So now we can put the cries of racism and conspiracy theories behind us and get on with the show. While last week's results night will likely go down as one of the most notorious in AI history, tonight's can only be seen as a vindication.
In an obvious response to the cries for more transparency in the results, Seacrest started off the night by announcing that there had been 28 million votes cast last night, and even went so far as to reveal that the contestant with the lowest number of votes received almost 4 million. If you do the math, it's clear that the voting had to have been close. If all the votes cast last night were divided equally among the contestants, they would have gotten 4.6 million each. At most, the top vote-getter was probably somewhere north of 6 million.
There's no runaway winner at this point. Everyone has their favorites; I've been predicting that LaToya will win since we first saw her. But it really is anyone's game right now. Every vote counts.
The group medley of Gloria Estefan songs was painful. At least it was over quickly.
Once again, Seacrest corralled the remaining finalists into two groups: A and B. Tonight, it went down like this:
Group A: Fantasia, Diana, LaToya
Group B: John, Jasmine, George
Millions of fans across the country groaned. It looked as if we had another repeat of last week's travesty, especially since group A was standing center stage and group B remained on the couches. For a moment, it seemed like America was going to blow it again--big time.
That moment was fleeting. Seacrest almost gleefully revealed that group A was safe this week, meaning the dueling divas were going nowhere. John, Jasmine, and George were on the chopping block.
Article comments
1 - Scott Pepper
As an aside, next week's theme is big-band music, a category that Stevens would likely have excelled in.
2 - Natalie Davis
Big deal. Like teenyboppers are interested in big band music (which I love, BTW). Do you see Kelly and Clay scoring with big band music?
3 - Mac Diva
It is good that the results seem rational this time. But, that does not explain why bad to mediocre singers last as long as they do.
4 - I
Oh, I'm doubly pissed. Big Band next week. OF COURSE. What a rip.
5 - Eric Olsen
I agree once again, Scott. Everyone and their mother looked relieved. John is a tough, mature kid who will likely succeed at whatever he does, and he's still very young, he may find a niche in singing if he can improve on the technical side. I hope George gets it back together - his choices in songs and arrangements have been poor of late.
6 - NWinn
Season One I hadn't even heard of the show until my wife's sister visited from Florida. She was hooked, so we hopped in the car and drove to the house of someone with a TV.
If it had not been Big Band night, that would have been the end of it. When I heard the cheesy backing tracks the next week I asked "What happened?" They said "It's always like this."
I said, "If I'd known it was cheesy backing tapes, I'd have never watched this show!" But I was wrong; I'd been addicted.
7 - TDavid
I kind of wish they would let the contestant on their way out choose the song to sing.
Would have been nice to hear John do a Rat Pack song on his way out since that was clearly what he was best at, rather than the song that ultimately got him eliminated. It's like saying, "Hey this song sucked so bad that America voted for everybody else, but hey, why don't you just sing it one. More. Time.
8 - Dubbs
The one thing John excelled at in this particular competition was grace when facing criticism, which scores him big on the "nice guy" and maturity scales, but let's just admit it, it was his time (way past his time) to go. Now the thing is...who's next?
9 - Natalie Davis
George, one hopes. Ewwww.
10 - Bob Sigman
WHY IS JASMINE STILL on the show... SHE IS NEXT TO GO!!!!!!!!