leighdu

This kind of goes along with the whole controversy, but several people have told me that because of the results they will no longer be watching American Idol. I don't know if I would go that far because I find Simon entertaining, but I do understand the point. Now we ALL know that Adam is going to succeed regardless. But doesn't it kind of defeat the purpose of the show if Adam intentionally foiled up a song, and when one state (that happened to be Kris's home state) gets access to thousands of extra votes? Because of all of that, I can see where many would be turned off from the show. A friend of mine who has been a hardcore AI fan since season one has even ditched the dvds she had.

Anyone else? Has this past season affected your decision to watch again?

1inxs

I think I'll still watch it regardless of the scam played on the viewers. The show is still very entertaining.

bicker

Which is silly, IMHO. The controversy aspect of this is far more likely to be something cooked up by nay-sayers, long-time critics of American Idol, folks who hate reality programming and/or competitions in general, etc. Every year there is something, and that something is always a non-issue, except to people who are working really hard to find a reason to have something bad to say or think about AI.

And I have a bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell you. As I alluded to earlier, there are a number of other, far more plausible reasons that those people are not going to be watching American Idol. But heck, if the "controversy" gives them an excuse to do what they want to do anyway, that's fine -- but it sure would be better for them to just admit that they simply don't want to watch AI anymore, instead of engaging in this elaborate ruse.

My wife and I stopped watching AI religiously last year. We did catch episodes here and there, this year, on the television in the kitchen, which we'd turn on while making and eating dinner. So basically, AI went from being prime time programming, which we watched on our HDTV, to background noise.

And that happened because we lost interest; simply because we found other programs that were more interesting to watch.

leighdu

I'm not saying that I buy into the whole "AI is rigged". You are right; people have been saying it since Clay Aiken lost and the show's popularity hasn't lagged because of the rumors. However, I've heard some really upset people saying that there is no way they would be watching again because of the whole Adam vs. Kris thing, but eh, could be hot air.

I'm gonna keep watching because just as someone just said, it is still entertaining.

FanFair

Why aren't people getting the fact that it just isn't about 1 or 38 million votes, the fact is that AT&T cheated -plain and simple! Whether they cheated for Kris or they cheated for Adam isn't the point. I don't know about others, but I was raised with the fact that CHEATING IS WRONG! American Idol is acting like this is no big deal and that's what makes this even worse. I've spent countless hours every year DIALING A PHONE # and voting for my favorite contestant along with millions of other people and now I truly believe that none of that mattered. I sent an open letter of complaint to AI and AT&T but haven't received a response. I want American Idol to stop the AT&T monopoly - allow everyone to text regardless of their phone carrier. Better yet, GET RID OF AT&T altogether. If AI doesn't do this, it creates an air of suspiciousness which may not get them through another season! THE FANS ARE THE REASON AI IS THE #1 SHOW - NOT AT&T.

bicker

So that's really your agenda... it's not anti-AI, but rather anti-AT&T.

I don't see anything wrong with refusing to watch a show because you don't like the sponsors. In a way, watching a show on a broadcast network is kind-of like accepting a gift from the sponsor, and I wouldn't accept a gift from someone who is someone I explicitly don't like.

HTNut

It's a good show, and my family and I plan on watching again next season. Hopefully it won't happen again, but after reading what AT&T technically did, I just don't think they broke any rules. Did they help Kris win? Yes. Did they help Adam too? No. Is it fair? Probably not, and if American Idol really thinks something like this matters, they'll make some new voting rules.

Would be funny to see next year, if all of the big voting parties have much more influence over the show outcome because they're all armed with power texting phones? I can see another scandel brewing.

CptlA

pfft, I only watch the first part of the season anyway. For some reason I get a rise out of people making big fools of themselves and then taking the judges seriously when they tell them they're lousy.

bicker

When we were watching AI, that's the portion of the season we would skip. We typically would start watching during Hollywood Week.

leighdu

I have friends divided up in three group. The first group only watches the beginning when people are making fools of themselves. The second group watches when they get to Hollywood. The third watches the entire season. I pretty much watch the entire season myself. There was one season though that I just didn't too much care for and missed lots of episodes. It was the one where Jordyn Sparks won. I don't know why, but just couldn't get into the contestants that season.