New URL for the American Idol buzz blog!
Please go to the new American Idol Buzz blog at http://blogs.ajc.com/american-idol-blog/
Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2006 > May > 17
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
5/17: Elliott goes home
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Thank goodness most of the hour was fluff as always so I could watch almost the entire final hour of “Amazing Race” including the winner. (Go hippies!)
At 9:56 p.m., they show the vote percentages for the first time because they were so close. 33.06%, 33.26% and 33.68%. “It doesn’t get any closer than that,” said Ryan. (Well, that’s not true!)
He shows the 33.06% and it’s… Elliott Yamin! I got that one right so I’m 6 out of 10 picking who gets voted off and 19 out of 25 overall among all those in the bottom. They didn’t say whether Kat or Taylor had more votes but we can guess Taylor.
I went back a year to read my blog item when Vonzell was voted off. That night, there were 37 million votes tallied. That’s a 30% increase! Wow!
Brace yourself for crapfest 2006 next Tuesday if past years are any indication because Taylor and Kat will be forced to sing (gulp!) originals commissioned by “American Idol.” Last year, poor Bo and Carrie had to sing “Inside Your Heaven.” Can it get any worse than THAT?
5/17: Nigel comments
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nigel Lythgoe, co-executive producer, said 50 million-plus votes last night, a record for a non-final night. He predicts, like everyone else, that Taylor sealed the deal for the final two tonight. Also, TV Guide, which has Idol on the cover, revealed that Elliott has gotten 200-plus offers from dentists to fix his teeth for free and he will take them up on it.
You can listen to his comments (here)[www.tvweek.com/executiveBriefing.cms]. He reveals nothing about the finals night but says each will sing a song tonight from the album, to pimp the CD, of course. Here are his takes on the song performances:
Elliott’s “Open Arms�: “It was the Clive Davis choice. It thought it was okay. For me to be quite frank. I’m not a huge lover of the song. It stays along the same notes. But he sounded brilliantly. I love his voice.�
Kat’s “I Believe I Can Fly”: “I loved the first part of it. She went overboard with the second part. She held it together. She does go where others fear to tread. She just held onto it for me.”
Taylor’s “Dancing in the Dark”: “Great song, good for his voice. I was sitting next to Rod Stewart last night. We watched it on television. He applauded him, said he sounded great.â€?
Elliott’s “What I Wouldn’t Do For Loveâ€?: “It’s a great song but it doesn’t go anywhere, one cool vibe. Reminds me of an Al Jarreau song. But it didn’t impress me. Elliott needed to impress last night.”
Kat’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbowâ€? “It was one of those Idol moments of the series. When we come to choose the greatest moments of the series, that will be one of them. I remember Eva Cassidy who sang this song beautifully. I like the way she sat on the stage like Judy Garland. I loved the way she sang the verse of it. We don’t often hear the verse… It was beautiful. You could hear a pin drop in the studio when she sang that.â€?
Taylor’s “You are So Beautifulâ€?: “I thought Dancing in the Dark was better. He had angry face on. Like telling women you’re beautiful with angry face. But it showed what a great voice he has.â€?
Elliott’s “I Believe to my Soul”: “He has a great voice. He did a good performance last night. It isn’t a song I would have chosen. You should pick a song the public has known and put you up to your best.â€?
Kat’s “I’ve Got Nothing But the Blues: “She had the right to steal the evening. She threw it away with this song.”
Taylor’s “Try a Little Tenderness”: “It allowed him to start gently, then put that Taylor soul in it.”
Overall, Taylor came through with three great performances. Highlight was Dancing with the Dark.
Katharine just got away with the first, a brilliant second, didn’t really like the third. But stole the evening for me with Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Elliott with three great grooves and vibes and was probably the best singer of the night. I’m not sure the choices were right to get him through. Or if Kat let herself in the end. I suggest Taylor will be in the final. And there’s anybody’s choice for the other two.
I can tell you absolutely nothing about the finale. We got over 50 million calls last night. A record for a nonfinal. I expect the finale will be in the same area.
Tonight’s show: will hear three songs from the album. The rest of it will be pretty sad. Somebody is so close to the ifnishign line. They didn’t stick their chest out like a sprinter. It’s tough.
5/17: Elliott (gasp!) smokes!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Funny column from Elliott’s hometown paper about how some fans of Elliott were angry at the paper for spying Elliott with a cigarette and that would somehow besmirch him in some way among voters. Not sure how but here’s the column.
Oh, and he has a (gasp!) girlfriend, too.
5/17: Idol tour presale on
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This from the Gwinnett Arena press office:
American Idols LIVE is going on-sale!
The Arena at Gwinnett Center and AEG Live are proud to announce that the American Idols Live Tour 2006 has been added to our summer lineup.
Pop Tarts presents American Idols Live Tour 2006 will be playing at the Arena on Thursday, August 3rd at 7pm. Tickets go on sale to the general public via Ticketmaster on Saturday, May 20th at 10am.
As a Gwinnett Insider you have a special opportunity to purchase your tickets before the general public on-sale. A limited number of select seats have been made available for a Gwinnett Center “INSIDERS” pre-sale! This ONE day only pre-sale for Insiders starts at 10am on Friday, May 19th and ends at 10pm the same day. Ticket prices start at $38.50.
All you have to do is click here during the pre-sale and enter the password american and you can purchase your tickets. Remember there are a limited number of select seats that have been made available for this one day pre-sale and there is a maximum of 8 tickets per order, so mark your calendar and good luck.
