I rarely, rarely if ever at all, agree with Randy Jackson, but tonight I could not have agreed more: Wow, did America get it wrong.
Because the judge’s had one save, nobody went home tonight. There will be seven finalists again next week – and from then on, talent be damned, the Idol voters will have the final say of who stays and who goes.
Joshua Ledet in the bottom three? And even more shockingly, Jessica Sanchez getting the fewest votes of any of the final seven? (Kinnelon native Elise Testone joined them at the bottom of the pack, but considering voting history that wasn’t a surprise at all.)
Not surprisingly the judges used their save to Sanchez. They didn’t even let the teenager finish that song that is supposedly when the judges decide if they are going to use their save. They walked on stage and Jennifer Lopez took the microphone away and said it was crazy, she was not going anywhere.
So, we know the judges like Sanchez. That’s not news. But what else did this night tell us?
We now know that Sanchez – with her amazing voice and pretentious alter ego – is in trouble thanks to the less than humble way she has come off and her inability to have a really great, dramatic moment since she took on “I Will Always Love You.” She’s got an amazing voice, incredible voice. If I had that voice, I would sing every word out of my mouth. She’s great, no doubt. But she’s not…well…Ledet.
Joshua Ledet brings the crowd – and the judges – to their feet with his energy and incredible voice. He also has a humility about him and isn’t a take-himself-too-seriously “artist.” He is the total Idol package, one would think. If Hollie Cavanagh survives beyond her bestest Idol buddy, it’ll be more than an injustice – and she would probably be the first person to say it.
And that, of course, leads to the biggest question of all – where is this giant Cavanagh voting block coming from? Who is to blame for making viewers watch her stiffly attempt another song next week?
Is there any way Testone can survive next week? It seems unlikely, but what this week showed us more than anything else is that there is no way to know what is going to happen.
Were Sanchez fans complacent, assuming she would march on to the final? Can anyone take the phones of all the teenage girls out there and spare us the Colton Dixon/Phillip Phillips final? Girls, how about standing with one of your own? Where’s the girl power? Even another country winner would be better than some of the other options. At least Skylar Laine is talented and personable, whether you like her music or not.
Up is down. Day is night. Everybody’s safe. Until next week.