Justice

Monday, 22 November 2004



So Casey Donovan is our newest Idol. In making her the winner, Australia has embraced so many different sorts of put-upon minorities that I need a lie down just thinking about it. Yay us, etc.

There are so many reasons this was the right choice.

1. No-one emotes better through song. Dicko was on the money when he said that Casey appears to channel some fragile, bruised part of her soul when she sings, so that each word is imbued with a torrent of feeling. (Actually, those are my words. But Dicko is always on the
money. In so many ways.)

2. Casey was the most consistent performer this year, barring "Eleanor Rigby" (which appears to have been erased, 1984-like, from all our memories).

3. Anyone who can survive that performance of "Eleanor Rigby" without being in the Bottom 3 is a superstar. (Personally, I stand by my original claim regarding that performance: Her so-called lyric lapse occurred after the verse about Father Mackenzie writing the words to a
sermon no-one would hear. Clearly, forgetting the words thereafter was actually part of a clever and ironic textual interpretation by Casey. Brilliant.)

4. She hadn't already declared herself the winner. (cf. Anthony)

5. She has three cousins whose names all rhyme!

The result is unexpected but extremely satisfying, particularly since I placed a $50 bet on Ms Donovan when she was at $4 odds. Not quite the windfall that her original $101 odds would have brought, but nonetheless delightful.

It's been a beautifully circular journey for Casey. She went from an awkward, moody teen in the throes of a Goth phase, to a strikingly attractive young woman coming out of her shell until, finally, realising her dream of a full-on Gothic conquest by wearing a black floor-length
crushed velvet dress on the Opera House stage. (Which, while not altogether flattering, was a damn sight better than that red and gold sari she had previously been wearing. That thing was just sa RONG.)



Seeing the clip of said "journey" simply served to confirm what a brilliant choice of Idol she is.

Seeing Angie, Ngaiire and Ricki-Lee perform served to confirm how sad their early exits were.

Seeing Dan, Marty and Emilia perform served to confirm how friggin' lucky they each are to be identifiable by the use of their first name only, and how quickly this will cease to be the case.

Seeing Hayley perform served to confirm the prophetic properties of her own on-camera statement (below).

Seeing Amali perform still feels a little bit illegal.

Seeing Chanel and Daniel perform served to confirm that they are a couple, or, at the very least, eating out of the same well-stocked fridge.



I'm not shedding a tear for Anthony, apart from those already shed during his hysterical performance of "The Prayer" last night. That song obviously brings out the best in him and his rendition of it is utterly amazing, but last night's display was side-splitting. He managed to
incorporate the following incongruous elements into the song:

1. Facial spasms
2. Inappropriately timed smiles as he caught a whiff of victory and his own confidence
3. A strut!

I do feel for him, I suppose. The final shot of the stage last night would suggest he really is a man apart. But ultimately I think his future is assured, and all you Anthony fans will have plenty of opportunities to continue your support.

For now, it's all about Casey. Although you'd be mistaken for believing it's actually all about Marcia's neck. (And did everyone notice Marcia's rip-off of Chanel's back-to-the-audience silhouette move at the start of her song? Sister-girlfriend knew exactly what she was doing,
methinks.)



Thanks to everyone who contributed to Casey's victory. Thank you equally to all those who enjoyed this weekly update.

To finish, some memorable quotes:

Best Casey quote
(while at Luna Park) "I should have shaved my legs [insert maniacal laughter revealing statement to be steeped in sarcasm]!"

Most prophetic quote
(while behind McDonald's counter) "Would you like fries with that?" - Hayley

Most scientifically intriguing slip-up by a host
(while making futile attempt to not look a complete hosting amateur despite two years in the role) "Stay tuned as we reduce these two Idols down to one." - Andrew G*

*Incidentally, the all-time greatest slip-up was last year when Andrew G said, "Stay tuned to see which one of us is in the Bottom 3." (The prospect that this statement delivered was briefly thrilling.)

As we tumble forward into uncertain Idol-less times and struggle to imagine what Sunday nights are for, remember that it's only three days until The Apprentice.

That is all.