American Idol - "Booted Out"  3/2/07

By Marcus

The public has spoken and tonight we learn the results. Their 32 million plus votes were calculated without a hint of a swinging chad and these four contestants were told to pack their bags, leave a tip for the housekeepers, and go back home to mama: Nick Pedro, Alaina Alexander, AJ Tabaldo, and Leslie Hunt.

Now those announcements took less time than it takes for a pad of butter to skip across a hot griddle. So what do you do? You fill the show to keep the audience watching. The first filling was all twenty contestants singing “Joy to the World.” Normally that song has us jumping and clapping. It is a “wake me up ‘cause I am glad to be alive” type of song. But they lacked the joy that makes that song so popular. Maybe they were too individually worried about being booted off to sufficiently practice?

Nick was first to collect his duds and hit the road. Why? He sings well but he does not capture us. A standout star is someone who touches us. I think he can work on making that emotional contact, but it will take work. Good luck, Nick, ‘cause you do have a pleasant voice. And at least this year, unlike last season, you didn’t quit.

Second off the show was Alaina. This was no real shock because of her last night’s lackluster performance. She is an attractive woman who has modest talent. Perhaps she will be a regular at a downtown club. But are you ready for the big time? Sorry, Alaina you just don’t have “it.” Your departure was expected.

Then we had more filler. We were promised that country girl Kellie Pickler would entertain us. Instead this woman prances out on stage with Marilyn Monroe hair and an embarrassingly enhanced Dolly Parton front. I miss the old Kellie with her stories about grandpa and her dog, Rocket (or was it Launch Pad?). Instead, we witnessed what a Hollywood make-over is all about and alas, we lost the Kellie that we treasured so much.

The second man and the third contestant to leave was AJ. I was not expecting his departure tonight. Next week would be different story but he was voted out too soon. How the public voted to keep the dismal weak vocals of Sanjaya Malakar and voted to toss out AJ is beyond my understanding. Now please don’t misunderstand, AJ will never ever be a singing sensation but for him to leave before Sanjaya? Incredible. And for Sanjaya to stay while Nick is leaving? Again, incredible. Maybe there are some hanging chads after all.

The second woman and the fourth to leave was Leslie. I thought she might have stayed a little longer but she certainly was not finalist material compared to some of the powerful voices against whom she is competing. Last night she lack energy and if she has any intention of charming an audience, she has to learn how to keep our interest.

So another four have left American Idol and we are down to 16 contestants.

Tune in next week and make sure you cast your vote.

see also:

3/1/07 American Idol - "Ten Lasses a Singing"

2/28/07 American Idol - "Ten Lads a Singing"

2/22/07 American Idol - Twelve Lasses a Singing

2/21/07 American Idol - Twelve Lads a Singing

2/7/07 American Idol Mania in San Antonio

2/1/07 American Idol Mania in LA

1/31/07 American Idol Mania in Birmingham

1/25/07 American Idol Mania in New York City

1/24/07 American Idol Mania in Memphis

1/18/07 American Idol Mania in Seattle

1/17/07 American Idol Mania Returns