AI Fans Say Goodbye to Finalists
AI Cast Offs Vary in Their Reaction to Departure News
Rejection is hard, even harder when it's is televised across the U.S.. AI contestants have varying reactions to their departure. Here are the good, bad and ugly.
Simon Cowell can be somewhat prophetic on occasion. During the American Idol Final 24 show, he mentioned to little David that sometimes the judges have to consider the contestant's age, since winning the contest is a huge lifestyle change and requires a great deal of preparation. David nodded in agreement before they sent him through to the final 24 but Simon’s words would come back to bite him just a few short weeks later.
David Archuleta, who auditioned at 16 and just recently turned 17, is not the only young one in the crowd this year. In fact there is a whole slew of under 20 singers. David was joined in the top 24 by Colton Berry, 18, Danny Noriega, 18, and Garrett Haley, 17. Alaina Whitaker, 16, Alexandrea Lushington, 17, Asia’h Epperson 19 and Kady Malloy, 18, are the youngest of the women singing this year.
Some of the youngsters have already found their way to the door. Colton and Garrett both ended their Journey on February 21st. Amy Davis and Joanne Borgella departed on the same day. Alexandrea and Alaina concluded their American Idol Career on February 28th along with Jason Yeager and Robbie Carrico
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Colton and Garrett both handled their departure with grace and dignity. Garrett truly took it like a man; he smiled politely then sang his song. Colton, although a bit more stoic regarding the news, also took the news in stride.
Amy Davis was the next to go on February 21st. She got teary about the news but still managed a smile for the crowd and took the judge’s suggestions in stride. Joanne Borgella bowed her head and had a moment of silence for her now dead AI career but she pulled it together to give props to the other girls.
The February 28th results show proved just how ill prepared some of the younger kids are for the reality of American Idol.
Alexandrea Lushington was the first of the women to go. She seemed disappointed but overall handled the process well. She showed true grace for a girl so young. She managed to joke around a bit through her disappointment. The tears started to come a bit when she performed but she held onto it, a true performer.
Alaina Whitaker was the second woman to go and she handled it far worse then Alexandrea. Perhaps one of the worst sendoffs in AI history, complete with tears and a squeaky “I can’t sing”. She pulled it together and sang the song, but her heart sure was not in it.. I guess that nips the whole “they must tell the contestants before they are sent home” conspiracy in the bud. She was the youngest of the group.
Robbie Carrico managed to sigh it out and let it go. Simon rubbed some salt in his wounds but he still did well. Jason Yeager tried his best to sound good, but he seemed a bit disturbed even after he “mentally prepared”. It was not the best reaction ever but it wasn’t emotionally taxing for the audience.
Past Seasons
While Alaina’s reaction was far from good she’s not the first to react badly to the news. Last season, season six, didn’t have many waves, at least in regards to vote-off reactions. There was Sanjaya and Antonella, clearly added to the mix for the giggle factor, but they all seemed to go without incident.
Season five, however did have a “bad reaction” moment. Chris Daughtry made it to the final 4. America seemed to dig his rocker style and he sailed through almost effortlessly until the week of his Elimination. He stood there ready to be told to take his seat, a cool careless look. When Ryan announced he was going home his face went from careless to absolute disbelieve. It almost looked like he was ready to say “hey Ryan let me see that damn paper, let me fact check that!”
At least the audience knows the voting is “for real” and the contestants feel just as emotionally taxed if not more so then their biggest fans.
