Just a thought as to how well a non native can do in these sort of shows.

I love Michael but I do wonder if his nationality will go against him. I can't recall any non Brits in any of our idol type shows (though am prepared to be corrected).

Some people on the official AI boards dont like him because he's aussie, which is harsh. He's lived in the USA for a long time now, and he deserves his chance in my opinion.

By the way, in the X Factor, Chico was a non-brit.

I think it will in the very end, and the same for Carly.

Nope....I think its usually about the voice not where they are from...

There was an American in the early stages of the X Factor last year (can't remember any details) and their was a Brit in similarly the early stages of American Idol (some ex-boyband member).

I think it's understandable (although not excusable) that some people will think you should be American to be an American Idol winner.

Carly has a stronger American accent than an Irish one so she does sound a bit American at times whereas Micheal is a complete Aussie , which may go againts him.

David A has this competition wrapped up already.

I think it will ultimately go against him unfortunately (Carly too), I've thought that from the start.

I don't know if it is the same in the US, but in the UK it seems like people provide extra support (and votes?) to the contestants from the same area as them, whether it's Glasgow, Liverpool, London or wherever. On the shows where they go back to their hometowns there are posters everywhere and massive banners outside pubs, etc.

I think if someone has moved to a city as an adult (as presumably Carly and Michael have done), there won't be the same 'hometown boy done good' kind of ethos of support. If Carly had moved to San Diego as a child, or was born there from Irish parents it might be different, but will San Diego rally behind her in the same way they would if she was born and bred there?

Whether the hometown votes actually make much of a difference I don't know (though if your home'town' is the state of Texas it probably does), but I do think being clearly non-American will go against them, especially in the later rounds.

The way rejected auditionees come out and say things like 'Simon's not even American, how does he know what an American Idol is?' makes me think it will go against them. Shame.

That's what was said about Gareth Gates.

I love the irony of the show - invented by a Brit, produced by another Brit, executive produced by another Brit, starring another Brit, featuring a best male singer who is an Aussie and a best female singer who is Irish!

This, is American Idol.

I think at least Michael has been here awhile...and true people from the same area do get behind their local contestants...but you have to remember that wherever they live...the local stations are playing up their participation and both Michael and Carly will benefit. I live in the same city Clay is from and the support was overwhelming. I'm sure its the same for every contestant. But the talent also has to be there.
As far as the different nationalities...I honestly can't see it making a huge difference. I like that so many different cultures are represented...We ain't called the "melting pot" for nothing.
I think its the talent and connection to the viewers that will be the major factor.
Plus...when they sing..you can't really hear the accents...lol...

The one thing that might harm both Michael and Carly...and maybe even David A is their past "professional" experience. But so far (other than internet babble) it doesn't seem to be making a difference. I think it was smart of Carly to mention her previous record deal week before last.

I raise the names:

Gareth Gates
Sam Nixon
Lemar Obika
Alistair Griffin
Connie Talbot
Rhydian Roberts
............................. among others.

As for Michael, yes, I think not being born in America will go against him in the end, as it will Carly - despite the fact that they have been in the States their entire adult life and have American citizenship. So much for the welcoming society.

Shame because they are both head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.


Chico (and, strictly speaking, Roberta, Tabby, Phil and the Conway Sisters, to name only a few)


Kristy-Lee also had a recording contract before - with none other but Arista I believe.

oh yeah...forgot about her. She, Michael and Carly both impressed me during auditions (and Mike/Carly really impressed me in Hollywood)...but they've yet to give me the same thrill. Thought Michael was borderline horrible last week.

Can't wait to see what they all do this week, though. This has got to be the worst cut (other than losing the final and/or coming in 3rd) To almost make it to the Final 12 and then "flunk"....would suck!

It may go against him in the end but maybe not i know myself as an Aussie everytime i have been to the US over the years they seem to love Aussies and as we have seen with Chris Daughtry as long as he does well he stands a really good chance of landing a contract.

It's a shame if your predictions happen, and I agree they probably will, because it will really show up American Idol as being about finding the best singer.... only if they happen to have been born in the USA.

Good point. Well made.

EDIT: Erm, Connie Talbot won didn't she...

Interesting points: I think it will count against Michael, but more than that he is being outsung whereas, so far, she isn't. Oddly being Irish might be great for American Idol whereas being Australian could count against him, not many Americans can even tell whether someone is Australian whereas an entire quarter of Americans claim Irish ancestry. Also, she is a standout singer. He needs to do the 'America has done everything for me, my life in Oz was dire' thing they like to hear, and clearly he has no intention of saying anything like that!

David A is the likely winner to date but I agree with those who say he does not have the competition wrapped up: he's been on endless talent shows for years and is one of those professionally moulded kids, see YouTube etc. As more of this comes out viewers may think he is not quite as fresh and cute as they first thought. It is NOT a coincidence he was filmed with the finalists of the first series, this has been a plan for years. Also, he could sing better when he was younger and from what I have seen of him he is singing at full stretch now whereas some of the others are beginning to pull rabbits out of hats. When he goes onto the really big stage it will be interesting to see if he can raise his game any further.

I was thinking the same, but then I realised I was thinking of Connie Fisher (Maria). Connie Talbot was a 6yo girl who came second to Paul Potts in Britain's Got Talent - easy mistake though - assuming that was your mistake, lol

And I thought Alex Parks (who won) was the "obvious choice" to win FA2 rather than Alistair.

I can't see anyone beating DA at the moment,then again some of my favourites are the bookies' least favourites - either it's a British thing or they're just wront, lol

As for Michael/Carly - I hope neither of them win, because I don't think either of them are the best act there (I think Michael's the weakest Top 8 guy bar none - and don't even find him attractive, sorry!) I hope if they don't win it's more to do with other contestants giving stronger performances but I guess we'll never really know as voters don't get to give reasons for their votes @)

Hasn't Michael been in America since he was a child? I might be in a bit of a muddle but I thought he had, and Carly moved over a few years ago.She's actually fondly remembered in Louis Walsh's "Fast Track To Fame" as a "nearly made it" - I couldn't believe it when I remembered who she was Then again, Rosie from Pop Idol made the Aussies' Top 24 so I shouldn't have been too surprised.....

I suppose the difference there is that Chico, love him or hate him, was always seen as a novelty act and not a serious contender.
With the Irish ones, afaik, X Factor is shown live in Ireland and the Irish viewers can also vote so they would have the same support as any act from the UK.

I don't think it has hurt either Michael or Carly. They both have a lot of fans. But I do see David winning this. He is VERY popular. He would really have to screw up to lose. I am sure Michael and Carly will get record contracts which is probably what they really want.

I don't agree that he is. I think others have stepped up to the plate (Jason C, David J, David H and Chikezie have all had "their week") but none of them have Michael's tone, certainly not Michael's performance skills and stage presence and, with the exception of Jason C, Michael's charisma.

Carly has a great voice in terms of register and power, and I think she looks great on camera, but I think Brooke's tone is more engaging, her image is more endearing and her persona very likeable too.

I thought the same thing - Connie T/Connie F.

If I remember rightly, Alistair Griffin had started as the bookies' favourite at the beginning of FA2. He then won all the song competitions throughout FA2 and they were voted for by the public, and won all but one of the "treats" for the contestants voted for by the public so he was deemed to be the most popular with the public regardless of the bookies having gone on to make Alex Parks the favourite. It later emerged that he had polled the most votes each week since the fourth show until the final night. As voting for FA continued during the week, by the start of the final he had an almost unassailable lead so it did come as a surprise to many when Alex won.


Oh please

Whether you find him or any of the other guys attractive or not is a matter of taste, just as it is whichever of the contestants does it for you vocally but to say that Michael is the weakest of the guys is absurd to put it mildly.

Sorry just wanted to comment on the bolded bit i have travelled round the US 3 times in the last 12 years and yes i am an Aussie and i can't recall people ever not being able to pick my accent - if they couldn't it was very rare.
As i have stated earlier the Yanks seemed to genuinely like us Aussies - in the show Rockstar Supernova the Aussie guy Toby came 3rd so it didnt hurt him that much (although admittedly he didnt win).

If you call 19 a child then i guess so.
Well i guess its a good thing for Michael you dont get to vote then. The weakest vocally sorry got to laugh at that one.

Well yes, very surprising. Michael had a very good voice during the auditions but doesn't seem to use it since for some reason

Most people don't care. I don't think it will hurt them much. I seem to remember Chikezie taking about being Nigerian, and David A talking about his mother being from Honduras. We are a country of immigrants. Seeing as Michael and Carly both live in the US (Carly, I think has been living here since childhood), it makes much more sense for them to compete in American Idol than travel back to their homelands, where they don't live, to compete in those Idol shows. In the end, I think most people are focused on talent when they vote (and aspects like personality and charisma come into play a lot more than nationality.)

A previous winner of Australian Idol was Irish.

I don't think it matters.