You may laugh, but Adam Lambert is single-handedly responsible for the slow freefall that is American Idol today. The day he lost – although winning Idol is meaningless in terms of success for contestants, Daughtry is a star and Kris Allen sank back into the primordial swamp from which he emerged – the mere fact that such a phenomenal performer could lose was enough for many to see the writing on the wall.
I believe Simon Cowell was one of them. He quit, Paula quit and now they have resurfaced in The X Factor, USA. Anyone watching the show on AXN every Wednesday will be taken aback at a number of things. First, Simon is totally different here. He's relaxed, funny and actually gives a shit about the people on the show; he's not even cruel for cruelty's sake but keeps his signature sarcasm knowing we would be lost without it. (Like asking a mother-daughter duo from Mars which one was the mother. Well, we were all wondering!)
Even Paula is cool, self-deprecating and less likely to take the slow train when delivering judgement. LA Reid is, in my book, shockingly attractive and clued-in, but I draw the line at Nicole S. She looks dazed and confused and seems to be somewhat jittery to be the cynosure of all eyes – and this from a Pussycat Doll. She's the Kara DioGuardi of X Factor, ie. she may have talent herself but there's something about her that we just don't like. OK, not something. Kara was pushy while Nicole seems witless – and maybe she could stop weeping whenever she has to deliver bad news to a wannabe? It's not about you, hon.
The show, meanwhile, has so much more energy and humanity than Idol. It is bursting with real talent. And yummy host Steve Jones is percolating with feeling as he hugs and laughs and listens to the performers. I am a staunch Seacrest fan, but I must admit Ryan lacks some warmth. His dismissal of Daughtry is still seared in my brain; we know he didn't mean to be callous and just wanted to get on with the show but you cannot make a slip on reality TV simply because the public tends to recall it at inopportune moments – like when a rival host appears on the horizon.
The ones to watch on X Factor:
Josh K. He came onstage looking like he once modelled for Perry Ellis' infamous grunge look (for which Marc Jacobs got infamously fired). No one was impressed. Then he sang two words of the song At Last and the audience roared to their feet. He's 2011's Joe Cocker, down to the way he leans back and looks like he's having a spasm when he gets the rawest of his notes out there. Dude's got the X Factor.
Brennin Hunt. Hilarious. The model came swaggering into the room talking about how he was the 'whole package' and XF editors had the song “I'm sexy and I know it” playing the whole time. But when he opened his mouth, boy could sing. Simon immediately got a glint in his eye; he knew he would have to do no marketing for Beautiful Brennen, guy practically sells himself. I keep him on the list although he hasn't made it to the finals because I don't believe we've heard the last of Mr Sexy.
Stacy Francis. An unforgettable voice and likely to win.
Chris Rene. Real talent, easy on the eye, humble, whose Young Homie is being sung in homes as we speak.
But remember how David Cook came out of nowhere on Idol? To win 5 million big ones, the fight might just be about to get down and dirty.
Point to Note:
Biggest judges' blunders: Keeping Dexter something-or-other who seems like a clown with a Jagger complex and chucking Caitlin Koch. What th' ?
