American Idol
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By a margin of 56%-44% (incidentally, the same percentage as on this website’s poll)...

DAVID COOK!!

I’ll try to write more on the finale tomorrow night, assuming I don’t have a baby tonight.

Who should be the next American Idol?
David Cook: 56% (87)
David Archuleta: 44% (69)
Total Votes : 156

Who do you want to win the finale?
David Archuleta: 48% (69)
David Cook: 52% (74)
Total Votes : 143

It was a pretty anti-climactic evening. No big surprises. There was the obligatory group performance with the expected bad choreography. The Ford commercial, performed to “Heaven”, wasn’t shocking.

Fantasia performed, and her red hair and wild dancing were about the most exciting part of the evening. We could sure have used some of her energy and animation this season.

There were home visits. David Archuleta visited Murray City, Utah and was overwhelmed by the response. Syesha returned home to Sarasota, Florida and was overwhelmed by the response. David Cook visited Kansas City and Blue Springs Missouri and was overwhelmd by the response. We did find out that David Cook originally didn’t even plan to audition— he just went to the auditions to support his younger brother.

Finally, the final two were revealed. Again, it was no surprise. The finale next week will be between the two Davids, as has been expected for weeks. It could be an interesting show. Or it could be another fairly predictable, somewhat boring week.

What do you think of the final two?

Who do you most want to see in the finale?
David Archuleta: 33% (18)
Syesha Mercado: 9% (5)
David Cook: 57% (31)
Total Votes : 54

Which performance was worse, Brooke singing “I’m a Believer” or Jason Castro singing “I Shot the Sheriff”?
Brooke: 13% (5)
Jason: 87% (33)
Total Votes : 38

First, let me just say that the choreography in the group song at the beginning was the lamest I think I have ever seen. I’m pretty sure my 8 year old daughter could have choreographed that, and I know plenty of teens who could have done a better job.

Having said that, let’s talk results. There wasn’t much to tonight’s show. No real drama. I mean, you know who went home, right? Without even seeing the show.

Thats’ right. Jason Castro.

I really like Jason. I wish him all the best in the future, but I don’t think or anyone else was surprised that his time had run out. I think he may have been ready to go a couple of weeks ago. If there’s one thing he needs to do, in my opinion, it’s to expand his musical knowledge. I was dismayed at how few songs he actually knew. But with a bit more experience and a lot of hard work, I think he could really be a fine performer.

Next week the top 3 do their home visits and sing songs custom picked for them.

Who was your favorite singer tonight?
David Cook: 28% (7)
Syesha Mercado: 16% (4)
Jason Castro: 12% (3)
David Archuleta: 44% (11)
Total Votes : 25

Should the winner of American Idol be the best “vocalist”?
Yes, singing is the most important: 53% (10)
No, singing is only part of the contest: 47% (9)
Total Votes : 19

In case I haven’t mentioned it thus far, I’m currently 38 weeks pregnant, so tonight I’m taking a bit of a break. I’m posting the “just the facts, ma’am” version of the results show recap.

Jason Castro— safe
David Archuleta— safe
David Cook— safe
Syesha Mercado— safe
Brooke White— going home

By the way, Dial Idol was wrong about the results tonight, or the results are rigged, or it wasn’t really a bottom 2 tonight. Dial Idol showed David Cook and Syesha in the 1-2 position, with the other three in jeapordy. Of course, I don’t recall that they actually said it was a “bottom 2” tonight, so perhaps she really was in the 1-2 slot.

I liked Brooke a lot, but I think she’d taken American Idol about as far as she could. I wish her the best of luck in the future and hope she really has quite a successful career.

Who will go home tomorrow night?
Jason Castro: 56% (9)
David Cook: 0% (0)
Brooke White: 31% (5)
David Archuleta: 0% (0)
Syesha Mercado: 12% (2)
Total Votes : 16

Did Carly deserve to go home?
Yes: 21% (5)
If not this week, then next: 12% (3)
Eventually: 62% (15)
No, she should have won: 4% (1)
Total Votes : 24

Here’s the quick summary of the results show. The group medley was “All I Ask of You”. The Ford video was to “Tainted Love” (Carly and David Cook are the most likely ones in the group to have a cartoon character modeled after them). George Bush sent a video thanking viewers for participating in Idol Gives Back.

Then the eliminations started. The Davids were called out, and both were safe.

There was a package on Idol performers on Broadway, featuring Tamyra Gray, who is currently appearing in Rent, and Clay Aiken, who is currently appearing in Spamalot.

Leona Lewis (X Factor winner) performed.

Syesha and Brooke were called out, and Brooke was safe.

Tonight there was only a bottom 2, so Jason and Carly were called out to determine who would fill out the bottom 2. Carly joined Syesha in the bottom 2 and was, ultimately, sent home.

So, what do you think? Were you disappointed? Did Carly deserve to go home?

Next week will be Neil Diamond week, and I think the question burning in all our minds is— will David Archuleta sing “Heartlight”?

Tonight was the dreaded split them into two groups of three, then let the 7th person decide which group they think is safe. There were a few changes to the format, but it was familiar. Nothing as shocking as the year when the three divas were in the bottom three, though.

So, after the initial group medley, Jason Castro was sent left, David Cook right. Carly, left. Kristy Lee, right.

Then there was a commercial break, followed by the Ford commercial, which included the song “I Want to Break Free”. Then, despite the recent death of his mother, Elliott Yamin performed.

Syesha was sent to the left, Brooke to the right.

Then it was my “favorite” time of the night— phone calls from viewers. The most interesting information gleaned from tonight’s calls was the guy who bought Kristy Lee Cook’s horse refuses to sell it back (shame on you, sir) and David Cook is single. There were some interesting questions for the judges, which they pretty much refused to answer. My favorite was a caller who asked Simon to clarify the difference between “karaoke”, “theme park”, and “piano bar” performances. He just answered that they were all horrible.

Mariah Carey performed “Bye, Bye”. Then it was back to eliminations with poor little David Archuleta declared safe and asked to join the group he thought was safe. But first Ryan switched David Cook and Syesha. David Archuleta took a page from past years and sat in the middle of the floor. Even when Ryan tried to coax him left, he wouldn’t budge. Finally, Ryan declared David C., Jason and Carly safe by having them join David A. in the middle of the floor.

That left Brooke, Kristy Lee and Syesha in the bottom three. Syesha was immediately declared safe. After much theatrics, Kristy Lee Cook was eliminated. It’s funny. Out of all the weeks I thought she should and would go— this wasn’t one of them. Perhaps if she pursues a country career, things will work out for her. All the best, Kristy Lee. Hope you get your horse back.

Tonight had a lot going on— recaps of Idol Gives Back, more stars asking for donations to Idol Gives Back, a plug for one.org, a group medley performance of “Shout to the Lord”, a star medley to “I’m a Believer”, a Ford commercial to “I Just Want to Celebrate”, and a duet between Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown of “No Air”.

But let’s talk about the important piece of information from tonight. Michael Johns was eliminated!! I did NOT see that coming. I don’t know that I saw him winning, but I definitely didn’t think he was a candidate to go home this week. And I thought the reverse fake out of last year, making it sound like “Hey, buddy, maybe we’re not sending you home… Yeah, we’re sending you home” was kind of mean. The only thing that I can think of that may have worked against him was that he did seem to have a hard time picking songs that really set him apart from the crowd. I wish he’d picked a bluesy song for this week. I know he liked the song he sang and its message, but picking a song for American Idol needs to be about more than just liking the song.

So, what was your reaction? Were you as shocked as I was?