The Nittany Turkey

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Home General Television The Unthinkable Has Happened—Byebye Sanjaya!!

The Unthinkable Has Happened—Byebye Sanjaya!!

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Halfway through tonight’s American Idol results show, a smile broke out on Simon Scowl’s face as he uttered, “I’m beginning to sense something.” The smile lingered all the way through a boring performance by Martina McBride to the long awaited moment of truth. The bottom three contestants, Sanjaya, Lakisha, and Blake, stood a center stage awaiting their fate. Seacrest milked the moment by making a big deal out of telling Blake that he had survived another week, and then it was down to two. And then it came—America had voted and Sanjaya was finally going home!

Hallelujah!

After that, Simon exuded happiness as I’d never seen from him before.

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth or anything, but I have to wonder whether the Howard Stern minions (the lemmings) have shifted their protest voting attention from Sanjaya to Chris. After all, Chris was awful on Tuesday, arguably second worst only to Sanjaya’s crappy performance. It didn’t make sense that Blake, not Chris was in the bottom three.

Be that as it may, the competition gets fairer from now on. The remaining six are all pretty normal, although the men are significantly less talented than the women. At this point, it looks like Jordin and Melinda in the final, unless Lakisha can step up to the plate and hit a home run. Without Sanjaya, this mindless entertainment gets a little more interesting.

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Comments

  1. The Redhead says

    I must disagree on a couple of points. You say that the remaining six are all “pretty normal.” Is that a plus? One reason the public ate up the Sanjaya story was because he broke from the norm. “Normal” often makes for dull entertainment.

    One other point re: “Without Sanjaya, this mindless entertainment gets a little more interesting.”

    This relates to my first point–I think without Sanjaya creating supsense (and laughs) on AI, the show will become less interesting, not more. Let’s face it, the singers are all pretty pedestrian, even Melinda Doolittle. That’s part of the problem with much of today’s popular music. Sanjaya may not have had much vocal ability, but he knew how to entertain. If vocal ability was a requirement for most of today’s pop singers their rank would diminish considerably.

    In the meantime, see you next week for more AI!

  2. The Nittany Turkey says

    You’re entitled to your opinion, as if I wouldn’t get it without entitlement. However, I have the following to say to you:

    Take a load off Fanny
    Take a load for free
    Take a load off Fanny
    anddddddddddd/aaaaaaaannnnnnnd/aaaaaaaaaaaaadn…..
    ya put the load right on me!

    —TNT

  16. The Redhead says

    Awww….

    This is so predictable. Too bad Melinda didn’t pick a song that was a bit more original, one that would have stretched her a bit.

  17. The Redhead says

    It probably was better than Faith Hill’s version–wouldn’t be hard.

  20. The Redhead says

    I mean Faith Hill: Talk about the most mediorce singer. She’s the mediocre of the mediocre.

  21. The Redhead says

    Beg to differ, this isn’t a “chick” thing. I’ve never gotten why the masses are into singers like Hill.

    I wondered when someone was going to do Imagine.

  26. The Redhead says

    What do you mean, “a guy thing?” Imagine was written by guy and I’ve known many guys who love it.

    This is a “Turkey” thing.

  28. The Redhead says

    Lakisha would’ve done justice to the Lennon song.

    Wonder what she’ll choose.

    “One” by U2?

  33. The Redhead says

    This is a better performance from her than what we’ve been seeing lately.

  41. The Redhead says

    Ohhh, Phil’s coming up. I think he’s the performer with the most at stake tonight. He’s got to step up.

  42. The Nittany Turkey says

    Of course she was shouting! She always shouts! It’s part of that damn gospel big voice thing. They’re all trying to be Aretha and there’s only one Aretha.

  47. The Redhead says

    I like gospel. True, Franklin was one of a kind.

    Not a terrible performance from Phil but the song sucks.

    P.S. I didn’t mean it when I referred to Garth Brooks as “country.” Garth’s music is pablum.

  53. The Redhead says

    I’m looking forward to hearing from Jordin.

    Are you sure tonight’s show is two hours? I thought it was tomorrow night.

  66. The Nittany Turkey says

    Meshulam Riklis (born 1923) is a businessman. He was married to Pia Zadora in 1977 and helped launch her film career. He and Zadora bought and demolished the Los Angeles landmark home Pickfair to build their own larger home on the site. They divorced in 1993. He once owned the Riviera hotel and casino in Las Vegas and the McCrory Stores, as well as the Fabergé line of cosmetics. Riklis pioneered the idea of coporate mergers in the U.S. Famously sold his stake in the Carnival Cruise Line to Ted Arison for $1.

  81. The Redhead says

    So, who is going home this week?

    I say it’s between Blake and Lakisha.

    Maybe Chris. He really deserves to go this week.

  92. The Redhead says

    What will the “biggest shock” be?

    Maybe it will be Babs–The Streisand?

  96. The Redhead says

    No, they’ve already announced Clarkson. They’re making it out to be a big surprise. It’s got to be a Streisand or a Madonna or a Sting?

    Maybe they’ll bring Sinatra back from the dead?

  100. The Redhead says

    Hey Turkey,

    Thought you might enjoy this blog post from Hal Boedeker at the Orlando Sentinel:

    Keeping it real … “American Idol” could help beautify the planet by urging its contestants to stop blaring and wailing. In Tuesday’s installment, the six finalists selected songs that inspired them. Some of the performers offered VERY LOUD renditions, which made you wonder how those songs could have inspired them.

    Let us start at the end with Jordin Sparks, who turned the volume way up on “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” I believe Jordin is going to win this competition, because she is young, spirited and dazzlingly talented. She also looked every inch the star in a stunning dress. But …

    I can’t agree with Randy Jackson that this was one of the best vocals in the show’s history. And I can’t agree with Simon Cowell that it was fantastic. Jordin’s phrasing wasn’t great, and she took unnecessary liberties with the melody.

    Bad move. Richard Rodgers wrote one of the all-time-great songs. You don’t mess with the melody. And you don’t send that melody roaring through the stratosphere.

    Deliver it simply, Jordin. Defy those ear-blasting trends in the music industry. Be an “Idol” who brings some sense to American singing.

    But Jordin wasn’t as LOUD as LaKisha Jones, who could have competed with rocket engines when she delivered “I Believe.” The judges knocked LaKisha for not being as good on the song as Fantasia. That wasn’t the main problem. I think LaKisha stands a good chance of going home Wednesday because America wants to save its hearing.

    Then there was Phil Stacey, who gave a noisy version of Garth Brooks’ “The Change.” The judges agreed that Phil was back in the competition. Good for him. But didn’t he sound a bit like Michael Bolton? And you know how Mike likes to test everyone’s eardrums.

    Yes, Phil, follow the judges’ advice to do more country. But study Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline. Note the absence of SCREAMING.

    It was a relief that Blake Lewis decided to sing “Imagine” simply, sincerely and softly. Blake’s sound reminds me of George Michael, and that’s no criticism. Blake is smooth, professional, steady. Frankly, I appreciate Blake all the more because he doesn’t try to shout off the roof.

    Chris Richardson served up “Change the World” by Eric Clapton. The judges were saying it was great, fantastic and sexy. The best part: It was mostly soft. Yes, Chris did get carried away a bit at the end. And he may not be as smooth as Blake. But let’s give it up for a singer who refused to stun us with his pipes.

    That leaves Melinda Doolittle, who performed “There Will Come a Day.”

    “A vocal master class,” Cowell said. “Just great,” Jackson said. Totally right, I say.

    Melinda has control. She understands phrasing. She balances the loud with the soft. When she goes loud, her singing is still bearable. She was the true champ Tuesday even as the judges were falling all over Jordin.

    Yes, I see Jordin’s coronation coming. And yet, Melinda knows that doing a little can mean the most. Follow her lead, “American Idol.” Help save America’s ears.

    Here’s how I score them for Tuesday night:

    1. Melinda Doolittle

    2. Blake Lewis

    3. Chris Richardson

    4. Jordin Sparks

    5. Phil Stacey

    6. LaKisha Jones

    Didn’t Ryan Seacrest go hyperbolic Tuesday? In asking viewers to call in to support charities, he said, “This could be the most important call you ever make.”

    Oh, brother. This is a TV show, buster.

    At the end, Seacrest teased that Wednesday’s show would contain “one of the biggest shocks we’ve ever had on ‘American Idol.'”

    Could it be that everyone will sing softly?

  101. The Redhead says

    I think I’ve correctly guessed who the “big surprise guest” will be on tonight’s AI. Not a singer, but Bill Clinton!

  103. The Redhead says

    I just heard that Madonna will be on the show tonight.

    And I also heard that AI producers are saying there will be a duet of monumental proportions.

    Gee, Madonna and Sanjaya? That would be good!

  107. The Redhead says

    This new-age thing with a poor and suffering African child whose mother died is pathetic.

    TV people are (most of them) so insincere.

  111. The Redhead says

    Well, I can deal with missing Ellen even though she’s a cute kid.

    I like EW&F.

  114. The Redhead says

    Here we go with the finalists!

    Lakisha is in the bottom three.

    Of course, Melinda is safe–DUH!

  117. The Redhead says

    I saw the Stiller thing. And just why do people think he’s funny?

    I think Lakisha has a good chance of going home tonight. She or Blake–bye bye (I would vote for Blake to go home, personally).

  134. The Redhead says

    Did you see School of Rock? The Bobster and I thought he was pretty funny in it.

  136. The Redhead says

    Sanjaya’s in the audience…he’s got a sense of humor.

    Yeah, I did the Seal. Love his tunes. Love his voice. Awesome.

  137. The Redhead says

    Noooooooo! I meant I “dig” the Seal…..Not—-

    Yikes. I meant “dig.”

  159. The Redhead says

    Either Lakisha or Chris is going home.

    I think Lakisha will be singing the swan song tonight.

  162. The Redhead says

    In the meantime, they’re going to drag this out forever.

    Ellen looks tired and wrung-out. Even nervous. Maybe the Oscars wore her out.

  170. The Redhead says

    Funny? Well, that’s one way of putting it.

    More like BORINGGGGGGGG>

  174. The Redhead says

    Commercial break.

    Okay, when they come back on they really need to kick things into gear!

  188. The Redhead says

    That is Jeff Beck!

    Let’s see..a real musician and artist and he gets zero billing.

    Real values there.

  190. The Redhead says

    Take your time with the book, Turkey! Glad you’re enjoying it…as I am the book on Paul Desmond that you leant me a dozen years ago.

  204. The Redhead says

    This is the lamest of the lame.

    Bring back Dick Clark and American Bandstand. OH WHY Can’t my dreams come true?

    OH WHY????!

  206. The Redhead says

    This does make me miss Elvis

    (though I liked the pre-Army young Elvis).

  211. The Redhead says

    Madonna used to be so cool…so original.

    I think it’s good that she’s doing what she feels is right.

    But I just can’t stand her anymore. What a pretender.

  213. The Redhead says

    She’s Madonna! Why all of a sudden does she feel she has to copy Angelina?

    Oh dear…

  217. The Redhead says

    I don’t believe that amount. Not from tonight’s proceeds anyway.

    Poor Ellen. She’s phoning this one in. Obviously she’s done zero prepping for this gig. Bet she’s sorry now.

  224. The Redhead says

    She may not hit the high notes like she used to but she’s still got it.

  226. The Redhead says

    Where’s Bono? The “mentor” of the evening as they said last night.

  228. The Redhead says

    Yes, this is a good cause but this show has been so contrived and shoddily compiled. What an insult to everyone.

  237. The Redhead says

    This makes perfect sense. I had thought it would be tacky to send someone home on a charity night.

  241. The Redhead says

    I’m really tired of rock stars who think they are out to save the world.

    That’s one reason I love Mick and Keith–they’ve never pretended that they were for anyone but themselves. And their music has been better for it.

  242. The Redhead says

    You, too, Turkey!

    And yeah–what a rip off! They promised us Pink–what happened, people?

  245. The Redhead says

    Just goes to show that when it comes to Keith, he bridges the “generation gap!”