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American Idol

Date: May 14 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Have you ever lost a competition and felt really sad about it? Before you cry next time you come in second, think about the reality TV show American Idol. Singers compete in front of cruel judges for fame. But Amanda has noticed something about American Idol. So far, the second-place winners have been the most successful after the competition ends.

Listen to her tell Marni about her discovery.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amanda

Marni

Amanda: Don’t you find it interesting and so very cool that the second-place winner of American Idol for the last four or five seasons is the one that ends up blowing up and has a huge fan base? And the winner? Nobody knows. You can’t even remember or name who the winner was.

Marni: That’s true, because there was that guy, the Clay Aiken guy, and there was the other guy who…he actually won, right?

Amanda: He actually won. Ruben.

Marni: Ruben!

Amanda: Sold maybe one album. Maybe. To his mother. That’s it.

Marni: Oh, that is interesting.

Amanda: It’s weird. It’s as if…if you win you’re jinxed. So you don’t want to win. You want to take second place, and then you’re huge. Katherine McPhee? Just released her CD. Second place.

Marni: She was the last cycle?

Amanda: Yes. Taylor Hicks won. Who cares about him? He’s in some car commercial and that’s about it,

Marni: Okay! Yeah. Well, there was the first season where Kelly Clarkson won, and she was big, right…

Amanda: And that’s the exception to the entire six years.

Marni: Six years, huh?

Amanda: I was thinking about trying out in Seattle next year. Do you wanna come with?

Marni: Absolutely not. I think it would be so humiliating and those people are so mean.

Amanda: You are such a fair-weather friend.

Marni: I am.

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Discussion

Amanda says that the second-place winner of American Idol is always the most successful. She says that no one can even remember the first-place winner’s name. Indeed, Marni can only recall the name of a second-place winner. Amanda reminds Amanda of a man named Ruben who won the contest. She jokes that he only sold one album and that it was to his mother.

It’s almost as though the person who comes in first is cursed…except for Kelly Clarkson. She was the winner of the first season and she continues to be successful.

Amanda might try out for American Idol next year, but Marni thinks that the judges are too mean.

Has a competition that you didn’t win ever worked out well for you? Have you ever watched American Idol? Who’s your favorite singer from the show?

Comments

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enyf

Indonesia

for wishtolear, do you know who found IL DIVO? simon cowell, my friend!

wishtolearn

El Salvador

i dont like this guy simon who considers himself to be on top of most contestants, even as persons!!!

enyf

Indonesia

I have ever seen the american idol

I like it and I like simon most than other judges eventhough many people do not like him…poor him hahaha lol

giorodo

Italy

In Italy, a singing contest called "X factor" is being won by a group "Aram Quarter" whom none has never heard after the competition , instead the second has had a great success, her name is Giusy Ferreri. Do you know her?

miffoo

Slovakia

I know this program, but is winners I know only Kelly Clarkson is very good singer I love her music( ha,ha,ha)

yangzhengmo

China

I think amanda is very beatiful and sexy

qqmonkey

Taiwan

I Never seen the American idol tv progress show.

but we also have some similar shows in my country,I think those showes are coping the american idol.

sometimes the crowd would feel the result of show is unfair.but in my opinion,the shows r just for fun

aoyunhui

China

the song "it's not over" sounds really good.the show is interesting.i got lots of inspiration from the show.

aoyunhui

China

i like the two Davids.i think the jury members are quite fair.they give the right judgements.i like Simon most although many people think he's very mean.i think he dares to tell the truth,he's very individualistic.the contestants are great,too.they are brave to fight for their dream.even though they lose,they are heros.

agood123

China

i like the huggable hanger,it can organized your closet space.

annika83

Poland

American Idol is a kind of TV casting for amator singers which are hoping for a great career after winning the show (they can produce a music album)

There is a remake of this program in Europe. It is also very popular (e.g. in Germany, Poland and GB). The characters of 3 persons in jury are similar to the American version.

The program is very popular because in the jury is always one very mean and honest person speaking his mind bluntly. It is a great challange for the contestants, because when they are not good enough or are just bed in singing, they gonna be publicly offended or jeered by the jury.

The program is notorious for its unfair jury. The winner of the show is often worse in singing than other contestants. Therefore the winners are not making any great career. IT'S MORE A TV- SHOW THAN SERIOUS TALENT SEARCHING

Many people come to the show and make fools out of themselves. They sometimes sing miserably bad, have strange outfits and they are probably payed for all this just to rise watch ratings.

JYH

China

happy everyday!

Dafi

Malaysia

yeah i ever watched American Idol but not all season i follow …my favorite Idol is Kelly clarkson and Katherine McPhee both a such awesome voice

Dafi

Malaysia

yeah that true cause the second place such as Katherine McPhee and clay Aiken is blowing up right now,first i know Clay Aiken i thought he is the winner but ruben is the winner actually …i don’t know what wrong with the winner.