» The Grassy Knoll: Conspiracy Theories (SPOILERS) Options

[TWoP Bayliss]

Hey, guys. I added "(SPOILER)" to the thread title, in case it wasn't obvious. There's no change to the rules or what you guys have been doing -- it's just because some users have been confused about what's allowed in this thread.

(It also means that we don't need any spoiler tags in this thread, obviously.)

[Idolator26]

two craptastic videos of Nigel Lythgoe singing and dancing back in the day.

I'm......speechless. And that never happens.

It's Cinco de Mayo--I have to have some tequila around here. And I hate tequila. I just need some. Now.

[calico]

The real race right now is between Syesha and Jason. Jason logically should win that battle but Syesha's fanbase is such an unknown that she may end up making it to 3rd over him.

Anyone remember who went out fourth in S3? This was the only season that didn't have a 2:1 gender split in the F3 (with one of the "2" going on to win). If it was LaToya, then they couldn't have gotten their golden ratio in any case. Since that seems to be the preferred grouping, good news for Syesha perhaps. At the same time, a F3 trip home for Jason seems the least they can do to make up for last week (and I think if he gets the boot it stirs up the hornet's nest all over again). I think Archuletta's in trouble.

[aeb]

Also if they are going to allow a change up of the coronation song this year that totally means David Cook is going to the finale.

ITA. Last year was a debacle (although I'm not sure Blake could have done ANYTHING to save that horrible song with his particular vocal repertoire). I'm also in the camp that thinks they seriously don't want to lose either David, hence Randy's comment last week that David A is "the one to beat."

[GoldenWoman]

I am actually feeling the opposite about Archuletta this week. I think this week he will have a breakout performance. The judges will then talk about how this week was all about David Cook but Archuletta nailed it and that's why he's so awesome. By calling it rock and roll hall of fame theme night it lends itself to be perfect for David C. That to me hurts Cook but helps the others if they have a good night.

ETA: By giving Cook blech comments it scares the crap out of his fanbase.

This post has been edited by GoldenWoman: May 5, 2008 @ 4:50 pm.

[RFuller42]

Cook is kind of in a weird position. Since this is "rock" week and it's right up his alley, any re-arranging he does might come off as him being...I don't think arrogant is the right word. But the perception could be, why would he re-arrange a perfectly good rock song? He's just doing it to be smug. I've never seen him as smug, but I'm already pulling for him to win, so he doesn't need to impress me anymore.

However, if he comes out and sings something straight, then he fails on his whole hook of being really daring and original. I suppose he could pick a really-out-there song for him - like an Aretha song - and do something cool with it. I'm really excited to see what they all come up with tomorrow.

Does anyone know, are rehearsals held on the same day as the live performance or the night before? I thought the same day, but others have suggested that they are tonight.

[howmanywords]

ITA. Last year was a debacle (although I'm not sure Blake could have done ANYTHING to save that horrible song with his particular vocal repertoire). I'm also in the camp that thinks they seriously don't want to lose either David, hence Randy's comment last week that David A is "the one to beat."

Yep. And for all that's said about shock boots, sometimes they really do end up with the desired finale they want (see seasons 2, 4, 6). If Jason somehow slips into the finale I doubt it's something they've been gunning for. They wouldn't be painting him as such a joke in the press. Riling up a fanbase is one thing but casual fans hearing enough of that can eventually be impacted and not want to vote.

Here's a little Knollish thought I had. I decided to take a listen to the coronation songs that were up for voting and I was shocked to hear so many of them were a perfect fit for Cook, some even had a rock edge. I think DC has shown he can tackle ballads if necessary, but could Archie handle something with a little bit of a rock vibe? What if one of the songs more suited for Cook ended up winning and the possible option to change it is to help Archie and give him a fair chance?

[ladymadonna512]

I am actually feeling the opposite about Archuletta this week. I think this week he will have a breakout performance. The judges will then talk about how this week was all about David Cook but Archuletta nailed it and that's why he's so awesome. By calling it rock and roll hall of fame theme night it lends itself to be perfect for David C. That to me hurts Cook but helps the others if they have a good night.

I agree. To me it feels like the momentum has been moving so steadily in Cook's direction that I think this is the week that he gets the "this should have been your week to shine, but it was only OK" commentary. This would give him top-3 to rebound with the penultimate Standing O performances to lead into the finale. If they really want a nail-biter of a finale between the two Ds, I think they have to pull-out some kind of stops to level the playing field. Of course, if Archie continues to be as meh as he has been, there might not be anything they can do to make it feel close.

[puttanesca]

I don't think Archuleta's going home this week. I agree that Jason and Syesha will be fighting for the "Davids and ___" spot. Jason has fanbase and the potential to pick up some casual vote if he's great this week. Syesha will have an easier time picking up casual vote than Jason but she has no fanbase as far as anyone can tell. She has an advantage in that she's the last girl standing, but there's two other big voices to compete with and she may get lost in the crowd.

That EW article is dangerous stuff for Jason; he already has a task ahead convincing voters he still belongs with the three other big-voiced belters. If he's clever and uses his "odd man out" qualities though...all it takes is smart song choice and interesting presentation...he could turn it to his advantage.

I can't decide if the theme this week will help or hurt Cook. Those of us that think too hard about this show will probably expect more but I think normal viewers will not be influenced that much by it.

Does anyone know, are rehearsals held on the same day as the live performance or the night before? I thought the same day, but others have suggested that they are tonight.

Full dress rehearsal is right before the live show (maybe an hour or so break in between), that's where the Tuesday evening song spoilers come from, but I'd think they have some sort of stage rehearsal before that.

This post has been edited by puttanesca: May 5, 2008 @ 5:09 pm.

[carpe nocturne]

Jason's best performances will always rank among the best of this season for me, but I believe if it came to a vote on American Idol, Hallelujah would not win a head-on contest with Hello. SOTR would be trounced by Billie Jean. It's just the way this show was set up from the very beginning. It is designed to reward the showy, borderline-OTT vocals performances and punish the more lowkey ones. It is almost a testament to how magnetic Jason is, that he managed to transcend the format and make it this far by being lowkey the entire time.

Billie Jean would trounce anything from this season in a vote. It already has. On Itunes. The contestant with the runner-up song in terms of popularity to Billie Jean would be... David Cook: Always Be My Baby.

I really can't decide if Cook is TCO or Archie is. Or maybe the 'pimping' for Cook appears out of proportion because the media, even the casual media such as the blogger-dom of the world' is like 'Will you just fucking crown him already?' I can't really decide if the show is pimping him that hard, or ... the people are. I've been trying, and trying, and it's just.

Cook definitely has the AI media on his side-- about three out of every four articles or blog posts indicate that he's the most talented contestant. But, there's an interesting disconnect between Idol-specific writers and more mainstream media. "People in the know" are aware that, at the moment, Cook is comfortably outpacing his competition. But many mainstream write-ups still refer to DA as the fan-favorite frontrunner.

Which brings us to Archie. He is still getting real, rabid, pimping. 'You're the BOMB! (implicit 'as always' uncommented upon) etc. From mouthpiece Randy. Could this be to ensure the idea that a David vs. David finale happens? Or is he really still TCO? I just don't know.

I think the TPTB's top priority is to ensure a David v. David finale. That is what is likely to produce the highest ratings. I've heard it said that the TPTB don't care about ratings, only sales. But the franchise's sales depend on its television program's status as a ratings behemoth.

As far as the TCO, I think the TPTB are split. If the judges chose the next Idol, then DC would win a 2 - 1 vote with the votes of Simon and Paula, while Randy voted for DA. Behind the scenes, I think Nigel favors DC (there was a knollish quote about Analog Heart being pulled from Amazon in which he said they pulled it in order to "keep the playing field even, but talent has a way of unevening it" or something to that effect).

However, Clive (based on the article his Fox News mouthpiece wrote indicting DC for the fact that Analog Heart was being sold while he was on the show) would seem to like DA. But, beyond that if there is a majority TCO, it would seem to be DC, because I think the TPTB realize DA is going to be very difficult for them to sell. And just like Idol album sales depend on AI ratings, AI ratings depend upon the credibility of AI winners as artists, in terms of album sales.

This post has been edited by carpe nocturne: May 5, 2008 @ 5:19 pm.

[aeb]

So many possibilities for the finale....I really hope they do allow for arrangements, or they let contestants pick one of two (or three) or something. I hated to see Blake forced to his doom like that last year, and I think it was a big turnoff for a lot of people, even casual viewers, who genuinely liked Blake. This year they have to make it fair somehow, because Cook is more versatile than any of his competitors and I think they've known that for a long time (certainly by the time he sang Music of the Night). He can belt a ballad if required to do so, whereas they really can't frog-march poor Archuleta onto the finale stage and make him glory-note a Rock Coronation.

[Deux Ex Machina]

notmylover, how do you know song spoilers this early? Were they posted in a forum already, or are you connected with the contestants in some way?

[Alana]

I do happen to know the songs David C. is singing tomorrow (neither of them too outlandish, btw, one more than the other perhaps), and I don't think we will be getting any lackluster performances from him (and the fangirls are gonna go nuts for one in particular).

What songs, notmylover? Come on, you can't drop a bomb like that and not spill! Uh... please? Heh.

[calico]

Syesha will have an easier time picking up casual vote than Jason but she has no fanbase as far as anyone can tell.

See, I think it doesn't matter who can pick up what votes - AFAIC, the only reason TPTB count votes at all is to figure out what they can get away with. The only thing that really matters in this game is perception. Right now they've got a bit of a PR problem - a change of subject is just the ticket. Sounds like a job for Shock!Vote! This is how easy they could dispatch Archuletta without raising an eyebrow:

1) Point out, finally, his lip-licking, lyric-forgetting, cheesburger-reaching, pagaenty-speaking, weak lower register, heavy breathing, charisma-challenged vortex of stage presence suck (with 2 songs - that's 6 opportunities to drive that message home).
2) Light him to look like a ghoul (ala Clay in the S2 finals)
3) Have Randy do his patented "Jason's Back!" idiocy, Paula say she's feels like he's in it to win, and Simon tell Jason he deserves to make F3.
4) Do the same thing they've been doing since Top 10 for Cook
5) Everything they say about Archuletta, say the opposite for Syesha

His fans will be pissed, but they'll get over it and move on. What's important right now is to change the bloody topic of conversation.

[puttanesca]

However, Clive (based on the article his Fox News mouthpiece wrote indicting DC for the fact that Analog Heart was being sold while he was on the show) would seem to like DA.

Since Clive's not part of TPTB anymore, and that article happened fast on the heels of his demotion, I took it as Clive acting out of spite.

This post has been edited by puttanesca: May 6, 2008 @ 12:20 am.

[Tuxedokitty]

That EW article is dangerous stuff for Jason; he already has a task ahead convincing voters he still belongs with the three other big-voiced belters. If he's clever and uses his "odd man out" qualities though...all it takes is smart song choice and interesting presentation...he could turn it to his advantage.

I've been curious about that EW article. Was that in the actual print edition or only online? (Maybe I should ask this in the media thread....) I will venture forth.