Sunday, July 27, 2008

A.I., P.I.

American Idol rocks!

You can say it is the most popular show in the world based on the number of people who tune in every Tuesday and Wednesday (US time) and the number of franchises all over the world.

If my memory serves me right, it was in 2003 when American Idol caught the hearts of Filipinos because of Camille Velasco and Jasmine Trias, who finished third. Mula noon, mas madame na ang pinoy na nanunuod ng American Idol. From that season, naging hooked na din ako sa AI, at kahit hindi makaboto, taimtim akong nananalangin na sana wag matanggal si Carrie, Vonzelle, Anthony, Jasmine, Constantine, Mikaila, Katharine, Elliot, Lisa, David A., Ramielle, at iba pa. Syempre yung iba natanggal. Si Carrie lang sa mga bet ko ang nanalo.

The first time na dumating s Pilipinas ang idol franchise, exciting para sa mga gaya ko na mahilig sa reality shows. ABC 5 pa ang may-ari ng franchise. Pinanuod ko sya mula audition kasi nga may element of novelty. Titingnan mo kung papantay sya sa panlasa gaya ng AI. In a way, the first season did. Masaya sya panoorin. nakita ko pang nag-audition yung college schoolmate namen dati na si Jaja. Magaling sya kumanta, medyo chubby, at maganda ang personality. Ewan ko kung bkit hindi sya naka move on sa next level.

Ayos ang treatment ng ABC sa Philippine Idol. Swak si Agoncillo as host. The judges were very credible: Ryan C., Pilita Coralles, and Francis M., masasabi mo na authorized sila to judge a contest that big. Magagaling din ang mga contestants. Syempre may boses, pero higit sa lahat, may personality.

I even met some of the Idols sa Metrowalk one night when we went out for coffee. Technically and creatively, maganda ang treatment ng ABC. Medyo kinulang nga lang sa marketing kaya hindi gaano nag-rate kaya nalipat sa GMA 7.

You'd think that with a network as big as GMA, mas magiging maganda ang kalalabasan ng show. I personally think na mas magiging mabenta sya. Unfortunately, it disappoints in many aspects.

First, medyo alangan ako sa judges. Okay na si Ogie A. dahil matagal na din sya sa business at maganda ang credentials nya. Wyngard Tracy, okay na sana kasi halata naman na talagang he is out to look for the next singing star. Yun nga lang, may times na makikita mo na may effort to be as rude as Simon Cowell--hindi naturally believable. Then, si Jolina M. She was the least person I'd think they'd get as a judge. Sure, she is a very talented performer and well-liked personality. pero hindi sya that strong as a singer, mas marami ang mas magalong na singer sa kanya who could really judge an Idol contestant. Bakit hindi si Regine V. na beterana na, she'd make a better and more credible judge. But then Jolina is not doing a bad job, not great, but not that bad.

The host, Raymond, is a good host. But for some reason, there's something that doesn't quite connect with him and the show. Hindi ko masyado napapanuod ang PI dahil wala sya gaano thrill para sa akin. Unlike AI, kulang sya sa bentahe sa akin. Ewan ko, pero siguro if I force myself to watch more, baka magustuhan ko na sya. Pero down to seven na lang sila, at hindi pa ako convinced na it is worth my time.

Louie Ignacio is the director of the show (ata) and buti na lang magaling syang director dahil kaya nya ibenta ang show using other aspects. Watch SOP and you'll see na magaling sya. Yun nga lang, for PI, parang medyo wala yung magic nya, para sa akin. Medyo may kulang pa, siguro dahil na rin may obvious similarities sa attack ng mga shots, blocking, spiels(?), at flow ng show.

Siguro if they try to make it more of their own, baka mas maging maganda. Suhestyon lang naman.

Sa mga contestants, okay naman sila. Magagaling kumanta, obviously, but gaya ng mga unang nabanggit, may kulang. Siguro sa personality o stage presence, o baka ako lang ang nag-iisip nito. Hindi ako fan ng PBB o PDA sa kabilang istasyon pero mas gusto ko panoorin ang mga contestants ng PDA over the Idols.

Having said all these, hindi nman lahat ng first-time franchises ay ie-expect mo na sobrang ganda agad, we have to give the network and productionstaff some slack. Kaya okay pa din para sa akin to. At dahil isa sa mga former classmates ko nung college ay kasali as one of the remaining contestants sa Idol.

Kay Elizalde "Kid" Camaya, good luck and make the Tamarraws proud!


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