Fancast: Inside TV

I'm immune to these types of shenanigans, but I humor him, just to see
what he has to say. He reads my thumb, tells me about two very bad
habits I have. My favorite was the fact that he said they aren't
drinking, smoking, or gambling...those were passe', what he did tell
me was one of the two things I'll take away from my experience. I was
a bit taken aback by his accuracy, and these were not typical bad-
habits. He had my interest. He knew it.

He started writing down numbers and figures on a pad that I could not
read, and then he tore the paper up and handed the balled wad to me,
asking me to chant...and I quote..."Go my bad luck, come my good
luck", and then he had me blow on the paper. At this point I was
growing skeptical again, and waiting for the money pitch that I'm sure
was coming my way. After talking to me about what I do (I was
understandably vague) and how many siblings I had, he started asking
me to name a number between 1 and 10 (i said 8, he then asked me to
name one below it so I said 7), a flower ( I said bugevilia...and he
asked me to name a garden variety, so I said rose) and a few other
things...he wrote them down and asked me to look at the crumpled up
paper in my hand. The answers were all the same...and this was on a
piece of paper he had written on at the very beginning of our convo. I
was impressed, but not fooled. A magician would call this technique a
"force".

He then proceeds to hand me a ceramic good luck charm, tells me that
he's helped clear up my bad luck and shakes my hand. He then shows me
his price list. By his standards "poor" people pay him $30, middle-
class $60, and the rich $90. He asked me to give from a happy heart.

He saw me driving a BMW, looking put together, and probably assumed
rich. Ah, assumptions. I do consider myself wealthy, in more ways than
monetarily, yet on this day I was not exactly carrying my bank-roll
around with me. I had exactly $21 in my pocket. I giggled to myself
when saw the crest-fallen look on his face as informed him of this
fact. He took the $21 though, and said that I would pay him more next
time. Huh. He walked away, and I thought to myself "I just got
conned"...

The point?

Ah, yes, the point. Sometimes being an artist stinks. Sometimes.

That day, when I was feeling lost, out of sorts, missing the
connection that comes from family/ my girlfriend/my friends...taking
life too seriously, and feeling awful about myself. I found myself
being conned in a McDonald's parking lot. I laughed so hard afterwords
and even better. I wrote a song about it, in my notebook. I giggled
and wrote, trying not to crash my car as I drove and scribbled to the
beach on a Monday. This is what being an artist is all about for me.
The time becomes my ally, the loneliness becomes the shrouded space
that I contemplate in. The perceived lack that makes me feel like I'm
dragging my feet through the most unforgiving mud is a void that can
be filled to capacity at a moments notice with the most brilliant
inspiration and light.

Sometimes being an artist stinks...but I love being an artist.

The results...

I had the great fortune of sitting in the audience tonight. Not the
first time I've been back since my season, but the first time in a
long time (other than finales) that I've been to a live taping.
I remember the stage as it was 5 years ago, and it was miniscule in
comparison to the behemoth that I witnessed tonight. I've seen the
stage before, but during the tapings of Idol Tonight openings...no
screaming fans, no orchestra, lights, or judges. Quiet, small, and
calm. Completely different to what I experienced just a short hour
ago. If you've ever been in a night club during the day when it's
empty, you'll know what I mean. The energy inside that sound stage
was...well...electric. Weak description, I know. How about this?

The space is huge, the stage fills 80% of that space. the other 20% is
pure screaming audience. 100% electric, buzzing, adrenaline pumping,
live to 30 million people...television. Was that better?

When the lights go up, it's absolute magic in that studio, and
everyone plays their part to perfection.

Some funny tidbits before I get to the kids...

1. The judges leave during every commercial break. The longest of
which is only 3 minutes. It's kinda funny to me, because I have no
idea what they go to do every 3 minutes. Except for Simon. I'm sure he
catches a smoke, but he can't possibly do it every time, can he? I
wonder. Sometimes they have interviews, but it seems to me like it
takes them as much time to walk in as it does out. Remember, it's live
TV and once the broadcast starts the doors are locked. There were a
few times when the judges barely made it back to their seats in time
for the lights to come up and the show to start again. Paul, God bless
her, had to run at one point. Nigel Lythgoe, who's as good for a laugh
as he is at making Idol one of the greatest show on television was a
little worried when he stood in front of where I was sitting (I was
sitting in the front row audience right and had a great view of the
action) and said to the people standing at the doors leading out of
the studio "We're missing Paula....we're missing a host". He was not
unduly worried, and made light of the situation by asking a nearby
audience member (might have Syesha's Mother) if she could fill in for
Paula. With a smile, and less than 10 seconds to go until the
broadcast, he gave me a look that jovially said "Oh, God" and a wink.
Just as time was ticking down, Paula came scampering around the corner
and was truckin'...as much as someone can truck in an amazing pair of
high-heels. She scurried past and sat down just as the broadcast
began, literally as Ryan was speaking. Nigel, none too ruffled,
laughed and gave me a high-five. It made me giggle, and quite thankful
to have been, and still be, a part of such a great show.

2. Considering it's a competition, the kids really do love and adore
one another. I've been through the competition, and I understand, but
never felt as close to every one of my compatriots, like this lot seem
to feel about each other. Amazing cast chemistry. Absolutely. The way
they interact with each other, the crowd (as they wave to people from
all over the studio who incessantly scream out their names during the
commercial breaks), to the way they genuinely well-up at the idea of
loosing one of their own to another Wednesday. I have to say, I am one
not easily moved by television...knowing what I know about it, both
good and bad...but these kids make great television, and they move me.
I felt such tension in the air, palpable and extremely visceral,
emanating from the entire room. I'm not taking poetic license here. It
was deep and affected even me, one who knows the system, and should by
all accounts be immune to it all. Not so.

Last night was an amazing, if not sad night.

I guess it takes Mariah Carey to make me love the group song. I
thought that "One Sweet Day" was great, not overdone on choreo or
corny in any way. Tasteful.

Mariah performed and to sum it up...when I first saw her hit the
stage, the very vision of her made me call out the name of Jesus. I
apologized to a nearby woman who was someone official... so stricken
was I that I forgot all my manners...she promptly told me that she
understood and was used to hearing people say that about Mariah.

Elliot Yamin. Such an amazing voice, no? I could listen to that guy
sing the contents of a stereo manual and still be impressed. Yes, I
bet he could make "co-axial cable" sound like a million bucks. Even
when Ryan brought up the unfortunate passing of his Mother, he handled
it remarkably well, and to have to sing under those
circumstances...well.

The switching of the contestants, and the David Archuleta sit in
later...we find Brooke and Kristy Lee in the bottom.
I wasn't very happy either way. I think that Kristy has shown great
improvement in every aspect over the weeks, and that Brooke shouldn't
be kicked off after one less-than-her-best night.
What made it worse was the fact that these two were like sisters, no
really...it's true. Roommates, and bosom buddies. Sister vs. sister.
Painful for both.

As I was interviewing Kristy after the show she told me that Brooke
kept telling her "I'm going home", and that Kristy Lee kept assuring
her of the opposite. Kristy just had a feeling, and it was correct.

Brooke lives on, with some serious tears.

Kristy gets a few weeks of rest, between the press, to relax ride her
horses and get ready for the finale.

A great night of television...

Next week: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Homepage photo credit: Matt Beard