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While I don’t believe I’ve ever missed a performance round of American Idol, I don’t watch most audition episodes. Because I’m going to die someday and I’ll have to account for how I spent my time on Earth. But I caught the a chunk of last night’s tryouts in Milwaukee, including perhaps the show’s most heartbreaking/exploitative (is there even a difference between the two on Idol?) personal story yet.
We met Chris Medina, 26, a barista from Chicago, who was engaged to be married when his fiance was injured in a car accident and suffered brain damage. They still haven’t married, he told us, but he’s become her caretaker (“What kind of guy would I be if I walked out on her when she needed me the most?”). We saw him propose to her on home video, care for her, sing for her.
It was a tremendously moving segment: I ached for him and for her, and yet felt like an intruder to be watching this, on the most popular TV show in America, in a piece edited for maximum heartbreak (right down to the camera zoom on her engagement ring). Which, I suppose, is right where American Idol wants me.
Beyond that closing segment, I’m curious what you think about Idol’s new post-Simon season of positive vibes, with the new judging panel handing out Golden Tickets to Hollywood like coupons at a shopping center. Steven, J-Lo and Randy seem to be enjoying themselves, but at some point they’ll have to make the transition to telling people no—again and again—and critiquing performances live. Who are your favorites so far—on either side of the judges’ table?