BOOST UP THEN UNPLUG

Last night, I sat down and tried listening to the performances one more time and here's what I gathered from the judges as to who they favor to stay in the competition.

Basing on the Top 8:

Randy loves David Cook, David Archuleta, and Michael Johns -  Michael Johns had to go first as a shocker, but now works with David Foster. Randy would sign Kristy Lee as announced on Larry King Live. I think MJ and KLC will greatly benefit from these early exits.

Paula loves Syesha Mercado and Kristy Lee Cook - Syesha stays. Kristy Lee had to go next to MJ but is rewarded a record contract by Randy.

Simon loves Carly Smithson, Brooke White, and Jason Castro - Jason is dispensable

Andrew Lloyd Webber Week: Syesha would not be leaving yet, she's safe. Jason will go home.

Neil Diamond Week: Carly would not be leaving yet, she's safe. Brooke White will go home.

Top 4: David Cook, David Archuleta, Carly Smithson, Syesha Mercado

Top 3: David Cook, David Archuleta, Carly Smithson

Top 2: David Cook, David Archuleta

Winner: David Cook (Randy ruled this year)

So, MJ's and KLC's exits might have been prematurely executed but the line-up of who goes each week has been predetermined and that (has been) and should be reflected in their judging and criticisms, (so that) then the voters vote accordingly.

Notice this, before the final let down, Simon picks you up first. Don't forget, Simon said to KLC last week, "You're very, very good, tonight you look like a star". Then this week, "Kristy, your time is up, sweetheart." Boost up then unplug. So, this week, he picked up Jason and pretended with Brooke as a drama between her and KLC, but next week and the next to that, Jason and Brooke will go

Simon tore down Carly and Syesha this week, so Carly and Syesha will ride free for the next two weeks.

Nonetheless, for some reason, the judges are always picking up David Cook and David Archuleta. Is that it? No let down on them? Are they bulletproof? Invincible? Indispensable? Really? How about the need for a surge in ratings to another shocker maybe?

Crazy show.

Simon hasn't always supported Archuleta & Cook though.  He called that one performance of Archuleta's a mess (Top 12 week) and he's gotten on Cook for being "worthy", "thinking a performance was better than it actually was", etc, etc.  And he's continually on Carly, fair or not, because she's isn't doing as well as he knows she can.  I'm not really seeing how this is some grand conspiracy.  Maybe it's because I'm not that emotionally invested in any one contestant this year but...despite the fact that I don't particularly care for Archuleta...I can't make a case that the Top 2 contestants over the course of this season so far are not the two Davids.

And yes...I think that David, David, Carly, Syesha, Brooke, Jason final order is likely and would be the right order based on who's left.  Now, if we could go back and at the very least knock Jason out for Michael...and as of this week I think KLC had passed Brooke (that may have happened two weeks ago actually)...but you know what?  America doesn't always get it right, you know?  You've seen some of our elections, right?  We elected our current president not once, but TWICE.

I'll never believe that they would actually manipulate the votes as far as who goes home because if someone could prove that they did it the show would come crumbling down.  It's not worth it.  You don't think somebody would have blown the door open on that one by now if they were really doing this?

Anyway...I agree with whoever said the judges on "So You Think You Can Dance" are much better and professional about their comments.  They seem to actually care about the contestants.  I don't think that's the case with the Idol judges other than maybe Paula.  I guess Randy to a degree.  We know Simon could care less about them...it's insane that he'll forget contestants names that have been on the show for a few weeks (something that happened to Katharine).

Here's my outragious prognostications Joe:

-Jason goes home next. The great ALW performed with with a ukulele? Nope.

-Syesha leaves the week of 5. Her fanbase isn't very big, she's not especially versatile, and she's never showed well on Dialidol's predictions.

-Shocker: David A fails to make the Final 3, exits the week of 4 ala Daughtry. Why? Ratings. Archie would put the world to sleep in the finals...

-Brooke falls the week of three, leaving an unlikely finale of:

-Carly and Cook. Should be a really great finale for a change!

-David noses out Carly to become the next American Idol.

The Super Six

 This post is for the Weekly Elimination Selections for Pool Players in the CoJo Pool.  All selections must be made by TUESDAY, April 22 at 4 p.m. PDT / 7 p.m. EDT.

NOTE:  If you do not make a weekly elimination selection it will default to whomever you selected to be eliminated that week on your Top 12 Elimination Ballot (posted on Page 6)

Player 1:  barlo
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Jason Castro

Player 3:  Big Shady
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Brooke White

Player 4:  DJ CoBaby
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Syesha Mercado

Player 5:  Maddie
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Jason Castro

Player 6:  Mattsie
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Syesha Mercado

Player 7:  sjwolves
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Jason Castro

Player 8:  uplink2
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Brooke White

Player 9:  Misty
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Brooke White

Player 10:  Gregoriancant
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Syesha Mercado

Player 11:  KatPack1198
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Syesha Mercado

Player 12:  Vadia
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Carly Smithson

Player 13:  bcollan
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Jason Castro

Player 14:  kate4chrisandkat
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Syesha Mercado

Player 15:  shinamarih
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Jason Castro

Player 17:  Bian
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Brooke White

Player 18:  pakatfan00
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Syesha Mercado

Player 19:  Collette_Leyton
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Syesha Mercado

Player 22:  trsf
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Brooke White

Player 23:  Je_suis_jess
Weekly Elimination Selection (Super Six)
Performance Show Date 4/22/08:  Syesha Mercado

_________________

All pool entries have been posted on 4.22.08 @ 5:50 p.m. PDT - The CoJo Pool

Here's the breakdown of selections for April 22, 2008:

Carly Smithson - 1
Brooke White - 5
Jason Castro - 5
Syesha Mercado - 8

_______________

We bid adieu on April 23, 2008  to the Rocker Chick, Tattoo Artist, and Irish Lass  . . . Ms. Carly Smithson

Me too

I haven't decided who's leaving this week yet. It's interesting that a boy has been booted every even-numbered week, but every odd-numbered week sees an all-girl bottom 3. That would mean Jason probably goes home this week, while Brooke or Syesha probably leave during Top 5 week. I predicted Kristy Lee Cook would go on the even-numbered weeks, so I can't make that mistake again , but I'm not quite sold on Jason departing.

So this year's Andrew Lloyd Webber week is in place of a standards or big band week this season? That's disappointing, because I like standards, love big band/jazz, but dislike Broadway. ALW is a recent composer, so his songs haven't been adapted/co-opted by jazz performers like the old standards have been. The one thing I remember from the last Broadway-themed week was Bo Bice working his "have mike stand, will travel" stage moves to a Broadway showtune in season 4. That was hilarious.

Thanks Trsf for posting Andrew Lloyd Weber is the mentor, this upcoming week.  I saw that he was when I was posting the link to the Episode description for Tuesday.  I wonder if it will be open to Broadway songs or just Mr. Lloyd-Weber's.  I have a feeling Syesha may sing "I Don't Know How to Love Him," from Jesus Christ Superstar; actually that would be better for Carly to sing.   I saw the revival of JCS during the holiday time with the original Ted Neely, WOW, he was absolutely incredible for 63, and talk about seeing Jesus, it was so powerful and moving.  The reason I mentioned it is because my mother said Katharine would have made a perfect Mary Magdalane.  I'd love to hear Kat sing "I Don't Know How to Love Him," one day, it would be amazing and dramatic, I'm sure.

So, this Tues should be interesting.  Trsf, I also, loooove the Standards, old school classics are the best.  I'm sure David C is cookin' up something cool, hehe no pun intended.

Note to Pool Players:  I was pondering adding a bonus round and adding another ballot for the remaining six contestants - since we're at the half-way point in the Top 12.    This will give all players the chance to get some extra points too.  I shall send an e-mail to Scorekeeper Joe and see what he thinks.   

So, what do ya'll think? 

Yes, I decided to buck getting my pick in at the 11th hour this time and get it in at the 8th hour instead. We're about at the time now when it could be anybody going. And I mean that literally this time, because I agree with those who see the light of two finalists we didn't expect. In the most bizarre alternate universe, it'd be David Cook and Jason Castro going for the gold. Let's hope not, though, because we don't want Fidel Castro to make a congratulatory phone call to Jason and reveal himself to be a 58th cousin twice removed.

I join Mattsie in looking a bit suspiciously at the cutting of KLC this last week. But as I said on your MySpace, Mattsie, it just seems impossible that "AI" could get away with manipulating votes. As Joe alluded to above, someone would get it out in the open eventually in an age where media leaks are almost expected in the entertainment world, as much as companies try to prevent it to no avail. The blueprint to that, of course, is the 1950's game show scandal that didn't have a precedent to go on. Then again, "AI" is a different animal altogether. Also, precedents get forgotten easily--especially in Hollywood.

There was a time during Season Five when I thought "AI" had the cajones to manipulate their votes for the sake of each side's supposed financial benefit. Then I changed my mind based on deductive reasoning. They might exaggerate how many votes they say they get (that "more votes than the Presidential election" statement is still lathered in b.s.)--but the reality apparently was that KLC's voting base got too complacent last Tuesday night. Or, the teenyboppers who control the phone lines don't actually like singers who (gasp) sound good. It's more about hair, personality...and proof that the show has a wide dichotomy of demographics watching and clashing on the phone lines.

All said, KLC's version of "Forever" is equivalent to a Patsy Cline classic in vocal quality. It was the best performance KLC did on the show next to "God Bless the U.S.A." So, she went out on top in my book--along with a happy life event of getting engaged. I wouldn't necessarily hold Randy Jackson signing her as his final word, though. You can't trust some breezy statement like that on a talk show. She nonetheless will get picked up by somebody and will undoubtedly have a successful country career.

Consider, too, that the new philosophy on the show seems to be to get into the Top Ten and then get out as soon as you can. Sure, it's a bit topsy-turvy to say that, but "AI" brought it on themselves with their controlling contract for the winner.

Who's next to get the boot then? Watch Jason put on the Phantom mask, sing a stylistic version of "Music of the Night" and survive yet again. That leaves the weakest of the bunch at the moment: Syesha. I still think Syesha has star power, however--though maybe more in modeling or acting as she's already done. Her singing doesn't stand alone to make her great.

Brook