TVSquad

"Some are taking this opportunity to assuage their own egos by claiming that they weren't surprised at all."

To adults who tune in to watch great singing and aren't so zealous when it comes to the ritual of voting, it WAS a surprise that Melinda was sent home. However, the footage of all those star-struck little kids screaming for Jordin and Blake was a reminder that the appeal Melinda has for adult viewers is probably lost on those little girls and boys. When you consider that these kids are the ones who spend hours voting multiple times, it suggests that Melinda had an uphill battle.

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Glad you got the opportunity to meet Phil, and liked him. I met him when he came home to do a few appearances. SUPER nice guy. His voice is so good in person and acappella. Wow...and he's better looking in person. Softer or something. :) Glad you liked him. He talked about a party he went to, I guess it was the same one you mentioned, where in he met Tom Cruise and they talked about their daughters of similar age. Neat. So yeah, I'd say with the popularity of the show growing they must have more "opportunities" than the earlier shows did. Don't know if that is good or bad...what do you think? Would you have like all the schmoozing?

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I actually really wasn't suprised that Melinda was kicked off. It sucks because based on talent she should still be there. I'm rooting for Jordin and have been since the beginning. So as long as it isn't her I'm not suprised. Idol has just become so predictable that even the "shockers" aren't all that shocking.

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I think whoever was voted out last night might have been considered a 'surprise'. Jordin had been gaining popularity all season so if she went, that would have been a surprise. As the last male standing and pretty popular with the ladies, Blake would have been a surprise. And yes, being a very consistant and solid performer, Melinda was a surprise. There are enough people watching these days that the camps for each contestant would have been 'surprised' if their favorite was voted out last night.

For me, I had been saying Melinda wasn't going to win the last couple of weeks because of the rise in Jordin. I always figured Blake, being unique and male, had a huge following. Melinda and Jordin were singing some of the same kind of songs but the age difference was a factor. I would imagine there are 10, 11, 12 year old girls who watch Idol with the fantasy of winning it one day. That was Jordin five years ago. The see themselves in her and they identify with her more than Melinda.

The people who really appreciate Melinda and get Melinda are maybe your 20 something - 50 something viewer who isn't going to sit there for 2 hours dialing in or texting in like pre-teens. I am in my late 30's and even though I enjoyed Melinda's performances, I'm not going to hit redial all night long. I feel like there was more diversity in the Top 4 last year with Chris (the rocker) Katherine (Top 40 diva music) Taylor (soul man) and Elliott (r&b songs) vs this year with LaKisha, Jordin and Melinda all singing the Top 40 diva type songs or style vs Blake (the emo/beatbox/pop singer). I feel like Melinda, LaKisha and Jordin were dipping into the same pool of voters and Blake wasn't. So of course one person was going to survive out of the women's pool and that just happened to be Jordin.

I just think there was more going for Jordin in the end than with Melinda. She had been gaining momentum for weeks and her personality is infectious. That attracts voters. When you get to this point you start looking at the contestants as whole, as an entertainer and I think that's where Melinda is week. I felt her at home package was kind of dull and didn't have the same punch that Jordin's and Blake's had. Jordin is a teenager and came across that way but a very outgoing, bubbly teenager. Blake is an entertainer and it showed in his package. Melinda was just her usually low key, calm and 'who me?' personna and it just didn't come across on camera as well.

Anyway, the bottom line is I wasn't surprised. Sure at the beginning of the season I thought Melinda was a lock but by the end of the season I didn't think that way. If this was purely based on singing, Melinda would win but it's not. Plus Simon being mean to Jordin doesn't help. Making Jordin look like the underdog just makes people vote for her more. Simon should know that by now too.

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American Idol. I don't even know where to begin.
Okay, how about this: AI is the last vestige of the power of the purse controlled by 14 year old girls. It's the tween girl ghetto.
Remember Titanic?What made that sail? 14 year old girls. What made NSync and Backstreet and bubblegum pop of the early aughts profligate on every radio station and tv show? 14 year old girls. Because at the time 14 year old girls were incredibly powerful. They had cash but didn't ever have to buy anything for themselves. As they became 15 and 16 boys would take them on dates and buy them popcorn and what did the girlies want to see? Titanic and Leo and Justin, etc.
It's a blanket statement, I know, but go with me. The aftermath, or fallout was quick. Those girls grew up. Realized they didn't want a clean cut bubblegummer but, rather, a dirty rocker, like Jet to bend them over the sink in the bathroom of a club. It's what switched teens from Pat Boone to Elvis. From The Beatles to The Stones. It happens all the time, and somehow everyone is surprised each and every time.
But Idol is the last way station for tweens. It never tires because it churns out someone new every year. It appeals to the screaming whiner that is about to be a spoiled driver and her desire to control.....something.
AI gives her that control.
It explains Taylor over McPhee, for me. McPhee is a girl and thereby a threat and Hicks was just a sweet boy who wouldn't do no harm. Unlike Duaghtry who, ultimately, was kind of scary for a teenage girl who didn't quite understand her budding sexuality.
It absolutely explains Sanjaya. He is a soft, non threatening male. But cute and dreamy with a nice smile. He's the boy they "like" when the girls are 14 but want NOTHING to do with when it comes time to get DOWN.
So, there is my answer to why MeDoo's exit was no surprise. Sure, she was the best singer. But Idol isn't a singing contest. If it was, it would be called "American Vocalist". The "Idol" part is what's important. Elvis wasn't a great singer, but he could get the girlies quiverin.
Stars aren't necessarily talented. They aren't all Whitney or Streisand. Most of them are pieces that, together, make up a whole package. How do you explain John Stephens years back? Or all three of those great balc singers in the bottom three at the same time? Or even JPL? I like his blog, but I am convinced it was the goofy dancing and can do cuteness that kept him in the competition.
Little girls love their telephones and they WILL dial.
Melinda was exactly what Simon loves. Old fashioned, well trained voice. The trouble is today's kids aren't going to go out and spend their (non earned) cash on a Gladys Knight throwback. Who wants that? Melinda SEEMED old. Sure, she will have a long career, but she is not the AMERICAN IDOL. She's your mother's American Idol.
Blake is a non threatening hottie. Sure he has some tats, but, in his heart he's as non-threatening as Clay. The sweaters are the key, girlies can sidle up and snuzzle to a boy in a sweater.
And Jordin is an older sister. Someone like them. This is no surprise.
Nor should it be.
It's the adults who vote whose votes will, ultimately, turn the screw in favor of Jordin.

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Jon, don't know if you want to "stir this pot" but what is your hunch for Blake?

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I was shocked.. Cuz I thought for sure that Jordin or Blake were going to be the ones leaving... And when Jordin was told she was safe, I thought for sure when they had Melinda step forward that she was going to be told to go sit down next to Jordin... In fact I still thought they were going to tell her that she was safe when they started playing the video tape.. I thought for sure that when it started I would be seeing Blake.. (I don't get over shock very easy at times ;-))

I did however think that it was very sweet of Blake to get flowers for both girls.. I think he thought he was leaving... It was just very sweet the way he went down on one knee to present the bouquet to Melinda.. And it was even sweeter that she decided to give the flowers to the background singers.. Never forgetting her roots!!!!

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I was surprised. While I don't advocate that she rest on her laurels, I think Melinda has what it takes to go on to success.

http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/semifinal-results/

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Allen-----spot on!

Although.......I am one of the adults that absolutely loved Melinda and always thought Jordin okay but "fakey" - not as genuine. Blake is my preference over Jordin because he does have a great sound, although not melodic, still very good. AND, he is also a great entertainer!!!

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I was surprised. While I don't advocate that she rest on her laurels, I think Melinda has what it takes to go on to success.

http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/semifinal-results/

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I can't imagine anyone who was suprised by Melinda's elimination. They can't afford to have a person that skews that old as the top draw on the tour.

I predicted 5 weeks ago it was a jordin/blake finale with Melinda in third. Some of us know how the game works.

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RERUN the TAPE. Didn't Melinda flub the first part of one of her songs the other night? America SAW it and must not have thought she deserved a free pass? It was completely ignored by the judges. Personally I'm waiting for her first single to be released. I liked Melinda. I think Jordin's voice while soulful and sweet, still needs fine tuning, that'll come with more experience, she deserves to be in the final. And while Blake obviously doesn't have the range, the ladies do... His ORIGINALITY can't be ignored. He's the most innovative NEW singer out there today. Young people rock and rule the airwaves, so they have their final 2. Congratulations.

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I was surprised it was Melinda. I thought she'd win over Jordan. I figured Blake would make it to the final two.

#5 your comment about girls made me sick. The sink part. How degarding!!!! I hope you never have a daughter!!

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I frankly expected Melinda to go a bit earlier. We all know that as much as Simon likes to say, "This is a singing competition," it's much more than that. I already rambled on in comments last week about why I would buy Blake's album. My mom was shocked that Melinda went, but I was like, "Seriously Mom, how many Idol albums have you bought?" (she hasn't) I have two albums from former Idols, Bo Bice and the fabulous Jon Peter Lewis. I originally thought I would buy Chris Daughtry's, but then it ended up sounding too much like Nickelback, so maybe I'll buy the next one. :)

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Melinda is an excellent back-up singer who should have stayed there ... she should never have had the opportunity to compete in the first place as she was already a PROFESSIONAL. I thought that this whole show was aimed at finding someone new and give them a chance.

Also, I was getting sick of Simon making such an obvious point of telling the audience that they need to vote for Melinda. It was not genuine when he would find anything at all to pick on with the others just to make his positive comments about Melinda stand out.

Simon has been strange this season. He looks bored almost all the time. His comments don't seem real much of the time ... like he wasn't paying attention.

I believe that Jordan has a great deal of potential and is young enough for a long career but is not actually the most creative choice. When it comes to showmanship and originality, you have to give it to Blake whether you like his particular style or not.

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I've heard enough of the absurd complaint that Melinda should not have been on "AI" because she is a professional singer. Apart from the fact that this is a rule that certain people have invented for themselves but which does not actually exist, it's also true that many of the contestants on the show have sung professionally, including Jordin Sparks (and, I believe, Blake Lewis). If the show had been designed as a totally amateur contest, then at least half the people who have competed would have been ineligible, but in fact the show is open to amateurs and professionals alike.

Melinda was the best singer this season, and her absence from the finals harms the show's credibility. I am, however, grateful that ths show gave the rest of the country the opportunity to find what those of us who know her already realized--that she is phenomenally talented and deserves a long and successful career as a singer.

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JPL-thanks for sharing that Phil is really a nice guy in person!
While I liked all 3 remaining AI contenders, I was not completely surprised to see Melinda's exit even though I always enjoyed her singing performances.

So the AI top prize is really a toss-up between Blake & Jordin. Just depends on who is speed-voting and the number of times they can get thru to vote. Could go either way in this case.

True musical artistry is about longevity and having a fan base. Ten years from now, who knows where these 3 contenders will be and if we thought about it honestly, most of us responding will not care and will have have moved on to whatever...
In the end, the one with the real goods (i.e. depth of character, talent, perseverance, connections...) will be left standing and will continue to flourish. Best wishes to all 3!

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I wasn't surprised that it was "Melinder" (as Simon calls her.) I think the top three are all very talented. But someone had to go. I was just hoping it wasn't Blake and was quite relieved to see he was still in it. As far as next week goes, it could go either way but since I read on Jon's website that Blake won the coin toss and gave away the opportunity to go last, that Jordin will save her best power note for last and muster up just enough more votes to take the lead in a "photo finish". She's got the talent, but so does Blake and in my opinion, Blake supasses Jordin in entertainment value, uniqueness, and star quality.

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Melinda leaving was a surprise to me but after reading alot of the comments I guess I should of expected it... I honestly had a hard time picturing any of them leaving. I think Melinda has a incredible voice regardless of her age, style or whatever. Yet someone had to go.

I had to chuckle at the thought of you (Jon) directing Phil to your blogs. In all fairness you only called him scary once I think. I'm happy you met him and saw what a great guy he seems to be.

It seems during the more recent seasons they haven't had the home visits till the end and they are not quite the same as they were in your day.
Jon, do have any idea why they changed that? The home visits were some of the best parts.

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MELINDA WAS ROBBED, AND I WILL NEVER WATCH AL AGAIN. JORDAN IS A 2 FACED BITCH HATE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!

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