Allison Iraheta Eliminated: Another American Idol Surprise

Projections of Kris Allen as the Dark Horse Come True

Sheryl Young
How many people thought the Top 3 American Idol contestant combination for Season 8 would be Adam, Danny and Allison? Thousands if not millions were wrong in this season's surprise upset Wednesday night.

Mild-mannered Kris Allen, proclaimed several weeks ago by at least one American Idol judge as the "dark horse" of the competition, made it to the Top 3 while Allison Iraheta got sent home - but not "sent home" in the good way. Whereas the Top 3 get the Heroes' Hometown Welcomes, all Allison gets is her packed suitcases...for now, anyway. She still gets to go on tour and, leaving in the same spot as Chris Daughtry in Season 5, Iraheta probably has a successful singing career ahead of her. Daughtry performed tonight and was told that his album had gone triple platinum.

Here's an analysis of why it happened, in 4 important points:

1. After her great rendition during the previous week's "big band sound" with "Someone to Watch Over Me," Allison fell short of that kind of praise from the judges with Janis Joplin's "Cry Baby" as her rock selection. It didn't show as much range and there was some disappointment, as Kara DioGuardi suggested, that she didn't choose Joplin's "Little Piece of My Heart" or Jefferson Airplane's "Don't You Want Somebody to Love."

2. Some veteran viewers, tired of the whole hooplah leading up to the finals, just start tuning in for the last few weeks, and they vote on show-by-show rather than the singer's whole season of performances.

3. I'd be willing to bet that a majority of the voters are young girls, which gave Kris and Danny the edge over Allison. Adam is still Adam and was a shoo-in after last night's rockout-knockout "Whole Lotta Love" performance; even though his so-so version of "Feelin' Good" was a lesser known song than the other 4 contestants and landed him in the bottom 2 the previous week.

4. Although Kris didn't do so hot with rock n'roll, his adorable face along with his swoonable performance and silver-gray suit last week ("Just the Way You Look Tonight") just fit the bill as the surprise, because there is always a spoiler. Plus, it didn't hurt that Jamie Foxx as that week's celebrity mentor hailed Kris' talent and declared he was willing to work with him on something. Kris showed an appealing humility when this remark appeared to knock his socks off.

So there you have it. Next week, the Top 3 get to ride home in limousines. Any mayor or governor that doesn't arrange a parade and a key to the city will have mud on their face with millions of fans.

Published by Sheryl Young - Featured Contributor in Politics

Freelance writer since 1997; Featured Political Contributor for Yahoo!; Tampa Tribune Community Columnist/Blogger; Chicken Soup for the Soul; Amy Foundation National Writing Award; happy wife, proud step-mom...   View profile

8 Comments

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  • Kristie Leong M.D. 5/29/2009

    I need to watch this show! Wonderful recap.

  • Sondra C 5/18/2009

    Great update! well written! I would greatly appreciate anyone and everyone checking on my published writings. The Glitch is causing them to be invisible. I will do the same of course. Thanks

  • 3lilangels 5/13/2009

    I was very suprised for Allison to leave, but now the competition is even more harder because it's anyone's win right now. Based on talent it should go to Adam, that man can sing the alphabet and make it sound good.

  • Frank Mucci 5/12/2009

    Unfortunately, AI isn't just about talent. As you point out, the voting base is primarily young females. I think Adam and Allison probably possess the best pure talent, but neither of them are terribly marketable. I see Kris winning it. Can't believe I'm commenting on AI...I officially lose 10 masculinity points.

  • Tyler Mills 5/11/2009

    U watched the show a little bit this year and I never cared for her as a performer. Obviously I was in the minority.

  • Nancy Tracy 5/8/2009

    Thoroughly enjoyed your analysis of this jaw-dropping episode. In my book, Allison is still a "winner."

  • Demetria Dixon 5/7/2009

    Thank you so much for dropping by my page and taking the time to read my article. This was an excellent read.

  • Rae Lynne Morvay 5/7/2009

    I didn't know who was going to go this week. Between Kris's too sweet version of Come Together, and Danny's Godzilla scream, I did not expect it to be Alison. But Kris and Danny do have huge fan bases, so I guess I am not that shocked. Popularity counts almost as much as the singing on Idol.

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