Jentasmic: American Idol Masters Division?

Jentasmic’s got a bone to pick with the American Idol TV show. Sure, us old folks can try out for the American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But if we win for the day, can we use our golden ticket? Nope. Which is a shame, because there are times when a seasoned vocalist is really what you need.

Well, earlier this week I watched 17-year-old Katie Stevens valiently attempt the song “Feeling Good.” The judges and I were as one on this: It’s the wrong song for her, in large part because of her age. She’s a sparkly, bright-eyed young woman, and simply doesn’t bring the angst and depth to the song that it deserves. While there may be the rare teenager who can give that song its due, those who’ve had a little more time to savor life’s ups and downs, and for their voices to more fully mature physically, may have more to give here.

Here’s what I propose:

I’d propose that the American Idol TV show should run a special edition one year, perhaps in the off-season if they’re feeling skittish, and title it “American Idol: Masters Division,” with contestants 29 years and older.  There are plenty of amazing voices out there, and some only improve with age. Just ask yourself: Would Susan Boyle have delivered that stunning performance on Britain’s Got Talent 36 years earlier? Surely she’s not the only one over 28 who’s ever dreamed a dream.

I’d try out for it myself. Anybody else?

BoingBoing: How a duck, a Nazi and a themepark saved American color TV

Cory Doctorow has a great piece on BoingBoing and the UK Guardian today on how Ludwig von Drake helped bring the US television market into the wonderful world of color.

The history of earlier changeovers is a colourful one. My favourite example is the US colour TV transition. In the mid-1950s, the US regulator and NBC (a broadcaster whose parent company, RCA, made colour sets) began the process of rolling out colour broadcast apparatus across the nation. This was a substantial investment, and in order to recoup it, the broadcasters would need to see an increase in the number of viewers (this being before practically every American household owned a TV – penetration in 1955 stood at 64.5%) and a higher rate from advertisers for reaching those viewers, on the strength of the new possibilities opened up by colour adverts.

But there was a problem: there was practically no colour programming. Broadcasters didn’t want to commission colour broadcasts to transmit to a nation of black-and-white sets; viewers didn’t have any reason to switch their sets to colour if everything being aired was in black-and-white.

And yes, the Walt Disney Company proves key in the transition.

The Walt Disney Company came through the second world war as a publicly listed firm, and Walt spent the next decade chafing against shareholder control and squabbling about spending with his brother Roy, the adult in their partnership. When Roy refused to open the company coffers to him for the $17m he needed to embark on a mad scheme called Disneyland, the company instead raised millions by opening their vaults to ABC, a broadcaster.

In other news…..my BFF posted pictures today of her super-cool DIY Haunted Mansion bathroom refurb. Check it.

Jentasmic! Why I’m Going Back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

From my Jentasmic! column this week at Studios Central:

Most Disney nerds have heard it at least once: “You’re going to Disney World again?” And yes I am. Not for about another six months, but it’s been many years since I didn’t know where my next trip was coming from.

So, why do I keep going back?

Head on over to StudiosCentral to see my reasons, and maybe even add some of your own in the comments! A commenter this morning made me smile with one of her reasons:

Because at Christmas (my next trip) I can spin like a little kid in the middle of The Osborne Lights and bawl my eyes out.

Asian Star Wars Disco Sea Chicken Commercial

I don’t know how to process this. (Hat tip: Pink Tentacle.)