AMERICAN IDOL: Carly Smithson goes home
When Ryan Seacrest announced Wednesday that golden-throated Carly Smithson was the bottom vote-getter on "American Idol" this week, your first reaction probably was "Whoa, what?!"
But, hold on. Was it really a surprise?
OK, I know I picked Jason Castro to exit, while my colleague Donald Munro hoped for either Jason or Brooke White. Both just plain stunk Tuesday night when the contestants tackled the demanding compositions of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Jason destroyed "Memory," a classic song for big-voiced divas. Brooke flatlined on "You Must Love Me."
What we were reminded of Wednesday, however, is that a contestant's longevity is greatly rooted in the fan base that he or she develops. Jason has his teeny-boppers. Brooke has a brigade of admirers who think she's as endearing as sunshine. With 38 million votes cast, neither one was even in the Bottom 2.
Carly? She apparently never really built a sizable fan squad and was left out in the cold. Well, at least you can catch her on the just announced 2008 AI Tour featuring the Top 10 finalists -- It stops in Fresno on July 3 at the Save Mart Center.
UPDATE: Read what Donald has to say about Wednesday's results after the jump.
Donald says: What can I say, Felicia? I guess we all knew "American Idol" wasn't so much a talent competition as a popularity contest, but after last night's debacle, I think a better description would be freak show. The secret to making it through to the next round, at least for Jason Castro and Brooke White: 1) Screw up; 2) sing poorly; 3) get all aw-shucks about it. And you'll sail through.
What happened? Brooke and Jason both have massive blocs of voters, it would appear, who will vote for them despite substandard performances. (Or perhaps because of them.) I'm kind of hoping they'll go all the way to the finals. That's when "American idol" will become a true comedy.
Felicia continues: I'll just add this, Donald. Carly's exit was made sadder by her moment of self-revelation before she was ousted. She said she had spent too much time picking songs to showcase her singing ability and neglected finding songs that were fun. But this week, she loosened up with a high-wattage performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar." She promised to use that approach in the shows to come.
Oops. So much for the light bulb finally blinking on over her head. What have I been saying for weeks? That Carly was showing off her voice, rather than connecting emotionally with songs ... not to mention she was picking tunes ill-suited to her ample gift of a voice.
By the way, Wednesday's other bottom-dweller? Syesha Mercado. And, barring unforeseen circumstances, she's going home next. She sang a spirited version of "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many." But her personality is kind of ho-hum ... which tells me she doesn't have much of a fan base either.
Next week, the final 5 will be mentored by Neil Diamond. After dealing with challenging Broadway songs, the Diamond songbook will be a return to pop form on AI -- and a chance for someone besides the two Davids to shine.
Comments:
I'm pretty much done with AI.
Last year = Sanjaya
This year = Brooke
Miserable.
Posted by: Stephen at April 23, 2008 11:30 PM
My first reaction to hearing she was leaving? GOOD! I didn't like her.
Posted by: Ernie at April 24, 2008 8:08 AM
More from Donald: I'm just wondering, Felicia, what Jason and Brooke would have to do to get sent home. If Brooke collapsed in fear and started writhing on stage, would voters get the message? If Jason fell asleep and didn't sing, would he advance to the next round? I guess I can understand Jason's voting bloc: teeny-boppers who think he's goofy and charming. But how to explain Brooke's support? Is it simply because she's so "nice"? I'd like to hear from some Brooke voters out there, especially, and tell us: WHY?
I agree that Syesha is gone next. And think about what that means: Both Brooke and Jason will be in the final four, and one of them will be in the FINAL THREE. At least Sanjaya didn't get this far last year.
Posted by: Donald Munro at April 24, 2008 8:35 AM
Heeeeyyyyy! Watch it, haters. I voted for Sanjaya!
This isn't "American Singer" this is "American Idol." US AI fans are voting for someone that Heather-like people can rip apart in their blogs. Carly-the-Carnie was too easy.
However, [with a Mr. Burns twiddle] Eunuch Archuleta with his StageMom Dad and dumb-as-dirt virginal good looks is a ringer. We'll get him a recording contract, $1 million dollars and then watch his writhe as he showcases his Dove Awards and hides his ???.
Maybe I vote for the wrong reasons. {shrug}
Posted by: Tom at April 24, 2008 9:39 AM
Donald, maybe you can take solace in this: Neither Jason nor Brooke is going to win this thing. The producers know that would be the kiss of death for their money-making franchise. They couldn't afford the embarrassment and won't let it happen.
It's going to be a David vs. David final. (Did you see how the show niftily presented them as the first pair on Wednesday's results show? What a tease.) That's what everybody wants to see ... and it will be the first all-male final since Ruben and Clay in Season 2.
Posted by: felicia matlosz at April 24, 2008 10:04 AM
Tom, the irony of you telling the "haters" to watch it and then turning around and hating on me is only slightly less ridiculous than you calling out "Heather-like people" who "rip apart" people on blogs and then calling one of the AI singers - on a blog, no less - "Eunuch Archuleta with his StageMom Dad and dumb-as-dirt virginal good looks."
Posted by: Heather at April 24, 2008 10:35 AM
I vote for Brooke because I like her. She is a decent person and we need more people like her in hollywood. It kills you liberals to see that.
Posted by: Trudy at April 24, 2008 11:27 AM
OMG, are you really going to make me say this?!?!
Heather, I'm a Heather-fan... not a Heather-hater.
I love what you do and how you do it.
"Heather-like" = Celebrity-critique bloggers
There's a lot of Internet-text out there, as you know. Only the stuff that pushes further than regular print stuff gets read. Your verbose vim and vigor would get read as incendiary on A1 but gets praised on a URL.
I'm not getting kicked out of your fan club that easily.
Posted by: Tom at April 24, 2008 1:57 PM
Dammit, Tom. I've limited myself to unleashing my vitriol on just one commenter per day. I can't believe I wasted it on someone who wasn't even being mean!
There's a Beehive commenter out there who owes you big time.
Posted by: Heather at April 24, 2008 2:06 PM
Thank you Tom. Today, i can say what I want about "Heather" and those like her. Hmmmmm, where do I start..........?
Posted by: katbon at April 24, 2008 5:03 PM
I predicted Carly would go home, despite having a great performance. It's too bad because she was finally starting to look like she was having fun.
For the record, I have heard from self-professed Jason Castro voters who are not teeny-boppers who honestly believe he is a great singer. To each his own, I suppose.
Trudy I have nothing against Brooke as a person, she seems perfectly delightful. However, her singing is an affront to my eardrums.
It's also become increasingly obvious the leading vote-getter is David Cook as he has been the last performer in 75% of the shows and that can't just be the luck of the draw.
Posted by: Jason at April 24, 2008 6:52 PM
Listening to Carly's performance of Jesus Christ Susper Star was painful. I love that musical. I had to listen to the soundtrack this morning to drown the memory of her screeching it out of my brain.
Not sorry to see her go. The show has losts its charm for me this season. Now I DVR it and fast forward to anything that is ok to listen to and pass up the attempts at humor and the "star" performances.
What is it with the theme nights? To be an "Idol" do you really have to sing show tunes and Neil Diamond songs well? Can't they have Modonna, U2 or Rolling Stones nights if we have to listen to a "theme" and use real star power? This is the last season of AI for me.
Posted by: Geanie at April 24, 2008 9:23 PM
Careful, Kathy. Once you say something nasty about me you become "Heather-like," and that fall from the pedestal is a long, painful one.
Posted by: Heather at April 25, 2008 8:30 AM
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