Two-Faced View: American Idol

1.Do you believe that Sanjaya should still be on American Idol? Meg: No, he does not have the singing skills that others on the show do. I still can't believe he has lasted as long as he has.

Jill: Not at all, he has a decent voice but not enough to get this far in the country's most competitive singing competition.

2.What is it about Sanjaya that keeps getting him votes week after week?

Meg: For some reason he has struck a cord with the 'tweens. Also he is the pick for the popular site, Votefortheworst.com, a site that votes for the worst contestant in order to skew the show's results. So I think thatboth of these reasons account for why he has stuck around so long.

Jill: His craziness, he is willing to put himself out on a limb, especially with his faux hawk. He is definitely entertaining.

3. Do you think Sanjaya has a chance at winning American Idol?

Meg: Probably not, since there are so many other better singers. Then again stranger things have happened. We'll just have to watch and find out!

Jill: I don't think so. The competition is about singing. If it were about stage presence and just entertainment then I believe he'd have a chance, but he's not a singer.

4. Do you view American Idol as a serious talent search?

Meg: Yes and no. On the one hand the show is looking for someone who can become a valid music superstar-- and it has worked, just look at Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson. However, we have to remember that at its core, "American Idol" is a television show which depends on its ratings for its success.

Jill: To an extent, yes. The tryouts are real. Paula, Randy and Simon are professionals who know what they are looking for. Putting your fate in the hands of the American public can be risky. I think that American voting gives Sanjaya a better chance at winning because they look for entertainment, not just for singing and performing.

5. Do you think an American Idol like Sanjaya would be good or bad for the show?

Meg: Overall, I think he is good for the show. While he may not be the best of singers he gives people something to talk about the next day. There have been spoofs of him on SNL and E! and there is no such thing as bad publicity for television shows. Sanjaya is definitely a draw whether you like him or not.

Jill: I think he will be good for the show. I personally don't like him, however there seem to be a lot of people in America who do. If he has viewers tuning in to watch him then it will help the show.

6. Who do you think will win American Idol this year?



Meg: I think it will come down to the girls this year. My topic picks are Jordin, Melinda and LaKisha, these girls are all fantastic singers; the boys just are not up to par this year.

Jill: I hope that Chris or Jordin win. I think Jordin has potential to go all the way. However, I think that Melinda will win the entire competition. She has a fantastic voice and wonderful stage presence.

7. What do you think about the judge's criticism?

Meg: Well, the judges don't have a vote but I think that their voices give the viewers a way to gauge the performance. However, sometimes the judges are as entertaining as the performances they are meant to be critiquing. But I will admit that I love Simon's sarcastic comments.

Jill: I trust Randy's criticism the most. For the most part, I always agree with what he has to say. I think Paula gives the contestants false hope. I understand she is trying to be sweet, but sometimes she needs to just tell them they can't sing. Lastly, although Simon is entertaining with his negative comments I think he goes overboard with his comments, and they are sometimes unnecessarily rude.

8. How does this season rank against the previous seasons?

Meg: It is ok, not great but not bad. To me the best season was the first one with Kelly Clarkson, when "American Idol" was still so new and not full of product placements.

Jill: The only "American Idol" I had ever watched before this season has been the tryouts. I have never been this involved into the show before.