Oh my gosh, what happened on "American Idol"? Once again, host Ryan Seacrest assigned the contestants into group A or group B based on last night's voting. Fantasia, Jennifer, and LaToya -- the best singers -- were all in group A, and John S., Jasmine, and Diana were in group B. George was in his own group: safe for the night.
As I watched this, I thought (no doubt joined by all of America), yep, group B is the bottom 3, just as I had predicted. Ryan then told George to join the top group, and naturally he joined group A.
Then Ryan said, "George, I told you to join the top vote getting group. You're in the wrong group."
Whuuuhh????
How in the world did Fantasia, Jennifer, and LaToya end up in the bottom 3? Could it be that each of their supporters figured that she was safe and didn't bother to do the instant redialing? At this point, I have to acknowledge that reader g was quite close to nailing his prediction that Fantasia, Jennifer, and George would be the lowest vote-getters and that Fantasia would be booted. She wasn't, but she was the second lowest vote-getter.
It's hard to take this season seriously when John Stevens is still around while far superior singers like Jennifer Hudson and Amy Adams are gone. I suppose it's democracy at action, except for the ability to redial and revote. I haven't voted at all this season, and even if I were to vote (as I did last season), I don't have the patience to vote more than, say, 20 times -- which is probably 19 times more than I should be able to vote. After all, all those people voting and revoting for John-boy aren't going to be buying and re-buying his records, are they?
UPDATE: Prof. Althouse is just as stunned as I am about the results:
American Idol: The Outrage. What the hell happened? That was the worst thing ever on American Idol.
Well, I don't know that it was the worst thing ever. That might have to be John-boy's rendition of "Crocodile Rock" or maybe the infamous Keith rendition of "Like a Virgin" . . . or Nikki McKibben finishing ahead of Tamyra Gray in season 1 . . . or . . . well, you get the idea.
George looked like he really felt bad last night, likely due to his havin shunned Group B. George's assuming Group A was the top group was completely reasonable, but he really should have asked Seacrest which group to go to.
Also, John just continues to look stunned. I think he knows he's not good enough to still be there, and that better people have been booted. And, as a result, he's a bit embarrassed to have to keep getting on the stage.
Even though Jennifer Hudson shouldn't have been booted last night, I could have done without Seacrest's preaching at the end. It was disrespectful to those left.
Posted by: Jason Steffens | April 22, 2004 at 06:36 AM
I believe that a line should be drawn between an American Idol judge being a judge of talent (or so-called American Idol x-factor) and being a judge with a license to be deliberately mean on national TV.
What Simon said to Jasmine in tonight's Final Four episode which sent something like "you better hope that every household in Hawaii has five telephone lines" (and more) was not only mean but blatantly cruel.
Jasmine is a 16 year old kid who obviously gave her best shot despite all insurmountable odds. We all know that she has been getting some slack lately. However, this does not give the right for an American Idol judge to not only pin her on the wall, but pin her down on the wall several times (with no measure of decency or respect) till she broke (in tears) on national TV!!!
I should say that Jasmine was an exceptionally strong person to take insult to injury with grace and character (without answering back).
As a responsible society, we should be careful on what we feed the mind of millions of television viewers, a significant number of which is compriced by our youth.
Tonight's American Idol episode simply said that it is alright break a person (or snuff a a 16 yr old kid's spirit out) with no smidgen of respect in front of the whole world. That it is alright to do all these in the name of national TV!
Indeed, we do need to redefine our understanding of our "American Idol".
What happened tonight was a showcase of "un-Idol" behavior. Worse than Janet Jackson showing her breast during the Super Bowl half time.
Posted by: Mark | May 11, 2004 at 08:05 PM
I,AND THE GROUP THAT WATCHES TOGETHER, BELIEVE THAT THE JUDGES TRASHED JASMINE, ESPECIALLY SIMON. SOOOOOO, AMERICA CAMED TOGETHER AND VOTED FOR THE UNDERDOG. WE WERE VOTING FOR LATOYA AND FANTASIA. JASMINE IS YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED BUT NOT READY FOR BEING AN AMERICAN IDOL.WE FEEL THAT IT IS THE JUDGES FAULT THAT LATOYA IS OFF. WE STILL FEEL THAT SHE WILL MAKE IT!!!!
Posted by: CARMELLA | May 16, 2004 at 09:21 AM
im not being mean or anything .. but i think that the people who make the show are somewhat PREDIDOUS to jasmine .. its like you guys want to get rid of her because she's asian .. i think she has all rite just like all of the other contestents .. and also if she goes .. i think its because you guys made her nervous and two nights (or three) in a row you let her go first .. this monday and tuesday .. and also .. she doesnt get good judement .. and im happy that randy supports his own kind . put how about other people too .. i can tell he really doesnt like jasmine or asians at all .. so i expect jasmine to stay and fantasia to go .. i hope you guys listen to me .. and give asians there time to be famous too .. thank you for your time
Raye
Posted by: Reyna | May 19, 2004 at 02:48 PM