On Wednesday night, many of us were shocked to see "resident pro" Melinda Doolittle get booted from American Idol. But more shocking than that, many of us swore we heard Ryan Seacrest mistakenly announce her upcoming ouster prematurely.Here's what happened. After Elliott Yamin performed, and before a commercial break Ryan said, "We've got more music coming up live from Maroon 5. Plus, more emotional results and Melinda Doolittle goes home."
The cameras quickly panned over to the final three contestants and Melinda did look a little confused, and a bit less enthusiastic than Jordin and Blake. Did Ryan just announce her departure before a commercial break and without the traditional "dimming of the lights?"
Melinda shed some light on the incident in her exit interview with AOL. She said, "I thought he was saying it in regard to the next package they were going to show of me going home to Nashville. I knew I was the next one they were going to show. I think he was getting us ready for that. I don't think it was a slip."
It is clearer upon reviewing the footage that Ryan was referring to Melinda's trip home. However, the first time I heard him say it, I did think he had slipped and announced her elimination. My whole family thought the same thing. We all immediately screamed out "What?" And then we quickly rewatched the segment thanks to our DVR. Upon second viewing we realized what he meant by the statement.
Why the confusion? I think Ryan Seacrest, usually so on top of his game, unfortunately selected his words poorly at that moment in the telecast. After all, we have been trained to believe that the words "going home" specifically mean someone has been eliminated. In fact, this very phrase "going home" has been beaten into our brains for 12 weeks. Each time we've said good-bye to a contestant, it's been underscored by Chris Daughtry singing, "I'm going home."
Still, while Ryan (or the writers) may not have intended to foreshadow Wednesday's elimination results by this poorly selected phrase, I think that Ryan (one of the few people to know the results beforehand) may have unconsciously telegraphed the results through his tone. So many of thought we heard a different meaning in his words. We can't all have been wrong. He may not have meant to tell us Melinda was going home for real -- but he kind of did.
Click here to read the rest of Melinda Doolittle's exit interview with AOL.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-18-2007 @ 1:29PM
IN Mike said...
My wife and I heard that too, and we both thought it was a slip at first. After a few seconds, I decided that Ryan must have meant showing the visit to Nashville.
I figured that Ryan had been doing this too long to let that slip out early.
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5-18-2007 @ 1:31PM
Lesley said...
I heard the same exact thing and thought he spilled, too,until I thought about it and realized, I think he meant to say, Melinda's TRIP home. Although with her elimination it seemed as an early spoiler, but I think it's just semantics.
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5-18-2007 @ 1:37PM
Tammy said...
I thought he meant her hometown visit and didn't think twice about it until I saw this blog entry. oh well
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5-18-2007 @ 1:53PM
Jack said...
I imagine there is very little adlibbing Seacrest is allowed to do, beyond simple banter with the judges or contestants. He was definitely reading a teleprompter.
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5-18-2007 @ 2:06PM
Tristan said...
I heard it too, and it seemed quite strange at first. But then I realized that they were referring to the trip home.
And one thing I want to mention is that I think they should change the theme song they play everytime the person sent home is announced. If I noticed correctly, the words to the song are like "Im going home to place where I belong"* which is ironic for the person who was kicked off.
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5-18-2007 @ 2:07PM
vacelts said...
Oh, I thought he slipped. I screamed at the TV and then rewinded, realizing he meant the visit home.
Honest mistake. But given the results seemed forshadowing.
http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/semifinal-results/
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5-18-2007 @ 2:36PM
Gordy said...
Ooh ooh I thought so too. I was so mad...
Okay, you got me...I don't watch the show...
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5-18-2007 @ 2:37PM
RadioScott said...
Jack beat me to it in comment #4. You did know that he reads off of a teleprompter, right?
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5-18-2007 @ 2:59PM
Liz Finn-Arnold said...
Yeah, I would assume that he reads off the teleprompter most of the time (except for the unscripted banter) but it seems like sometimes he adds a little extra in at the end of his own. I was wondering if this was one of those times. But now that I think about it, the way it was worded makes me think it was definitely scripted. And I'm surprised one of the writers didn't question the wording. Of course, the writer didn't know Melinda was going home. And I still think it was Ryan's tone, more than the words, that made me think Melinda was eliminated.
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5-18-2007 @ 3:39PM
Sonny said...
Liz, this entire issue is moot. Ryan was obviously referring to Melinda's visit to her home town. On a night when he announced the return of Jordin and Blake to their home towns as well, it was very clear (despite his choice of words) that he was simply announcing Melinda's trip to Brentwood.
Personally, I don't think there's a story here that merits any attention.
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5-19-2007 @ 4:46PM
chitchit11 said...
i did hear that too!!!I was like R U SERIOUS??...My mom was like WHATTTTTTTTTTTT!!!Mayb it's a JOKE!!!!
Even tho i am not Melinda'fan but she shud be in da FINAL!!!SHE DESERVED IT!!!
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5-18-2007 @ 4:22PM
Gwen said...
I'm extremely disappointed in Melinda's being bumped off the show. To have a person who enlists sounds of burps, expelling gas, or just plain "far...." is a reason not to watch this show. Melinda has sung every song delightfully. This is/was a show for the best singers not one for making annoying sounds.
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5-18-2007 @ 4:25PM
Gwen said...
I'm extremely disappointed in Melinda's being bumped off the show. To have a person who enlists sounds of burps, expelling gas, or just plain "far...." is a reason not to watch this show. Melinda has sung every song delightfully. This is/was a show for the best singers not
one for making annoying sounds.
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5-18-2007 @ 4:43PM
Liz Finn-Arnold said...
Sonny,
I know it's kind of a silly issue, but so many people mentioned it in the comments or e-mailed me and asked me to explain it that I figured I'd address it once and for all. That way I don't have to keep explaining it individually. :)
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5-18-2007 @ 4:43PM
Dave said...
I heard it too and call a friend and asked her if she heard Ryan say that Melinda was going home. She said he probably meant they were going to show Melinda at home like the rest of the contestants.
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5-18-2007 @ 5:24PM
Jason said...
Thanks "WeHateYou" did your dad Don Imus tell you to say that crap?
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5-18-2007 @ 6:21PM
Sonny said...
Liz,
OK, understood.
To the poster named "WeHateYou": I think you'd be happier posting at votefortheworst.com. You'll find lots of kindred spirits there.
As Melinda said: "Have a nice day."
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5-18-2007 @ 8:17PM
Allen said...
This is really a non story. Simple logic pointed to the fact that they were going to show her hometown package.
What the real story is, is this: Didn't it seem like there was virtually no one who came to cheer at Melinda's homecoming? Almost like no one cared. In comparison to the other two.
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5-18-2007 @ 9:51PM
a friend said...
To #15 You need to go Blog somewhere else We do not need you here and do not want to read your comments .
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5-18-2007 @ 10:50PM
Sylvia said...
Even though it is clear there was a direct connection (scripted or not) to refer to Melinda's hometown visit, through his tone and demeanor, Ryan's words communicated loud and clear to many, many people this shocking news....otherwise we wouldn't have all had the same reaction.
Remember, there's more to communication than words.
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