Who Went Home on AMERICAN IDOL?

Guys, I’m starting to get really nervous.  We are at the Top 10 and this season is still a complete snoozefest. Even the best contestants are still giving us the status quo.  Their status quo might be pretty good, but it’s all a bit too predictable for my taste. It’s not good.

The most exciting part of the entire season to date (other than Andrew Garcia’s “Straight Up” during H-Week…did you know he sang that? Have the judges mentioned it?) was the shocking elimination of Lilly Scott, Alex Lambert and Kately Epperly.  That’s pretty sad.

Last night we said goodbye to one more contestant, but it’s all who we thought it would be so no news there. Oh, how I must get over my cynicism.

Now I know I’m going to get batted around for saying this, but it must be said. What message are we trying to send these IDOL wannabes when the worst of the group (Tim Urban) is still much better than the special musical guests that they have on the show every week?

I’m sorry, I think Joe Jonas is adorable too, but he does NOT have better vocals than anyone in the IDOL Top 10…and yes, that includes the aforementioned Mr. Urban.  It’s just the truth.  Joe Jonas, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus did not become the stars they are today because they were crazy-talented singers that the record companies were tripping over themselves to find.  They were gimmicks.  Miley and Demi were Disney stars who turned out records for tweens.  The Jonas Brothers were seen as the second coming of Hanson – three cute brothers were played together in a band – and they were signed as such.  Disney got their grips on The Jonas Brothers too…just a little later.

I’m not knocking fans of Lovato, Jonas or Cyrus.  Hell, I’ve been known to throw my hands up when they’re playing my song.  I might even have nodded my head like ‘yeah’, and moved my hips like ‘yeah’. I’m not saying their music isn’t appealing. As long as their music is appreciated by their fans then they are worth the accolades.  But to trot them out on stage during a singing competition was a bit ridiculous.

The music industry has been serving up these teen stars non-stop as of late yet we are all shocked when Tim Urban makes it through week after week.  The bar has been lowered and it’s not Tim’s fault.  The teens voting for IDOL aren’t voting just on vocal abilities, they are voting on the entire package.  But can we blame them? It’s what the music industry is telling them is important. Hell, it’s the very reason Tim Urban made it through Hollywood Week and on the very stage that the judges secretly wish he would be booted from.

But it wasn’t Tim that was booted last night (although he was once again in the bottom two). It was Paige Miles who went home.  She never lived up to Simon’s hype, and since the producers never let us see her during Hollywood Week, all the voting audience had to go one was Simon’s strong praise of her potential.

So farewell dear Paige.

Will Tim be next?  I’m guessing he might pull out the big guns again next week and save himself another week which leaves Andrew Garcia very, very vulnerable.

Was Paige the right contestant to go home this week?  Based on the Top 10 remaining, would you be willing to go see the AMERICAN IDOL tour this summer? Share your thoughts below.

(Note: Since I”m traveling for work and was without internet access until this morning, I wasn’t able to post Erik’s review of the IDOL Top 11 performances.  So please go check it out and share the GMMR love in the comments.)