"American Idol" 2008 Discussion

[AwallaceUNC]

I just saw Syesha's performance on YouTube and thought it was actually one of her better ones... I'd put her at #2 for the night.

-Aaron

[dvdjunkie]

Someone saw a different show than I did tonight!! Wow, it was the Davids that led the way, and no one else could keep up. Archuleta led off the show and never looked back, and I wish they had saved David Cook for the end of the show, it would have been a real great capper.

Worst performance of the night was turned in by Carly Smithson in my eyes. She took a Harry Nillson song that Mariah Carey took to new heights, and brought it crashing down in pieces. I just don't think she will be around next week.

Next worst performance was Brooke White, but I think she has the fan base to get through another week, we'll see.

I thought that Syesha Mercado and Kristy Lee Cook were very strong tonight, although neither has what it takes to be an American Idol, they both showed what they could do with a superstar's song.

Weakest guy performance was Jason Castro. I really think that he has to change his style vocally and get a haircut. I know they won't say anything on the show about his 'dreads', but the local newspapers around Kansas are really tearing him apart for his 'retro hairdo'. They all say he has the talent to be a star, but not with those 'locks'. I know we shouldn't judge anyone by how they look, but this hairstyle went out a long time ago, and will hurt rather than help Jason in his quest for Idol gold.

My choice for bottom three this week:

Jason Castro, Carly Smithson, Brooke White

Who goes home?

Goodbye Carly, it has been nice knowing you.

[Disney's Divinity]

It's insane that people can make so much out of a hairstyle--you don't buy a CD to see the person's face. Besides, anyone who cares that seriously about passing fads obviously doesn't have an opinion worth caring about.

Jason Castro surely won't win American Idol, but I doubt his hair will be the determining factor.

[PeterPanfan]

Brooke White WILL stay..

I made sure almost everyone in my TOWN voted for her last night..

[Widdi]

1 for 6. Man I'm doing terrible in the predictions department this year. Though in my defense, 5 of the 6 people I predicted would be the first six out of the top 12 back in the week we found it out have gone. I just didn't predict them at the right time. Syesha has lasted longer than I thought she would, and Michael went way too soon.

Can't say I'm sad to see Kristy go, but I hope she gets her horse back.

[DarthPrime]

Tonights elimination wasn't really shocking. I thought it would be Carly, and I am actually surprised that she wasn't in the bottom 3 at all. This is the first season that I'm almost always wrong on the elimination night. I guess its just a unpredictible season.

It might just be me, but Brooke is really starting to annoy me. At the end of this though one of the David's will be the new American Idol.

[dvdjunkie]

After a horrendous performance by Mariah Carey, it was no shock that Kristy Lee Cook got the boot. I think she knew her days were numbered, so it wasn't that big a shock. I do hope that hardass that bought her horse will sell him back to her, you can tell in the videos that she really loved him.

Next week will be the test that everyone has been waiting for. Andrew Lloyd Weber week, and it will be interesting to see which contestant will pick which song, and will it be the right choice? David Archuleta will probably do something from "Phantom of the Opera", and Jason will probably do a song from "Starlight Express", hopefully without the roller skates, and Carly will probably sing "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from "Jesus Christ, Superstar". If she doesn't do it, Brook White probably well. "Memory" should be the song that Brooke sings, but we will see.

I am of the opinion now that it will be the two David's that will be in the finals. My prediction for the Final Four would be, David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro and Brooke White. We will see how accurate my predictions are in the coming weeks.

Only two week away from Neil Diamond week, and that should be a great week for all of the final five contestants. Wished that Michael Johns was still around so I could hear him do "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show", it would have rocked.

[PeterPanfan]

Wow, Bill is up to the Big smiley now! Woo hoo!

Anyway, I wasn't shocked when Kristy went home. I CANNOT wait until ALW week!

[lord-of-sith]

I feel bad about saying this, but I'm glad Kristy's gone. She should have gone after she destroyed the Beatles.

Here is how I would love for the rest of the season to go.

Next Week: Jason Castro leaves
Week after that: Syesha leaves
Week after that: Brooke White leaves
Week after that: David Archuleta leaves

leaving the top two as: Carly Smithson and David Cook

Unrealistic, I know, but It'd be so awesome!

[Widdi]

Randy telling Gaspy he can sing anything was a big joke. David has sung nothing but cheesy ballads and ballad type songs this entire competition. Last time I checked that hardly qualifies as anything.

Unless either of the two Davids give a Sanjaya-esque performance they have the final two pretty much locked. I personally don't want to see either of them win, but it won't matter. Season 7's winner will not be a prominent figure in the music industry very long.

Looking forward to ALW week. If any of the judges say "that was too theatrical" next week I'm done with this show. Don't have a week dedicated to Broadway songs and not expect them to be theatrical.

Here's my prediction for the rest of the season (subject to change, based upon performances):
Final Six Boot: Syesha
Final Five Boot: Brooke
Final Four Boot: Jason
Final Three Boot: Carly
Runner-Up: David Cook
Winner: Gaspy

[MerXAN]

I love Brooke!!!!!!!

[Widdi]

Meh. That's all I can say about tonight

The Rankings:

1. Syesha Mercardo - The first time I've ever loved her throughout competition. I could see her becoming the next J.Hud, because she ain't gonna win, but she does make a good little actress.

2. David Cook - Like Syesha, this was the first time I ever loved him. The song didn't fit him as well as Syesha's did, but he made the best of it.

3. Carly Smithson - Was pretty good. One of her better song choices so far.

4. David Archuletta - Note to Randy: A Ballad is a ballad no matter which genre it falls into, and thus far ballads are the only thing Gaspy has sung, and last time I checked ballads were not "anything" in the way you use the word. It was okay, pretty boring as usual. It did nothing to sway my opinion that if David wins he will be anything more than a flash in the pan.

5. Jason Castro - Not as bad as the judges (mainly Randy) said. It wasn't his "A Game" and it was one of the worst of the night. I don't think it will be his Swan Song.

6. Brooke White - For the second week in a row Brooke delivered the worst performance of the night. The first thing I was ever taught about theater is when you make a mistake you don't stop and re-do it. You go with it, because even though you know you messed up, the audience doesn't. It's a bit harder to do with a song, but it can be done. That one moment ruined her performance and will likely send her home.

The Bottom three?

1. Carly Smithson - Taking on an extremely well known song, and not nailing it and this point is risky. If Syesha hadn't done so well, you wouldn't be here.

2. Jason Castro - Bad nights put you here. It's as simple as that.

3. Brooke White - Kristy's chair has been passed on to you.

Who goes home?

Sadly when you royally mess up on idol you can't ask "can we please start over?" There are no re-dos here. Brooke, they won't be telling you they love you tomorrow. I'd recommend bringing some Kleenex on stage Ms. White. You're going to need it.

[Disney's Divinity]

1. David Cook
2. David Archuleta
3. Syesha
4. Jason Castro
5. Carly Smithson
6. Brooke White

Brooke White's delivery wasn't horrible, it was only that I was thinking about how she started over at the beginning that I couldn't focus. I was glad to see this side of David Cook as well. This is the first time he's focused moreso on his vocals than the arrangement and it payed off. Syesha surprised me as well, considering I usually dislike her.

[dvdjunkie]

For once I almost agree with the rest of you about tonight's performances. Except, if they go by the rules that they have set down (speaking of the way they eliminate contestants) this is the week of a guy going home. Don't remember two weeks in a row where they sent two guys or two girls packing. If they follow that path then it will be Jason Castro's turn to go. I thought he ruined a beautiful song and I don't think he has the range in his voice or the personality to make it as a star. An actor, he might be good. As a model for a hair designer, stop the presses, he would be great, we could finally get rid of that 'lazy-man's' hairdo. Those dread-locks have bugged me since day one. And did you catch Andrew Lloyd Weber's remark about the dreads?

It's either Jason or Brooke going home tonight and I think Carly is for sure safe.

[PeterPanfan]

God, I really hope Brooke doesn't go..

She's my favorite!

[AwallaceUNC]

My rankings for the evening...

1. David Archuletta - Excellent once again... I'm not familiar with the source material (and that goes for all of these), but he nailed it.

2. Syesha Mercardo - She came out of nowhere with a great performance, probably her best thus far. She's not nearly a Jennifer Hudson (sorry, Widdi) but I was impressed. Clearly, Syesha was in her element.

3. Brooke White - The fumble at the beginning was pretty bad and she was thrown off from that point on, but I actually thought she showed off a bigger voice than I realized she had.

4. Carly Smithson - It was okay, but forgettable.

5. Jason Castro - Ditto... I do like Jason but this was his 2nd rough week.

6. David Cook - I don't understand what people see in this guy. He was simply awful last night.

My predictions for the Bottom 3 tonight: Carly, Brooke, and Jason, with Carly going home.

-Aaron

[lord-of-sith]

I love Carly! I don't see her going home tonight at all! I thought she did really well with her song! If anything, it is Jason Castro's or Brooke White's turn to go home.

[PeterPanfan]

I already started crying watching Brooke's re-cap.

I'll be bawling if she gets voted off.

[PeterPanfan]

Woo hoo! Brooke is safe!

I'm sad Carly's gone, though..

[The Tickler]

I knew Brooke wouldn't even be close to getting voted off this week. Forgetting words to a song is a huge pity vote magnet. To my recollection, no one has ever gotten the boot as a result of such an error. Getting told that you've improved, however, is, as Simon put it, like a "kiss of death." Carly and Syesha were perfect examples of this tonight, and so were Jennifer Hudson and many other contestants throughout the tenure of the show. It seems like this season (or at least in the past few weeks), you either need to give a lackluster performance or have David as your first name in order to avoid getting the lowest amount of votes. I've never really been a fan of Jason or Brooke, and it pains me to see them walk away scot-free in weeks where their performances were at their blandest, while those who gave what the judges considered to be their best performances yet end up having to sing it one last time on the results show.