Does Anybody Really Care?
(Here’s the results show recap from Howard!)
American Idol Season 8, Top 9 Elimination
After a performance show that was so fraught with mediocre and bad performances, I go into this show not having a clue about who is going home tonight. So I am starting from the reverse - who I think should be safe. I think Kris had the strongest performance of the night, and is safe. Adam and Danny are still safe with their frontrunner status. Lil, although faltering thus far, will maintain the diva position and be safe, at least for the time being. That leaves 5 others working their way to the bottom
Actually, I think Allison should be safe, except for the decision of the judges to worry much more about her outfit than about the fine job she did with the song. And there are only 3 women left, so will splitting the 'girl-singer' votes keep them safe? And what does that say about Megan? Can she escape the bottom 3 with yet another hideous performance? That leaves 3 gentlemen; Scott, who got the approval of the judges even though it was so dated and piano-bar I was stunned; Matt, who wants to be Chris Martin when he grows up, even if everyone around him is saying it will never happen while seeming to be a wounded puppy; and Anoop, who had the dreaded first spot with a forgettable performance and a side of attitude.
Truthfully, if it is based on performance, Megan should be packing her bags, but we all remember far too many who have long overstayed their welcome. Scott sang the equivalent of 'God Bless The USA' with his sappy 'Just The Way You Are,' and should escape the bottom. Matt and Anoop might not be so lucky. If they hit the seal, who will join them? Will it be Megan, or might Allison be victimized by the judges seeming misplaced assertion that they were on Project Runway and not AI? And who will be the old man singing a lustf-illed duet with a poor, unfortunate young lady?
Recap of last night, the good, the bad and the ugly[judges]. Spotlights on an empty stage, with Ryan saying the tag 'This...is American Idol.' kinda funny, really. The votes were over 36 million strong. Tonight, Lady Gaga and David Cook will be singing 'live.'
Randy lectures about song choice - and how some didn't do that well. Kara talks about being heckled, and being here to do a job. Paula, it is about knowing who you are and having the confidence and conviction. Adam is an example, but they all can have it. Simon thinks Anoop, Matt and Megan should be worried.
The Ford video is like too much like the opening of Ugly Betty. The are singing Mixed. Then quickly on to Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing' with Kris and Allison on the lead. They move on so others can solo, and keep Scott behind the piano to prevent movement. Of course, none of this is live. And when we see Adam, is it the EMO, not the Elvis, persona we see.
Crusty calls the troops to order, and starts assigning groups: Stage Left is Matt, Megan and Kris; Center: Adam, Lil and Allison; Right: Scott, Danny and Anoop.
Who is safe, and which group is bottom 3? Wow, that is not a group that was expected, unless some team trading is about to happen. Will Megan or Allison trade places with Gokey or will Anoop or Allison trade with Kris? Or will it be a shocker in the bottom grouping?
Now they bring back the reigning American Idol, David Cook. I will spare him the review 'cause he had enough of that last season I am sure, except for the not digging the dangly brooch on the jacket pocket? He sang 'Come Back To Me,' his latest single released today, I think.
Kris is first up and he is safe. Matt is up next. He is safe. There goes my AI pools. Megan next. How did she feel about the critique? 'I love you Simon but I don't care.' She then does a weird bird-walk to the stools of punishment. Lil is safe, so the kid thing worked. Allison up next. And she is in the bottom 3. Adam is of course safe. Gokey next, and he is also safe. That leaves Scott and Anoop. Randy thinks Scott is safe, and Anoop agrees, showing some humility [thank the producers, A-Dawg]. And Scott is safe, and Anoop completes the bottom. Lady Gaga is up next, singing 'Poker Face.'
Suffice it to say I don't hold strong love for Lady Gaga. The performance is a bit of a hot mess. Now we can move on. Well, after we get the news from Simon that out of the bottom 3, there is one face worth saving. Is it Allison? Or is it Anoop? It can't be Megan, can it?
Back from the break, and Allison gets sent back to safety. Crusty specifically says these are the two people with the lowest number of votes. But Megan has the lowest. The judges will not even contemplate the save. Simon gets the shot in at the end, as always. Megan takes mic before the video, and thanks everyone at Idol, tell the other contestants they are the greatest, tells the judges she loves them, and almost cries when she says tells her baby she is coming home. She had a blast.