American Idol 6, March 8: Take a Bow

Tonight we set the top 12 Idol contestants. I hope everyone made good voting choices! As a reminder, Betsy predicted that Phil and Brandon will be sent packing, and I thought it would be Antonella and Haley. Let’s see if we’re right!

We kick off the evening with a group rendition of “Stuck in the Middle With You.” Haley sucks. Stephanie needs to sing out, Louise! Phil’s falsetto isn’t as good as Ace’s. Gina, Brandon, and Jordin all sound great. Once again, I love Jordin’s dress. I want to go shopping with her and Stephanie. Sabrina and Sanjaya have a duet, yet I can’t hear Sanjaya at all. Thanks, Sabrina! Go away, Antonella. Ug, you, too, Sundance. Okay, enough of this - let’s get down to it.

Ryan reminds us that besides results, we’ll also learn more about the big Idol announcement and get serenaded by season 4 Idol Carrie Underwood. By the end of the hour, we’ll know who the top 12 are.

As always, we get our recap for the week. Blake sang a song the judges had never heard of. Chris Richardson and Phil went country; one did well and one… not so much. Jared sang Stevie Wonder while wearing an argyle sweater Duncan Kane left behind. (I’m sad very few people will get that reference.) Sanjaya needs to leave already. Simon doesn’t like Sundance. I thought Brandon did better than other people thought. Chris Sligh was a rare shining light and has weird man-love for Ryan.

The girls kicked the guys’ butts again, starting with Jordin telling us not to mess around with her. Gina got rave reviews for “Call Me When You’re Sober” (except not from me - I still like her, though). Stephanie and Sabrina went with R&B. Haley went country (not well) and Antonella ruined Corinne Bailey Rae (sorry I misspelled her name last night). LaKisha schooled the others on Whitney Houston and Melinda rocked everything ever, some more.

The guys and girls are all mixed together tonight. Ryan starts with LaKisha and Blake, who are both quiet and nervous. Ryan says one of them will work with Diana Ross next week, and the other is in the top 12. Well, they’re both in the top 12, actually, so they’ll both be working with Diana Ross, I guess.

Chris Sligh is next, all by his lonesome. Ryan asks him if he thinks he made it. Chris says for fear of looking dumb, he’ll say, “I hope.” Good answer. Ryan tells him he is not… going to find out until after the break. Yeah, I’m really worried. After the commercials, Chris is lonely no more and gets to join Blake and LaKisha in the top 12. Of course.

Jordin is next, and everyone loves her as much as I do, so she’s in the top 12. Next is Phil, the first singer of the night to actually have a questionable fate. He admits to being a little worried. Ryan gives him the good news - he’s sticking around. He gets emotional and hugs his fellow top-12ers.

Jared, another possible evictee, is called up next. This is it for him. Aww, I really liked him this week. I think it was the argyle that did him in. You can sing Stevie or you can wear argyle, but you can’t do both. Paula tells Jared that he’s proven he’s talented, and he should continue his dream. Simon tells him he’s good-looking but needs to work on his vocals. Randy advises him to work on being more original. Jared is surprised to be leaving, and I guess he’s not familiar with the Internet because most people thought he’d be leaving tonight. He sings an argyle-less rendition of “If You Really Love Me.”

Ryan gives us a trivia question. Eh.

Ryan calls on Melinda and Brandon next. Brandon hopes there’s room for two backup singers in the top 12. There is - they’re both in. (Sorry, Betsy, you’re 0 for 2 tonight.)

Chris Richardson and Gina are up next. They’re holding hands, so Ryan asks if they get along. Gina tells him to shut up since her boyfriend’s upstairs. Ryan says they’ll be spending a lot more time together, as they’re both staying. There are three spots left and six singers remaining - Stephanie, Haley, Antonella, Sanjaya, Sundance, and Sabrina. That means there’s one seat left for a guy and two for girls.

Before we learn who else is leaving, we get a montage of Carrie scenes (including on of her singing “Alone” - sorry, Gina). Carrie emerges and sings “Wasted” with a violin accompaniment. It’s not my cup of tea, but she sounds good. Jordin sings along. Ooh, the violinist is cute! Call me, cute violinist! I love string instruments! Is it me, or is Carrie even prettier than when she was on the show? She needs to go shopping with me, Jordin, and Stephanie, though - just say no to leggings, Carrie.

The next to be called up are Antonella and Stephanie. Antonella is about to completely lose it. Sweet mother of mercy, Stephanie is in the top 12 and Antonella is NOT! God bless America. Oh, wait - this means we still have to hear her sing again. Rats. Ryan asks what memories Antonella will take with her. I know what memories America will have! Antonella warbles “Put Your Records On” again, then runs off to do porn or be in Girls Gone Wild or whatever. ‘Bye! Don’t stay in touch!

Haley and Sabrina are left to battle for the remaining girl’s seat. I’m pretty sure I know how this will go… and I’m completely wrong. Haley is staying and Sabrina is not. What? That’s so wrong. Poor Sabrina. (And me, sort of, since I keep getting 50 percent of my predictions wrong.) Let’s hope Haley gets axed in the next two weeks so she won’t go on the tour. Ryan says this is one of the most intense episodes we’ve ever had. Why does he sound like an announcer at a golf tournament?

Ryan asks Randy if Sabrina should be going home. Randy says no way. She sings “Don’t Let Go” again, but she’s too emotional to hit most of the notes. Nice dress, though. I’d like to raid the Idols’ closets. Well, not Jared’s or Antonella’s.

Ryan tells us that tonight is the show’s 200th episode, so what better night to announce the big thing they keep talking about? Ryan says they want to give back - the show wants to make sure everyone in America knows how big a problem poverty is in the world, especially in Africa. In fact, Simon and Ryan have already been there, and we get to see some cute footage of them with kids.

Ryan asks what Simon took away from the trip. Simon says he’ll never forget it. He saw some horrible conditions but met some really nice people. He’s glad they can do something to help them. Ryan says the show’s work will also reach out to some places in America. Randy and Paula will go to Louisiana, Randy’s home state, and work with victims of Hurricane Katrina. Paula adds that they’ll be working in Mississippi, too, trying to put smiles back on some kids’ faces. Simon says that everyone involved with the show has done well and they want to give back.

On April 24th and 25th, the top six, the theme will be inspiration. Viewers will both vote for singers and change the lives of needy children. For every vote cast, Idol sponsors will donate money to people in need. On that Wednesday, people will also be able to make donations from home. Quincy Jones is writing a special song for the top six, Borat (aka Sacha Baron Cohen) will be in attendance (Ryan says Randy will wrestle him nude), and stars such as Bono, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, and Annie Lennox will be involved. I think it’s a great idea, and it gets people involved who probably don’t know how best to get involved. Way to go, Idol!

We’re left with one spot in the final 12, and it will go to either Sanjaya and Sundance. It’s only 8:50, so we have to take another commercial break first. When we come back, Ryan announces that Sundance is the one going home. I’m so torn. I didn’t really like either of them. Couldn’t Jared have stayed instead?

Amazingly, Sundance doesn’t cry. Paula says she’s speechless, then babbles about it being a singing competition. Simon wonders if people weren’t listening when Sanjaya sang. Sundance asks for a job, then sings “Jeremy.” I still don’t like it. Also, “And the boy was something that Mommy wouldn’t wear”? What does that even mean?

Funeral video time! Then we get another glimpse of the top 12, and Ryan tells us Diana Ross will indeed be here next week. Also here next week will be Betsy, covering the performances on Tuesday, and myself, giving you the lowdown on the results on Wednesday. Until then, keep checking RNO and FOI for tons of Idol news and commentary!

Jenn Brasler is an Assistant Editor of Reality News Online and an aspiring writer from Falls Church, Virginia. By day she works for a court reporting firm, and by night she’s a spy for a covert branch of the CIA. You can e-mail her at luckyjenn@hotmail.com. Just when Jenn thinks she has the voters figured out, they throw her a curveball!

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