American Idol says Adios to Amanda

News Type: Event — Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:01 PM EDT

entertainment, tv, television, fox, american-idol, simon-cowell, results, paula-abdul, ryan-seacrest, randy-jackson, reality-shows, season-7, carly-smithson, kristy-lee-cook, semifinals, amanda-overmyer, ramiele-malubay, top-11, bottom-three-music

vacelts

Live Poll

Did America get it right?

Yes, it was time for Amanda to leave
39%
Probably, but I was leaning towards someone else
25%
Maybe
4%
No, Amandda should have stayed
30%
Other (please explain)
1%

Total Votes: 67

Amanda's "Back to the USSR" didn't get her invited back.

Whoever thought that the girls were the stronger of the two genders on Season 7 of American Idol only has to look at tonight's bottom three to rethink that assessment. Apparently a second night of singing songs from the all-male Beatles did not bode well for the ladies.

Although I never expected Amanda Overmyer to go the distance in the competition, I was not expecting her exit this soon. Yes, Amanda's style has a very limited appeal, but she does rock her niche. And quite frankly, I thought there were at least two singers who consistently performed worse than her.

I was even surprised by Amanda's cohorts in the bottom tier – Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook. My prediction to go home tonight (Ramiele Malubay) was deemed safe early on. And I only correctly named one in the hot seat tonight. (Congratulations to those of you who took the poll. You called two of bottom three, but you chose Kristy Lee to go home)

While Kristy Lee is now a staple in the lower trio, I was honestly surprised to see Carly there tonight. She has been a favorite of the judges since the beginning.

But as Simon says this is not just a singing competition, it is a popularity contest. And so boring performances from the likes of Ramiele and Kristy Lee continue while the unique Harley-riding nurse from Indiana says good bye.

The rest of the night was filled with the typical fluff.

A performance of "Red High Heals" by Season 5 contender Kellie Pickler.

The "Should I Stay or Should I Go" Ford Video.

A montage on the making of the Ford Video (we are getting desperate for filler now).

An update on "Idol Gives Back."

More viewer call-in questions (don't ask me what they were, I don't even pay attention to this part anymore).

Announcement of this season's guest mentors.

-------------------------

Announcement of Top 12

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16 Votes
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{"commentId":1599108,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I think in the long run Amanda was going to get sent home, I just expected Kristy Lee and Ramiele to go before here.

What do you think, did America get it right?

{"commentId":1599108,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

3 votes

#1 - Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":1600750,"authorDomain":"evilgenius"}

evilgenius

I agree with you here. I thought that Kristy Lee and Ramiele would be off before Amanda. But saying that I don't see the appeal that I thought Amada would have. All her songs sound the same and half of the words are uninteligable. Also, off the stage she has the personality of a lamp post.

Both Kristy Lee and Ramiele at least are cute. They can't connect to songs they've never heard before, so I think, given the right song both may suprise us. I think that may be a problem with many of the younger contestents.

I don't know why Smithson was in the bottom three, but it doesn't bode well for her.

{"commentId":1600750,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"evilgenius"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:04 PM EDT

{"commentId":1601910,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Both Kristy Lee and Ramiele at least are cute.

Do you think that's what keeps saving them week after week?

I don't know why Smithson was in the bottom three

I was really surprised to see her there too.

{"commentId":1601910,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":1602527,"authorDomain":"evilgenius"}

evilgenius

Both Kristy Lee and Ramiele at least are cute.

Do you think that's what keeps saving them week after week?

I can't think of anything else that would keep them up there for so long.

{"commentId":1602527,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"evilgenius"}

1 vote

#1.3 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":1603085,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Well its definitely not talent.

{"commentId":1603085,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1.4 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":1603229,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

I'm telling you, Kristy Lee is sleeping with someone who's fudging the results, or who owns a phone bank...

Also, I feel as if her name was Kirsty as opposed to Kristy, she'd gain five points to her interesting score, for a grand total of five.

{"commentId":1603229,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

1 vote

#1.5 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":1604191,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I liked Kristy Lee during the auditions and Hollywood week, and except for her Journey song, I've been pretty unimpressed with her ever since.

{"commentId":1604191,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1.6 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:45 AM EDT

{"commentId":1609745,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

Carly was in the bottom because of the panning Simon gave her performance. I am sure she was far ahead of Amanda and Kristy.

I have been saying that Amanda reminded me of Ryan Starr. She was another that insisted she was a rocker and NOTHING was going to stop her... except the voting public.

Amanda rode her little trick pony into the ground... one week too early.

{"commentId":1609745,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

2 votes

#1.7 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":1615610,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Do you think Simon's critiques have that much influence on the voting public?

{"commentId":1615610,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1.8 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":1599146,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

How many songs does Kristy Lee have to ruin before America sends her home? Who is she sleeping with that keeps her on the show?

Also, I know David Archuletta is the cute little kid, but he brings nothing other than that. While he's not the worst of the worst, I'm now rooting for him to go home before he displaces someone more deserving.

Also, what was up with the camera during the first song? It looked like the cameraman tripped and then he was out of focus for the rest of the song.

{"commentId":1599146,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

3 votes

#2 - Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":1599221,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Kristy Lee is having some run of luck. Guess it proves AI is more popularity contest than singing competition.

I don't care for David A. either, but he's a favorite with the judges so we won't see him parting anytime soon.

It looked like the cameraman tripped

I think he did. Guess the show really is live. But speaking of camera angles. I hate this let's look at the singer sideways while they are performing thing. It's really annoying.

{"commentId":1599221,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":1607568,"authorDomain":"yup5"}

JoeSchmoe-256910

I was in the audience at Idol that night and the camera bump was caused by Syesha...after she sang she walked right into the side of the camera, but I guess the people at home didn't see that. It was kind of funny...maybe Syesha wanted to sabotage Kristy's performance.

{"commentId":1607568,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"yup5"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:53 AM EDT

{"commentId":1615612,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

That's too funny. Thanks for the insider scoop. No, we at home didn't see that collision.

{"commentId":1615612,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":1599280,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Scott Butki is offline for work, but texted me his comment:

Which is harder for McCartney -- the divorce settlement or Idol butchering his songs?

{"commentId":1599280,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

4 votes

#3 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:15 AM EDT

{"commentId":1609576,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

thanks for the shout out. Poor Paul.

{"commentId":1609576,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#3.1 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":1601381,"authorDomain":"jmack"}

jmack02

I was really shocked to see Carly in the bottom three. I would have pegged her as a safe bet into the top 5. That fact that Cook is still there just shows you that America could care less about talent. She, along with Ramiele and Chikezie, should have all gone long before Amanda, and certainly should precede Carly. I just shook my head in disappointment last night at America. And for those David fans, this is American Idol, not America's Next Boy Band or American Crooner (although the latter would be giving him a compliment).

{"commentId":1601381,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"jmack"}

1 vote

#4 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":1601404,"authorDomain":"jmack"}

jmack02

I want to add, that I'd like to see that David boy try and perform a '70s era Heart song. I bet you $20 bucks that he would either completely murder it, or he'd try and turn "Crazy Man" into some sort of slow, crooning, song, for which I would have to fly out there and personally remove his vocal chords.

{"commentId":1601404,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"jmack"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":1601938,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Chikezie's performance last week will keep him safe for a couple of weeks.

I thought that Carly was safe because she's such has the judges as a fan. That favorite status is what keeps David A. safe, even when he forgets the words.

{"commentId":1601938,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#4.2 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":1602007,"authorDomain":"anthopos"}

Perry O

he'd try and turn "Crazy Man" into some sort of slow, crooning, song, for which I would have to fly out there and personally remove his vocal chords.

Vocal cord. One of his vocal cords is paralyzed. That may have something to do with him sticking to slow, crooning songs. I know from experience that it takes a lot more effort to talk when one of your vocal cords is paralyzed.

{"commentId":1602007,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"anthopos"}

1 vote

#4.3 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":1603612,"authorDomain":"fastacton"}

fastacton

Basically, I think that Kristy Lee has been saved for the opposite reason that Carly was in the bottom three this week: genre competition. If you figure there are millions of country fans out there in TV-land, and the only one of the remaining competitors that competes for their votes is KLC, she's got a real edge there. A lot of people are going to vote country just because.

By the same token, Carly splits the rocker chick vote with Amanda (and Brook, if you count the soft-rocker-chick vote), plus David Cook and Michael are both rockers too....it all adds up to KLC getting a bit of a free ride.

More thoughts here.

Rock on.

{"commentId":1603612,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"fastacton"}

3 votes

#5 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:01 AM EDT

{"commentId":1604208,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

fastacton, that's a very valid point.

One of the reasons I liked Kristy Lee in the beginning was her country sound, but over the last few weeks it's not been enough to keep me interested.

{"commentId":1604208,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#5.1 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:49 AM EDT

{"commentId":1605927,"authorDomain":"fahrenheit"}

Guy Montag

Your predictions, opinions, and ideas suck. Amanda sucked and was in no way unique. She sounded drunk half the time. NEWSVINE SUCKS!

{"commentId":1605927,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"fahrenheit"}

1 vote

#6 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:04 PM EDT

{"commentId":1605974,"authorDomain":"anthopos"}

Perry O

You're a class act, Guy.

{"commentId":1605974,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"anthopos"}

2 votes

#6.1 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:17 PM EDT

{"commentId":1609601,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Guy, that was totally uncalled for. If you don't like an article then don't vote for it - there's no reason to be rude about it.

{"commentId":1609601,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

3 votes

#6.2 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:04 PM EDT

{"commentId":1608009,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Television Without Pity on Tuesday's show nailed one aspect:

. But here's the thing: when Amanda sings, I feel like I'm in a bar; when David Cook sings, I feel like I'm in a club; when Brooke sings, I feel like I'm in an amphitheater; when Jason sings, I feel like I'm in my dealer's living room; but when David Archuleta sings, I feel like I'm watching a high school talent show. Every time. And it's a performing arts high school for gifted kids, absolutely. And he's clearly the best in the talent show, and he'll totally win and deservedly so. But if you're asking me to list the places I'd pay to be, I'd rather see Amanda at the bar, David Cook at the club, Brooke at the concert hall, and Jason at my dealer's house than go to David A.'s talent show.

oh and I love this

Back from the break, Ryan plugs tomorrow's results show (Pickler! Enjoy it, Clifton.) and then grabs an iPhone from a girl in the crowd and proceeds to shill for it in a manner than even he finds demeaning. Ryan Seacrest thinks this is crass. Wow. He then points to the judges who are all raising their Coke glasses in sell-out solidarity.

{"commentId":1608009,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

3 votes

#7 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:06 AM EDT

{"commentId":1608020,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Oh what the hell - one more:

Randy wants more -- you guessed it -- big notes. Jesus. Paula thinks he was way worse than he was in dress rehearsal and tries to blame it on the ear devices they're wearing. Simon simply thought it was a mess, saying that part of it was that "A Day In The Life" doesn't work at a minute and a half (which is a point that's not always brought up on this show), but part of it was also that Michael was all over the place. Ryan takes the stage and asks Paula to explain the whole earpiece thing to the unwashed masses, but while she does, Michael is forced to admit he's not wearing one. HA! The judges all stumble over each other like they just got out of a clown car, with Simon trying to embarrass Paula and Randy trying not to embarrass Michael and Paula trying to salvage some of her critique. It's a total circus up there. Which means it's the perfect time for Ryan to give Michael the chance to dedicate the song to a friend who died. So I guess that's his thing now. The judges are all, "Wow, we're @!$%#s," then the audience "awws" and runs to their cell phones to text their sympathy votes. That whole affair was awkward.

{"commentId":1608020,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

3 votes

#7.1 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:10 AM EDT

{"commentId":1615622,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

They nail the critiques over there.

{"commentId":1615622,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#7.2 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:59 PM EDT

{"commentId":1609761,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

They need a cast change. Dump Paula and replace her with someone like Cher or Reba. Dump Randy and get Wayne Brady. Dump Ryan and get ANYBODY!!!

Make the judges vote half the score each week. There are any number of good ways to combine the judges rating with the call-in vote. It would prevent the competition from being a total popularity contest as it has been at times in the past years. This would force Paula to do something constructive for the first time in the history of the show.

{"commentId":1609761,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

2 votes

#8 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:17 PM EDT

{"commentId":1615626,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Do you think we'll see more changes next year since the viewership seems to be on the decline?

{"commentId":1615626,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#8.1 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:59 PM EDT

{"commentId":1609975,"authorDomain":"theblackmansview"}

jesse285

Well I'm very happy that someone watch this show, now that I have read some of the comment, they did make me smile, but not my cup of tea, it like you want then to be the next P.H. who can not act and is a bad girl, if my daughter was like that, daddy would be very mad.

{"commentId":1609975,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"theblackmansview"}

1 vote

#9 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":1615634,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

No problem. The show is not for everyone. And some days, I'd rather pass on it.

{"commentId":1615634,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#9.1 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":1610240,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

There is one downside to Amanda leaving: I was looking forward to hearing her explain to Andrew Lloyd Webber that she doesn't do ballads, calling them "boring."

{"commentId":1610240,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#10 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:02 AM EDT

{"commentId":1610384,"authorDomain":"jmack"}

jmack02

Let's be honest here: ballads can be boring. There was a time in the 80's when every rock band did the requisite ballad just so they would appeal to a larger audience. Some are good, mind you, but some are just so out of character from the band that I just don't think they should have done one to begin with.

{"commentId":1610384,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"jmack"}

2 votes

#10.1 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:39 AM EDT

{"commentId":1611499,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I agree ballads can be boring. But I'm guessing if Andrew Lloyd Webber is going to be on the show, which I think he is said to be, he's not going to be there to help them do fast songs. Can you imagine Amanda doing Evita? Or what Paula would say, "Too pitchy" or Simon - "It was all my country shouldn't cry for me" let alone Randy "Dawg, what was that? That was a downer,man"

{"commentId":1611499,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#10.2 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:25 PM EDT

{"commentId":1615639,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Some ballads can be beautiful and moving, but you can't do them every week. But it would have been interesting to see Amanda paired with Webber.

{"commentId":1615639,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#10.3 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:03 PM EDT

{"commentId":1625628,"authorDomain":"michaeltodd"}

MIchael Todd

I've always thought that Idol's biggest downfall is that the contestants have a limited # of songs that they can choose from and then are forced into 'themes' that have nothing to do with their own style or strenghts. Have you seen Kelly Clarkson do any big band numbers on the three CD's she's released since Idol? NO! And she was even GOOD at it.

We are typecasting the singers because the format and copyright issues that Idol faces force them into boxes that lead to very narrow results. Have you seen the clips of the likes of David Archuleta singing 1000 Miles or Oh Holy Night on youtube? Far better than a high school talent show, but he has really only had a couple of opportunities to really sing like he CAN (Imagine, Long and Winding Road).

Where the contestants have had good and broad material to choose from, they've done well.. otherwise.. they've all had sucky moments with sucky songs.

{"commentId":1625628,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"michaeltodd"}

1 vote

#11 - Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":1625789,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

Part of what makes this an actual contest is giving the contestants challenges, forcing them to sing out of their comfort zone. Jeopardy doesn't give its contestants the ability to pick the categories of questions they are provided with either.

The thing with a David Archuleta is that he's technically proficient and sound (well save for this week when he was a complete cluster @!$%# or when he forgets words), but he's also @!$%#ing boring. I think there is a reason that many of the great music stars out there don't have the best voices, and that's because there is more to music than being technically perfect. Hell, if technique was all there was to it, then we might as well just program all of our music in cSound.

{"commentId":1625789,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

3 votes

#11.1 - Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:29 AM EDT

{"commentId":1626703,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Yes, the arbratary "themes" definitely do create restrictions for the contestants. And I definitely could live without some of these themes.

But I think it is important, as Adam said, to challenge the contestants. To see what they can do with the limits. Because of the challenges, I think we've seem where the real stars shine -- like Chikezie during Lennon-McCartney week and David C. with "Hello."

Everyone is entitled to a bad week, it's the contestants that seem to have severa of these in a row that should be a concern.

{"commentId":1626703,"threadId":"237278","contentId":"1378310","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#11.2 - Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:24 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"237278","isPrivate":false}

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