Lazaro Arbos is eliminated. What are you thinking? OF COURSE THE JUDGES DIDN’T SAVE HIM! Bye Laz.
FIVE GUYS IN A ROW. That’s how it went down. The males were picked off one by one this season, until they were gone. A female Top 5. Unprecedented in Idol history. In fact, there has never been a Top 5 comprised all of one gender, period. The closest the show came was the all-female Top 4 of Season 3.
But was it worth it? Idol producers gamed the system to achieve a female winner–the first since Jordin Sparks took the crown in 2007. But in order to ensure that win, the voting rounds were stocked with charisma-free, semi-talented boys. It’s made for a long slog through these rounds and it’s reflected in the ratings, which up until this week (there was a minor tick up) had been in freefall.
I can only be grateful at this point that the cannon fodder (and there was oh so much of it!) is gone, and now we can get down to a real contest. At this point, it’s looking like a Kree Harrison-Candice Glover final two. I would be perfectly fine with that result. I think revealing the Top 2 tonight was another reminder, from the producers, of exactly who deserves to succeed.
I predicted correctly that Lazaro would be leaving the competition tonight. But was wrong about who else would be in the bottom 2. I thought Janelle would be in trouble after a lackluster performance. But kudos to Tinawina who astutely noted in comments that Amber and Candice are probably splitting votes. The surge for Candice’s outstanding performances this week would hurt her. Plus, there was the possibility of voter backlash from Nicki’s bizarre bussing of Janelle during her critique. Our commenters are so smart here!
I’m not surprised Lazaro got the lowest number of votes. His performance Wednesday night was beyond bad. If not the worst in Idol history, then definitely the very worst at this point in the competition. Contestants like Sanjaya, Tim Urban, Jasmine Trias and John Stevens aren’t even comparable at this point. They may have been in over their heads in some respects, but all of them possessed a measure of musicality. John went on to study voice at Berklee for cripes sake! Jasmine sings regularly with a band in Vegas. And, for the most part, they all remembered lyrics and could handle key changes.
Poor Lazaro was just a sob story gone wrong. I mentioned earlier in the season that if Lazaro stuck around in the competition, it was going to get ugly. And indeed it did. There was the pile on from the fans, and the pundits such as myself–plus the judges and mentors. But unprecedented was the way his fellow contestants turned on him via twitter. Reportedly, Curtis Finch (who sent out a super bitchy tweet last night) and Burnell Taylor were literally celebrating when he was cut. Last week, Angie Miller favorited tweets from fans, angry that Burnell was eliminated. It’s going to be awfully uncomfortable on that tour bus this summer.
Lazaro didn’t help himself at all. He was either crying, whining or making excuses for himself. That he couldn’t understand why the judges didn’t praise his second performance on Wednesday shows a deep lack of self-awareness on his part. Still, the TPTB are to blame for advancing him to the voting rounds, knowing full well that he didn’t have the talent, maturity or emotional wherewithal to endure the competition. His inability to learn songs on the fly dogged him throughout the competition. The group round in Hollywood and the Motown trio were practically mirror images. Lazaro couldn’t learn his songs. Group mates tried to help. The kids who knew their parts were sent home. The later debacle should not have been a surprise to the judges or producers.
Will Lazaros’s elimination be good for the show? I’m not so sure. He added an air of unpredictability to a season that’s been all too predictable. Personally, I was kind of enjoying the anticipation of wondering whether he would achieve even higher levels of suckitude. And yes, I feel a little guilty about that. Plus, outrage brings a community together, in a strange sort of way. We’re all going to have to find something else to bond over. Hopefully, it will be great performances in the weeks to come.
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Oohhh. Nicki Minaj says to expect a shocking result! Do you think she knows anything?
On hand in between waiting for those results, will be Kelly Clarkson and Scotty McCreey. The Idol winners will perform their brand new singles.
Hold onto your hats. Here we go.
OH LOOK. Kevin Bacon in the house! His new show, The Followers, is SO creepy.
First up, it’s a medley of Bachrach-David hits. “You’ll Never Get to Heaven,” followed by “I Don’t Know What to Do With Myself,” Oh Yikes. Kree! She’s singing “There’s Always Something There to Remind Me” and she’s off pitch and confused. Of course she’s not even a scintilla as awful as Lazaro Arbos who does his usual schtick. Off key singing? Check. Forgotten lyrics? Check. Off time? DITTO. But to be honest, everybody is pretty much off their game in this medley. YIKES. Please stop singing now. The performance ends with “That’s What Friends Are For,” which Hal David did NOT have a hand in writing. Just so you know! Burt Bacharach wrote it with Carole Bayer Sager.
Burt Bacharach Medley – Top 6 Perform… by IdolxMuzic
It’s time for the Ford Fiesta Mission. The Top 6 play a game with a giant inflatable Soccer Ball. The object is to shove the ball around a field with their Ford Fiestas to score field goals. I was so hoping for a car crash. Amber looked ready to kill somebody. Green car wins!
Ford Fiesta Mission – American Idol 12 (Top 6) by IdolxMuzic
It’s Jimmy Iovine Time. He begins with last week’s Top 3. Kree gave a great vocal performance, but she’s going to have to give more personality in her vocals. Angie did a competent song, but it wasn’t enough to win the night. Lazaro did well for an inexperienced singer. But it was boring. If the band changes key, you better change key with them. He had a chance to redeem himself with “Angels.” He didn’t. Jimmy ranks him 10th. Yes. He knows there are only 6 contestants left. Lazaro tells Ryan that he finds the joke funny.
After the recap, Ryan splits the trio into groups. Kree and Candice are told to stand on one side of the stage. Lazaro is positioned in the middle. Ooh. We’re doing The Huff tonight!. No we’re not. Drat. I know it wouldn’t have worked with an even number. But I would have liked to see the producers try. Ryan is splitting the group into pairs.
In the meantime, Scotty McCreery takes the stage to sing his new single “See You Tonight.” First, a recap of his Idol journey and beyond. Some would say he’s just a small town boy! Now he’s a student at North Carolina State University, while performing music on the weekends.
Janelle Arthur is next. Jimmy likes when she interprets songs and makes them her own. She didn’t do that last night. Candice Glover is leading this thing right now, even just based on “Don’t Make Me Over.” He wants to make records with her immediately. Amber Holcomb looked like the entire package last night. He doesn’t understand why America doesn’t get her. He tells her not to change a thing.
Janelle is told to stand with Angie, Candice with Kree and Amber with Lazaro. Ryan explains that the groups represent the top 2, middle 2, and bottom 2. Right about now, Amber must have a sinking feeling that she’s in trouble.
Awww… Kelly Clarkson is next, to debut her new single, “People Like Us.” Vintage footage of her with Ryan and Brian Dunkleman. MEMORIES. OMG. That top she made out of tied dyes jeans. So adorable. The first, the original. IT’S KELLY CLARKSON. Mariah makes her way to the stage afterward to say HI. The two had been tweeting each other earlier. Kelly hoping she wouldn’t suck in front of Mariah–the Diva replying with a “You are #pow.” IF Mariah were her judge, says Kelly, she would have puked. The ensuing conversation is awkward and adorable. Kelly is really star struck!
Time for reveals. Kree and Candice are in the Top 2. No surprises there. Amber and Lazaro are in the Bottom 2. Angie and Janelle are safe. Not really a surprise either. Don’t worry Amber. The judges will save you if you’re eliminated. 34 million votes have decided that Lazaro Arbos is eliminated. Amber walks back to her seat, crying. Lazaro sings “Feeling Good” as his Save Me Song. They should just say NO without putting him through this. MARIAH IS CRYING? What the hell? Randy is laughing. Laz is pitchy and terrible as always. But at least he knows the words and stays on key.
Of course, they are not going to use the save.
Kree Harrison and Candice Glover are on one side of the stage. – TOP 2
Angie Miller and Janelle Arthur are on the other. –MIDDLE 2
Lazaro Arbos and Amber Holcomb in the middle – BOTTOM 2
Results
Results & Final Elimination – American Idol 12… by IdolxMuzic
