Australian Idol - A disgrace?

[Chickenshit]

Hey, how many of you guys have been following Australian idol?

Up until tonight, I’ve been following the show rather closely and enjoying it quite a bit. But tonight’s show, I must say, was a complete disgrace. It really raises the question are Australians really as racially tolerant and accepting as many of us believe them to be and how it is widely portrayed in the media? This is the only way of explaining how Paulini (originally from Papua New Guinea), undisputedly one of the top 3 performers (if not the finest) from the remaining group, came so close to being kicked out of the competition. Performers far inferior to both her and Levi were overlooked as these two were put under such intense pressure, with one of them leaving for certain.

The judges themselves were lost for words, but in part, they are also to blame for such an outcome. They need to toughen up on the poorer performers. In retrospect the comments made by half Jamaican half English performer Cle, that Australian’s would never let a ‘Black’ person win Australian idol, seem to be right on the mark.

Paulini’s performances all through have been faultless and inspiring to say the least, and she has not put one foot wrong throughout the entire competition, where on the other hand every other contestant has stumbled at least once or more.

Sure there is the aspect that it is mostly teenage girls voting, but to counter this it can be questioned how did Cosima dodge the bullet so convincingly and Paulini come so close to being kicked out, when Paulini has more than matched the challenge.

Hmm just wanted to vent, because this was a deeply saddening event to watch, and it somewhat undermines the pride I have for this country. Does skin colour still matter in Australian society?

Certainly some of those contestants in the final group can never even dream of matching the talent of Idol’s from overseas, but on the other hand there are a few fantastic performers who are far and above superior to anything UK and even American Idol had to offer. (Remember the disaster pop star winner Scott Cain turned out to be?)

If you’ve been following the show, share your thoughts…

[Love Plastic Love]

I have not been following, but I have watched far better performers be voted out while mediocre ones remained in American Idol. It....sucks.

[Sean]

Yes Monday's show was nothing short of a DISGRACE. Everybody I know was totally outraged when it was announced Paulini was bottom 3.

She is BY FAR the best vocalist on the show. In fact, the only ones I could stand winning are Paulini and Cosima. The 3 guys are sub-standard. In particular, Rob and Shannon are nothing better than bar/kareoke singers. Guy has some talent but there is something about his voice and his look that turn me off so I can't stand him.

I don't know what the voting public is thinking, it makes me sick! I voted for the first time this week and voted once each for Paulini and Cosima, I will definitely keep voting for them both as I can't stand to see those guys get any further over the amazing talents of the 2 girls.

It's hard to say whether it's a racial thing, or whether it's just that they are voting for who they have a crush on or who they can relate to (would explain Cosima over Paulini). Whatever the cause, it is unacceptable and will really give the show a bad name if Paulini does not at least make top 3, she deserves it and has raised the bar each week with her flawless performances.

Also... the judges are pathetic. Dicko is great, he tells it like it is and JUDGES. The other 2 can go home as they add nothing. Mark's comments are pathetic and what he said to Levi on Monday was disgraceful. Marcia just says the same thing every week *I love you, you did great* and I'm starting to get annoyed. Also, her telling those guys to 'sing to the girls' is also disgraceful and further encourages the public to vote for a hearthrob more than an artist.

chickenshit, where are u from>

[Chickenshit]

Yes the girls are by far superior to the guys. Rob and Shannon (Jimmy Barnes son?) are bar singers, and nothing more. And Rob good looking with star quality Just an idiot for little girls to drool over for no apparent reason.

It would be great to see a shootout between Paulini and Cosima in the finals, but I have a sneeking suspicious Guy is going to claw his way into there (He just looks wierd to me, although his voice is ok, but not fantastic).

Holdens comments have been worthless mostly, however he does comment on Musicallity somtimes. Marcia on the other hand, I don't know why they are even paying her. She loves everybody and eveybody does great to her. Singing to the girls only encourages Rob and takes him further. Dicko is a realist who brings such a strong commercial reality to the competition. His attitude is also great in that he refuses to accept Australia is capable of producing only a mediocre idol, and is convinced we can mix it with the best. Cosima and Paulini certainly can.

While I still believe there is an element of racial descrimination, maybe it is not to the extent that I innitially thought (I wrote that in the outraged state I was in after the show...LOL) Part of the problem may have arisen from the complacency of the public in thinking it was a sure thing that Paulini would get through, hence the lack of voting support for her. And again, the judges are also to blame for not telling the truth to the poorer performers, they don't have what it takes!

Sean, I live in Brizzy.

[Sean]

I agree with you 100%

I wish Mark and Marcia would have the guts to tell the truth... they can't think everything is fine and dandy all the time! Esp. Mark... he came out and told what he really throught when Paulini was in bottom 2 with Levi, why didn't he say that in the first place? I'd like to see Mark come out and say something decent this week other than HUBBA HUBBA and TOUCHDOWN! He makes me wanna chuck rocks at him. Marcia is simply a waste of space... they could get anybody to do her 'job'.

I think maybe Shannon will get kicked off this week... I think Paulini will see a surge of support from people who haven't voted before. Any of the guys getting kicked off would be fine. I can't decide which, I dislike all the guys for different reasons and would vomit if any of them wins.