After five years and 58 finalists, some clear American Idol voting patterns have begun to emerge. Sure, there's always room for surprises, but there are some patterns so compelling that they prove very difficult to overlook.
Case in point...the "white girl spot."
Now, there have been plenty of very successful white girls over the years on American Idol, including winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, and runners-up Diana Degarmo and Katharine McPhee. There have also been white girls who have achieved mid-level success in the competition, among them Carmen Rasmussen, Kimberly Caldwell, and Kellie Pickler. These, however, are not the girls I am referring to.
Instead I am referring to the fact that for the past four years, the first person voted out of the Top 12 has been a white girl: Vanessa Olivarez (Season 2), Leah Labelle (Season 3), Lindsey Cardinale (Season 4), and Melissa McGhee (Season 5). (For the sake of accuracy, Olivarez was of mixed race, and Labelle is of Bulgarian descent).
Granted, none of these girls really had a shot at winning the competition, none had done a particularly good job at establishing themself as a distinctive personality, and the only elimination that could be seen as somewhat of a surprise (at the time) would be Vanessa's. But still, that's a pretty striking pattern.
This fact became relevant last night, when it was announced that Haley Scarnato made it into the Top 12 instead of Sabrina Sloan. The question becomes, then, will Haley continue the trend, making it five straight seasons that a white girl has been the first contestant eliminated?
Yes, I am aware that Gina Glocksen is still in the competition, but I'm betting her spirited Evanescence cover will buy her at least a few more weeks in the competition. She strikes me as much more of a Kimberly Caldwell (better, in fact) than a Melissa McGhee.
And yes, I am also aware that Sanjaya, Phil, and maybe even Brandon are at least as bad, if not worse, than Haley. Any of these three could, in theory, put up competition for the first-booted spot. (Although you'd have to harken all the way back to Season 1 for the last time a boy was the first contestant sent home...that honor goes to EJ Day).
So, even though anything could happen on Tuesday night when the Top 12 take the stage, I'm thinking (for the moment, at least) that history is gonna repeat itself, and Haley will, once again, show that the "white girl spot" is the same thing as saying "number 12."
Friday, March 09, 2007
The "White Girl Spot": First Sent Home?
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6 comments:
Wasn't Ejay Day the first sent home on Season 1? I know Jim Verraros was kicked off that same night, but I thought they pointed out that Ejay had the lowest. Anyway, small matter! Thanks for the blog.
You're not really telling the whole story, though, which makes it misleading. I think Melissa forgetting her lyrics had a lot to do with her ouster. Vanessa had one of the worst scripted moments calling Ryan a "performing monkey" which probably cost her votes- and Leah was not a popular contestant who probaby would not have even been picked to be the Wildcard if Simon had not goaded Paula into choosing her- and she too forgot her lyrics her first time out.
What does seem worth investigating is why there seems to be in every semi-finals several white girls who look like models but have weak voices when it comes time to performing. There are always several of these girls- who often look like clones of each other- and who do badly. How many beautiful black girls are cast off in the semi-finals after being lambasted by the judges for not being able to sing well? I don't think ANY.
You're right in saying I'm not telling the whole story...of course I am not trying to suggest that these four girls were voted off simply because they were white. Of course, there are a myriad of reasons why any contestant is voted off of American Idol. Considering, though, there has never been a pattern as consistent as this one for any other position in the voting, I did think it was worth highlighting.
I think your question is a good one, regarding why every year there seems to be a few very pretty white girls with disappointing voices in the semifinals. To be honest, I chalk this up, at least in part, to Randy and Simon. Every year, the two houndog judges drool over the pretty girls when they come in to audition, and definitely give them many more chances to succeed than they give other, less attractive (or male) contestants. (Paula, I've found, is never more critical in early auditions than when she thinks a pretty girl is gonna skate into Hollywood based on her looks) Luckily, these girls are usually weeded out by more discriminating viewers before the competition gets too serious.
Case in point...see ya later, Antonella!
Man!Why is everything about race in your damn country?She's black, so(fill in the blanks)....he is white...so...he is the first black this...she is the first white that...Christ....when is your country just going to base people on their actions and not their color? Ever?
What's more troubling is the lack of African American men who make it on this show. Last year, the top twelve had one; this year same thing. Of all the hundreds of thousands of singers, it's hard to believe that there is only one black male worthy of the top 12. And the only response is that Reuben won. Big deal. Black men are woefully underrepesented on the show.
There were NO black men in the finals last year, though Gedeon McKinney came painfully close in the semifinals. Too bad the public fancied that no-talent hick Fucking Covington over him for the last spot in the finals. How Fucking even made the semis is beyond me.
Haley has SOME talent, but let's face it: while Sabrina may have not done enough to distinguish herself more in the contest, her overall standing was superior to Haley.
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