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We are exploited to American Idol pulling our heartstrings during the audition round, and in last night`s stay in Milwaukee (fittingly, the household of Danny Gokey), we got one that probably made you cry like a baby. Contestant Chris Medina has been with his fiance for 8 years, almost 3 of which they`ve been engaged.
In October 2009, two months before their vows, she was in an accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury that left her in a coma for a month-and-a-half. Medina and her father are now her caregivers. "What sort of guy would I be if I walked out when she needed me the most?" he said, after footage of him helping her pass down steps and getting her easy in her wheelchair played. His fiance was among those he brought with him to the audition. If he made it to Hollywood, it would leave her something to be glad about again, and he would look like he had already won something, he said. After Medina nailed his interpretation of The Script`s "Breakeven," the judges told him they wanted to gather his fiance. Medina said "that would have her day," and she was wheeled in. Watch below. The judges introduced themselves, and Steven Tyler sweetly kissed her on the mind and told her that Medina had sung beautifully, which he suspected was because he sings to her all the time. When Medina exited to the cheers of his family, it was his fiance holding the golden ticket and lift it victoriously. She whispered something to him - "I knew it."
What was your response to what is apparently a painful, touching story that deserves a happy ending? We bear to appear at it from two sides: Medina`s and the producers. We get to trust that Medina wasn`t using his fiance to get producers` attention, and that she actually wanted to be there to keep him so he could remember why those lyrics meant something to him. Even if he was subconsciously hoping his difficult story would collect a little favoritism from the producers and judges, can you truly fault him (again, assuming she cherished to be there)? There are thousands and thousands of people auditioning. He knows he has the articulation to punt it up. And this is his story. If he`s helping to wish for her, she`s never NOT on his mind. To him, I`m certain the moment felt nothing but honest and genuine. And that`s what makes the Idol producers feel ok about showing it. That, and it`s "just TV."
As a viewer, did I feel manipulated? Yes. It`s a serious game Medina and producers are playing. Some viewers will root harder for him, knowing both his role and what sort of difference winning this competition could reach in his (and her) life. Others, who wish to conceive of American Idol as a singing competition and not a TV show, may resent the fact that he didn`t try to build it done the audition round at least on his talent alone - when he has the sound to do it. Instead, we had to apply our breath, praying that he could actually sing after hearing his story. If he makes it to the viewer voting rounds, there will ever be the head of why people are dialing his number.
One last thought, which may be one I should hold to myself, but I`m gonna be honest: I get enough drama in my own life right now with an ill father. I don`t recognize that I can handle getting invested in Medina`s story and worrying about whether he`ll do it done the following round for his fiance`s sake. It`s stress I don`t need, and I give to press the impulse not to resent him and the producers for it. I only need to tune into Idol and see people sing, preferably well, so Tyler leans forward in his chair. (It`s that little action, truthfully, that has breathed new spirit into the point for me. He genuinely appreciates it when someone`s good. Am I the just who feels like that? Or is anyone else planning on forgoing the balance of the audition shows because you know they`ll ever go for the waterworks with that final contestant?
More American Idol:Annie Barrett`s recap: Now that`s what I claim a sob story!EW`s American Idol CentralPhoto Gallery: 15 faces of Steven Tyler
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