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Original Message
"How did Ruben win?"
Posted by EMT135 on 03-29-04 at 04:16 PM
There have been a couple of references to problems with last season's voting. I didn't watch, so can someone please tell me what the issue was and if it has been corrected this season? It's hard to get inspired to vote if the votes aren't being tabulated properly.
Based on the public's response to Ruben and Clay since last season, it is very hard to imagine that there were not some serious voting problems. How the runner-up seemingly has so much more success than the winner is disturbing and does little to inspire me to vote now.

EMT

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Messages in this discussion
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by pityme on 03-29-04 at 05:35 PM
I didn't watch the show AI2.
But the copmpetiton was very close, they were within 1 percent of each other.
What was your basis for saying Clay is much more succesful than Ruben?
Ruben won a Grammy nomination. His Cds are seeling just as well.
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by geekboy on 03-30-04 at 01:05 PM
Hi Pityme-

Ruben did get a grammy nomination, but i don't think it is fair to say they are selling just as well. I don't think Ruben has matched Clay's sales of CDs/singles. Clay has set records for single sales. He had 2003's best selling single, and the way his current single is selling, he may have 2004's best selling single.

In my mind, AI2 produced two winners. Who can say who "deserved" it more. I was rooting for Clay, but an equal number of viewers were rooting for Ruben.

geekboy

"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by LilNik8 on 03-30-04 at 11:43 PM
>Hi Pityme-
>
>Ruben did get a grammy nomination,
>but i don't think it
>is fair to say they
>are selling just as well.
> I don't think Ruben
>has matched Clay's sales of
>CDs/singles. Clay has set
>records for single sales.
>He had 2003's best selling
>single, and the way his
>current single is selling, he
>may have 2004's best selling
>single.
>
>In my mind, AI2 produced two
>winners. Who can say
>who "deserved" it more.
>I was rooting for Clay,
>but an equal number of
>viewers were rooting for Ruben.
>
>
>geekboy

FYI, Ruben's CD was certified platinum. So, I think he's doing quite well.



~PhoenixMons is God Thank you so much!~

"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by thisit2004 on 04-07-04 at 09:00 PM
If you look at Billboards.com you will see that Ruben CD is doing just as good. He has set records just a well as Clay. Let's stop talking about last season and let's stick with this season!!!!!!!!!!!!
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by Chrissy gal on 03-29-04 at 05:46 PM
There are a limited number of phone lines available to take votes and the computers tabulating the votes can only handle a certain number of votes an hour, that is why there are often busy signals for some of the most popular contestants.

Last year when people tried to vote between Ruben and Clay the busy signals 'seemed' worse than they had been previously. The vote count between the two contestants was so close that the difference could have been attributed to the different computers receiving the calls and how long each caller stayed on the line after their call was tabulated. So, it is difficult to know who would have won if there had been more phone lines and more computers available to receive the public's votes.

As far as I can see, Ruben and Clay both have large fan bases and the vote would have been close no matter what.

"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by MTW1961 on 03-30-04 at 07:33 PM
Chrissygal, you are right about the voting last season. I remember that the phone lines were busy the entire voting period. At the time, I estimated that if the difference could be attributed to the average Clay voter staying on the line 4/100ths of a second longer than the average Ruben voter.

Statistically, it was a tie.


Handcrafted by RollDdice!
*MTW says "hi" to his Norcal neighbor. Hi Chrissygal!*

"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by qwertypie on 03-29-04 at 06:15 PM
Also, I remember some of it being due to Ryan Seacrest's innumeracy. I seem to recall that he claimed that there was only 14000 votes between the two, when the number was 10 times that. As well, there was contraversy whether Clay knew he was runner up ahead of time -- he may have peeked at Ryan Seacrest's card before the winner was announced. But, that being said, it can't hurt to vote.
Some unscrupulous operators had bought the other 800 numbers (like 1 800 idols 01, 1 888 idols 01, 1 877 idols 01 ,etc. which would direct the callers to a 900 number to pay for their votes.
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by managerr on 03-30-04 at 01:00 PM
Fox realized that they could keep the votes close by having less phone lines than the actual phone call. They basically wanted a crap shoot finals and got one. The smart strategy was probably to call the person's line you didn't want to win, and then stay on the line until you were disconnected. (Thus blocking other votes from going through)
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by nailbone on 03-30-04 at 03:05 PM
LAST EDITED ON 03-30-04 AT 03:05 PM (EST)

Oh, that's sneaky!


Cool new sig courtesy of Jslice o-


"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by TeamJoisey on 03-30-04 at 10:49 PM
I can't wait to try it!



These reality show contestants need a reality check!

"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by joannie on 04-04-04 at 04:12 PM
I seem to remember a mini-scandal during AI2 when Ruben's friends and family were accused of "blocking" calls.
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by thisit2004 on 04-07-04 at 09:04 PM
Where the hell did you get that from??? Face it Ruben had more fans. Did anyone recall that when they were performing to get to the top 10 america voted for Ruben and Kimberly Locke over Clay. So america choose Ruben then and they choose him to be the AI 2!!!
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by brvnkrz on 03-30-04 at 09:38 PM
First off, managerr, you are very sneaky and I want you on my side.
Now What I was really going to post.
If you ask me (and I know you didn't) I would want my favorite to come in 2nd place. Clay wins bigger by NOT being the American Idol, as well as Kimberly or any 2nd or 3rd placer. First place is locked into a $1million dollar contract. I will agree, not bad, but, doesn't that leave all of the runners up open to larger contracts? I would rather come in 2nd and gamble the fact that I might be able to score a bigger contract than "The American Idol"
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by Cuauhtewatemoccajava on 03-30-04 at 09:54 PM
EMT, one thing you should know about Ruben:

If you had put him in the top 10 this year and put him in instead of Camile, he would have bombed.

He had the most abysmal stage presence and was never ever called on it.

I mean, really. He was a good voice (George Huff is better though), but no personality or stage presence.

In my opinion, the judges pimped him to the finals. He really was so overpraised that season it isn't even funny.

"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by DmajA on 03-30-04 at 10:45 PM
Wow...I couldn't have said that better myself. I am just not a big Rueben fan. I agree he has a good voice, but all he does is stand there. I think all he CAN do is stand there. It's terrible, but I absolutely agree that he got alot more praise than was deserved.
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by shedevil on 03-30-04 at 10:47 PM
I totally agree with you about him being pimped to the top. He does nothing but stand in one spot, granted it's probably because he's too big to do much else, but that's just boring. I personally think he's over-rated and that Clay's voice and personality blow him away.
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by callalilly3000 on 04-04-04 at 01:54 PM
I couldn't have said that better, if I said it myself!
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by jase on 04-07-04 at 02:37 AM
I think, over time, that both Ruben and Kelly will have better music careers than Clay. I believe FOX and the producers use the vote counts to help them determine a winner (of course) and to judge the money-making potential of each person. While Clay may lead in album sells, Ruben leads both him and Kelly in radio airplay which is very important and shouldn't be overlooked.

Plus, Ruben is R&B and the potential for him to outlast Kelly and Clay is huge. Kelly (Pop) could keep things going for several more years, but Clay's appeal I think will decrease faster than those two because the type of music he sings isn't as popular as Hip-Hop, Rap or R&B. While they all still have to shake the tag of being television contest winners, in the long run, Ruben and Kelly could have a more successful career than Clay.

"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by shedevil on 04-07-04 at 01:03 PM
You make sure to let me know when that happens. I'm sure if it does by the time it does Clay will be so rich that it won't matter and he can retire.

"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by managerr on 04-07-04 at 01:57 PM
My local radio station said that Clay's record company did not submit any of Clay's singles on the demo CD that determines their airplay list. They finally added "Invisible" after a lot of Clay fans went crazy, but only started giving it the minimal amount of spins. (Once every 4 hours)

There is a reason that Clay isn't being pimped. He doesn't have to be.

But I agree that Ruben might have the longer career. Most pop stars only last two CD's these days and then they are "washed up".

"Voted for Rueben, bought Clay's album"
Posted by PagongRatEater on 04-07-04 at 02:27 PM
As for me personally, I thought that Rueben was without question, week-in and week-out, the most consistent performer and the best singer. Rueben has a GREAT voice and was almost flawless every week. Clay had some sub-par performances and I think Rueben was the better performer.

That being said, I prefer Clay's style and style of music better.R&B just ain't my "thang" and I think that there were definitely people who voted for the performer over the genre.

That's MY theory, at least.

"RE: Voted for Rueben, bought Clay's album"
Posted by greenmonstah on 04-07-04 at 07:52 PM
LAST EDITED ON 04-07-04 AT 07:53 PM (EST)

I really believe that the best three singers made it to the finals last year. (Rueben, Clay and K Lo) I would have been happy with any of these three taking it all...

may have been a little partial to Clay

"RE: Voted for Rueben, bought Clay's album"
Posted by Bosco on 04-07-04 at 08:12 PM
I didn't watch lasy episode, but from what I've seen right now they both are equally successful, just different types of audience.
"RE: How did Ruben win?"
Posted by thisit2004 on 04-07-04 at 08:58 PM
Ruben won b/c he is a better singer!!!! Him and Clay are under different record labels. That's why you see more of Clay with Kelly. American idol is advertising Kelly and Clay b/c they are under the American Idol contract and Ruben isnt!!!
"Where did you get your info?"
Posted by callalilly3000 on 04-07-04 at 09:06 PM
Where did you receive your info? Because I don't think that it is acurate. Kelly hasn't been on contract with AI since AI 2. And I believe that Ruben has to stay under contract at least for a year, so his year will be up very soon.

I don't know if my info is correct, but I still think that you are wrong.