# American Idol week of 3/9 to 3/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 9, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913 "2010-03-09T22:23:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/141 "2010-03-12T01:07:07Z")
> [@Algorithm](#): > > At the time, though, Cook didn’t stand out. The performance looks better in hindsight because we know what he’s capable of now. Archuleta was considered the front runner and a shoe-in to win until “Music of the Night”. > > Cook’s probably one of my favorite contestants, but he was mostly under the radar as an okay performer until Top 6. This season is looking mediocre now, but there could be a star in there somewhere, so I’m withholding judgment until next week at the very least. I don’t think you’re remembering that correctly. Looking at his list of performances on Wikipedia, his first ‘breakout’ performance was “Hello”, and he performed it at the same point in the season that we’re at now (top 16). When he did “Billie Jean” three weeks later, it seemed to me that he became the front runner. But he was near the top of the pack after he did “Hello”. > [@Cat Whisperer](#): > > Kris Allen - he was a blank spot on stage for almost the entirety of last year’s season - he had a couple of really good performances, but that’s it. I still don’t know how he won. I don’t think this is right either. I think it’s easy to forget how well Kris was doing because Adam Lambert was getting so much attention, but in fact was first told he was one of the front runners after doing “To Make you Feel my Love” during the top 11 week, and two weeks later he got great reviews for “Ain’t No Sunshine”. Two weeks after that he was declared a front runner with “Falling Slowly.” Allen stayed near the top of the pack throughout the competition, but all the attention went to Lambert each week so he was easy to miss. In almost every season, the front-runners had already turned out a killer performance by this time of the season, and it was already clear who the top talents were. There have been no real killer performances so far, but we know who the top talents are. The different this year is that the overall level of talent is much weaker. There’s no one here this year that makes you go, “Oh my God, where has this person been hiding?” Last year there was Adam Lambert. The year before, David Cook. Before that, Melinda Doolittle was slaying everything she sang. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood had already blown the roof off with killer performances by now. There’s no one on the show this year who matches the level of any of those people. Casey and Crystal have come close, and I think there’s a potential to be surprised by either Didi or Katelyn, who seem to me to have all the necessary skills but just haven’t put it all together yet. But based on the performances to date, this is definitely the American Idol ‘B’ team. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/142 "2010-03-12T01:22:26Z")
Paige shoulda gone. Katelyn wasn’t going to win but she was better than Paige. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/143 "2010-03-12T01:33:56Z")
I think the only one who comes close to the level of prior years vocally is Siobhan, actually, with potential for Big Mike. I don’t like Big Mike’s style of music very much but damn, he’s got a nice smooth voice. Curious about what they’re going to do for Rolling Stones week, a theme that thrills me to no end. Love Siobhan’s necklace and hair tonight. She’s just freakin’ adorable. Every week she gets cuter. I love how Katelyn leaves and Giraud shows back up. The mole abides. ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/144 "2010-03-12T01:34:38Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I don’t think you’re remembering that correctly. Looking at his list of performances on Wikipedia, his first ‘breakout’ performance was “Hello”, and he performed it at the same point in the season that we’re at now (top 16). When he did “Billie Jean” three weeks later, it seemed to me that he became the front runner. But he was near the top of the pack after he did “Hello”. DialIdol supports my memory. Archuleta is shown consistently on top, with two exceptions, until Cook sings “Music of the Night”: [ul] [li]Finals week 3: the week Cook sang “Billie Jean” (which got Cook votes that week, but no staying power afterward)[/li][li]Finals week 6: Cook sings “Always Be My Baby” (Archuleta and Cook are about tied, Cook with a slight edge)[/li][/ul] Archuleta is the only stand out through semi-finals, including the week Cook sings “Hello”. Cook, on the other hand, has middle-of-the-road results. “Hello” was a solid performance, but nothing out of the ordinary, and the vote results reflect that. No “WOW!” moment like “Music of the Night” had. After Finals week 7, however, Cook’s standings increase drastically and he’s on top or tied for the top from that point on. Ooops, gotta get off here before I get spoiled more (damn pacific time zone..) ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/145 "2010-03-12T01:41:52Z")
Crystal actually looks scared as her results are being announced. Kinda funny. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/146 "2010-03-12T01:45:38Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > The mole abides. We need a spit-take smiley. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/147 "2010-03-12T01:48:24Z")
I’m gonna miss Mullet-Boy. He seems like a sweet kid. ETA: Siobhan seemed wrecked after he went. I bet they got along like gangbusters–two kinda quirky, geeky kids who seemed a bit on the shy side. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/148 "2010-03-12T01:51:51Z")
Agree on Tod and Mullet. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/149 "2010-03-12T01:53:05Z")
Boooo! No way Alex/Mullet Boy should go and Tim should stay. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/150 "2010-03-12T01:58:26Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > (snip)…Curious about what they’re going to do for Rolling Stones week, a theme that thrills me to no end. > > Love Siobhan’s necklace and hair tonight. She’s just freakin’ adorable. Every week she gets cuter. > > (snip)… Agree, hope Crystal does **Paint It Black** Agree on Siobhan. Acckkk! Katie should have gone home! ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/151 "2010-03-12T01:59:01Z")
Oh, wow. Did not see Lilly’s boot coming at all. Although I was liking her less and less as time went on–the comment upthread about how she took a bunch of different songs and made them sound exactly the same was spot-on. But Katie just plain sucked, so I was sure she was gone. Crystal seems _pissed_ over this one. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/152 "2010-03-12T02:05:19Z")
Lilly out while Katie AND Paige make it through? This is quickly turning into a big steaming pile of suck really fast. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/153 "2010-03-12T02:22:23Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > I love how Katelyn leaves and Giraud shows back up. The mole abides. 😃 - but THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE mole. Matt’s is gone, victim of pre-tour surgery. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/154 "2010-03-12T02:23:38Z")
> [@Algorithm](#): > > Cook, on the other hand, has middle-of-the-road results. “Hello” was a solid performance, but nothing out of the ordinary… I don’t know. “Hello” was the week I went screaming up the stairs to find my husband because he absolutely come hear this guy. Definitely the breakout week for me. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/155 "2010-03-12T03:03:30Z")
Well, this show just turned a new corner on the road to complete suckage. I cannot believe Katelyn and Lilly are going home, and Paige and Katie are still there. If I were religious, this might be the week when I decided there is no God. Katelyn was far better than she got credit for. I was hoping for a killer performance out of her yet, because I think she’s got it in her. On the other hand, the only way we’re getting a killer performance out of Paige is if she goes nuts on her elimination night and stabs Simon with a hair pin. Her crazy eyes suggest this may be in the cards. But overall, this season just went from ‘barely watchable’ to ‘mostly unwatchable’. I’ll probably keep recording it, but I’ll be fast-forwarding through 70% of it each week. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/156 "2010-03-12T03:28:15Z")
> [@Algorithm](#): > > At the time, though, Cook didn’t stand out. _blink_ At least in our threads here I seem to recall some catfights over who was going to claim him as their own. We were all going “what is it about this guy that is SO captivating??” possibly before and certainly after “Hello”… ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/157 "2010-03-12T03:34:46Z")
I, too, am shocked that Lilly is the one leaving… are we living in the evil alternate universe where everyone has a goatee?? ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/158 "2010-03-12T05:22:37Z")
While we’re reminiscing about superior previous seasons’ finalists, I suggest these videos of Adam Lambert doing a reboot of VH1’s “unplugged” as a palate cleanser. Especially recommended for those who object to overproduced post-Idol albums: [Adam Lambert Unplugged](http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-03-11/exclusive-adam-lambert-gets-unplugged/) You’ve all seen “Mad World” plenty of times, so I’d suggest skipping right to the 2nd and 3rd videos (“Whataya Want from Me” and “Broken Open”). Gorgeous. The hungover interview following the videos is pretty hilarious too. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/159 "2010-03-12T05:49:48Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I don’t think you’re remembering that correctly. Looking at his list of performances on Wikipedia, his first ‘breakout’ performance was “Hello”, and he performed it at the same point in the season that we’re at now (top 16). When he did “Billie Jean” three weeks later, it seemed to me that he became the front runner. But he was near the top of the pack after he did “Hello”. > > I don’t think this is right either. I think it’s easy to forget how well Kris was doing because Adam Lambert was getting so much attention, but in fact was first told he was one of the front runners after doing “To Make you Feel my Love” during the top 11 week, and two weeks later he got great reviews for “Ain’t No Sunshine”. Two weeks after that he was declared a front runner with “Falling Slowly.” Allen stayed near the top of the pack throughout the competition, but all the attention went to Lambert each week so he was easy to miss.\ Maybe I should have said that was my take on David Cook and Kris Allen. I noticed David Cook from his first audition - sat up on the couch and said, “Hello! I think this boy can sing!” I liked a couple of Kris Allen’s performances (his version of “Ain’t No Sunshine” is still one of my favourites Idol moments), but he was a bland nice guy from beginning to end. Can’t say I disagree with the final 12 - the ones who have a chance are still on. The rest are just chaff anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913/160 "2010-03-12T13:19:48Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > But overall, this season just went from ‘barely watchable’ to ‘mostly unwatchable’. I’ll probably keep recording it, but I’ll be fast-forwarding through 70% of it each week. I brought a book “to read during the commercials” and wound up missing most of the show. No regrets. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-week-of-3-9-to-3-11/531913.md?page=9)