20 Questions for MJ Santilli

Within the crowded mob of "Idol" watchers, one blogger has risen to the top.  For the show's many fanatics, MJ's Big Blog has become the one crucial destination -- proof that the Internet belongs to obssessives. The Big Blog's caretaker has filled old media pros on the "Idol" beat with awe with her seeming superhuman ability to chart every fillip, no matter how obscure, from across the vast Idol Nation, recorded with a crackling wit and ironically gushing tone, best captured in the blog's subtitle,  "I love this cheesy show."

But last month, MJ's produced the biggest scoop of the pre-season, putting "Idol" beat pros like myself to shame, when she posted a leaked memo from inside Fox detailing the forthcoming changes to the juggernaut.

In the first of our series of 20 questions with players from across the Idol Nation, we visit with the distinguished keeper of MJ's Big Blog.

1. What is your full name? MJ Santilli

2. Where do you live? Brookline, Mass.

3. How old are you? 51

4. What do you do when you are not watching/blogging about/thinking about/talking about 'American Idol'?  Listen to music, particularly indie and alternative rock. I'm a geek -- I love tinkering with computers and other assorted gadgets. And, I love taking long road trips in my car.

5. How did you get started as an 'American Idol' blogger? It was a lark. At the end of 2005, I set up blogging software on my computer and began writing. At first I blogged on random pop culture topics, but as Season 5 of "American Idol" began to gear up, I found myself writing about "Idol" full time.

6.  How did the blog take off?  Spoilers. In the fall of 2005, I started collecting Season 5 spoiler rumors from various message boards around the Net. Soon, I was posting the anonymous tips I was receiving via e-mail. Folks who were running searches on "American Idol Spoilers" were finding my site. The blog grew from there.

7. How much time a day do you spend on the blog/'American Idol'?  8 hours-plus a day. It's like a full- time job, but without the full-time pay.

8. What is your first 'American Idol' memory? One summer night in 2002, in a hotel room on Cape Cod, I was channel surfing and randomly stopped to watch an episode. I thought to myself, "I could totally get hooked on this show."  I resisted the urge that season but finally succumbed Season 2.

9. Who is your favorite Idol of all time?  This may seem a little random, but Season 3's Jon Peter Lewis.  His audition song was Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" -- he was the first Idol to perform music that was actually part of my record collection.  His albums "Stories from Hollywood" and "Break the Silence" are two of my favorite post-"Idol" albums.

10. What is your favorite 'Idol' performance ever? David Cook's "Always Be My Baby." He took Mariah Carey's bouncy pop hit and infused it with emotion and bittersweet longing. Knowing his very ill brother Adam was sitting in the audience lent the performance an even bigger emotional charge.

11.  What do you think was the worst 'Idol' performance ever? If I had to pick -- either Camile Velasco's warbly, caterwaul-tastic "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" from Season 3 or Kevin Covais' astonishingly awkward "Part-Time Lover" from Season 5.

12.  In your work, have you met or corresponded with an 'Idol' performer? I've got Chris Sligh's e-mail.  Jon Peter Lewis and I correspond occasionally on MySpace.  I've met Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin, David Archuleta and nearly the entire Season 6 cast. The only negative encounter I ever had with an Idol was a brief conversation with Constantine Maroulis on the telephone. A friend of his set up an interview. When he discovered, about 10 seconds into our conversation, that I wasn't the "Idol" blogger Mrs. Jones, he practically hung up the phone on me.

13.  Do you hear from people who work on the show?  What do they say? Does hearing from Fremantle's legal team count? I was ordered to take down my spoilers. I didn't.

14. If you could ask any Idol one question, who and what would it be? I'd ask Sanjaya Malakar for hair and makeup tips.

15. What do you think of what you've been hearing about the changes on the show?  I like the idea of adding a fourth judge. At this point, Randy, Paula and Simon are phoning it in -- relying too much on comfortable shtick. New blood will force everyone on that panel to raise their games. But, I don't like reverting back to the old-style (pre-Season 4) way of running the semifinal round. Advancing contestants to the top 12 based on one performance is risky. And as far as the wild card is concerned, I don't think the judges have any business handpicking contestants for my top 12.

16. What advice would you give someone going on the show this year? Know who you are as an artist. Or, at the very least, create a distinct musical identity for the show and stick with it. "Idol's" most successful performers had consistent identities -- David Cook the rocker and song arranger, David Archuleta the earnest balladeer, Carrie Underwood, the country girl-next-door.

17. Who would be your dream mentor? Paul McCartney.

18. Who is your favorite judge and why?  Right now, Simon Cowell. I don't always agree with him, but often he hits the nail right on the head. However, I am intrigued by the new judge, Kara DioGuardi.  She appears to be a tough chick who knows her stuff.  She could be my favorite by the end of the season.

19. What do you think Ryan Seacrest dreams of when he sleeps? Even whiter teeth and frostier tips!

20.  If you could have any Idol sing any song at your funeral, who and what would it be?  Kelly Clarkson singing Patty Griffin's "Up to the Mountain." Her performance of that song during the first "Idol Gives Back" moved me beyond words.

-- Richard Rushfield

Photo: MJ Santilli

Comments

[Jean]

Great inerview! I just lurk on MJ's blog and don't post in the comments, but I really love her blog. Is that a picture of MJ in your article? If so, she has beautiful eyes.

[Suzanne]

Great Q&A. Wow--MJ looks great. I never would have guessed her age.

[celeste]

Great job... Go MJ...

[Jagrafess]

Problem is MJ and her resident bloggers are intolerant of all who don't worship at the altar of taylor and blake. Speak critical of either or suggest neither is remotely a musical genius like Dylan or Lennon and you'll get banned. But cut throat bashing of successful alums is permitted.

[Light Off Please]

Another Cook Cougar, with a blog disguised as a gathering place for all comers, but make no mistake - it is heavily biased and slanted for all things DC... she even looks like the typical Cook fan - female, white, middle aged... Score one for the cool and original AI rocker.. keeping the Light Off these frau will be Cook's mission in the upcoming year.

[daisy]

Great interview MJ! Love your blog and this cheesy show- on to season eight!

[Amanda]

"7. How much time a day do you spend on the blog/'American Idol'? 8 hours-plus a day. It's like a full- time job, but without the full-time pay."

Does she have a job? How can you spend that much time doing a blog and work too unless you don't do anything else with your time?

[Cheryl]

However anyone can devote 8+ hours per day to Idol is beyond me. I like Idol, but that kind of devotion is extreme and scary. Fan of the scariest type. Seems to be pretty full of herself too.

[DJ]

Great interview! MJ's big blog is definitely a must for hard-core idol fans. I think I would like some hair and makeup tips from Sanjaya, too. Having grown up around his sister and a gazillion female cousins, he's a definite pro.