Color me sad.

Well, that sucks. Michael is so much better than most of the others left. I also thought Ryan was cruel to mention that last year they didn't eliminate anyone. He shouldn't have said that. You could see the hope that flashed across Michael's face.

Dial Idol isn't a science. The green kids are the only ones they're confident in predicting safety for. Beyond that, though...yeah. His elimination was bullshit. Not legitimate bullshit, but bullshit just the same. There were four people who should have gone before him and another that never would have, but I'd still like to have *seen* go before him. Not a good night. Though I did appreciate an actual emotional response from the judges. It's been awhile since they've been surprised. Daughtry might be the last. And before that, I have to go back to Tamyra. Simon has points removed for almost immediately pretending that he wasn't at all stunned by it, though. They cancel out the earlier points given to him for his booing during the David Cook segment. I don't take issue with Ryan's script (they expect that nonsense even if it *does* get their--and my--hopes up), but it amuses me to think of how many times shennanigans would have been called tomorrow if he *had* made an announcement that allowed Michael to stay and voted two out next week. The show will never win, no matter what it does, but I could have dealt with the whining if it meant another week and a chance to vote KLC, Carly or Syesha out before him. Though KLC's totally checked out of the show at this point and I'm starting to find that amusing. When she finally gets voted out, I swear to you she's going to knock Ryan to the ground, set fire to the stage and run away laughing hysterically. One thing I do take issue with? Simon's constant "you know you picked the wrong song" BS. No, Simon, he doesn't. You can keep telling him that, but he's okay with his song choice. It bugs me every single time Simon tells a contestant what they're thinking, but for some reason it really bugged this week. The dude liked his song, I didn't see anything *wrong* with the song choice and he did a good job. Maybe if you guys had tried to convince us that our votes equalled News Corp money this year more of Michael's fans would have voted and kept him there. As far as Simon goes, though, in spite of my issues with his being pointlessly obtuse, it actually looks like he's in the studio instead of praying for death like has been the case in the past.

Though KLC's totally checked out of the show at this point and I'm starting to find that amusing. When she finally gets voted out, I swear to you she's going to knock Ryan to the ground, set fire to the stage and run away laughing hysterically. Now THAT'S Must See TV. Haven't seen the episode yet, comes on tonight, but I can't say I am surprised. I called him to be in the bottom three with Carly with her going home. His song just didn't do anything to me and he had the misfortune to go first. I really think that the producers stack the competition so that the ones they want to push are later in the show therefore they are fresher in people's minds.

Now THAT'S Must See TV. I'd save that in the tivo *and* make copies. On the subject of Ryan, one thing I'm enjoying this season is his total inability to handle Brooke. It walks a line between being adorable and uncomfortable to watch. She's just 100% babbling dork (which is part of why I love her) and he can't keep her on her mark or get her to shut up or get her to sit in the right damn seat and it's become one of my favorite parts of the otherwise excruciating results shows. Haven't seen the episode yet, comes on tonight, but I can't say I am surprised. I called him to be in the bottom three with Carly with her going home. Even Paula called Carly as the loser this week. Even *Carly* seemed to think she was the loser this week. It didn't shock me at all that he was bottom three (no one but Archie, really, would have surprised me), but to go home during your first time in the bottom *and* on a week where you really weren't anywhere near the most offensive performance is just nuts. I don't blame him at all for looking shell shocked by it. If everyone's predicting other people, Dial Idol doesn't have you down at the bottom, the judges put you in the middle and you seem to be well liked then it's not hubris to be shocked, it's just natural. I felt bad for him. I *really* doubt this is the end of the world to him and he'll be fine, but for that moment I felt sorry for him. I'm going to miss the eye candy... http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/amysusanne/3ab7beed.jpg I really think that the producers stack the competition so that the ones they want to push are later in the show therefore they are fresher in people's minds. Their general line of thought is what will keep viewers in their seats until the end and what will end the show on a high note. Sometimes i question that "high note" thing (because they've been anticlimactic more than a few times this season), but the rest I find logical. The order rotates. Ratings and ad dollars...those matter more than the winner to the people actually running the show.

Ratings and ad dollars...those matter more than the winner to the people actually running the show. To a certain extent I acgree with this comment but the people who run the show also have a stake in the career of the winner. After all this show is to find the next musical sensation. A show doesn't make a musicial sensation, the ability to seel and move records does. To that I do feel that they stock the playing field to press the artists they feel will have a bvetter chance to push product. It sort of reminds me of last season when the "fan voted" song pretty much coronated Jordin over Blake. There was no way Blake could have successful sung that song, it was just not written for him. IMO, YMMV Yadda Yadda Yadda

David Cook is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.

I <3 Cookie! He was the only one who made me look away from my computer. He's an Idol-for realz! I think Syesha or Carly is gone. I hope I'm wrong, but I think we're stuck with Kristy Lee.

I starting to want Archie gone. I just don't find him nearly as good as the judges do. They thought he was brilliant. I was annoyed because the mike was picking up every breath he took. Syesha's wailing didn't impress me tonight. Okay, so she can hit a note and hold it. It still sounded like she was screaming. Kristy Lee was mediocre. I'd actually think she would deserve to stay this week because she was better than some of the others. Brooke started off okay, but she was too fast or something. Her performance kind of broke down. She should be in the bottom 3, though not necessarily the one to go home.

David Cook never ceases to amaze me. He takes risks, has an awesome voice (reminds me of Eddie Vedder) and delivers everytime. David A has a great voice and I am quite amazed at how composed he is at such a young age. He reminds me of my nephew so I always find him adorable. But DC will be the one that studios snag immediately for a record contract. I don't care for any of the women except Carly. I guess Simon's stinging comment to her about her taste in clothing was taken to heart. Sans were the tatoos and she was dressed totally different.

I'm willing to bet good money that one of the girls will do 'Memories', Archie probably end up with whatever message song he can find. On the David thread at the other place(I swear they have a full screen of rules there on top of every page of the things that are not allowed to be discussed in the Cookie thread) people are hoping he'll do 'Gethsemane'. On second thought, I think David could also sing the hell out of 'What A Circus' from Evita.

I don't know what this strange emotion is that I'm feeling but...I think I might have actually grown *fond* of KLC. Fuck. Still...I'm glad she's finally gone, especially since I'd like for my gawky, dorky, totally spazzy girlfriend Brooke to be safe for another week, but jeez. I usually get annoyed with some of the "backtalk", but I was sort of glad that Brooke did her "hey" at the end because I think we've long gotten that Simon's not KLC's biggest fan. We get it, Simon...you're a badass. Just let the girl go home without kicking her one last time because, as much as it pains me to go along with Paula's shiny, happy outlook, it's really to the point where they all have their positives and negatives and they can all sing. It's just a popularity contest now, so whoever's in the bottom doesn't necessarily "deserve" to be there based on performance. That's not to say that the performances that Brooke or KLC gave were the best (far from it), but they all bring something to the table and in spite of the fact that he clings to his opinion like a security blanket, Simon's either being obtuse or naive about the idea that it's a week to week thing. The Davids are winning this thing and even though they're both very talented, their talent is just a part of why they're getting so many votes. On the whole "two groups" thing, someone refresh my memory: who was it that sat down last time? I think it was two seasons ago. Was it Daughtry? Or Taylor? I can't remember, but I remember liking it. I also liked it when Bo Bice was like, "fuck this". I hate that nonsense and while I appreciate Nigel's attempts at mixing it up, that's really one of the more annoying and pointless elimination games. Good for Archie not taking the bait and good for David Cook rescuing him when he froze up and missed Ryan's point entirely.