American Idol, February 23: Four on the Floor

First results show of the season. "What have you done?" Ryan asks like an accusation. He reminds us that four people, two men, two women, will be leaving tonight. Their competition is over.

Obviously, we have to get a recap, of the entire audition process. Oy.

Back to live, Ryan asks Randy if the edict for originality has been met. Randy says some of the contestants have shown who they are and came original, others played it safe. Ryan asks Paula about the importance of song choice, a criticism she’s had a lot this week. Paula says the right song is whatever evokes an emotional response from the individuality. (She’s right again, where did this Paula come from?) Ryan asks Simon if they were intentionally tougher on the guys this time. Simon says their expectations were higher, the men have been hyped as the best ever, and the judges were disappointed. Ryan asks if Simon thinks America will see it his way. Simon says, dry as Sahara sand, "of course."

The results are coming. I predicted the bottom three from the women would be Mikalah, Melinda, and Celena; and the bottom three from the men would be Constantine, Bo, and Jared. And, I predicted we will be saying goodbye to Melinda, Celena, Bo, and Jared.

We recap Tuesday night’s performances. Then Ryan asks Sarah why there were tears after she sang. Sarah says her feelings were a bit hurt, and the whole process is harder than she thought. Ryan asks Nadia if she’s feeling confident. Nadia says it’s up to America, and she did her best. Ryan reminds Celena the judges thought she looked good up there. Celena says she’ll take that. Ryan asks Janay if the nerves got to her. Janay says she thinks so.

Now the results, starting with the women seated in the top row: Aloha, Jessica, Vonzell, Amanda, Sarah, and Celena. All are safe!

Carrie is safe.

Mikalah is safe.

Lindsay is safe.

Nadia is safe

Janay and Melinda are left. Janay is safe, Melinda is out!

Melinda Lira is eliminated! Melinda seems shocked – so shocked she can’t move. It is pretty scary for a moment! Ryan asks her what’s running through her mind. (Ryan!!) She says she’s shocked, and notes that she wasn’t shown earlier on in the auditions and favorites were formed by viewers. (She has a point.) Randy says it was a pitchy performance on the playback, and Paula agrees. Simon says she had to create a reason to vote for her. Simon is right about that too!

And they ask Melinda to sing. Yes, it is cruel. She does her best with "Power of Love," of which she got none, and she is clearly dejected.

Now for the men. Confused? Shouldn’t there be two women leaving? I am too. Let’s see how it plays out.

Ryan asks Bo if his age gives him an advantage. Bo says he thinks so, being on stage gives him experience. Ryan says Constantine got a hard time for insulting Randy, when Ryan says it was actually him who said it. Ryan asks Anwar if he feels good about the risk he took. Anwar says you just never know.

Now for the results.

Starting with the men seated in the top row: Anwar, Joe, David, Bo, Mario, and Scott. All are safe. Then the bottom row men are asked to join Ryan center-stage.

Anthony is safe.

Constantine – wait here.

Judd is safe.

Nikko is safe.

Back to Constantine, who is safe.

That leaves Jared and Travis. Travis is safe! Jared Yates is eliminated!

Randy says you gotta leave it all on the stage, and show there is a reason for you to be here and it didn’t happen. Paula encourages him to sing it all out right now. Simon has nothing to say. Jared sings a ragged "How Could I," having to reign in his emotions at one point. Man, this is brutal.

With all due respect to Jared Yates and Melinda Lira, this was a no-brainer. We didn’t get to know them before Top 24 at all, and neither performed well-enough to make new room in hearts for them.

There are still two more eliminations to go. Is it going to be the second-lowest vote-getters or is there another surprise in store for us?

Those ladies who were safe earlier, the top row, are no longer safe. That’s Aloha, Jessica, Vonzell, Amanda, Sarah, and Celena.

Aloha is safe.

Jessica is safe.

Vonzell is safe

Amanda, Sarah, and Celena are left. Sarah Mather is eliminated!

Randy says it wasn’t her best and you have to do every performance like it’s your last. Paula says they spoke, she’s a beautiful performer, and she just chose the wrong song. Simon says in previous years she would have done well, and hopes she picks herself up, because "it’s not the end of the road for you." It was the song.

Sarah, who was stung after her critiques last night, now has to sing her way to the electric chair. Clearly dejected, she does "Get Ready" (now is good time to mention "Get Ready" was performed by the Temptations, so that was Eddie Kendrick on lead vocals {Paula!} not Smokey Robinson like I said before. Thanks for the heads up!) as well as anyone can expect. It’s good television, people! Eye-roll.

Now, for the second man to go.

The men of the bottom row are told they did all the work last time, so it’s up to the men in the top row now. So those men – Anwar, Joe, David, Bo, Mario, and Scott – are no longer safe. The top row’s men join Ryan in the middle of the stage. No one is in a hurry to get there.

On either side of Ryan is Mario and Scott. Both are safe.

Next are Bo and David. Both are safe.

Finally, Anwar and Joe. Both are safe. (Huh?) Confused faces all around.

Ryan, with an expression on his face that says he clearly doesn’t want to do this, turns to Judd and says he is eliminated! That’s a shocker!

Ryan asks Judd if he’s shocked. Judd says all he can do is put it out there and see what happens.

Randy says the competition is tough this year, Judd worked it out but it wasn’t good enough, he guesses. Paula says the guys are really strong, and she hates Wednesdays. Simon says he is not surprised, it’s the first time America saw him and he doesn’t think Judd presented himself the right way, and he feels sorry for Judd. (Simon? Feel sorry?) I know I feel sorry for Judd, that was the meanest elimination I've ever seen!

To his credit, Judd manages to get a reasonably energetic "Traveling Band" out, though his heart must be in his shoes.

So, tonight, we lost Sarah Mather, Melinda Lira, Jared Yates, and Judd Harris. I was two out of four. Wow. What a night! Next week, we do it all again. Can you handle it? Refill that blood pressure prescription and meet me here Monday!

Sting7 has been a respected published writer for many years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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