Allison Cut: American Idol Now A Boys' Club
Last night on American Idol, Simon Cowell predicted that Allison Iraheta's smokin' "Slow Ride" duet with Adam Lambert would save her in this competition. Usually, Simon is right. But sadly, this time he got it wrong.
Yes, Allison was axed tonight, ironically during Rock 'N' Roll Week, which should have been her strongest week yet. Since I'm an Allison fan who until this evening was still dreaming of an Adam/Allison finale in just two weeks' time, this news, of course, did not rock my world.
Tonight's Rock 'N' Roll results show actually kicked off quite rockingly, with perhaps the only group singalong number that I didn't find unbearably cruise-shippy this entire season, because a) it featured Slash!!!!; b) it featured an Alice Cooper song!!!!; and c) it offered some more Adam-on-Allison duet action!!!! (in the G-rated sense, of course).
But then, when my predicted eliminated contestant, Kris Allen, was the first to be sent to safety by Ryan Seacrest (the look on his face indicated that he was as shocked as I was), my heart sank for the little redheaded girl.
And then, when Adam made it through, I was filled with mixed emotions: I was absolutely elated, naturally, that there'd be no near-elimination scare for Adam like there was last week, but fearful that it was just down to Allison and Danny Gokey in the bottom two.
Danny of course deserved to go home based on last night's laughably shrieky mangling of a perfectly good Aerosmith song and his narcolepsy-inducingly boring Styx duet with Kris. But since he'd never been in the bottom before, while Allison had landed there more times than anyone in the remaining final four, it didn't look so good for her. Still, I clung to my rock 'n' roll fantasy that she would once again be safe.
Well, after 64 million votes--the highest vote tally outside of an Idol finale--Allison was cut, despite her solid "Crybaby" performance last night. I guess 64 million people CAN be wrong. And I was the one who was the crybaby upon learning these results. I will truly miss her girl power in this competition. American Idol is now officially a boys' club, as this is the first season in which the final three have all been male. Boo!
I honestly don't know why the Idol audience never really connected with Allison. She had the vocal chops, that was undeniable. And being the only teenager in the top 10, she should have had the tween demographic all sewn up. Just being the sole female in the top four should have been enough to give her some edge over Danny and Kris. She was the only person of color in the final four, too. That should have helped as well, but it did not.
So what was it? Was it her Manic-Panic'd hair? Because her tresses looked better than ever last night, thanks to her sleek new extensions. Was it her shy demeanor? Because she sure wasn't shy when she sassed back to Simon last night. I just don't know. All I know is, America got it wrong here. I truly believe that.
I only hope that Allison follows in the platinum-plated footsteps of fellow fourth-placer Chris Daughtry. Daughtry, one of the most successful AmIdol alums ever, performed his new single "No Surprise" on tonight's results show, and he proved once again that sometimes when a contestant comes in fourth, that contestant actually wins.
So I am rooting that Allison has a Daughtry-esque career path ahead of her, because she's still a winner in my book.
It's so sad. But I really feel and hope that this isn't the last of Allison. For one, I know that Adam will do a duet with her - when he wins of course. He seems to genuinely care about her so that's a comforting thought.
Danny????????? Really?????????? Really America????????? Danny???????
If he wins..........
Such a travesty!
Allison has more talent than Gokey by far.
The only good thing about it is that her votes will probably go to Adam, which should help Adam from now on.
That's a consolation, but I'll miss her.
She should have been in the final with Adam!
Hated Paula tonight. Sad to see the drugs & age have not treated her well performance-wise.
Do you think the "going home" song next season should be "No Surprise"? I'd laugh every week.
I see it's the PRE TEENS that are showing how much they vote with Kris being the one that seemed even shocked he was safe and even mentioned first, hear those pre teens screaming?
DO NOT Rule them out to show Kris hang in there further no matter what song he sings now from those young female voters.
It is pathetic but this has basically become their show. I feel it is tragic to see Allison go and not get to perform more there but she will be on the tour and she has a career waiting for her. As Daughtry put it he felt the world end for 30 seconds then. See how he is doing in the spot Allison ended up in now? ROCK ON ALLISON, start working on the cd, can't wait to hear it. Just mix it up with other than Janis Joplin type tunes please.
Is there someone who can explain it to me?????? OMG
If he wins I won't be watching AI anymore.
There's a reason he has become the "vote for the worst" choice.
BTW, Ryan specifically stated that the way people were told they were safe was NOT the actual vote count. So most likely Gokey was not the 3rd vote getter, but either 1st or 2nd.
The writer of this blog should try and be a little objective. Go home and cry.
Adam can rock. Gokey can't.
I see Gokey having a career on some cruise ship, singing old standards like that "Come Rain or Come Shine" he did that other night. It's the only kind of music he does reasonably well. And all the old fogies on the cruise ships would think it was great.
Gokey sucks.