Reality Check - In Defense of Harry Connick Jr. - Video
Credit: TVLine.com
TVLine.com's Michael Slezak returns with American Idol Season 6 finalist Melinda Doolittle for an all-new Reality Check, dissecting the week in reality singing competitions!
Michael and Melinda discuss a troubling week for American Idol XIII, as the performances of the Top 12 illustrated just how Randy Jackson is dropping the ball as in-house mentor. Could Harry Connick Jr. be the answer to The Randy Problem? And which contestant causes a vehement disagreement between Michael and Melinda? It's a solid episode that also features coverage of the ongoing blind auditions on The Voice. Great stuff, as usual, and you can check it out below via TVLine:
Thoughts
As loathe as I am to admit it, I think that I, too, would take Randy being back on the judging panel if it meant Harry got to be the mentor, since he's someone who seems committed to actually mentoring, and not just blowing smoke up the contestants' asses. Only the confidence of knowing you're in no danger of going home would lead to a song choice like Alex's, and in that sense, it felt kind of smug, to me. Like "Eh, I don't really have to try this week. I'm not going anywhere." But Harry is the kind of person who'd challenge these contestants. Hell, he challenged the contestants last season, forcing them to explain their choices, and questioning their understanding (or lack thereof) about a song and its meaning. He'd even fight them on some of the choices they'd make vocally (at least as was the case for Amber Holcomb), which is something you'd just never see Randy do. And yet Randy is the mentor while Harry is on the panel, and given a much smaller window of time to affect a much larger change.
Granted, I'm not exactly ready to throw in the towel on this season yet, as I generally like these contestants and think these finalists have all the potential in the world to make this a killer competition. But they all seem to have these fundamental misunderstandings about what they should/shouldn't be doing, whether it's placing the song in the wrong key, not making full use of the performance space, or just picking the wrong song altogether. And I just feel like Harry is the most qualified person they've got to help these contestants, and also the most willing to say what needs to be said. Because, really, nothing is gained by telling these kids they're a superstar before they start actually performing like one.
But what do you think? Is Harry too harsh? Or is he just what the season needs? Also, who were your favorites and least favorites this week? Sound off in the comments!