'American Idol' smackdown vs. Grammys: Who cares?
With more than 9,000 voters piping in, Adam Lambert has a substantial lead over Kris Allen (68% vs 32%) in our poll asking this question: Which "American Idol" contestant will win more showbiz awards during their future careers?
"This article is ludicrous!" cried a reader in the comments section of one of our "American Idol"-Grammy pieces. "Mr. O'Neil, if your intent was to rile everyone up, then you succeeded," fumes another reader.
Those outcries are typical of many comments by posters furious — or baffled — by us daring to ask such a question. What's the problem? Isn't "American Idol" everyman's equivalent to the Grammys? The TV singing contest purports to tell us what average folk think of these performers. Why can't we compare them to the winners of the industry's Grammy?
On one hand, the pondering might reveal who'll win "Idol." Carrie Underwood is a fine example of someone who's won both contests. She's claimed four Grammys over all, including one of the top four prizes: best new artist. Maybe Kelly Clarkson too — she's won two Grammys in the pop categories.
However, success at one music contest doesn't necessarily mean payoff at the other. Among "Idol" losers, Jennifer Hudson has not only won a Grammy but an Oscar too. Chris Daughtry's self-titled band hasn't won a Grammy, but it has scored four nominations.
But that's not what has gotten Gold Derby readers so riled up. It's that we had the audacity to ask: Is it possible for Allen to win "Idol" but Lambert to have the most enduring music career as measured by showbiz awards? Scroll through the comments in response and you'll see such outcries as "This is the stupidest article!"
Our posters also popped their cyber-corks when we had the audacity to wonder: Will Adam Lambert turn out to be a loser after winning 'American Idol'? Scroll through the comments section and you'll see this doozy reply: "This is the most biased and ridiculous article I have read all day." Another poster harrumphs in a grammatically challenged way: "You sure got a lot of hate, didn't you?"
While we compare how America's Grammys have fared opposite the music biz's Grammys, it's relevant to explore how the "American Idol" TV show has fared when judged by the TV industry's highest honor: the Emmy.
Answer: not well. "American Idol" keeps winning TV's Nielsen contest. It's not only TV's top-rated reality show, it's the tube's most-watched show, period, but it's lost the Emmy for best reality competition show six times to "Amazing Race." It's also lost 32 other Emmy contests. Its only victories were in crafts categories and, since one of those (best technical direction, 2007) was for the "Idol Gives Back" TV special, that means that the actual weekly TV series has won only one Emmy (best picture editing, 2008).
If you haven't yet voted in at our poll, pipe in here.
RELATED POSTS
Will Adam Lambert turn out to be a loser after winning 'American Idol'?
Kris Allen to win 'American Idol,' but Adam Lambert has best career?
After 'American Idol': Will Adam Lambert or Kris Allen win the most awards?
Photos: Fox TV, Epic Records
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I hope Adam grabs some of those awards. I hope he get nominated that is the important thing before winning. Not really sure why Carrie Underwood won so many awards? However she dd the right thing to stick in Country music. Then she bacame the favorite. No one in Idol gone country except Carrie. On the other hand I thought Kris should do country also, but he doesn't want to, his voice suit for country anyway. If Kris does country he will get more respect to the music industry. Kris doesn't have what it takes to be a rocker.
I just want to see Adam new CD and take off like a Rocket. Let's wait for that "hit" song that Adam is going to make. That will be Awesome, then hopefully stay on top that's the key.
Adam is always the BEST and so far the media follow him. Adam is a STAR!!
All Kris fans out there, look the way Kris talk he is lost without Adam in any interview. Kris doesn't talk smart like Adam :)
Posted by: Amanda | May 31, 2009 at 11:06 AM
I absolutely love Adam for so many reasons, including how he and Kris get along. They have show us all that people with different perspectives can be good friends. Not something I see too much in this blog. I think Kris will do ok, but his as time goes by, the memory of the sound of his voice has faded. I do remember his little side mouth singing face. He will find a place on the charts, most likely. But I think Adam is a show biz juggernaut and we will see him doing all kinds of things for years to come.
There was this guy named Sammy Davis Jr. in the 50s and he was a very small, kinda funny looking black man with one glass eye and he was a converted Jew. Not the most likely star in the 50s. But this man was an entertainer and he was absolutely determined. And he had a pretty good voice. So there he was running with Frank and Dino and the of the Rat Pack. So if you take a person with the same determination in this century who has an AMAZING voice and is INCREDIBLY GOOD LOOKING with a style all his own, you know there are "no boundaries"!
Posted by: Angel Morini | May 31, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I never liked Adam Lambert. He is not traditional and he shouts too much. He has positive points but it's still not how a song should be delivered. Rock star he is, which I never really liked that type of music. I would go with Kris a never fading style, classic!
Posted by: Alicia | May 22, 2009 at 06:02 AM
two words ADAM SUX
Posted by: jean | May 19, 2009 at 07:27 PM
YOU MAY NOT LIKE HEARING ABOUT ADAM LAMBERT BUT FACE IT AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT ADAM BROUGHT SEASON 8 AMERICAN IDOL ALIVE AS SIMON SAID YOU ARE EITHER MEMORABLE OR FORGETTABLE ADAM IS MEMORABLE AND KRIS IS FORGETTABLE ACCEPT IT
Posted by: natalie | May 19, 2009 at 02:08 PM
I disagree with you 100% on Kris growing did you watch his wife when they drove around town with all the cameras on them she looked terrified.......Music industry takes alot of sacrifice to grow do you really think Kris being newly married that next year he will be out there fighting to get someone to sign him up? Look at Kelly she has been around in the game for awhile and she has been dropped by record labels.........Sorry I feel that even though Kris has a nice voice by next year the Kris bandwagon will be gone as Taylor Hicks, and many of the others......... I don't think he has what it takes to grow............now if you had said Allison I may have agreed with you as the girl can sing
Posted by: dani | May 19, 2009 at 01:47 PM
I for one have been tired of Adam after the 2nd time he sang. How many times can you ruin a perfectly good song by screeching and screaming like an old broadway queen half way through a song? Can everyone say Ethel Murman? And for all the teenyboppers who do not approve of my answer, I have had vocal lessons and this man has a lot to learn!
Posted by: adam hater | May 19, 2009 at 01:45 PM
i don't get why people would get offended. personally both could have successful careers. and the one that would stick out more to me would be adam. but that's apples n oranges. long as finale is good. who cares? you don't have to win to be relevant.
Posted by: rljr | May 19, 2009 at 01:32 PM
I think this years AI has been terribly boring and very biased towards Adam Lambert. It seems as though he was picked from the beginning and this so called 64 million votes is complete crap. I think it is totally who the producers want and feel can make them the best buck.
I am so sick of hearing about Lambert and his theatrical performances. I am more into someone like Kris who is extrememely talented and who has pure raw talent. All this screaming and same ole thing from adam is about all you are going to get. Kris on the other hand will grow and prosper and he brings more to the table than screaming and theatrics. As Simon puts it "Boring!" We all already know who the producers have picked, so why watch? I am not going to. There are too many season finales this week that catch my attention vs. what I can read on the internet.
Posted by: veteran.wa | May 19, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Grammys are meaningless any more. Most of the best artists of all time never won and some of the worst crap wins each year. Everything is bought by the record labels. Awards especially.
Posted by: XTC | May 19, 2009 at 12:25 PM