Race as a part of the 'Idol' race
Martin Miller, Times Staff Writer
Los Angeles Times, April 25, 2007

From Fantasia Barrino's ethereally elegant "Summertime" to Sanjaya's floppy faux-hawk, America's most popular television show would seem to have seen or sung about everything. Well, not quite everything.

"American Idol" is close to entering a brave new world that could transport its roughly 30 million viewers to an unseen spectacle after a half-dozen chart-topping seasons: two people of color in the finale. With six contestants still standing — three white, two black and one biracial — the chance to break the show's ebony-and-ivory, or all ivory, finale cast has never been better. Indeed, in a season dominated by the XX chromosome, two of the three women — Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks — have yet to be in the bottom three, even after country week.

* * *

The South as a factor

Because race, as demonstrated most recently by the Don Imus firing, remains such an unresolved national issue, its importance can easily be overestimated. In fact, the explanation for an "Idol" finale without two people of color could be fairly simple.

"I think that's one of those ESPN stats that don't mean much," said Justin Guarini, Season 1's runner-up, who is biracial and today serves as an "Idol" commentator for the TV Guide Channel. "I think it has more to do with being from the South."

If you include Carrie Underwood, who hails from Oklahoma, every "Idol" winner can claim Southern roots: Kelly Clarkson (Texas), Studdard (Alabama), Barrino (North Carolina) and Taylor Hicks (Alabama). The show is No. 1 nationwide but does spectacularly well in the South.

And who is to say who is the best? Nobody really knows, but it's left to America to decide.

"The great thing about this show is that everybody has an opinion," said Randy Jackson in a recent interview. "Everyone thinks they're an expert, but really there aren't any music experts, even those people sitting on their living room couches."

* * *

back to essentialjustin.com