"American Idol:" Paul is Saved While Both Birls (Naima and Thia) Are Cut on "American Idol"

Those Cut Were Among the Weakest; No Arguments Here

Connie Wilson, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Apr 1, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Fox, Thursday, March 31, 2011, 8 PM (ET) "American Idol" lowered the boom on its 3 lowest vote getters this night. In the bottom three were Paul McDonald, Thia Magia and Naima Adepapo. Fifty-five million votes were cast, the most in the history of "American Idol's" 10 seasons. I can't help but feel it has to do with the ability to vote online, which is infinitely superior to phoning in.

In earlier predictions, I had pointed the fickle finger of possible failure at Thia Magia, and Naima's reggae routine was becoming a bit much. Paul McDonald was not a total surprise, either, given his rough performance on Wednesday night. Still, it was sad to see two contestants get kicked off, a move necessitated by the Casey Abrams' save last week. (Ryan Seacrest announced to a glowing Casey that he had gotten PLENTY of votes this time.)

As the program kicked off, a very plump Fantasia, attired in a red glittery dress with a very unattractive hairdo sang a song about cornbread. (Ho hum). Jamie Foxx and Will i. am. were also among those who performed, as were the contestants themselves.

Lauren Alaina and Scotty McReery were paired for a country-influenced singing of "I Told You So," They had about as much emotional chemistry as two dead mackerel, but I liked the singers, if not the song. The three girls---Pia, Haley and Thia---performed a Katy Perry song, "Teen Age Dream." "Solid As A Rock" featured Naima and Jacob. Naima looked the best she has looked on the show this season in a solid color, rather than a wild and crazy outfit.

When it came time to announce that only Paul McDonald would live to sing another day the camera cut to a quick shot of Lauren Alaina crying.

One negative word: the four boys who performed "Band on the Run" are, individually, good singers, but James Durbin, Paul McDonald, Casey Abrams and Stefano Langone's performance as a group was really weak. I hope Paul McCartney didn't hear that. It really blew.

Otherwise, justice was done and the show rolls on.

Published by Connie Wilson

Connie Wilson has written for five newspapers and taught writing at six Iowa/Illinois colleges. She has published nine books and lives in the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities and in Chicago. www.weeklywilson.com; w... View profile