Jeers: American Idol Fumbles the Super Bowl
Jordin Sparks, Alicia Keys and Ryan Seacrest by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
Jeers to Fox for allowing
American Idol to tarnish its Super Bowl pre-game show. The network enlisted Ryan Seacrest to emcee insipid red-carpet coverage of celebrities arriving at the big game. He annoyingly referred to Hugh Laurie (who looked like he was being held at gunpoint to promote
House's supercool post-Super Bowl episode) as "Dr. House." Have a little respect, Ryan - the guy's an award-winning actor, not Urkel! Then Paula Abdul debuted her new single, "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" (if only that were true for her career) with a pre-taped performance so listless, it made Britney's VMA sleepwalk look like Michael Jackson at
Motown 25. (
Watch video here.) Randy Jackson, whose new album (!) includes the song, stood off to the side and played bass, despite earlier threats that he, too, would dance. And last season's
Idol champ, Jordin Sparks, "sang" the national anthem (though it looked suspiciously like lip-syncing). They all could learn a lesson from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, whose rockin' halftime show was refreshingly free of gimmickry.
More Super Bowl coverage:
"
Watch and discuss Paula Abdul's pre-game performance.
"
We list the Super Bowl telecast's highs and lows.
"
Which Ads Scored, and Which Snored?
"
News: New York Giants Upset Patriots to Win Super Bowl XLII
"
Cheers & Jeers tackles Ryan Seacrest's pre-game show.
"
Matt Roush reviews the game and the ads.
