American Idle?

Is The Fame That "American Idol" Once Aimed To Give Its Winners Now Fleeting?

(CBS)  With 25 million viewers, "American Idol" is the biggest show on TV. But if "Idol" really is as its infamous judge Simon says…

"This show is about finding a star," he says.

American Idol has hit some sour notes, something that Wednesday night's two finalists understand.

"I think a lot of people see this show as a golden ticket and I don't think that's the case," David Cook said.

And David Archuletta: "You know, now you have to show how you can handle what's given to you."

Past winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood made it big - selling nearly 10 million albums apiece, and taking home Grammys. But other "Idol" winners' music careers have become, well, idle, CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy reports.

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Photos: Scenes From The "American Idol" Finale

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Fantasia Barino's album sales have plummeted. Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks were just dropped by their record labels. So was runner-up Katherine McPhee.

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Photos: "American Idol" Season 7

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Last year's winner Jordin Sparks has yet to set the charts on fire.

"Once they're no longer on TV every week you kinda forget about them and then they're back on the same playing field with everyone else whose trying to become a pop star," Caryn Ganz, who covers "American Idol" for Rolling Stone magazine.

Critics say the fact that someone like Hicks won the show but flopped at the record store is evidence that it's more a personality contest than one based on real talent.

Chris Daughtry lost to Hicks, but his debut album has gone multi-platinum. He's aware some think Idol contestants get a free ride to stardom.

"A lot of it comes across as great karaoke singers, it doesn't, you know, you don't know their background, you don't know how long they've been actually doing it," Hicks said.

"Idol" producers wouldn't comment on the show's track record, but last year one judge put it this way:

"Listen, it's just a reality show, people have to get over themselves," Randy Jackson said.

Even if the reality is that a lot of the Idol fame … is fleeting.

[jboxton]

Keithle1- I can prove you are a racist. I saw you walk past 2 homeless people last night. You kicked the black guy and gave the white one a dollar.

[keithle1]

What did I write that was racist, whatithink? Please enlighten me. I was just stating the facts. Does the women have a name that would be difficult for strangers to spell & pronounce? If she was white, I would have said the same thing.

Are you one of those folks that likes to throw around the "R" word every chance you get? Prove that I''m racist.

[emmarude]

"A lot of it comes across as great karaoke singers, it doesn''t, you know, you don''t know their background, you don''t know how long they''ve been actually doing it," Hicks said. I watched the CBS News last night. It was''d'' that said the above, not Taylor Hicks. Futhermore, I would like to know where you found the cd''s of Taylor Hicks that you showed on your news show? I have looked high and low and can not find any of Taylor''s cds. In addition I wanted to know, did The Powers That Be from AI send those to you, or did you really find a music store that had those cds?

[thisandthat1]

libra127 .... I stand corrected. I meant to say "It''s appeal is aimed at little teeny boppers AND KARAOKE-LOVING MORONS" Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[usamohammed]

What a pair of flaming homosexuals. This show will be the demise of America

[tootall10142]

Holding my breath hoping american idol gets cancelled,probably will sufficate first.gave up on rap disapearing. not quite the waste of t.v time as lost but da---n close.just add commercials about pimple cream andcondoms and you have another season.

[libra127]

It''s appeal is aimed at little teeny boppers .... certainly not to anyone who appreciates really good music.

Posted by thisandthat1 at 12:40 AM : May 22, 2008

My teenybopper years were a long time ago, but I find it enjoyable to watch these talented (mostly) young people who are far less jaded and cynical than you apparently are. It''s a frame of mind to be treasured and enjoyed.

[mecury69]

SharnCedar.

With all due respect, the CBS News message board is not the location to search for thoughtful introspect. Even less would be to do so on the subject of American Idol.

Such a misguided quest is not worthy of the reward.

[sharncedar]

Posted by holyone62 : "syesha i think u are a beautiful young black women and God is watching u. so hold your head up high and allow God to guide u to your next destny in life."


I thought for a second you posted "allow God to guide u to your next life" which seemed interesting, but alas, all that you had to say was a thoughtless cliche. The "destiny" for the vast majority of the human race, actually probably all the human race, consists of more or less eating, followed by defecating, followed by a little wondering about why we are here, followed by death. For a second, I mistook the post above for something interesting that would have given insight about the "wonder why we are here" part of my life (having just eaten and soon to defecate) but no, another cliche from another minor intellect. Perhaps jellyfish have more to say than your average human.

[whatithink-2009]

Keithle1,

Your posts are at least consistently...racist. Do racists ever get to take a holiday?

[keithle1]

Soon as they''re not on AI on a 24-7 basis, their album sales go way way down with very few exceptions. It''s all about hype. The only one that has any credibility & knows what he''s talking about is Simon.

How many of these "singers" would get a major recording contract/deal if it wasn''t for AI?
They''d be singing in a lounge at the Fargo Holiday Inn. They had their 15 minutes & now it''s over.
Record companies aren''t running a charity. If you don''t shift the units, you''re history. They don''t give a d a m n about your precious dream. Save your tears.

Hmmm... Did they have AI back in the days of Elvis, Beatles, Who, Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, etc? I guess they didn''t need it. They had...TALENT.

[keithle1]

God has better things to do than "watch" some stupid silly, overwrought, drama queen young black woman with a name no one can spell or pronounce.

Legendary music talent. Names that will live forever:

Kelly Clarkson
Ruben Studdard
Fantasia Barino
Carrie Underwood
Taylor Hicks
Jordin Sparks

Get real. Do you know anything about music? How many of these write their own songs? Fantasia? Gimme a break. You must be easily pleased if you think these folks are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Gimme a break, people.

[gingercake1]

thisandthat1--I would agree with you that AI was not set up to find or support good music. But every once in awhile they did find some real talent but you would had to have heard them to know that. But they do not respect and support their winners, so what is the use of winning? I am done with them, I found 3 or 4 good singers and one great talent, that is enough.

[thisandthat1]

One of the BIG winners from a few years ago was the big guest for the opening of a new car dealership near here recently! What a ridiculous, stupid show. It''s appeal is aimed at little teeny boppers .... certainly not to anyone who appreciates really good music.

[kimloree]

You obviously are short staffed due to your lack of research on your so called "flops". Are you hurting for money? That must mean you are a "flop"...because as American Idol has taught us...success can only be counted in terms of $$$$''s.

Producing fabulous, unique, soulful music that is sorely missing on the radio stations is not considered success. That would be those same radio stations who are paid by the likes of the AI machine to play the pop *** they produce. I always thought it supposed to be about the music and about America''s choice. Obviously not. I''ll try to remember that.

Regardless...I am done with your show and I am SO DONE with AI. What comes around goes around....
Look out for the Karma coming your way when you show disrespect for someone with the class and grace of Taylor Hicks (and his fans).

[holyone62]

syesha i think u are a beautiful young black women and God is watching u. so hold your head up high and allow God to guide u to your next destny in life.

[holyone62]

david a dreams do come true never forget who is guiding u i think that is what happened to fantashia she forgot to keep God first. do that and u will go far.

[sagesntruth]

First, you made a mistake in your own article. On the news, you had Chris Daughtry speaking those words concerning karaoke, NOT Taylor Hicks. At least get your own facts correct. After all, you are supposed to be a legitimate news organization.

Second, Taylor Hicks is a dynamic, charismatic entertainer, who has had 2 successful tours. His CD received some good critical reviews.

Jordin is just coming into her own--she is successful. Fantasia had a wonderful run on Broadway, and she is an exciting singer. Ruben has a mellow voice, which his fans love. Please stop trying to trash the dreams of these very fine singers----they all have fans who enjoy their music.

And finally, people at CBS--you should KNOW that success is not always defined in terms of sales and dollars spent. Otherwise Katie Couric would be #1.

[mr_username]

oh and Keithle1, the winners of each season are:
Kelly Clarkson
Ruben Studdard
Fantasia Barino
Carrie Underwood
Taylor Hicks
Jordin Sparks

[mr_username]

When i watched this story tonight, they said that last year''s winner Jordin Sparks "has not exactly lit the charts on fire." Ok CBS, what would your definition of lighting the charts on fire be exactly? Would it be having a #10 debut album? Would it be having 2 huge singles- "No Air" with Chris Brown and "Tattoo"? "No Air" is currently at #4 on the Hot 100 singles chart, and "Tattoo" peaked at respectable #8 last year. Her debut album has spent 25 weeks on the charts thus far, and is currently at #18 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. In fact, her album enjoys a healthy SURGE in sales this week, up 5 spots from #25. Wouldn''t this indicate someone who is burning up the charts by definition? Not that I''m a gigantic Jordin Sparks fan or anything, but CBS News should be aware enough not to say something that stupid and unfounded on the air about one of the hottest artists in music right now. Unbelievable!