American Idol Judges Use the "Save" and Possibly Ruin the Competition
Matt G Gets Another Shot at Stardom but at What Cost?
During Wednesday's results show, the judges used their power to prolong Matt Giraud's time on the show for at least one more week. Matt broke down into tears; obviously overwhelmed by the show of faith and the gesture but the "save" was essentially a waste.
Matt G, as he's affectionately known, has repeatedly been in the bottom tier and, as Simon said Wednesday, has no chance of winning the competition when facing opponents such as Danny Gokey and Kris Allen. Even if his fans rally (which they very well may) and keep him out of the bottom three next week, he will not walk away with the title of American Idol.
Not only did the "save" fail to shore up Matt's position within the competition, it destabilized the whole show. Now, next week, two people are going home. It's the only mathematical way to even the numbers and Keep Idol on track for its pre-planned finale.
Judging from America's votes thus far, the two who will be leaving next week are Anoop Desai and Lil rounds.
So what's the point of using the "save" when it won't affect the results of the show? It all goes back to ratings. From the minute Simon announced the save, there was no choice but for the judges to use it. With the expiration date closing in, it had to be done. But this whole thing could backfire and cause the very thing it was meant to prevent: the loss of someone truly talented due to a fluke.
What would happen if Matt's, and one of the other bottom runners' (Lil or Anoop) fan base realizes their Idol is in trouble? What happens if the phone banks are inundated with desperate calls to keep their Idol in the game? What happens if, during the chaos, people forget to vote for Danny Gokey, or Allison Iraheta?
They go home. That's what happens. And it's Michael Johns all over again.
It would have made more sense for the judges to just hold onto their save and not use it at all than it would have to do so now. But if they had, would we have been talking about American Idol today?
Published by Robert Palmer
I'm a professional copywriter specializing in aritlcles, web content, and ghostwriting. View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentActually, Staci, I was just assuming that Matt's fans would make sure that he wasn't in the bottom rung this week. Since Anoop has been in the bottom three more than anyone left in the contest (which I don't necessarily agree with)and Lil Rounds was in last week, I assumed they would be the two at the bottom of the pack this week. Of course I could be wrong. At this point in the game, there's a good chance that a single bad performance could put a player in the bottom. Fans haven't yet been glavanized as they were at the end of last season between the two Davids. I was just playing the odds.
Luckie, The majority of america perhaps. but not the majority of Idol fans. Allison has been in the bottom tier only once and Danny never has. That tells you right there that the majority of "active" idol fans are pulling for them over say, Anoop who has been in the bottom three three times.
"What happens if, during the chaos, people forget to vote for Danny Gokey, or Allison Iraheta?"
It's as simple as bad luck or they are destined to leave.
Someone has predicted that Lil and Danny would be in the bottom 2 and I bet the "majority" of America would be so happy if that happens.
Mr. Palmer, just wondering why you would say "judging from America's votes thus far, the two who will be leaving next week are Anoop Desai and Lil rounds" considering Matt is the one that got the lowest votes this week? Are you using the same creative math that AI is? It sure looks like you have fell under their spell too since you didn't give Anoop credit from not being in the bottom 2 this week.