We Have a Top 13!?

[The4thJudge]

Tight Black T

You read that right people, it's a Top 13 this year. And in my best Ryan Seacrest voice, America, here's your Season 8 Top 13:

Danny Gokey, Michael Sarver, Alexis Grace, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nunez, Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkery, Matt Giraud, and Anoop Desai.

So was a 13th finalist the big twist that was talked about earlier this year? Apparently not. According to American Idol Producer Ken Warwick:

Quote:“There is a big surprise coming. You’ll never guess what it is, but it’s something that rears its head every season and it’s huge.”

There is a great deal of speculation over what this could be. One theory is that the judges will continue to have a greater hand in deciding the outcome. For example, when a good person gets voted off before a bad one, the judges could bring the good person back. Another piece of speculation is that the bottom three will sing for their lives with the judges choosing who gets to stay, a la Simon's show X Factor. There is also rumor that two contestants will be eliminated during one week. Paula apparently said on a radio show on Friday that the double elimination would happen in the first week. But the LA Times is reporting that Ryan will explain how the double elimination with work in the first week.

So, what do you think about the judges possibly having more control over the final outcome? The 5th Judge would love to know.

So, onto next Tuesday where Kelly Clarkson and Kanye West will be the musical guests and the contestants will take on the music of Michael Jackson. Should be an interesting night.

[TF940]

Really? Michael Jackson? After sooo many times of the judges telling people who chose Jackson's songs that they really shouldn't try to do the songs of such an iconic singer? Can't they for once, just once, be consistent?

I've already said here at home that this year it's not about who America wants. It's about who the judges want. Look at how they divided up the 36 - they made sure to separate their faves and not have more than two or three in the same group.

It's been obvious to me since Taylor - actually since Reuben Studdard - that America had a much different opinion than the show's producers on who was the deserving winner. So, it isn't surprising to me that the show would try to change things a bit to try to get a winner more along the lines of their wants. Having the bottom three sing for the judges and the judges then deciding on who goes home is one small way they can have SOME control over it - so that would not surprise me one bit.

Interesting year, indeed.

~V