(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.
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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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
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Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 9)
76. With LaKisha and Melinda gone from AL absolutely proves something: Americans do NOT know great voices when they hear them!! From the very beginning of this season the PUBLIC statistics had shown that these two girls were "shoe-ins as winners"; "they had no competition except for each other"; it "may be the first tie" -- and these were the opinions of the PUBLIC even up to Wednesday night's "voting" announcements! So, now that they are both gone, I can't help but feel AL has something fishy going on - or the vote counters don't know how to count! After each season I just couldn't wait for the next season to start ... but now, it can be 10 years for all I care. But by then, of course, LaKisha and Melinda will be two of the greatest recording artists ever!! Who wants to bet with me? -Mame (retired voice coach)-
Mame (age 73) Doyle at 5:27PM on May 17th 2007
77. melinda sucked thank god she's gone. she could sing but that's it. she was a bad entertainer, was bad socially, and looks like a horse. thank god the finale is just how it always should have been. first time since season 4.
punkbassist31 at 5:31PM on May 17th 2007
78. I believe Melinda is to sophisticated for America. However, I've grown weary of American Idol and have no interest in what the finale or give a damn who win. I'm done with this show. Clearly Melinda is the best singer and there is no doubt she will go far. That beat box crap with Blake has run its course. Melinda has longevity and I'll be listening to her music for many years to come.
Tonya Hughes at 5:33PM on May 17th 2007
79. MELINDA MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN ALL HER VOTES. I TRIED FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES FROM THE CLOSE OF THE PROGRAM TO VOTE FOR HER AND I WAS GIVEN A RECORDING WHICH SAID THAT 2 OF THOSE LINES WERE OUT OF SERVICE. THE 3RD LINE WAS BUSY. THEREFORE, MELINDA DID NOT GET ALL HER ATTEMPTED VOTES ! WAS IT INTENDED? WAS IT FIXED ? WAS IT AN ACCIDENT? IT WAS NOT A FAIR VOTE.
EILEEN MORLEY at 5:40PM on May 17th 2007
80. AMERICAN IDOL IS A WASTE OF TIME. ALL THE
CONTEASTANTS SUCK !!! THEIR ALL A BUNCH
OF PHONIES,MADE UP OF HOES AND FAGGOTS.
MARIO HEPP at 5:36PM on May 17th 2007
81. honestly, i love blake! i think he is such a breath of fresh air from the ordinary idols. i mean melinda was a much better singer but come on blake's beat-boxing skills were so much fun to listen to and as for the people who say he does it for every song, you guys obviously haven't really watched much because blake hadn't done beat-boxing in so long before he did "you give love a bad name". Blake is awesome, he's so different and i'm positive that his songs will be the ones that make the top radio spots and get played in clubs all the time. Let's face it people America likes diversity, and melinda just wasn't that original...
Dani at 5:51PM on May 17th 2007
82. I voted for the first time last night and i voted Melinda doolittle.I wanted her to win because she deserved it. Melinda and Lakisha were the best singers in the show.America had sent Lakisha home instead of Blake who should have been out long time ago.I don't see no talent, no soul in Blake.just a monky see, monky do.Jordin has a great voice but she is singing and dressed too old and she does not have a personality for herself.she is just imitating old singers. She has a long way to go to be reel.Me, what I understand in all that is people need to vote, specially adults. I guess a bunch of teenagers have been pushing up jordin and Blake,staying late at night and vote while adults are too tired and busy to boost reel talents like Melinda.
Rose Gautier at 6:02PM on May 17th 2007
83. I THOUGHT MELINDA WAS A FANTASTIC SINGER/PREFORMER BUT I FELT SHE HAD AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE HAVING BEEN A BACK UP SINGER. SHE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN OUT IN FRONT BUT STILL YOU HAVE TO HAVE POLISH. ELLIOT YES HE LOOKS ADORABLE BUT NOT COMFORTABLE. HE CAN STILL SING AND THATS THE GOOD PART. KELLY PICKLER WELL SHE IS A DOLLY PARTON FAN AND DOLLY IS GETTING OLD SO WE ARE GONNA NEED ANOTHER TO STARE AT. SHE IS VERY TALENTED. JORDIN BEAUTIFUL BIG GIRL WITH A BEAUTIFUL VOICE. BLAKE WHEN HE IS NOT DOING THAT BEAT BOX THING HE IS NOT HALF BAD. HE IS MARKETABLE AND THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT. MAKE ME SOME MONEY KID AND I WILL DO RIGHT BY YOU. WAS THAT A SONG? LAST YEAR HAS MANY SUPRISES THIS YEAR PALED IN COMPARISON. MAYBE ONE MORE YEAR.
LIZBETH ANDREWS at 6:05PM on May 17th 2007
84. When people question me on why caucasians have small appendages or suggest that's why they believe themselves to be gods, I have always been astonished.
Your blaming someone for their physical appearance is a showing of disbelief or just someone who is nasty and ignorant. Then, I may just know what your true problem is........
Wanda at 4:33PM on May 20th 2007
85. This is not a beauty contest but rather a talent competition and if America has sunk so deeply into the trough that they reject an amazing voice they are to be pitied.
Melinda is a shining star and with her voice will have nothing but success in her life.
Give us more stars with the class that Melinda exudes. It will take her far.
As for Jordan and Blake, they are wonderful and NO
I don't want to hear what is wrong with their hair, clothes or teeth. What has that got to do with singing.
Pooky at 12:24AM on May 18th 2007
86. Melinda was good, yes, but personally I thought she was boring every week. Consistent, maybe, but she's not who I would like as an american idol. I think Blake is entertaining, not just beatboxing but singing too. He's more of the style that I like.
I personally thought Blake or Jordin would leave.
Rachael at 6:39PM on May 17th 2007
87. Melinda was too fake. Always looking so 'shocked' when the judges lauded her; like she didn't know she was good. She was a professional singer before Idol, allbeit a backup singer, but a professional PAID singer nonetheless. I'm glad to see her go... no more fake surprised looks on her face anymore. :-)
Tag at 6:41PM on May 17th 2007
88. i liked melinda. but she was kind boring compared to everyone else. she had to stage performance
samantha at 6:41PM on May 17th 2007
89. Well, I know that Melinda is an amazing singer. Anyone with ears knows that. But I don't think she had the overall appeal. She's got the pipes, but somehow I find her personality and looks lacking. She isn't the overall package that America is looking for. And I really hope Blake wins. Sure, Jordin is talented, but for once I actually side with Simon on this one. Blake has appeal, looks, and an actual opportunity to be successful. Unlike Jordin, his style is something that you would hear on the radio. His beat-boxing is a new age sort of thing and I think the older percentage of the population wouldn't vote for him because it's not "their style." Jordin sings older songs and has an older feel to her, even being so young. You'd think someone that young would want to sing like her favorite stars that she hears on the radio. Oh well. Who knows? It's all in the hands of America now, as Ryan "Peefest" would say. Oh and one last tid-bit. I hope all of you trying to analyze this voted. Because if not, you don't have much room to talk.
N/A at 6:53PM on May 17th 2007
90. Would you want the best doctor or the best food or the best teacher or best love? I rest my case. Melinda lost because she was the best and America doesn't like what's best when it's not in their pocket or stomach or life (but not body obviously)!
Wanda at 6:50PM on May 17th 2007