3. Danny Gokey: (Last week: No. 4) The fact that he survived a Rock Week performance that curdled like rancid milk in a bowl proved his fan base is big and loyal. Not only that, but the judges continue to coddle him with "A for Effort" critiques that betray their commitment at all cost to a pre-ordained Adam-Danny finale. That said, dude has only had one positive breakout moment all season ("Come Rain or Come Shine"), and if he doesn’t deliver stellar vocals on both his songs this week, it’s possible voters will flash back to his "fingers-in-a-blender " yelp on "Dream On" and send him packing.
2. Kris Allen: (Last week: No. 3) It’s a good bet that the judges are getting ready to put the season 8 heartthrob in the stocks and pelt him with rocks on Tuesday night, no matter how well he sings. After all, his "Come Together" was inventive and strongly sung — arguably Rock Night’s most unique vocal — and they refused to give him proper credit. Kris needs a jaw-dropping moment on Tuesday — might we suggest ditching the band and going a capella or acoustic-only? — if he wants to crack the top two. But seeing how he’s stopped the show before ("Falling Slowly" and "She Works Hard for the Money" spring immediately to mind) that’s a totally plausible scenario.
1. Adam Lambert: (Last week: No. 1) There seem to be only two things that could stop Glambert’s march to the finale: voter complacency or a disastrous vocal on Tuesday. But seeing how Adam graced the bottom two only two weeks ago, it’s unfathomable that his fan base isn’t still in panicky speed-dial mode. And as for the latter scenario, that seems unlikely, too, seeing how Adam has barely missed a note in 10 consecutive live performances. At this point, Adam seems to be transitioning out of competition mode and treating the Idol stage like it’s his own weekly concert venue, which reminds us a little of David Cook’s season 7 trajectory. And we all know how that worked out for Mr. Cook…
More on ‘American Idol’
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EW Cover Story: Adam Lambert: Shaking Up ‘Idol’
‘American Idol’ recap: Crime-Scream Investigation
‘American Idol’ recap: Go Fourth and Prosper!
‘American Idol’: On the scene for Top 4 performance night…and chaos
Paula Abdul remakes, improves on Kylie’s ‘Here for the Music’
‘American Idol’ Power List: Vote for your favorite from season 8’s Top 4!
‘American Idol’: 15 Theme Nights We’d Kill to See!
EW.com’s ‘American Idol’ HQ
EW.com’s Idol Prediction Challenge: Who’s going home this week?
Comments (1-30) of 408 Add your comment
We must rally and vote for ADAM!
Hopefully, an Adam/Kris finale will prevail. After seeing the video of Gokey attempting to sing Billie Jean at his hometown show ( seriously? Who gets on stage to sing a song they do not know the words to AT ALL? ), I can’t even fathom how his fans can even think he belongs in the finale.
Adam is AMAZING@! He is going to win American Idol!
WRONG TIME TO SPLIT VOTE
LIGHT UP YOUR CANDLE – ADAM IS READY
VOTE FOR ADAM
VOTE FOR ADAM
VOTE FOR ADAM
We simply cannot have a fagenstein as the American Idol. That would be unpure.
The vote will be split this week, catapulting the talentless wonder Gokey in the finals
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/05/11/tv-tonight-monday-may-11th-2009/
It is time for Danny in the Dumpster. Time to take out the trash!
The summary you gave of each contestant only highlights why Adam is the only one left who really deserves to win this thing. You’re right, Danny has only had one amazing vocal to justify all the “hype”. But even Kris, in his “showstopping performances” that you mention is not really very memorable. Falling Slowly was original only because it was an unexpected song choice, not for the vocals (the original is much better, and Kris was pitchy and wonky throughout). And “She Works Hard” was inventive, but other than the bongo drums, I can hardly remember how that one sounded. Plus, as your Kris strategy suggests, he’s really only great at one thing: accoustic, understated performances, sitting still on the stage.
Adam is the only one to consistently grab the stage and fully command it.
It is time for Danny in the Dumpster. Time to take out the trash!
I personally believe that there is a clinical parallel between Danny Gokey remaining in the competition and the rate of crack use in the U.S. I’m holding out dim, flickering, nearly blown over in his note from Dream On that it will be an Adam/Kris finale.
If it’s an Adam/Danny final, I won’t be watching it. It will be hands down, the worst Idol final in all 8 seasons. A high pitched screamer and a screamer – who wants to watch that?? It’ll just be hours of seeing who can outscream the other. I’m tired of the judges not giving Kris the props that he deserves. He is a true artist and musician. Yeah, so what if teenage girls are voting for him because he’s cute?? At least he’s got the MAJOR talent to back up his good looks!
Danny Gokey is dull and has the voice like fingernails on a chalkboard. The winner should be…KRIS ALLEN! But, the show is rigged, of course, and the judges (particularly Simon) won’t give in to anyone’s wishes but their own and have already pre-ordained Danny and Adam as the final two. It is more obviously fixed this year than in the past because Gokey cannot sing and has become a robot. Do they think the public really believes that America’s votes are truly counted? HA HA. No ones votes are counted except Simon’s.
It has to be an Adam and Kris Final. If Danny gets there it will be so boring as Adam will easily win. Maybe thats what producers want? I wont be watching.
When Adam laughed out loud after his “Born to be Wild” performance, I knew that he was singing to the record companies rather than to the judges. He is brilliant in his intellect as well as his talent.
If the purpose of AI is to find the next big recording artist, Kris is IT.
If Adam hasn’t done enough to win American Idol, I feel for any future contestant. He has written “How to Win American Idol for Dummies” If he doesn’t win in the end, people are definitely not voting on what this competition is supposed to be about…true singing talent!
Danny: Sings in the key of “suck major”!
I really don’t care if Adam wins. If he wins, I will be happy. Heck, I WANT him to win. But Kris MUST be in the finale because a)the judges continue to push the Danny/Adam finale on us through the media (Randy on Today, anyone?) and b)Danny Gokey is just NOT. GOOD.
Kradam FTW!
I have been so impressed with Adam’s extraordinary talent and sweet yet confident personality. I think he will make an American Idol we can all be proud of.
Who would I see in a large concert hall? Adam and Allison. Allison would rock the joint. Adam live would be a fun spectacle – I imagine creative sets and costumes.
Who would I see in a small venue?
Chris and Matt. Chris is personable and puts everything into his music. Matt would bring a smile to everyone within proximity. He truly loves music.
Whose album would I purchase?
Allison and maybe Danny. Chris’ music bores me, Danny sounds pretty good if you close your eyes.
I love EW because I can click on here and comfortably know that the people are on my side (avid Adam fan)… I do think this is one of the only sites where people don’t love Danny NOkey!! I don’t get it but people really seem to love him despite his mediocre and limited talent, oh and his sucky attitude. Why? It just baffles me. Is it because he slapped the word christian on his forehead? I find him smug and the way he claps for himself, UGH!!!! Slezak, I loved your Idolatry yesterday! Your opinions about Danny NOkey and the judges were right on!! ADAM FTW, PLEASE!!!!!!!
Let’s just say for a moment that the three are equal in vocals and delivery. Now, picture watching the three contenders on TV on MUTE. . . Who has stage presence? Who commands the stage? Who catches your eyes and attention? Who got the right moves? Who do you think will sell out concerts? Who do you think people will go buy tickets to watch? Who has magnetism even it’s on MUTE? Who has sex appeal? Who would you clap your hands for after? . . . REMEMBER, I said let’s presume they’re equal in singing and it’s on MUTE! . . . There’s only one answer: ADAM!!! Now I don’t have to get into their singing talents. Because there’s no question: it’s ADAM. The most downloaded contestant on iTUNES. It’s ADAM who has 6.1 million hits last month according to GOOGLE. While all the rest of the contenders, already combined only have half a million hits. . . FACTS don’t LIE.
I don’t even know if I will be able to watch on Tuesday night because I know what the judges are planning on doing to Kris, and last week already filled me with so much rage that I wanted to rip off my arm. I don’t think I can handle another week of Danny-coddling and Kris-bashing.
Kris deserves to be in the finale with Adam. We’ve already seen Allison sent home prematurely because of the judges failure to acknowledge how great of a singer she is. The fact that she was outlasted by Danny and his destruction of “Dream On” is preposterous. I don’t think I will ever understand what people see in Danny Gokey, or why the judges want him to be in the finale so badly. Kristen Baldwin was right in the latest Idolatry video: last week, Danny sounded like he was one of the tone-deaf people in the audition round who thinks he has a really good voice because his family has always told him so, but they actually know he’s terrible and they just feel bad for him.
While this isn’t meant as a dis to Danny and Chris, this season is all about Adam.
Dude’s got a superstar persona that reminds me in an odd way of Freddie Mercury. He’s eccentric, got a sexy vibe, and has seemed unstoppable for the last few weeks. It’s as if he’s in a totally different league than everyone else. That kind of stage presence is pop music gold if backed by the appropriate band.
IMHO, Adam’s got the potential to be a real superstar and one of the most successful Idols of all time, even if he loses.
The model for success is already there. Chris Daughtry didn’t win, but people love his music a lot more than they do Taylor “I won, but my record label dropped me because my first album tanked” Hicks.
Gokey can easily become a superstar in the Christian rock and gospel scenes if he doesn’t go the soul route.
Chris has the looks to become adored by the same tweens that made Boy bands popular.
A good season overall. I’m sad it’s almost over.
I Think kriss is the best singer I ever seen and god willing he will win,,,LOVE you Kriss
Something is wrong with your website. Everywhere it’s supposed to say Allison, it says Danny. Who spell checked this thing!?!? Ok, on a serious note, I LOVE Kris! Adam does nothing for me but really, that’s good for him. I’m in different. Danny, ugh, on the other hand, makes me wish to be temporarily struck deaf. Sorry, Luke, TAR.
Right at the very start of the final elimination rounds, I’ve been rooting for Adam-Kris-Allison TOP THREE. Even if Allison didn’t make it, I still feel triumphant because it is so obvious that my final three choice really made it to the top.
Minus Allison, there’s no way I would accept a set of final two other than Kris & Adam as I really see a good competition between the two.
Danny has a nice voice but I honestly get bored after thirty seconds. I strongly believe that he’ll do well singing gospel songs and cool ring tones.
It just seems to me that Americans are, in general, not very bright. Hmm, considering you guys had Bush twice, I think that my statement would be valid. So the fact that so many of you are still backing that idiot, Gokey, I suppose is not surprising while Adam’s talent is so blatantly clear, it is blinding. Here’s me, a South African, desperately hoping that somehow the Americans will prove me wrong.
Adam has the best voice imo.
I am hoping that Kris wins. He is great and could use the help of the idol machine. Adam will be successful, even if he doesn’t win. Actually, it would be better for him, then he could do his own thing and not be told what music to put on his first CD. Go Kris!