In seven seasons of “American Idol,” Paula Abdul has definitely had her moments.
But her gaffe on Tuesday night’s episode was either the “Kookiest Paula Moment Ever” or a sign of the judges’ apparently not-so-spontaneous evaluations of contestants’ performances.
Abdul on Wednesday sought to explain the blunder as a simple misunderstanding. “We all just screwed up everything,” she told Entertainment Tonight.
It was Neil Diamond night, and after each of the show’s five remaining contestants sang their first of two songs for the evening, the judges were asked to comment on their performances.
Randy Jackson quickly rattled off his impressions, and then Abdul launched into a lengthy analysis of contestant Jason Castro’s two performances. Yes, that’s right. Abdul remembered TWO performances. When Castro, and all of the other contestants, had only performed ONCE.
“Oh my God, I thought you sang twice,” a flustered Abdul said when Jackson gently pointed out that Castro had only performed one song so far. She added: “This is hard!”
“You’re seein’ the future baby, you’re seein’ the future!” host Ryan Seacrest said.
Abdul tried to cover for the mistake by saying she had been reading her notes from both Castro’s performance and contestant David Cook’s performances.
The flub was enough to convince some fans that Abdul must have prepared her notes on both songs before the live performance.
On the “Idol” forums, some fans pondered whether the judges’ comments were a function of who the show’s producers want to win rather than the content of the performances. Others gave the show the benefit of the doubt, saying Abdul must have taken notes at the dress rehearsals
Abdul explained on Wednesday that Idol producers had thrown the judges a last minute curveball during the show. “I am feverishly trying to write notes for every performance,” she recounted, saying her notes got mixed up.
“I was just trying to give my critique for Jason Castro, and scribbled Jason’s name, and that was David (Cook)’s. “This is live television. This is fun!,” she said.
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I have become increasingly skeptical about the “function” of the judges as it seems they’ve purposefully disuaded viewers from voting for certain contestants who should have made it deeper into the competition, but didn’t fit the AI marketing niche.
- Posted by MarkMichael Johns was apparently too old.
Carly Smithson had those tats.
Yet Brooke and Jason remain, though they have failed to demonstrate equal talent and poise.
The judges also seem to have it out for Syesha. She has brought more to the stage, in recent weeks, than Brooke or Jason.
The David v. David showdown seems inevitable. But a season that once seemed loaded with so much talent, now seems a bit of a train wreck.
I don’t believe it is a conspiracy theory as some have mentioned. Did anyone see paula’s reality show? She is obviously crazy. No biggie.
- Posted by EricaLet’s face the facts: Idol has seen its better days. It is going to be painful watching them try to change things in desperation to save the show next season…it is already painful to watch now at times. It was a great show for the first three seasons, and at some point all good things must end. They should pull the plug on it now, and come back again in a couple years. As for Paula…she’s just being Paula!
- Posted by OverI vote for “she just made a mistake”. Sometimes Paula do not even finish her sentences so for me it was just typical Paula. What I THINK happens was that the review for the “first song” (the “I liked that we hear your lower range” review)was for David Cook and the review for the “second song” was for Jason. That fit with her latter comment that she liked Cook the best from the first round of performances.
- Posted by TonyThe excessive praise of the judges to David Cook, the “I feel like I am looking at the next American Idol” comment from Paula to David Cook, the huge suspicious blunder by Paula — all on a night of pretty equal performances across the board– is very troubling to this huge American Idol fan.
- Posted by EbIt’s very clear that the judges have their opinions down before the idols even sing. Paula, fess up. You screwed up. It’’s ok with me because I already knew something was fishy with the judging. Here is what America does not know. They the judges get to watch the complete song versions(studio version’’s before all of us. What happen was Paula saw all the videos before the live version and she took notes from both of Jason’s songs and just screwed uo by reading her notes. O well, See America it really isn”t that live show we all thought it was. The judges should not be aloud to view their videos or singing before we get to. Just my opinion but I bet that is what happened.
- Posted by KevinKevin
This is so unethical on so many levels. 1St, if she accidently read her notes from rehearsal, WHY are the contestants being judged on a dress REhearsal NOT THE STAGE PERFORMANCE!!! 2nd, While she herself was totally incohearant what she read off the card was totally cohearant. that makes me think it is totally scriopted and Paula is reading instructions from NIGAL LIthogo who has a total crush on DAVID A!
- Posted by flowerkittyTHIS IS A COMPLETE FARCE. HERE’S WHY:
Paula wasn’t even at the dress rehearsal (I was and ‘fake’ Paula had red hair and a wig). There was barely enough time to change audiences, let alone review the tapes *and* do wardrobe.
It was already known for the dress rehearsals that judges would not judge until the second performance so they must have thrown in the first performance recap, but how is it not obvious that the judges were fed their lines?
Did anyone see any correlation between the performances and the comments? Syesha rightly asked ‘why’ after her brilliant performance, yet her and Brooke ought to be worried tonight as Jason’s likely ’safe’ for another week after this debacle (irrespective of what the infamous vote decides) so once again the wrong person will be evicted.
Fine, the show would be boring if it was just a singing competition, but if it’s completely and utterly rigged then don’t pretend it isn’t, and don’t try to blame Paula for failing to keep the dirty secret.
In any case, with the best singers prematurely eliminated (Michael Johns and Carly Smithson) the show’s hardly worth watching any more anyway. Congratulations David A for your ‘victory’.
- Posted by BenI do think Adol has in mind who they think should win and who they are pushing on the American public. Paula should be ashamed of the way her judging came off last night. She owes Jason Castro an apology in public.
- Posted by LOri GilesI think Adol does have in mind and are pushing who they want to win. Paula appeared confused to say the least. i think an apology is in order from her to Jason Castro.
- Posted by LOri GilesSeems very scripted at times. Remember Katherine McPhee and Taylor Hicks? During the beginning of the season the judges were praising Katherine. Then in the final three for four weeks they did nothing but come down on her. Reason is obvious. They knew Katherine would sell tons of CD’s. Taylor not so. Therefore if he were crowned the winner they would have two for one because he would sell more as a winner then if he came in second. By the way, Elliot Yamen should have taken second to Katherine’s first place win.
- Posted by BartI was absolutely mortified at Paula’s comments. I have been questioning the validity of this show since Sanjaya. Paula’s “huge” blunder makes me convinced that this show is not what people think — whether she took notes during rehersals or had the producers tell her what to say, it doesn’t matter. I believe the producers are manipulating the show and the audience. I will see this season through, but season 8 is not on our list of shows.
- Posted by Suzannethere differently is something wrong with Paula. She cannot speak in a complete sentence. She is either drunk or on drugs. She makes a complete fool of herself each time she opens her mouth.
- Posted by BarbaraTime for a congressional investigation… do the producers not remember that there are federal laws governing how game shows have to be run to insure they are fair to contestants… American Idol is nothing but a game show with contestants trying to win a recording contract… if the show is rigged then there needs to be big time fines and jail time for those trying to rig it.
- Posted by Yirmin SnipeCan someone explain to me why they love David Archuletta? Week after week I find him very plain and certainly not “idol” material. He brings nothing new and interesting to the music as David Cook does yet he continues to get these great comments from the judges. What is going on?
- Posted by amyDisappointing Idol. It seems like the music and show are now just a distraction to rush through as fast as possible to get more commercial breaks in. Totally not relaxing, and I don’t need to tune in anymore. Plus Jason is enjoyable and entertaining, unlike the other 4, and they just bash him to death. Worst episode last night, season ever. Viewer out.
- Posted by MCSThe show is rigged and always has been.
- Posted by Daivd“We are live!” “THIS, is American Idol.” Last night, American Idol gave back.
Paula’s gaffe tells us something we didn’t want to know. Not about Paula — about American Idol. The show succeeds in part because they project the belief that viewers call the shots — that anything can happen. Well, something happened. Last night, we were reminded that yes, American Idol is only a TV show. TV shows have writers, directors, and performers. TV shows have strategies, goals, and objectives. They need ratings. (I wonder if they had time to edit out her mistake before they replayed it on the west coast.)
Sure, there’s a level of scripting, but it’s higher than we were led to believe.
As for you, Paula, who can possibly be surprised? Hard? Try paying attention. You’re taking home a sizable paycheck. Give me a break. Last week, you chided Brooke for stopping and restarting her song. Best stay on script, dear. At least Brooke understood what was going on. Stick to sugary reviews, dancing during the performances, and try not to get ahead in the script.
Unaware that she was off the tracks, Paula was reined in by Ryan, Randy and Simon. In the words of Simon, “Just stop, Paula. Just stop.”
Who am I kidding? I’ll tune in tonight, as always. I want to see what happens next.
- Posted by Andy BreedenIf you watch the tape from lastnight and see the look on everyones face as she is reading it is really funny. Its like they are thinking, “she is ruining the script” and the worst part is that the keep supporting Jason Castro. Simon said that Sayesha might be going home this week which I dont think should happen but may. I think that the judges do try to sway the audience for who they think should be voted off but sometimes they dont get through. Such as when Michael Jons was voted off, that was the shock heard around the world on that one. But I think that Jason Castro shouldn’t even have made it to Hollywood, he has nothing special about his voice and can he sing louder than a whisper? Good God man show some dynamics instead of singing the same crappy style. Girls keep voting for him because they think he is cute or whatever. This is a singing competition and I think the final three should be David Cook, David Archuleta, and Sayesha Marcado. Hopefully that will happen but who knows.
- Posted by KennyGive me a break…..Jason Castro is deffinitely the worse singer in that group of 5 or even the worst of all the contestants that made it to the top 25. He sings certain songs ok but for me most songs he sings sound pitiful. Its like Simon says ” Its a singing competition” popularity should have some to do with it but its still a talent contest. In my opinion the 2 Davids should be the final 2.
- Posted by James