First, the superficial:

Hey everybody, Bo's hair looks pretty! And SHINY! (I wonder what conditioner he uses? Probably a salon-brand deep conditioner or a herbal moisturizing hair masque... note to self: look into deep conditioners.) Hi Bo! Looking good! Have you been working out? And hello there, mic stand acrobatics! Too bad you had to go and sing the worst song, like, ever. And I didn't even recognize your voice.. Aw, Bo. I miss the "Whipping Post" days. Those were good times. (aside: Your vocal chords are shot, dude. Please give them a rest. I want my Bo back.)

Ryan: Does it feel good to be in the Top 12?
Paris: It do!
Oh, Paris. As if The Hair was not bad enough. Are you trying to make me hate you?

Well, well, well... look who's out of the joint and ready to par-TAY. Seriously, people, who let in the Brittenum Tools-- er, Twins? And whose brilliant idea was it to give them a platform to shout out "... and rich!"? (although Ryan's O. M. G. reaction was priceless) Freaks, both of them. God help us all.

Just when I thought I couldn't love Ace any more, he goes all Hug Patrol on me. How sweet was that, huh? *sigh* Although I admit to a moment of worry because did you see my secret AI luvah hugging Will? Things that make you go, "Hmm..."

OMG. Next week is Stevie Wonder week? What will Bucky and Pickler DO? The mind boggles.

Now for the substantive:

Two of my favorite male singer are gone. I hate this show. *guilty pleasure*

Honestly. Kevin over Will? What's the thought process going on here? "Hmm... way less talented? Check! Infinitely less mature? Check! Not even remotely as cute? Check! But hey! Let's keep him anyway. You know, for kicks." It's like affirmative action for geeks or something. Will took it like a man, though. An adorable young man. Give him a few years to grow up a bit and find himself vocally. That boy is going places.

And Ayla over Melissa? Please. What is wrong with people? Melissa, in my humble and totally correct opinion, should have been the one to go (of the two). Now I have to see her and her skanky hair-- not to mention her pierced and totally not-ripped belly, which I am certain will be on full display-- perform again next week. Thanks, America. No, really.

Plus, now TGIM will never let me live down the hard, cold fact that I bawled like a baby when Ayla was eliminated. Yeah, that's right, I cried. Okay? Are you happy now? And I am totally not even having my period either! It was just so heart-wrenching to watch her cry, and if you disagree, well, you must have iron in your soul. I don't think I have ever felt more sympathy for an eliminated contestant. Thing is, you just know this was the first time she's ever not been the very best at something, and that is a painful lesson to learn in front of millions of people. And though, yes, she has basketball to fall back on, I think she was genuinely ready to dedicate herself to singing. It seemed as if she wanted it. SO MUCH. Seriously. I don't know how she made it through her song: "Reaching for something in the distance/So close you can almost taste it/Release your inhibitions..."

That being said, how fabulous was Ryan when he very smoothly and professionally walked Ayla through the heartache and disappointment, giving her enough time to pull herself together so she could sing-out? What a sweetheart of a guy. And she gave it her best shot. I was so proud of both of them. "Live your life with arms wide open/Today is where your book begins/The rest is still unwritten..." She'll be fine.

But y'all? It is Gedeon who was absolutely robbed of his rightful place in the competition. No WAY should Kevin stay in the Top 12 over Gideon. Gideon's the better singer and performer hands down, no matter how Forrest Gumpy he may appear (he was, in point of fact, valedictorian of his class... you heard me) when he isn't singing. I mean honestly, I nearly peed my pants laughing during his crazy "music makes the world go round" intro. "What. The. World. Does. Not. Know. A. Bout. Me. Is. That. When. I. Am. Not. Sing. Ing. I. Am. Pain.Ting... As. Thee. Record. Spins. Thee. Sound. Of. Music. Makes. Thee. World. Go. Round." He had me at "Sing. Ging." Damn straight, dawg.

Here are a few facts I have discovered about Gedeon:

-- He's the 3rd of 7 children; four boys and three girls. He hasn't seen his mother since January because she had to stay behind to work and care for her other children (why this makes me sad should be apparent in just a moment). His grandmother traveled with him to Hollywood.

-- He almost didn't make it to the auditions because the Memphis auditions were cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina, and Gedeon couldn't afford a trip out to Chicago. His teacher suggested that he put on a concert and sell tickets, which he did, and that is how he raised the $700 he needed.

-- His father died three months ago. THREE months ago. The late Tony McKinney, a blues singer, writer, and performer, died of kidney disease in December 2005. The way I hear it, there wasn't a dry eye in the place when Gedeon sang at his father's funeral.

I'm thinking that smile of his is masking quite a bit of pain. Aaaaaaaaand... yep, now I have guilt.

Personally, I am in awe of his faith in the face of his father's death. And he can sing circles around Kevin and everybody knows it. All that being said, I think this boy has a bright future as a gospel singing superstar. I could see him on Broadway, too, most def. He will be fine.

I suspect that Gedeon's backstory hasn't been pimped all over the show because he and his family have a sense of dignity and privacy. He strikes me as the kind of kid who would see it as exploiting his father's death. And if that's the case, mad props to him for taking the high road, unlike some other people I could mention, Kellie Pickler. And I also choose to believe that my wee'un wouldn't stoop so low as to expose such a young man's very fresh grief for entertainment purposes.

So how much did I love that by simply KILLING in his sing-out, he effectively said "In Your Face, America"? So, SO much. Because damn.

I don't know why he touched me so much. He just did. Bye-bye, Baby Ben Vereen. Hope I see you again soon.

Oh, wow.... Okay, this verbosity over an elimination episode has officially become an indicator of an obsession far surpassing that which is healthy. I shall seek help... after the Season Finale.

8 Comments:

 LadyBug commented:

Okay, I'm just gonna go in order of your post...

-I, too, HATED that song Bo did. Love Bo, hate the song....and the fact that he couldn't seem to let go of the microphone stand. I think someone may have super-glued his hand to it just before his performance. And was it just me, or did he sound like he YELLED that song? The girls liked it, though, so he's got the 7 to 9-year-old-girl demographic covered, I guess.

-I think it was in terrible taste to have the newly-released (from jail, not on an album) Brittenum Twins in the audience. Ick.

-Why does Ace look younger, pinker, and cuter every week? Seriously, Cat, I may have to fight you for him. Or wait! I know! We can share! 'Cause I don't want him for a lovah, I just want to hug him and squeeze him and call him George. And pinch his cheeks, possibly. (Umm...the ones on his face, dear. Well...maybe the other ones, too. Once or twice. Or maybe....wait. Where was I?...)

-I wasn't surprised Donny Osmond ...er, I mean Will was eliminated, but when Ryan announced KEVIN was staying over GEDEON?!?!? I kept saying, over and over (and, um, quite loudly, according to Deputy Dad), "HOW does that HAPPEN?? Seriously. Tell me. HOW does that HAPPEN?!?"

And I didn't know Gedeon's backstory. Perhaps I wouldn't have been so judgemental of him if I had.

But geez, Kevin BUTCHERED "Starry Night." And I LOVES me some Don McClean, and that song is one of my favorites. But Kevin made me want to WRETCH. Blech. Why didn't he get cut last night?? There HAS to be a conspiracy there!

-As for the girls....I was surprised to see Melissa picked over Ayla, too. However, I was a little relieved on Ayla's behalf. Because she had no chance of actually winning; and, had she been in the top 12, she would've had to commit to the AI tours and sing-a-longs or whatever nonsense they do well after the season has ended, and she would've had to give up her basketball scholarship to participate in all that stuff. And I just don't see that girl with a big singing career ahead of her. But now she can go on and play basketball, get her education, and end up doing whatever the heck she wants to do. I think getting cut before the final 12 was probably a blessing in disguise for Ayla.

P.S. You may check your stats and notice that I've been by eleventy hundred times this morning, waiting for your AI update. I only ask that you wait until after the season finale to take out that restraining order. 'Cause, girl, I am totally addicted to your AI summaries.

» 3/10/2006 10:54 AM 

 Recovering Mormon commented:

Okay, I don't feel so DIRTY now. I am a recently baptised "Idol" watcher and am grateful that it brings forth the sick, nasty little feelings in others as well, and that they too love, love, LOVE it.

Who is that Bo joker? A past winner??? Holy crap, he realeased that song as a single? And it's going platinum?!?!

Help me Jesus!

» 3/10/2006 11:02 AM 

 Ms. Junie commented:

OMG First of all were you living inside my head last night?? Were you? Because EVERYTHING you wrote here was crossing my American Idol mind last night..and I felt bad for Ayla AND I definitely teared up when Gedeon was elminated. There is no way that Kevin deserves to be there over Gedeon. I am still bugged about it. The only thing I can think of that makes sense, is that there is some conspiracy to keep pushing Kevin ahead just to get at Simon Cowell. There are people in the world who would vote for Kevin just to make some silly point or something..I love Gedeon..something about him--different as he is--really was real and innocent.. And now I have to watch Kevin lisp instead..and nothing against lispers..but HELLO..he should have been gone last night..:( I totally loved how Ryan kept Ayla talking to calm her down..Ryan is a good hearted guy..
thanks for sharing my brain last night!

» 3/10/2006 11:13 AM 

 Cat commented:

ladybug: I agree with you regarding Ayla's "blessing in disguise," as she didn't have a chance in hell of winning. It's just rough being passed over by lesser talent on national TV.

And I am SO not sharing Ace. Sorry. His cheeks (of COURSE the ones on his face, duh...) are all mine.

recovering mormon: Bo is actually a pretty good singer/entertainer. I am thinking he must be wearing out his vocal chords touring, because he could have totally hit those notes last season. Poor Bo.

misty: Hey. Great minds and all that jazz, right? :) Gedeon will be all right. Someone will snatch him up right quick, just you watch...

» 3/10/2006 11:24 AM 

 Anonymous commented:

you sure do know how to make a girl feel guilty for being glad gedeon was gone. dangit.

» 3/10/2006 11:31 AM 

 Ms. Junie commented:

But Liza..even if you didn't like Gedeon..do you think Kevin should still be there? That is the crime! lol

» 3/10/2006 1:15 PM 

 BirdMadGirl commented:

AMEN! My skin is still crawling with the fact that Kevin is in the top 12!!! UGH! From the look of your comments here - it amazes me that he received more votes. Who in the hell voted for him?!?! No one here, that's for sure. Gawd, the thought of listening to him "sing" next week is making me want to hurl.

Yes, Gedeon is a strange character - but this is a singing competition, not a popularity contest. He is so much more talented BY FAR than Kevin. Ugh. I'm so upset by the whole thing! I'm getting flashbacks of the whole ridiculous, "Let's keep Jon Stevens in for WAY too long" season. Ick. Be gone Kevin - BE GONE!

SIGH..... on a beautiful note, my baby Chris is in the top 12. Like I had any doubts ;) I'm so in love with that boy.... Have Ace all you want chicky. Gimme Daughtry any day! WHOO HOO!

» 3/10/2006 3:08 PM 

 dashababy commented:

You know Cat, America sucks sometimes, just like when they voted off Gedeon and put Kevin in the top 12. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
I admit, I did not like Gedeons' over confident attitude because I felt he was arrogant but at least the brutha could sing without lisping.
Aylas' quivering bottom lip almost got me in tears too but Ladybug got it right, she didn't really have a shot at actually winning but she's is so much better than Melissa, I was pissed to see her and her belly button will be around for another week at least. Damn!
It's all about charisma, not talent it seems. I mean seriously, if it were all about good vocals, Madonna and Britney wouldn't have a prayer.

» 3/13/2006 1:36 PM 

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