Melinda's Demise: Too Classy For America?

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Melinda's Demise: Too Classy For America?

Posted May 17th 2007 12:09AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: American Idol, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, Abortion

(Don't forget to take my poll on Elliott's new teeth and Kellie's new breasts. Click here!)

Analysts will rush to explain why Melinda's bid to be our next American Idol faltered tonight. But the dust needs to settle before we truly understand what went wrong.

Was it her age?

Was it what many called her fake surprise look from earlier in the season?

Was it her neck - or what some uncharitably called her lack of a neck? (Her purported necklessness was never verified by medical professionals. Her haircut in fact may have been to blame for a simple misperception.)

OR ... Was it her polish? Was Melinda too classy for America?

As evidenced by the videotaped homecoming, Melinda was indeed the most poised - and this may have been a liability in an America that demands that we let it all hang out.

Jordin wept throughout her homecoming as if she'd just returned from a POW camp. (The way she clutched her best friend Bailey, you'd think the two were sisters reunited after, say, the fall of the Berlin Wall.) Blake's homecoming was equally showy. His father, clearly an emotional dependent, cried that he'd lost his own parents as a boy; that Blake's success was some consolation for his own hardship.

Melinda was more self-possessed, dignified. She teared up, yes, but she kept it together, thanking her friends from Belmont. They thanked her for all she'd done. (Charity work? We don't know. Melinda's not the type to boast.) We've known for some time that Melinda's close to her mother. She's never mentioned her father. And yet her dad Steve was included (awkwardly) in several shots, Melinda putting the best face on what is likely a very uncomfortable situation. That's what modest, discreet people do.

And for this the American people punished her.

***

Other things I noticed:

Jordin's high school is Sandra Day O'Connor HS. Ironic since O'Connor was the critical swing vote in the Supreme Court's deliberations on abortion over the last 20 years. Now Jordin is in danger of being engulfed by the issue.

As much as I like Elliott Yamin - I endorsed his AI bid last year - I don't like his new teeth. But I don't mind the whole look. Almost a young Bob Dylan. Elliott is personally unassailable, as far as I'm concerned. Pure goodness.

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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 9)

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1. I have to agree w/ all of the above, especially the part about Elliot Yamin's teeth; they look too big and white....too fake.

lmai83 at 1:07AM on May 17th 2007

2. I just giggle reading your stuff! But come on Melinda…aka Mother Teresa… has been in the business for a while. She’s a veteran. She has gotten comfortable performing in front of people…Just as her head, for unknown reasons, has gotten comfortable sinking into her chest. Jordin is 17. She was thrown into stardom. She cries when seeing her friend. That’s ok. Her “friend” might just be a secret love. We don’t know. My fingers are crossed!

Elliot was my favorite last year as well. I agree about the horse-teeth. They take over the performance. I sort of liked the crooked, brown teeth. He was the underdog.

Jon at 1:37AM on May 17th 2007

3. I dont know I dont like his teeth or his hair. But Elliot was a good contestant last year, anyway he got a supermodel girlfriend. And well, Im glad how the votes turned out, Melinda can sing I wont deny her that but something about her did erk me, and it wasnt just the "Oh my God" facial expressions during her judging at the beginning of the season. I want Jordin to win.

Mo, How much longer are you going to be doing "Spelling Bee"?

MrsMoRocca at 1:56AM on May 17th 2007

4. I will probably NOT watch Idol on Wednesday. There is no way that Melinda should have been eliminated. She should have continued on to the finals for consistency alone! That said, I hope Jordin wins-

That Girl at 7:53AM on May 17th 2007

5. Hmmmmmmmmmm..I'm really not what to say at this stage in the game. I'm very disappointed! I'm done with American Idol. I have no interest in watching it ever again. Melinda was consistant every single time. Not that I don't like Blake. I think he's talented but this is a singing competition not a beatbox competition. With that being said it's unclear to me why she was sent home. But then again this is the same show that sent Jennifer Hudson packing and you see where she is now.
Enough Said!

Tara westbrook at 8:22AM on May 17th 2007

6. The thing I don't understand is the fact that Melinda was more of a professional. I thought this was supposed to be a contest trying to find the best unknown. If you take someone like Jordin who is young and has had no professional training and put her next to Melinda, it just didn't seem fair. I am very much a Jordin fan, but I am surprised that Melinda got the boot first. I do think that Jordin fits more of the "Pop" image as does Blake. Both of them have more personality to me. It could be the age thing, there is a big difference between them. Also, even though Melinda was the most consistent through the season, she got boring to me. I felt like Jordin grew and blossomed.

As for Elliot, no matter how he looks, he still sounds amazing!

CathiD at 8:26AM on May 17th 2007

7. I'm not surprised that Melinda did not make the finals. She is a wonderful performer and will make it big anyway. I think that America was too confident in her performance and previous ratings,and was sure that she would win "without their vote". This goes to provide how important it is to vote. I also failed Melinda. Sorry......Girl.

Denise Wilson at 8:35AM on May 17th 2007

8. I am so disappointed in the American population right now for not voting for the BEST to go to the final two on AI. There's no way that Melinda should have gone home before Blake or Jordan this week. Blake is boring with his hip hop outfits and goofy haircut and beat box music style. It's the same every week...boring. Jordan is good but she can't outshine Melinda. Melinda has poise, class and humility and has so much vocal range. She could sing anything, even probably do beat box if she tried. It's probably best that she didn't win AI, because she'll get a great record deal anyway and AI won't be able to control what she sings. Way to go, Melinda...YOU are a class act, to be sure! America's taste in music sucks, at this point.

Deborah at 8:48AM on May 17th 2007

9. come on people... its america's vote. people dont vote for who sings the best they vote for who they like the best. I agree that tuesday night Melinda sang the best yet I spent 2 hours voting for Jordin. I think Jordin is the best choice for american idol for many reasons. she is young, hip, has a great voice, and is mature beyond her years. Simply said Jordin and Blakes personalities are much better and more likable then Melindas. That is why they made it to the final two because the majority of america just overall likes them better. All three are great singers so it comes down to popularity... and the more people that like you the more records you will sale.

Toni at 8:59AM on May 17th 2007

10. Did anyone else notice Ryan's slip up last night?? I was completely shocked by it. It was quick and then they went right to a commercial. Unfortunately, I do not remember the exact wording (anyone have it taped?) but shortly after Elliot finished he said something like "After the commercial we will return with Maroon 5, something else and then we'll send Melinda home." I know it was the "Home Show" but the way it was presented was poor and I think it was a slip of the tongue because the "home" part was completed BEFORE Maroon 5, not after. Anyone else notice this? If you have it taped-you should go back and watch it.

Karen at 9:10AM on May 17th 2007

11. I won't be watching Idol anymore. I've tried and tried to put up with it because I love to hear good singing but this year has taken it to a whole new level. I want to see singers not performers SINGERS. Give me 12 Lakisha's 12 Clay Aiken's 12 Fantasia's 12 Kelly's 12 Melinda's 12 phil stacy's then you've got a show. A show where you hate to see anyone get voted off this season on most of them I was like he needs to go she needs to go etc. Make it fair if it's based on singing then leave it at that. If you don't want a superstar like Melinda or Lakisha amongst just OK singers then put more Melinda's and Lakisha's in the show! And it's not about black or white look at Chris Daugherty or Bo Bice or Clay Aiken now all of them together would be a hell of a show!! American Idol I'm done you guys are just playing around to make what you think is a juicy show but it's really just BS.

TanTan at 9:28AM on May 17th 2007

12. Well this is the same show that sent Chris Daughtrey home . We all know he should have one last year!! But people who watch the show are the ones who vote!

dd at 9:43AM on May 17th 2007

13. Melinda no doubt great singer, however half way through the competition I tired of her voice. My thought was, if she did win would America buy her music?? I wouldn't even though the girl CAN sing.

I would like to see Jordan win, but it just hard to say who will take the title.

April at 10:00AM on May 17th 2007

14. comment to Karen on Ryan's slip. He said "Maroon 5 performs then Melinda goes home". He was referring to showing to the clips of Melinda's visit home just like they had previously shown Jordin's and Blake's. Coincidentally, she ended up going home.

Chris at 10:10AM on May 17th 2007

15. As Yogi Berra used to say, "it's deja vu' all over again". The viewers did the same thing to Jennifer Hudson, and now she is an Oscar winner and a hot topic in the entertainment world. Melinda was my pick to go all the way, from the first audition (btw, I picked Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood from the initial audition). She was definitely the best singer there. I think Simon gave her the death jinx when he said, "I hope to see my girl Melinda in the final 2", enough viewers have it in for Simon to vote her off just to get "back" at Simon (like he really gives a s**t! Have to agree with Mo, she was way too classy for American Idol. She will definitely go on to much higher rewards than being the "Idol" would have given her. Although she has been in the business a while, this will give her a bunch of credibility. I predict that she will be bigger than Jennifer Hudson.
As to Elliot's teeth, Pickler's new rack, ad nauseum....it is the fault of the shallow public that drives the need to improve or perfect anything physical that could be seen as a liability. When the entertainers buy into this need for perfection, it just drives more average Americans to the local cosemetic surgeon. Those docs are loving it! More money for them.
Side note to Mo.....please don't go to the cosmetic surgeon...like you the way you are, keep up the great job!

Martine Arndt at 10:17AM on May 17th 2007

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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.