Tuesday, Dec. 09, 2008

Couldn't 'American Idol' offer up some bigger stars?

By Jeremy Dutton

Have plans Dec. 9? You could be winding down your early holiday shopping. Or maybe even watching Bill Murray's "Scrooged" just because that's just how you feel this year. My guess, rather, is that it won't be spent watching four former "American Idol" contestants tear through a bunch of worn-down holiday hits at Toyota Center.

At $30 to $57 a ticket, it might be a tad too expensive for a fill-up for your family's holiday spirit tank. But according to Toyota Center, there still are great seats available for the show, with the added bonus for fans to get photos and autographs from the former Idols after the show.

But at least we are getting something in the realm of a holiday show this year, considering how things are going. This show, however, is no match for the star power of Marie Osmond in last year's show. Her 1,000-watt smile could get you into the holiday spirit no matter who you are.

The four former Idols playing the Kennewick show are Diana DeGarmo, Kimberley Locke, Chikezie Eze and David Hernandez. If this roster isn't indicative of the state of Idol, I don't know what is. All of them, sans David Hernandez (who's that?), have made at least a few ripples in or beyond "Idol." Who could forget rooting for the cute DeGarmo? Or the underdog Chikezie? Both had talent. And Kimberley Locke made more news by joining "Celebrity Fit Club" than she ever did with Idol.

The arrogance of the Idol institution to think that they still can get by without adding many of the real stars it has created and instead swapping in a few also-rans is almost insulting to the millions who still watch the show for anything more than the freak show in its early weeks of each season.

Just look at the publicity they put out for this show and let me break it down. My comments will be in parentheses. Hyperbole, I think, is an understatement here.

"A surprising (not really) combination of four of the top 10 finalists from Seasons 1 through 7 will take to the stage for the most exciting night of solo, duet and ensemble performances ever in one place (hardly). This brand new production is a great way to see and hear the brightest 'Idol' stars (I think we all know that's not the case; give me a No. 1 and I might think differently) up close and personal in an intimate theatrical setting (arenas hardly qualify as intimate). Relive your favorite 'Idol' moments (if you can think back that far) as these talented young artists perform a thrilling array of holiday favorites (this would be believable if you take out the thrilling part)."

Excited yet? Me too. But if anything, there will be holiday songs that everyone loves to sing along to, and in the spirit of the season, taking a night out to enjoy that might not be such a bad idea. And maybe you could even sell that Kimberley Locke autographed photo on eBay to finance a few real Christmas gifts.