Four more down, and another quartet to go before American Idol‘s Top 12 finalists are named on March 11. (Yes, folks, only one more week remaining until we get our Thursday nights back — or start using some other TV show as an excuse for not leaving the couch.)
[Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD, west-coast Idoloonies!] In living proof that at this early, contestant-heavy point in the competition, it’s sometimes better to be abysmal than forgettable, voters approved a referendum to send home Michelle “half-gloves” Delamor, while sparing Lacey “0 for 2″ Brown. Still, a trio of scorched-earth vocalists — namely Haeley “personality, 10; singing, 3″ Vaughn, Jermaine “Jesus didn’t speed-dial!” Sellers, and John “he’ll always have Shania!” Park — also saw their dreams of music stardom go the way of Janay Castine. (“Who’s that?” you ask. Exactly.) As for Tim Urban, I’m guessing abs + hair bought him one more week of warbling. Also: Danny Gokey performed!
In any event, while I go to work on my full TV Watch recap — which will post early tomorrow morning on EW.com — why don’t y’all have at it in the comments section? And once you’re done, feel free to stick around for a repeat viewing of Idolatry (embedded below), then sign up to follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak, so you never miss out on my obsessive-compulsive reporting on all things Idol. Related: ‘American Idol’ recap: Women on the Verge
Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox
I actually think Lacey has more potential than Michelle. I was shocked that America gave her another chance, but she’s from Texas (big state), she had a great Hollywood moment, and she has redemption from getting axed last year over Megan “Caw Caw.” I think they got the girls right! And the guys, I suppose, too, though I’d prefer to lose Todrick or Tim over John. I would be fine with top 8 girls and top 4 boys this year — Todrick and Tim HAVE to go next week.
Lacey is terrible. She should have left last week instead of Ashley.
I don’t know… when I read that my first thought was, who’s Ashley?
Just say NO to forgetable contestants.
Ashley was also terrible.
Oh man, “who’s Ashley?” was my first thought too! ^o^ Maybe that’s why they’ve been getting the guys all wrong, the worst ones seem to be the most memorable.
These “singers” stink – here is a true singer :
yeah … so don’t remember Ashley … and Lacey should go. i was surprised she made it past the first week.
You are right on about Lacey. I think she has real potential and deserves her spot!
Who gives a crap! The Office was the best EVER!
u make no sence dont right back thanks
Jena — Hilarious! You made me laugh! At least one person here who realizes what a total turd American Idol really is. Jessica… “sence”? “right” … wow, buy a dictionary.
2 things genius- 1) if you don’t care why waste your time posting and 2) American Idol came on at 8 pm, the Office comes on a 9, so you could watch both shows. So you made no point to reference the Office as if American Idol somehow competed against the Office!
Stop dissin’ Lacey. She has an interesting voice. You don’t have to have a big showey voice to make it you know. Her voice is quite charming, not boring and forgetable like Michelle and some of the other “traditional” singers.
I agree – she just has to pick better songs. Kiss Me was better than Landslide (which, though agreat song, did not fit her personality – another Stevie Nicks song would have been better.)
I agree. Lacey has it, she just needs to calm down and do her thing. Her nerves get the best of her but I really like her unique voice.
I’m not sorry to see the others go. They were mediocre to bad, imo.
SO happy about Lacey. I am totally rooting for her to pick the right song next week to show people what she can do. She’ll probably get buried in the first half of the line-up, and the judges will probably criticize her no matter what.
completely agree!
Tim seems so sweet, but i definitely agree with Simon that the judges had it right the first time … he shouldn’t have come back, the guy can’t sing that well. And does anyone else think he looks a lot like Zac Efron …?
Except Simon may have helped him stay this time by claiming he was better this week ?!?!?!?! Thanks for nothing, Simon. Isn’t having two OTHER young, kind-of-clueless singers in Aaron & Alex enough for you (and us)? Tim definitely deserved to go before John. And no, I don’t think Tim looks like Zac Efron. *rollz eyez*
My 2 teenagers and I think that Tim Urban makes funny male-model faces like Ben Stiller in “Zoolander”!
My 12 year old daughter and all of her friends LOVE tim urban – think he is gonna be around for a while – sorry folks!! The young’ens love him!
Barf – Lacey sucks A$$
Todderick should have gone instead of Jermain any day! Also, would rather have Michelle than Lacey.
Toddrick puts a different spin on his songs, in spite of what the judges say. And I like that. We don’t need “safe” singers.
I actually liked Jermaine too. I think some people just really didn’t get his church-style singing. They do tend to oversing sometimes, but I get it because I grew up going to churches where this was common. I think what really worked against him was that people were turned off by him saying that God would see him through the competition and all that. I understand what he meant, but other people took offense. He wasn’t a bad singer, but I think the public was just turned off by him. He was great on ‘Sunday Best.’
Why? Why did the judges vote Lacey through. Are they having second thoughts about their choice OVER Angela?
Poor John, he was doomed by poor song choices. He does have a lovely voice.
Yeah, I felt bad. I think if he had been able to stay he would have been on for a few more weeks for sure.
Agreed. I do like his voice. I’m sad to see him go.
Also agreed. I’m really sad to see him go. Wish he’d chosen different songs.
It wasn’t just his song choices. He didn’t sing them very well, either.
He may have a lovely voice, but if you forget to bring the lovely voice to the competition, you are going to go home.
Hahaha spot on
also, the attractiveness just left the show. :< Oh well! I don't need to watch anymore
WHAT attractiveness just left the show? Your comment doesn’t make sense
Don’t blame it all on song choices. He doesn’t know what to do with his voice.
I know. His sing-out was better than his performance two nights ago.
What the heck is a “sing-out”? Do you have your own language like Randy and Alex?
I think she meant sign-off.
Well, they don’t have “sign offs” either? What show are you people watching?
Duh, “sing-out” is when the booted contestant takes the stage one last time singing their song of the week.
John was doomed because there weren’t enough callers who would vote for an Asian guy because there’s plenty of average white contestants still in the game. Let’s get real.
Oh, PLEASE! Playing the ASIAN card? Look this guy showed some potential early on but for the past two weeks he has given weak performances. The judges were frustrated and clearly viewers were frustrated. Race had nothing to do with this. he was one of the weakest links.
John really has a baritone voice and the tenors seem to be favored on this show.
Anybody notice that all the minorities are being picked off? Tim Urban sucks and keeps getting votes.
What does the Average White Band have to do with Idol, anyway?
I agree with Lee and kennycay. They just did a total minority sweep. And yall know Tim Urban is just getting by on his so-called good looks.
Has nothing to do with being Asian. He sang terribly. That’s why he is gone…
Etnicity has nothing to do with it: Big Mike is apparently a front-runner and already being crowned the early favorite guy by the judges.
i too am very sad about john. if only he picked better songs…eh! this year they most of them just seem to be missing the mark with song choices and seem to be trying way too hard. i still think john should be there more than todrick i butcher ever song i sing but still think i rock when i don’t hall. i wish he would just go away.
As sad as it is, John went earlier than he should just because he’s not really cute. That’s why Tim will still be around for another couple weeks.
I actually found John rather attractive! And he did have a very pleasant voice. I don’t think he had a shot at winning so I’m not too bummed out about his early exit, but I think there are guys who should have been on the chopping block before him.
But he was boring and stiff.
I bet Jermaine thinks he’s going to be resurrected back on the show on the third day.
Sorry babe, there’s only one Lazarus of Idol, and that’s Matt Giraud.
Awesome!
How long have you been waiting to use that
God was so busy trying to help Danny Gokey stay on key that he forgot to keep Jermaine in the competition. Onesie’s for all!
that was GOOD sublime1
hehehe, that gave me a good laugh!
And THAT sums it up…excellent Sublime!:)
hahahahaha
HAHA where’s the Facebook like button when you need it?
Danny Gokey singing made me fast forward the Tivo!
How much do I hate that ass Gokey!
Danny Gokey was awesome tonite. He was the only thing worth watching. All you Gokey-haters are just jealous that Gokey has a far superior album out than all the over-produced albums by Allen, Lambert and Iraheta. By the way, Gokey is the only one going on tour. Your fabulous Allen, Lambert and Iraheta have yet to sign a tour deal. LOL.
To the poster on top of me, why are you bringing up Adam Lambert’s name here. I thought we were talking about Season 9 not Season 8????
OMG. Gokey’s awful performance lasted 20 minutes and then he spoke for like 30 minutes. He is still pimping his dead wife also. It was like fingernails on a chalkboard. Don’t get what people see in him.
I thought Gokey was on speed. The after song banter with Ryan was almost manic. BTW, Paul, Gokey going on tour makes him way better than Allen, Lambert and Iraheta? I see the latter 3 on TV all the time but not Gokey. I’d say they win, he loses. And where is he touring, revival tents across southern America?
JB, Danny Gokey is touring with top-selling country act Sugarland. So good for him. He was awesome last night, reminded me of how nice it is when people sing on key.
Sublime, you’re an idiot.
LOL, sign Matt already!
Michael,
I think Lacey still has good will from her beautiful audition and What A Wonderful World Hollywood week song that was featured over the contestant montage. And she wasn’t that bad the last two weeks and has a really interestign tone. That’s what hooked me in to vote for her the last two weeks. I’m waiting for another moment from her like her earlier auditions and she seems really nice. I think she might be this year’s Haley Scarnato — a solid vocalist you made fun of who survived other favorites (i.e. Sabrina and Stephanie) right into the Top 10! Go Lacey!!
Oh Sabrina Sloan and Stephanie Edwards! Way to re-open my emotional wounds, TV Fan!
I love that you respond to us. Although I sometimes disagree with you, you are still my favorite EW staff writer.
I rarely respond on the message boards (even though I read ‘em pretty closely), but when you break out the Sabrina Sloan references, I cannot help myself!
Crazy what a difference a year can make. Def feel like Ricky Brady would be top 2 in guys this year and he didnt even make top 12 last year
Ricky Brady – now that opens up MY emotional wounds. He was so much better than any of the guys this year –
sabrina is touring with “in the heights”. i saw it a couple weeks ago and sabrina was AWESOME!! i know they say broadway is a joke, but it’s a job in entertainment and can be pretty lucrative. go sabrina!!
I feel your pain Michael. TV Fan you’re nuts she killed Stevie Nicks and not in a good way. I love that song and it was excrutiating to hear it butchered. I loved Stephanie she went too soon. Lacey and Haley Scarnato in the same sentence as Stephanie is like going into the Idol twilight zone. OMG, there’s Rod Serling! I haven’t seen him since the Tower of Terror and just like now the”cool” factor was replaced by a sinking feeling.
Why they say Broadway is a joke is wierd – those people get to do what they want for a living – something that a lot of us don’t always get to do.
Ummmm…I hate to tell you this, but it is not a good thing to be a “Haley Scarnato”. It basically says you are a person with marginal talent who just uses your good looks to get ahead evn though you don’t deserve it….
And then you get a drunken Michael Buble making leering remarks about you as well…
Oh yeah, drunk-ish Michael Buble was one of my highlights of that season. Awesome.
I hope she makes the top 12.
And gets axed as #11. Mwahaha…
I have a sad feeling Tim Urban will make the Top 10 at least, and just keep embarassing himself…BUT, at least he seems like a nice guy, not super-duper annoying like Matt Rogers or Michael Sarver or He Who Shall Not Be Named.
dont be rude!!
Voldemort?
Yes, the Voldemort of Idol. He who stayed way too long and killed many good songs. Sa……NO I won’t say it! He still haunts me!
check out Urban’s vampire teeth.
I am still LIVID that Tim Urban is still there. He is miserable. I’d rather John or Jermaine be here instead of him. Oh. well. Teenage girls with cell phones are the most underrated Idol voting demographic.
I knew he would make it to next week and maybe the week after, but swear to god if he makes it to the tour… I’ll cut a b****
LOL, Shana.
I think you meant misunderestimated.
You know Scowell’s gotta get out when he starts channeling a former president.
LOL!!
Tim Urban is their target on Vote for the Worst, that may be causing his winning streak?
Well, they lost their girl tonight so I wonder if they’ll pick Lacey to replace her.
Seriously, out of 27 million votes, the ‘vote for the worst’ voters don’t even make a dent. Tim stayed around because there were other guys that were worse than him. Tim’s got a good voice, great stage presence, and seems to have a very good fan base. I can definitely see him making it to the tour. We’ll just see.
@Dan, your comment didn’t give you any credibility. Tim has NO stage presence unless you equate deer-in-the-headlights looks at the camera as stage presence. He’s awful!!
never underestimate the tweens.
Make that WHITE teenage girls with cell phones.
oh Carrie, you stole my words…seriously can some1 plz vote Tim out? Jermaine has a unique style and he deserved one more chance at least and if Tim is here because of his looks only than i must say that John Park is way better looking than Tim.
Jermaine deserved to be taken out back of the theater and whupped for his performances and ‘tude.
If one is to be real…John Park is definitely gay-looking, so you might imagine that it would be a turn off to any young girls with wild and dreamy eyes for a cute male singer!
Amen, Amen Amen!!!
I’m sorry, maybe Tim shouldn’t have been in the top 24 in the first place, but that doesn’t negate the fact that he gave an enjoyable, current and in-tune performance on Tuesday that was better than at least five of the other guys’ performances. So he truly deserved to stay this week.
I’m sure Tim Urban is a great guy and all, but is he related to someone at 19? That’s the only way he would have been in the top 24 in the first place. As for DG, took him precisely one minute to mention his poor wife/and he seemed very hyper and scaring Ryan.
well he does have 9 siblings… multiply that by all of their friends
Have you seen his pecs and abs? He is a cutie and this week he wasn’t the worst despite the fact that he avoided the falsetto in his song. That, combined with his internet shirtless pics and VFTW behind him gets him into the Top 12. He should last over Todrick at least.
TOdrick at least can dance. I love dancing (semi) singers. tim has abs and that’s it. that last remark made me feel even more sad that janel had left (another dancer). she had such a potential and should have definitely show case herself more.
TU lowers the bar for everyone and makes AI even more of a laughing stock to serious musicians than it already is. He never should have set foot on that stage. I blame the producers for putting him ahead of actually talented singers purely on his puppydog looks. Yuck.
there is one every season. Is that you Ayla Brown?
Tim is still around because he’s cute and the people at votefortheworst.com are getting a lot of votes for him. He’s probably going to make the top ten.
If ‘vote for the worst’ is so effective, then Haeley would also still be around for next week. But, she’s not. Tim was way better than John and especially Jermaine and that’s why he is still here next week.
Oh. Give me a break. Tim is NOT better than John. John can sing circles around Tim.
John’s voice is better-developed, but Urban gave the better overall performance this week.
DG was on overdrive, made me feel all itchy, then invited himself on Ellen to dance?
I didn’t feel the love for him last season and I still don’t feel it now! I did see the Idol tour last year and he surprised me. Correct me if I am wrong…but last year during country week he made the comment that he didn’t know much in that genre. But last night he said it had a big influence in his life when he was growing up! What gives? Still not a fan!
Like he was on speed or something. And seeing him try to dance still gives me nightmares. That’s one Ellen show I won’t be watching or Tivo-ing. I remember saying he didn’t know much about country and when I heard his comment last night I thought “try to keep your lies straight, Gokey”.
Lacey should have gone home instead of Michelle. She sang poorly this week and last week.
Michelle deserved to go home for the evil sin of inflicting Creed upon us all. Also her weird “fashion sense.”
Who on earth is voting for Lacey??
Great question! Who indeed?!
Texas is indeed a very large state!
Anyone else think Michelle DeLamore is a perfect mix between Lisa Tucker and Jordin Sparks???
Not in vocals!!! Appearance only, I meant!
yup!! I think her outfits are better than her voice.. She’s got the look and if she had a killer voice like Jordin Sparks, she’d definitely be a front runner
I got 3 out of 4 right.. did not see Michelle coming. I guess being a mid-pack player is never a guarantee for the next week.
I think America got it right with the two girls. Haley was just in over her head. She mercifully is done. As for Michelle, I thought she butchered the song, and I think Kara was saving face for the judges by her “oh, after watching it again last night, it wasn’t good” routine.
And…I’m not crying conspiracy, but it’s kind of weird how (inadvertently, I hope!) all the contestants with ethnic backgrounds are getting voted off. John Park, Ashley Rodriguez, Jose Munoz, Michelle DeLamore, Jermaine Sellers, Haeley Vaughn…
And the 2 people who spoke another language in their packages – after Joe Munoz went home after giving a shoutout in Spanish, I knew John Park was a goner the second he started his package with “What most people don’t know about me is that English isn’t my first language.”
Way to go, Xenophobia Idol.
(And Alex Lambert’s “make up my own language from being awkward” doesn’t count…)
Oh well. Idol loves it some white pretty boys/girls.
listen there not prejudice they do it cause some people sing good but some dont an some are sometimes good when they have confidince but if u dont have it u wont last u just gotta understand honey!! its imature to right on here if u have nothing good to say so if u got nothing good to say dont say it at all ok hone!!
Katie Stevens is still there….
It’s funny you would say that, because I said the exact same thing last night. As soon as he spoke in Korean, I said to my son “He’s gone”. As soon as the other contestant spoke in spanish, he was gone, and now this guy. I was just saying it as a joke, but now I’m not so sure. You’ve definately got to play to the white bread middle class.
Jessica, you really don’t know a thing about how the world really works
Get real, Jessica. The minorities have a far harder chance at winning this competition than the whites. You had to be someone as awesome like Fantasia to win this competition. Whereas someone average like Taylor Hicks won it.
Word, HushCats!
How can you compare Katie Stevens to the others? She’s not an ethnic, you tool, she just says kiss me in a bunch of languages. Not the point that HushCats was making at all.
Fantasia was awesome? She’s a screaming mess. Don’t see how she ever won. I guess Ruben and Jordin don’t count as minorities in your view of the world, huh?
Paige, Big Mike and Todrick are still in so there goes that theory! Others voted out are not minorities: Janell Wheeler was total white bread and hot. Tyler also is not a minority. They just have a lot of diversity in this years Top 24 so it seems like you suggest, but it is not.
Are you stupid? They can only kick so many off at once, idiot. Guess you were never on a debate team with that logic.
TV FAN — come on, man!
You know one of those 3 will be in the bottom next week. Let’s be smart.
***eyeroll*** Yes, let’s lump people together using thier minority/majority/race status shall we? If I did that, I could say that people of minority sing poorly, and the white people sing better. Because I’m not a stupid racist, I would never draw that conclusion as you have just done in terms of the voting order. People are individuals and when they preform poorly, they are voted off. Period. I truly hope this is that last we hear of “the race card”.
You know, if somebody’s going to say “You’re playing the race card!” any time anybody brings up race in any context, it pretty much makes intelligent discussion impossible.
ITA, Rob. Get over it, Eoira(?).
I agree, Rob.
I think you’re being silly. Having said that if either Lacey or Tim remain around next week over say Andrew Garcia or Paige, yeah I’m gonna go with you on that.
I’m guessing all the Caucasians think your theory is silly, Saph. However, the judges did select most of the persons-of-color as cannon fodder. And lets be real, the weight lifter and school teacher are not going to win because they are both very pedestrian. So that leaves the “Straight Up” hispanic, and so far he has been a letdown. In the end, the best singers are part of the majority and there is nothing wrong with that. I just wish AI would select some minority contenders and not the (sometimes cringeworthy – Sellers!) also rans of the past couple of years.
Actually, my 12 year old (Caucasian) daughter made the same comment as Saphron tonight, that the Vote Out was all ethnic, just as I was thinking the same.
I too thought the same. Most of the ethnic contestants were used as cannon fodder. The top 12 is sadly, going to be another VERY white year.
I agree with you about this. It’s not so much the voters who don’t like ethnic contestants, it’s more that the producers/judges don’t put through many people of color who actually have a shot at winning. MS talked about this in one of his recaps earlier, that black men with looks, charm, and talent don’t get through to top 24 while those who will cause drama but can’t sing, do.
I think it is a combination of the viewers who connect with a fewer percentage of minority contestants and the producers trying to fix the game so they can get their winner that will be popular with white audiences and the teen generation and not another Fantasia or Ruben whose sales and popularity fizzled out. That’s why the judges bring up the whole issue of being current when anyone sings traditional R&B. They want a pop/rock/country(or “white” music) winner and they put bad minority candiates so the audience which is already less like likely to connect with minorities will vote them out. Hence, Haeley gets in over Angela martin and god knows how many other talented singers who didn’t even get past the first stage of the audition with the producers. And as bad as these contestants are, the Tim Urbans of the world get free passes for the next even with worse performances.
Reuban, Fantasia, Jordan, Jennifer, La Toya, Kimberley
No. What AI needs to do is hire more minority judges.
I totally agree with you, Janet. That’s probably why Simon was so intent on getting rid of Anoop last season when he was in the Top 6 because he knew Anoop wouldn’t have much of a successful recording career so why keep him in the game. I’m glad Simon is leaving after this season.
Ok. I’m a minority. I understand both sides — as in where Simon is coming from and where most minority singers are coming from. Let’s be real here. Contestants like Anoop may not have had the most successful recording career. And I know these judges are hard pressed on finding someone who is marketable — makes sense. But we ALL know that Jermaine Purefoy for example, should have been put in over Jermaine Sellers. Sellers clearly was added to put some drama in the show. Purefoy, IMO, was a threat to whatever establishment they already had in mind for season 9. And it’s not that minorities don’t connect with their audience — granted AI has a large white fan base, but if someone — judges, producers, etc.– only cared enough to invest in someone who may not be the “standard” but clearly had a gift, they could go very far. Keep in mind, some, if not the majority of the most successful recording artist of all time are minorities. I don’t understand why the judges and producers ignore this fact. In my book, just because Ruben and Fantasia weren’t as great as Kelly or Carrie doesn’t mean a thing.
WHAT???? Are you forgetting Fantasia??? Ruben???
People, stop playing the race card. It is ridiculous. Nonsense. ugh! So annoying!
perhaps the demographic that watches the show — are not minorities? There has been no male asian in the top 12 but john park unfortunately did not help his situation with his choice of song. Joe should not have gone, neither should have michelle or ashley so that is just wrong
Wasn’t Anoop Desai in the Top 12 last season?
Also has to do with the way the people are presented. The judges BIAS minds. If they hated Aaron Kelly or whatever his name is, the voters wouldn’t have supported him either. He already has the advantage of being a young, white, cute 16-year old male, but the fact that the judges heap praises on him all in all helps keep him around. I went back and re-watched Andrew Garcia’s performance (Andrew is actually Filipino not Hispanic, I believe) and it was not that bad. But the judges made it sound like he was terrible! And Andrew is amazing. But the judges bias…hence bottom two…
But Tyler and Janelle got voted off last week, so how does THAT fit into your conspiracy “Theri”?
Since there are typically more Caucasian contestants than minorities in the Top 24, then yes, it’s statistically possible for Caucasian contestants to be voted off while a large percentage of the minority contestants are also voted off. I’m not sure how Tyler and Janelle being voted off makes John, Joe, Haeley, Jermaine, Ashley, etc. not a relevant issue.
Glad that Jermaine, Michelle and Haeley have gone home. Too bad about John – would have seen Todrick or Tim – absolutely! instead.
I concur.
I totally called all four. Sorry, but Tim Urban was at least better than the two people who were voted off tonight. Not saying he’s good, he’s just better than them. In that regard, he deserved to stay.
I agree.
I disagree. John was better than Tim. Far better. John has a much wider range than Tim.