American Idol’s Latin Night Leaves America With Heartburn

The reviews are in and it seems the press agree that American Idol’s remaining contestants are a little slim on range as witnessed by last night’s Latin Night themed episode, guest-judged by Jennifer Lopez. As your self-appointed Latin arbiters of good taste, we pride ourselves on never having watched the Idol and had no idea there were theme nights. But Los Angeles Times critic Ann Powers does a great job of recapping this season’s shortcomings:

First, the Idols either trashed or avoided modern rock, the style that coach Gwen Stefani helped revitalize. (Editor’s note: What?!) Then nearly all stumbled through the American songbook, making even elegantly kind Tony Bennett cringe. Now they’ve shown zero feel for the Latin stream that flows through American music from jazz to rhythm and blues to country to Beyoncé’s latest hit.

Well, don’t say we didn’t warn you. As Powers so aptly puts it:

That the oft-scorned former J. Lo came off as skilled, enthusiastic and sweetly real only added to the weirdness of an episode that made one long for the authenticity of “Jenny From the Block.”

Lowering the bar on Latin Night [LA Times]
Judging American Idol [Time]