American Idol: May 14, 2008

The only surprise about tonight's result is that-- in light of last night's unfair treatment and tonight's hometown visit-- I don't feel like gloating too much about Syesha's demise.

More on that later, but first, can we discuss Fantasia? According to Ryan, she's conquered the charts and Broadway. Does getting fired for too many absences off "The Color Purple" count as "conquering Broadway"?  I accept Fantasia's originality, her energy, her presence. That said, seeing her up there tonight made me grateful I'm not stuck watching an entire season of her. In fact, it made me wonder why I actually kept watching that season.  I guess Fantasia shares with Kellie Pickler the dubious honor of being the only former Idol finalists who make me appreciate this season's crop.

Now, for the visits.  If getting into the finale was based on hometown visits, we should be watching David Cook and Syesha next week. 

David A:  Nothing exemplified the complete lack of substance of David A. like his hometown visit.  There was nothing to it. And don't say it's because he's from a small town.  Taylor Hicks was from a small town and (I grudgingly admit) had a great hometown visit.  David A's visit had nothing but crying.  Crying young girls. Crying older girls.  Crying David A.  The only one who wasn't crying was David's mute and grinning mom.  David A's not a bad guy. But there is nothing there.  Like I've said before, he's a machine built to perform. We can feel sorry for him, hate his parents, etc. But that doesn't change the reality. He's not what Idol's all about.    

Syesha: OK, producers. Why do you decide to make Syesha sympathetic on the night we're supposed to enjoy her defeat?!  Her Dad is a recovering addict? We knew about Kellie Pickler's dad before she got to Hollywood. With Syesha, we learn that the night she's eliminated.  Her mom was also unexpectedly plain and unpretentious.  We saw good ol' Mrs. Yamin over and over, but we see Mrs. Mercado for the first time tonight? Was it Syesha or the producers who decided to spin her as the poised "working actress" instead of the scrappy kid made good? I think they lost a bet on that one.  (On another subject, can I confess that as I watched that woman in the nurse's shirt throw her baby at Syesha so she could take a picture, all I could think was "Howard Dean, please don't count their votes.")

David C:  Now I know why David C seems so miserable. He's racked with guilt. Not only does he stay healthy while his brother is sick. But he didn't even intend to audition for Idol-- he was there for his brother (who obviously didn't make it to Hollywood) and ends up in the American Idol Finale. Ouch.  But seriously folks, am I the only one who got choked up during David C's hometown visit?  All of it worked.  Doing the weather on the TV station.  Visiting his elementary school music teacher.  Throwing a pitch at a Royals game. And his brother there every step of the way.  David C. represents the real thing--- not a lot of professional training, but a lot of talent and a lot of heart.  I want David C. to be our next American Idol. Not because he's the lesser of two evils (which is why I ended up rooting for Blake last year).  But because I like him. I really really like him.

I may even vote for him.