Still trying to make sense of ‘Idol’s’ Top 12
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- March
- 12
Everyone is still trying to make sense of exactly what happened on “American Idol” on Thursday. Even while accounting for the fact that show voters tend to overcompensate for cute contestants, I thought some of the votes were, well, insane. And needless to say, my “Idol” pool is shot.
In case you missed an earlier post, my friend Will organizes an annual “American Idol” pool, complete with weekly updates, a blog and prizes. So, go figure: the previous two weeks, I correctly predicted three out of four semifinalists going home. But for the pool, I had to pick the Top 12, in order, out of the 16 semifinalists; I guessed none of the departed correctly. As a result, I’m now ranked 41st out of 51 pool participants. Ouchie.
Why? Although I correctly thought America’s “Idol” voting demographics would not sustain support for the top five vocalists—who happen to be black or biracial women—I picked the wrong one of the five to miss the cut. I thought Stephanie Edwards, while talented, would be lost in the shuffle because of a look reminiscent of Fantasia Barrino. But Sabrina Sloan, whom I picked to finish 4th overall, was the one to leave. And the tremendously cheesy Haley Scarnato sticks around … why, exactly?
Brandon Rogers, who’s better than his solos indicate, and Phil Stacey, who’s not, were not exactly at the top of everyone’s lists. But they’re through to the next round, while Sundance Head and Jaret Cotter are just plain ol’ through. As much as I appreciated Cotter, I thought he would head home after the first round of the finals (this week). But I honestly didn’t think Phil Stacey had that many fans. I still don’t, but he had more than Cotter, evidently.
I had Antonella Barba sticking around a few more rounds, because in Kellie Pickler fashion, America tends to keep around a good-looking female contestant with marginal talent until she finishes in 7th place or so. But two things worked against Barba here that Pickler escaped: Barba’s racy photos that she addressed in an interview with People magazine; and the fact that she’s from New Jersey. Don’t kid yourself if you think that geography doesn’t matter; as a region, the South plays the most significant role in who wins. And it’s obvious that it’s not because undiscovered talent is exclusive to below the Mason-Dixon line. Do the math.
I do understand, as crazy as this sounds, why Sanjaya Malakar continues to rally, week after weak (no, that’s not a typo). He falls right into the ‘tween-girl “American Idol” voting demographic—those who have nothing better to do than vote repeatedly for a dreamy “Idol” contestant. (As opposed to those who have nothing better to do than blog repeatedly about “American Idol.” But I digress.) Anyway, my father and I have a new motto for the weekly voting: “Send-jaya home.”
If you want a laugh, here’s what my Season 6 pool entry looks like, keeping in mind that this is how I thought AMERICA—not I—would vote:
1. Melinda Doolittle
2. Blake Lewis
3. Chris Sligh
4. Sabrina Sloan (out)
5. Chris Richardson
6. Jordin Sparks
7. Sanjaya Malakar
8. LaKisha Jones
9. Antonella Barba (out)
10. Sundance Head (out)
11. Gina Glocksen
12. Jaret Cotter (out)
Perhaps I should shift my pool attention to the NCAA Tournament.
(Photo by Frank Micelotta/FOX)
This entry was posted
on Monday, March 12th, 2007 at 10:53 am by Chris Serico.
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