American Idol Results: The Veteran Goes Home

LOS ANGELES — Carly Smithson lost another chance to be a superstar.

Smithson, the 24-year-old Irish bartender from San Diego, was the latest cast-off on "American Idol" as the field was narrowed to five finalists during Wednesday's results show.

Smithson had won rave reviews from judges _ but apparently not votes from viewers _ after performing "Superstar" from "Jesus Christ Superstar" on Tuesday's Andrew Lloyd Webber-themed performance show.

Judge Randy Jackson told host Ryan Seacrest: "It must be a bit of a popularity week in the vote."

Controversy had swirled around Smithson at the start of the seventh "Idol" season because of her previous experience in the music industry. In 2001, MCA Records released Smithson's debut "Ultimate High," which flopped on the charts.

Syesha Mercado, who sang "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many" from "Starlight Express," joined Smith in the bottom two on Wednesday's results show.

Brooke White was visibly shocked she wasn't one of the show's lowest vote-getters.

White caused a stir Tuesday when she stopped singing a few seconds into "You Must Love Me" from "Evita" and asked "Idol" music director Ricky Minor to start over, a first for the Fox singing competition. Jackson and Simon Cowell praised White's decision to reboot, but Paula Abdul was upset about the do-over.

"You must never start and stop," Abdul told White.

During the results show, Seacrest announced the top 10 finalists will visit 49 cities during the next "Idol" summer tour.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush also appeared in a taped message to announce the "Idol Gives Back" charity event had raised more than $65 million for underprivileged children.

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On the Net:

"American Idol":

http://www.americanidol.com/

Comments

[SoYaThink]

GOOD-BYE AMERICAN IDOL! Already on the way out . . . you can see it in the numbers that are NOT tuning in at this time - which is the time that MORE people use to be tuning in.

Yeah, it's a turn-off when you know the voting is not honest - either rigged or technically overwrought. Probably both at this time - oh well, reality shows don't usually have this long of a shelf life, and they outlasted most.

Now . . . What's next????

[GrammyinPA]

What a disappointment American Idol has been this year.
It's a popularity contest.
The voting is a joke. I definately feel the judges should have some input when it comes to the votes.
It's obvious that the NO Talents (Brooke & Jason) have a hugh fan base. It's past time for them to go.
Michael Johns is a hugh talent; also, it was not yet time for Carly to go.
If the producers want to save this program, they MUST do something about the unfair voting.
It might be nice to see some NEW judges; they are stale with the exception of Simon.

[enoughalready]

David Cook is simply the most talented on Idol this year. I fear he may go the way of Chris Daughtry. He will be a great recording artist. As for American Idol the show - it's losing by not changing it's judging to at least give the judges half the vote for talent. David Cook, Carly, and Syesha were clearly outstanding and yet Carly and Syesha were sitting in the bottom two chairs. It should have been Brooke going home and Jason in the other seat. Talent had nothing to do with this vote.

If history serves for anything maybe Carly will go the way of Jennifer Hudson - it seems Hudson was number 6 when voted off in year three.

[timothe]

He's better than Daughtry...already. He's the most talented individual to ever grace American Idol and maybe the most talented musician since Prince or Stevie Wonder. He's that good.

[SweetAngie]

David is definitely good, but not that good! Prince? Steve Wonder? Please!

But, I do agree he has a great career ahead of him, and I would like to see him pair up with Michael Johns and tour . . . someone posted that some time ago, and I have been thinking about that ever since. I'd pay a ticket to see that!

[SharonB]

Did you see Brook when she found out that Syesha was one of the bottom two and not her? The girl had to hold onto her face to keep from smiling. I think she was shocked. And, rightly so.
And, Jason hopping around grinning and rolling his eyes like the idiot that he is.
his hair is fine, he just cannot sing and has no personality at all.

It really doesn't matter to the contestants at this point. The final ten tour together and get loads of exposure. People who have saleable talent will do very well whether they are the final winner or not. People who do not have a saleable talent (Sanjaya!?! Jason!?!) will not even though they are in the top ten.
I mean, how many of the little 12 year olds who lost their minds over Sanjaya are still hanging pictures of him on their bedroom wall? Jason has taken his place...

[SweetAngie]

I agree with the posts - this could be American Idols last year. It has lost its truth in voting aspect - it is not expected to be exactly as you think it will be, but not "off the hook", the way it is now. Their voting system is debunked - doesn't work any more, and like other reality shows, their shelf life has expired.

Gosh darn, I use to be such a fan - not so this year. Many of us cannot even vote, and I did go and check out their message blogs and boards and I did see how they are doing it. No wonder we cannot get through to vote any more - and no wonder Jason is winning. While he is a cutie - darn its lame the way he has stayed and the talent has left. I hope David Cooke does not have the same fate as Michael.

[REDSTATEREFUGEE]

Bottom LIne:

o Brooke--- Vapid, no talent, near beautiful, braindead. Her facial gestures make her the
Renee Zellweger of musical talent shows. No stage presence. Flakes under
pressure. Will eventually teach second grade somewhere.

o Syesha--- Under-rated, loaded with charisma, can do better than AI. May be the
wrong race for the AI white junior high girls controlling the voting mechanism.
Will move on up to Broadway or maybe even a television sit com.

o Carly--- Mistook volume for singing. Will return to bartending. JC Superstar
a major strategic error. Excessive tats did her no good,
either. Lacked class for upward musical success. Scored big in Southern
trailer parks.....

o David C--- Will not win as AI. Has real promise, but not with the female tweens. Will most likely
issue an album soon....

o David A --- Above average voice trapped inside a pubescent body and personality
Will eventually sink beneath the surface into obscurity. Needs an older sugar
momma to kiss it and make it well when he eventually loses...

o Jason C --- Always seems to be overdosed on Vicodin. Won the allegiance of all the
female teeniebops out there. "He's just so
cuuuuute!" Adults harbor a strong desire to hold him down and give him
a much-needed trim with garden shears. Destined to be the next AI...

o Little Bush and Laura --- Praised AI viewer
generosity. Overlooked Bush's almost eight years of
benign neglect of troubled East Africa. Won
award for Most Hypocritical Performance Anywhere.

[SharonB]

I agree with you about Brook and the rest for the most part.
I am not from a trailer park, but I do live in Texas so I guess that is just as bad in some people's books (>8^D
I liked Carly's version of "JC Superstar".

[SILVANUS]

The age of unbridled, shamelessly celebrated shallowness is about to implode.

Now, who is going to babysit all these minds?

'We want you Big Brother, Big Brother.' (Thanks, Bowie).

[SharonB]

And yet ,with all your brains, here you are...

[deedrdo]

this is my 4th season to watch AI. maybe it's just me but i'm becoming less and less interested.

my beef is that it's not really so much about talent anymore as it is packaging to tween boys and girls. that being said, they should limit the number of votes per phone to the number of contestants on the floor. DWTS does it. also, i feel like the judges would be more invested and less snipey and/or ambiguous (depending upon the judge) if they were made to actually cast and publicly justify a vote that we could all see and that counted toward the final outcome.

otherwise, it's just a bunch of young kids speed dialing into oblivion for one contestant. the result of that doesn't reflect what talent is on the stage.

[Calylily]

Yes, this is the worse year yet. The hands on technology by the youth has taken its toll on this show. Its too bad . . . Nigel had such a great idea - and it was great when it first started. But, now it is not about talent. I do really like his "So You Think You Can Dance" - I caught it a couple times last year, and it was amazingly good. But Idol has had its run . . . it was good while it lasted.

[mono]

I am sure many of us must have been offended by the way the REAL contestants are being voted out. Even Brooks was surprised when she was called safe.

This show is breathing it's last breath. That's why they are dragging it along with IDOL-GIVE-BACK gimmick.

See the history, except Kelly Clarkson and Carry Underwood all the other winners have gone in oblivion.
Last year Belinda Doolittle was the real winner but she was voted out.because she was ugly looking. This year the champion will be Brooks. Her put-on fake smile and supposedly-heartfelt cries will carry her along to the top spot.

[67bug]

It's "Melinda" and "Brooke."

[67bug]

Oh, and "Carrie" not "Carry."

[Calylily]

Agreed - the show is on its last leg.

Not agreed that Kelly and Carry are the only Idols to become winners.

Clay Aiken sold almost as many platinum records as Carry did. Kelly Pickler is doing well. Also, that black girl has done really well also - Fantasia, thats it. And, Roger Daultrey - he is doing fantastic. And then is a big favorite of mine, Bo Bice, who gave me chills when he sang. But, that was when it was a really good show and they had the voting under control.

But, that was before technology caught up with them. Like most reality shows, their time has come - BYE! And Ryan, enjoy your sweetie Brooke - the rest of us are going to throw up when she wins this thing. BTW, you don't have anything to do with this - do YOU?

[AmandaRuth]

and don't forget the girl, Jennifer something that won an oscar.

American Ido's do just fine after the show -

But I do agree with you that it is breathing it's last breath.

[dartagnan]

Carly will do just fine. But the one who's gotta go is that clown with the dreads. No voice, no talent. His rendition of "Memory" made me cry ... with pain.

[SweetAngie]

Good-bye, American Idol!

This is no longer about talent - it is about how the tweens and younger generation and how they can BUST UP the system, block out other voters from calling by compromising the system and get their candidate votes. Just check out the AmerIdol message boards - they not only tell how they do it, they are proud of it! Maybe it is Audit Time!

I use to be a big fan, but not any more. If it was about talent, Brooke and Jason would have been gone a long time ago, and Michael Johns would still be there. I did not think he could win, but come on - not as good as Brooke or Jason? PLLLLLEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSEEEEE!!!!

[dartagnan]

I suspect Carly and Michael were voted off for the same reason -- the teens and pre-teens who do the bulk of the voting perceive them as "old." I predict Brooke will be the next to go, for the same reason. And David Cooke will win it.

[GarysDiscardedCaps]

It is some what rigged. You may have noticed how all season the producers have kept Carly's husband out of direct light when they show the audience shots and her family.
(gotta hide those face tats from the tweens and their parents)
The last two shows he's been shown under direct light, big and bright, at the same time she choses to wear somethnig that covers her arm tats. Hence, she wants to stay in but the producers have other ideas.
The producers do this type of manipulation every year to push the "star" they think is marketable.
The judges (Randy and Paula) even sqew their coments to push what the producers invision as marketable.
In my humble opinion.

[Calylily]

Yes, I agree. That David Cooke is amazing! But, unfortunately it just may be up to the Tweens who know how to compromise the system, as was stated by someone before. Yes, I did check out those message boards - pretty brazen stuff - to do it and admit it! Maybe Hillary should contact them! She may need them!

[jadez]

amazing how people buyinto the kool-aid.
this is all marginal talent at best.

you think these people are good because of the way the show is packaged.
like well we got down to the best 5..duh..if you had a real talent up there to compare these people too instead of each other you would know they aint much.

a sucker is born every minute
that will never change

[SharonB]

How do you know what kind of talent they have? Are you watching the show? If so, why?

[pcplz]

C'mon people.....watch the talent. Putting down the person for tattoos or dreds is ridiculous. I thought Carly was great. She deserved to be in as long as she has been in. All of them do. At this point someone is going home every week and anyone could win. Duh. I agree that D Cook is the most marketable one. That is what 'Idol' is all about. Who can become a legitimate star. He is already there and will continue the IDOL fun....whether he wins or not as Daughtry did.

All of these young talents now have what they needed which is what the show is all about. Jason is a totally charming young man that has a velvet voice and his own way of presenting his music. I certainly would go to see him. Syeesha is ready for Broadway and David A will get the Disney deals...maybe a movie. Brooke can go on the Carly Simon way and be a huge success.

It's all good. Just enjoy. These young people got their chance and that is what it is all about.

[filmex]

"C'mon people, watch the talent"......???????

Jason Castro..."talent"...seriously? I could appreciate his "charm" if he were seating me for dinner at The Charthouse.

Otherwise, his easy going Texas Bob Marley act is a little pretentious. The girls under 16 may love him, just as they loved Sanjaya. But should he last one more week, and last beyond either Brooke or David Cook, then look for him to do for AI what Taylor Hicks did.

You know, Hicks, the guy who won it all, sold about 13 records, and lost his record contract within six months. So much for America's taste, but then again when you consider Bush's re-election, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by anything America manages to do. Castro could take it all.

[timothe]

I agree. I still enjoy the show immensely. This year has easily been the most talent laden. I am really pulling for Syesha because she has been in the bottom almost every week. And I think David Cook is one of the most talented musicians I've seen in a long long time.

[TheGeeber]

Well, it's official. I can cancel my weekly TiVo recording of this show now. What's left is just so bland.