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« The Great American Idol Blog
Paula Names Her Picks for Idol's Final Four
Paula Abdul courtesy Fox
As the Idol clock ticks toward the end of the road for the contestants, the stakes grow higher with each passing week. Paula Abdul, though, already has her sights set on the final moments. In an appearance Tuesday on the Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, she makes some big predictions: Abdul names Carly Smithson, David Archuleta, David Cook and Michael Johns as her picks for this year's final four.
Abdul's interview, which will air April 1, not only sheds some light on what she's really thinking about the Idol hopefuls, but also reveals how she approaches her criticism and comments after each performance. "I try to give them something they can hold onto," she explains. "[I try to] leave them with grace and dignity... and back it up with constructive criticism."
Will her advice help usher her picks to the final four spots this season? Would you pick the same top four? Get writing and weigh in! — Anna Dimond
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Mar 31, 2008 5:02 PM
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Hopefully Jason Castro will have some good weeks and make it that far. He's my favorite.
For some reason I can't figure out, everyone seems to love brooke, so I wouldn't be surprised if she makes it to the top 4 instead of carly. I don't think Carly or Michael have a shot at winning. Does america really want a non-american idol?
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Mar 31, 2008 6:00 PM
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I have to say I agree with Paula. In response to Leah's comment though, some of our most memorable rockers are from other countries...The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, U2, Elton John and the list goes on and on.
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Mar 31, 2008 6:43 PM
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Calling Michael and Carly "non-Americans" is severely ignorant and borderline racist. Just because they aren't from Alabama doesn't make them any less American. They both live and work in the US and pay taxes in the US and as far as I know, both came to this country legally. Kelly Clarkson has Greek ancestry. Ruben Studdard was actually born in Germany because his dad was in the Army. Should we take away his AI victory? (yes, because he's overrated, but that's another story). Anyway, both Michael and Carly would make great American Idol winners, although my money is still on David Cook.
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Mar 31, 2008 6:55 PM
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I think Michael Johns is not good enough. Brooke White should be the fourth.
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Mar 31, 2008 6:56 PM
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I could care less what nationality or heritage the winner has. Why should it matter? Most music that's endured over the years came from non-Americans.
Whoever makes it to the top four, it's going to be one hell of a contest. I think once we get rid of Syesha, Kristy, and Ramiele, it's going to be quite a fight.
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Mar 31, 2008 7:10 PM
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Eh, Smithson isn't popular enough. Great voice, but she's not inspiring the kind of following she needs.
It'll be Brooke White in the 4th slot.
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Mar 31, 2008 8:25 PM
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Hey Leah. Don't call people idiots. It really pisses them off. Especially when you're asking them to not call you things.
Wikipedia says: "Carly Smithson was born in Dublin, Ireland to Luke Hennessy and Mary Murray. She grew up in Dublin. When she was 14, she moved to the United States."
It also says, "Johns was born in Perth, Western Australia to his parents John William (Bill) Lee and Janet Lee Burke (married to John Burke). He is the youngest of 3 siblings and a half-sibling [1]. He moved to the United States from Australia in 1998 and lived in Atlanta, Georgia for six years."
So, do tell, what exactly would you ask of these people? To go to a country they haven't lived in for years to sing on a talent show? Seriously?
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Mar 31, 2008 8:26 PM
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Yep, Carly and Michael could easily be swapped out for Jason and Brooke. I think people find them more appealing than Carly, and Michael hasn't had many great performances. However, it's kinda early to be making these predictions, since there are still 9 contestants left. I think those 6 are definitely the best, but it depends on how well they do in the next couple of weeks. That could change everything.
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Mar 31, 2008 8:33 PM
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Leave Leah alone and please don't pull the racist comments when talking about 2 really white people. I think she has a point if the title of the show is American I think the winner should be an American citizen. I like Michael Johns a lot and I really don't care if one of them could win but Leah has a point and should be able to say what she thinks. We don't need to jump down each others throats.
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Mar 31, 2008 11:43 PM
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my picks would be david cook, carly smithson, brooke white & michael johns. those are the 4 i think should go to the top...however, david a has the teenybopper vote & will probably win or get 2nd place...yuck. he's somewhat talented (not to the extent of david cook or carly in the slightest) but i am sooo over him. i think the winner will definitely be between the davids...unless something crazy happens!
and by the way, michael johns & carly smithson ARE american citizens! i'm pretty sure that is a requirement anyway. but they are both married to american citizens @ the very least...and if they lived here anyway, maybe they were citizens to begin w/. so they are just as deserving to be crowned american idol. it isnt called american-born idol...so if they are citizens, then they are eligible to compete. and why the heck are people always finding reasons to hate carly...she's not american, she had a recording contract etc etc... brooke had a recording contract too & she has plenty of fans & i never read people bashing her. it so reminds me of when people bashed kat mcphee...clearly people bash others they are jealous of for 1 reason or another, be it god given talent or beauty or whatever.
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Apr 1, 2008 1:12 AM
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Apart from native Americans, most American citizens today are descendants of people who moved to North America from other parts of the world, and Carly and Michael are no different.
Carly and Michael ARE Americans.
They came to America legally, they live on American soil, they are married to American citizens, they pay taxes to the United States of America, and they have every right to win "American Idol."
Whether or not they deserve to win in terms of their talent and how that talent compares to other contestants is what the voting public should concern themselves with, not their ancestry.
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Apr 1, 2008 1:41 AM
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Brooke White will be there...I actually think the final two will be a Brooke White/David Cook showdown...no way Carly or Michael Johns make it final two and David A. will burn out as well.
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Apr 1, 2008 5:27 AM
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Right on justinvdk! We're voting for their talent, not for their place of birth. AND they wouldn't have made it on to American Idol if they weren't American citizens, so where they were born has no bearing on anything. That said, I agree with Paula's choices, but I feel Brooke should be there too - maybe not in place of one of the others - but maybe it's because for me there is a "top 5". I like Jason, and he IS cute, but I don't think he has the same staying power as the others, nor the lung capacity. Think he'll make it on his own, but don't think he'll be an AI winner. Though AI voters have proven me wrong before! At least there's no Sanjaya in the group!!
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Apr 1, 2008 8:16 AM
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I can't have a problem with non-Americans winning just due to the fact that if one of the judges can be British, why can't one of the contestants be Australian?
But what's with the attempts to say that not wanting Smithson or Johns to win because of their nationality is "borderline racist"? Does everything have to be about race these days? More importantly, do you realize there's a difference between race and nationality? Racism is a harsh word so try to only use it when it actually applies.
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Apr 1, 2008 8:53 AM
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