American Idol - Ryan Seacrest announced there would be a surprise at the start of Wednesday’s results show, what he meant will be revealed. Michael Lynche polled the lowest vote total - for the first time Ryan's announcements really was a shock.
It has to be said apart from two exceptions everyone else were 'just OK' this week, giving OK but not great efforts from the Lennon-McCartney catalogue, so it was an open field but Michael Lynche that was a shock.
Andrew Garcia, who was with Lynche in the bottom two was stunned when he was announced as being safe after all he must have spent his time not listening to Rihanna but instead rehearsing his exit speech.
Lynche did survive following his final chance song of "This Woman’s Work" the judges used their save to keep him in for another week at least. Simon Cowell - the man is heartless - was apparently unmoved by shots of Lynche’s sobbing wife and the frequent Seacrest reminders that Mike’s a young father trying to make a better life for his newborn baby, blah blah.
The pay-back for this decision is that next week two singers will face the boot and the judges have no say in matters as the save vote is a 'once only' concession.
This will put additional pressure on the contestants as with such a close field no one can afford a mistake next week. There’s nobody left who’s terrible, even Tim Urban has upped his game.
There lies the problem the problem. "Fine" is not awe-inspiring. "Fine" is "I won't change the channel, and maybe I'll vote if I'm not on the phone when the show ends and I remember my favourite’s phone number." That leads to unpredictability and the random results that send favourites packing early.
With Crystal Bowersox way out in front, Siobhan Magnus able to close the gap between her and the leader, other than that only Lee Dewze appears to have the potential to develop as a possible finalist, Lynche Garcia, Urban, Kelly and Stevens are just marking time until their inevitable exits.
David Archuleta's version of "Imagine" this week, set the bench mark for the remaining contestants and can anyone say with any real conviction that Aaron Kelly and Tim Urban are Michael Lynche, Katie Stevens, or Casey James are realistically in with a chance of winning maybe I am being a little harsh on Katie Stevens, she put in a much improved performance.
Next week I think Garcia and Urban will be the most vulnerable, but America must get it right as there is no judges safety net to catch the fallen.
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