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.


and will never spend a cent buying idol music in the future. Are you reading this Mr. Cowell?
I'm so happy to see so many people say America got it wrong.
But, here's a little silver lining for you all - when she starts recording, she gets to do HER OWN stuff! She won't be forced to do commerical crap like all the other winners have to do. CD should be thankful that he was eliminated; he made an amazing album that probably would've never existed had he actually won.
I'm going to miss her. =[
And I seriously doubt that I will be watching the rest of the season if they have to keep the likes of Kris and Danny in the top 3. Disgusting...
The best to Allison on her journey to a very successful music career after her time with Am Idol is over.
while i hate danny and thinks he shud've gone home when he sang "Hero" during the top 36 round (c'mon Hero??? just cos of ur emotional status?), i dont see the point in comparing him and kris.
kris is original and though he may not have the bic voice like Danny or the stage presence as Adam, he is an all-rounder. and he's not annoying like Danny with this big ego and like someone said, i think the whole AI season is set up cos every blog i visit, there r loads of comments against danny every week. if danny wins this year, no more AI for me!