Rodney Ho
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution September 5,
2002
"American Idol" came down to charm vs. vocal power. Vocal power won
out as the public Wednesday night voted Texan Kelly Clarkson the victor over Justin
Guarini,the curly-haired son of former Atlanta Police Chief Eldrin Bell.
Among 15.5 million votes, a solid 58 percent went to Clarkson. Guarini was
gracious. "I'm so happy with the decision," he said. "Nobody
deserves this more than Kelly."
Clarkson's win at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood surprised nobody at a viewing
party last night at Frankie's Restaurant in Sandy Springs.
"She deserved it from start to finish," said Glen Helton, father of
finalist R.J. Helton, who enjoyed plenty of airtime during the final two-hour
episode.
Rita Marcec, 24, an Atlanta theater manager, said Clarkson seemed both
approachable and gorgeous. "She doesn't look like Britney Spears, which is
good," she said.
And though Guarini's dad was disappointed, he felt his son was still a
winner. "He was a gentleman about it, and that pleases me," Bell said
from Los Angeles.
While Clarkson is guaranteed an RCA record contract, both will have a chance to
build on the sudden fame thrust upon them by all the exposure.
Guarini --- who tried out for Simba in the Broadway production of "The
Lion King" before "Idol" --- has plans to act and produce music,
said his best friend, Michael Leach.
Despite the predictable ending, what set the show apart from cornier
predecessors like "Star Search" is twofold: 1) public voting and 2)
judge Simon Cowell.
Prickly Cowell, a British record producer, made the auditions entertaining with
unrelentingly honest comments about singers who made Roseanne Barr sound
Grammy-worthy. ("You are the worst singer in America." "I think
you invented notes never, ever heard in music."
"That was extraordinary. [Pause.] Unfortunately, extraordinarily
bad.")
Later, when the 10,000 star wannabes were cut down to 10, the only votes counted
were the American public's. By providing a 1-888 voting line, "Idol"
gave viewers a personal stake in the finalist. Everybody could be a critic and
act on it, too. What's with Ryan's skanky top? Why did Nikki sing that song
about the rat "Ben"? Wow, did Kelly really hit that note? And is
Justin's hair going to launch him into orbit?
The audience grew steadily, starting around 10 million and finishing with well
over 20 million viewers Wednesday night. Locally on Tuesday, an impressive 1
million metro Atlantans tuned in out of 4 million.
Ultimately, "Idol" became the perfect harmless diversion for a nation
grappling with 9/11 hangover and economic unease. In Atlanta, there has been the
additional hometown cheering factor, especially for Norcross' Tamyra Gray and
Cumming's Helton.
The show, despite plenty of padding and cheesy Ford Focus "moments,"
generated water cooler discussions that touched upon important issues.
* Democracy: Many viewers thought voting was rigged. Yet the show encouraged
vote-stuffing. Some even set up speed dials (which Fox finally blocked).
* Race: When the public voted off Christina Christian earlier than expected,
then nixed the more talented Gray over Nikki McKibbin, many fans cited racism as
a factor since both were black. Then again, Guarini has a mostly black
father.
* Looks vs. talent: Early on, a talented but overweight Jacquette Williams from
Chicago made it to the final 121 but was cut soon after. Cowell said she didn't
look like an "American Idol." "She just sang an Aretha Franklin
song. Does Aretha look like an 'American Idol'?" challenged judge Randy
Jackson. Cowell said no: "I don't make the rules."
* American psyche: When Cowell complained that some of the finalists were
"losers," Jackson objected: "This is America. . . . We don't
insult people." Huh? What America does Jackson live in