I already feel guilty about LaKisha.
I knew that LaKisha was raw, unpolished in the best way. But until tonight I hadn't focused on her deep soulfulness - a quality none of the remaining three has. In the video package about her childhood, she wasn't just cute. She wasn't just touching. She wasn't just funny. She was all those things. She spoke about her mother and her grandmother and her "nappy fro" and how she was disciplined for talking too much as a child.
Then, as the death sentence was read, came her video obit. The dissolve transition from her initial audition of "I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" to her later performance of that same song was beautifully done. But it was her blunt admission that "other people have more confidence in Kisha than I have" that struck me. It was honest, almost wounded, but not in the least way pathetic.Indeed LaKisha was a woman who could be stubborn, even pig-headed. (She ignored Barry Gibb's advice and, if memory serves, she ignored Gwen Stefani's.) But that's because LaKisha always knew who she was - a proud black woman, a single mother dedicated to her baby Brionne, not afraid to say that she wanted, needed that Idol title to make her hard life easier. LaKisha was authentic, the real deal. She had no use for media handlers.
And now she's gone. Many of us will ask: What could I have done to save Kisha? (I suppose I could have voted for her.)
Let me take this opportunity to declare that Barry Gibbs' performance of "To Love Somebody" was stellar. My simple observation in an earlier post that Gibb has a slight speech impediment (due to an upper denture or perhaps corroded saliva ducts?) created an uproar. I certainly meant no offense.
As for the remaining three, Melinda was charming during her childhood video package. I found it interesting that Blake, Melinda and LaKisha were all only children.
Jordin on the other hand comes from a very attractive family ... with a very eerie echo: an African-American former football pro dad, a white mom, and a younger brother.
Surely I'm not the only one who thought of OJ Simpson, Nicole Brown and their two children Sydney and Justin?
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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LaKisha's End: Did America Just Make A Big Mistake?
Posted May 9th 2007 11:54PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Pop Culture, American Idol, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, LaKisha Jones, Reality Television, Blake Lewis
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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 1)
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cfucrliymy at 10:17AM on Jan 24th 2009
2. I would have much rather seen LaKisha in the final three but what can you do about it. It may be conforting to know that regardless of her being eliminated, she is still going on the tour with the top 10 and infact she will be getting a record deal.
Now its business. Jordin all the way baby....
~Jasmine~
MrsMoRocca at 1:50AM on May 10th 2007
3. Love ya Mo...
~Jasmine~
MrsMoRocca at 2:10AM on May 10th 2007
4. PR stunts are not improptu. Shilpa Shetty along with Richard Gere must have planned this stunt. But the outcome is an outrage. By whom? The masses, movie fans. Others wouldn't care or less kiss Shilpa or take her into an alley who cares. But it is people that think of movie stars as their extended family who always look at them with awe like they are gods or something, never learning that its all business no different than the business Madam DC is or Shah Riza is conducting. It is called escortbusiness. What is the big deal whether it is an Indian, an Arab or an American. People should go home, relax and enjoy the show or look for something else that is productive to do than attending a condom blast and then get upset over a kiss before some people who think of themselves as they were "untouchable", but by all means doing it all the time with strangers in the dark.
Umru al-Qice at 7:33AM on May 10th 2007
5. Good luck to Lakisha in her tour with the top 10, the entire adventure of being voted to stay on American Idol as long as she did should be compliment enough and by getting a job could in production, Look at Jennifer Hudson Acadamy award winner.
Donna Deville at 12:00PM on May 12th 2007
6. oh! and by the way Lakisha, you are a closer understudy to Tina than Melinda and I personlly Love Tina Turner. this is meant to be a compliment so again Great luck in your future indeavors..Don't stop here because you do have talent..Sugar! Donndvll
Donna Deville at 11:58AM on May 12th 2007
7. As Sympathetic as Lakisha is, with her lack of self-confidence and her tough/true upbringing, that does not make me feel any less inclined to think that it was unfair for her to go home. If such a backstory sways you that easily, I feel sad for you.
The truth is, while Lakisha was a lot stronger than the other contestants, she has always fallen short of both Jordan(excluding Jordan's last performance prior to this past tuesday) and Melinda, with range and ability to control her voice. She is a powerhouse, and she HAS developed a lot within the past two weeks, but I dare to say she was usually outsung.
Perhaps Blake should have went home instead, since he ruined both of his songs Tuesday night, while I thought Lakisha was more successful. But there was no argument in my mind that if Lakisha didn't go home this week, she WAS going home next week, because Melinda and Jordan are the strongest contestants up there.
Blake is likeable, and original, but his beat-boxing is getting to be old and trite, and he is misusing it on songs that either don't need it, or songs that don't work with it. Like I said, perhaps Blake should have gone home this week instead, I do believe this. But Lakisha was going the next week. And yeah, if you do really care about making a point of who should have stayed and who should have gone, you probably SHOULD have voted. =D
Gina at 10:05AM on May 10th 2007
8. OMG!! I absolutely love your blog. You have a great attention to detail. Which is why I CHOOSE to read it. There’s nothing better than being an American and having the FREEDOM OF SPEECH…huh? (That’s for all the “children” reading who have forgotten that.)
Personally…I thought Barry Gibb was just awful last night…my opinion…his Sean Connery speech pattern should be noted…why not? Not making fun… just distracted. Of course you didn’t mean to offend…silly readers!
I too felt America made a mistake voting off LaKisha. I wanted Melinda to go…again, my opinion. I can’t get past her “I’m so shocked…who me?…I can’t believe it” behavior. She has been in the business long enough to know that she can sing and sing well, so come off it already. For all the doctors reading …who helped diagnose the Barry Gibb speech ordeal…try to help us out with the reason Melinda has no neck. It’s also distracting.
Referring to all the comments about how Mo is “jealous” and “insecure” about Beat-Box Blake…again…silly readers! Just go see him in the BROADWAY show The 25th Annual Putman Spelling Bee. While doing research for my upcoming audition for the show…I saw it twice this week. He’s a very funny man and, personally, very handsome as well.
Thanks Mo!
PS- Gina...You don't have to vote to have an OPINION as to who you feel should be voted off :)
Jon at 10:49AM on May 10th 2007
9. FACE IT, ENTERTAINERS ARE VISUAL, AND MUST BE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT ATTRACTIVE. AT FIRST SIGHT, I THOUGHT JORDAN WAS A MAN, AND FAT,BIG MOUTH SCREAMERS ARE ALL ALIKE AND NOT PLEASANT TO WATCH OR HEAR.
JACKIE at 11:20AM on May 10th 2007
10. To Jon #7:
It really boggles my mind when people bash Mo for what he does.
To all the bashers: If you don't know Mo by now, you will never, ever, ever know Mo.
giftedgirl at 11:26AM on May 10th 2007
11. Jordin all the way baby yeah!
jarred at 12:27PM on May 10th 2007
12. I was also sad to see Lakisha go. It's obvious that, while Melinda has a great instrument, a big part of her success on Idol so far has come from her YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. Song choices, arrangements, delivery, expressions etc....she has been around and observing pros bothe on stage and in the studio while the others are flying by the seat of their pants from week to week. I'm happy Lakisha will be making a pretty good paycheck while on tour, and hope some of Hudson's post idol success finds Lakisha as well.
PS I'm pretty sure Barry Gibbs' saliva has nothing to do with his speech. He is a victim of LOUSY DENTISTRY, suffering with either crappy fixed bridgework or ill fitting dentures.
Nycjude at 12:41PM on May 10th 2007
13. LaKisha is a queen of soul! Melinda is more versatile. She can sing anything. Jordin has a lovely voice, also very versatile. And she's very attractive. Blake should have been the one to go home.
orson15 at 3:40PM on May 14th 2007
14. Now that an unwise America has voted LaKisha off instead of Blake I sincerely hope that JORDAN is our next American Idol. What an astounding young lady she who will improve with experience. She'll knock our socks off in another year.
I wish Melinda well and hope she has a dazzling future, but Jordan is more what AI is all about.
D.J. MALLOY at 9:55PM on May 12th 2007
15. Jordin as the next Idol? She is already using her celebrity status to promote her anti-choice campaign and is taking in donations at her rally in Glendale to support anti-gay preacher and sincere friend to Focus on the Family's James Dobson, Joe White. If that is the Idol you want, you can have her.
Clyde at 4:58AM on May 13th 2007