American Idol: The Results Show—- 03.14.07

Posted Mar 14, 2007 by Chris Kuhn

Updated Mar 14, 2007 at 11:22 PM

Tonight, we learned on American Idol: The Results Show (FOX/Wednesdays) that maybe - just maybe - Sanjaya isn’t so safe after all. Could America have finally gotten it right the first week of big-time eliminations? I was encouraged.

The first official results show had its share of bizarre moments. Following the obligatory recap of last night’s mostly lackluster performances, we’re treated to a ho-hum medley of Diana Ross and Supremes songs slaughtered by the finalists. It’s painful but fortunately for us, this is a thirty-minute show and it can’t go on forever. (Or can it?)

Fox continues to embarass its contestants with its weekly, hokey FORD-themed music video. I don’t even recognize the song but the kids are dressed as hippies and decked out in big hair (not a far stretch for Mr. Sligh) and it gets a chuckle or two from the home audience, I’m sure. But it’s time to find out what we all showed up for tonight - who’s going home. Or at least who’s in the bottom three. Okay, two of them since we want to drag out this process as long as possible to sell more commercial time.

Brandon Rogers and Phil Stacey soon learn that they are two of the unfortunates in the bottom two, but who will join them? Will it be Sanjaya Malakar (oh please, please, please let it be him!) Or poor Haley Scarnato who flubbed up her words, called herself a schmuck and cried like a river on last night’s show?

But wait! We don’t want to give up this information too soon, because there’s still time left for more commercials. So we are entertained by Diana Ross, who with a song list a mile long decides to do a pretty horrendous rendition of the Spiral Staircase’s “I Love You More Today Than Yesterday.” The song definitely doesn’t showcase her vocal strengths at all and it’s repetitious and dull. She’s lucky that the judges don’t have to comment but she’s a pleasant enough guest star and is soon gone leaving us to find out from Ryan what we really want to know.

So? Is it Haley or Sanjaya in the bottom three?Seems America has a sympathetic heart and spared hapless Haley this week (and this week only, I’d bet) to stick Sanjaya into the bottom three. The final few minutes are here and one person will be spared and sent back to sit with their chums. And it is… Phil and I’m pleasantly surprised that two of the weaker singers are up for the big chop since Phil has performed better than either of these two guys.

Ryan reads the verdict and it’s bad news for all of us. Sanjaya stays. How does this happen? Brandon doesn’t even get time to sing his final song as the credits roll off the screen.

What did you think of tonight’s elimination? Were you surprised by the bottom three? I’m not. I like Phil better than Haley but I think he may not be connecting with audiences. He can sing when he puts his heart into it but I just don’t think he’s got the whole package. I see Phil leaving in a week or two himself, with Haley right in front or behind him.

Be sure to visit the American Idol forum and speak your mind. I’d love to hear your thoughts.