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Voting lines have closed and it’s official- 21-year-old Levinite Matt Saunoa is New Zealand’s Idol for 2006. However with only a one single contract promised to the singer and TVNZ stating that they’re not picking up the option for further series the future for NZ Idol seems bleak. The 2006 series got off to a rocky start when Sony IMG withdrew their support for the franchise followed by the departure of judge Paul Ellis who had managed previous Idol winners Ben Lummis and Rosita Vai. During auditions a top 18 entrant was disqualified from the series for being pregnant as producers felt the series would be too strenuous for the woman, especially as outdoor activities such as bungy jumping were going to be part of the Idol experience. Two new judges were brought in to support Frankie Stevens, the 60s one hit wonder who had been with NZ Idol since its inception. Megan Alatini’s main claim to fame was being part of manufactured girl band True Bliss in the 90s. A precursor to Idol the band’s success only lasted as long as the TV reality programme that spawned it. She was later criticised for her judging technique which was limited to comments such as “You go girl” or “go girlfriend”. Rounding out the unholy trio shock jock DJ Ian Staples of the glowering unibrow was added for colour and controversy. Staples' impact was diluted when many his comments were edited (apparently TVNZ assumed the viewing public were unable to cope with terms such as turd and gonad). Contestants were left floundering as the judges praised their favourites no matter how average their performance and unfairly criticised others who did not fit the Idol mould. Very rarely was constructive criticism offered in what became a popularity contest which saw the competition’s best singers voted out early in the series. Although TVNZ states that the high costs of the production were the reason for dropping the series little of the millions they claimed they spent was used on set construction with the same wobbly ediface used in previous years hauled out of storage. Likewise technical support for the contestants was shoddy with sound quality being particularly poor. Unlike the camaraderie of the previous two seasons Idol 3 was plagued by rumours of arguments in the Idol house with one contestant displaying diva behaviour towards her fellow housemates, the judges and stylists. Later the alleged theft of a PSP by one Idol hopeful caused a division amongst Idol fans. Whereas American Idol attracts the likes of icons such as Stevie Wonder and Elton John Kiwi songwriters such as Neil Finn and Dave Dobbyn refused to take part in the NZ version while Boh Runga (lead singer of band Stellar) stated she would rather “lick the inside of a toilet” than appear in an episode. A change unique to NZ Idol this year had producers leaving the phone lines open during elimination shows making the bottom two have a sing off competition while viewers voted on who got the worst treatment at the hands of the judges. Not only did this guarantee more revenue coming in from voters it also ensured sympathy votes for contestants who had been particularly savaged by the Idol judging panel. In this manner several less able singers were able to stay in the top ten a while longer than would have been likely in previous years. NZ Idol does seem to be cynically viewed as a cash cow by its makers. While Idol contestants are fiercely promoted throughout the run of the show the winners are not supported in their careers after the series has ended. 2005 Idol Rosita Via’s album although critically acclaimed was not marketed sufficiently by Sony and soon was consigned to the bargain bin at major music retailers. Likewise 2004 Idol Ben Lummis disappeared from the musical radar after he completed his first album. Compared with the successfully managed careers of Australian and American Idols NZ Idol is the touch of death for talented Kiwi youth. The 2006 NZ Idol Top Ten Contestants
©Jen Longshaw 2006 Please do not copy in any manner, print or electronic, without permission from the author. Subscribe to a FREE weekly Newsletter. |
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If
a New Zealander asks if you're feeling crook should you be insulted
or touched at his consideration? And why is going to bed with a hottie
no reason to get excited in the Land of the Long White Cloud?
