American Idle?

I've blogged about the Oscars for what seems like the at least 90% of these blogs and have really neglected the stage and tube portion of this blog's title. More Oscar talk tomorrow but until then...

Tonight the 7th season of American Idol begins and producers have promised a stronger competition this year with more focus on creating unique artists as opposed to watered down semi pop stars that might have a single radio play song if they are lucky.

The past two seasons have been less than stellar. Has American Idol become Idle? It seems like it needs major kick in the pants to get back to its first three seasons glory (Season 3 still remains my favorite of all time). The '06 and '07 AI classes offered only a few memorable contestants and it is time that Idol turns out an Amy Winehouse or Mika instead of a Haley Scarnato or Anthony Fedorov. Why couldn't they have gone for Rachel Zevita last year. She was amazing.

Today I will list in my opinion the top five idol contestants of idol all time and tomorrow I will list the top five train wrecks season 1-6.

TOP FIVE

5. Fantasia - This woman was incredible. She is my favorite contestant of all time and for those who didn't "get" her, I seriously question their taste in all things having to do with hearing. She has had substantial success on the R & B circuit and made perhaps the most astonishing stage debut last year that Broadway has ever seen.

4. Chris Daughtry - After getting snubbed on Idol (finished 4th in 06) Daughtry turned down Live to be their lead singer and launched a massively huge solo career. His record was one of the top selling records of the past year. He also won a boatload of AMAs and a ton of Grammy noms. He is without a doubt the most successful male Idol ever.

3. Kelly Clarkson - The original winner has become one of the planet's biggest pop stars. She gave all Idol winners and non winners their legitimate artist cred. Breakaway was one of the best pop albums of the new century and Since You Been Gone is just so damned catchy. 2007 was a bit of a mid career hiccup for her, attempting to be less pop and enraging her music Pop (Clive Davis) in the process. But she'll come back...

2. Jennifer Hudson - Talk about the biggest story to ever come out of Idol. This woman finished 7th (7TH!!!!!) in American Idol season 3 and three years later she won an Oscar. Sure we haven't seen what Jennifer Hudson can do musically yet, but she already has so much damned clout it doesn't matter. She is in the upper echelons of the Hollywood's elite and has chosen some great post Oscar follow up projects. She's our modern day Aretha.

1. Carrie Underwood - Ms. Underwood is about as A list as you can get in the music industry. So far she has had essentially a perfect career and everything has come up Carrie. Sure it helped that entered into the country music industry, which is seemingly its own culture. But Carrie has massive cross over appeal. Before He Cheats was a delicious guilty pleasure that was played more often on non country radio. She has sold huge amount of albums and has won the most prestigious Grammy of any AI alumnus, Best New Artist. Carrie is now as arguably as big as the show that spawned her.

Hopefully this year AI will discover an artist that will someday be on the above list. Here's hoping. It all begins tonight!