(Don't forget to take my poll on Elliott's new teeth and Kellie's new breasts. Click here!)
Analysts will rush to explain why Melinda's bid to be our next American Idol faltered tonight. But the dust needs to settle before we truly understand what went wrong.
Was it her age?
Was it what many called her fake surprise look from earlier in the season?
Was it her neck - or what some uncharitably called her lack of a neck? (Her purported necklessness was never verified by medical professionals. Her haircut in fact may have been to blame for a simple misperception.)
OR ... Was it her polish? Was Melinda too classy for America?
As evidenced by the videotaped homecoming, Melinda was indeed the most poised - and this may have been a liability in an America that demands that we let it all hang out.
Jordin wept throughout her homecoming as if she'd just returned from a POW camp. (The way she clutched her best friend Bailey, you'd think the two were sisters reunited after, say, the fall of the Berlin Wall.) Blake's homecoming was equally showy. His father, clearly an emotional dependent, cried that he'd lost his own parents as a boy; that Blake's success was some consolation for his own hardship.
Melinda was more self-possessed, dignified. She teared up, yes, but she kept it together, thanking her friends from Belmont. They thanked her for all she'd done. (Charity work? We don't know. Melinda's not the type to boast.) We've known for some time that Melinda's close to her mother. She's never mentioned her father. And yet her dad Steve was included (awkwardly) in several shots, Melinda putting the best face on what is likely a very uncomfortable situation. That's what modest, discreet people do.
And for this the American people punished her.
***
Other things I noticed:
Jordin's high school is Sandra Day O'Connor HS. Ironic since O'Connor was the critical swing vote in the Supreme Court's deliberations on abortion over the last 20 years. Now Jordin is in danger of being engulfed by the issue.
As much as I like Elliott Yamin - I endorsed his AI bid last year - I don't like his new teeth. But I don't mind the whole look. Almost a young Bob Dylan. Elliott is personally unassailable, as far as I'm concerned. Pure goodness.
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Melinda's Demise: Too Classy For America?
Posted May 17th 2007 12:09AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: American Idol, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, Abortion
Filed under: American Idol, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, Abortion
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Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 9)
61. Jordin was boring...she sung comfortable if you know what I mean. She took no risks. All of her songs where the same melody, making it boring. So I agree with Simon. And I also caught Ryan give the shocking news away. When he told Melinda that it was a shocking night with the results. Dumb, or maybe he was just fed up as others with these dumb voters. Come on I had no favorite but I was aware of who should have been the last two standing....the 2 most talented vocals. And in my opinion that was not Jordan. Sorry! Try buying her CD and see how fast it will put you to sleep.
suzette at 4:50PM on May 17th 2007
62. Melinda has too much class and dignity for the show.
heaven at 4:50PM on May 17th 2007
63. His performance was SO dull. It was like late 90's Top 40, horrible.
Tim at 4:57PM on May 17th 2007
64. As I was watching AI last night and thinking about the three contestants, I felt that the voters that put a bid on Blake, actually took Melinda out of the finals. When there are 3 people, anyone of them good or bad can go. It seems to split votes in two.
Melinda deserved to win. She is a true talent. I would really feel the music she was singing. Jordin has the age thing and she's a great beauty. People vote on more than just talent, however, they should not. Appearance took Lakisha away also...she was good. As for the winner, I think we all know that Jordin will be successful. Blake is a great arranger and different and interesting but to just a certain age group also. Melinda had it all over both of them put together. I'm disappointed with the voters mostly. Melinda will be "HUGE"......Jordin won't last too long....and Blake will have plenty of work! This is my opinion and I hope some of you agree with me...
Becky at 5:11PM on May 17th 2007
65. Personally, I did not find Melinda unique like Blake and Jordin. :/ Jordin can SING! Blake can sing, too, and I think that the fact that he beatboxes is just awesome. XD
Melinda will make it into show business--don't worry! =) She deserves it--she is talented, but she just didn't appeal to me.
Now I don't care who wins--all three of them will get record deals. No doubt about it. All of them *ahem* Except Sanjaya, Chris, and Haley, will GET A RECORD DEAL. At least, they better.
Nicxan at 5:13PM on May 17th 2007
66. I too was very surprised when they announced that Melinda would be going home. I knew it was going to be a very hard decision. But I had no idea it would go that way. My opinion: Once it starts becoming americas turn to vote, I don't think the judges should say anything because sometimes, what they say has a very big impact on how they vote.
By the way I think Bo Bice should have won that season.
nikki at 5:22PM on May 17th 2007
67. So much for this show being all about singing...
I for one hope that Blake wins. Jordin is not "untrained" and has had almost as much experience as Melinda. Google her and find out. Her voice teacher also trained Kristin Chenoweth--not exactly a slacker.
Plus she is just annoying with her mannerisms. I can just see her as a Plastic.
So go Blake, who really is a true unknown and doesn't have a famous father who can help him either.
Karen at 5:22PM on May 17th 2007
68. With LaKisha and Melinda gone from AL absolutely proves something: Americans do NOT know great voices when they hear them!! From the very beginning of this season the PUBLIC statistics had shown that these two girls were "shoe-ins as winners"; "they had no competition except for each other"; it "may be the first tie" -- and these were the opinions of the PUBLIC even up to Wednesday night's "voting" announcements! So, now that they are both gone, I can't help but feel AL has something fishy going on - or the vote counters don't know how to count! After each season I just couldn't wait for the next season to start ... but now, it can be 10 years for all I care. But by then, of course, LaKisha and Melinda will be two of the greatest recording artists ever!! Who wants to bet with me? -Mame (retired voice coach)-
Mame (age 73) Doyle at 5:27PM on May 17th 2007
69. melinda sucked thank god she's gone. she could sing but that's it. she was a bad entertainer, was bad socially, and looks like a horse. thank god the finale is just how it always should have been. first time since season 4.
punkbassist31 at 5:31PM on May 17th 2007
70. I believe Melinda is to sophisticated for America. However, I've grown weary of American Idol and have no interest in what the finale or give a damn who win. I'm done with this show. Clearly Melinda is the best singer and there is no doubt she will go far. That beat box crap with Blake has run its course. Melinda has longevity and I'll be listening to her music for many years to come.
Tonya Hughes at 5:33PM on May 17th 2007
71. AMERICAN IDOL IS A WASTE OF TIME. ALL THE
CONTEASTANTS SUCK !!! THEIR ALL A BUNCH
OF PHONIES,MADE UP OF HOES AND FAGGOTS.
MARIO HEPP at 5:36PM on May 17th 2007
72. MELINDA MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN ALL HER VOTES. I TRIED FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES FROM THE CLOSE OF THE PROGRAM TO VOTE FOR HER AND I WAS GIVEN A RECORDING WHICH SAID THAT 2 OF THOSE LINES WERE OUT OF SERVICE. THE 3RD LINE WAS BUSY. THEREFORE, MELINDA DID NOT GET ALL HER ATTEMPTED VOTES ! WAS IT INTENDED? WAS IT FIXED ? WAS IT AN ACCIDENT? IT WAS NOT A FAIR VOTE.
EILEEN MORLEY at 5:40PM on May 17th 2007
73. She left because she was boring, and why are you even bringing up their homecoming videos? They hardly showed any of the footage from that on Tuesday when we were voting. The fact that she looked poised in a video they showed AFTER we had already voted doesn't even make sense as to why she went home.
John at 5:51PM on May 17th 2007
74. honestly, i love blake! i think he is such a breath of fresh air from the ordinary idols. i mean melinda was a much better singer but come on blake's beat-boxing skills were so much fun to listen to and as for the people who say he does it for every song, you guys obviously haven't really watched much because blake hadn't done beat-boxing in so long before he did "you give love a bad name". Blake is awesome, he's so different and i'm positive that his songs will be the ones that make the top radio spots and get played in clubs all the time. Let's face it people America likes diversity, and melinda just wasn't that original...
Dani at 5:51PM on May 17th 2007
75. I voted for the first time last night and i voted Melinda doolittle.I wanted her to win because she deserved it. Melinda and Lakisha were the best singers in the show.America had sent Lakisha home instead of Blake who should have been out long time ago.I don't see no talent, no soul in Blake.just a monky see, monky do.Jordin has a great voice but she is singing and dressed too old and she does not have a personality for herself.she is just imitating old singers. She has a long way to go to be reel.Me, what I understand in all that is people need to vote, specially adults. I guess a bunch of teenagers have been pushing up jordin and Blake,staying late at night and vote while adults are too tired and busy to boost reel talents like Melinda.
Rose Gautier at 6:02PM on May 17th 2007