Robby is Eliminated

Travesty fell to a record low as arguably the most consistent, the most favored and the best Pinoy Idol hopeful got eliminated last night. The elimination of Robby Navarro left Ogie Alcasid and Jolina Magdangal in tears. And to add insult to injury, Robby was outlasted by the two bottom-dwellers, even with their lack of talent, Daryl and Sue.

Wyngard finally said something sensible and right, after weeks of having that "I don't care" attitude and that apathetic look on his face. To try to quote Wyngard's sweeping speech last night that echoed the sentiments of the general viewers and fans of the Idol franchise:

"Nakikiusap ako sa mga voters na maging objective, lalo na yung mga kamag-anak at mga kaibigan, alam ko na mahirap. Isipin nyo na ang very first Pinoy Idol ang magrerepresent sa ating bansa internationally, sa Asian Idol at World Idol. Huwag nyo kaming sisihin kung ang mananalo ay ayaw nyo, dahil kayo ang may kasalanan. Please makonsensya naman kayo."

Wyngard even said something like, Ayaw ko na linggo-linggo akong magiging luhaan or imbierna. And now, so many questions linger in the mind of the viewers left in distraught. Questions that we may never find the real answer, except for the blatant simple fact that Robby, supposedly, did not get enough votes. And why didn't he get enough votes?

Here are some possible reasons for the early eliminations of the better Idol hopefuls like Mae and Robby.

1. Mae, Robby, Penelope, Kid and Jayann probably have the same fans voting for any of them. These fans know that these 5 idol hopefuls (only 3 remains now) are really the best mong the contestants, that they cannot pick just one solid idol hopeful, because they are trying to be objective and just base their votes on performance. They probably think that since their bets are doing fairly good on their performances, their idols are safe. But they are wrong.

2. Sue, Warren and Daryl have die-hard fans. These fans, whether they are relatives, friends or persons that are totally oblivious-to-good-taste would stick to voting to their ONE and ONLY Idol hopeful. Regardless if their performance is great or if it sucks. They would vote many more times especially when their bet is at the bottom group.

3. Conspiracy theory? Do you think that the network would actually rig the results to stir controversy and interest? Why aren't they revealing the number of votes? Don't we have the right to know the figures?

4. Pinoys are just stupid voters. Plain and simple, just look at our politicians.

5.  Robby's tantrums on a recent episode of Pinoy Idol Extra could've affected his votes. I didn't catch the episode, where he almost wanted to quit because of some big-brother-like challenge. But i don't believe Extra got that much viewers to actually turn his votes away. Well, I'm sorry Robby... you would probably have a better career than whoever wins this contest. Tingnan mo na lang si Jonalyn Viray. Baka kunin ka pa ng Southboarder.

Pinoy Drama Anthologies

Hold your horses, I am not trying to add fuel to the fire which is the network war you wish would just finally stop. But just for a respite, I’d like to write something about Pinoy Dream Academy; which is the so-called rival of Pinoy Idol.

I really don’t watch the PDA as much as I really don’t watch Pinoy Idol Extra. As much as possible, I just catch the “gala nights” of both supposed “talent” shows. I’ve only seen the first gala night of PDA and I think that they hit the jackpot with Liezel/Liezl, the soul - girl from Dubai. Van is also an instant  “It” boy, he’s got the looks and a pretty decent voice, with cool song choices. Of course, there are also some misses. I just won’t name one of them, because I already met him a couple of times, and he’s really a good kid, though, not really a kid anymore. (That’s like a “gigantic” hint already!)

I also thought that Ross got a great potential. He’s got that rocker demeanor without trying too hard and he’s got a clear voice. But his PDA journey ended with the dramatics that could outdo “Magdusa Ka” or any afternoon soap, for that matter. And the Uma-lookalike appeared to follow suit, even trying to outcry him over his dilemma. The exit of Ross sorta made viewers confused as to why after making it “inside”, he decided to leave. He kinda got homesick, insisted that he “served his purpose” (which is not really clear-cut), and confessed that he couldn’t handle “backstabbing” or the attitude of some of the scholars.

Even some of the pexers agree that PDA should not focus so much of the drama that it overshadows the talents the “scholars” are supposed to be honed inside the “Big Brother Academy”.

Surprisingly, the very much capable former judge of Philippine Idol and their current headmaster Ryan Cayabyab often gets flak for his unfelt presence over the academy, risking comparison with the charismatic and apparently well-loved season 1 headmaster Jim Paredes.

But of course, that’s how PDA works. Just like Big Brother, or America’s Next Top Model or Survivor,  it’s not enough for viewers to watch them sing or compete with each other; viewers also get to watch how they are doing on a daily basis.

But that doesn’t work for Pinoy Idol, or even American Idol for that matter. After watching PDA on that overly dramatic exit of Ross (not to mention the coincidental death of Miguel’s Lolo, geez, too much crying for a night!); I caught PI Extra as well.

And guess what? They are cooking up their own controversies even to those idol hopefuls that got out already. On that episode, they are raising issues between Gretchen against Bev Ejercito (remember her?); Kid vs. Jayann or whoever; and Robby vs. Toffer. Extra amplifies even the most mundane things, that people really didn’t want or need to know, just to present something interesting on the failed localize franchise.

Why? Is there not enough tears, or drama or backstabbing on Pinoy Idol? Did AI need that to become the number 1 TV show in the US?

Do we really need that on every freaking reality talent show on TV when the fictional shows are already full of it (not to mention our actual - real lives)? I just think that TV just went further down the drain.

Lea, Jose Mari at Regine, kukuning mentors ng Pinoy Idol

May balak palang kunin ng Pinoy Idol management sina Lea Salonga, Jose Mari Chan at Regine Velasquez para maging celebrity mentors ng finalists ng Pinoy Idol. Ito ang ipinarating sa showbiz press ni Hazel Abonita, production manager ng Pinoy Idol. Dagdag pa ni Hazel, perfect maging mentors ang tatlo dahil kilala internationally at approved pa ng Freemantle bosses.

Marami rin daw matututunan sa kanila ang Final 12, particular na sa style at tamang pagpili ng kakantahin.

Wala ring takot na sinabi ni Hazel na ipaglalaban niya ang galing sa pagkanta ng PI finalists laban sa Pinoy Dream Academy 2 scholars.

Kung may mentors daw ang PDA scholars, meron ding professional vocal coaches ang Pinoy Idol Final 12 na nagga-guide sa mga ito. May constant band rehearsals din para masanay sa live performance.

Mae Out, Ten are left on Pinoy Idol

Last night, a couple of fans were shocked because Warren Antig and Mae Flores are in the bottom two. During the performance night, the two received unfavorable comments from the judges.

Unfortunately, Mae Flores who sang “I Didn’t Love You” ended her Idol journey last night. Actually, she’s popular especially during the beginning of the semi-finals (the Top 24 stage).

The remaining 10 finalists of Pinoy Idol – Sue Ellen, Penelope, Jay-ann, Warren, Gretchen, Mae, Kid, Toffer, Robby, Daryl and Ram

A "Superstar" Fell : Mae Flores

I guess votefortheworstpinoy.tk truly has an influence over the voters of Pinoy Idol.

However, it is still a shocker that someone tagged just 2 weeks ago as a “superstar” would be eliminated after a less than stellar performance.

 

Especially when it’s really the fault of the band or the musical director for making song arrangement that sucks. I hardly recognized Penelope’s take on Ne-yo’s So Sick because of the sintonadong banda; just like what happened to Jayann’s Bleeding Love weeks ago.

Of course, these shocking vote results happen to American Idol as well (say, Michael Johns and Chris Daughtry). But at least, they don’t happen almost consecutively and almost all throughout the whole season. Walton, Meryl and Bev are just among the very early exiteers.

And despite being the Idol hopefuls people love to hate, Sue, Warren and Daryl remain.

It won’t be surprising anymore if Kid, Jayann, Penelope or Ram would be eliminated next week.

Toffer and Gretchen still remain at the middle or at the brink of being awful or perhaps, good enough.

As far as the 7 seasons of American Idol are concerned, 100% audience voting to determine the winner still works. After all, these American Idols truly deserve the title, at least as far as the competition is concerned (whether they have a career or none after the show is another matter altogether). Kelly Clarkson, Reuben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carey Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook all deserve their Idol titles.

For our so-called “first Pinoy Idol” despite the dismal production, I still hope that the end result would still be, at least, as convincing and deserving.

Idols We’re Down to Eleven

The Top 12 Idol Hopefuls sang their hearts out at the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage. The set was bigger and a lot better than that of the Semi-Finals stage. Of course, there are still technical glitches, which are evident throughout the show. A representative from Fremantle Media watched the first gala performance night live. I’m sorry but I failed to take note of the name. Dulce and some of the winners of Pinoy Pop Superstar were in the audience too.

The theme for the first gala performance night is the “greatest performance of their life” or something to that extent. The bottom three for this week are Kid, Jeni and Sue.

The Idol hopeful from Iloilo, Jeni Rawolle left and ended her Idol journey last Sunday night. Next week, we are down to 11 Idol hopefuls. The 11 contestants left are: Penelope, Jayann Bautista, Gretchen Espina, Mae Flores, Sue Ellen, Ram Chaves, Kid Camaya, Daryl Celis, Warren Antig, Toffer Rei, and Robby Navarro.

Don’t miss Pinoy Idol see your Idol hopefuls grace the Idol stage every week! Performance nights are every Saturday after Pinoy Records while results nights are every Sunday after Kap’s Amazing Stories. If you want exclusive backstage access to Pinoy Idol, catch Pinoy Idol Extra every Sunday after SOP and Mondays thru Thursdays after Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita.

Aktres at ‘Idol’ finalist, nahuling naglalaplapan!

Sa sagot ng Final 12 ng Pinoy Idol sa Q&A portion ng presscon nila last Wednesday night, handa na sila sa gala performance nila bukas, Saturday, sa Centerstage (may nagsabing sa SMX) ng Mall of Asia.
   
Matira ang matibay kina Penelope, Jayann Bautista, Gretchen Espina, Jeni Rawolle, Mae Flores, Sue Ellen, Ram Chaves, Kid Camaya, Daryl Celis, Warren Antig, Toffer Rei at Robby Navarro at iitsa-puwera muna ang friendship.
   
Color-coded ang isusuot ng fans ng F12 para makilala sila. Orange for Gretchen, dark blue Mae, light blue for Penelope, pink for Sue Ellen, white for Jayann at yellow for Jeni. Sa boys naman, violet for Warren, black for Ram, red for Kid, gray for Daryl, green for Toffer at brown for Robby.
   
Nabanggit ni Hazel Abonita, program director ng Pinoy Idol, na may mall tour ang F12 sa malls ng SM at tuluy-tuloy ang TV guestings. May lawyer na ring magre-represent sa kanila at ang first Pinoy Idol winner ay ima-manage ng GMA Artist Center.
   
Inalam din namin kay Darling de Jesus, AVP for magazine/musical/variety formats, kung may balak silang imbitahan si Chris Daughtry na mag-guest sa Pinoy Idol.
   
Darating sa bansa ang American Idol 5 finalist sa July para mag-concert. “We’re trying to make arrangements” ang sagot ni Darling sa amin. So, keep your fingers crossed na makapag-guest ito sa show.

Ayaw tigilan ng mga galit sa kanya ang young actress na ito’t lahat na yata ng klase ng tsismis ay ikinabit sa kanya. Ang latest ay ang pakikipaghalikan daw nito sa isa sa Final 12 hopefuls ng Pinoy Idol.
   
Sa Filmex studios daw, kung saan ginawa ang four- week competition ng Pinoy Idol, nakipaghalikan ang young actress at nakita pa sila ng staff ng talent search. Malabo ito’t super higpit ang staff sa F12 finalists, tapos pababayaan nilang nakikipaglaplapan ang isa sa kanila?
   
Saka, ang sinasabing kahalikan nito’y parang harmless at takot sa babae. Pero, tatanungin pa rin namin ang actress and as for the F12, ’wag na nating dagdagan ang stress nito sa paghahanda sa contest at sa ibang araw na natin siya pangalanan. Ang masasabi lang namin, masuwerte siyang ma-link sa young actress.