TV Wednesday: American Idol

BONUS: ELLIOTT YAMIN'S NEW VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS POST!

** SPOILER ALERT FOR REST OF POST **

UPDATE: Award for Best Nickname goes to the Yahoo TV reviewer who dubbed the audience crybaby "Little Miss Sobshine." Love it!

Last week, Brandon Rogers found himself wanting for votes as he was the casualty on Wednesday's elimination show. A shame. It seems the singers I'm enjoying the most this year are getting the boot in early rounds. Now that we are into the final 12, only one goes per week instead of the four in previous weeks.

Now for this week's show:

"Lulu went to the ballgame, she sat right in the front. Pitcher threw a curve ball, and hit 'er in the....Bang Bang Lulu"

The Final 11
Jordin Sparks (pictured) — Great job again this week. I can imagine hearing it on the radio. I was hanging on every word. And she's got a diamond stud in her nose.
Haley Scarnato — I really enjoy her and have been pulling for her from the start. Fun!
Chris Richardson — Style is shaky, and even when trying to be more in control, he's up and down so much it's like listening to a vocal earthquake.
Stephanie Edwards — Music got ahead of her. I'm not sure if she forgot the words, or if the way she was singing just made it seem that way. Showed her likable personality in the pre-song interview with Ryan. She's pretty.
Blake Lewis — I liked the song and his singing. Hit a flat patch in the middle and his pants were distractingly ugly. I think my brother had a similar pair back in the late 60's so he was dressed for the night's era.
LaKisha Jones — I thought the performance was boring. That green dress made her look like a float in the St. Patrick's Day parade.
Phil Stacey — He was great last week but his voice seemed to get lost this week. I don't think Uncle Fester has "the look" of an American Idol.
Sanjaya Malakar — Well, we saw who's voting for Sanjaya. That poor little tristle-traipse in the audience, crying hysterically, her heart all a'quiver. And you know all the girls at home are burning up their cell minutes pounding those phone lines. Part of me enjoyed his performance, the other part of me felt embarrassed for him.
Gina Glockson — 50% great; 50% okay.
Chris Sligh — Much better than last week. A bit falsetto-y but nailed the chorus. Paula commented on his shirt...yep, paisley covers a lot. A real lot. (Did you catch Ryan's stroking motion during the post-song interview???)
Melinda Doolittle — Really good. Another Broadway-style performance.

My Predictions For This Week
• Best — Jordin Sparks (2nd week in a row)
• Worst — Phil Stacey
• Out — Phil Stacey

Top 10 make the live tour this summer.

Past Results
• Out 3/14/7 — Brandon Rogers
• Out 3/8/7 — Jared Cotter, Sundance Head, Antonella Barba, Sabrina Sloan
• Out 3/1/7 — Nick Pedro, A.J. Tabaldo, Alaina Alexander, Leslie Hunt
• Out 2/22/7 — Rudy Cardenas, Paul Kim, Amy Krebs, Nicole Tranquillo

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One of my favorites from last year's AI, Elliott Yamin, just released his debut CD (available at amazon.com).

I've included this "before" photo of Elliott. I saw him on television today and he's let his hair grow out and he's had extensive work done on his teeth — looks like all new caps on the front...too much work for just veneers. I thought it might be braces at first but he still has an under bite. (Don't get me wrong, I think he's sexy as hell.) The interviewer asked if anything was new about him since AI, referring to his tousled hair, and Elliott joked that he has a new smile. I liked that he showed such comfort, humility, and self awareness.

I wonder if his appearance played any part in his exit in third place? Remember when it was down to Taylor Hicks, Katherine McPhee, and Elliott, they each had around 33% of the vote and it came down to a slim margin. Perhaps with some cosmetic dentistry, he would have been the American Idol instead of Taylor.


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