Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts
By Alyce Wilson
April 28, 2005 - Sayonara Smolder
Copyright
2005 Fox Broadcasting
Smoldering is not enough. That's apparently what America has decided, because Constantine Maroulis has left American Idol.
I have mixed feelings about the result, just as I've had mixed feelings about Constantine throughout the course of the competition. The Gryphon and I were both rooting for him straight out of the auditions, mainly because he seemed cool.
His very first night in the competition, he knocked it out of the park, so I had good feelings about his chances.
But since then, his performance has been uneven. He's had several off nights, a handful of mediocre nights, and just enough outstanding performances to keep him in the competition. I firmly believe that someone with less personality and less performance ability would have left the competition long ago.
To put it in perspective, when Bo Bice has an off week, my usual response is, "Well, that wasn't his best." When Constantine had an off week, my response was, "Why is he in this competition?"
By contrast, competitors like Anthony Fedorov continue to grow in the competition. As much as I thought he was a weak competitor at the beginning, he has lately gotten better and better. I don't personally like the songs he chooses, but I'm not surprised he's keeping (or growing) his fan base.
Now some people were convinced that Constantine was going to be in the final three, but if they know anything about American Idol's history, they shouldn't be surprised. The way I understand it, a popular contestant often leaves when it gets closer to the end. In this case, it may be a combination of Constantine having an off night, of the "rocker" vote being split between him and Bo, and of a sympathy vote being drummed up when Simon Cowell told Scott Savol that he should pack his bags.
So with Constantine out of the picture, who are the most likely candidates to make it all the way to the end? Bo Bice is a very strong contender, especially if he remembers to choose at least a few songs that show off his vocal range. Carrie Underwood is also a strong contender, but only if she finds a way to bridge the gap between country and pop. And much as it amazes me, Anthony Fedorov is a contender, but only if he continues to grow and turns in enough steady performances that he stays alive in the competition.
As far as
Constantine is concerned, all is not lost. If he returns to his band,
they should launch a tour as soon as possible. They'll sell out every
single show!
More Musings on American Idol:
Moral:
Every exit is an entrance somewhere else.
Copyright
2005 by Alyce Wilson
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