What American Idol Could Learn from Dancing with the Stars, by Colette Moran

Ok, I admit it. I didn’t really watch DWTS too much in its first 10 seasons. When it premiered I thought “Hmm, seems like innocent fun, but sooooo cheesy!” The costumes, the big band redux of popular songs, and the shmoozing were a bit much. But I would occasionally tune in — I was a dancer as a kid and appreciated that celebs with little dance experience were really facing a formidable task.

Each season when the “stars” (sometimes a loosely applied nomenclature) were chosen often I’d pick the winner right off the bat — Apolo Ohno, Kristi Yamaguchi, Donny Osmond but occasionally I’d tune in to see personal faves. But of course last season I had a greater interest: seeing how Bristol would fare. No idea it would turn into such a “controversy” as she made it to the finals. But I said from the beginning that Jennifer Grey had it in the bag. The system rewards the dancer who is the best *and* is well-liked with its combination of the judges’ scores and viewer voting. It’s highly unlikely that even the most organized “get-out-the-vote” scheme could overcome it.

But there is one aspect that DWTS still has that AI does not seem to have this year: Dancing once again has a variance in talent, and that allows for real duds to drop out first (like Michael Bolton last season — ugh!), while others can improve and earn better scores and a bigger fan base. So this year’s pleasant surprises Hines Ward, Ralph Macchio and Kirstie Alley can hang in there and become real contenders against the likes of much younger contestants with dance experience — Chelsea Kane and Romeo.

Meanwhile, back at AI, there really weren’t any clunkers amongst the finalists. And since the judges have no actual scores that influences the results (although their comments can be persuasive) it’s all in the hands of the voting audience. And I fear that once again those tweens and grandmas are going to continue to knock out the girls. The judges’ assessment of the castoffs probably didn’t help — I thought Naima’s reggae version was inspired, although maybe she should have played it safe with “Island Girl.” And Thia must have had bad advice from someone — “Daniel” *was* too sleepy. I would have loved a bluesy “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” from her. But both these women could have a future in music. I mean, what reggae star without the last name of Marley can you name? And there has to be a Disney or Nickelodeon show that could use Thia.

This season it could be Pia who is the last girl standing. Hopefully not — and the fact that the drunk marionette, I mean Paul, was in the bottom three may show the voters’ wisdom. But if Lauren and Hayley both go before Stefano… we’ll know that raging female hormones won out over talent.

Ok, a little more serious this week, so I’ll throw in one more snark — if Jacob is not careful, he will come to be known as the Tammy Faye Baker of Season 10.

– Colette Moran is the author and proprietor of the fine blog, Clearly Nebulous.