These are your finalists, America

[jlh]

Ryan is suited up and shaved up tonight, apparently signifying that Important Things Are Afoot. Which means, actually, a lot of dragging out the results and vague cruelty to the contestants. But it also meant the announcement of a big charity appeal, which I kind of knew was the "big announcement" Ryan's been teasing all week. I'm glad they're doing things here as well as abroad; this country has a third-world country inside of it, and if you don't believe me, check out our infant mortality rate sometime.

I await Rymon stories about their African trip. I'm sure the reason the two of them went is because neither of them would travel with Paula, though there is a weird racial thing going on with sending the white boys to Africa and the colored folks to New Orleans. I mean, I know that Randy would have gone to New Orleans anyway since he's from Louisiana, and he has fewer issues with Paula than Ryan or Simon, and it makes sense to send the Brit to Africa, and Ryan and Simon really are good enough friends that they could go on that long a trip without killing each other. Still, there are millions of ways to read this.

Group sing: Is there anyone left who doesn't think of an ear being cut off when they hear "Stuck in the Middle with You"? Could Sundance better illustrate his intention to be this year's Taylor?

1. OMG BRANDON IS IN!!!!!
   
2. I'm completely unsurprised that Jared is off. He was seriously boring. I mean, I love my brother in biraciality, but he was so dull. At least the judges had constructive, positive things to say to him, even if they were also really unsurprised that he was out.
   
3. Very interesting that the judges had nothing to say to Antonella, isn't it? I can't believe she's off.
   
4. I can believe that Sabrina is off. That not-great last selection hurt her, unfortunately. The judges were visibly upset and said great things to her.
   
5. At least Haley doesn't suck; she's just really boring.
   
6. I'm really unsurprised that Sanjaya got in. It's irritating, but it's so Idol, and it happens every year. Simon will hate on him and people will vote in sympathy until Simon finally throws up his hands in disgust and stops hating on him, and then people won't vote and he'll be gone. Cf Kevin, John, etc.
   
7. Wow. I mean, I can't stand Sundance, but I was preparing to put up with him for a while. And he didn't suck, but I just didn't like him. Perhaps Eddie Vedder's mojo smote him for singing "Jeremy"? Or less supernaturally, singing that song pissed off the Pearl Jam fans and they all voted for Sanjaya to spite him. Or something. Whatever; it means Brandon is in, which is all I care about, frankly.

First poll of the year! Now, this is how the poll works, and if I could code it to force this, I would: if you put someone in, you have to take someone out of the same gender. In other words, play by the rules of the show, please.

[Poll #942850]

Comments

[evil-erato.livejournal.com]

Re: Sundance, I think it was the latter. Too many people love that song to see it tortured so. I mean, I don't think that he is horrid in general, but man. That song would've totally made me vote against him just for spite.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I'm really surprised at that one, I must admit. But when he was singing it, I mean, it was fine? But it was wrong on a deep and spiritual level.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

That's what it was! I felt like there was something weird about those two going to Africa and Paula and Randy going to New Orleans. Part of it was I felt like it was the big trip vs. the little trip. But as you say, Randy being from there made it more normal.

[toastoos.livejournal.com]

Not that I want them there, but I'm completely surprised that Antonella and Sundance didn't make it. I think my jaw dropped when I heard she was going home, and again when Haley was staying.

Other than that, I wasn't too surprised by any of the results.

Criminy, Simon and Ryan were too cute for words. I, as well, look forward to the fics.

[eilujspark.livejournal.com]

Awhile back on Ryan's radio show, he interviewed Simon and they hinted at "you won't believe what we are doing this year." They went on to banter about who's idea it was ect.... That makes me think that the reason they went on the "big" trip was because it was their idea first, and after it went off they decided to send Randy and Paula to New Orleans. I could be wrong and it could have been something totally different.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

The TWoP boards are all, "Aww, Simon and Sprinkles are adopting an African baby!" and calling them the gay Brangelina. Too. damn. funny.

I just hope that Brandon brings it now that he's in the top 12, or he won't be on the show for long. Haley is my call for immediate dismissal.

[toastoos.livejournal.com]

The gay Brangelina <333

I think Haley is this year's Melissa McGhee.
Somehow sneaks in the Top 12, but is gone next week cuz she fucks up the words.

I think Brandon can hold on for awhile. There's a couple there that really need to go home before him.

[locumtenens.livejournal.com]

Bitter, bitter, bitter. I know lots of people were lukewarm at best re: Sundance, but I just liked him because he was different. And when he was on, he was on, you know?

I await Rymon stories about their African trip.

Mmm, yes. Hot, sweaty stories. ;)

[zorb]

I'm just relieved that Antonella is gone and the ones I'm really pulling for made it through. Sabrina absolutely should not have gone home, but I voted along male lines because Sanjaya absolutely shouldn't be there.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I'm so sure that it was more about neither of them wanting to travel with Paula than anything else . . . it just looks weird, superficially. It may also be why the details of the charity aren't really fleshed out (there was a lot of cynicism on the TWoP boards about that) but I reckon there are details on the website.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Big trip vs. little trip is a good point which I hadn't thought of.

It seems to have thrown all the Saula types that post on the Simon TWoP thread into silence, while the episode thread is full of people looking for a name other than Rymon; current contenders are Seacow and CowCrest.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

In spite of being somewhat ridiculous, Sundance had a perfectly fine voice—and I'll say, I didn't watch the auditions and only half watched Hollywood—but he did pick two of my least favorite songs of all time to sing, "Mustang Sally" and "Nights in White Satin," and followed that up with the blasphemy that was "Jeremy." So while I liked his voice fine I really hated his song choices and therefore couldn't get behind him. But I honestly do think that "Jeremy" killed him because the Pearl Jam fans would bury him just out of spite. Chris Daughtry might have been able to get away with it, but only later in the competition when he'd really proved his rock guy bona fides.

It's odd that this year seems so skewed to R&B and R&B inflected pop, since the biggest stars out of this show are country, rock and pop. Folks are saying Haley got in because she just pooled the entire country and soft-rock vote.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Ah, Sanjaya. It's more, will he be able to last as long as Kevin and John did? I think they each made it at least to the round of 8. He might manage to outlast Haley, Phil and Brandon, maybe even Stephanie, but after that I'd be surprised.

[eilujspark.livejournal.com]

Or that Ryan is the host, and Simon is the "main judge" and thats why they get the "bigger" trip?

I really don't think it's a case of "Eww. We don't want to travel with Paula." JMO.

And I don't think it looks wierd, except that it's wierd that Idol is actually trying to do something good for a change. Because of that, and because of how cynical people are, you are going to run into the "THis doesn't seem right" or "I don't believe this" people.