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“Idol Gives Back” week wouldn’t be a televised charity extravaganza without a moment of extreme awkwardness, and last night’s elimination of sole-rep-of-the-’70s Michael Johns certainly fit that bill. It was surprising (lots of early-results polls, including one by TiVo, had Syesha Mercado going home; last night was Michael’s first trip to the bottom three) and it was punctuated by one of the crueler moments I’ve seen on non-romantic-competition television lately: Ryan Seacrest telling Michael that he was at the bottom of the show’s bottom three, noting that no one went home during last year’s “Idol Gives Back” episodes, and then… telling Michael to pack his knives and go. He was auf’d! This was met with lots of surprise and consternation and calls of conspiracy theories, although no one’s floated my “America just can’t get down with dudes who routinely wear ascots” theory yet. So all I’m gonna say is that surely I’m not the only person who’s noticed the boy-girl-boy-girl-boy order of eliminations so far? Maybe Ryan wasn’t too sad because he knew Michael would be coming back during that rumored wild card episode? Hmm, Fox. Hmmm, Nigel Lythgoe. Hmmmmm!
Michael Johns Gets The Ax In The Name Of <s>Boosting Ratings</s> Charity
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That moment reminded me a lot of the moment when Chris Daughtry was eliminated two years ago. Ryan was quite cold in that moment too. I think he thinks that’s the “best” way to present a “shocking” elimination. In this context, “best” meaning dramatic-for-the-ratings or jolt-the-fans-into-voting or something like that.
I’m totally down with that ascot theory. To quote from Steve Rubell: “You’re wearing an ascot. You look like an asshole.”
@extracrispy: Panic at the Disco does not approve.
Even Fred was self-aware enough to ditch the ascot.
It has to be a conspiracy. If it was talent and personality, not one girl would have been left before a single boy was sent home. The chicks are duds this year. And I am including Archuletta in that gal grouping.
This would’ve been less shocking a few weeks ago. But after “We Are the Champions” and “It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right,” it’s a letdown. Plus, when Ryan promised an emotional elimination before the break, I was totally hoping he meant the end for notorious tear fountain Carly Smithson.
Johns was such a better rocker than David Cook. I’ll take Michael Hutchence wannabe over Scott Stapp wannabe any day. Though I was glad last night to hear Cook’s subtle reminder that he’s a word nerd, which is about all that gives him the edge over Archuleta.
@Charles A. Hohman: If you watch closely, at that moment when Ryan talked about the coming elimination, the camera is on the Bottom 3, and when Ryan says those words, Carly smiles a bit, nods her head, and raises her hand, and the camera has it for less than a second before cutting away.
Carly knew for sure she was going home last nite — she knew it when Simon told her the performance was “angry”.
Alas, she was wrong.
But the rumored wild card episode was to take place on Idol Gives Back, no?
In any event, this really stinks. I know that not everyone downloading the songs from iTunes is also picking up the phone, but come on, Michael leaving??? And Ryan should be slapped like a biatch. Was that awkward or what?
This is nowhere near a Daughtry type shocker. Daughtry should have won that season. Johns was gonna go in the next couple of weeks.
@Maura Johnston: I agree, I’m going with the ascot thing. They never help…
well my Am. Id. bracket is completely effed now.
Ryan Seacrest has icewater running through his veins. I’m not a Michael Johns fan, but that was brutal.
@whoneedslight: he was jealous!!
@Maura Johnston:
Which begs the question… is it scripted or did Ryan create the awkwardness all on his own?
There might be something to that idea of sending them home girl-boy-girl-boy. I think they are fixing to help one of the guys win this year…in fact maybe one particular guy: Archuleta…it’s a guys turn to win this year. But having said that, I have a feeling they prefer the one girl to one guy ratio…for example when Jordin ended up competing with unlikely runner up Blake last time. Anyway, here’s another good article regarding David Archuleta,American Idol, Idol gives back etc. http://jviz.blogspot.com/2008/04/young-stars.html
@jimifunguzz: That’s sort of just a paragraph on the trend of “uplifting” teen-stars. Also, it calls Miley Cyrus talented, and if we’re talking vocal talent, I think that’s up for some debate.