Player 4:  DJ CoBaby
Weekly Elimination Selection (Elite Eight):  Kristy Lee Cook
Performance Show Date 4/8/08

Player 6: Mattsie
Weekly Elimination Selection (Elite Eight): Jason Castro
Performance Show Date 4/8/08

Observing the internet about american idol:  What frustrates me is when I read from anywhere hateful blogs or forums against some contestants and declare that they would only be happy if someone they dislike or someone in the bottom 3 a few times leave the contest. Predictions can offend a lot of people because at times they are made with hate against those they are up against. Shouldn't it be enough seeing them in the bottom 3 because not too many people are voting for them? Why the hateful derisions yet? We don't have to have an explanation for how we vote but I think if we stay objective enough, more likely we would not succumb to making these offending remarks. Usually, those that predict with hate don't know how to appreciate improvement, give credit or even acknowledge efforts that they seem so bent on making a kill for that personal high, so shamelessly.

It does seem so possible and more than likely, more female voters vote this year, which is why all the girls have now gone to the bottom 3. If there are more males voting, there would be more males in the bottom 3 every week. And, usually, the hateful predictors are females. I have a lot of male friends that watch AI 7 and none of them would want Kristy Lee Cook to go home. What does that tell you? Yes, I'm making a case against hateful predictions. I'm for its eradication, calling on civility and sportsmanship in idol land.

Keefir, I surfed youtube this morning and I'm happy to find a few nice comments about Kristy Lee's version of "Coat of Many Colors". Many thanks to the writers!

Personality: "what i like about her is that being on the bottom three every week doesn't get her down or ruin her esteem on the competition. i'm not a fan of her but i think she is really trying to step it up so kudos for that!" - pixieluv23

Talent: Kristy sang this song so beautifully. Our family loves to hear her sing. What a talented beautiful girl. She is every bit as good or better then some of the current country singers on the radio right now and we cant wait to tune in our favorite stations and be listening to her sing. You go Girl!!! - FLASHNZIP

Beauty and Brains: "She doesn't have an exceptional voice (it is good though), but you don't need an exceptional voice to make exceptional music. She is however, miss universe exceptionally beautiful. And she sounds smart." - racinglarva

In season 5, I met too many bashers on a few blogs I wrote in, but I was one of the staunch Katharine McPhee defenders. This year, I find myself doing it again.

Simon, Randy and Paula were on Larry King last night.

As to who will be the winner, Randy predicted that it would be a boy winner this year. Simon said that it would be between David Cook and David Archuleta. All judges seemed unanimous.

As to who was to be eliminated next, Simon said that "Syesha could leave this week". Then added, "or this girl I can't remember her name", which Paula supplied as "Kristy Lee", and Simon said, "yes, her". It was as if Simon would not make a personal statement against KLC so he chose to excuse himself with "I can't remember her name". Wow, Simon, your tactics are incredible! If you can't remember the name of that girl who sang "God Bless The U.S.A.- the best song choice in years", something is wrong with you as a judge. How could you not remember the name of the girl who could  "blow you out of your socks"? That's too bad for you being a male! My gay (pls excuse this for once) cousin heard that comment from KLC and told me that KLC "got his balls" and thinks that KLC is too darn HOT to forget. So, where does Simon stand on forgetting a girl like Kristy Lee? I know where. Simon doesn't want or wish Kristy to leave yet so much so that he obscures the topic - dissing the idea away but mentions it anyway for formality's sake's.

My analogy: Simon thinks the pot on a burning stove is hot and he'd rather not hold the pot just to see if it's hot because he knows it is. But since he wants salad for lunch, he'd rather wait for the soup at dinner time, so he lowers down the heat to save the soup from overcooking.

Then Simon continued to say that Jason Castro could leave too this week. Simon could pretend on his own volition at anytime who he does want to remember or not. The fact that he could belt out Syesha's or Jason's names outrightly, he really cares that they'd rather go. Do you think if Simon wanted KLC to go, he would say firstly, "oh that girl (without a name) what's her name? should go. No way! That's not making a statement. So, again, he'd rather hide behind the cliche "I don't remember her name". Simon pretends too much, or that is his MO to work it in AI.

Randy thinks that the public picked the right winner every year. But Simon disagreed saying that the public didn't get the right winner in season 5. However, when Randy asked Simon who the runner-up in season 5 was, Simon could not even say, and twice Randy asked him! Simon, it is Katharine McPhee! Why would Simon not say Kat's name? Does he know or care at all? or is that his MO to not plug a name, but why is he this careful or thoughtless?

Larry went on to verifying it with Randy about him recording Kristy Lee and, favorably, Randy reiterated that "he will record Kristy Lee". Wow, Randy is my guy! I love that! Whew! KLC's got Randy's eyes and ears! Thanks, Randy. More power to you! My friends, Kristy Lee has a great future in the music business. Randy knows very well that he's got a mine with Kristy Lee. This is the very first time I've heard Randy express his motive on giving a contestant a contract - a female!. Randy thinks Jason is "just a singer-songwriter in a bar", and he would not give Jason a contract, but he'd sign Kristy Lee Cook. Thank you, again, Randy. Amazing! Congratulations Kristy Lee!!  I'm completely overjoyed for you.

It's amazing how empty that picture of the Top 8 seems.  They are dwindling down so fast.  Amazing.  Well, I've narrowed my choices down to Kristy Lee, Syesha & Jason for this week.  If I was doing this totally on what I think is going to happen I would unfortunately (since I like her the most of the three) would say Syesha is going.  Hmm...*thinking* although having moved up the ladder this week makes it where maybe it would be a good idea to just go with that.  I was planning on going for the Castro perfection since he's 8th on my ballot but maybe that's not the way to go...inspirational songs...Syesha could do that.  Kristy Lee?  If she picks the right song, I think she'll be OK.  Jason?  I don't find him very inspirational so...I'll stick with the original game plan and say....

Player 7:  sjwolves
Weekly Elimination Selection (Elite Eight):  Jason Castro
Performance Show Date 4/8/08

Alright, we're up to 13 picks in with 30 minutes to go.  That seems pretty constant.  Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this.  I hope you're having fun with it.

Anyway...you really think Michael is going to go this week, Nancy?  I guess it's possible but...I really can't see it being anyone outside Syesha, KLC and Jason.  I hope it's Jason because he's my least favorite among the remaining eight.

Anybody had the slowly churned American Idol ice cream?  Everytime I come here I see that ad with Melinda's face in the intro and it makes me laugh everytime.  Something about it being "slowly churned" is amusing to me.

Now we're finally down to the challenging time of this game when it could virtually be anybody going home...except for David Archuleta, Carly Smithson, David Cook, Michael Johns...and Kristy Lee Cook. 

Well, ok, maybe it's easier than we think. But I think the most likely candidates this week are going to be Syesha Mercado or Jason Castro just based on the law of averages. If only Jason's first name was Fidel...we'd know he'd be going home. And I don't even know who this week's mentor is going to be (I guess it's inspirational music because of "Idol Gives Back?"), so I'm not making guesses based on any careful analysis or taking peeks at DialIdol's recent trends. If Jason survives this week, I'd say Jason will have a hard time with Andrew Lloyd Webber's histrionic and quasi-operatic material considering his weak voice that a lot of his fans don't even seem to notice. That unassuming personality of his keeping him popular may not keep working forever either.

Then again, we shouldn't underestimate his abilities on material we automatically think  he'll fail in. The previous categories we thought he'd be horrible in he actually did fairly decently, despite being the obvious weakest link at the moment.

So I'm basically tossing it back and forth between Syesha and Jason as being the likely candidates. Kristy Lee Cook seems to have built a well-fortified fanbase that's keeping her safe...but by a string. I can see why some pick her when it may just come down to a few votes and she could be going home. Although she may end up being one of the rare "AI" contestants in history to be in the Bottom Three consistently and still make the Top Five.

If I don't hit it this week--I'll be haunted by the David Hernandez card (my long-gone pick for #8) and get zippo this time around.

To be frank, I see too much star power in Syesha to see her go (I think a lot of viewers think so too)--and that makes me lean a little more toward Jason's departure. Besides, Jason seems to be a little too unassuming about life to give a completely convincing performance of an inspirational song...

As usual at the 11th hour...

Player 10:  Gregoriancant
Weekly Elimination Selection (Elite Eight):  Jason Castro
Performance Show Date 4/8/08

Player 18: bcollan
Weekly Elimination Selection (Elite Eight): Kristy Lee
Performance Show Date 4/8/08

Bye Kristy Lee, I'm going to miss you.

You're very talented, but you don't do anything to make the masses love you. This is American Idol, and without some kind of gimmick, schtict, quirkiness or lovability it's hard to keep advancing. Talent alone is not enough. You could have played the vamp this year, but you took the high road and we're proud of that.

Good luck, everyone. 

Hmmm...looks like the prediction of Kristy's demise was a trifle pre-mature. I actually liked her performace THE BEST toniight! Could we be in for "a shocker"? Could the bottom three be Michael Johns, David Cook and Carly? Or does Syesha replace David Cook? Either way, Carly could be in trouble.

double dang i had posted this an hour or so ago, not that it would've mattered, but i see somehow it didn't get on the board. well anyway, it said something to the likes that i forgot to make my post in time and i had Brooke to be leaving, but that for the record, i would've changed my mind and changed it to J.Castro. not that it would matter just wanted to be heard. i really feel Brooke has improved over the weeks.

well, anyway Idol will be starting in about an hour or so, good luck to everyone...

Top 8 Performances - 4/08/08   

Randy: Little pitch problem but really good.

Paula: You outdid yourself. Your best by far. Excellent.

Simon: You were very good indeed. Tonight, you look like a star. Smart choice of song.

Lyrics: Anyway (Martina McBride)

You can spend your whole life building
Something from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yea- I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
It's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yea - I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yea, sing it anyway
Yeah, yeah!

I sing
I dream
I love anyway

With the exception of the two Davids, who consistently sing really well, at this point it comes down to who has a good night or who has an off night.  Michael really did close the show well last week, but overall he just doesn't do it for me.  I guess I'll keep burning my points each week predicting Michael will be the one voted off.  

With my luck, he'll end up winning. 

Wow, Mattsie, that really was a fine performance.  I haven't had a chance to watch the show yet tonight, but I'm looking even more forward to it now.  The band and choir(?) sounded really good, too. 

Also, thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for always taking the time to post music and pictures on this thread -- it adds so much to Co's and Joe's already fun thread.

V

mattsie, i guess i wasn't really paying attention last night when she sang it. i need to listen once again. those are some very nice lyrics i need to try to live by.

KLC did really good i must say, my favs for the night David A. and a very nice shocking performance from Jason Castro, he was on last night. i love that SOTR version, not to mention it reminds me of ER when i believe it was Dr. Greene died on an episode. 

good luck to everyone and i hope Brooke nor Carly go home tonight...

Shina, you didn't get this posted in time so you are getting Jason Castro as your pick this week.  And then Maddie already realized that she was too late although she might be better off with Brooke instead of Jason the way it worked out.

My hunch for this week is that the bottom three will be Michael, Carly & Syesha with Syesha going home.  Looks like Kristy Lee is going to make most of us look stupid at this rate.  Our group pick of KLC in 10th place is going to be off at least three places if not more (no way she's gone this week).  Greg & Mattsie were the only two players that picked her for higher than 8th place (Uplink Bill had that spot for her).  Then you had 5 votes for 9th, 2 votes for 10th, 3 for 11th and 5 more for 12th.

I could see a scenario right now where KLC finds her way to third place.  That sounded crazy not that long ago.  I don't think she can beat the Davids but...at the moment everyone else is beatable.  Carly & Brooke are slipping down the ladder...Michael is solid, but not spectacular...Syesha just doesn't seem to connect with people...and I don't think Jason's vocals are strong enough to carry him much farther despite his apparent likeability (