Like a kiss, interrupted, Constantine is taken from us far too soon.
Tonight Constantine Maroulis ended his American Idol journey, and part of our journey---the part he took us on in his own unique, charming and disarming way---now ends, too.
For those who love him, and I think that is not too strong a word for their connection with him, I can only say "I'm sorry." Over the years, many fans of American Idol have experienced what you are feeling now, but your time has come much too soon.
Yes, yes, we can talk about how this is a beginning and not an end, how tomorrow is another day, how sometimes losing in the short-term works out better than winning in the long-term. That's all true. But it's also true that that all sounds only like drivel and platitudes and bunk in this moment.
Even for those who were not devoted fans of Constantine, I think there is a recognition that something inexplicable has happened.
Of course, there is an explanation, or several. But all I really want to say right now is that I believe American Idol---as a television show and as a singing competition---will be poorer this season for having lost Constantine so early.
Other contestants, undoubtedly talented and fetching, might come and go and, the week after they are gone, their last name is "Who?" They are forgotten.
I don't believe that will be Constantine's fate. And his absence from the show, far from being unnoticed in the weeks ahead, leaves a final five that---at least as it stands now---is like a song without a strong hook. Moreover, Constantine's too-early departure will create a jumble of wierd and vaguely (or not so vaguely) acrimonious dynamics in AI-fandom, sapping some of its good-time sheen. As AI history proves, that is nothing to look forward to.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Christine
Great article. You said it absolutely right. I wish Constantine all the best. I know good things are to come his way :)
2 - Sticker
thanks, christine
and tomorrow we get down to the business of sorting all this out
3 - Archie
There goes my 8-1 bet on Bodog for Constantine winning American Idol.
4 - Bridgit
Great article indeed.
I would also like to add that as a fan of Constantine, my watching of the American Idol has finished with tonights events. It just hurts too much to see the person who should have won this competition being let go far too soon. American Idol has lost tonight. However, I am certain we will hear a lot more about Constantine, and that makes me happy!!! All the best to him...
5 - Kelly
As a Constantine fan, I'm really hurting... This is a huge shock right now... but I feel he will be the biggest star AI has ever turned out... that said, AI has really turned into a sad, sad joke, what with the Votefortheworst people getting their way now. It hurts.
6 - Michele
Your article was right on the mark. The season now seems tasteless and disappointing. I thought Anthony was brilliant last night, but, I see the handwriting on the wall for him, too. With Votefortheworst.com, and all the sympathy votes for Scott, with even the President saying he roots for Scott because he is the underdog, I think Scott will continue to override the real talent, and send home the last few remarkable contestants, leaving only a showdown between Carrie and himself. What a choice. Carrie is a good singer, and so is Scott, but, they are also mediocre, in their own way. Maybe that is a fitting winner in a Fox competition.
I hope the ABC kicks Idol butt next week. I suspect there is something amiss with the voting, myself.
7 - dana
I would like to add that you people need lives.
It is just a stupid TV show, a really stupid TV show, where people vote early and often.
Your man sang a wretched song and paid the price. DEAL WITH IT! He stunk up the joint and is basically a cheeseball anyway.
Sure he was better than Fat Scott and that ABBA-like dude who sang something from automaton Celine Dione's schlock songbook.
But that's American Idol.
Now you can all root for the cheese master, Bo Bice.
8 - Artradioguy
He chose the wrong song. It is as simple as that. He didn't listen to his handlers. Sinatra recorded the most hideous rendition of Bad Bad Leroy Brown. Elvis recorded that ghastly In The Ghetto. Steisand had that song from the boxing movie that was so bad I can't even remember the name of it. These people are stars for all the ages and even they made a bad song choice, but they had already arrived. Con was still trying to become a star. A bad choice at this point can be a career killer as he learned the hard way. Nadia Turner had already learned it and if Scott doesn't buy a pitch pipe he will be next because he hasn't made a good song choice in weeks, if there is a right choice for him. And Bo should have been in the bottom three this week. Biggest turnaround this week, Anthony Federov. Tomorrow or the next day Constantine will be on Regis and Kelly or singing on the Tonight show. His star will shine on. And all of you people will go on watching until Carrie Underwear becomes the next Idol. Why? Because middle America loves McDonalds, they love Chevy and Ford trucks. In other words, they love mediocraty. If not Carrie maybe Bo or Anthony. Not Von or Scott.
9 - Chuck
Hey Brother Constatine, I can't believe it. So sorry to see you go. If ever there was a AI fluke, it's now. I voted for you every week, because I have faith in your potential. The others are right, there is no one worth voting for now. No one has the personality Constatine did. If you would have told me this, even last week, I would have bet some heavy money in saying it would never happen. This sucks.
10 - Rebecca
I must say, I disagree with you that Constantine shouldn't have gone home. Perhaps he will be missed, and he was definitely better than Savol and, often, Federov, but look at it this way: he chose an average song, tried to sing it in a style similar to the original, and failed horribly.
His tone didn't suit the song.
He inverted lyrics... no, he didn't compress them, he actually sang "I've been down, I've been wrong" when the lyrics are "I've been wrong, I've been down".
In short, he was given a gimme and simply failed.
My prediction, if talent has anything to say in this competition?
Bo or Carrie... but I won't buy their albums.
11 - Kristi
I am soo disappointed..i am soo done with American Idol!!!!
12 - Bridgit
Maybe so that he chose less than an ideal song, and maybe so that he screwed up some words. Carrie did it too many times, we have all seen it. Bo is a rocker, and primarily those are the songs that work well for him. Carrie is pretty and has a nice voice, but that is where all stops, she needs a new image, seriously!!! Neither of them have the edge or the charisma to be as fabulous or as "sexy" in lack of a better term.
And, tomorrow, as Sticker has said, and tomorrow we get down to the business of sorting all this out as I am sure there will be news on what really happened with the votes...
13 - RHONDA
Tonights show was a total disgrace!!!! Constantine was by far the best singer ever on the history of "American Idol". He had a few "off" nights but there were many and I mean MANY nights where he just rocked and sang his heart out. How this happened I will never ever understand I am so sorry, but you know what - I know that we Americans have not heard the last of Constantine. This is just the beginning for him. As the saying goes "when one door shuts another one opens." There is another succesful opportunity out there just waiting for him, and I am sure he will find it. This was just a stepping stone for him, but give him time and I can guarantee you - Constantine will be back !!! Constantine - You have my rocked my world and I love you !! You are an American Idol in my book.
14 - Anna
There's a petition floating for a recount if anyone is interested:
PLEASE PLEASE, everybody sign the petition and add your scathing comments!
Whoever had trouble getting through to Con's line... go sign!
http://www.petitiononline.com/123aifix/petition-sign.html
15 - Megan
Your article expressed the sadness of Constantine's shocking departure so eloquently. When Ryan announced the results, I came to a dead stop and stood with a dropped jaw on the eliptical machine at my gym. I almost shed tears, and didn't care that there was a row of people running behind me on the tredmills. It sounds absolutely absurd, but all I could think of was the empathy I had for Constantine and his shattered dreams. It was too shocking for all of us, and I can't imagine what it was for him. Sure if it was a gradual departure like that of Scott or Anthony (or so we thought) I wouldn't have felt as bad for them. We and they would have known that unfortuneately, it was their time to go. But tonight was too premature for Constantine to leave, and he knows it too. I think in the back of his mind he thought, ok I'm in the bottom 3, but so was BO, I can bring myself up in the next weeks and make it to the final 3 or 2, Even 4! where I deserve to be. But not even to make the top 5!!! Ughh I still can't get over it. Yes, American Idol has lost another viewer. Constantine was someone I looked forward to watching. He was spontaneous, creative, and kept myself and many others guessing. He was a chemelion to all genres
and never sang similar songs back to back. Now there is a serious lack of competition in this competition. Its just so outlandash AND even more outlandish that I'm so stunned I needed to write this.
16 - Teresa
For those complaining about the votefortheworst.com people being the reason Constantine left tonight - forget about it. Constantine left because he didn't get enough votes. It is that simple. If Scott got more votes, he got more votes. It doesn't matter how or why he got the votes. Scott's fans (and nonfans) are voting 2 hours non-stop to make sure he stays in. It doesn't matter WHY they're voting, it matters that they're voting. Apparently, Constantine's fans didn't care enough. Vote For The Worst is an organized effort to vote for a certain contestant. Does it help? Maybe, maybe not. Who knows? Why didn't Constantine have something similar?
17 - Guest
I didn't expect this. I'm soo dissapointed. I never liked American Idol until I saw Constantine there. Then I got into it. I thought "a rocker!!! whoooohooo!" After knowing this dissapointing result, I'll probably stop watching this show now. *laughs* Since that's the only reason I watched it. But hey at least Bo Bice is still in. ;) Anyway, in my eyes, Constantine was the 'American Idol.'
18 - Temple Stark
Great phrase - A casserole with no recognizable ingredients.
Why do I think there will be a shock and one of the other contests will get puled - replaced by constantine.
Or that he got yanked just in time for his band's album release.
19 - Sticker
temp, you and me, we think alike
and just what *are* you doing up at this ungodly hour?
20 - fanciful1
I think Constantine knew LAST NIGHT he was on the way out. If you listen to and watch his performance, he was angry. There is more to this than we see. Plus, Simon's comment about it being a rough week . . . what's up with that? Did they put him through the wringer because of the PFTSOB album announcement? There is something so fishy here we could be in a fishmarket!
21 - Sticker
fanci, I also saw what you saw.
That was one unhappy show last night, all around.
There did seem to be some drama going on.
22 - Frak
Constantine was a big fraud. The guy
tried to pass himself off as a rocker.
Instead he was just some drama club fruit cake. So happy to see that melon
headed moron go. With his lame "I wanna be Van Halen kicks" and that stupid
smirk.
adios you broadway fruit. So funny that
Scott, the ugliest man alive and a wife beater passed him up, haha.
Bo is the only real deal on the show (less that country singer girl).
23 - Tim
We have a bunch of right wing jesus freaks in america who believe everything our stupid president says. If he likes scott, all of those morons will like him too. I guess since Bush has ruined everything else in this country he figured he may as well ruin music too!!!!
24 - Farhana
I've seen Idol for the past 2 years and even though seing it I never thought i'd be addicted to it..well i was wrong, i was addicted to it once i saw constantine..i lived to see that program, after a hard day at school i would live to see constantine smiling and performing his heart out..It just hurts me so much that Scott's still in..honestly i did have a feeling Connie would get out but i NEVER expected it now..Yes, his song choice wasnt really good, but Scott hasnt been doing well for the past few weeks..and America is only thinking about Connie's last erformance but not about his previous ones..like Bohemian Rhapsody (I think he was brilliant when he sang that!)..I live in India and Idol will hit my TV screen in another 7 and a half hours..I already have cried and i know im gonna cry again.But all my love goes to Connie i love him so much, im his die hard fan and i wish him all the very best in the forth coming years.Its a perfect time for him to patch up thing with his band once again as they're album realises on 10 of May but Koch Records..but something still makes me wounder..its such a perfect time, could it be that Connie wanted to leave and told Ryan to do this to get him of or something?..I dont really care for Idol anymore..I'll only see it tonight and then in the Finale..I cant vote since i live in India..but please my vote now goes for Bo or Von..all u fans of theres PLEASE vote for them..And keep constantines rememberance ALIVE..I know he'll be very popular in the years ahead.I wish my hero all the best and I love U constantine..I LIVE for u..I love u and wish u all the very best.Love -Farhana
25 - Jula
BRING BACK CONSTANTINE !!!!!
BRING BACK CONSTANTINE !!!!!
BRING BACK CONSTANTINE !!!!!
BRING BACK CONSTANTINE !!!!!
BRING BACK CONSTANTINE !!!!!
BRING BACK CONSTANTINE !!!!!
BRING BACK CONSTANTINE !!!!!
BRING BACK CONSTANTINE !!!!!
BRING BACK CONSTANTINE !!!!!