Is there anything more excruciating than watching American Idol’s elimination episodes? The phoned-in questions! The phoned-in attempts to stretch out the Idol ad inventory by pummeling the audience with medleys, rehashing the things that everyone already saw, and endlessly previewing “Idol Gives Back”! While there are some useful moments on these episodes–like finding out that Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, Mariah Carey, and, uh, Andrew Lloyd Webber will be serving as mentors this season–all the business done within could be done in way, way less than an hour. But that’s an old complaint. Here’s a new one: Amanda Overmyer went home in lieu of Kristy Lee Cook, who skated by on her “only countryish artist in the whole group” charm for the second straight week, despite being one of the weakest performers from the whole top 24, let alone the finalists.
It’s not all that surprising–after Tuesday’s performance episode I read the comments on Ken Barnes’ Idol Chatter over at USA Today’s site, and the commenters there, who are probably a bit more representative of the Idol-voting public than the people over here (no offense, obv) disliked Kristy, but they really had their knives out for Amanda, who was a) weird b) atonal c) did I mention weird? Not to mention that the younger part of the Idol voting public wasn’t even alive when the USSR was an actual international entity, so they were probably bewildered by what Amanda was going on about during her song Tuesday.
But I’m starting to wonder if Kristy is Teflon enough to withstand a few more eliminations. If Carly was in the bottom three, is no female safe? Will Kristy really be the last woman standing because she has the sympathies of the country-loving crowd and the blonde-girl-loving crowd? I can actually see it happening, although I suspect that all the remaining females will be eliminated before one more guy goes home.
(Side note: Did anyone catch how, immediately after being told that she was safe, Kristy launched into an extended “I’m so sorry routine” to Amanda, who stifled a smile and told her more firmly than politely to take her place on the couch with the Top 10? For some reason the utter high schoolness of the whole exchange–winsome Kristy pouring the saccharine all over misfit Amanda, who was not having a minute of it–made me want to squirm on Amanda’s behalf.)
Anyway, here’s to you, Amanda, for injecting something at least a little interesting, if not always in tune, into the Idol proceedings. Next time you play a bar in New York, let me know, because the whiskey’s on me.
At the risk of sounding spiteful, I loved this outcome. We’ve been hating Amanda’s vocals - and, indeed, diction - for weeks now. And while Kristy is the most fundamentally limited performer in the top 12, I think she got beaten up overmuch for that “Eight Days a Week” performance last week, and whatever her limitations she’s definitely less excruciating to sit through than Amanda virtually any week.
Finally, Carly in the bottom three? GOOD. I’m not enough of a hater to wish her off the show quite yet, but she deserved a bit of comeuppance after all the weeks she’d been coasting while the judges slobbered all over her. Besides, if you’re a Carly fan (and I am not, but…), this will only make her stronger; and remember, winner Fantasia spent a week or three in the bottom three.
My next wish: Michael Johns in the bottom three. Hell, Michael Johns off. The omigod-he’s-so-hot vote can’t propel him forever.
I’ll miss Amanda. Though she was very limited in her range and style, she was one of the few of the top 24 who seemed to have a real, non-manufactured personality.
Also, am I the only one who thought Kellie Pickler was…pretty good last nite? I was no fan during her time on the show, but she seems to have found her niche, and she’s caught her stride. I may actually pick up that record.
Also, NO ONE here has yet commented on the travesty that was that “music video” last nite? Idol defiles THE CLASH and we just let it sail right over our heads???
Tsk, tsk…
P.S. Among the celebrities who have signed on to “Idol Gives Back” is “three-time Grammy winner Fergie”. No word yet on whether she’ll perform or just appear in a bumper.
Yeah, I would’ve been happy with either Kristy or Amanda leaving this week, so I’m not in any way disappointed with the results. The thing that bothered me most about Amanda, even more than her one-trick voice, was how she rushed through every performance like she couldn’t wait to get backstage again and sit by herself in the corner. She’s like a robot version of Melissa Etheridge.
I think Carly’s blouse put her in the bottom three. Either that or the fact that it was covered with Randy’s slobber.
Did anyone else notice how Ramiele’s mike wasn’t on during her part with Brooke during the little opening Beatles evil torture medley?
They must be keeping Christy Lee on for Dolly Parton’s mentoring week…that’ll be, um, fun?
Man, this was a total bummer last night. Amanda, you’ll be missed!
Does anybody feel like any of the contestants is all that interesting this year? It’s like pulling teeth to keep me watching.
Amanda Overrated is more like it. She should have kept her mouth shut after her performance. “Ballads are boring” was not the smartest thing to say. That, along with her predictability and her nonplussed attitude whenever she got praised didn’t help either.
I’m no fan of Kristy, and Simon’s comments about musical wallpaper are on point, but i have to wonder: Why is that troll Ramiele still not hitting the bottom three? I can’t stand her little girl routine, poo poo pee doo.
I really wasn’t that surprised that Carly was in the bottom three — while her voice is technically good, there just is not a lot of charisma or personality there. I was really bored by her this week.
Kristy should have gone home. But really Amanda had only one style (a great style that American Idol needed for diversities sake, but still just one style). And really Carly in the bottom 3? Eeesh.
It just goes to prove that Americans should not be allowed to vote. Ever. On anything.
Ramiele is still around because of the Asian voting bloc…and the fact that she’s hot.
“Ol’ Skunky,” as my girlfriend and I affectionately call her, was doomed not just by the datedness of her song’s subject, but by the fact that there are simply not enough butch women in their mid-20s with Janis Joplin fetishes to keep her in the running. Sorry, lady!
Forget about Michael Johns being hot but he’s a good performer and has a great voice. He’s waiting awhile to peak, although he’d better not wait much longer otherwise I see him in 6th place or maybe 7th like Ace Young. He sings better than 1 trick pony ace but he’d better step it up.