TV; 'Idol' curiosity; Fox's talent show captures public's fancy as final rounds begin
Monica Collins
The Boston Herald, July 23, 2002

Fox's search for the next pop prince or princess, "American Idol," has entered the final rounds. The show has become a phenomenon - rising up the charts like a rockin' rocket to divert us from the stock market sinking like a stone.

Last Tuesday's edition of "Idol" racked up record ratings and phone calls, winning its 9 p.m. time period against all rivals and generating the third busiest day in AT & T history.

When the phone-in vote was announced on Wednesday's edition of "Idol," two of the 10 finalists were banished: R. J. Helton and Jim Verraros.

Helton, who was the judge's pick for a wild-card contestant, heard the verdict and left the stage with no recognition. But Verraros, a sentimental favorite because he has two deaf parents who have never heard him sing, was sent off in a mawkish display of hugs and nostalgic videotape. Verraros seems to have been a favorite with the female contestants, particularly Ryan Starr. She clutched him with teary, dramatic ferocity, as if he were the last man on Earth.

Starr will be back to the theatrics when "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" continues with eight contestants crooning for stardom tonight at 9 on WFXT (Ch. 25).

Two of those wannabes are standouts: Tamyra Gray, a former Miss Atlanta, and Justin Guarini, a DJ from Pennsylvania.

Gray has the pipes of a Whitney Houston and the wholesome, peppy personality of a Debbie Allen. Guarini, with his puppy eyes, oozes romantic soul, although his dreadlocked mop has earned him the nickname "Sideshow Bob" (a smarmy "Simpsons" character) on "Idol" Web sites.

While these two have the obvious talent, other contestants on "American Idol" captivate.

Starr, closest to a Britney Spears-Mandy Moore clone, changed her name from Tiffany Montgomery when she entered this contest. Ms. Starr either apparently thought "Tiffany" was not a suitable showbiz moniker or she did not want to be identified with that other Tiffany, a two-second pop sensation in the '80s.

She doesn't sing like an angel, but Starr wins big points for style. She has the navel-baring, vampy rock star wardrobe going for her. The pillow lips don't hurt.

Christina Christian, whose startling ebony face resembles the model Iman (Mrs. David Bowie), has the memorable name - and it's really hers. Christian is a favorite of meanie judge Simon Cowell.

Other contestants blur. EJay Day and A.J. Gil are indistinguishable 'N Sync-ish names and faces. Nikki McKibbin and Kelly Clarkson sing and look just good enough to belong in Sheryl Crow's backup entourage.

Cowell, a British record executive who judged the original version of "Idol" when it aired in the U.K., has emerged as this summer's celebrity fiend. He's even got the veddy English accent, a hallmark of villains.

Cowell's tart remarks, however, take the sugar-coating off the whole spectacle because, let's face it, some of the contestants have been downright awful. Simon says the ugly truth. Sometimes it stings. Nobody who imagines themselves the next Madonna or Manilow likes to be told they should stick to barroom karaoke.

Simon's shtick works with fellow judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. It's the bad cop-good copsroutine. Jackson is another record executive. Abdul's singing and dancing career led her here - to getting the widest possible audience for not doing anything but sitting as an angelic judge on a talent show.

The real sour notes on "American Idol" are hosts Ryan Seacrest (maybe Starr stole his name) and Brian Dunkleman. Who are these guys? Two-bit comedians who got a big break.

Their sob-sister routines with loser contestants ratchet up the embarrassment level. Their jokes are not funny. They try to pick up the good-guy gauntlet after Cowell has let loose with some snooty invective. Seacrest and Dunkleman are the true Sideshow Bobs of "American Idol."

Fox has picked up another edition of "American Idol" destined to air in February. Fox has not announced if Dunkleman and Seacrest will return to preside.