Those scamps at Vote for the Worst continue to wreak havoc on Fox's "American Idol." This season the snarky Web site is encouraging its fans to support the dreadful Danny Noriega, a contestant who makes the hapless Sanjaya Malakar from last season seem talented.
That groaning sound you heard last night was the late Elvis Presley voicing his disapproval of Noriega's dreadful performance of "Jailhouse Rock" on yesterday's telecast. Even stranger was the fact that Noriega picked the song, which debuted in 1957, for 60's night. Vote for the Worst urges its readers to "vote as much as you can for the fierce and fabulous Danny Noriega. Simon [Cowell] obviously hated him the most, which is why we love him the most."
Noriega, like Malakar, erodes fans' confidence in Idol, which should alarm Fox's parent News Corp (NYSE: NWS). There are some other weird developments that will tax viewers' patience even further. Idol contestant Carly Smithson was signed to MCA records when judge Randy Jackson worked there. Allowing contestants to participate who have had record deals dilutes the spirit of the contest.
Also, was it a coincidence that the last contestant on the show last night was Michael Johns, the most talented of the male contestant? I would say no. The Aussie native is my choice to win the competition and no doubt is a favorite of his countryman News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch. His performance of The Doors' classic "Light My Fire" was one of the best in the history of the program.
Freelance writer Jonathan Berr edits the blog Ketchup and Eggs.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-20-2008 @ 10:24PM
Karen said...
Last year, I despised all the little Fanjaya. This year I understand them. I love Danny Noriega. I think he is just adorable and plan to vote for him every Tuesday night. Do I think he should win? No. I have other favorites who I think could actually become successful recording artists. Regardless of VFTW, Danny started developing a fan base weeks ago that will continue to support him until the end. VFTW adds some extra votes, but a fan base is what really counts.
ps. I am not some little teenie bopper either. I am a graduate student working on my master's degree.
2-21-2008 @ 10:14AM
Masi said...
Contestants like Danny Noriega and Sanjaya Malakar stay on the show longer than expected because the viewers love them. Those guys have 'teenage idol' written all over them.
Sanjaya had an amazing demographic. His fan base started as a 50/50 split of kids and middle aged women. Half of his voters carried Partridge Family lunch boxes and cut the free Jackson Five and Osmond records from the back of cereal boxes in the 70's. They are living proof that being branded as a teen idol is not such a negative thng. The fans of Malakar and Noriega are better barometer of America's entertainment taste than the viewers who failed to download Taylor Hicks.
2-21-2008 @ 11:08AM
Carly said...
The producers assembled the song list and the contestants chose from that, so it's not Danny's fault.
"Erodes confidence in Idol": Lighten up. It's a reality show; nothing more, nothing less.
(Karen, better get used to being called a teeny bopper. I'm a Sanjaya fan and people - mostly incompetent journalists - think we're all kids.)
Worsters ftw.
2-23-2008 @ 1:42PM
Christopher said...
What a ridiculous and pointless post. First off, Vote for the worst has proven time and time again that they are ineffectual at altering the Idol landscape. Their endorsment has always proven to be the kiss of death. They were very late in throwing their support over to Sanjaya and he was ousted shortly thereafter. Your opinion on Noriega's talent is subjective, but I think he is vocally more proficient than at least half the other contestents, including Karaoke master Michael Johns with his strained Lizard King imitation. And speaking of Johns, why are we so concerned about Carly's failed recording contract when Michael Johns also had a major record deal at one time?
2-24-2008 @ 5:36PM
Joe said...
whoever wrote this article is clearly homophobic. Have you not heard Danny sing before? How can you say he is worst then Sanjaya, I dont care how much you know about singing. Have you heard him sing a real song?? Like in hollywood or even his prior audition.