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‘American Idol’ week three: Results
Well, that was a shock.
Are you happy now, “Idol” judges? Remember how I chastised you after Tuesday’s show — how I told you that you weren’t doing Lilly Scott any favors by continuing to indulge her “quirkiness?”
Thanks a lot. Now I’ve got at least one-more week of listening to 60-year-old lounge singer trapped in a 16-year-old-body Katie Stevens.
Sigh.
Maybe I’m just cranky because I fared so poorly in the guessing game this week. Here’s what I predicted:
Girls
Should go: Katie Stevens, Paige Miles
Will go: Paige Miles, Lacey Brown
Guys
Should go: Todrick Hall, Andrew Garcia
Will go: Todrick Hall, Aaron Kelly
This week’s eliminated contestants are Katelyn Epperly, Lilly Scott, Todrick Hall and Alex Lambert, making me 1 for 4. Ouch. (It’s all about me, you know).
Scott’s elimination was certainly the surprise of the night. Week after week, the judges have built her up as a front-runner and the one to beat. They went so far as to call her a game-changer, saying that from this point out, future contestants would feel free to embrace their quirk and be themselves.
Not if they want to win, apparently.
I liked Scott okay, but I was never on her bandwagon the way the “Idol” judges were. I think Simon finally realized just how badly he and his fellow judges were setting Scott up when he finally questioned her horrible Tuesday song choice (“I Fall to Pieces”).
Scott appeared completely shocked and then really angry when Ryan Seacrest announced her departure. Asked to explain America’s vote, she all but said that she had done exactly what the judges asked and received zero constructive criticism.
Her ouster finally managed to wring some emotion out of stoic front-runner Crystal Bowersox, whose face was scrunched up in an unsuccessful “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry” grimace. I’m not sure if Bowersox was genuinely sad to see her only real competition go — realizing that she now had to spend weeks with all these other tools — or if she suddenly realized that if Scott could be sent packing, she could very possibly be next. Whatever. There was something especially sad about seeing her break down like that.
I wasn’t too surprised by the other eliminations. I suspected Hall would be ousted, but I think his departure, along with Scott’s, is setting up a mighty bland rest-of-the-season. I’m okay with Epperly and Lambert leaving (and I’m actually glad that Miles and, especially, Brown survived) but Katie Stevens … you’re on notice.
Here’s what I wrote about this week’s exiting competitors:
“I Feel the Earth Move”
Remember Beatlemania — not the phenomenon, but the tribute band/Broadway show that toured the nation years ago? “It’s not the Beatles, but an incredible simulation!” the ads blared from my television. That was Katelyn tonight, except it was more like “Kingmania!” Katelyn sounded and looked like Carole King, which would have been great had this been a celebrity impersonating contest. I thought she did great last week, but this was definitely a step backwards.
What the judges said:
“It all kind of felt very put on for me,” Randy
“It just wasn’t enough,” Ellen
“I didn’t feel like you were competing tonight on that stage,” Kara
“It was kind of like request night on a Friday night in a restaurant,” Simon
My grade: C-
“I Fall To Pieces”
I didn’t get that at all. Here’s what bothers me about the “Idol” judges … if anybody else had given that performance, they would have torn the contestant apart — complaining about how she should have been more current and relevant, blah blah blah. But the judges love Lilly because she’s “quirky.” Meh. The vocals were okay, but the quirk is starting to annoy me; I can’t see anybody buying that song. Plus, she is like a giant, so I initially thought that the mandolin she was playing was a full-size guitar her Amazonian body was just dwarfing, which distracted me.
What the judges said:
“I think you’re in the zone right now,” Randy
“Loved it, love you,” Ellen
“You kind of made Patsy Cline seem current,” Kara
“That didn’t have the wow factor,” Simon
My grade: C+
“Somebody To Love”
Okay, Todrick’s got a big, theatrical voice, so this should have been a great song choice for him. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite have the chops to back it up. Todrick’s in a tough position, because the judges keep telling the contestants to be themselves, but they don’t like the kind of showtuney singers Todrick represents. I think that’s why he held back so much. It was good, but not great. I think these guys need to remember that America is making the call now, not a quarter of contradictory and confused judges. Forget about them, Todrick … just entertain us. You can do it.
What the judges said:
“Todrick is back!” Randy
“You are a brave, brave young man,” Ellen
“There were moments where I didn’t know to laugh at it or to love it,” Kara
“You’re a Broadway singer,” Simon
My grade: C+
“Trouble”
Oh, “Idol” judges, you’re doing it again — building up false hopes. You know there’s no way this kid is going to win, but there you are, Kara, telling him the only thing standing between him and winning is himself. He’s certainly gotten better, but there’s no way he’s going to beat these guys, not to mention the superior (but still mostly lackluster) girls. I understand that this year’s field is so weak that y’all tend to go overboard with enthusiasm whenever you catch a tiny glimpse of originality or talent but, really … think before you gush.
What the judges said:
“I felt like you could have done a little more with it,” Randy
“You’re becoming a mushy banana; you’re ripening so fast,” Ellen
“You’re not in it; you’re not letting go up there,” Kara
“We’ve never ever seen you relaxed or having a good time,” Simon
My grade: C+
Next week your Top 12 take on The Rolling Stones. Yikes.
Did America make the right call? Did your favorite get dismissed? Who should go next? Sound off!
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By jane
March 13, 2010 10:05 PM | Link to this
I'm quite sad and shocked Lilly was voted off she was entertaining and could sing and play an instrument. She never had a bad week she didn't pick the greatest song choice the last time but Paige and Katie were just as bad and that was two weeks in a row for them. There was no reason she should of been prepared for being eliminated the judges even Kara and Ellen loved the last song. The show will be boring and Crystal should worry cause it looks like lots of teenagers are voting