American Idol
Reviewing Season's Past - American Idol 2
By Jillian Kuras
January 12, 2006
The countdown to American Idol 5 officially began yesterday with my season one review. If you missed it, feel free to read it here. As our countdown continues, the season reviews continue, and so, on to season two!
Season two was the year of big changes. The format of the show had considerable changes, as it should have. The AI craze had really just begun to escalate around the time of the season one finale. So when season two started, the excitement was bigger than ever.
The first two changes were apparent immediately. First off, Ryan Seacrest was flying solo. Season one co-host Brian Dunkleman had been given the boot and America let out one big "Woo Hoo!"
Also, instead of one night of auditions, America was treated to several nights. And I use the word 'treated' somewhat sarcastically. The auditions have always been my least favorite time of the season. I hate that 85% of the people shown are of the horrible and/or ridiculous type. To me, it would perfect to see hour after hour of all the great auditions. The bad ones are simply a waste of time. We're never going to see those people again. Then when it comes time to vote in the top 30, we don't even know who the majority of those good people are.
Anyways, after the season two auditions ended, I could already tell this season would be completely different from season one. During season one, having the "look" of a pop star was almost as important as having actual singing talent. So much so that people were criticized for not looking like an idol should. That theory was completely useless however this time around because of auditions from such unknowns as Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Frenchie Davis and Ruben Studdard. Voices like these just couldn't be denied, no matter what they looked like.
This season, we were also reintroduced to season one alum Kristin Holt. Kristin made it to the top 30 the previous year but is perhaps best known for her audition blunder. After singing the song Fallin', she ran forward to hug and thank the judges and accidentally slipped and fell right under the judge's table. Kristen was back this year as a special correspondent. Clearly producers felt two people should still fill the host role so Kristen was on hand to talk with and interview the contestants throughout the entire season.
The next change came during the round that America was first able to vote. During season one, this round contained 30 contestants. They were separated into 3 groups of 10, each group sang, American voted, and the top 3 from each group made it to the final 10. The judges then chose one wild card contestant to complete that final group. This time around, things were much more complicated.
Instead of a top 30, season two would have a top 32. The contestants were divided into four groups of eight. The top two from each group would make the finals, totaling eight. The judges would then choose not one, but FOUR wild cards to make a final 12. While I liked the idea of having a final 12, four wild cards seemed a little ridiculous. I liked the season one format much better.
After the four groups competed and America voted, we had our first eight contestants- Charles Grigsby and Julia DeMato from group one, Ruben Studdard and Kimberley Locke from group two, Vanessa Olivarez and Rickey Smith from group three, and Josh Gracin and Corey Clark from group four.
It was a decent start; however, one of my favorites was already missing and had no chance of returning. Frenchie Davis originally made it to the top 32 but was let go by producers before she got the chance to sing. Frenchie had posed topless several years before on an adult website. Even though she was upfront and honest with her past right from the start, and even though she initially got the okay to audition, she was asked to leave after America found out about the situation. It was a tough loss for the show as she absolutely had a shot at the title.
So the next thing America had to look forward to before their top 12 was complete was the Wild Card episode. Nine contestants were being brought back for this show and four would make it through. I was personally hoping that Candice Coleman, Kimberly Kelsey, and JD Adams would be back. They were favorites of mine in the previous rounds and I thought they had top 12 potential.
Sadly.....
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