In This Section
|
« American Idol
April 18, 2007: Now That's What I'm Talking About!
Before I give away too much for those of you who haven’t watched the results show and haven’t heard the news — and obviously live in a vacuum, because this news will be everywhere — let's just say that Ryan walked past the Idols as he does every Wednesday and looked at Sanjy when he asked the fateful question, “Is your favorite safe?”
But first, Simon and the “eye-roll” warranted commentary from he, himself. He broke his rule never to discuss press frenzies, not wanting to be thought of as that guy who finds tragedy worth ridiculing. And my how they went on about it. They spent more time explaining what actually happened on the show last night than they did making any intelligible or coherent comment the night before about the VT tragedy. Ryan told Simon that if he did less talking and more listening, we would not have to spend so much time reviewing the tapes to see what really happened.
Ryan announced the kids would sing “I’m Alright” and I thought he meant the “I’m Alright, don’t nobody worry ‘bout me,” Kenny Loggins tune made famous in Caddyshack. I was seriously worried. Thank God he meant a completely different song I have never heard. However, and none of you are allowed to hold this against me, I actually didn’t mind the kids' sing-along this week. When there were less mouths to listen to, I thought it actually worked all right. The harmonies were nice, nothing too tricky, but they did sound good together.
Then we had to watch them talk about all the music they are listening to these days. Ho-hum. Melinda said she was listening to some gospel, because she had to “get her Jesus on.”
Then they made us sit through Fergie, and why? Can we talk for a moment about her accessory choices? What were those huge things on her arm? And what was up with the top that shouted “maternity wear"? I found myself waiting for her to take a Heather Mills fall right off those 5” heels. It’s not that she doesn’t have a decent voice, but the song seemed so meaningless. I did not know what it was about. It was nonsensical.
I caught the last few seconds of the shameless Ford commercial with the kids singing “I Ran.” And I thought, are they singing a Flock of Seagulls song? And sure enough, they were. What will they think of next, a-ha?
Then on to the self-promoting bull-donkey. It is really nice to have your own show so you can advertise your other shows on it. Then the flash of: POP. MUSIC. HISTORY. Very self-aggrandizing, if you ask me.
Finally, the split… Sanjaya to the (stage) right, Phil to the left — interesting….
Jordin to the left, LaKisha to the right — hmmmm….
Chris to the left and Blake to the right — wow!
And Melinda stuck in the middle with Ryan. He quickly told Melinda she was safe, like we had to worry about that. Then he made her look at both groups and decide who was going home. Jordin mouthed the words “I’m sorry,” but to whom? To Melinda? Or to the losers on the right side of the stage? Melinda stood mortified with Sophie’s Choice in her hands and beautifully chose not to choose and sat on the floor in the middle of the stage. Good move, sister.
Ryan told her she couldn’t sit there and she should join the kids on the left of the stage, which meant they were all safe. Thank goodness — I clapped because even Chris was safe.
Ryan tortured the bottom three by asking the judges what they thought. Randy was surprised by Blake’s presence in the bottom three, but he was lousy this week, so I was not surprised. After Paula gushed with pride over the losers, she said, “I understand why two of you are up there,” which is rude for her. Simon offered, “I’m beginning to sense something here,” and obviously thought Blake and LaKisha would be safe. Well, we wouldn't find out for another 20 minutes!
Ryan made a joke stretching out American Idol with his hands as he said it. Then we had to watch the kids go to DreamWorks to watch Shrek the Third. Really? This is just another commercial within the show — talk about product placement. It’s gross. The only interesting part of that segment was when Ryan spoke to Antonio Banderas in the audience and, having no clue what Mr. Banderas had just said, Ryan responded, “That’s exciting!”
Finally, the week’s mentor, Martina McBride came out to sing. Although she was wearing far too much blush and was sporting an extremely non-country-music-looking outfit, she really impressed me. She sang the words “dream it, anyway” directly to the Idols and connected with them and the audience. The song was inspirational and I believed her, which is more than I can say for some of the other performers this season.
OK, congrats to anyone who made it this far, and let me stretch out the recap as much as Ryan stretched out the entire show. Ryan, Martina and her daughter Emma sent Blake straight back to the safety zone while Sanjy and LaKiki grasped each other not knowing the verdict. Drumroll please… 38 million voters agreed: "Sanjaya, you’re going home." Can I get a witness? And I started to just cheer and then I thought, “how completely mean, Paula. I mean, here’s this 17-year-old kid who’s worked just as hard…." And then I stopped myself and decided I wasn’t that nice! Finally! America, you heard my pleas! Sanjaya closed the show for the last time and sang, “Let’s give ‘em something to talk about other than hair!” Now we’ve got a serious competition!
Next week, no mentor, per se, but two days of Idol Gives Back. So, enjoy the rest of the week, because next week is gonna be interesting!
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 2:37 AM
|
The National Nightmare is Over!!!!
I guess my votes for Melinda and Jordin meant something this time.
Does anyone else get the feeling that Kiki either isn't excited to be there or just doesn't have much of a personality?
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 2:52 AM
|
I did feel bad for lil' Sanyjay; he's just a kid and he seemed crushed.
that said, YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 2:53 AM
|
Well, I am glad that Sanjaya finally got the boot. I just had a feeling that he was going tonight. I think his singing performance really hurt him this week. We can finally concentrate on the competition rather than the side show Sanjaya had become.
I wasn't surprised that Lakisha was down in the bottom 3. A little surprised that Blake was. I never thought he was in a jeopardy though. I groaned when I figured that Ryan was going to do the choose the right group routine with Melinda. I am glad that she didn't pick one because in years past contestants did in fact do that.
The show really spent quite a bit of time on the Simon controversy. They even threw in different camera angles and audio to back up Simon's claims. Glad that crisis is over. Jeez.
Surprised you didn't say one of the funniest lines Paula. That would be when Ryan was trying to talk to Martina and her daughter answered him. She then proceeded to compliment the bottom 3 contestants. Ryan called her Paula. Very funny stuff.
I do have to ask one thing. Was that one of the hippies from Amazing Race that Ryan talked to outside? It sure looked like one of them.
It is going to heat up now. I think Chris will go next. Like it or not, I do think he got some sympathy votes for what happened at VT and the verbal sparring from Simon. And Lakisha does seem to be dragging the last few weeks. I believe she is really missing spending time with her child. She was once a favorite. Now she may not even make the top 4 or 5. Interesting development.
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 3:15 AM
|
|
The group song was bearable this week because there was no cheesy dance moves or hand gestures involved.
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 5:26 AM
|
Im glad that Sanjaya is gone, but when they showed him crying I felt sorry for the kid. But I do gotta give him credit, he did handle this controversy like a pro. But I do gotta mention this....his hair tonight...I had that style at my sisters wedding back in '05.
Anyway, was I the only felt that Simon was about to tear up? It sounded like he was about to cry right on spot.
Im proud of Melinda for sitting on the floor like that. I hate it when they make one of safe contestants choose like that. They did that in S3 with George and in S4 with Bo. All they need to do is just pull the bottom 3 out,and thats that.
Next week will be interesting....very interesting 2 hours. This be worth the 2 hours.
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 5:57 AM
|
|
(Sung to the Wizard of Oz's wicked witch theme) DING DONG, SANJAYA IS GONE!!! SANJAYA IS GONE!! SANJAYA IS GONE!! DING DONG, THE HORRIBLE SINGER IS GONE!! Last night's results just goes to show how irrelevant the supporters of votefortheworst.com and Howard Stern are to the results of this show. Then to see Sanjaya ball like a baby during his recap of the show was PATHETIC! The good news now is that the regulars of this board won't have to deal with jules and john_c11 anymore. As stated yesterday, Jordin is the one who has the most marketability out of the remaining contestants, so she is the front runner right now.
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 6:13 AM
|
|
I just have to say prayers can be answered!!! Granted, I would have liked them to be answered about 12 weeks ago. This kid shouldn't have even been in the top 40! And what about all those that have fallen in the wake of Hurrican Sanjaya??? First poor AJ, then Sundance, ok I was fine with Brandon leaving, then Stephanie, Chris S. wasn't a huge loss, but Gina G certainly was, and then I didn't shed a tear for Haley. So maybe Sanjaya helped get rid of some of those I wasn't excited about but honestly they could have stayed as long as I didn't have to go through one more week of horrific hairstyles and sub-par karaoke! Well at least it's all over and now the real competition can begin!
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 6:29 AM
|
I worked last night so didn't get to watch this until this morning, at least I was able to fast forward through most of it.
I was suprised Blake was in the bottom 3, but as others have said it wasn't his best performance last week. He was increadible with "Time for the season" several weeks ago, but really hasn't done anything near that level since then.
I thought for sure Lakisha was going home tonight, you could tell she thought so too by the look on her face. But suprise, suprise when Sanjaya gets the boot. I threw my arms up in the air and cheered, which scared my cat half to death as it went running. Unless she really performs next week, she is probably going home. I know she can sing better than Blake, Chris or Phil, but she has not been able to pick the right song for her talents yet.
I think the coasting by is over now that Sanjaya is gone. Melinda and Jordan are relatively safe for awhile, but Chris, Blake, Phil and Lakisha really need to impress this next week. If Lakisha manages to find the right song and one of them has a horrid week it could be any of them. Although I would still put the odds with Lakisha going home next week.
At least it will really start getting interesting now.
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 7:31 AM
|
Sanjaya is a strong kid. He took the brunt of our jokes about his singing. I was very disappointed that the audience started cheering. He wasn't the worst singer in AI history. The chick that talked like Barbara Strisands from season 4, Chicken Little, etc. Trust me on this, Sanjaya is going to be big because little girls like him. Plus he will be on the tour, so you haven't heard the last of him. Now the shows is going to be boring because you want have him or his many hairstyles to talk about.
Now it's time for Chris R, Blake and Phil to go. JORDIN FOR THE WIN
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 7:40 AM
|
I was happy to see Sanjaya get voted out but my joy soon turned to sadness when I saw the poor boy crying during his recap. How mean of Howard Stern and Voteforthe worst.com to keep this poor boy on for so long!!! I think he actually believed that he was a great singer because of them and had his dreams shattered. Lakisha looked happy to be in his group and probably thought they were safe since he has never been in the bottom three.
I liked the group number and Martina McBride's song. I thought it was great when Martina said Ryan's usual "We'll find out after the break". I'm sure it was probably rehersed that way, but Ryan did a good job of looking surprised.
Am I the only one looking forward to next week being over so we don't have to hear Ryan hype the "Idols give back" show anymore? It sounds like it could be a good show and should get ratings by itself without all the self promotion.
Chris and Lakisha need to bring it next week or they're time will come to an end.
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 7:44 AM
|
I thought that was one of the hippies that Ryan talked to as well. I would love to know for sure. I was not ready for Lakisha to leave and I was really afraid that was going to happen. Finally, Sanjaya is gone and I will not have to mute my tv the entire time he is on stage.
So next week will the idols not sing?
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 7:51 AM
|
I'm so glad someone (missed your name sorry) mentioned one of the hippies from The Amazing Race. My husband and I were SURE that was Tyler as well. Which makes it a much funnier clip to me- since I remember his sarcasm. And WHY weren't they on the All-Stars version?
Anyway, back to subject- All I can say is WHOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 7:51 AM
|
I'm not sure what was funnier, Sanjaya singing "...other than hair," or Antonio Banderas saying that Shrek 3 opens in June when the movie poster that they just showed 5 seconds prior clearly said May 18.
I was a little surprised it was Blake and not ChRis in the bottom 3, but the Top 3 was clearly Jordin, Melinda and Phil, so it wasn't criminal that he was there.
As for the Idol Gives Back, here are some ideas for the mystery duet: Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, Michael Jackson and Madonna (both are big children's charities supporters, and both have been rumored to be on AI before,) or Bono and Paul McCartney (both are big on raising money for Africa.)
I hope they can bring back the other Idol winners like Reuben, Fantasia and Taylor since Carrie and Kelly will both be there. In fact, I hope they bring back as many former contestants as possible and have them perform, or have them helping with the hosting duties of the show, or show them working with charities, or just sitting in the audience. Here are some other fun Idol duet possibilities:
Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler
Josh Gracin and Bucky
Chris Daughtry and Bo Bice
Nikki McKibbin and Gina
Constantine and Gina
Tamyra Gray and Latoya London
Mandisa and Lakisha
Elliott and Clay
Katherine McPhee and Kelly Clarkson
Justin Guarini and Jordin Sparks
Kim Locke and Melinda
I'm really looking forward to next week, the rumor is that the theme is Disco...could be fun! ~ÐL
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 8:00 AM
|
Watching Sanjaya cry at the news of his ouster, I remembered he is just a 17-year-old kid. Ah the innocence of youth, when you can believe you are the best just because you want it to be so. One thing is for sure - we haven't seen the last of young Sanjaya. I hope he is smart enough to get good advice from people who care.
I thought it was nice that Simon wanted to clear up that his reaction from Tuesday night was not meant to disrespect the VT students or their families. Then it had to degenerate into banter between him and Ryan. Geez. Maybe they did miss the point after all.
I liked the group number. It was easy and fun. They seem to get along together really well.
After 10 seconds of Fergie I concluded it wasn't for me so I switched to the White Sox (yay Mark Buehrle!)
So glad it was Melinda who had to pick a group, because you knew she of all people would not pick. I too was surprised to see Blake in the bottom 3. But then Chris probably got some sympathy votes from people who thought Simon dissed him for the wrong reasons, and Blake did get decidedly mixed reviews right here on this blog. After seeing the replay of Chris's comment "nasally is a style of singing - I don't know if you knew that," I do have to say the boy deserved a spanking, if not the bottom 3.
I agree LaKisha doesn't show much emotional range. If you have a personality now is the time to show it, baby. Phil might surprise everybody and pull out another strong performance.
I also agree the self-promotion was over the top last night. If next week is all about AI giving back, well this week was more like AI and Disney taking everything they could grab.
With Sanjaya gone it would be nice to think we are settling down to have a real singing competition now. I'm sure next week will be crazy. (Seems like they might even forget there IS a competition next week.) Maybe after that.
|
|
Apr 19, 2007 8:08 AM
|
|
|
