The Joshua Gracin Controversies

There has been a lot of stuff said about Josh lately that I think needs addressing. Most of it centers around the fact that while other Marines are fighting and dying in Iraq, he is living in a Hollywood home and performing for America on TV. But I think there is more to the story.

First, to address the fighting issue. Let's get something straight here - Josh is not in a "fighting" unit. He is in a support unit. Yes, I know a support unit took a wrong turn early and suffered deaths and captures, but most of the Marine casualties have not come from support staff. Second, at least one writer made a stink about the fact that some of his "unit" have been sent overseas. Apparently about 60% of those in that unit were indeed sent, but not Josh's section. Some people have suggested that he hasn't gone because he's on American Idol. Perhaps, but then how do we explain the other 40%? The Marines have said time and time again that he does not control if or when he is deployed. Not every Marine is in Iraq. Some are in other countries. Some are still stateside. Josh should not be attacked for being in a section that is still at their base.

There were some complaints that even if he was not to be sent off, he shouldn't be singing and happy every week. What about the relatives of other Marines who are fighting and dying? Well, I guess I have to ask - what about them? Josh has nothing to do with them. Should he be forced to go back to the barracks and just sit around rather than trying to do something to help America's spirits?

Admittedly, I can see how some might think that "Celebration" was not the best song choice. I agree. However, I do so for very different reasons. Some might say it was a bad idea to sing about partying when fellow Marines are dying. I think it was a bad song choice because he couldn't sing it for crap. Your mileage may vary.

But this brings us to a crucial point. Josh sang horribly this week. We're talking almost Ryan Starr singing "You Really Got Me" bad. Yes, that bad. Maybe he had a cold. Maybe his versions of country and disco just don't go well together. Whatever the reason, it stunk up the joint. He deserved to go.

But he wasn't even in the bottom three!

We can look at this one of several ways. We can rationalize it and say that his ability to sing disco really doesn't matter because that's not what he would sing anyway if he were to win. But then we could say that about everybody at any particular time and genre, so it isn't really much of an answer.

The actual reasoning is probably a combination of things. First, Josh is, of course, a Marine. People like the Marines and want Josh to do well. That will give him a boost of votes. But also, hardcore fans of American Idol contestants have a tendency to go into overdrive when their favorite is threatened. Hell, even Ryan Starr made it past her "Really Got Me" week! And Josh was obviously in danger after that performance.

No matter what, though, Simon was absolutely correct when he said there was one person sitting on the couch who belonged in the bottom three. He was also absolutely correct when he said that person knew who he was. You could see it in Josh's face from the moment the show began. He knew he had done terribly. He's not stupid. He fully expected to go.

Frankly, I'm not sure which is worse - to be among those with the fewest votes and possibly be voted out, or to know that you deserved to go but were saved by fans who might not have even been voting for you as a talented singer, but for you as a Marine.

Of course, even if Josh had received the fewest votes this week, he still would have stayed on the show (and oh what conspiracy theories we would have had then as people would have been saying it was all done to keep Josh around!). Now the question becomes whether his fans can once again come out in big numbers - big enough to overcome the hardcore fans of Kim L., Carmen, and Trenyce - who will all be redoubling their efforts because they know their idols are on the bubble already. And the other question is if Joshua at this point even wants them to come out in droves, or if he'd rather just fade away at this point.

Maybe he'll come out and put on a great performance next week. But if he doesn't, he will again be faced with the question: Are people voting for Joshua Gracin, or are they voting for Marine Lance Corporal Gracin?

For more on Josh and these controversies, check out my follow-up article on reader response to to these issues.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of Foxes On Idol, and can be reached at rno@pobox.com.

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