Tonight, twelve semi-finalists got a second chance at fame and fortune on the American Idol wild card show. Or rather, eight of the twelve got a chance. Before anyone got to sing in Tuesday night's 90-minute extravaganza, four of the contenders were cut from the mix. In light of the fact that these performers have been practicing all week for the show, this had to be particularly painful for those who were axed. To be offered another chance, to go through workshop and rehearsal, only to have the rug pulled out from under you at the last minute live on national television--how incredibly brutal. Of course, such a situation creates exactly the sort of hand wringing and emoting that the show's producers love.
It was rather like a firing squad, each contestant called up before the panel to be either selected or summarily dismissed.
Lisa Leuschner was first up and first gone. Despite her third-place finish in Group 2, the judges weren't willing to temper their earlier critiques, which is a shame, as her voice is both strong and unique. They commented again on her potential, but waved her off without a second thought.
Marque Lynch never got a chance to repent for choosing The Wind Beneath My Wings for his first appearance, as he was the next to go. The judges had him pegged correctly as a good stage singer, but not a pop star by any means.
Tiara Purifoy didn't get a chance either. The judges didn't seem to have any particularly scathing critiques, but they couldn't also think of much good to say about her. When you're in a competition like this, an average performance like the one she gave last week doesn't cut it, so away she went.
Eric Yoder was the last reject, dashing his hopes of becoming the next Clay Aiken. He hadn't managed to give the judges or the audience any reason to vote him on. Since he didn't stand out, the judges likely felt completely justified in passing on him tonight.
With these four shunted from the stage into the audience, the remaining eight were ushered through the cattle call to get one more shot at the finals. While in the previous semi-final rounds the judges were there only to offer their "expert" opinions, they do get a vote this time around. Of the four remaining finalist slots, one will be decided by the voters, and each judge will also get one pick. So, while the performers only had to worry about pleasing the masses in their previous efforts, they had to play to the audience and the judges both tonight.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
I thought wasting 20 minutes on telling us who was going to get to perform was preposterous and, as you said, cruel. If there wasn't room for 12 to perform, then don't tell 12 people they are going to get another chance. God, that pissed me off. The show is compelling enough on its merits and doesn't have to do this stupid, mean shit.
2 - Phillip Winn
I think the point is that the judges watched rehearsals in order to make up their minds on which eight would compete. Yes, they dragged it out, but it might have been more odd to have the people come back and rehearse for a week and then go home quietly without ever being mentioned, no?
Plus, they want to do *something* new every year. It works for Survivor.
3 - Scott Pepper
While it was a change from last year, this is the only instance I can recall of the show ever having contestants prepare and rehearse a song and then not even get a chance to perform. Really very shoddy, especially consider that at least one of those not selected had a very real shot of being voted into the finals.
4 - sheri
I love Simon's british accent.
And I agree, the way they eliminated contestants last night was cruel.
5 - sheri
Out of all these reality competition tv thingies...the most cruel was The Littlest Groom, a painful- to- watch exploitation of a disability.
6 - Scott Pepper
Sheri-
I didn't see "The Littlest Groom" -- what was so bad about it?
7 - sheri
Scott, it had a group of "little women", otherwise known as midgets, compete for the affections of a "little man". So far , so good maybe, until they brought in three beautiful normal sized women. Watching these little women...two of them with twisted arm features...standing on the stage next to the normal women, made me cringe and I felt horrible for them. I just felt it was blatant exploitataion.
8 - Pappy
I am still shocked not to see Lisa perform and I didn't like that we didn't see 12 performances.
My wife pointed something interesting out to me:
She noticed the judges say there were 4 people they really wanted to perform, and the rest were a toss-up.
She speculates (and I believe this) that people like Lisa were left out because the judges knew the fans would vote her into the finals, and thus would servekeeping out one of the judges favorites from the finals (Remember that the fans pick one, and then each judge selects one).
Thus she speculates that the judges kept Lisa out, and put in her place James Van Der Beek ERR Matthew Metzger.
9 - i
I'm very glad your prediction was off about John's performance landing him nowhere near the top 4. It's great to see that everyone doesn't have to be cookiecutter to get through this thing.
10 - Scott Pepper
I couldn't be more happy about being wrong either. Jon Peter is a great addition to the Top 12.
11 - TDavid
I'm surprised they didn't bring in some tie-in to another Fox show to help with voting off those four contestants from getting the final chance. Mean, yes, but not entirely suprising to squeeze another half hour and lead into a new series.
With that said, if the word Fox comes up then "cruelty" should be expected with shows like My Big Fat Fiance, Joe Millionaire, The Chamber (probably my favorite game show ever).
12 - leNiNReV
Jon-peter is a toughie. I think he definetly entertained us all..so yea, he's good in my bOOK
13 - Eric Olsen
I see the Jon Peter vote as purely a "screw you" from the audience, which it periodically engages in just to show the judges who's boss and to deflate their self-importance, to say "entertainmetn isn't only about talent." He will probably be the first one voted out of the finals.