American Idol contestant Siobhan Magnus dropped like a rock and was eliminated at number 6, the question is WHY? - Fox photo

American Idol's other Bottom 3   Michael Lynche in the Bottom 3 AGAIN - Fox photo   Casey James in the bottom 3 AGAIN - Fox photo

Video Beat - SAY WHAT!!! SIOBHAN MAGNUS ELIMINATED FROM AMERICAN IDOL!!!

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

American Idol contestant Siobhan Magnus dropped like a rock and eliminated at number 6, the question is WHY? - Casey James and Michael Lynche were also in the Bottom 3 - We strongly feel that since there is no impartial third party company to account for the authenticity of the votes that some back room hanky panky is going on - IT'S DOWN TO THE FINAL 5 - IDOL RATINGS CONTINUE TO DROP - BBC TV NEWS IS LOSING THE PLOT - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday May 2, 2010

SAY WHAT? MAGNUS OUT

Being out of town on business in an area that didn't have the American Idol telecast the Internet came into play to find out the results. When Siobhan Magnus' name came up as being eliminated it was if a stroke was going to occur. We survived but the result was shocking. Throughout the competition Magnus was never in the bottom 3. She dropped like a rock. She never received the bottom three fewest number of votes to qualify for the dreaded category of receiving the least amount of support and votes and is now on her way home and out of the competition.

That's the bad news, the good news is she was eliminated at # 6 and Jennifer Hudson was eliminated at # 7. It is well known that Hudson has had a successful career since her ouster. Hudson overcame judge Simon Cowell's scowling criticism that she was out of her element and went on with her life but… can Magnus?

The drastic change of Magnus being one of the best to one of the less prompts our questioning the authenticity of the American Idol voting tabulation (if they have it all) system. We strongly feel that since there is no impartial third party company to account for the authenticity of the votes that some back room hanky panky is going on in manipulating what contestants they want in the competition. Transparency is missing. Hiring a third party to do the job can't be for the lack of money as American Idol is rolling in it.

This week's theme was to sing a Shania Twain song. Twain was the contestants mentor. The glass blower from Cape Cod, Massachusetts Siobhan sang Twain's first hit "Any Man of Mine" and was on point prompting all of the judge's positive reviews including her greatest tormentor Simon Cowell. So what was the problem?

Magnus was chewed up and spit out in what appears to be a blogging community conspiracy or a back room American Idol management decision. By far she is one of the strongest talents in the competition and should have been no less than a Top 4 and possibly 2nd place finisher. Over the long hall Crystal Bowersox has shown the muscle of her versatile musical talents. She is the most consistent contestant who connects with the material she sings and makes it her own regardless of genre as well as being endowed with a mature, strong voice.

Though Cowell has been an overly tough critic of Magnus' performances and wardrobe throughout the competition by comparison he was very positive in his comments of her this week saying he wasn't a fan of country music but he enjoyed that song. He did mention, "That screaming at the end (another one of her big notes) was like you were giving birth up there. It was fun, it was good."

In searching the Internet for reasons why Magnus didn't receive support and votes the most disturbing thing was finding several disingenuous comments about wanting her and Lynche out of the contest although in addition to Bowersox those three have the best and strongest voices in the competition. The intellect of the blogging authors indicates that those who take the time to vote and voice their narrow minded opinions are an example of the type of audience the program is reaching. They are largely immature and lack musical knowledge.

It also indicates the voters (if true) are for the most part motivated by infatuation as opposed to information. If this is AI's target audience it is doubtful that these viewers will be purchasing a Ford motor vehicle any time soon thus a waste of the sponsor's dollars.

Ellen Degeneres is shaping up as a qualified judge as she credited as we have in the past that Michael Lynche sounded like Luther Vandross following his strong performance of Twain's "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing". Simon Cowell agreed and said that Degeneres' analogy was spot on. Despite all of the praise and in our opinion having the best performance of the night big Mike as he is now being referred to was again in the bottom three for the second time in the past four weeks.

Lynche was deservedly saved April 7th and ironically since the judge's save rule was used on him the ax fell on Siobhan who by having one of the best three voices in the contest was worthy of being saved. But... as Hall & Oates sang 'She's Gone'.

Aaron Kelly turned 17 this past week and celebrated his birthday by having his voice return after he struggled for several weeks trying to compete while overcoming laryngitis and tonsillitis. His performance of "You've Got a Way" was his best of the season. While sick Kelly has been criticized by the judges who have better sense but showed no mercy of him working through his illness. While sick his voice was rough and scratchy. As they say the show must go on and the judges attitude could be tough love as in the real world of the entertainment business sick or not you must perform.

Siobhan, Lynche and Kelly gave the best performances of the night while Crystal Bowersox came up short for the first time this season and had her worst performance.

Judge Kara Dioguardi is feeling her oats in her second season on the show but continues to be rude and interrupt Cowell when he's talking. This week in the middle of his comments to Lee DeWyze about making face when he sang DoiGuardi interrupted the mighty one and talked over him at which point he appeared to be astonished and asked, "Can I speak?"

Five contestants and four weeks remain before we find out who will be the next American Idol of a season that is the worst we've observed over the past five editions of the show. Given the judges bend over backwards softball treatment of Lee DeWyze it appears that he is being groomed to be in the Top 3 if not the winner. This week he started his song out of key and had a poor performance but continues to receive support from the judges and glide through. He has never been in the Bottom 3. Bowersox remains our choice but the way this season has turned out anything could happen.

But this was Siobhan's day to fall from grace. She had a look of determination as she sang Aretha Franklin's 'Think' a song she sang in the Top 20 show. She strolled the stage and embraced the lyrics, "You better think about what you're trying to do to me," as if she were singing to her tormentor Cowell who's acrid comments appeared to be intended to influence and poison the viewers minds thus set her up to fail.

As she was performing she stood on a small stage behind the judge's desk. All of the judges EXCEPT Cowell turned around to watch her.

At this point he has succeeded. Now the question is will Cowell's harsh and undeserved treatment of her motivate Magnus and give her the drive to succeed as it did Jennifer Hudson. After her performance on the results show a strange thing happened as never before. Host Ryan Seacrest asked her to give Cowell a hug. Being on the spot on national television she did although it appeared to be reluctantly. As Cowell embraced her he said that he will miss her…. REALLY???

Throughout the results show there was a strange atmosphere going on. There was tension in the air and Seacrest was very smug about the way he presented his information in the process of bringing the guillotine down on Magnus' neck. What is paramount here is Magnus being cut from the show is not the real story. The real story is what happened behind the scenes that brought this situation about? It's as if Magnus had a run in with someone from Cowell to a back office type. The truth will eventually come out but Siobhan's performance was not worthy of her being eliminated. There is something very fishy about this episode.

It must be noted that American Idols creator Simon Fuller has a management company 19 Entertainment. They have several American Idol winners under contract including Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, and Fantasia Barrino as well as Bo Bice, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Clay Aiken. It is in their best interest to have a talent win that they have a good relationship with and could put under contract. Now…. GO FIGURE

NOTE - AI RATINGS CONTINUE TO DROP

It's on its way to crash and burn as American Idol's Neilson ratings continue to drop. The results show of the Top 7 tallied an 18.824 rating. The season high was the opening episode of the Boston auditions which received a 29.8 rating and that is quite a drop off in viewer interest.

BBC TV NEWS IS LOSING THE PLOT

BBC television News is teasing an upcoming news feature by asking the question is Barack Obama strong enough to bring peace to the Middle East. As talented and strong as Obama is our question to the BBC is why dump the load on him when he wasn't even born when Israel invaded and stole Palestinian land. Additionally since all of these ongoing problems driven by a greed for oil and rubber have inflicted a burden on the world causing wars and conflict for more than 60 years what has any president done during that period to resolve the problem?

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3:00 PM - LOCKED UP ABROAD - National Geographic

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

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN

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9:30 PM - UFC (ULTIMATE FIGHTING) - True Sport 2

11:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

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2:00 AM - AMERICAN GREED - CNBC

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