Ugh, there's nothing worse than being on the West Coast on an American Idol results night. The only thing that would make it worse is getting buried in a mudslide. (Obviously an earthquake would suck, too.) Right now everyone on the East Coast is finding out who got booted. I REFUSE to look at Drudge or whomever else might be disclosing the cast-off.
I'll write more later tonight but one question re: Melinda Doolittle's histrionics last night - her weeping almost uncontrollably after her performance.
It is one of Hollywood's age-old rules: To become a star, one must first act like a star. When Melinda wept after her performance - and yes, I'll concede it was a beautiful performance - she was acting like she'd already won the whole competition, like Clive Davis was ready to throw Fantasia, J-Hud, even a barely recovered Whitney Houston over, and carry Melinda off into a platinum sunset. Her breakdown was reminiscent of the young Kelly Clarkson sobbing her way through "A Moment Like This" after vanquishing Justin Guarini.
Millions of Americans now have an image of a victorious Melinda Doolittle in their heads, even though she has 3 months left to go! Melinda knows damn well (excuse my language) that getting voters to visualize her triumph is half the battle. (It's still Hillary Clinton's biggest challenge: getting voters to visualize a female Commander-in-Chief.)
Is this indeed a shrewd calculation by Melinda? Is this psychological warfare on a mass scale? If so, is that against the rules? (Come on, they booted Frenchy for putting on a baby bonnet and sucking a pacifier!) She's good, that's for sure: She nearly did Paula in last night. LaKisha, on the other hand, knows she needs to earn this.
Thoughts?
UPDATE: Okay, I just saw the results show. I feel a bit guilty over Brandon Rogers' exit since I predicted it last night. (No delusions of grandeur. I don't think I actually willed it.) The episode was pretty good. Diana Ross looked terrific and sounded pretty darn good. (Even if some of the notes aren't there anymore, Randy wasn't going to call her "pitchy.")
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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Melinda Doolittle's Crying Game
Posted Mar 14th 2007 9:08PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Celebrity, American Idol
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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 18)
1. Hi Melinda Doolittle are a amazing women. She release her new single song on I tunes My Funny Valentine February 12,2008, also she doing Dreyer's ice cream tour, She will be on a cruise with Michael. W.Smith, she working on her new Cd who will be release in June 2008. She is a smart women and now she have her new label so what do what more about this amazing women of God. If you want more info about all the fresh new get to www.melindafan.net
Louise at 9:52AM on Feb 11th 2008
2. Melinda are a amazing singer she just releases her first song on i tunes and it is amazing. Watch out! YOu will see her at the top of the singer.
Louise at 12:20PM on Feb 20th 2008
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rmxfexgxta at 10:10AM on Jan 24th 2009
4. ...long time reader, first time commenter.....Mo, why do you care?
Angela at 8:56AM on Mar 15th 2007
5. And the loser is..... Just kidding.
I think Melinda is calculating in a second place kind of way. That's where my money is.
Mel at 9:59PM on Mar 14th 2007
6. Angela- It's no secret that the bloggers are the new guardians of the public trust, a responsibility abdicated by the MSM sometime before the start of the Iraq war.
I'm committed to doing my part to keep this competition as fair as possible. Thirty million Americans deserve that.
Plus the whole Alberto Gonzales thing is kind of boring and confusing.
Mo at 10:03PM on Mar 14th 2007
7. ok, Mo, I guess someone has to do it.
Angela at 8:54AM on Mar 15th 2007
8. Melinda Doolittle really is a star. She has the ability to create a world and invite you there. People have aleady made up their minds that they are going to buy Melinda's CD's and let her work her magic. I think that she was overcome because she knew that she had arrived.
JUDY at 9:04AM on Mar 15th 2007
9. I don't think she has what it takes to be a "STAR". She doesn't look like a star at all, and she has no marketablity whatsoever. She'll be gone in 4 weeks.
Cherri at 10:28AM on Mar 15th 2007
10. I think Melinda Doolittle knows exactly what she is doing when she puts on the tears and the shy little girl act. She has bee a back up singer on the big stage before so for her to be shy and not know what to do is a stretch for me. she also is the only one with a makeup artist and wardrobe consultant her "Gayle's" (She said that during the "dedication show") I think she is real good, just fake.
jason at 10:41AM on Mar 15th 2007
11. Now wait aminute
Didn't paula abdul start the crying game thether nite. Which can make a chain reaction.
Remember they are tears of joy.
These kids are in an overwhelming situation.
these kids are getting praises they never thought they would ever get.
I'm sure its enough to make anyone cry.
Matt at 11:29AM on Mar 15th 2007
12. Now wait aminute
Didn't paula abdul start the crying game thether nite. Which can make a chain reaction.
Remember they are tears of joy.
These kids are in an overwhelming situation.
these kids are getting praises they never thought they would ever get.
I'm sure its enough to make anyone cry.
Matt at 10:38AM on Mar 15th 2007
13. Melinda Doolittle carries Star qualities on the stage when she is performing. That girl is gifted to perform on stage. Lakisha is very gifted, however, she doesn't have the Star like air around her. But that can come with the title of "American Idol", fame tends to bring that with it. But when I look at Melinda on stage, those qualiities are already present while performing, afterwards, she looks as if she has shocked own self. LOL If we vote honestly and not for looks or sex appeal it will be one of the two of them. Don't get me wrong, I think there is nothing wrong with their, Melinda & Lakisha, looks but people in America has created thier own definition of "American Idol"
Jagllane at 10:44AM on Mar 15th 2007
14. Mo - how can I put this? Okay, I'll just call it the way it is: you're a freak. A brilliantly talented woman who is sensitive, kind and humble doesn't have the right to get emotional after performing a song that affects her? What - she's supposed to display the same kind of demented narcissism that someone like - say, YOU - has? Melinda Doolittle doesn't have to apologize or justify to anyone. First and foremost to someone like you. She'll NEVER be a loser in her life, even if she doesn't win "American Idol." Which she will because real people recognize the real deal. Something YOU don't "get." Wow, you really are pathetic.
P D at 10:51AM on Mar 15th 2007
15. P D - You're doing what pyschotherapists call "acting out." Transferring anger at someone else onto me. I understand this, but if we're going to be in the same blogging community, we have to try to get along.
Now to your points: Melinda will never be a loser, that's right. And she IS extraordinarily talented. I pointed out that her performance was beautiful. But it's worth asking if Melinda is mounting a carefully (and brilliantly!) calculated messaging campaign: "I am Melinda and I-I-I am already your American Idol!" Similar techniques have been used by advertisers, great leaders, and yes, dictators.
Thank you for your comments - and welcome to the blog!
Mo at 11:07AM on Mar 15th 2007