LAST EDITED ON 04-18-07 AT 12:24 PM (EST)

>Yep, agree with Breezy here.
>If you watch the show
>again Chris goes from talking
>about "nasally is a form
>of singing" right into his
>sympathetic shout out to Va
>tech with barely a breath.
> I too feel Simon
>was eye rolling at the
>nasally comment. The producers
>let him know how it
>probably looked to the viewers
>due to the unfortunate camera
>work thus the comment from
>Simon later that the judges
>too send out condolences to
>all involved.
>

So, Simon's condolences, and their timing could've been a butt-saving move?

>I think he was actually rolling
>his eyes at Chris's "nasally
>is a singing style" comment.
>

I think Chris was being defensive. Whether "nasally" is, or isn't, a singing style, he probably should've just ignored Simon. And, just given his condolences. Thus, no eye-rolling. Anyway, maybe I missed it by not listening closely enough, but Chris didn't sound nasally. And, if he did, maybe it was out of emotion. If so, I think just giving the codolences would've come across better without his defensive reaction to Simon's "nasally" comment.

He usually sounds nasally to me for most of his performances, *shrug*. It is a matter of opinion so we will never all agree on if someone is or isn't.

If he sounds nasdally to you, he probably is. I never pay much attention to his performaces because I'm more interested in Jordin's, Lakisha's and Melinda's. Trying to decide which one gets my vote. They all got my vote last night. Five each!

I'm actually dumbfounded that so many of you are concluding simon was reacting to the Chris' nasally defense.

Do you have it on tape?

I'm three hours behind, so I was already aware of the event before the show came on. My VCR was going anyway, because I'd missed the first part of the show. So I was alert and waiting for the moment, and also had the ability to play it back about 10 times.

it was NOT a smooth segue on Chris' part, from talking about his singing to giving his condolances.

Ryan was rambling on, presuming that Chris' turn to talk was over. Chris had to force his way back into the flow of talk. He had two false starts before Ryan finally shut up and let him talk.

And when he was through, the camera immediately flipped to the judges, I assume to capture their sympathetic reaction to this mention of nightmarish tragedy.

And Simon clearly, imo, had an immediate reaction -- it was so sharp, it almost felt angry to me the first time I saw it. he first glanced at Paula, who was smiling sympathetically with her eyes on the stage, and then he shot an icy, cutting look at the stage and then flipped his eyes back and away. It wasn't an eye-roll. It was worse.

I have absolutely no doubt that he's so cynical in his view of the idols and their motives that as soon as he heard the words he leaped to the conclusion that this was a cheap ruse for votes. Didn't even cross his mind that people might actually be in pain.

Chris already was tearing up, just trying to get the words out.

I hear the official Idol boards had an immediate upset reaction, and those posts were are killed pretty fast.

Since it took TWO commercial breaks for Simon to make that stilted and forced offer of support, I wonder who raised the red flag and at one point.

Now see, I can't credit that Simon would care in one way or another whether Chris was trying to garner votes with his shout out or not. If you recall Chris has been pimped pretty heavily by the judges up until last night. Now if it had been Sanjaya that did this then maybe I could see how some folks might think that Simon was reacting that way. I just don't think it was in response to the VA thing at all. Remember, Simon gets very annoyed when someone argues/back talks/differs in opinion with anything he has to say. Noone will make me believe he wasn't just responding to the Nasally comment.

A Tribe Original!

*sits next to MR*

I'll try to be brief.

Chris always sounds nasally. Simon always rolls his eyes. He either did it because of Chris's response, or his shout-out. In either case, I don't have a problem with it. It had nothing to do with the 32 people that died.

Shout-outs have no place on AI. Just like Sligh's not-so-sly shout out to Dave or Fantasia's shout out to Jennifer Hudson after she was booted, any type of shout out done during a performance will make people think you're trying to get votes. Which is why it doesn't belong there.

I know, I don't think Chris was trying to get votes, but I do think it was a "I'm from VA so I have the right to say this..." type of thing. Ryan had already said something on behalf of the show, that was enough. Simon having to interject his thoughts in the middle of another critique was awkward and out of place, and clearly a plant by producers (prob in response to the eye-rolling) - which all could have been avoided if we just stopped the shout-outs.

I agree with Priestdi, Simon was reacting to Chris's shout out. IMO Simon was irked that Chris said anything--whether for votes or sympathy for the people--I am guessing that he thinks saying something should come from Ryan or the judges.

Simon then obviously got the quick message from someone that he looked like a jerk. I am bugged by what he said--echoing what I said on the EC thread--he said "Best Wishes" which to me is something you say on a happy occasion like a wedding but in America we don't say that at a funeral service or memorial service or visiting hours. Typically we say something like so sorry for your loss or you are in our thoughts and prayers (the later Ryan used at the opening of the show).

Simon's clumsiness in trying to clean up the matter shows me more what he is like--along with his eye rolling. He has been snide and sniping at those he does not like, such as Taylor, and it is time that he was called out for it.

I find it interesting what Priestdi reported--that it was discussed on the AI site and then removed. If it were not such a faux pas then why try to cover it up?

It will be interesting to see what else is said tonight and I think Simon will have been told to "watch it" or be on his best behavior or whatever. You know, the guy in nearly 50 if not 50 already. Grow up, Simon.

hey zazzy!

did you see my response to you on last night's spoiler thread? not that it's terribly brilliant or original, lol. just wondering. I would have saved it for here if I'd known this thread was being birthed.

I'm with GB on this one. Horrid, horrid timing. No doubt. But the timing of Chris' comment, after getting lambasted by the judges and doing the dreaded talkbalk to Simon (which people hated so much when Chris S. did it), is a bit suspicious.

LAST EDITED ON 04-18-07 AT 07:42 AM (EST)

from General Discussion to the Judges forum.

Welcome to the forums. FYI, typing on message boards (not just here) in all caps is typically seen as shouting and considered rude.

was totally inappropriate. Very bad reflection on him-it will be interesting to see if this gets brushed under the rug or made a big deal of by the press.

LAST EDITED ON 04-18-07 AT 12:53 PM (EST)

According to another post, on this thread, Simon was too busy rolling his eyes at Chris' "nasally" comment to hear his VT condolences. But, how many of my fellow American viewers will ever see anything but Simon's ill-timed eye-roll. And, chalk it up to a foreigner's insensitivity. It was, after all, a foreigner who shot those 32 VT students to death. It's got to have an impact on some people's attitudes.

I did notice Simon rolling his eyes at Chris, and at Ryan every time he opened his mouth, and at Paula whenever she gives her comments, and at Melinda because she always looks surprised. He rolls his eyes contantly. But that time, at that particular moment, it was worse than in poor taste!

Chris was completely sincere, I mean he nearly had tears in his eyes while saying the words! He's from Virginia and is of the same age as many of the students that were killed, chances are he has ties to someone that lost their life.

And as far as the nasally comment, has Simon ever heard Rascal Flatts??? They perfected nasally!!!

The truth is that Simon hates country music. He acts like that every year on country night. He needs to broaden his horizon just a little!

well hello. Welcome to the boards.

No doubt Chris was sincere. I can't believe that is even in question. I mean, can you?

I just made a similar comment somewhere else where this debate is going on about the RF dude. Nasally indeed.

Country does tend to make Simon crabby, eh? I think this whole season has though.

Some links to press talking about the eyeroll:

http://blogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment_tv_reality/2007/04/american_idol_e.html

The link above includes a link to the AI site with Nigel's PR statement.

http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news?id=30662

Headline: Simon Cowell horrified at his reaction to VT comments

He is sticking with the story, like Nigel, that he was still reacting to the nasally comments from Chris.

---

Yah, right, Simon.

The timming was very unfortunate, but I don't think Simon was rolling his eyes at Chris for his shout out to Virginia Tech. I think he stopped listening to Chris when he said he was nasaly on purpose. SO when he started the shout out Simon was probably already rolling his eyes. I don't think he's that heartless. (I hope I'm right on this!)

Fox showed real time side by side video and it seems like Simon's story holds up. I didn't think that even he was that callous.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5