Top 8 Results

By On 04/11/2007 · 97 Comments · In American Idol, Blake Lewis, Chris Richardson, Gina Glocksen, Haley Scarnato, Jordin Sparks, Ken Warwick, LaKisha Jones, Melinda Doolittle, Phil Stacey, Sanjaya Malakar

J Lo sings a cut from her new Spanish Language album….

And a whole bunch of lame filler stuff, as tonight’s show expands to 1 hour.

Bottom 3:

Phil Stacey
Haley Scarnato
Chris Richardson

Going home:

Haley Scarnato

*****************

Ryan opens the show by taking a poke at the continued survival of the contestant-who-wouldn’t-die, Sanjaya Malakar, all but giving away  the fact that Sanjaya is safe this week.  

As Ryan walks down the  line up of contestants, he says,  ”These contestants brought flair, passion and power to our Latin special but even with the guiding star of somebody like Jennifer Lopez, one of them is facing the fire…”

“Who is going home?” asks Ryan   At which point, he turns to look at Sanjaya, waits a beat  then turns to look at the audience.   Sanjaya laughs and pretends to be all “Damn!” The audience laughs, we laugh.   It’s not as if Ryan  is giving away some big secret.  Of course Sanjaya is safe!

In fact,  as Ryan chooses the bottom 3, (after 40 minutes of some of the most boring filler evah.   Gah, I already miss the 30 minute results show), he continues to toy with Sanjaya, asking him to stand back up and then sit back down again.   Can you imagine this going on with any of the other kids?   The poor contestant would be peeing their pants, not to mention the audience, who would be aghast at the meaness.

At this point, however,  it’s a given that Sanjaya has some magical mojo power that’s gonna keep him safe.   Particularly this week, after he turned in his first above-par vocal performance since his initial audition.

Yep. Season 6 is a very weird season.

Celebrity watch: Eva Longoria and Sharon Osbourne  are in the audience.

The next 35 minutes or so are pretty much a complete waste of time.   Ryan works hard drawing…out…all…his…bits…as…long…as…possible.   His banter with the judges is even more ridiculous than usual.   Paula does her part to waste time  by taking up at least 10 seconds looking cluelessly into space, as only she can do.

One advantage of the hour show: The group sing is back.   Unfortunately, it’s not all that entertaining, even in a cheesy way.   Except when Haley and Sanjaya attempt to harmonize together. Badly.  Good stuff.   Otherwise, meh.  

This week’s big question for giant cash! and prizes!–Which of these American Idol finalists  mocked in an interview. Uhm,  I mean, performed with Meatloaf?   a. Elliott Yamin   b. Katharine McPhee or c. Taylor Hicks.

Update on the songwriting contest: Over 5,000 entries have been submitted  so far.  Hurry up and send those submissions! Contest closes April 17.

Lamest time-waster of the  night:   Ryan does “peeps in the street” interviews at the Farmers Market, located conveniently across the street from the CBS studios where Idol is broadcast.   No re-cap necessary.   Pretty much the typical blah-blah what do you think of this and that blah blah.  One funny bit: When Ryan asked some girls what they thought of Chris Richardson they were all like “WHO”?   Kinda sums up this season nicely, doesn’t it?

Most pointless and inexplicable segment of the night: A pre-recorded tape of Akon singing his #1 hit,  ”Don’t Matter.” Not that it was mentioned, but his performance was  taped a few weeks ago at the end of the Top 10 results show. What’s up with sticking a video of Akon into the show  apropos of nothing?   Without so much as a promo or explanation?  Ãƒâ€š  What’s the point?

Ford Commercial:   The Idols take a trip back to 1991, as the director, for some reason, thinks it would be a cool idea to rip off Michael Jackson’s “Black and White” video.  The Idol’s  heads morph into one another’s as they sing the Turtle’s “Happy Together.”  Watch Phil Stacy grow hair!  Oops–it’s Jordin Sparks.  The special effect was pretty amazing 15 years ago, but today, not so much.

Relevant, but poorly executed time-waster:  Ãƒâ€š  We see more clips of Simon frolicking with the  poor chillrun in  Africa.   You know, the ones who are going to lead better lives after the Big Top 6 Charity Special.   Simon does not seem very comfortable hanging around kids.  And the joke at the end end, with one of the kids supposedly drawing a picture of Simon with manboobs, seems to trivialize  the issue.  The poor (literally)  kid holding up the chalk drawing has this total “the man with the money told me to hold up this weird picture, so I am” look on her face.  Simon getting red-faced afterward was pretty funny, though.  

Slightly amusing time-waster: Footage of the judges reacting negatively to an auditioner  spliced into reaction shots of Tony Bennett as if he were the auditioner. Ha. Or maybe half-a-ha.

Yipee. Celine Dion will appear at the giant Idol Gives Back special to instruct the kids in the fine art of oversinging a song.   Nope, actually, she’ll just be performing…

Finally, time for the eliminations, but not before the obligatory recap of last night’s performances, which I always fast-forward through.

FINALLY, the kids have taken their places on the sofas.   Ryan  asks Melinda  how she feels about Simon criticizing her  performance this week.   She LOVES his criticism and loves what he has to say.  Particularly since 98% of the time he’s giving her a tongue-bath.

Next, Ryan asks  Haley what SHE thinks about Simon  calling her out on her less-is-more (clothes, that is) winning strategy.  Haley insists that she would never wear  anything on stage that was inappropriate.  And the hot pants?   Hey, “It was Latin week,” Haley sez!  Ãƒâ€š  Every week  must be  Latin week for Haley.

FINALLY time to pick the bottom 3.

Phil Stacey  is asked to stand up first. Phil nods his head like he knows.  He’s in the bottom 3.  LaKisha Jones  is next.  She looks nervous.  There was  a ton  of speculation that she would get the boot tonight. Ryan says, “After the nationwide vote…LaKisha…surprisingly (he actually says this, TPTB  really do read the boards)…you’re SAFE.  The offshore bettors are crying right about now. Jordin Sparks  is next…and she is safe.  Ryan asks Sanjaya Malakar  to stand up, but then teases him and asks him to sit down again. Sanjaya smiles like the Cheshire cat.

Melinda Doolittle….is safe of course.  Haley Scarnato  stands up.   Ryan says, “After the vote…you are in the bottom 3 this week…please join Phil at the center of the stage.”  Back to Sanjaya. The joke continues. Ryan sez, stand up…no sit down…we aren’t ready for you yet.  It’s Blake Lewis’s  turn. Girls in the audience squee.  Blake looks  bemused. And he’s safe.  Ryan asks Chris Richardson and Sanjaya to stand up.  Poor Chris. Standing next to Sanjaya in a bottom 2 situation is not a good thing.

Ryan says,  ”…lets get into it now. One of you is safe, the other is in the bottom 3…Sanjaya, I’ve been asking you to sit all night long. Sit down again, you are safe.  Chris you are in the bottom 3 tonight.”   Chris takes center stage to a chorus of boos.

After the break, it’s time to send someone back to the sofas.   Ryan says,  ”Phil…it’s not going to be you.  Haley….I need you to stay here too. Chris, you are SAFE.

Phil says, “We are just blessed to be here.”

Now, it’s JLo time.  After a montage of the kids  exclaiming  how much they love the JLo, and OMG she is soooo not a diva!–she sings some song in Spanish with smoke and dancers and stuff.  Yeah. She’s not a great singer, but she’s a good dancer and has tons of charisma–no doubt about that.

After her big number, Jennifer tells Ryan that she  is really impressed with the kids  and stresses that what they are doing every week is  a hard, hard thing.   She insists that she’s from  the Paula school of criticism.  What, nonsensical, completely useless criticism?   Naww, she just believes that, “concentrating on the rightness brings more rightness.”   How sweet.   Then she apologizes to Simon for inadvertently dissing him.

After the final break, Ryan cuts to the chase.   He says, “After the highest vote of the season, over 35 million votes, Phil buddy, you are safe.  Haley heads home tonight on American Idol.”

Haley cries a little as she watches her goodbye video.  Interestingly, the  judges are never asked what they think of this week’s elimination, even though  it would  have actually been an appropriate time-waster.   Perhaps the producers decided not to add more insult to injury for the beleaguered Haley.

She manages to get through her singout–a little wobbly, but she keeps it together.  Haley  walks out  into the audience.  She sings to Phil’s wife.  Blake, Chris and Phil join her on stage to dance.  Much hugging, and Haley is out.

I  figured Haley had at least one more week left based on the  only-hot-girl-left-standing factor.  Ãƒâ€š  When Haley  made the  Top 12, most folks predicted she’d be voted off first.   Haley did what she had to do to make that tour.  Can’t say that I blame her for the hoochie-coochie routine.  Her hot-pants based strategy even got her a few extra weeks beyond the tour cut-off.  Much better for her that she didn’t outlast LaKisha, however.   The backlash would have been ugly for her.  And annoying for us.  All in all, Haley had a good run.

 
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  • rjvess

    Sanjaya safe again! Go Sanjaya. Keep keeping us informed at 4sanjaya.com!

  • dvls

    Yay, Sanjaya’s safe!! They just love jerking him around though, don’t they? And Chris is safe too!! Ah, this is going well. :biggrin_wp:

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    As long as Blake is safe, I don’t care who goes. Though I will be sad if it’s Phil instead of Haley.

  • St.Lucia

    THE MOST PERFECT BOTTOM 3.

    I didn’t care who left, I was going to be happy. My only regret was that we couldn’t get rid of all three at once. :)

  • http://handicappingai6.blogspot.com RenaRF

    This is the first week I predicted the bottom three AND who was going home correctly. I’m so thrilled that she’s gone. I got really, really tired of her annoyed face and dirty looks. It wouldn’t matter to me if she had the best voice of anyone EVER – with that personality and attitude, I’m surprised she lasted so long.

  • http://handicappingai6.blogspot.com RenaRF

    Sarah – I thought this past week was Blake’s hands-down. I’d be surprised if he didn’t blow everyone else out of the water vote-wise.

  • WhatdIsay

    Yikes, Spanish takes a lot of words. I don’t see how J Lo did that. I am not sure that I like it!
    Dial Idol sure isn’t as exact as it was last year! They had Lakisha going home! Wonder what she’ll sing? There are diva country songs. I think Chris can be nasaly in the country twang stuff. Should be fun!

  • susaninwv

    funny, i never thought haley had an annoyed face. i guess you see what you want to see. i am amazed at the vitriol thrown at a 24 year old girl who was just trying to live her dream. jeez. i can understand being glad that someone stays, but being glad that someone leaves is another matter. still don’t get the blake love. he does absolutely nothing for me. phil has a far better voice if he only knew how to showcase it.

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    Rena – I agree with you re: Haley. I think deep down she is a nice girl, but my problem with her was that she was obviously attempting to use her “assets” to her advantage, but then acted pissed when Simon called her out on it. Um, honey, if you have a problem with that being the focus, FOCUS ON THE VOICE. Plus, I didn’t like how she sang every song like it should be a Miss America group number.

    I’m glad you liked Blake this week. He was really good, I thought. The thing I’m most impressed with is how he is progressing vocally each week. I can really see the work of the vocal coaches with him. That makes me happy. :)

  • susaninwv

    martina mcbride believes in simple presentation and vocal purity, unlike most of the remaining contestants.

  • St.Lucia

    Totally random, but Martina’s Christmas album(and I’m not even a country fan) is probably one of my absolute favorite Christmas albums. I don’t do much country, but I like Martina McBride. Period. I expect her to coach them well.(but we’ll see how that goes. The coaches I expect to suck, are great and vice versa).

    Country week is always an interesting week(and that’s interesting in a BAD way).

    Anyway, back on topic….Is it sad to say that I’d be totally happy with a Jordin, Blake and Sanjaya final 3? I mean I know that doesn’t stand a chance, but I’d totally love it anyway.

    Phil’s days are numbered. Haley was quite possibly the last person who could have gone before he could go. Everyone else has too much of a following.

    I might actually MISS Haley. Her badness at least broke up some monotony.

  • GeminiDolly

    Its about time I got something right. Nothing was shocking about tonight’s eliminations. Oh and I thought Jennifer Lopez was supposed to be this bitchy diva, she seemed pretty personable and fun on camera, but Im still not buying her album, sorry JLo, spanish isn’t my thing.

  • http://www.xanga.com/werwanderflugen Preston

    Wow… correct bottom three and boot imo.

    Also, is it just me, or was there some heavy Blake pimpage tonight?

  • angelia

    St.Lucia, I agree with you that Blake, Jordin and Sanjaya would make a lovely final 3. But it appears that the Sanje-haters are ganging up on him, voting for people who have been getting fewer votes than he has in order to try to get rid of him. It will be sad if they succeed in doing this because he is one of the few entertainers (as opposed to vocalists only)left. Imagine how dull it would be not to wonder what Sanje was going to sing, and what he was going to wear and how the judges were going to react. And let”s not forget his hairstyle of the week. He and Blake have made this season enjoyable for me in a season awash with boring personalities.

  • maracaibo

    Sarah.. ME too Blake’s vocals are really shining lately.

    I always thought he had a great smooth voice but now he reaches notes way up high. His performance last night proved he is a VERY VERY good singer.
    GO TEAM PLAID.

    I am suprised Lakisha was not in the bottom three though. I think she will be next week. I can’t picture her singing country.
    By the way I think Blake should sing either Rascal Flatts or Keith Urban for COuntry night. GOes with his contemporary style and voice.

  • maracaibo

    Finally Haley left. It was about time.

    Sarah.. I agree. Me too. Blake’s vocals awere SPOT on last night. he was awesome!

    I always thought he had a great smooth voice but last night he impressed me. He reached notes way up high. His performance last night proved he is a VERY VERY good singer.
    GO TEAM PLAID!

    I am suprised Lakisha was not in the bottom three though. I think she will be next week. I can’t picture her singing country
    IMO, I think Blake should sing either Rascal Flatts or Keith Urban for Country night. Goes with his contemporary style and voice.

  • http://www.xanga.com/werwanderflugen Preston

    Also, was I the only one who thought it was odd when Ryan told Lakisha she was “surprisingly” not in the bottom three? It’s not as if she was horrible last night… maybe producers/writers picking up on the rumors/betting odds?

  • RollTide

    I’m so happy Blake is safe! Happy Blake Day – Go Team Plaid!

    Oh and Blake sounds even better on the mp3′s and videos. His voice is definitely getting better and better. I love me some Blake Lewis. :D

  • Nostradamas

    Haley’s time was up…and she knew it….Phil has packed his bags for next week too…

    Blake still looks and sounds like a whinny little wimp to me….no depth at all to his voice….and he’s lost who he was, now he needs to sign up for a cruise ship lounge.

    Melinda HAS to do something to show me that her ‘perfection’ can be translated in to a marketable product or she’ll go down as another Taylor…critical acclaim, but no real sales.

    Lakisha / Chris have another 2-3 weeks tops….

    Sandgina has 1-2 more, if there is any sanity left in America…..

    Jordin ‘should’ win this, but knowing it’s a voting competition, she needs to get her peeps rallied.

  • t2

    Preston
    Apr 11th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
    Also, was I the only one who thought it was odd when Ryan told Lakisha she was à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“surprisinglyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  not in the bottom three? Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not as if she was horrible last nightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ maybe producers/writers picking up on the rumors/betting odds?

    Or planted the rumors…

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    I don’t think Blake has lost who he is at all. He’s done his damndest to keep who he is and his style intact throughout the theme weeks. There’s only so much you can do with these themes. If anything else, the past few weeks have proven that he is a SINGER and a MUSICIAN not a beatboxer who sings.

    Also, is it just me, or was there some heavy Blake pimpage tonight?

    I sensed it more for Chris but maybe I’m just more sensitive because they are the big “rivals” on the show – or at least in the way the show is pitting them against each other.

  • RollTide

    Sarah Rocks! :)

    I didn’t sense any Blake pimpage. In fact, when Ryan was first interviewing those 2 girls with the Blake signs, he initially asked them about Melinda. ????? Then, finally towards the end of that segment, he asked them about Blake.

    But I’m at a loss as to how he was pimped tonight? I’m all for more Blake tv time, but I just didn’t pick up on that tonight.

  • Nostradamas

    Sorry kids, but Blake’s voice is thinner than a piece of paper…..and about as interesting……

  • MrBennett

    I think it’s great AI is using its popularity to raise money for an important cause. But sometimes tonight, I felt like I was watching a Jerry Lewis telethon.

    Also, was I the only one who thought it was odd when Ryan told Lakisha she was à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“surprisinglyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  not in the bottom three?

    Could that have been a dig at DialIdol and the fact that they have been getting it so wrong lately?

  • RollTide

    Nostradamas
    Apr 11th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
    Sorry kids, but Blakeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s voice is thinner than a piece of paperà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦..and about as interestingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

    That’s just your opinion. There are plenty of us that disagree.

  • jb

    Dialidol hasn’t been getting it wrong. Go back and look. They rank them by where they could finish and in several of their cases, dialidol had them finishing 2-8 with the ONLY person DEFINITELY not in the bottom 3 this week being Blake. Unlike last year, the voting is much much tighter this year, and thus statistically they are all quite close and within an error range. According to DI last night, anyone could have gone home except Blake….

  • cricket

    My 82 year old mother and my 4 yr old niece were visiting tonight and we watched AI together. My mother remarked that she liked “Angina” best of all , my little niece informed her grandma that she had the name wrong and she told grandma that his name is”Vagina”. My sides still hurt from laughing. :lol_tb:

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    Sorry kids, but Blakeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s voice is thinner than a piece of paperà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦..and about as interestingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

    Your opinion, and thanks for being so condesceding about it too!!

    ETA: Maybe I should say, sorry kids, but Melinda is boring and Jordin is Disney and Lakisha is a one-note pony. After all, that’s my opinion.

  • AngC30

    Bottom line is the right person went home based on last night’s performances, we all know that Sanjaya dosen’t even deserve to be there but we have the judges to thank for that….

    and by the way…..Blake has NEVER been in the bottom 3 so far, so like it or not, he must be doing something right…

  • jdtower23

    Bottom 3 doesn’t mean squat anymore….the only one that counts is who goes home….the rest is TPTB strategy….

    Sanjaya is coming around….I think the REAL guy who doesn’t deserve to be there is Chris Richardson….WHY do people like him? He’s horrible…

  • AngC30

    come on now….why ya gotta rip on Chris, I happen to like him, he isn’t gonna win, but he deserves to be there :( :cry_tb:

  • jdtower23

    I agree to disagree….Chris Richardson should NOT be in the top 12 of a nationwide “talent search”… he’s there for reality TV type reasons….

  • AngC30

    fair enough, no harm no foul :sealed_tb: :wink1_tb:

  • jdtower23

    You’re a good sport :) Sorry, for some reason that guy bugs me…but you’re entitled to your opinion

  • Giggy

    Hi all,

    Well, I’m :glurps_tb: over Haley leaving. I guess I saw through into her insecurities and was fighting for the underdog. Having said THAT I am glad Lakisha is still there because she is an underdog, too, with a three year-old to support and a big badazz voice who did give us ‘And I’m Telling You’. Although, apparently, she was never in trouble but, still…

    Phil: We’re blessed to be here. God love him. What a great guy. I just adore him and his attitude!

    Blake finally won me over big time last night. And, like Simon, I was impressed with Sanjaya. He really did a good job last night. Sweet, tender, sensual vocals.

    The rest? Eh.

    So onto country week. Weeeeeeeeedoggggieees! THIS should prove interesting! Three divas with cowboy boots and a skinny baldy thrown into the batch. :clap_tb: :jittery_tb: :surrender_tb:

  • Seraphina

    RE “surprising” to Lakisha…

    I thought it was just for dramatic effect, trying to bluff the viewers into thinking he was about to say surprisingly she WAS in the bottom 3.

    RE Blake pimpage – Sarah, I didn’t feel it either. At all. In fact, I thought Blake was played down quite a bit, as per usual. They focused on fans of everyone else in the walk and talk, and even in the Ford commercial he was given the least face time. Other than bringing him into Haley’s bit with JLo last night, I really feel like TPTB are trying to keep him down for some reason. Why, I haven’t a clue, as he’s very current and marketable.

    The Chris pimpage meanwhile is driving me insane…he cannot sing, IMO, and certainly doesn’t deserve all the judges’ praise. Hell, I even preferred Haley to Chris. lol

  • colette

    Whew. Finally, some justice.

    Haley has a bright modeling career ahead. Probably a Playboy centerfold, if that’s her bag.

    Phil scored votes next week just for being such an ebullient, I’m-so-blessed guy. Good spirit, still can’t stand his singing.

    I’m glad Kiki hung in. She won’t and shouldn’t win it, but if she’s in the top 5 I’ll be pleased. And who knows, maybe she’ll blow us away soon.

    The pimpage I couldn’t stand was the interminable shilling for corporate sponsors of this “Idol Gives Back” thing. It’s all free advertising, and a big aren’t-we-wonderful backslap. To me, charity is quiet and selfless — not another chance for a big advertising buy, and shots of Simon (who probably has enough money to feed half of starving Africa on his own) playing cute with some poor little girls. Geesh, you think these celebs were the first people to discover that millions are starving and suffering!

    Sure, they’re doing something when they don’t have to. But here’s a plug for a few of my favorite charities who have been quietly doing it for years (with very little overhead for star and other perks): Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam and Farm Friend (which buys livestock for poor families in Third World countries).

    And on to the country show — these are songs I’d like to hear on Idol (some of which have been done, I know):

    “I Fall to Pieces”
    “C-R-A-Z-Y”
    “Walkin’ After Midnight”
    “BLue Bayou”
    “Lay Lady Lay” (OK, Dylan wrote it, it’s still country)
    “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” (Dylan too)
    “Crazy Arms”
    “Ballad of Billy Joe”
    “Son of a Preacher Man”
    “Stand By Your Man” — OK, very retro, but a great tune
    “Funny How Time Slips Away”
    “Coat of Many Colors”
    “Me & Bobby McGee”

    you may notice that quite a few of the above are by Willie Nelson, one of the very greatest country song writers (and singers)….I’ll try to post some good covers later….

  • Diana

    Does anyone else think that the “Idol Gives Back” thing is being handled inappropriately? It’s a great idea and I’m all for it, but it is not clear what charity they are raising money for and what exact cause they are targeting. Just this huge umbrella of “poor people” in Africa and the USA. There’s this weird air of “we here in wealthy America are so superior….look at all of these poor pathetic people in Africa”.

    Anyway, they just need to do a better job of framing and presenting the issues. It seems rushed and thrown together. Needs to be more focused.

    I’d like to see them choose a different issue each year and really educate the public about it.

  • Grammie Kari

    The Chris pimpage meanwhile is driving me insaneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦he cannot sing, IMO, and certainly doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t deserve all the judgesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ praise. Hell, I even preferred Haley to Chris. lol

    I just don’t understand it at all except that they want him to be there for the charity fundraiser? He is such a weak singer and will be able to get away with it with the COUNTRY theme!

    Cricket, kids say the cutuest things. LOL!

    I saw Martina in concert and she was awesome! I hope she is a great mentor.

    I was glad Haley went home.

  • givein

    Yay, Sanjayaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s safe!! They just love jerking him around though, donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t they?

    If Sanjaya belonged to another race, they would’ve pulled out the race card!!!! It’s lucky he belongs to Gandhi’s race where they believe in passive resistance.

  • longsong

    Thanks, MJ! Best recap EVAH!

    Just read through this thread and here’s my take: I didn’t see any overt pimping of Blake, and I personally LIKE his voice. He has many of the same vocal qualities of the lead singer of “Men At Work”. Love it! (still a member of Team Hula though!)

    I’m GLAD Haley’s gone. Not in a vindictive way, I just got way tired of her shimmying, etc. SING, woman! Too late now, I guess. Yay! Okay, a little vindictive. Looking at her “You’re dead” video (courtesy Dave White), I see that she’s been wearing short shorts from day one, so it’s not a new strategy with her. Wonder who’ll wear the extensions next?

    I do not see the “good looks” factor in Chris. His face looks a little squashed to me, or compacted in a way top to bottom. I’m sure he’s a very nice boy.

    I enjoyed Latin night way more than I thought I would! Usually it’s not as interesting as a train wreck, it’s a snooze fest.

    Country night should be interesting. I hope the idols go more in the direction of the songs Colette posted. I want to hear some VOCALS. C’mon, Lakisha! You need a WOW performance!

    Mostly though, GO SANJAYA!!

  • LB2

    It only felt like Blake pimpage because the audience was cheering a lot for him. Nobody prompted that though.

    I found it hysterical when Ryan had to remind people who Chris was.

    You know what else is funny? When people like to pass off their opinions as fact. Ego much?

  • longsong

    You know what else is funny? When people like to pass off their opinions as fact. Ego much?

    I know exactly what you mean, LB2. A simple “IMO” would help ever so much.

  • Jovi

    YAY!!!! I am soooo happy that Haley is gone. Maybe as she looks back on things she will realize she should have used her voice and not her “assetts” as much. I will NOT miss seeing her “sell herself” on stage any more. Huge difference between selling oneself and selling one’s voice.

    That said, the biggest pimping I saw last night was also for this whole Idol Gives Back deal. And I agree with whoever said “what charity is it?”.

    Notice tonight that Ryan didn’t ask the judges “Did America get it right?” with the bottom two?

    I liked Phil’s attitude, he’s got it right.

    Oh and was it just me or did that Ford commercial suck big time? Not to mention the group song as well but that was better than the Ford commercial at least.

  • deedee

    I was right with my bottom two – either Phil or Haley is going home. And it’s Haley. Quite sorry for her, but her acting cutesy every week didn’t take her far enough. Phil isn’t the best singer amongst the remaining seven but I do admire his positive attitude …taking each week a blessing.

  • Nostradamas

    Sarah and RollTide,

    Thank you for stating the “obvious” and “allowing” me to have my OWN opinion……….silly me, I thought this place was where I could say what I God-damned well pleased about the Idols…..without it getting personal.

    Blake sucks plain and simple………he’s got a lounge singer’s voice and a Mickey Mouse stage presence.

    Melinda and Jordin are the ONLY two that ‘deserve’ to win, based on real talent………but then, America has still kept Sandgina in the running, so I ain’t holding my breath that the best people will win.

    So there, MY OPINION, yet again………..“Standard disclaimers apply…..the opinion stated here is not that of managment and does not relfect on the advertisers of this site, blah, blah, blah”……..

  • longsong

    Nostril (in keeping with your delight in altering names), surely you could see why the WAY in which you state your opinion might be a bit buggy? :tongue2_tb:

  • Lisa B

    Well I feel cheated I wanted a ‘shocker’.

    Yes everyone is entitled to an opinion and shouldn’t have to qualify it continually with an imo scattered all around, it goes without saying.

    We are adults or am I wrong making that assumption?

  • RollTide

    Nostradamas
    Apr 12th, 2007 at 7:36 am
    Sarah and RollTide,

    Thank you for stating the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“obviousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“allowingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  me to have my OWN opinionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.silly me, I thought this place was where I could say what I God-damned well pleased about the Idolsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦..without it getting personal.

    The problem is not your opinion, it’s the way you state it. It is *very* condescending. As if we must be total idiots for liking Blake, and you are trying to educate us. *rollseyes* I think in one of your posts you said “Sorry, kids…” Well don’t feel sorry for me. I like Blake, and I like Am. Idol. Going by your reviews, it doesn’t seem like you really like anyone, so I wonder why you bother?

  • longsong

    We are adults or am I wrong making that assumption?

    Yep! Hence the :tongue2_tb: :tongue1_tb:

    Plus, even we little kiddies know how to present our thoughts with more manners.

  • dvls

    My 82 year old mother and my 4 yr old niece were visiting tonight and we watched AI together. My mother remarked that she liked à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Anginaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  best of all , my little niece informed her grandma that she had the name wrong and she told grandma that his name isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Vaginaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ . My sides still hurt from laughing.

    Thanks Cricket! I almost choked on my oatmeal!! :lol_tb:

  • Grammie Kari

    Well I feel cheated I wanted a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢shockerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢.

    Oh, Lisa – I hope you get your wish next Wednesday! I want a shocker too!

    Blake is entertaining, IMO.

    Sometimes when we communicate by the written word, a meaning is lost in the translation. I bet we all are real cool people in REAL life! :razz_wp:

  • calimari

    It was the perfect bottom 3, IMO, and I would have been happy with any of them going home, but since Phil & Haley have both been bottom 3 before, it’s fine that Chris is still there, even tho I don’t care for him. I didn’t think Gina should have gone home last week w/ Phil & Haley standing there too. I’m fine w/ LaKisha staying because she has offered up many good performances (altho staying in her comfort zone). At least this week she really made an effort & moved out of that zone. And she didn’t suck. Plus, I’m really curious to see how Melinda, LaKisha and, to a lesser extent, Jordin handle country week. I couldn’t name a single black “country” singer, but the genre covers a lot & hopefully they will find something interesting. Last year I thought Kellie Pickler would have done well on country week, but she did that suds in a bucket song & Simon really dissed her for that.

  • LB2

    Yes everyone is entitled to an opinion and shouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have to qualify it continually with an imo scattered all around, it goes without saying.

    I’m not asking anyone to qualify it with IMO. I’m aware that most things asserted here aren’t facts. But there is a difference between:

    1. Melinda is good and
    2. “Sorry kids” – blank blank

    Meaning there is a way to express an opinion without being intentionally rude, condescending and acting like a know-it-all. I know that people are irritated by the fangirliness and what not (I do apologize for my part in that) but that’s no reason to make people feel bad for liking a contestant or the show itself. I don’t like to be looked down upon for expressing my (unappreciated)opinion, just like I would try not to do that to others (unless provoked). Ok – sorry for taking this further than it had to go. I think I’ll try to stick to chat from now on.

  • Nostradamas

    FWIW,

    My use of “Sorry kids” was meant as an inclusive term as to the group of posters that we are….including me…..a term of “endearment” if you will…..if you took it as anything else, I’d suggest therapy. I didn’t say…”You idiots”…or anything truly mean…..get over it.

    If you can’t get over my “opinions” then I’d suggest skipping them…..deal?

  • longsong

    Wow! For some reason I can’t read the poster above me’s words. Weird…..

  • angelia

    Actually there is one black country singer. Cowboy Troy, who does country rap. I think he may be a member of the “country Mafia with Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich, et.al.

  • ealbino

    I think the REAL guy who doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t deserve to be there is Chris Richardsonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.WHY do people like him? Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s horrible

    I like Chris. I like the tone of his voice. I like his personality. I like his smile. I like the way he sang Geek in the pink, the boss, etc. I think he is marketable. I do think he looks and sounds a little like Timberlake but hey..Timberlake has made millions. I hope Chris makes top 6 over Phil and Sanjaya because Phil has no connection to the audience and Sanjaya is just laugable, corny, though he will probably make millions for them.

  • angelia

    What theme was it the week that Mandisa was eliminated last year? I thought that was a shocker and I thought it was a shame that she was sent home for religious/ethical beliefs. Even Idols are entitled to their own opinions. I liked her way more than this year’s divas.

  • Little Debbi
  • Nostradamas
  • Little Debbi

    nostradamus, I have never heard of cleve francis. Did he have any hits? Any songs you would recommend. I have been out of touch with country music for a few years since where I live does not have a damn country radio station.

  • Nostradamas

    Deb,

    See my edit above^^

    “Walkin’”, I think was his “hit”.

  • laura11383

    Last year Mandisa went on country night, so don’t be surprised to see Lakisha gone this year.

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    Same rules apply here as they do in the Daily Thread. NO BICKERING. Please stop. READ THE GUIDELINES PLEASE.

    1. Posters are free to post their opinions about Idols without being chastised. If you can’t help lashing out whenever a poster criticizes your favorite Idol, this is probably not the best place to be hanging out.

    2. Do not condescend to posters or comment on the quality of their opinions. Everyone is entitled to one, and all that. Keeping the word “you” out of your posts is prolly a good rule of thumb.

    Thank you.

  • Little Debbi

    Thanks Nostradamus. He sounds pretty good.

    laura11383, you might be right, but there are a ton of “country” songs that are not twangy or really country sounding. Lakisha (imo) has a damn good voice, so if she chooses wisely she should be o.k.

  • SODF

    angelia, Mandisa went home during Country week last season. The controversy may have played a part in limiting her fan base, but she did struggle on Country night. An excellent voice for sure, but two consecutive sub-par performances were what led to her elimination, I think.

    Calmari, didn’t Kellie P sing “Suds in a Bucket” on “songs of the Twenty First Century” night? (I think that’s what they called it last season.) She sang something else on Country night – can’t remember exactly what – but I believe the judges liked her that night. I don’t think she was in any danger that week.

    Blake may not have the best or biggest voice in this year’s contest, but he is a good performer. He knows what he is doing on stage and looks comfortable doing it – which is why he almost always wins me over. He also has interesting taste in music. And he’s capable of coming up with interesting arrangements. Myself, I’m not seeing much to dislike about Blake.

    This doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate Melinda or Jordin or some of the others. I think Melinda is pretty terific, despite some dull song choices. I think her frontrunner status is weakening – because of song choice – and could see Blake and/or Jordin outlasting her.

  • pj

    I didn’t start out on Team Plaid, but Blake has won me over. He may not have a “powerhouse” voice, but it is by no means “thin.” He actually has an interesting way of presenting his vocals, and I prefer someone who knows how to sing with some subtlety over someone shouting at me. That’s my bias.

    Of course, there’s more to it than that. Blake is a performer and he communicates and connects with the audience in a way that I haven’t seen in many of the other contestants. According to this article, Blake created so much excitement this week that the producers had to shush the crowd.

  • Little Debbi

    last year on country night.

    Mandisa: Any Man of Mine
    Kellie: Fancy

  • Little Debbi

    colette, I like your song choices but you pissed me off. :smiley2_tb: I don’t think I know what “Ballad of Billie Joe” sounds like and have spent the last hour trying to find a version of it online with absolutely no luck. All I have come up with is that it was recorded by Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis. Any chance you could find a version? I know tons of country songs and once I hear it, I’ll probably remember it.

  • calimari

    Thanks Little Debbi. I’m by no means knowledgeable about country music, but I thought Simon said something about so many songs to sing & Kellie picked the suds one, so I thought that was country night.

  • MaryS-NJ

    Last year Mandisa went on country night, so donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be surprised to see Lakisha gone this year.

    I think Mandisa went home because of what happened on Twenty-First Century night. Sometimes a contestant is voted off the week after a bad performance/controversy. If Mandisa had knocked it out of the park on Country night, I think she might have overcome the controversy – but maybe not.

  • catdog

    What happened to all the “Lekisha is going home for sure” rumors? Someone knows someone who knows someone, etc., that it was a given.
    Really? When will people learn?

  • 3girls

    Hi, delurking to add that Fantasia did a really nice job of Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind” on Country night during Season 3. So it’s not at all clear to me that Country has to be a problem for a black singer who typically sings more R&B-type music.

    That said, Lakisha doesn’t have anything like Fantasia’s artistry, IMO. A good strong voice, the ability to belt one out passionately, but not a lot more. So she may well struggle.

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    Also, Ace Young and Chris Daughtry had VERY good performances on Country night last year…

  • panz

    Little Debbie: Not sure about a Ballad to Billie Joe. Maybe it’s Ode to Billie Joe, sung by Bobbie Gentry?

    I don’t like country but I like Carrie and I’ve discovered that there are quite a few country songs for the non-country fan.

    As for the “Lakisha is going home rumor,” I have to wonder if someone planted a false rumor. I’ve heard that people have been cleaning up with the betting so maybe this was a form of revenge.

  • Little Debbi

    I also liked Elliot on country night and I love this song.

    Elliot – If Tomorrow Never Comes
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wc2amOvmOY

    Ace – Tonight I’m Gonna Cry
    Chris – Making Memories of Us

  • Little Debbi

    sorry, here’s ace and chris

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-9D5P3TvjI

  • SODF

    Country music isn’t my first choice of genre, but there’s plenty of good current material for the group to choose from. I guess the mere mention of the Dixie Chicks is enough to inflame some voters, but Melinda, Jordin or LaKisha could potentially really score with “Travelling Soldier” (or one of the Chicks’ ballads, if that’s what they prefer) – if the song can be effectively pared down to less than 2 minutes.

    They can take a look at Trisha Yearwood’s and Faith Hill’s CDs if they want to find suitable mainstream country ballads. Or Martina McBride’s own discs, if they want to be a little nervy.

    Anyone wanting to go in the country-blues direction could look at Mark Knopfler’s and Emmy Lou Harris’s albums. Solomon Burke’s “Nashville” album is a great disc, if one of the guys wants to be adventurous. Neko Case and Jenny Lewis have put out excellent alt country albums, if one of the girls wants to be more daring.

    It could be interesting if one of the girls picked a song off Carrie’s album, but it would invite a risky comparison, so it’s probably not going to happen.

    Whatever you think of her material, Martina has a great voice – probably one of the best in any branch of music at the moment. She was a good guest coach on Canadian Idol last summer. She was very gracious, if a little careful in her comments.

    ETA: Country night generally hasn’t been a good theme night on Idol, but my point is that there’s no reason it couldn’t be. One of the biggest problems is that Simon openly disdains country music, and generally scowls through the whole night – which usually helps to sour the night for the audience.

  • longsong

    Excellent ETA, SODF.

  • http://www.xanga.com/werwanderflugen Preston

    Hopefully we’ll have a season-three-esque country night. I remember Diana, Fantasia, George, LaToya, and Amy all giving some of the best performances of the season.

  • LKJ

    Ace certainly put in one of his best on country night last year….Daughtry’s was just okay for me. Randy naturally told Ace “that was SO boring” then fell all over Chris.

  • panz

    Didn’t Blake or one of the other guys do a Keith Urban song earlier this season? Making Memories of Us (maybe?)

  • Tracy S

    Yes, Chris Richardson did Keith Urban “Cry”.

    The “Billie Joe” song you may be thinking of is the one about Bille Joe jumping off the Talahatchee bridge. And yes, you are right, It’s Ode to Billy Joe by Bobby Gentry. Great song.

    I’m a huge country fan, so I love this night coming. The thing I don’t like is that if you are not a country fan, you pick old twangy songs that are “old country” – there are so many from about 1988 to now that are defintiely “new country” and are awesome !

    Confederate Railroad, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Montgomery Gentry, John Michael Montgomery, Sarah Evans, Trisha Yearwood, Tracy Lawrence, Trace Adkins, George Strait, Brad Paisley…….I can go on and on and on.

    I really think the only the one that will have trouble this week is Sanjaya. He’ll need something soft and slow again or he’ll bite it. I don’t think he can do the rockin’ country.

    LaKisha could stay in if she picks the right song. Like “Why Haven’t I Heard From You” by Reba McIntyre. That’s sort of a diva song – country diva – but diva nonetheless. It definitely requires a big voice.

  • Little Debbi

    TracyS and panz. Ballad of Billy Joe is a real song and I found info that it was done by Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis, but I can’t find a version to listen to and I just want to see if I’ve heard it before.

  • Shannon

    Sanjaya should sing “Save a horse, Ride a Cowboy” while dressed in western wear!

  • panz

    Thanks for the info, Little Debbi. The only Charlie Rich song I know of is Behind Closed Doors.

    Seems like “country” can be a really wide category if they include “country like” songs.

  • madmike2276

    Ok,

    Last time I went to the doctors and had my hearing check, the doctor said it was fine, then why is it that I seem to be one of very few people who thought Blake sounded like a bad attempt at a carbon copy while he was singing, and Jordin who is usually very good, was vocally off key and visually just plain off.

    Anyone who thinks a Blake, Jordin, and for goodness sakes Sanjaya final 3 would be good is kidding themselves.

    While Jordin is a big enough lump of clay to be good for Clive and pushing mass commercialized music. I don’t see it. Honestly, I have doubts about the commercial viability of any of the finalists. At least Melinda, whom I love and will buy her debut album, can sing and perform. She will have a CAREER.

    The others will have an album or two, maybe.

  • madmike2276

    I hope Melinda sings “And Still” by Reba

    On a funny note, Sanjaya should sing “man, I feel like a woman” by Shania. Heck, not to single him out, it would be funny for ANY of them to sing that.

  • Tracy S

    http://www.amazon.com/Bobbie-Gentry-Greatest-Hits/dp/B000000CXC/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-9708266-1071005?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176425918&sr=1-1

    Little Debbie – Here’s the link for the Bobby Gentry album on Amazon. Under the picture, click “listen to samples” and Ode to Bily Joe is in there.

    I can’t find anything for the Jerry Lee Lewis/Charlie Rich one you were talking about.

    SHANNON — ROFLMAO – Sanjaya with assless chaps !!!!!! Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy. Oh my sides hurt.

    I’d actually like to see Lakisha do Harper Valley PTA. Or Melinda – Melinda has the ability to “tell the story” when she’s singing.

    Sanjaya should sing “How do you like me now” by Toby Keith.

  • panz

    Oooh, I could so definitely see LaKisha doing Harper Valley PTA. You need attitude to do that one.

    Now that brings back memories–Harper Valley PTA was one of the first 45s I ever bought. Oh boy.

  • schmed

    Both Melinda and LaKisha could do very well with Country Week. “Country” and “Soul” both descend from the Blues–they’re both “Roots” music. I’d love to hear either of them sing The Pointer Sisters’ “Fairytale”–a #1 Country hit.

  • colette

    hi — I blew it — was “Ode to Billie JOe” by Bobbi Gentry. Very interesting song, tells a story that you probably couldn’t truncate for TV — here’s Bobbi: (on The Smother Brothers show??)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc

    here’s Cheryl Crow covering it:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFMvpzIhgJQ

    But I really want to hear is “Son of a Preacher Man” — LaKisha could OWN that — here’s Dusty:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhaYayqqGVU

    Couldn’t find a link to the whole version by Aretha — who, by the way, was offered the song first but passed — too close to home, maybe since her dad was a famous minister. But once Dusty had a hit with it, Aretha had to get on it too. Her’s is great, but Dusty’s is best.

  • jokiebird

    Joan Osborne’s cover of “Son of a Preacher Man” is really excellent, too.

  • Shannon

    I would like Jordin to sing Taylor Swift’s “Tim McGraw” for country night. I think she would do it perfectly.

  • dusty

    Anyone who thinks a Blake, Jordin, and for goodness sakes Sanjaya final 3 would be good is kidding themselves.

    madmike–who do you think will be final three?

  • gleinan

    Actually….

    Lionel Richie also went country for awhile with Say You Say Me and if you remember correctly John Michael Montgomery and Kevin Sharp took on the R& B Songs and made them country. I can love you like that and I Swear (John Michael Montgomery) and Nobody Know’s (Kevin Sharp). These songs came at the same time the R& B songs came out on the country charts.

    There are songs that La Kisha, Jordin and Melinda can sing and do well with.