By Dean Robbins
‘American Idol’s’ winner will be a loser
At the start of “American Idol’s” season, my big concern was the judges. Paula Abdul left, and Simon Cowell announced his impending departure. In the meantime, last year’s new judge, Kara DioGuardi, hadn’t proved she belonged at the table, and incoming judge Ellen DeGeneres didn’t have a musical background. I smelled disaster.
By the Hollywood round, however, I had determined that all was well. But with an eye trained on the judges, I missed the true problem with season 9 — the singers. It’s hard to believe that the top 12 finalists represented the best America has to offer in 2010.
If the last pair of shows (Tuesday & Wednesday, 7 p.m.) prove to be enjoyable, it will be because of the judges, the special guests — that is, in spite of the Big Moment, not because of it. You know a season has let you down when the crowning of the new “American Idol” serves as a convenient bathroom break.
‘Lost’
Sunday, 8 p.m. (ABC)
The labyrinthine series ends this week, but before the finale ABC will struggle to explain the damn thing to a puzzled nation. On Saturday at 7 p.m., the network airs the 2004 pilot. On Sunday at 6 p.m., it airs an hour-long recap.
Unless the network airs a post-finale wrap-up at 10 p.m., with explanatory maps and flow charts, I fear I’ll end this experience the way I began it: Lost.
‘Chuck’
Monday, 7 p.m. (NBC)
Last year, I demanded that NBC renew “Chuck,” and it did. Then I urged the producers to create a kick-ass third season, and they did. I even asked you, the American people, to start watching the show in bigger numbers, and you did. Celebrate an exceptional series — not to mention my awesome influence over TV affairs — by checking out the season finale, in which the Ring closes in on Chuck.CV
