American Idol 2, February 12: This Year's Model

So, the Top 3 vote getters are Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, and Kimberley Locke. Names that should sound familiar to you, since I pegged them as the class of the field!

What had the other judges predicted?

Randy predicted Ruben and Kimberley.

Paula predicted Ruben and a tie with Clay and Kimberley.

Simon predicted Ruben and Kimberley.

So, we are all in agreement.

Ryan asks Simon who he thinks was the top vote getter. Simon simply says, "Ruben."

Ryan announces to the jittery three... that... the top vote getter... on American Idol 2... on Fox... in America... on Earth... was Ruben Studdard!

Ruben's implausibly larger brother comes out and bear hugs him. Problem, Ryan is between them. Ryan announces that his lip is bleeding. Seriously. He shows his hand with a bit of blood on it. This is a family show, Ryan, not Fear Factor!

Ruben sings "Superstar" again as Ryan is placed on a stretcher and paramedics and four out of five dentists rush to his aid. Not the last part.

Commercial.

Ryan returns, sucking his teeth a lot. That hug must have really jacked him up! We have results, he says. Of the Simon poll. Oh, Lord. Okay, 58% say Simon sucks. Simon should consider this a moral victory. He protests, demands a recount, Paula pulls the plug on him. How can the Emmys ignore this?

Now, the announcement of who is joining Julia DeMato, Charles Grigsby, and now Ruben Studdard in the Top Ten?

Kimberley Locke!

Clay graciously hugs her, as we can hear her sister whooping in the back. Kimberley sings "Somewhere Over The Rainbow." Out of the spotlight, Ryan gives a clearly disappointed Clay a companionly handshake.

As the show ends, Ryan reminds Clay that he could be in the wildcard round (Randy and Paula say "absolutely" with a conviction that should encourage him).

So, your boy Sting7 is two for two this week. I had a couple of emails accusing me of Kimberley hating. I don't at all. Her spot in the Top 10 is well-deserved and I have no doubt that she will be most impressive. My only beef was that she did a song I already heard her do, while Clay's performance was the more impressive. Maybe because it was fresh. The defense rests.

Next week, I will have a much more difficult time. We will see performances from: Rickey Smith, Equoia, Jordan Segundo, Samantha Cohen, Lou Gazzara, Kimberly Kelsey, George Trice (Jaered Andrews' replacement), and Vanessa Olivarez.

Not a Pick to Click among them. Anything can happen! Let's be there!

Sting7 can be reached at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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