The Emancipation of Kristy

Last week I was happy because the Poser got the boot. This week I am happy because I scored a hat trick by predicting not just that Kristy would ride out of town but also that Brooke and Syesha would be joining her in a weepy Bottom 3. I must admit that Colt 45 lasted longer than I thought she would, but given my growing suspicion that the Idol producers have more of a say in who goes home and who goes on than they want anyone to know my admiration for how long Kristy lasted is somewhat muted. No matter, I shall enjoy my fearless and accurate prediction coming to pass because it may be the only time this happens this season.

Can we just all admit right now that Season 5 of American Idol featured the most talented group of contestants of any season thus far? Here's Elliott Yamin, Season 5's third place contestant, who comes out and outperforms all of this year's contestants even though his mother just passed away a few days ago. I really feel for the man, not just because his Mom died but also because he sang with an emotional fervor that this season's contestant's simply have not done without having anything at stake.

So for the third season in a row Ryan tried to play the groups of 3 game with the highest vote getter. Tonight's lucky contestant was the Wonder Boy, David Archuleta. At first Ryan tried to have us all believe that David had no idea what was going on, but I'm sure even Wonder Boy, even if he is half as naive as he tries to act like he is, knew what was happening from the moment Ryan sent Jason Castro to one side of the stage. Nevertheless, like Taylor Hicks and Melinda Doolittle before him the trained seal asked David to pick which group of 3 was the Bottom 3 this week, and like Melinda last year David instead took a seat on the stage and refused to choose. However, unlike last year Ryan didn't try to push Wonder Boy to make a choice, instead he just told David which group was safe. Maybe the Idol producers will get the message and not do this silly thing again next season, assuming that there is a next season of course.

One last comment about Mariah Carey, or parting shot if you prefer. I do love how she insists on wearing those form fitting dresses with the high hem lines every time she performs.

We learned this week that Randy knows how to do the hula, that Brooke was genuinely hurt by Simon's hamburger comment, that Ryan knows that Simon owns a grass skirt, that Carly thinks Simon has been too harsh with her (because, you know, she is a broken bird), that Kristy can't get her little pony back, which albums were the first ones that Randy and Paula ever bought, that the soundtrack to Star Wars was the first album I ever bought (I'm in a sharing mood, unlike Simon), that Fox means it when they say green it, that one of the two winners of last year's lame songwriting competition is still willing to be acknowledged in public, and, thanks to The Starving Starlet, Mariah Carey actually has not one but two nicknames, "Mimi" and "Pariah" (neither of these are as cool as The King though).

Next week it's Andrew Lloyd Webber and that can only mean one thing: show tunes baby!