American Idol 2, March 5: Justify My Love

Ryan asks if all the judges are millionaires. Randy hems a little and says yeah. He is clearly thinking about all of the video girls who will be catapulting themselves at him with visions of ice and bling-bling dancing in their heads.

Paula snarkily barks, "Yeah, like I didn't have a career before this!" Simon counters, "Or after." Paula tosses her bangs and carries on with her selection. Her performer has been consistent from the beginning. They are unbelievably polished, the song choices in the beginning weren't great, but they made her take notice. She is a star inside and out. And she is... Trenyce! Trenyce is visibly trying to compose herself and joins Ryan centerstage. She then belts out "Let's Stay Together" and is better than last night. How in the world did I overlook her before?

Ryan says he has no idea who Simon will pick after his foul mood the night before. Ryan again recaps Simon's critiques on the remaining Wildcards who are looking perfectly miserable on the red couch. Clay Aiken in particular. Simon says that he watched the performances a second time, and he says in the studio, he can't hear properly, and sometimes he thinks someone is wonderful and they aren't, or they were terrible but on second listen he thinks they're not bad. (Chip! Chip! He has to mean Chip because his critique was just flat-out wrong.) So, he is taking a gamble, but he heard something in their performance and that they had a unique voice (Uh-oh, Chip's voice ain't that unique!), and thinks they could go far in the competition. He chooses... Carmen Rasmussen!

Carmen Rasmusen???

(I noticed a momentary look between Ryan and Chip that could only be described as complete disbelief. Chip mouthed 'Damn.' If they were thinking one of their names should have been called, they are right.)

Carmen hugs Simon, and sheds a couple of joyous tears. Her mother backstage is a wreck. She sings "Can't Fight The Moonlight" mostly off-key, but she was excited... I'll give her a break.

The card has been deciphered! Glory Hallelujah! The person America puts through, the highest vote getter last night was... a surprise to no one... Clay Aiken! Clay hugs all of the judges, Simon says Clay's performance last night was the best of the season so far! The rest of the Top 12 come out and prepare to have their lives changed forever. Remember, they are going to live in the big-ass house and stuff! Hokey Coke commercials soon to follow!

Ryan asks the judges if they have any advice for the advancing 12.

Randy - "Consistency is the key, you got to bring it every week!

Paula - "Eat, sleep, have fun, enjoy the journey, don't take anything too serious. Especially what (Simon) says."

Simon - "Be afraid."

And so ends the show. How'd you do? I got 3 out of 4 of who I thought should advance; I still feel bad for the unappreciated of my picks.

Chip Days, I am angry for you. There is no doubt in my mind that his performance was better than Carmen's (and they said over and over again last night that the performers would be judged on what they did last night, yet that was not the case for Kimberly or Carmen!). I hold the opinion that American Idol had to advance someone who was not in the Top 32 to justify bringing those four back in the first place. Chip is an exceptional young man, working with troubled youth, and has been a professional throughout the whole process. Best of luck to him in everything he does. Good things happen to good people, by and by.

Next week, the real fun begins! This is when America takes control! There will be surprises. There will be tears. There will be disasters! (There will be handicapping!) There will be one American Idol!

Sting7 can be reached at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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