Since James Mathison has disappeared from the Australian Idol stage Andrew G has been making the show his own, adding opinion to the show in ways that are for the better.
On Wednesday night he took issue with Dicko’s criticism of 16yo Aliqua by coming on and defending her with the words, “She’s only a schoolgirl.”
It’s certainly right for a host to support the talent when they need propping up.
That said, Dicko was also correct to retort that the show was not a school talent night but a search for a recording star. As the two debated the point it was awkward if engaging. Idol wouldn’t get itself into such predicaments if all its contestants were 18 years old.
Last night another car-crash moment ensued when Jay Dee Springbett told a singer who had attempted to sing soul, that he had worked with the likes of The Temptations and Smokey Robinson. Springbett thought the performance was ok.
When Dicko asked if the singer “stacked up” compared to the Temptations, Marcia Hines interjected.
“Hang on, The Temptations are black men,” she said. “Now let’s not even go there, don’t be ridiculous.”
“I think you did go there,” said Andrew G. “In fact, you well and truly went there.”
“Of course, I went there. But what I’m saying is absolutely, positively correct,” said Hines.
“It’s a polarising comment if ever there was one,” replied G.
The two then debated whether the colour of skin mattered in singing soul.
“Would you say that about David Bowie records? No you wouldn’t,” said G.
“No I wouldn’t but I’m not talking about David Bowie,” said Hines.
As it went on G even asked “Would you like to pay for the commercial break we’re missing?”
Hines, who in her usual style was defending the contestant, had attempted to remind her peers that it was an unfair comparison to black singers who “set the bar when it comes to soul.” Somehow as both tried to support the singer it had all come undone.
Idol is traditionally known for brawling judges upstaging its very green reality contestants.
This year it’s actually the host, bolstered by his solo task, who is adding drama. And if he keeps this up it could actually make an otherwise routine season a lot more watchable.
I appreciate the moderator here stepping in about calling Marcia’s remarks racist but it is not the first time she has made a racial remark on the show.
Todd, if the phone lines were still open when I got my SMS confirmation message, I wouldn’t have been concerned about the very delayed response, acknowledging my vote(s), but since voting closes at 3:00am now, around seven and a half hours before I got my response, it just made me wonder if my votes for Marijana even went through…
Anita the same thing has happened to me after voting for people… I wouldn’t worry about it.
I noticed a couple of times this week he said “I’m Andrew Günsberg and this is Australian Idol” instead of the normal Andrew G title.. perhaps he really is coming into his own? I wonder why he would have thought his surname was so ‘uncool’?
I voted quite a number of times for Marijana during the show on Tuesday night, yet, it wasn’t until the next day, at 10:36:20 am, that I finally got an SMS message thanking me for my vote… I should have got it straight after my first vote for her, on Tuesday night… The date and time of the message makes me think that maybe my votes for her weren’t even counted…
Andrew was fully right to question her. She made a racist statement and just because she is marcia she got away with it. She absolutely hates being wrong so when she was proven wrong she couldnt take it. Look at what happens when a female performer gives a good song, she will usually act jealous just because she cant take it. You just not that great marcia and dont get me wrong your a nice person but learn when you are wrong just admit it. Good for you Andrew G.
Andrew G is fantastic. As is Marcia Hines – I honestly dont know how the contestants and viewers would cope without her kind and supportive words. I enjoyed the argument, entertaining!
And Idol should really stop promoting certain contestants (cough cough hot brickie/tradie guy that has never sung). Annoying.
I thought she said that because Dicko was saying how Aliqua’s motives for singing soul were for the wrong reasons and that he had no feeling for it. So she said that to say no he’s “white” of course he likes soul for the right reasons because it is generally a “black” genre. I must’ve read the whole argument wrong. O_O
I don’t watch Idol, but good on Andrew G for taking the helm this year, and Marcia, as always, for being a humanist…
alot of “g” haters out there why, is it because he can debate a question or statement on live t.v.
@Kate.”her.styling over the last two nights made her look like a transvestite” lol! Thats what I was thinking. And not the good “is she or isn’t she a tranny” either. She looked like a man, which is a talent in it’s self I suppose.
I can’t believe Idol still allows under-18′s to compete. They are not emotionally mature enough to handle the pressure and stress of the competition.
I thought their banter they’ve been having is really good and opens up a bit more in depth discussions and judging on their performance, because the judges just aren’t given enough time to explain themselves for some things and we need arguments like this so the full message can be put across.
three points…1. the show should not have under 18′s – they are not emotionally prepared for the reality and pressure. 2 .I dont mind Andrew G spicing it uo, but he has to be careful and 3. bring back Kyle, at least he was game to argue.
Marcia looked foolish last night because she wasn’t given the opportunity to finish the point she was making. Andrew G needs to be careful because let’s face it he’s no Einstein. I wish Kyle was there to throw in his opinion at least with him you weren’t left wondering.
Marcia is the correct one here. How dare some loser like Andrew G (who is trying to be as funny as James Mathison) argue with Marcia?
Andrew is an arrogant twat. I have no interest in what he has to say, whether he is right or not. How I wish James had stayed and G could stick to the navel gazing he is so found of away from the cameras.
Agreed David, but I think we are talking creditability here…. Andrew G is not exactly qualified to go toe to toe with someone like Marsha Hines…. he could show a tad more respect on not inject things like advertisements breaks to get the better of the moment. Wet around the ears still maybe? We don’t wan’t another Derryn Hinch on our hands…
Andrew G (who introduced himself using his full name on one of the episodes this year) has been rather refreshing this year, but during the live shows Ricki-Lee has been dissapointing.
Soul music grew out of the black gospel tradition, so it is intrinsically “black music”. The white version of it is “blue-eyed soul” which, with a few exceptions, doesn’t carry the emotional punch of the original music.
I think James Matheson’s exit was probably the best thing for the show. It works so well with just the one host and I like that he voiced his opinions.
I agree with you David, I would prefer a host with a voice than someone who is bland, boring and obviously reading an autocue.
Wow, if dicko or anyone had said anything about “only white people can sing this…” they’d be off faster than Kyle Sandilands.
Somehow Marcia is allowed to continue with her absolutely racist attack.
Give me a host with an opinion any day. Otherwise get some of the unnamed ones who simply read the autocue.
Those accusing Marcia of racism need to remember she was defending the singer who was being unfairly compared to Motown legends after a week or so in a reality show. That’s where this got started….. my post was more about the shift in the host role.
The song may mean a lot to African/American culture as it represented a time of hope and uprising for that generation of people, but if anything, our worlds climate is trying to break down these stone age type cliches. I understand her passion for the song, but trying to inject race into it was in my opinion, a tad selfish, I think Marcia didn’t express herself the way she wanted and Andrew G can be, arrogant? to say the least? Who is this guy to judge her anyway? Marcia should (and will most likely) expand on her comment, and she certainly deserves our time and respect to listen to what she was really trying to say.
oh well.
Marcia, your a lovely lady, beautiful, amazing performer. Why are you saying this?
Lieber and Stoller, its a song wrtten by a two jewish white guys for those “black guys”…. The whole point of the 50′s producing era, and the reason why that era is now being repeated is because it symbolic as too how interpretation is color blind. It doesn’t matter where the sounds or came from, its what the performer brings to it that makes it there own, isn’t this the crux of Australian Idol? And music as a whole?
Andrew G has ‘Foot In Mouth’ disease meaning sometimes he just doesn’t know when to shut up and host the show. I personally don’t think we need the hosts opinion on the matter; that’s why we have judges.
I haven’t watched this show for five years, but well done to Andrew G. Sounds like he’s giving a stale seven-year old reality series an injection of life.
dont watch the show much, but tuned in last night first well done ‘g’ and glad i did it just proves you can be racist only if you are so called white ,it does not apply to anyone else, as marcia told us last night, only black people can sing the blues is this true
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!
Wonder if she ever watches Family Guy? Imagine the outrage if she found out that Cleveland is voiced by a white guy. Or what did she made of Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder?
I completely agree. Well done to Andrew. With Kyle gone Marcia really needs to come off the fence and give decent feedback. I’ve really noticed the void since Kyle’s departure. Marcia needs to cut the crap and be real.
Andrew has such an extensive knowledge of music I think he can really hold his own against the judges feedback and I do agree that it makes compelling TV.
My only other Idol comment would be Rikki Lee… surely there is someone else out there who can do that role. I find her dull to watch and her styling over the last two nights made her look like a transvestite. Ease up on the make up and re-address the wardrobe TEN. You’re not doing her any favours.
It’s not racist at all – Marcia explained her comments on the night. To nail Soul truly, you have to have lived it. There’s a reason you won’t find many white artists on a Soul compilation. Prolly the only white artist who nailed Soul was Mick Hucknall and Simply Red.
It’s only take 7 years for somebody to call Marcia out on her blatant racism, better late than never i guess.
It was a great debate. Well done G!
Marcia trying to be a contestent sympathiser clearly went awry last night. Was great seeing her have to grovel her way back in. She is way too nice sometimes but nice ain’t gonna help these folks. They need someone ballsy like Renee Geyer to judge. She’d be the bomb!!
The show is far more fluent with Mathison gone. Good job Andrew!
Marcia did put her foot in it, end of story. And good on Andrew for picking her up on it.
And if I hear Marcia say “stay true to yourself” (in other words, “you were sh*t but at least you had a good time”) one more time, I’ll scream!
I think Andrew G has been taking notes from Ryan Seacrest, who often gets into a barney with Simon Cowell on American Idol.
I definitely enjoyed it!! Go G!
Wow, Marcia the racist.
hes trying to do what Ryan Seacrest does with Simon, the only difference is the way that Simon and Ryan interact is almost like an odd kind of fliration, even foreplay..lol..whereas Andrew G hasnt quite reached that level with Dicko or J.D yet…
well done to Andrew !!!… marcia actually got owned for the first time !!
Oh that’s Marsha still? I could have sworn they’d replaced her with some dude in a bad wig!
Seriously though, she was way out of line even suggesting for a moment that skin color changes your ability to sing any particular genre. Or is it OK for ‘black’ people to make such comments about ‘white’ people, so long as the reverse never happens?