With the most consequential cut behind us, we now have a Top Ten (even if it’s the wrong ten). Now is an excellent time to analyze what we have by taking a subjective and objective look at the ten remaining Idolists. As much as I like my data, I’ll start with my subjective takes first because science tells us that’s how our brains work. Nobel prize-winning psychologist and economist Daniel Kahneman taught us that our brains have two systems.
System 1 makes near-instantaneous, intuitive, emotional judgments. In music terms, it’s me getting goosebumps or that OMG feeling in a song. System 2 is our slower, intentional, and logical problem-solving mode. It’s me thinking about what grade to give a performance. As much as we like to believe that our conclusions are based on System 2, our brains spend as much as 95% of the time in System 1.
What follows, then, is my after-Hollywood assessment of the Idolists. It recognizes my two steps in evaluating performances. First are the immediate and continuous reactions to how a performance makes me feel. Then comes the processing of that performance, including the feelings (i.e., what did the Idolist do to make me feel that way), through an analytical lens, hopefully in an unbiased way.[1]
Tom – dim the lights! Here we go!
System 1: near-instantaneous, intuitive, emotional judgments
Mia: Young, trying to be something but not sure what
Triston: Young but talented and still figuring himself out
Julia: Doing too much, trying too hard
Jack: ????
McKenna: Poised, captivating
Kaibrienne: Who is she? What am I getting?
Emmy: Seems caught between wanting to be something and not appearing to be enjoying it; as a result, I feel negative emotions watching her
Abi: Who is she? What am I getting?
Will: Solid
Kayko: Obvious artistry. I love his joy.
System 2: slower, intentional, logical
Here are the performance “grade point averages” (on a 4-point scale) I’ve given to each Top Ten Idolist over five performances.
| GPA | |
| Will | 3.8 |
| McKenna | 3.4 |
| Triston | 3.2 |
| Kayko | 2.9 |
| Jack | 2.9 |
| Abi | 2.9 |
| Julia | 2.7 |
| Mia | 2.7 |
| Emmy | 2.1 |
| Kaibrienne | 2.0 |
For reference, I had Jayna and Roman’s “GPAs” at 3.7 and 3.6, respectively.
Miscellaneous Musings
Will: While he’s been the most consistently excellent Idolist (four As and a B), I’m struck that he hasn’t merited any A+s from me. Is he capable of being a star in the real world, or will he be just another Idolist whose biggest moments came on the show?
Kayko: Can he merge his artistry and joy into a unique, defined talent?
McKenna: Once she gets over being sick, will she be able to recapture the magic she left Hollywood with?
Tristan: I’ve noticed my grades for him are trending consistently down.
Emmy: Will people ever stop voting for her?
See you soon.
[1] Which is the ultimate challenge because the whole point of bias is that we don’t know when we are being biased.
Ray's Musings 
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