curious about who out there actually participates in the vote. Or, do you just sit back to watch the performances and wait to see who gets booted? During the first season of American Idol, I was a passive viewer. I didn't vote once. Not even for Kelly Clarkson in the finale. During the second season, however, I voted for Clay Aiken like a mad woman. Season 3 didn't really turn my crank but I did vote regularly during Season 4 for both Carrie and Bo.

This season? So far, there's no one who's inspired me to pick up the phone and dial.

Do you call (or text) your vote for American Idol? Why? Who are you voting for this season?

The funny thing about each and every season of American Idol is the contestants with mediocre talent who continue to sail through to the next round. You know what I'm talking about. They're cute and cuddly and have oodles of personality, but they're a little short on the talent category. There's a faction of television-watching, telephone-using Americans out there who insist on keeping these people on the show while other contestants with more talent get the boot.

I have five examples of American Idol contestants who wouldn't go away:

5. Constantine Maroulis. Yeah, I said it. Constantine thought he was sexy and talented. Not an attractive characteristic on a man who only has mediocre looks and talent. Constantine regularly sang out of tune and falsely advertised himself as a rocker. He was in Rent, for crying out loud! A musical! The dude was a poser and I wanted to slap that pout right off his face. I think we all know who the true rocker was last season. (P.S. More proof he's a poser: his new album is Adult Contemporary. Watch out, Clay!)

Kelly Clarkson just solidified her standing as my favorite American Idol (sorry Bo, you're #2). She has managed to escape from the strangle-hold that American Idol has on most of its contestants' careers. In an article that comes out in today's Time magazine, Kelly says she didn't want to make From Justin to Kelly with runner-up Justin Guarini but she was contractually obligated. I never saw it, because it looked like some terrible version of Beach Blanket Bingo and it only got 8% on Rotten Tomatoes. She said, "I knew when I read the script it was going to be real, real bad...I could not get out of it." Kelly eventually did get out of her contract with 19 Entertainment, the studio that manages all the American Idol winners, when folks in charge wouldn't allow her to write any songs for her new album, Breakaway. She ended up writing or co-writing six of twelve tracks and now is managed by a new company. Just call her Miss Independent.

By the way, Kelly is scheduled to perform on the Grammy Awards this Wednesday. She is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. Knowing that her personal stamp is on that album, I'm definitely rooting for her!

As I mentioned yesterday, I have a love-hate relationship with American Idol. I hate Ryan Seacrest, product placement, crappy singers, and the cruelty of the whole thing. I bitch and moan about the show and roll my eyes, yet I can't turn away. I MUST WATCH AMERICAN IDOL. So, to follow up yesterday's post, here are The Five: Reasons I'll watch American Idol (even though it pisses me off):

Bo Bice is having a busy time of it lately. He had a new baby boy last month, he had major surgery and then ended up back in the hospital with complications from the surgery, and on top of that, our own Anna Johns thinks he's one cool cat. As if that weren't enough for one guy,  his new album "The Real Thing" is being released, and the singer is said to be "very excited" about it. As you no doubt know, Bice came in second to American Idol winner Carrie Underwood (who, by the way, was just named Oklahoman of the Year), and there has been much speculation about whether Bice will pull a "Clay Aiken". Aiken, who placed second behind Ruben Studdard in Season Two of Idol, has far surpassed Studdard in album sales and fan base. 

 

I just finished reading a short interview with Bo Bice on the Pop Candy section of the USA Today website, and it reminded me why I like that guy so much. He's just so real, isn't he? Unlike any of the other American Idol contestants, he seems more like an artist than a singer. If he drank White Russians, he would totally be "The Dude" from The Big Lebowski. He still remains totally cool, even though he's had a huge year, including a runner-up slot on American Idol, an album, a concert tour, a wedding, a baby, and major surgery. That's like a lifetime wrapped into one little year!

The interview was done just before he was rushed to the hospital recently for complications from intestinal surgery, so it's a little bit out-of-date. In it, Bo tells Whitney Matheson (Pop Candy) that he's feeling fine, but is exhausted and hasn't had time to heal properly from the surgery. He also says that he's had a lot of star struck moments this year when he met people like Snoop Dogg, or band members from Audioslave and Nickelback. Bo still has a good head on his shoulders, saying that his latest album isn't going to make or break his career. He says he wants to create a respectable legacy, both in music and in his family. I just adore that man!