JRand, The John Stevens phenomena. We all want to like John beause, as far as Haines/Kimlets go, he's drawn to and likes to sing the kind of music we love. Unfortunately, he doesn't really sing it all that well. His numbers are all sort of shaky, bland, and undistinguished. Simon's right: The poor lad as no charisma, which automatically puts him in the underdog category and makes you want to root for him all the more. God knows, in the beginning, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and rooted for him more than anyone...hoping he'd come into his own and blossom. But he ain't going to be no Clay (who you knew from the moment you heard him, he had a voice that could take him to the end of the competition). The sad, sad fact is his obvious affinity for the music and his desire to sing it, just isn't enough. At the end of the day, he just isn't very good. He's seems like a nice kid and I'm sure a lot of us identify with his "I was born in the wrong era" love of the past where music is concerned...It may be youth, but I don't think he's ever gonna grow and his will always be a voice that might make him a local community theatre star...if he can find any personality for a stage presence.
MattH, I also found Quentin Tarantino's comments somewhat refreshing and he only pulled a few punches. He wasn't mean, but he wasn't polite either and gave fairly accurate criticism. But man, what a big head (and I mean just physically), and I'm not sure that Caesarian, tortured-forward hair style helps it.