What store should come to Hammond Square?

The new owners of Hammond Square Mall would like some public participation on the future redevelopment of the shopping center and adjacent property.

If residents could choose just one retailer to come to the mall what would it be?

Need your comments: Deal or No Deal

Does anyone out there watch the game show "Deal or No Deal?" What are your opinions on the show?

(Disclaimer - These could possibly be published in the paper.)

Thanks!

Taylor Hicks destined as American Idol?

Posted by Renee Allemand

Even though none of this year’s crop of “American Idol” finalists hailed from Louisiana, local residents will be paying attention to the show’s Wednesday night finale.

So will the rest of America. The two-hour season five finale pits energetic crooner Taylor Hicks against polished diva Katharine McPhee. Expect drawn-out performances from former contestants and lots of nail biting beginning at 7 p.m. on FOX.

Finalist Hicks’ popularity points to an “Idol” trend that began in 2005 with Ponchatoula native Lindsey Cardinale, runner-up Bo Bice and winner Carrie Underwood. Those three contestants challenged the idea that a successful American Idol should be a pop singer. Cardinale and Underwood’s small-town, country roots resonated with the American public to gain them votes. Meanwhile, Bice’s brand of southern rock proved that the “Idol” stage could be as diverse as its audience.

Hicks is expected to win on Wednesday. (In fact, his odds are 1-2 compared to McPhee’s 9-5, according to online betting sites.) He is an old soul with gray hair at the age of 29, which is ancient for an “Idol” contestant. His heroes include Ray Charles and Van Morrison. His eccentric dance moves bewildered the judges. He calls himself a “funky white boy” on the “Soul Patrol.” Cowell has doubted that Hicks is the definition of an “American Idol,” yet Hicks has been the perennially popular underdog for the duration of the show.

“American Idol” is different from other singing competitions in that the audience is allowed to form opinions about the contestants over such a long period of time. We get to know them on a personal level, and their personalities can either help or hinder their chances of winning.

Increasingly, our idols are more like us. They’re untrained underdogs from small-town America. They’re unique and unfiltered. Singing is still an important part of the competition, but if Cardinale, Bice and Underwood have taught us anything, it’s that personality is guiding voters as well.

We’ve officially thrown out the traditional notion of the “American Idol,” and in doing that, we’ve made this reality show more “real” than it could ever be.