American Idol

I got home too late to watch any of it, so I listened on rickey.org

It really is a totally different experience just doing it that way (plus I am no a dedicated fan of anybody in particular this season).

So, just listening, and trying to frame it as what would I change the radio dial on if it happened to come on....

dramatic drumrolll...

Syesha won it for me tonight, both songs. Yep. I would not seek out recordings from her, but the sound is very nice, and I wouldn't turn it off it it happened to come on.

Then David C, both songs

Then a tie between Brooke and Jason, first songs of both, only.

For me both of their second songs were something I'd turn off just from hearing them.

I like all of their voices, though (except Jason's when he goes breathy and high).

David A...cannot take more than 2 seconds of him, on any song.

I am glad, reading the comments, that I did not watch the judges. I really never enjoy watching them or hearing what they have to say.

Everything said here tonight is exactly how I feel. I'd like to think Jason will stay at least for another week but it's like someone let the wind out of my sail. I knew from the very start DC should be the winner, I hope that happens. I just happen to fall in love along the way with Jason. I don't blame him one bit for falling on the second song, why should he try, he already knew the outcome from the judges. I've heard his studios and I can't wait to get them from this week! Regardless, I loved listening to him sing tonight. DC was totally awesome with both songs but especially on the second song.

Does anyone know what tv shows they appear on after they've been voted off? Because I want to watch them when JC is on.

I am just sick. That damn Paula.................

Watching/listening to DA makes be want to barf.

Sky, you're in L.A. and they are ALWAYS on Good Day L.A. on Fox (Channel 11) the same station AI is on. You'll definitely catch him there.

I didn't want to, as you say, fall in love with Jason, but I did. It seems the harder I fight against these things, the harder I fall. I should really just go with it.

I'm hoping that he'll stay and this will all be put behind us.

Like I said, Sky, we'll go get his CD when it comes out.

OMG! That banner is so beautiful! Thanks for bringing it over. It shall be the banner for Jason fans as a symbol of hope that he'll rise up against the fucking AI machine and triumph!

If it was me up on that stage and that dimwit Paula did that to me? I would try as hard as I could to prove them all wrong and to get my fans to get behind me. But, I am a feisty old coot whose theme song is "I won't back down". *shrugs*

I could see in his face that Jason was shook up after Paula spilled the beans, Randy said it was just ok, and I forgot what Simon said but I know it was not good. But, the judges have dogged him on public television before and he rose up and gave a good performance anyway... he just did'nt do that tonight. These are the kinds of things that we have seen all too many times that cause people to lose their momentum and the fight
for the prize. I really think Jason has tons of potential and could just use some more training. He does'nt seem to project from his diaphram and is not using his voice to it's full potential.

I don't blame him for not being able to get into Neil Diamond's music though. You just have to rise to the occasion somehow when you are at this stage of the competition. I can't even fathom how difficult it would be to make any of Neil's songs your own and pull it off. Only one person really did that tonight and suceeded. And they were only able to really pull it off on one of the songs, not both IMO.

OK, everybody, listen to this:

"Oh gosh—we've never had to write these things down, uh, fast enough," she said. "Jason, the first song, I loved hearing your lower register, which we never really hear." So far so good. "Um, the second song, I felt like your usual charm, it was missing for me. It kind of left me a little empty." Huh? The audience began tittering with confusion, and Nigel and Debbie both began quietly freaking out. Paula continued, unaware. "The two songs made me feel like you're not fighting hard enough to get into the top four." By this point, several audience members were openly cracking up, Debbie had to stop herself from stepping on camera to end the madness, and Nigel was frantically gesturing a single finger to anyone who could see him: ONE SONG! THEY'VE ONLY SUNG ONE SONG!
"So, David Cook," Paula continued, until Randy saved the day: "Oh, they've just done the first song though, just the first one." The tension was finally broken with this apology (of sorts) from Paula: "I thought you—Oh my god, I thought you sang twice!…You know what, this is hard! You know what, I'm looking at, it's your notes, David [Cook]. You were fantastic." As Simon swooped in for his chance to scold the Idols, Nigel stepped off stage to, I'm assuming, get the on-site EMTs to give him some oxygen. At the ad break, the judges were all whisked out of the studio, Syesha Mercado, David Cook, David Archuleta and Brooke White left waving to the audience, and Jason Castro was left on a stool, stage center, contemplating what, exactly, had just happened.

In other words, right after that debacle, EVERYBODY ELSE in the entire production was able to get off - stage and regroup. Everybody... except Jason Castro. He had to sit there on his stool, in public the entire time, no place to hide, no place to regroup, completely exposed, about to sing a song Paula has already informed the entire world that they are instructed to dislike.

He is 21 years old, he is painfully shy, and before AI he had sung in public exactly five times. There is no forgiving this.

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In other words, right after that debacle, EVERYBODY ELSE in the entire production was able to get off - stage and regroup. Everybody... except Jason Castro. He had to sit there on his stool, in public the entire time, no place to hide, no place to regroup, completely exposed, about to sing a song Paula has already informed the entire world that they are instructed to dislike.

He is 21 years old, he is painfully shy, and before AI he had sung in public exactly five times. There is no forgiving this.

Yeah. I mean, I can come back fighting if I've had a chance to regroup. I once had a voiceover teacher slam me so hard that everyone in the class thought he hated me. We took a break, I had a chance to regroup and came back and knocked my next reading out of the park. I know what it's like.

If I was just kept in there and told to keep going after he did that, I would have sounded like a shaky mess.

He's young, but he's acted like a professional all the way through the process. Brooke falls apart so bad every week and starts and stops her song and they praise her. GEEZ!

I just had a thought...does anyone else think there may not be an elimination tomorrow night?

Good morning ladies!

Yes, a tough night for a lot of people for sure.

I do agree with Luca though. Jason really should have tried to really knock the song out of the ballpark so that Paula's negative comments would look ridiculous. He should have channeled his anger into one hell of a performance. But I guess not everyone can do that. It just would have been nice to see that happen. If he really knocked the audience' socks off with his performance then the judges would have no choice but to gives him his props. He handled it pretty well, with class etc. I just wish he had some tiger in him. But he is a sweet little pussy cat, and shy. so it was especially hard for him. I think had it been DC he would have put on one hell of a performance. I think he is a tough "cookie" when he needs to be and has a competitive edge that I don't think Jason has. That is not a bad thing, I am SOOOO not a competitive person, but in a game as tough as Idol I think you need to be. Simon has commented several times on how competitive Clay was and how he knew exactly how to play the AI game. No way is Jason like that. He has always come out and just done his thing and let the chips fall where the may - and that is cool!

But, I also agree with Luca that this is not the right competition for him. Vocally he is out of his league here. This competition has always been about the "big voice" and Jason is not a big voice singer. Even Brooke is not really right for AI - and I am predicting Brooke is the one leaving tonight. I am NOT saying this as anything against Jason's obvious talents, just when you look at the history of AI winners it is pretty much always the big voice that wins. Hell the coronation songs are always written for a big voice. I have a hard time imagining DC singing one of the coronation songs, let alone Jason. I just wish it wasn't like that. I wish more interesting performers would make top 2 and I honestly wish they could write their own song to sing on Final 2 night - or if they are not song writers, at least choose their own song. THAT is how you get to see the real artist they are to be.

All of these comments lead me to this conclusion - watch Syesha get into the top 2 now. Watch her maybe even win this thing. She came out on top of DI last night - and by a descent margin. Why all of a sudden? Did the people who loved Carly's big voice jump to Syesha? Or have/are the guys splitting the vote so much that the final one standing will be the big voiced female - like usual? Will "middle America" ever pick an AI winner who is "different"?

I am far less confident that DC will win this thing than I was last week. Look at Archie's DI numbers. Shocking! Is it because the tweens texted? Or is it because Syesha has the more powerful voice and is a much better "actress/performer" during her songs the last two weeks? I now truly think the David/David final is in jeopardy if Syesha continues to be smart in her song choices the next couple of weeks. I think GE will end up with that boy/girl final 2 she has been predicting and one of the Davids will be the shocking boot. I don't know that I could even watch a Syesha/Archie finale. I really don't know if I could. I have never missed an episode of AI, but I'm telling you that would be one disappointing Final 2 when you consider what the possibilities could have been this season

It was HORRIBLE what happened to Jason. I don't know that I even want them to address it tonight because no matter what their "excuse" is, even if it is that the judges heard it in rehearsals, it will still be an insult to Jason. There is no way to make it up to him and I almost wonder if him having to sit there and have it rehashed wouldn't just be even more upsetting. I mean if you were Jason would you want to sit there on TV and listen to their feeble excuses? Because even if they do listen to the dress rehearsals (as we have been told by Simon that they do) they still should not base their comments on the DRs but on the live performances because there is no way of knowing if the live performances will be better or worse than the DRs.

The good news? Maybe this will finally be enough to give Paula the boot from this show that she should have gotten a long time ago. Frankly she is pretty useless and sadly she just becomes more of a joke each season.

Brooke is bottom on DI and I really believe she will be the one to go. I just would love to know what's in Jason's heart right now. Does he want to go, or does he hope to stay?

If that is true Abrahammy and Jason only performed before an audience 5 times before, he sure picked the wrong competition to be in! AI is no place to be without being pretty experienced and tough in front of an audience. The show will eat you alive! And if the show doesn't the damn bloggers will!

Green Eyez wrote:

Sky, you're in L.A. and they are ALWAYS on Good Day L.A. on Fox (Channel 11) the same station AI is on. You'll definitely catch him there.

I didn't want to, as you say, fall in love with Jason, but I did. It seems the harder I fight against these things, the harder I fall. I should really just go with it.

I'm hoping that he'll stay and this will all be put behind us.

Like I said, Sky, we'll go get his CD when it comes out.

OMG! That banner is so beautiful! Thanks for bringing it over. It shall be the banner for Jason fans as a symbol of hope that he'll rise up against the fucking AI machine and triumph!

I'm not in LA, I'm in the Seattle area. I sure hope he puts a CD out and soon or at least makes himself visible.

OK, this is a joke! She would have been better off saying she heard it in rehearsals. She is claiming the bad comments of the second song were suppose to be for David Cook and she read the notes wrong. BUT after David's second performance we all know she said "I feel like I am already looking at the American Idol!" AND she still gave Jason pretty much the same comments after his second song. SO she really makes herself look like even more of an ASS! with this comment!

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From ET Online:

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Just in: PAULA ABDUL talks exclusively to ET about her misunderstanding on Tuesday night's "American Idol" performance show!

Discussing the small slip of the tongue she experienced while assessing finalist JASON CASTRO's first performance, Paula explains: "It got very confusing ... the producers come up to us in the dark and said, 'We are not going to have you guys judge after each performer, we are going to have all the performers go once, then twice and at the end critique them.'"

Surprised by the last minute switch in judging procedures, Paula recounts, "I am feverishly trying to write notes for every performance."

And when host RYAN SEACREST asked the judges to quickly sum up the performances, Paula explains that she was trying organize her notes, saying, "I was trying to give my critique for Jason Castro, and scribbled Jason's name, and that was DAVID [COOK]'s! ... We all just screwed up everything." She adds with a laugh: "This is live television. This is fun!"

AI is a joke really. It is so obviously rigged and preplanned. I just cannot get all worked up about it anymore because they are so blatent and obvious about their attempts at swaying the vote. I have to believe there is always a masterplan from early on.

We were all sure TCO was David A., but now I am not so sure. It has been an entertaining season talent wise, so I really don't care who wins.
But, I am thinking more and more it would be better career wise for the more original, creative performers not to win. Especially if Clive is still going to produce their first album.

I think the rest of the season may not matter that much. They just ruined everything. No matter what happens now, there will be a deep, dark pall over the show and its winner.

Luca wrote:

AI is a joke really. It is so obviously rigged and preplanned. I just cannot get all worked up about it anymore because they are so blatent and obvious about their attempts at swaying the vote. I have to believe there is always a masterplan from early on.

We were all sure TCO was David A., but now I am not so sure. It has been an entertaining season talent wise, so I really don't care who wins.
But, I am thinking more and more it would be better career wise for the more original, creative performers not to win. Especially if Clive is still going to produce their first album.

I totally agree with what you said here Luca.

I have not gotten invested in this season at all. I did that during season 4 and when I saw what went on, I've never voted again or gotten into any one person.

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No matter what happens now, there will be a deep, dark pall over the show and its winner.

I find that a very general statement, but I don't think that is true for 99% of the viewing public. Everything will go on as planned, the tour will do very well, contracts will be signed, CDs made, and then the next crop will get ready.

For the most part, it has been an entertaining season talent wise, and its been a good show to watch and hear some songs that I enjoy done nicely. That's all I care about at this point: my own entertainment.

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AI is a joke really. It is so obviously rigged and preplanned. I just cannot get all worked up about it anymore because they are so blatent and obvious about their attempts at swaying the vote. I have to believe there is always a masterplan from early on.

HELLO!!! It IS A Joke. Pauler is an f'in idiot. If she's not on drugs I'll find a job as a stripper. seriuosly. I watched that clip on youtube. She is dumb AND on drugs. Did anyone see her reality show last year? PLEEZ. I have totally lost interest in this show . It is the SOS every year. Thw "winner" will be signed and wil put another pop pablum cd dictated by that relic Clive Davis. he would not know what good was if spat in his face. I blame him partly for the decline of the music industry. If anyone has any sense he will toast. I really do hope that David C. does not win. He will be better off than to be molded into what Clive deems good and original. Really the only original artists these days are independents. not anything cranked out by him. People will move on and it will the same shit next year/ The election is more interesting.

OK, I just watched Good Day L.A. I watched the clip. ON THE SHOW Paula said she was reading David's notes, but they said she called into Ryan Seacrest's radio show and said she heard both songs in rehearsal. So, that is what she's saying. I was about to get really mad there, until I just watched that on GDLA.

I think if Jason had been given a chance to go backstage and calm down, he would have come back and really made it great. Because they made him sit on a stool in front of an audience, he probably just sweat even more.

RE: Syesha. Mayebe I was right when I said to expect a boy/girl finale, and that it didn't matter if there were a bunch of guys left and one girl, she'd hang in till the end. Looks like Syesha may be that girl.

Clive is out. It won't be Clive.

You know, when my mom was sitting there in the second season praying Clay would win, and then she was inconsolable when he didn't, I told her it was probably better for him not to be saddled as the AI winner, because he'd be much more beholden to them and be a huge part of the AI machine (wow, I actually did think about it this way back then). Turns out I was right.

As I pointed out before, the most honest AI contestant in history, Bo, said he was praying he didn't win. He knew what winning meant and he didn't want to be part of it. I'm sure he was shocked he was standing there as F-2.

I'm bringing this over from TwoP. FC, this is totally FC-friendly, I swear. It's sweet and compassionate. Abrahammy will totally be in on my Jacob love right now. This is Jacob's totally tender side. Of course, first he goes off about the same thing we say here: AI is a total sham. Here we go:

Paula's notes say, his first song exposed his lovely lower register, but the second song left him empty, and altogether he wasn't fighting hard enough to get into the top four. Ryan gets super, super scared and stares around and Randy finally mentions to her -- as Simon half-mooses his ass off -- that they're only halfway through. She stumbles around for a second, completely confused because her notes are clearly there in front of her, and Ryan makes a joke about how she can see the future. Simon and Randy chuckle about it, because it's not actually that big a deal -- it's a lot easier to judge the performances in rehearsal, and then compare those initial impressions against the live performances, but like...

Paula's whole thing has been "keep rolling, do the professional thing," and a show that is this much about bread and circuses can't be suddenly springing shit like this on the audience, because if you question the narrative of the show, which Ryan packages up so pretty for us, then you start to question everything. I mean, if you really thought about it you'd already know that they've heard these songs at least twice at this point, but putting it out there means you've broken the wall and reminded us that this is a production, full-fledged, with billions of bucks being poured into it to make it the biggest show in all of television history, and that's a step the puppetmasters can't afford, because if that's fake, then what else is fake?

And that sucks, because really the only new thing, the only news, the only bad thing about what has happened is that Jason Castro now gets to sing live, in front of millions of people, a song that he already knows is going to get shit on. And that is sad. That's the new part of AI history that applies here, and that's what we should all be talking about tomorrow, instead of how we've finally exercised our power over this show in a way that means nothing, because we'll still be watching tomorrow night and five years from now.

Paula acts so crazy and it makes me so, so nervous, and she's wasting crazy time, and Simon finally makes her name her favorite (David Cook, because she's Paula and also because she's right)

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ON THE SHOW Paula said she was reading David's notes, but they said she called into Ryan Seacrest's radio show and said she heard both songs in rehearsal.

So what? She ALWAYS has an excuse. Always has an incoherent dumb ass excuse. Was she not sitting right there last night? Did she not see and hear he only sung ONE song. She needs to be in rehab. STAT. I think her behavior is beyond unprofessional. She is one reason I cannot stand watching. she is one hot mess.

PaulaGate! A must read!

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/04/paulagate-2008.html

I love AI. I will always watch it no matter how much it frustrates me or gets me angry because I LOVE to see new talent and I love having a new artist in my life and to root for. Without it I most likely would not have Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, David Cook, Elliott Yeman, and Carrie Underwood in my life. I totally enjoy them and all my Clay concerts. Hey, we wouldn't even know each other without that show. So I will watch. Not for the judges, not for the producers, but for the young and gifted artists it introduces me to. It will run its course. It will be over one day. Until then I will just fall in love with new artists, get some wonderful (hopefully ) new CDs and enjoy talking with all of you!

ETA: Oh, and a lot of DC fans are wondering if it is best for him to win or not. I wish I knew for sure what DC wants. I will continue to vote for him so he is on the show as long as possible and hope that even if he does not make Final 2 he gets a contract AND that he will be able to record HIS music. I will leave it in God's hands as to what is best for him. I do think his family could use some good news and happiness right about now - and DC winning would probably go a long way in bringing them some happiness - I think anyway.

AETA: BTW, thanks GE for bringing over the "FC rated Recap", but I was reading a TWOP recap of DC's performance just now at one of DC's fanboards. It was a very nice recap of DC's two performances but the recapper mentions hating DC's jacket with the AC/DC on one side. Would you let that person know that it is not AC/DC it is just AC in honor of his brother who is dying of the brain tumor? He has something with an AC on it in every time he performs as a little tribute to his brother. The recapper should probably know that, otherwise making fun of the "AC" is pretty tacky.

I think it's still BS.

I will watch too, for the same reasons you mention FC. If not for these shows we wouldn't have some of these performers to watch and listen to.

For any recapper NOT to know what the AC was for is just wrong.

All I can wish for is that Brook, DA or Syesha goes home tonight, just to spite the judges and producers. I'm still pissed at this whole Paula Gate and don't buy her story. We've all seen her in that 'condition' before....

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So what? She ALWAYS has an excuse. Always has an incoherent dumb ass excuse. Was she not sitting right there last night? Did she not see and hear he only sung ONE song. She needs to be in rehab. STAT. I think her behavior is beyond unprofessional. She is one reason I cannot stand watching. she is one hot mess.

I was just clarifying, because FC brought over something that said Paula was saying that the comment was meant for David and it didn't come from hearing the reharsal. She was surprised. I was just confirming that they did use seeing the dress rehearsal as the excuse, not that the comment was meant for DAvid.

I totally agree that she needs at least 30 days in rehab, because she is messed up BAD.

FC, it's not important that he didn't like the jacket. He liked David and his performance. It's not tacky. It was his opinion. He didn't know the significance of it. That's alright. We all make mistakes. He recaps the show. What he sees. It's people like us who get into all the behind the scenes stuff.

Yes Sky, that is why I said "Paula Gate is a must read!" It's such complete and total BS it is insane!! Can she really not see how stupid it all sounds? Oh wait, it's Paula. She probably doesn't know how stupid it all sounds. Someond should have told her ASAP last night to go with the dress rehearsal story not go back and forth etc.

GE, it was not about him not liking the jacket. It's fine to not like the jacket. I couldn't care less if the recappers like what someone is wearing, it was the mentioning of the stupid jacket with the AC (or I think he said AC/DC) on it. Since the AC is for his dying brother, I know I would sure want to be told of it's significance before I said anything negative about it. Not liking the jacket is one thing - making it a point to mention the big red letters on it is a whole different thing once someone knows it is a tribute to a dying loved one. I know I would sure want to be told before I said something like that! I'd feel like an ass afterwards if I said something about it and then found out what it meant. And yes, if the recapper did know and still said negative things about it I would think that is tacky. We are talking about a family tragedy here. Not just a fashion statement. Personally the jacket itself didn't thrill me. The tribute to his bro every week - is beautiful.

Oh, and I am not saying anything negative against the recapper and I did like his review of DC, just that people on DC's board are saying "doesn't the guy know what the "AC" stand for? So I was just saying someone should put a bug in his ear because it was implied he thinks it stands for AC/DC - which obviously is a whole 'nother thing

I guess I didn't feel he was raising a big red flag. It felt to me like a throwaway comment about a jacket.

I am not a member of the fandom, therefore I wouldn't have known about what "AC" meant and may have made an equally callous comment about it. I think that the people who follow him and know about this stuff, understand it. If you're not, you don't.

It's the recappers job to watch the show and just comment on what he sees. He thought the jacket looked dumb. I'm sure 500 DC fans went on the TwoP boards and set him straight. He probably also got a thousand emails. The fans, they are mighty and they will let the recappers know when they fuck up.

If he actually KNEW it was a tribute to the guy's dying brother and he made a comment, then yes, he should definitely think twice and get a good smack on the knuckles with a ruler. Since he didn't know, he wouldn't imagine to think twice before making a comment about a jacket he just considered fugly.

I do understand the subject of DC's dying brother is a delicate one.

OH!! I completely forgot about this site this year!! They were right ALOT last year!

They say DC got the most votes and Syesha is going home! How wonderful if true (no offense to Syesha - she is just my least fave) So I am crossing my fingers and toes!

No matter what - I do not think Jason is going home!

http://www.zabasearch.com/ai_stats.php

Also, I just read that DI has not been that accurate because this year more than ever the votes are coming in by text - which is something I suspected after finding out that Archie's Angels were buying go-phones so they could do all their voting via text because all those votes go in. That may explain why I was having it easy getting through last night for both DC and Jason.

Hey GE, glad you got what I meant. It was no offense to the recapper, just that I thought he might want to know since it is a sensitive subject. You are right though, he probably has been notified by now. I just re-watched DC's second song and I don't hate the jacket - but I don't love it either. I like the AC of course, but not the flame so much. I like other outfits he's worn a lot more.

Thanks FC!

It will be interesting if Syesha goes home tonight. I just had a feeling Jason would stay tonight because:

1. I'm sure his fanbase was motivated like never before

2. He could not go home after that big a mess-up. The people who already think the fix is in would have a field day with that. It would get into another news cycle and Nigel probably doesn't need the aggravation at this point.

I'm sure David A.'s fans are voting their tweenie fingers off. I haven't brought the comments over, but Jacob's thoughts about DA are pretty much what Frazz has been saying, almost verbatim.

I hope you're right, firecracker. I hope Jason is safe tonight, but I've resigned myself to him leaving.

Zabasearch hasn't been all that accurate this year either.

You're welcome! I totally agree that Jason's fans HAD to have gone into overdrive!! I know I would for DC if that had happened to him. Plus I agree that sending Jason home tonight would cause a LOT of grief for them. Not that I think they should send somebody else home who truly did get more votes than Jason, but I can just see Nigel losing it at the thought of having to deal with the questioning and doubts.

Paula was just on ET and the interview and answers were so ridiculous she made an even bigger ass of herself. Saying that "ALL" the judges were mixed up and everyone just thinks it was all so funny! (I don't think Jason thought it was funny) and still claiming that those comments were meant for David C. Oh, and the best part was saying the producers changed the plan at the last second in the dark. I know that is not true because I read at The Clack House they they were only going to critique after both songs before the show even started.

Ryan said that at the very beginning of the show, that they weren't to critique until after the second song.

The weird thing is, that apparently the decision to have the judges do a critique after everyone had sung their first song was done literally at the last second. And the show was running late but they were told to do it anyway. I mean, what was the point?