Video Beat Part 1 - AMERICAN IDOL'S SHOCKING BOTTOM THREE

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

As the excitement swelled Seacrest started to squeeze the blood out of the drama stone and kept the audience is suspense. He then turned his attention to Simon 'The Merciless' Cowell. "It seems that Randy and Kara were a little bit more on their game," Seacrest said to the pompous one regarding their more accurate critiques of the contestant's performances - WORLD'S UNTOLD STORIES - KILLING FIELDS LONG ROAD TO JUSTICE - Recommended TV Listings

Friday May 1, 2009

COWELL FOUL

A shocking American Idol bottom three result saw Matt Giraud the recipient of the save rule, Kris Allen who was ridiculed the previous performance day by Simon Cowell that he didn't feel Allen felt that he could win the competition and the shocker Adam Lambert who has been the most championed contestant since the competition began.

Host Ryan Seacrest asked the first called Giraud to stand on the right side of the stage followed by Danny Gokey to the left. Numerous time bottom three participant Allison Iraheta who was lampooned by Simon Cowell after her performance the day before by saying that he felt she was in a lot of trouble was asked to join Gokey on the left. They were followed by Kris Allen who was asked to stand on the right.

Seacrest then asked Lambert which side he thought the belonged on. The shows strongest performer said he loved all of them but judging by the previous night's competition he chose to go to the left and join Iraheta and Gokey. Seacrest then pulled Lambert to the right side of the stage and announced to the audience, "This is your bottom three."

At that point Gokey's jaw dropped and he had the the most disbelieving look on his face since Chris Daughtry when he was eliminated. Surprisingly Lambert was the most composed and receptive to the news than anyone on the stage.

Allen was the first saved as Lambert and Giraud had to wait through guest performances by Natalie Cole and former AI winner Taylor Hicks. As the excitement swelled Seacrest started to squeeze the blood out of the drama stone and kept the audience is suspense. He then turned his attention to Simon 'The Merciless' Cowell.

"It seems that Randy (Jackson) and Kara DioGuardi) were a little bit more on their game," the AI host said to the pompous one regarding their more accurate critiques of the contestant's performances. The adroit Cowell manipulated and chose his words carefully by stating, "I think one week out of 12 (being wrong) isn't bad."

The twist is that Cowell praised Giraud after his performance of My Funny Valentine which is one of Cowell's favorite songs. In a previous season in which the judges chose a song for the contestants he chose that tune for a participant.

After Giruad's rendition we noted his performance was scratchy and his voice wavered in parts of the melody. Cowell had another opinion, "It was the only authentic, original performance tonight (after Allen and Iraheta sang their songs). "He then added, "I heard a Nat King Cole kind of phrasing, it was brilliant."

At that point we knew that Cowell was hearing things, lost the plot and it is unlikely that he ever heard Nat King Cole who was known for his smooth, silky voice.

Prior to Cowell's shortsighted critique judge Randy Jackson evaluated Giraud by saying, "A little pitchy. It didn't come together for me tonight." Judge Kara DioGuardi agreed and also noted about his performance, "I didn't feel that you were emotionally connected to it (the song)."

Giruad is a good singer but not the best on the show and worthy of the AI title. Allen is the only other contestant who he is equal to in vocal talent but they are very different in style. His fifth place finish is as good as it could get for his talent.

When Giraud was asked by Seacrest what he would remember the most from his experience o the show he replied, "I'll definitely remember being the cat with nine lives.

NEXT Part 2 - AMERICAN IDOL'S # 1 POMPOUS @$$

PREVIOUSLY - THE WRONG SAVE

WORLD'S UNTOLD STORIES - KILLING FIELDS LONG ROAD TO JUSTICE

Justice and human rights are the focus of CNN's 'Killing Fields: Long Road to Justice' half hour news feature which is a must watch. The program reveals Cambodia's problems dealing with responsibility, integrity and the allegations of corruption in the Khmer Rouge trials.

A Killing Fields interrogator Ta Chan who was responsible for the torture of prisoners is exposed on program. He refused to be interviewed for the feature but CNN obtained archive footage of him grinning and proudly showing one of his prisons in a province outside of Phnom Penh where he detained those to be tortured and most likely murdered. Chan remains free and has never been punished for his participation in the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians in the genocide. Neighbors in his village were interviewed and expressed their fear of the man who played in the part of the deaths of some of their family and loved ones.

The program notes that by the end of the year US $100 million will have been spent on the trail of ONLY five Khmer Rouge leaders. The telecast points out that much of the money is being siphoned off by government officials to the trials Director of the Office of Administration. On camera an employee explained that employees were instructed to give kickbacks in cash between US $30/40 thousand a MONTH to their boss.

A front page story in the weekend issue (Sat/Sun May 2-3) of the Cambodia Daily named that Director as Sean Visoth who denied the charges in an email that he sent to CNN. The Cambodia Daily story notes that he has been absent from the courts since November 2008

The back story not televised but included in the Cambodia Daily piece is that due to the corruption allegations the UN Development Program froze their funding of the trial. The Cambodian government has expressed concern that if more people are tried than the five currently on trial that another civil war could break out. They also expressed their hope the trials will run out of money and be done with.

The CNN's 'Killing Fields: Long Road to Justice' program repeats several times throughout the week. The initial telecast was Friday May 1. Check your local listings for the time and date in your area.

For more information go to - www.cambodiadaily.com & www.cnn.com

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TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time in your area.

NOTE TIMES AT OF THE SAME TELECAST IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

9:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN Channel

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

10:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

12:00 MIDNIGHT - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

4:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

12 NOON - FRONTLINE - Australia Network

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

11:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

12:00 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

11:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

12:00 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

4:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

8:00 PM - FIRST EDITION featuring Richard Keys - Humorous insight to football news headlines - ESPN

7:30 AM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

9:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

7:00 PM - THE BEST OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - (1 1/2 hr) Star World channel

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

11:00 PM - THE BEST OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - Star World channel

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