Top 7 Results - Someone Saved My Life Tonight Edition

Before I start, a quick note about next week:

Unfortunately, I will be out of town next Tuesday and Wednesday, so the chances of me being able to post commentary for the surely momentous disco week performances are very low. Next week will most likely be a brief performance and post-results missive on Thursday. I apologize in advance. Now, on to the Top 7 results:

Bottom 3 Prediction: Kris Allen, Matt Giraud, Allison Iraheta
Bottom 1 Prediction: Matt (Simon’s Save Option truly tested)

Actual Bottom 3: Anoop Desai, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud
Actual Bottom 1: Matt, Simon Saves! (SCOREBOARD)

Q1: Do you agree with the actual 3 bottom three?
A1: I went a bit unconventional with my picks, so we really should not be surprised by poor, confused Lil’s and self-image delusional bottom three regular Anoop’s inclusion in the lowest vote-getters. Needless to say, I am personally pleased by Allison’s vote safety even after performing in the “death spot”. Maybe her support has grown and stabilized after all. I remain baffled by Kris, but that is nothing new. I will do my best not to pick on him (unfairly) in the coming weeks if he survives next week’s double elimination (whoops, there I go again).

Q2: Why was Matt saved?
A2: Simon only had two more weeks to use it, and, let’s face it, he HAD to use it this season. He could not have a dramatic television gimmick like that and not use it. They finally had a decent candidate in Matt (remember, I had him in the #1 chance-to-win slot just last week). He sings okay much of the time, the talented piano playing ability is huge, and he’s a white guy who strives to do bluesy and R&B-ish styles (AI marketers love that stuff). There is an issue here though: as Simon pointed out, he has been in the bottom three twice, and, let us not forget, he has already been rescued before by the panel (he is a “judges’ wildcard” pick in the final 13, not an AI voters’ choice). So, I think he is just benefiting from the timing of when he came in last place (when they felt compelled to “use it or lose it”), and Simon is betting that Allison and Adam (the really talented ones who this option was truly meant for) are on good enough rolls to get them past the next two weeks to the Top 5. I mean seriously, if Adam (of all people) drops the ball on disco week, then he deserves to not be saved. Finally, on this issue, the biggest loser is Kris (there I go, picking on him again but hear me out). He is not in the top tier for me (good grief, now I sound like Randy), but I will admit that, like Matt, he sings okay, plays instruments, but, also (very differently from Matt) has “the look”. He could easily stumble in the next two weeks through little fault of his own (is disco down his alley?). And, now, the save is gone.

Quick Odds and Ends:
a. The group performance (“Maniac” by Michael Sembello) was horrible (nothing new there), but didn’t you miss the comedy of how they try handle poor Scott wandering around the stage? Okay, I do awful for writing that, but still…

b. IT’S MILEY!!! (Watchers of “The Soup” on E! will get that reference). Count me as one of the many that wish this phenomenom would end already, but the 8 seconds I did tolerate of her performance (bless you, inventor of TiVo/DVR) sounded better than I would expect (that’s a pretty low bar, folks. Don’t be shocked).

On to the double elimination week. Anoop and Lil have to be the favorites to go, and the heat is on Matt to prove he was worth saving. Lil could surprise by committing to a Donna Summer number, but that could bring forth the long knives of Paula’s karaoke criticism. Anyways, I will post commentary as soon as I can next week.

Let me know you thoughts…