If a 47-year-old in a putty-colored housedress can knock Simon Cowell’s snarky socks off on Britain’s Got Talent, is it time for Idol to drop its Logan’s Run age limits?
Obsessive YouTube spelunkers (or regular Popwatch readers) may have already come across the hugely popular viral video of Susan Boyle, the sweet, gray-haired lady in question, whose mumsy exterior belied the choir-angel pipes she displayed in her version of Les Miserables‘ "I Dreamed a Dream" (the clip isn’t embeddable, so view it here).
In her performance last week, Boyle turned the room from sniggers and eye-rolls to honest, heartfelt amazement on a three-minute dime, prompting judge Amanda Holden to proclaim: "I honestly think that we were all being very cynical, and I think that’s the biggest wakeup call ever." And Simon, who actually called her extraordinary ("Susan, you’re a little tiger, aren’t you?"),let his face split open into a wildly unfamiliar expression one can only call genuinely joyful.
Idol’s age-range limits, now stuck at a solid 16-28 since being expanded in 2005, would put Susan a good two decades out of the running, but as the small-town single lady (she reportedly has never been kissed, and lives at home with her cat, Pebbles) would likely be the first to admit, she’s kind of a late bloomer.
And if the show can go for other so-called gimmicks (Legally blind! Dreadlock-y! Bikini auditions!), why not take a chance on a more mature contestant? Would it be so different from America’s Next Top Model planning a full season of shorties? Or is this silver-haired slope just too slippery?
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No way! Show business is a young person’s game, the musical business is a young person’s game. The oldsters have America’s Got Talent — btw, where are those finalists today? Nowhere! Playing state fairs and bar mitvahs. Whoever thinks that AI should let the 30 yo’s in is fooling themselves. Frankly, I think 27 and 28 is too old.
Again. Repeat after me. America’s got talent. For the 30 and up crowd. And face it — anybody “English” and singing in tune knocks Simon’s socks off. The same man who vows to make every finalist a “star”. Yeh. Right.
There is plenty of us old timers (37) here who could out perform most of what make on there and whith the junk they put out any high dollar producer can make em sound incredible. It should be open cause you never know who can raise the arm hairs.
I’m thinking the age should be 18-35 anyway, so sure.
I thought the age limit was 30 (wasn’t Taylor Hicks 29 when he auditioned). Either they should change the age limit or create a second show or a second category, for other ages. For the latter, the lower age should be raised to 18 and raised to 35. The second category could be 36-55 ish. (The ages could be played with later like in the original). The show could run 2 nights for singing and one night for results for both categories.
YES! Not even considering “Britain’s Got Talent” which I feel is a completely different type of show (more of an anything goes type of attitude, as opposed to AI which seems to be solely concerned with record sales and ‘package artists’) take another of Simon’s pet projects, “The X-Factor” which is like AI but with a much better set up. It has no upper age limit and you get a lot of really interesting older and more mature singers who really want to do well, seeing as it really is their only chance at it. (I mean, a young attractive singer, as long as they are talented could attract a record label while a 30 or 40 plus doesn’t really have that option).
They should definitely raise the age limit!
SUSAN BOYLE THE BEST!!!!! I real like to hear you voice!!! GOOD LUCK!
What an amazing performance! I hope she wins it all. The only thing that ticked me off was that Simon didn’t give her an ovation. She was MILES and MILES ahead of Adam (he’s good but she blew the doors off) and he got an ovation from Simon. Glad all those people in that room got to hear her beautiful voice when they wrote her off b/c she isn’t the most attractive package.
Why not? But I think kids should be high school graduates to participate. Allison is great but needs to stay in school for a couple more years!
The age limit is fine for Idol. Idol tries to force people into a box. The Got Talent shows, let people be as they present themselves. Yes they give suggestions, but they only win if the audience votes for them. I love watching the shows from Britian, BECAUSE Simon always smiles more.
Let’s leave AI to the kids, I really don’t want to see this kind of desperation coming off someone over the age of 28. I believe that America’s Got Talent let’s anyone audition and that’s fine with me, I don’t watch it.
I was absolutely blown away by this charming woman’s performance! Please let it be a GIANT lesson, do not be so quick to judge others! This lady’s incredible talent brought tears to my eyes! Thank you Susan Boyle!
the age limit for AI has always been 28. therefore the oldest a contest can be on the show is 29, because like taylor hicks, they were 28 when they auditioned and then had their birthday.
i showed this video to my 31 year old cousin who is a very macho guy, real mans man, and it brought him to tears. she is amazing.
The age limit on Idol is put there for a reason. The people fueling what’s played on hit radio ARE young people. Pop music is for the youth of that time. IL Divo is not played on the radio, even though they sell out concerts. The oldsters have America’s Got Talent!
Just how many shows does Simon judge?
Simon Cowell judges three talent shows! American Idol, Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor! I was in London and I got to watch an episode of X factor. If you ask me, When Simon’s contract ends next year on American Idol, he should quit American Idol and get an American Station i.e. ABC or NBC or CBS to pick up an American version of X Factor and run it against American Idol! I have a hunch X Factor would win! X Factor is a far superior show than American Idol.
Idol is looking for talented, current young people that will appeal to the tweens to 30’s with POP releases. Id’d actually recommend 17 – 27 for eligibility.
well, since many of the rock, alt, country, and metal bands on the radio have members older than 28, I say go for it- raise it to 35+. Talent and marketability do not end at 28. If this show only produced Pop artists, as it did in the past, I’d say the age limit should be left where it is. Now that the show is going country, rock, alternative, folk, etc, the age limit should be changed accordingly. Since MOST of the country, rock, alt, folk bands/artists are over 30yrs old, it proves that an over 30 artist is still marketable.
Besides- the show is probably going to end in 2010 anyway, so why not open the age limit in hopes of finding one more GREAT idol/TOP 10? Can’t be worse than Taylor, Ruben, Jordan, Blake, Sanjaya, McPhee, Degarmo, Nadia, Constantine, etc- if we’ve had 4 “just OK” seasons in a row, why isn’t everyone game for anything that might make it even slightly better?!
Oh my goodness, that little lady was so adorable! And such a powerhouse! This is a testament to all the little ladies everywhere.
And American Idol: Old People Edition? I’m digging it. Those interview packages are going to be eighteen kinds of awesome. Plus, just the fact that a 45-year old lady will have to boogie with a 16-year old guy in the results night awkward performance extravaganza makes me laugh. Let’s do it!
Someone has probably already said this, but isn’t Britain’s Got Talent the eqivilant of America’s Got Talent which already allows people of all ages? American Idol’s British equiv is The X Factor which I assume also has an age limit. I like my Idol the way it is (minus Kara and Randy and the whole producer manipulation stuff).
I’ve always thought “AI’s” ridiculous age limitation. Hence, why I don’t watch the show. Most musicians don’t hit their best stride until past 30 anyway.
X Factor and American Idol are two totally different shows! American Idol is sooooooo over! Bring on American
X Factor
She has a nice voice, but I wasn’t AMAZED. The crowd was surprised she could sing because they prejudged her because of her looks. Seems like a nice lady.
Not only does Simon judge three shows – 2 of which are in the UK, but Len and Bruno from DWTS also judge the UK version of Dancing AND it is on at the same time as our version!! They fly back and forth to each show. Idol, though, wouldn’t be the same without Simon.
Be kind to old people in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and up – because some day YOU WILL BE OLD and won’t like being discriminated against. AND…show business and the music business is NOT just a young person’s game. Grow up already and keep your prejudicial comments to yourself, you little snot!!!
Fantasm, X-Factor is a ripoff of Pop Idol, the British show American Idol is based on.
I am Sally in Chicago and I am over 50 y.o. I know what it means to be “old” and discriminated against because of a “double” category.
And I stand by what I write. She’s good for bar mitvahs and weddings.
Yes, she was excellent. Still that doesn’t sell records.
No no no no no!
It was a touching clip, but her voice isn’t really anything extraordinary. Certainly nothing compared to this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA
I’d love to see ALL ages of contestants on the show. Why not?