Caterwauling and Conspiracies

So last night we had the Top 4 having to perform one of the lamest themes I've seen in a long time... California Dreaming and "What I Wish I Wrote". Gotta love how Idol is trying to remain relevant. They need to be hoping that The Voice never decides to go directly opposite them.

The boys' duet was better than last weeks while the girls' one was one of the worst I've heard so far this year. Seriously, Hollie has no real lower register and something should have been done to help accommodate her as well as being beneficial to Little Miss SUTA. 

In preparation for tonight, my gal in Chicago and I upgraded our SUTA preventative Blast Shields. Not sure what the stats on hers was (I do know it is made of tungsten) but my diamond one has 255/255 attack/defense numbers (yeah, so? I'm a geeky gamer. Oh bite me!) and seemed to hold up fairly well. I just hope it lasts the rest of the season because this is getting expensive replacing the rear guard every week!

This week we had all on both Maps with multiple wins and losses. The Chart only had one in GREEN and yet again they aren't listing a B3. Might simply be because we're been in B2 territory though. We also need to remember that just because there's a GREEN listing, doesn't mean they're safe. My hope is that DI is wrong like they were last week.

Styx Pick this week is:

Phillip: Yep, he's back in my good graces this week.Definitely a decent week for him. Not sure if he's decided he wants to be in it to win it, or if he's simply feeling better this week than the previous ones. He reminds me a bit of Bo in a way, with the way he's been trying to fight to get through this show even though he's seriously ill (gotta love a guy with a good work ethic!). It takes alotta guts to be that sick and still attempt to make your commitments. His first choice this week was kinda safe and predictable but well done. No guitar and actually wore a small punch of color (WHOOT!! BLUE!). His second choice was one I didn't know right off and had to look it up. Thank goodness for the spoilers and having an idea as to which one he most likely would choose! The second selection was a very good choice but I have to question picking a song that is so subdued this late in the game. It would have been better if he'd had the pimp spot this week, for sure. To be honest, I doubt he'll see it at all the rest of his stay. He got a minor amount of SUTA from the judges after his second song. Yeah, I know, I was shocked too. The Chart placed him in 3rd with a 2-4 rating while the Maps show him with a 10 win, 3 loss total of 7 for the week. His odds slid quite a bit this week but saw a small gain coming into the show this week. I seriously think he's just sick and tired of being sick and tired ... and it's showing. A first place singing spot doesn't help him this week. Conspiracy theorists noticed something a couple days ago too that may just be working against him, although Nigel has tweeted (and I quote) "What disgusting lies!! Utter crap." (he actually had that in all caps). I'll post the link later in this entry because I don't wanna spoil the graphic I have. In any case, it won't be too much of a shock if Phillip gets tossed to the curb. Might actually be better for him considering how ill he is. 

The rest of the pack:

Hollie: First song was definitely NOT suited for her voice. They certainly should have bumped it up a couple keys (or an octave) for her, but ohhhh no. Made her sing it in the high tenor it was written (her lower register). Oh wait, that's right , she doesn't HAVE a lower register. This song was pure barfola. The duet with the SUTA princess wasn't much better. Then there was that "interpretation" of the Bonnie Raitt song. She obviously not only doesn't have a lower register but doesn't have a have a volume softer than a mezzo-forte  either. The beginning of that song needed to be much softer and not tromped all over like that. The bump and screech you heard during the judges' reviews? That was the three Stooges tossing her under the bus and said bus squealing in reverse to hit her again, repeatedly. Oh... and Jenn? "For me, for you" is the Dawg's line so would you please lay off the spiked Milk Bones. Kthx. Her odds sky-rocketed last week but had a slight dip by the time the show came around. The Maps showed her with a 12 win, 2 loss  for a total of 10 for the week. This, of course, seems to mean nothing this season as we saw her in the B2 last week even with the same amount of state win (really unheard of, trust me). She's on the Chart with a 2nd place listing and a 2-4 rating. Will it surprise me if she's in the bottom again? Not really, she's been vacationing there since Elise left.

Joshua: Meh and Meh. Although I will admit that his second choice was definitely a good pick for his voice.   I'm tired of him and am more than ready to see him sent packing. Surely, I'm not the only one sick of having him crammed down my throat, yes? Ugh and what was up with those "I'm not worthy" bows from J-Lo? Oh puh-LEEZ woman, get a grip. Naturally, with two songs meant a double blast of SUTA for him. Bah! His odds went way up this week, but peaked early and started a downward slide by the last half of the weekend. The Chart rated him with a 2-4 and listed him in LAST place. On the Maps, he saw a 5 win and 7 loss for a total of -2 this week. Will this make a difference? More than likely not because his figures have been shit for the last 2 weeks, but the judges just lurve him (and I'm pretty sure the producers have the hots for him too). 

Jessica: At this point, it's really a toss up as to which one of  these Js I want to go home first. I'm actually leaning towards keeping Joshua for another week just so we can get rid of little Miss Screechy Catinheat. Seriously, if I took a shot for every SUTA blast, "she's so young" yadda yadda comment this one receives, I'd be face down in the gutter within 10 seconds (or less, I'm a light-weight). Chicago's comment for Jess's first song: "oh yeah, this song is appropriate for a 16 year old" (*shot*). My response? "Well, at least she ain't dressed like some hootchie mama!" "This week" and "for a change" were totally implied, just so you know.

Example of HM apparel A

Example of HM apparel B

'Nuff said. As for her second song, she's NO JHud. Once a song's been DONE, it needs to be retired. Period. Oh hell, she's no Lakisha or even a Bianca Ryan for that matter (and the latter was only 11 at the time). Odd how JLo blasted the SUTA but failed to do the "I'm Not Worthy" bowing like she did with Joshua. Jessica's the only one in GREEN this week with a first place listing. However, we see what that got Skylar last week. Just sayin'. Her odds did the major increase and then falling by the end of the weekend also. The Maps have her with a 5 win, 4 loss for a 1 total for the week. In the pimp spot, I really don't forsee her leaving the competition yet, but as Season #4 showed us, the pimp spot doesn't always keep you safe (that's when Anthony Federov got booted, and James Durbin for that matter).

Now for some conspiracy theory before we wrap up. A very sharp eyed blogger noticed something odd regarding the Twitter page for American Idol.  There's the customary cast photo there, which is no real surprise, as they do it every year. However, there seems to be something odd in the way they're positioned in the photo. Please remember that this was up just after Erika cut and colored her hair but before the Top 10 performed. Notice anything strange? Yeah... they seem to be being eliminated in order from right to left. Some are saying that this tells us that the producers are wanting Phillip gone for sure and that they're setting it up for a Joshua/ Hollie finale. It also shows that Phillip is more than likely the one to get voted off tonight. Nigel professes that this conspiracy theory is not true. But you gotta find it odd.

hmmmm something's fishy

Another conspiracy tends to go towards the singing order being able to predict who will be leaving no matter HOW they perform. In the last 10 years, we've only seen the one (and a half, it'll get explained in a second) leave after singing in the pimp spot. Of the 10 that have been oustered at the Top 4, 70% of them sang either in 1st or 2nd for the night with the 2nd singing position being the most likely to be booted with the 1st singing spot just barely behind it. The only odd one of the 70% being last year's James Durbin who sang in both the 1st and the last spots for the night (which means that maybe I should call it 65% and not 70%). Daughtry, who sang in 2nd position and was considered the winner apparent for the whole season, got voted out on the Top 4 week. If this holds up, then either Phillip or Hollie will be leaving the show tonight.

So who leaves tonight? It could be anyone, really. No one should really surprise us at this point, especially when certain figures are so damned close.

B2 according to the:

Maps: Joshua and Jessica with Joshua gone
Chart: Phillip and Joshua with Joshua gone
Poll @ Rickey's: Hollie and Phillip with Hollie gone
Poll at MJ's: Phillip and Hollie with Hollie gone
Pinnacle ("Vegas"): Hollie and Joshua with Hollie gone

Remember that last week, Skylar's name was barely mentioned AND she was in the GREEN yet she got the heave-ho. All's fairly quiet on the Jessica front and she's in GREEN.  By all rights (singing position, awful performances, and the resulting panning by the judges) it should be Hollie getting the walking papers. Will Styxie get lucky this week? Will we lose a J instead? Please??????????