'Idol' Tracker: Facing the judges' Do's and Don'ts

Only once before in "Idol" history has a candidate so totally dominated the race so early; only once previously has a singer come to the Idoldome and owned it so totally that the entire season eventually became one acceptance speech. And that candidate was Carrie Underwood.  And that season was Season 4 –- widely considered, despite a certain lack of suspense, the iconic "American Idol" season.

Once again, we stand at a place where so early on the competition is on the brink of collapsing in the face of a talent who lays waste to all before him.  Could The Chosen One, David Archuleta, in week two of the competition, be on the brink of wrapping it all up and turning Season 7 into a four-month coronation of America’s next superstar?

As detailed last week, The Chosen One has behind him his terrifying talents, reared on "Idol" and honed from his earliest years into the perfect weapon to fight the soul of fearful adversaries on the "Idol" stage.  But he also is the putative candidate of the sleeping giant of "Idol" voting blocs: tween girls.

However, before we declare the race over without a single top 12 vote, we cannot rule out the fact that the Duende from Down Under, Michael Johns, is going to be a ferocious contender all the way down the stretch here.  Never has the competition seen a serious male contender with such overwhelming star quality.  And when this winnows down to a two-man race, will The Chosen One’s charm and gifts wither under the mature, somewhat demonic statecraft of the D from D?

If there is one piece of evidence to suggest that this will in fact come down to a two-man race (on the boys side at least) it is that all 10 others seem to have been given the same faulty playbook about how to respond when facing the judges.  In the first two weeks, the boys have put on unthinkable displays of petulance, sulkiness and bad manners when coming up against Simon Cowell, dooming them to also-ran.  How a candidate behaves in those crucial moments of tension, when the audience’s attention is laser-focused on every inflection and gesture, is at least as important as their song performance. 

The winners have, to a singer, handled these moments like pros.  So before any more of them get up and destroy their careers with another little outburst, I offer them this brief to-do list on facing the judges:

+ Remember the H word.  There are three qualities the "Idol" audience wants to see in candidates: humility, humility and humility. Maybe with a little gratitude thrown in.  Want to be cocky and aloof and ride your juggernaut to sure victory? Check in with Constantine Maroulis to see how well that strategy works out.  I believe you can find him doing walk-ons on "The Bold and the Beautiful."   In the meantime repeat after me, “I'm just having so much fun, all I want to do is enjoy every minute here,”  “Thank you, that’s really good advice.  I’m going to work on that for next time,” and “I feel really blessed to be alongside such talented people.”  Taylor Hicks probably bested the competition on how he aww-shucked the judges alone, even in the face of total contempt from Cowell.

+ Do Not Argue. Every winner has had their bad night on the road to the Kodak.  Simon hated Kelly at first and ripped Carrie Underwood to shreds on a few occasions. Clay Aiken protests to still carry the wounds from Cowell’s taunts of his wardrobe.  As Cowell mentioned Tuesday night, the judges have the right to their opinion.  If you respond with grace and humility to their verdicts, the audiences will defend you and boo him down.  That is their job, don’t steal it from them.

+ Don’t be Defensive. Chikezie's bickering last week was inexcusable, and frankly I don’t know if his campaign can ever recover from it.  In 10 seconds, he went from seeming an extremely likable, low-key, upbeat young man, to an insecure, entitled brat.  Robbie Carrico turned in a similar performance Tuesday night, bickering about his right to be considered a rocker. And Jason Yeager give his forgettable singing a nice kicker with a fine note of self-pity when Ryan asked if it had been hard for him whining, that it hasn’t been easy the past couple weeks.

+ Always Be Smiling. Yes, it’s hard after you’ve put your heart into a performance to get sucker punched in the gut.  But you know what’s harder?  To spend the rest of your life working the overnight shift at a convenience store when you could have been an international pop icon.  Do you see any pictures of Carrie Underwood or Jordin Sparks looking deflated or bummed out?  Try a Google image search and see what you can come up with.  Tuesday night, after Simon told David Cook that he had no charm, the previously low-key but likable alterna-rocker went into a deep sulk, instantly proving Cowell right.  Michael Johns by contrast, on receiving a lukewarm notice, kept his cool and kept right on smiling.

+ Save the sass.  Danny Noriega’s smart-aleck routine makes him stand out of the pack, but ultimately it’s a ticket on the Sanjaya Malakar express to finishing solidly in the middle tier of the Top 12.

+ Know when to lose your cool.  Like when you receive a rave.  Overwhelmed, shocked, the greatest moment of your life –- those are the appropriate responses.  Consider the following quotation. “Thank you!  Thank you! I appreciate that so much!  That means soooo much to me.”  Those are the words of perhaps the most natural "Idol" performer ever to take the "Idol" stage, a young man by the name of David Archuleta.

-- Richard Rushfield

(Photo courtesy Fox)

Comments

[Ms. Green]

---There are three qualities the "Idol" audience wants to see in candidates: humility, humility and humility. Maybe with a little gratitude thrown in. Want to be cocky and aloof and ride your juggernaut to sure victory? Check in with Constantine Maroulis to see how well that strategy works out. I believe you can find him doing walk-ons on "The Bold and the Beautiful." ---

OK. I'll bite, but I'll try and restrain myself, lest I be branded as a "crazy Con fan". First off, I think the Idols are being egged on to sass the judges back. Makes for better TV that way. And, say what you will about Constantine’s personality (and you will, I'm sure), he behaved himself in front of the judges. Also his role on B&B was not a walk-on. For the duration of his contract he was in the opening credits, and he’s been invited back to the show for later this year. He'll be doing co-hosting duties for AI Extra.

[Constantine Fan]

Richard Rushfield is a Los Angeles Times staff writer who tracks "American Idol."

If you track AI, I wish you would research a bit more. Constantine, Who I find to be very humble, I wonder if you've met him? He didn't just do walk ons on the B&B, he was on the show and may go back if his schedule allows, He has a CD out, and he's doing AI Extra on Fox Reality Network this year.He was also in 2 Broadway Shows. Clearly he didn't destroy his career.

[Doris]

Excuse me, but Constantine Maroulis always Thanked the judges and was well mannered, I think you better re-watch Season four!
Also he was on the Bold and Beautiful for the summer, NOT a walk on.
Now touring, and will return to the show to wrap up his storyline.
Constantine also will be on Fox Reality Channel co-hosting for American Idol Extra, he was and is very profession!

He surely wouldn't be standing with a goofy smile when the judges made comments, he always listened with Respect and then he would nod and again, Say," Thank you".
Then Smile when talking. Never showing any disrespect.

Come on Guys- when you write up this stuff, Please get it right.
Constantine was very Fun..Relaxed more than some, and made the show super Exciting, and was always Entertaining, as well as Talented! He always speaks of American idol well, and he gets Simon, he had teachers like Simon @ The Boston Conservatory.

Last night on season 7, I thought the rocker guy(David Cook) done pretty well singing, then he said something to Simon about not having to please him.
That was a major bad more on his part, My Husband and I both agreed you don't talk back to the judges, as he done.

But you really have your facts about Constantine Maroulis -Wrong.

Please re-watch season four, I do think you will agree...Constantine was a "DO"- "Not a Do Not". :)

[cjccjc99]

Michael Johns a contender? Ecch. I'd sooner pour molten glass in my ears than have to listen to his flat goat vibrato again. His performance was just dreadful, and it's pretty obvious the producers want him going far if that junk got praise.

[Chuckster]

Taylor Hicks utterly dominated Season 5 right from the beginning, never once was he even in the bottom three. Despite being dropped from Arista (a mutual decision, by the way, confirmed by Arista spokespeople who say they are willing to consider releasing the album he is currently recording on his own), Taylor is a real talent who will prove the naysayers wrong.

[carla]

Idol' Tracker: Facing the judges' Do's and Don'ts........ could not agree with this article more......I was in shock Tuesday night with all the comments slashing back at the judges.......My add in comment is Welcome to the real world people don't always say your great......Learn Listen and take in what the judges say! They have been doing this a lot longer then any of these guys on trying to be the Next American Idol.

[heries]

Michael Johns will not be a contender long if he contiunes to screech like he did during his last performance. Talk about pitchy. He missed several notes during that karaoke performance.

[GTR]

Although David definitely can sing, what is he going to do about his loud breathing noise? Every time he inhales, it sounds like he is breathing through a hospital lung exerciser used after a having a bout with pneumonia.

How loud is his breathing?

His breathing noise is so loud, it's like 5 tons of phlegm is in his lungs. It just makes me cringe.

Before performing next week, perhaps he can be dropped into a vat of super-oxygenated water so he does not have to breathe through his lungs. But at that point it would be hard for him to sing.

[Kitty]

According the the tapes of Season 4, which I still have, I never saw Constantine come across as anything other than polite, humble and very well mannered. If Constantine was the way you say he was, I doubt seriously he would be appearing as the co-host on American Idol Extra.

Last year, Constantine appeared on Good Day New York, numerous times (Fox affiliate) as the American Idol Correspondent and again this year he was on the show approximately two weeks ago. Do you really think if the folks at American Idol thought Constantine was as per your description, that they would want him to represent their show? Don't you think they would find someone more suitable to represent their show?

As others have stated before me, not only has Constantine appeared on a Broadway show and an off Broadway show, but he spent the entire summer on the Bold and the Beautiful, not just a "walk on" appearance. And.. by the way, he's been approached by Brad Bell to come back on the show. He appeared this summer, (shown on TV Jan 4th) as a guest on Paula's Party (Paula Dean).

Check it out, do a little research, before you try to destroy someone's reputation.

[stella ramirez]

it was my first time to again watch the american idol last tuesday, feb.26/08 since last season.
when i heard DAVID ARCHULETA sing.......i told myself, i've got to switch work hours so i can hear him sing again.his voice was so soulful......i could even say.....he sings better than john lennon.believe me he will be the next superstar.......of all the idol winners......he is the BEST OF THE BEST..

[sam]

GTR, David A. has had vocal paralysis which has caused him to have that throaty 'breathing noise'

but he's still an amazing singer,

he always has been.

[hellno]

I doubt these writers even watch American Idol. They only write about it because they have to in order to get hits on their sites. I remember Constantine...do I EVER! ;) He was always polite and said thank you. The only comment he really ever made was "I'll take that job!" when Randy told him he should be singing in Vegas. And, I respected him for that. I thought THAT was humble. Randy is ass.

[ghrtt3]

Will never understand what anyone sees in Carrie Underwood. A robotic bore at best.

[Paul Olivas]

What ever happend to starting at the bottom and working your way to the top, instead of singing a few good songs on T.V. Then becoming an American Idle for a couple of months.

[A & K]

Constantine does have manners. After A and I blew him he replied, "Thanks, that was needed"

[Jay]

I suggest you check with the AI judges themselves about Constantine's attitude towards them on Season 4 since you obviously didn't actually watch their post-critique exchanges each week (which are all on tape).

And after you talk to Simon and Randy, you should have a little chat with the execs at Hollywood Records (and Brian May), The producers of the Philippine tour, Whoopie Goldberg, Kelsey Grammar, Brad Bell (CBS exec), the producers//directors of The Wedding Singer and Jacques Brel , representatives from Autism Speaks, Make a Wish, and Broadway Cares, the staff and hosts of Good Day New York and L.A., the producers of Yahoo Buzz, the owners/ staffs of every venue where he has appeared during his highly acclaimed acoustic tour..and many other professionals who have been very public in their praise for both the talents and the attitude of the guy you are so anxious to talk smack about.
Come on- at least make an effort to get it right!