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American Idol: Crisis averted, bland heteronorm restored
-*-*-*SPOILERS BELOW...*-*-*- Well this sucks. The only thing that was going to get me to actually watch the Planet-Eating Karaoke Voltron that is American Idol has very likely been kicked to the curb. Yes, self-professed "homecoming queen" Leo Marlow has probably been auf'd, or whatever they call it on this show. Simon said last night that he had gone "from memorable to forgettable". What a wordsmith! Anyway, that's pretty much a death sentence from the cap-sleeved horseman of the Coca-Cola-endorsed apocalypse, and we'll miss the little guy. Much love and luck to Marlow in his future pursuits, of both the tiara-wearing and non-tiara-wearing varieties. Submitted by on Wed, 2008-02-13 12:43. |
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Yeah, that sucks. I was
He's not the only gay man in
But will any of them...
...actually be allowed by the show to be out (if they even are gay), is the question. We've had gay finalists in the past whose sexuality has been cut around like a Peter O'Toole 4-day on-set whiskey bender. This guy was vocally, unapologetically out there, which (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is something new.
That said, I do admire your optimism!
Future Idols: Out or just Passive?
I suspect that Mich's hunch is right. There are some obviously gay artists in this final group of 50 (and yeah, ok a couple I just wish would be haha). And I don't necessarily think that they're hiding it as much as I'm hoping that ok they're just a potentially awesome new talent that happens to also be gay.
I long for the day when we all can be looked at without labels. Does it really matter whether we're gay or straight in pursuits such as these (i.e. who cares if any of the Idol-wannabees are straight!) and in more day-to-day pursuits, such as among groups of friends...
Why can't we ignore the labels and just be friends? Co-workers. Neighbors. Artists. The Next American Idol.
(And I know my friends who are in racial minorities incredulously say "you wish you weren't judged on the basis of labels...???" so I'll cut the whining short.)
On the other hand, I understand, too, that it's important for gays to be out and seen so that society can learn that we are normal and also just as potentially awesome and talented [and no more or less neurotic/troubled] as the next [straight] guy. Or girl. Or black guy. Or asian chick. [That sense of duty and desire to live an authentic life for my kids is why I finally came out...] YES, we're all different and unique and yet, also completely human. So hoping a contestant is out versus being passive about his orientation (versus pretending to be straight or closeted) is kindof a tough thing to get my mind around.
Or maybe I'm just naive. Or worse: an optimist. ;)
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whoever you are, just be you
I meant that with all due
I meant that with all due respect to your opinion, Brian. I totally get what you're saying too about a show whose objective is to groom the next pop idol and whether s/he can be black, white, overweight, or [gasp] homosexual.
Anyway, I also meant to add, as my last line of the previous post:
__________________________
whoever you are, just be you
Of course, I get you
Oh, no offense taken. I know where you're coming from. Being that this site covers gay visibility in the media and entertainment, that was how my original post and follow-up comment were positioned. I wish as much as you do that we lived in a world where it didn't matter if gay people discussed their sexuality openly on television, in movies, etc. But even an optimist would have to admit that that is simply not yet the case when representation is so horribly skewed and minorities of all types so poorly represented.
But you make a good point and I want to clarify: I'm not dogging the contestants. I take the show to task for not celebrating the differences amongst their talent pool. Idol has come under criticism before for "straightwashing" the finalists (not to mention throwing around homophobic jokes and insults), and that was really what my disappointment stemmed from - finally someone shines through, and he's already good as gone.
Even though I think it would
Awww! Sanjaya was FUN...
...even tho I'll never forgive him for staying longer than Brandon!
[Oooh...and speaking of uhm...passive about his orientation!! But for real: it didn't matter at all that Sanjaya might be gay. At least to me. I loved him to death. The next AI? No. But an entertainer: mos def!]
I really hope that more and more people--including my own kids--will develop a sensibility like yours, Angelmonster. WHO CARES IF YOU'RE GAY OR BLACK OR WHATEVER.
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whoever you are, just be you
Awww! Sanjaya was FUN...
...even tho I'll never forgive him for staying longer than Brandon!
[Oooh...and speaking of uhm...passive about his orientation!! But for real: it didn't matter at all that Sanjaya might be gay. At least to me. I loved him to death. The next AI? No. But an entertainer: mos def!]
I really hope that more and more people--including my own kids--will develop a sensibility like yours, Angelmonster. WHO CARES IF YOU'RE GAY OR BLACK OR WHATEVER.
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whoever you are, just be you
Yeah he was a good
Yeah he was a good entertainer but he should have been gone in the first few weeks. I am one of those people who despise bad singers, I can't go to a kareoke bar it is nails on a chalk board for me. I've tried to accept bad singers I just can't!
and thanks for the compliment :-) honestly I don't care what sex, color etc wins AI as long as they are a great singer I am happy.
I thought Leo's Hollywood
I thought Leo's Hollywood audition wasn't as good as his first audition in Omaha so I wasn't surprised with Simon's words and to be honest, there were other deserving guys who deserved to go through to the next round.
Also, I'm willing to bet hard cash that atleast more than one guy contestant this season is gay.
Oh there's "family" on Idol Season 7
Not that it completely matters. [Except no one will want to talk about AI on this forum unless there's someone gay. Makes me wish there were an openly gay character on Lost bcz husband freakin got me sucked into that show too but no one on here discusses it. LOL]
Danny Norriega is most certainly family. And I'm very curious about Michael Johns (who, I concur with Michael, is very attractive) who is one of two 29 year olds and therefore among the oldest of the 24. BUT: Who is the cute guy they've now shown him with after his auditions??? Maybe it's simply his platonic best friend. Or maybe it's....????
But for whatever reason, the producers left it alone. [For now.] But if it's his partner, that is cool, too. He's definitely gonna make the finals--no doubt. [And how he consoled Josiah won me over even more!]
Speaking of: I felt so so so sorry for Josiah. But he did it to himself by dismissing the band. I think that was probably one of the more bitterly fought decisions among the 3 judges. [To wit: David Hernandez] But is Josiah really homeless? He certainly didn't dress as though he had a penny to his name (and not just to be stylish) and I sure hope he really wasn't still living in his car. Bless his heart.
And I am just like the judges: I love David Archuleta. That kid's attitude and energy is just infectious.
Ok so there's my brief rundown. I don't have a list yet of who is my top 3 or whatever. I haven't seen everyone. (Like the kid with dreds from near where we live--I don't ever remember seeing him.) Carly Smithson--the Irish chick--will be very strong along with aussie Smithson. And kid-wonder Archuleta (although he's not quite the youngest) certainly is a judge-favorite.
And not to beat a dead horse, but I agree with AngelMonster and Brian on what seems like two opposing points: I hope we see some gay contestants and but ultimately truly hope to see some great talent--gay or straight.
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whoever you are, just be you
Danny and David A.
American Idol