out? Did any show get better after Shannen Doherty was exiled from it?
If good chemistry sells, bad chemistry electrifies.
And American Idol, home of Tuesday's Nicki Minaj-Mariah Carey
judges'-table bout, just became a live wire again. Ryan Seacrest on
Minaj-Carey: "It was intense" Usually, we think of bad chemistry as
being bad--like, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman in the Star
Wars prequels, voted worst screen couple in a poll of film fans. But
that's not bad chemistry, that's no chemistry (aided and abetted by
George Lucas love lines). On the contrary, bad chemistry makes for
fireworks--think Richard Gere triumphantly walking off with Debra
Winger in An Officer and a Gentleman, and then recall Winger trashing
the film as one of the worst experiences of her life.
Bad chemistry or good chemistry, it's all chemistry, agrees Matthew
Harrison, an acting teacher and cofounder of Actor's Foundry in
Vancouver, British Columbia. And it's vital. Flashback: Minaj calls
Carey a "legend" "That means people are connected to each other,"
Harrison says. And to the audience, too. Says Harrison: "It is utterly
fascinating to watch chemistry under play." That it is. Chemistry
experiments that go well can result in something beautiful, like
original-formula Coca-Cola. Chemistry experiments that go bad can end
in fiery explosions, like Minaj offering to pop Carey upside the head.
Both kinds work. As the ratings proved, we, the TV nation, rather
enjoyed the conviviality of Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven
Tyler. Of course, we also liked it when people threw things--dirty
looks, water, etc.--at Simon Cowell. Good chemistry, bad chemistry,
it's all chemistry. So, thank you, Dr. Minaj, for putting a charge
into the 11-going-on-12-year-old Idol. Just please don't really knock
out anybody. That's a little bit too much connection.