Whats Hot On TV

I have to start this right off, saying right away, that I am not a conspiracy theory person. No matter what, whether it be for politics, sports, or entertainment, but especially reality TV. Anyone that knows me will be the first to tell you that.

But …

This year on American Idol, I just can’t not feel it. Last year, I was beginning to think that a little; the further I went in the season the less and less I cared. There couldn’t have been a more lackluster final 2. This season, the powers that be were all over the place telling us what happened last season wouldn’t be happening this season, that there were a number of very talented people in the final 24, and we wouldn’t be having all the mentors which took away from getting to know the contestants.

So where are we now at final four? After several disappointments, that’s where. We’ve had some really shocking dismissals this season. Things that truly make your scratch your head. Chikezie was the first mini shocker. He was doing so well as of late, and he went back and did one ballad, and boom, he was gone. He brought so much fun to the show; it was sad to see him go. Yet, Kristy Lee Cook, the cute country blonde that sold her horse stayed, as did Syesha Mercado who just couldn’t seem to figure out who she was.

A few weeks later, Aussie Michael Johns left. Okay, so he struggled to find his place originally, but before he left, he really came on strong for three weeks, giving us what we were looking for. We were thinking Michael Johns was definite final 4 contender, if not final 2, and he was gone. But Kristy and Syesha were still there.

Final 6 week, Carly Smithson had finally caught her stride. She finally got comfortable with who she was and her dream. It took her a few years to get on the Idol final 12 stage, but here she was, and she was clearly the best female vocalist there, with power up the yin yang. In a week with Andrew Lloyd Weber show tunes, she was able to pick something she enjoyed, and Andrew helped her pick Superstar. It was right up her alley. It was Jason Castro that got stuck, being one of three Idols to be forced to pick Memory out of a hat, something he didn’t even know before was sung by a cat. Yet, Carly left leaving Syesha Mercado still in the hunt.

The following week was Neil Diamond music, something they all should have found something to fit their own style within his large catalog of music, yet the show as a whole seemed to be missing something. First we were told that we wouldn’t hear judges’ comments until after the performers had sung two songs each, then Ryan announced after the first set of songs that we’d hear the first set of comments. Paula did the flub of the century, reading off Jason’s critique for a song he hadn’t sung yet, thereby trashing him before he even started. He didn’t have a chance. Jason miraculously stayed, yet Brooke White finally cried goodbye.

This week, Jason was quoted in an interview as saying he was ready to go home. Was he foreseeing the future or really wanting out? With rock ‘n roll as a theme, he picked two of his favorites and was visibly a different guy, coming off a little indifferent. He had the worst spotting of the night, not being first or last, and having to share his spot for each of his songs with another. He was widely trashed again by all the judges. Granted, it wasn’t his best, and he did forget the words, but he wasn’t as bad as they were making it out to be.

I don’t think Jason Castro is wanted any longer in the competition, and I think he knows it. He was never given any audition or Hollywood week publicity, and our first notice of him consisted of about 5 seconds of him being told he made it to the final 24. It seems as if the show wanted that different vibe that only he could bring, but he surprised them, doing better than they imagined. Hallelujah was off the hook, to steal a phrase from Randy, and it secured him in the final 12. By the time he got to Somewhere Over the Rainbow his popularity was increasing No longer was he the guy with dreadlocks, he was Jason Castro.

Jason become a threat to the final two that the show has wanted since nearly the beginning, “the two Davids.” We knew all along the winner would be a guy. They’re just so much stronger than the females. But why were the people that seemed to be of serious competition to the final 2 that were promised all taken out earlier than they should have been? It doesn’t seem like anyone was worried about Jason getting too close, but suddenly he is, and they’re worried.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out tonight. It has to be either Jason or Syesha leaving tonight. The question is, if it’s Jason, will it be because of the show’s manipulations to get the final 2 they want after not having that since Carrie Underwood and Bo Ice

Photos Courtesy of americanidol.com

For more information on American Idol, see SirLinksalot: American Idol.