KIMBERLY, CLAY, and RUEBEN!(spoiler!)

[PKK/MJK]

Regarding the votes last night...Fox5 News at 10pm out of New York City said they'd been deluged with calls and e-mails last night from people who could not get through to vote. So--they investigated and were told that the number of calls so overwhelmed the ATT system that it overloaded and shut down "for only a few minutes". Supposedly it was back up and running quickly and very few votes were affected. Of course, will we ever know? The term "few minutes" is very subjective! While I think Clay and Ruben deserve to be the finalists, won't people always wonder if Kimberley Locke was cheated? Ryan did say the vote count was very close. I imagine we're going to hear more about this. Hopefully, they'll fix this problem before next week.

 

[snoopy]

I actually cried last night when Kim was singing Inseperable. She is soooooooo talented!

Of course I would have cried had Clay or Ruben gone too.

At this stage of the game, its so sad to say goodbye to these fine talents! I hope and expect to see and hear more from Kimberly.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

Did anyone else find it odd that Tamyra sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", and Justin sang "Unchained Melody"? It struck me as strange that the past contestants sang songs associated with the current contestants. No biggie, but with all the songs available to sing...just weird IMO.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Thank you ryanpatricksmom, because I was just going to say the same thing!! I only flipped back and forth a few times because when I saw it was an hour again I knew I couldn't put up with all the fluff and commercial breaks. I was hoping that Kelly C. would be there to sing her duet with Tamrya...I really like that song!

 

[DancingBear]

Geez, Popsicle, what is your problem? How can you work up such venom for this girl? I guess you weren't watching Tuesday when she said how close she felt to Ruben and Clay. Or throughout the show, just the fact that she actually listened to the judge's criticism and week to week improved her look and performance.

Personally, although I think Clay has a fine voice I think he tends to perform "over the top" and in a lounge-act style (anyone remember Sam Harris from the old Star Search show), but I don't have any bad wishes for the guy.

Oh, I'm an attorney too, but I'll let that unnecessary attack by you slide by for now. Except to note how quickly folks want to talk about bringing lawsuits over stupid stuff like getting through to vote for American Idol---that's not a problem with lawyers (except for the few who take these stupid cases)---that's a societal issue.

 

[Tess]

That Justin and Tamyra sang songs just performed the night before or previously by the current contestants. The worst (or maybe best) part is that neither of last year's performers could touch the performances of this years' AI contestants--at least in my view. I wasn't impressed with Justin's rendition at all and I did enjoy his performances last year. Tamyra's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" sure wasn't impressive either, blah would be more like it. Then again, no one sings it like Judy anyway!

I taped West Wing because I was afraid to miss the moment--wish I'd have just watched West Wing and flipped at 9:25 p.m.--I just hate all of the garbage they put on in the hour long vote count shows!

 

[damo]

I think if people were only allowed to vote once, like a normal voting system, the results of the entire show would be different. If you can vote as many times as you want, what difference does it make how many fans you have, they are still going to fill the lines. I think that is why there was only a 4% variance between the contestants.

I'd like to see the system changed for next year's competition.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I bet they start charging to vote next season. Of course it could depend on who is a major sponsor. But yes something needs to be done. There shouldn't be just a 4% difference. You get people who vote 100+ times and that is just so wrong (not to mention just plain strange to invest that time).

I can't say that my heart was broken last night. There is just something about "K. Lo" that I just didn't like. She has a great voice and all, but something definetly rubbed me the wrong way.

I was so happy that we were going to get by without hearing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" again and then stupid Tamyra had to go and sing it. Why can't these people sing more up to date music????? Isn't that kinda the point, being able to make it in the market TODAY, not 50 years ago?????

 

[Indyman]

Originally posted by Miss Jasmine
I was so happy that we were going to get by without hearing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" again and then stupid Tamyra had to go and sing it. Why can't these people sing more up to date music????? Isn't that kinda the point, being able to make it in the market TODAY, not 50 years ago?????

Not to mention it being a horrible rendition of that song.

 

[damo]

I used to like that song. Now I associate it with Kimberly Locke. I too am glad she is gone.

 

[MrsMud]

I think if people were only allowed to vote once, like a normal voting system, the results of the entire show would be different. If you can vote as many times as you want, what difference does it make how many fans you have, they are still going to fill the lines. I think that is why there was only a 4% variance between the contestants.

I agree totally. If people cannot get through to vote, how is that considered a fair and accurate representation of the peoples choice? What about online voting? On Star Search you vote online, and you vote once. You do give a score for each performer, and I am not suggesting doing that, but why can't you just check the box of your preference, hit Enter, and Voila! Your vote has been counted. ?????

 

[Shelly]

Anyone know are they by chance going to have voting on Monday and Teusday next week?

 

[honeywolf7]

I, too, wondered why they didn't at least offer online voting as another choice. I don't think it would be right for it to be only online voting since so many people don't have access to the Internet but why not add it as an option and why not limit their phone system to only accept one phone call from each phone number? (That is possible, right?) The only reason I voted as many times for Clay as I did is that I knew people were voting that many times for Kimberly and Ruben as well and I wanted him to be in the finals. No, the voting will only be on Tuesday....Monday is just profiles of the two who are left.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Originally posted by honeywolf7
The only reason I voted as many times for Clay as I did is that I knew people were voting that many times for Kimberly and Ruben as well and I wanted him to be in the finals.

This is why the current voting system DOES NOT work. You have a few people tying up all the phone lines (yes few is a relative term, I know it's more than a few). Great add online voting and all these people will get multiple email accounts and will vote online while dialing.

 

[suzannen]

I also thought Tamayra and Justin's choice of music was extremely strange - and both very old songs. Who made that decision, I wonder?

After I had trouble getting through on Tuesday night, I wnet on Fox's website and emailed my complaint about having so much trouble getting through and why not allow online voting. Maybe if enough people complain they will change the system. I doubt they will change it to allow only 1 vote per phone, though. Otherwise, they would never add up to the 19 million calls since some folks are dialing in so much and they like to keep bragging about how many calls were made.

 

[honeywolf7]

Jasmine, some voting systems (such as the one for the Site Fights) count IP addresses not email accounts. That way, you can only vote once from each IP address....That might work better.

 

[Dodie]

I was pleased with the results.

I think it's very ironic that, when this show began, so much emphasis was placed on the "image" of who could/would be an American Idol...and the final 2 - well actually the final 3 - don't fit that cookie cutter image at all.

I think the best two are left standing and, although Clay is my favorite, will be pleased with either winner.

I also had an awful time getting through to vote on Tuesday night and had thoughts of the competition being rigged by jamming phone lines. I can't imagine WHY they allow unlimited voting, since that isn't a true count of fans.

I did not watch the show last year, but was so NOT impressed with either Tamyra or Justin's songs. As has been mentioned, this year's contestants have both covered those songs this season MUCH better.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

A lot of people don't always have the same IP address all the time (AOL users for one). Therefor that still would not work.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

I would prefer a system where you vote for whom you wish to eliminate as opposed to your favorite. It seems like it would provide a more accurate result. Think of all the times that people have said that they voted for a,b, and c because they wanted d to be eliminated. Less phone calls=unclogged lines= more accurate results.

 

[Kirby]

I think Tamyra did as well as she could last night with the way the song was rewritten. Now that was bad!

Never was a fan of Justin's and still am not.

Notice Nikki (I think that's her name) has never been brought back? She never was the caliber of Tamyra and Kelly.

Thanks PKK/MJK for telling us the scoop about the votes. I watched our local news last night and even though they advertised it, they didn't show it, unless it was at 10:00 and then I was snoozing.

Still wish Vanessa could have been there longer!