World Idol (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

3.4/10   

Director:

Jonathan Bullen

Writers:

Andreas Hutzler (German contributions)
Christoph Schulte-Richtering (German contributions)

Release Date:

25 December 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Music

Cast

Kurt Nilsen	...	Himself - Winner (Norway)
Kelly Clarkson	...	Herself (USA)
Peter Evrard	...	Himself (Belgium)
Heinz Winckler	...	Himself (South Africa)
Will Young	...	Himself (UK)
Ryan Malcolm	...	Himself (Canada)
Guy Sebastian	...	Himself (Australia)
Alicja Janosz	...	Herself (Poland) (as Alex)
Alexander Klaws	...	Himself (Germany)
Diana Karazon	...	Herself (Pan-Arabic Region)
Jamai Loman	...	Himself (Netherlands) (as Jamai)
Randall Abrahams	...	Himself - Judge (South Africa)
Simon Cowell	...	Himself - Judge (USA)
Nina De Man	...	Herself - Judge (Belgium)
Ian Dickson	...	Himself - Judge (Australia)

Runtime:

UK:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

19 Entertainment

Trivia:

Guy Sebastian was originally going to sing "When Doves Cry" but Prince wouldn't allow it.

Quotes:

Ian "Dicko" Dickson (Australian judge): [commenting on Alexander Klaws's performance] Who says the Germans don't have a sence of humor
[everyone laughs]
Ian "Dicko" Dickson (Australian judge): because that was a comedy routine I'm afraid!

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002)

Great possibilities, but failed to follow through!

This show was, of course, totally unnecessary, but it was kinda fun to see all the contestants from the other countries as well as my own.

I do have to say that I was quite taken aback by some of the comments from some of the judges, especially from Simon Cowell. I mean, it's OK if they don't think they sing good enough, but do they have to pick on what people look like? I don't think singing has anything to do with how you look. I must admit, I laughed pretty hard after the hobbit-comment from the Australian judge after Kurt's song. I think it was hilarious, but it wasn't meant as a criticism, I think he meant it like a joke, really. But some of the comments were plain mean! And yes, I know they're supposed to be mean, to put you off, but it seemed to me like they were attacking all the idols that didn't come from either the States, Australia or the UK.

Now, I know this may sound a bit biased since I'm from Norway, but I do think the world picked the right winner. I mean, the only real competition to Kurt was Kelly Clarkson and Will Young, and I think they are both great singers. The problem with Kelly is that she likes to show off her improvisational skills a bit too much, it's all a bit too Mariah Carey. And Will, I mean, he just ruined a great song, a classic! There is no man alive that should sing "Light My Fire", 'cause the only man who ever got it right died in the seventies! And if you have to sing that song, at least do it in the original version, 'cause the version Will sung was basically crap! I mean, it was boring, he had no real emotion for the song, and it seems to me like he just stood there and recited a lyric, without knowing the meaning behind it.

All in all, I think it had the possibility of being a good show, but it just wasn't. Sure, it was fun to hear some of the comments from the judges, but there weren't really a lot of really good singers there. Some of them couldn't even hold a tune. But some of the idols were pretty good, like Ryan Malcolm and Guy Sebastian, but I would have liked the rest of them to have a bit of a higher standard than they did. I'm very happy with the winner though!