In other news...I am in love with Matt Corby. Except when he wears that little hat. But it's making me feel like a p&dophile, being in love with a 16 yo boy. Either that or like Germaine Greer, I'm not sure which is worse.
I'm in love with Matt so much so that when Mark Holden wants him to sing something ...gay as Jonah Takalua would say...from Phantom of the Opera, I forgive them both. I want to coo like Marcia 'he's so versatile' rather than bark 'that was an idiot's choice' like Dicko.
But I'm not alone in my love for Matt. I'm there with Mark Holden, and possibly almost every teenage girl from here to coo-ee. In Mark's case, it's because he's looking for the lost Mark. Every year he looks for the Mark he never was and the Mark who never will be (wasn't Dean last year?) Because I don't remember Mark ever being as talented as he wants the Idols to be. Wasn't the reason why he got a record deal that he was (a) cute and (b) on the Young Doctors? In fact, a bit of a Daniel Mifsud figure. Goodlooking but hopeless.
<the Mark that was...the Matt he never will be...note spooky resemblance>
Being loved by Mark is like the kiss of Idol death. You know that once Mark has identified someone as the rightful heir apparent, the best they'll ever do is get into the Top Three. But they'll never win outright, which could of course be another form of death.
Last week, Matt almost had a Ricky Lee moment at about Round 6, but instead it turned into a Bobby Flynn moment for the talented but insufferable Ben. I don't think Matt will go just yet; I think this kind of aberration also happened to other strong performers like Emily at about this time in the past.
The thing is, you generally have to be something of an out-rider to win Idol. This is my theory: it's all about the battler narrative. At the end of the day, Australians love a battler. The person who sets up the best battler narrative wins. There are two dark horses who could make the most of the battler narrative here: lazyboy from the Central Coast (tho name too unmemorable) and Carl, the swingster. Lazyboy could be an outside contender but probably won't be, because he is too lazy. Carl is in the Army, which should appeal to a youth brought up under Howard, and most importantly of all, Learns Lessons from his Mistakes and is seen to be pulling himself up out of the poo, so to speak (swing-poo, I guess). So I'd put money on Carl as the new Damien Leith.
Interesting that I don't mention any of the girls, isn't it, but I have a feeling that it really is all about het boys this time. I suspect that Tarisai is just too weird for the Australian public; she doesn't project a consistent enough story for people to latch onto (a bit like Emily but all over the place). Natalie Gauche or whatever her name is should be the new Tina Arena but always seems to get the raw end of the deal, as far as positioning's conncerned...she's tucked away somewhere in the evening. Also, she's short-waisted (this is different from having a big bum)...can't someone in wardrobe tell her not to wear things that make her look like a paddlepop with two sticks? But she does have a beautiful face, which I suspect is still swinging her votes.
And then there's Daniel Mifsud...Oh please, someone put Daniel out of his misery. He's cute, he's a nice boy, but his voice is just too weak. Some of the dancing around he does is just plain embarrassing, too. Either he or Lazyboy has to go this week.
Anyway, I really I can't compete with Petstarr when it comes to Idol commentary; it's almost worth watching Idol just to read her posts afterwards. But that's my two cents-worth for now...Carl to beat Ken Doll.
I could possibly be in love with him, but I'm saving myself for Tony Jones and/or James Spader. I feel it would be indecent to just keep adding to my list.
Posted by: ThirdCat | October 24, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Tony Jones? I'm guessing he'd be thrilled to know it1
Posted by: elsewhere | October 24, 2007 at 01:25 PM
James Spader was so beautiful once - what happened?
I've given up on Idol this year. I'll admit it - straight out prejudice against Christians. Plus no one holds a match to Damien Leith, who's about the only contestant ever who could actually sing. (Only contestant who was a professional, too, as far as I know. And he's now had a novel published, which I assume you won't be reading in your book group.)
Posted by: suzo | October 24, 2007 at 02:12 PM
Come on, now -- there's more to being an Idol than just singing!
Posted by: elsewhere | October 24, 2007 at 03:00 PM
Tony Jones? TONY JONES? 3C has a thing for blokes who can't sit up straight does she?
Posted by: Laura | October 25, 2007 at 01:06 PM
I can understand it, esp late at night. A friend who used to work here at the ABC said that TJ would be very hard to film because of all the lurching over the desk he does.
Posted by: elsewhere | October 25, 2007 at 01:36 PM
James Spader is still gorgeous and I've got a bit of a lean myself.
Sorry, elsewhere I've totally derailed your comments.
Posted by: ThirdCat | October 25, 2007 at 04:02 PM
I think that's fine, given the context.
Posted by: elsewhere | October 25, 2007 at 04:36 PM