American Idol, Season 5 **Official Discussion Thread** Part 2

[MeanLaureen]

Wow, do all of you that are complaining about Taylor singing last night REALLY think that wasn't totally scripted? Do you really think it was just a coincidence that Ryan would stop by Rebecca Romain (sp?) who just happens to star in a huge Blockbuster movie coming out in the near future and she just out of the blue made a request to have Taylor sing the song that just about gave Simon a migraine on Tuesday? Please, Taylor was told to do that and had to do it whether he wanted to or not.

Chris had just as much time to sing his final song as any other booted contestant - or more so. Not many people were fans of Kellie although somewhere a huge fanbase kept her alive and she didn't get to sing AT ALL.

In the start of this season, Chris was my favorite. He so winned me over with his performance of "Dead or Alive". But as the weeks went on, and his performances stagnated and were basically the same thing week after week only changing the lyrics - I turned my votes to Taylor who with the exception of maybe 1 week (Country week), brought something to the table every competition.

And I am far from alone in this opinion of Chris. Another board that I post at devoted to AI - in the beginning Chris was the favorite overall. By the time last week's episode aired, I would venture that a good 85% of the Chris supporters had moved on to someone else. And I'll tell you why the majority of the voters that left his camp did. Chris's stage presence.

I still think Chris has the capability to be an awesome recording artist, and if he channels it in the right direction, I could see myself buying his CD. But when he sang on stage, his expression was absolutely void of emotion - especially during love songs. And this is a TV show, not radio so you have to bring it both vocally and in presence. He may be a good looking guy, but if someone is singing a love song, I don't want to see someone glaring into the camera with a look on their face like they want to do harm to me. Sorry if that upsets the Chris fans but from what I have gathered on the other board, that is one of the main reasons people jumped ship.

Am I sad to see Chris go? Yeah. I was hoping on a Chris Taylor finale because I thought seeing the two of them go head to head would be amazing. But I don't see this as "unfair" "rigged" "the idol is gone" etc. And I don't see it as American Idol kicking out the only rocker. If Chris had his way, everything would sound like a Creed song. Well, in fact a good portion of everything DID sound like a Creed song. Taylor is a rocker as well. Chris was a 90's angst rock kind of guy. Taylor is a bluesy rock kind of guy. Technically I don't think either of them have the range to cover all types of rock like Bo or Constantine did, but they are both experts at their genre.

And to the question about how I would react if Taylor was voted out - I would be sad, sure. Cry? More than likely not unless his "bad day" montage was sad. Would I come on here ranting and raving and saying I'm never watching again? Probably the extent of what I would say is that I'll miss Taylor's performances, that I will still be a fan regardless and then I woud move on and vote for whomever I felt had the best performance on the next show. Same as I did when my pick last year was voted out.

 

[OzFan]

Well the "rock" audience may not be that big, but they did loose 1 viewer last night..... me!

I liked Chris, I thought he was true to himself! He does has a promising career ahead of him. I am looking forward to his non-idol days with baited breath!

 

[mcr5298]

So someone posted that Kat get's the male votes? Yeah, so Chris didn't get the female votes. Come on! Everyone is entitled to like who they like. Why is that wrong? Some people like Taylor, some like Elliott. I'm personally a Kat fan, and I don't see anything wrong with that. Obviously some people have been voting for her. And it's not just 13 year olds! I'm 35 and I voted like crazy for her. If Chris was so well liked, then why did he get voted off?

And I don't think that American Idol is going to suffer by the loss of those Chris fans who think that this isn an outrage. And guess what? Next year this is going to happen all over again. Someone who is liked will get booted off. I find it exciting and entertaining. I am an American Idol fan first, and it won't bother me when my favorite gets voted off. And I'm truly expecting her to go next week. And I will still continue to watch.

JMHO

 

[jaimee1024]

I think those of you who are saying that AI is not about talent are a little self righteous to think that only singers YOU enjoy represent talent. I didn't enjoy Paris one little bit, but I can admit that she has talent. I get really annoyed with people who think that only their opinions count and that everyone else is wrong if they don't agree with them. There are three very talented performers still on this show and only time will tell who will truly succeed in the music business and who will not. I wish the best for them all.

Oh...and in response to lbgraves...yes, I was shocked at how abrupt Ryan's announcement was last night. I almost missed it! No lead in...he just blurted it out! WHA?! I felt bad for Chris. And I love Kat, but I think she was as shocked as everyone else that she wasn't going home last night.

 

[barbeml]

We're all entitled to our opinion. I truly cannot stand to watch or listen to Taylor. His "style" is nails on the chalkboard. It's like George Clooney and Joe Cocker mated. :

ITA! Taylor's "appeal" completely escapes me, and Elliot does nothing for me. But that's why ice cream comes in more than one flavor!

Chris was the only one I could imagine making a record I would buy. He has a great career ahead of him. Katherine has had many moments of brilliance, so maybe she will bring her A game next week.

 

[WDWLVR]

I agree with Lauri that Taylor's performance was all scripted. My thinking is that it might have been scripted for each of them. Like I said last night my thought was that as soon as it was over Ryan was going to annouce that Taylor was going home! Would I have been sad, sure. I'm a big Taylor fan. However it wouldn't have been the end of the world and I would continue to watch Idol.

I do agree that based on the night before Kat should have gone home.

For the last 4-5 weeks I've thought that the finals was going to be Chris and Kat - never expected to see them in the bottom two together.

Of the 4 idols on Tuesday night I think Kat would best fit the Idol mold that the producers want. I just can't see any of the guys fitting it.

I've always said I'm not a big Elliott fan but that doesn't mean I don't think he has talent. He does. I just don't like his performance style just like many don't like Taylor's.

Will each of last 4 idols make it in the real world? Yes indeed!

 

[Jennasis]

Now that I've had a chance to sleep off my anger, I can post much more clearly .

All of my votes will now, regardless of the performances being good/bad/ugly, will be given to Taylor. I don't necessarily think he needs them, but then again I didn't think Chris would be where he is now either so it looks like EVERYONE should be voting for their particular favorite with much ferver.

Does anyone else think that Taylor reminds them of Robert Deniro? Sometimes he makes this strained face when he sings and he looks JUST like Deniro. It's quite endearing.

As for Taylor getting a chance to sing again last night, THAT was odd. Nobody else got a chance to sing again (except the one getting the axe). It was definitely a scripted moment, but WHY would the producers want to let Taylor sing again?? I haven't figured it out. It's not like he needed more exposure. I don't know if that had been planned prior to the start of the show or during the commercial break just before he sang. Maybe the show was running too short and they needed somebody to sing something relatively short to fill time.

As far as reading peoples faces, I'm pretty good at it. Katherine really looked shocked at the vote. Not relieved that she was still in it, but almost a guilty look on her face. She knew it shouldn't have been Chris, but whatever. I'm sure she's relieved now. Simon looked really upset.

I was thrilled to see the judges, all of them, give Chris a standing ovation at the end (right before he sang).

In closing: GO TAYLOR

 

[Nancy]

No reason to watch this show any more. It's clearly NOT about talent.

The audience is not about music. They're all about who makes their little 13 year old hearts go pitter-patter.

My prediction? The final two will be Elliott and Katherine and the winner will be Katherine.

I do believe AI has "jumped the shark" tonight. I know they've lost me.

Who left would have little 13 year old girls hearts going pitter-patter? Not Taylor or Eliott, maybe Kat

The thing is, and it happens every year and there is outrage over it, someone with talent gets voted off. People assume because they are so good they don't call in and vote. Knowing after this many seasons how the system works you need to call the whole two hours to help insure your favorite stays in. Chris has talent, he can sing, but every week on here people talked about his screaming and his lack of emotion while singing. This week was the worst, he looked so bored during his second song that I felt like he wanted to be voted off so he could get on with his life on his own terms. I think Chris appealed to an older audience, those of us that grew up with the rockers, he is not what the current trend in music is so maybe the younger (teens) didn't vote for him. I know he wasn't one that my teen daughters liked. But they don't like Taylor either.

Would all the outraged Chris fans want to see him put out a record like Bo's? That would be what being an AI winner would have him do. This way he can pick and choose what he wants to do after his touring with AI this summer.

 

[Buzz2001]

The audience is not about music. They're all about who makes their little 13 year old hearts go pitter-patter.

Isn't that what an AI is? A Brittany, Jessica, Christina, Mariah type? They can manlipulate the voice to sound good but you have to look the part too.

 

[cheeringmom]

I am still in shock. I knew Kat would be safe since she probably received a majority of the male votes and then the female votes were split amongst the three men, but Chris going home was a complete shock. I thought it would be Elliot or Taylor. Even Chris' face showed utter amazement and bewilderment. I think it took a few seconds for him to completely realize it was over. And the way Ryan had just mentioned that everyone thought Chris would be the final man standing then WHAM you are goin home. Wow.

 

[emmabelle]

I don't know if this was mentioned already, and it's totally off topic.

But did anyone else notice that Priscilla looked pregnant?

Yes, my Sister in law did, she called me during the show just to tell me that.

 

[luvwinnie]

I'm in mourning today. I just hope Elliott wins now. If it comes down to Taylor and Kat, then I want Taylor.

 

[wvrevy]

Well, I can't say that I'm totally shocked by the vote last night, since the two "prediction" sites were right on about the bottom two and the person getting the boot...but I am unhappy about it. A few thoughts:

- Kat looked more shocked than Chris did. I think she really expected to be going home, which is why she had that "sour" look on her face.

- Chris may have a solid career ahead of him, if he gets into the right situation. But I'll gladly take any bet that anyone would like to name that he'll "outsell every former Idol". He won't come close to the numbers that Kelly or Carrie are putting up. In fact, I think the only one of the final 5 he would outsell would be...well, you probably know that already.

- I think people expecting Chris's votes to go to Elliott are setting themselves up for disappointment. Aside from the vibrato, those two had nothing in common. So, why would Chris voters go for E? (And no...I don't think it's their love for farm animals )

- As I said last night before the vote, you may as well go ahead and give Taylor the contract to sign. Neither Kat nor Ellliot will be able to give him a run for his money in the finale. Unless there is a lot more adamant anti-Taylor feeling out there than I think there is, this contest ended last night. I love Kat to death, but there is no way she can beat Taylor, even if she outsings him (a very real possibility). As for Elliott...well, let's just leave it at "yeah...no."

Sorry to see Chris go, as I was hoping for a Chris / Kat / Taylor semi that I could just watch and enjoy without worrying about who would survive to get in the finals (since I like all three of them). Now, I have to hope Kat can get back to being her phenomenal self next week so that I at least don't have to worry about the finale. Hey, you never know...I mean, Ruben had lots of votes the year he won, so anything is possible.

 

[Nancy]

Yeah, Ryan has been kinda rushing that moment all season, but last night was the worst. I think it took a moment for it to register with everyone what he said because of the way he said it.

And Mean Laureen...I agree 100% with your last post (except for the calling in part, I haven't really voted this year).

I would have been happy with any of the final 4 winning, now I am fine with any of the final 3 winning. I don't have a clear cut favorite this year.

 

[lillygator]

I don't think I've had one favorite this season, I like Chris and Taylor and Elliot is ok too. I do think Kat has singing ability but like other posters have said - zero emotion/stage pres/etc. She's tried a few times and it looks so uncomfortable or strained. I do think she should have gone home before the other three and maybe next week will be her time.

I didn't vote this week but I am planning on it next week!

 

[mcr5298]

Stop saying that Kat gets all the male votes already! :lol: I'm a 35 year old female mother and I prefer Kat's voice over all 3 men. So you're saying that men are voting for Kat because of her looks and body? Maybe so. But don't tell me that women didn't get all hot and bothered by Chris! I think that I'm a little offended!

so it looks like EVERYONE should be voting for their particular favorite with much ferver.

I don't know why everyone didn't realize that there were only 4 left? If you're a fan of whomever, you should have voted. Then maybe things would have been different. For all the mourning of the loss of Chris, I'm amazed that he didn't get more votes!

 

[emmabelle]

I'm bummed to see Chris leave although I think Chris put the final nail in his coffin by not showing enough enthusiasm Tuesday night, especially during his second performance. I was thinking during "A little less conversation" how flat the performance was and that this was going to be an issue for him. To me he got voted off for not being bubbly enough. I don't remember a bad performance by him, but I do remember seeing some bad performances from the other remaining idols. JMHO.


Edited to add that having Taylor sing "Jailhouse Rock" again was weird and so scripted, can you imagine Rebecca R. thinking she had enough clout to ask them to rescript the show so she could hear the song again, pluhleezz. I would have rather heard "In the Ghetto" more, I thought that was amazing.

 

[dizneenut]

I'm so bummed that Chris went home. I thought for sure he'd be in the Final 2.
I guess I'll be rooting for Taylor now.

BTW, I noticed Priscilla looked preggers too.

 

[Reflection]

I didn't say the rock audience was all that big.

Seriously, this year's ratings were stellar. My point was about how this would affect next year's ratings. We'll see!

Well, like you said the rock audience (for the show that is) was not all that big.

AI survived Reuben winning. AI survived Fantasia winning. It will survive whoever gets the AI nod this season.

 

[DisneyGerry]

Chris didnt warrant being voted off

But the remaining three have to be better/ more popular than Fantasia--still no idea how/ why she won a few years back