Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

Copyright 2006, Fox Broadcasting

Clockwise from top left: Brenna Gethers, David Radford, Jose "Sway" Penala,
Heather Cox

Much to delight of American Idol fans everywhere, bitchy Brenna Gethers got the heave-ho last night, finding out that she was the lowest vote getter among the women contestants.

Of course, true to her nature, she didn't skip a beat before announcing that she was now "ready to make money" and using the public airwaves to urge some business acquaintance of hers to give her a call.

Unless her financial plans include marketing a dartboard featuring her face, I doubt she'll be earning a heck of a lot. Anyone care to join me in singing, "Ding Dong, the Wicked Witch is Dead"?

The other woman who got her walking papers was the self-proclaimed American Idol stalker, Heather Cox, who declared herself a huge fan of the show but apparently never learned that singing in tune was a requirement. Enough said.

Crooner David Radford was rightly shocked when he was singled out as the lowest vote getter among the guys. After all, previous crooners, like redheaded John Stevens from season three, hung on long enough to have viewers ripping out their hair, screaming, "Why? Why? Why?" David, however, had only a fraction of the charisma that endeared sweet-natured John Stevens to voters, and he was practically guaranteed a ticket home.

Next to the last was Jose "Sway" Penala, who was so happy to discover his 15 minutes were up that I thought he was going to kiss Ryan. I think he knew that he was in way over his head and that it was only a matter of time before he went home. He can now happily retire to a life of anonymity.

Now, since my dog's obedience class was canceled last night, I'll share some thoughts on the contestants who remain in the competition, in the order of their performances from this week.

Katharine McPhee: She's a little quirky, in that she's pretty and talented but doesn't seem terribly self-confident. She needs to get over this but fast, because I think it was nerves that capsized her performance this week. Week one, many fans considered her to be a top contender, but unless she recaptures that glory, they'll move on.

Kinnik Sky: She may be a country girl at heart, and she may love country songs and cowboy hats and all, but she just doesn't have a country voice. Her voice is too rich for that. So far, her song choices have overshadowed her talent, and it's looking less and less likely that she'll make the final 12.

Lisa Tucker: She's just the sort of precocious, talented, wholesome looking teen who could find herself a record deal with or without American Idol. Frankly, she doesn't need this show, but since she's on it, she ought to make the best of it. She may not win, but she'll definitely boost her profile in the biz.

Melissa McGhee: Yet another country girl but without the personality of, say, a Carrie Underwood or even a Kellie Pickler. She's the most likely to be cut next week, simply because she hasn't made a strong enough impression, despite her interesting, smoky voice.

Paris Bennett: While she's strong vocally, Paris might find that her eagerness to try out new styles, both musically and in terms of fashion, could be her undoing. At least for this competition, she needs to stick with the sort of fun, young song choices and fashion statements that made her a standout performer on week one. If she does, she's not only a candidate for the final 12 but a possible finalist.

Ayla Brown: I've got to give props to Ayla Brown for emerging from the pack. Her performance this week showed she's got the vocal chops and the passion to make it. She's likely to make the final 12, and if she does, she's got to keep it at this level to keep advancing.

Kellie Pickler: I am sooo not ready for another country singing American Idol finalist. That said, she's got talent and personality and charisma. And I am never, ever, ever going to vote for her. Sorry.

Mandisa: You go girl! Easily, Mandisa's got some of the best raw talent in this competition. She's got to get smarter about song choices, though, or she's going to lose the spotlight to her competition. And Simon was right: lose the cabaret clothes and aim for satiny, sexy numbers. Say to yourself, "What Would Queen Latifah Do?"

Taylor Hicks: Gotta love him, and not just because I have a fondness for guys with prematurely gray hair (ask The Gryphon). At first I thought he was just a really good Joe Cocker imitator, but he's proven that he's an original. I love his enthusiasm and his sense of humor, and I think that if he performs at the top of his game, he's a serious contender. But no more "taking it easy."

Elliott Yamin: The main thing that was bothering me about Elliott was a shallow one, I'll admit: that pencil thin excuse for a beard. He looked like an Amish guy trying to sew his wild oats, and his shyness only underlined that impression. Thankfully, he saw the light and shaved. The guy's got pipes, and if he grows more confident on-stage, he could surprise us all.

Ace Young: I was willing to give him a chance, because he seemed to have talent, but I've been disappointed so far. Unless he proves himself with a really amazing performance, I predict he'll coast by on his good looks until the voters decide to back a stronger vocalist.

Gedeon McKinney: I think I know why Simon finds him unnerving. Gedeon is an anime character brought to life. The thing is, he's an animated character who can sing, which conjures up images of some, like, Isaac Hayes-era singer serving as the voice actor. Though he might be talented, he just doesn't have the whole package, and he's going to have to fight to get into the final 12.

Kevin Covais: He's been compared to Chicken Little, but he reminds me of a runt pig. This means he's got the farm animal vote, hands down. It will take a Charlotte's Web style miracle, however, for him to stay in the competition for long. I predict he'll squeak into the final 12 because of his "squishable" face alone.

Will Makar: Let's face it, the only thing that makes this guy memorable is his resemblance to child sit-com stars like Christopher Knight from The Brady Bunch or Fred Savage from The Wonder Years. This is not enough, by a long shot, especially when half the audience is expecting his voice to crack as he starts singing about going through changes. The only way he'll get into the final 12 will be if he rallies the 11-year-old girl vote, and considering that he makes a face every time Simon asserts that those are his fans, it's not terribly likely they'll pull through for him.

Bucky Covington: Bucky is a good old boy that will make many viewers exclaim, "I went to school with a guy just like him." Unfortunately, that also makes him ordinary, potentially forgettable. Unless he finds the "wow" factor, he's almost guaranteed to be cut next week.

Chris Daughtry: Every year, somebody who's been a bit camera shy breaks out of the box with stellar vocal ability. This year, it's Chris. He's the one to watch and, barring a serious misstep, is guaranteed a place in the final 12.

More on American Idol:

Musings on American Idol Season 5 (2006)

Musings on American Idol Season 4 (2005)

Musings on American Idol Season 3 (2004)

Copyright 2005 by Alyce Wilson

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