American Idol: The ‘real’ competition begins

The general consensus this season is that this is probably the worst American Idol yet. Add a Sanjaya to the final twelve, and it’s insult with injury deployed exponentially!

In the previous seasons, watching the final twelve perform week after week was always with eager anticipation. They never fell short of mesmerizing performances and awesome vocals. Kelly Clarkson was always vocally consistent and her bubbly personality certainly never waned throughout Season One. In Season Two, Clay Aiken’s powerful range and likeability factor (as Simon Cowell would put it) certainly got him the runner up spot without question. Jasmine’s (Trias) charming presence got her as far as she could in Season Three, while Cary Underwood’s sweetheart personality and vocal versatility unquestionably landed her the idol title the year after. And who could ever forget the charismatic draw of idol hunk Constantine that won him America’s newest matinee idol title?

As an avid follower, when it boils down to the top six, that is when I put a close eye and ear. The beauty about AI is that not only does it grow in you but you’ll also see each contestant grow within the competition. I had my bets on the young Diana Degarmo who throughout Season Three gradually showed her enormous talent against power vocalists Fantasia, Latoya London and Jennifer Hudson. In the end, she landed the well-deserved runner-up position. Last season, Elliot Yamin’s feat, face-to-face with Taylor Hicks and Katherine Mcphee, made a very substantial following.

This year, the apparent lack of great talents compared to previous seasons ironically kept more audiences glued to the tube and still raking in more viewers each week. Thanks to the usual surprises and controversies surrounding either a contender or the show itself!

Well, Sanjaya’s entry was one. Often washed and tattered weekly by the judges, his prevailing "un-talent" label made him the competition’s underdog and often won him the votes, saving him from the boot. Good thing, America finally learned to listen to the judges, ending the Sanjaya curse. Taking him all the way the top six would have been another Idol disaster. Earlier contestant Antonella Barba also stirred the reality show due to some racy photos circulating on the net while stunning "Miss-America-Playboy-playmate-material" Haley Scarnato’s prolonged stint was as painful to the audience as it was to her. "The only way for you to stay in the competition is to wear less clothes possible," commented Cowell.

Indeed, America chose a very strong final six from the batch. Amazing and surprising performances heated up the idol stage. But only one has to emerge as "Idol". Results from the last couple of weeks debunked two of the running male (Phil Stacy and Chris Richardson) contenders leaving the final four: Blake Lewis, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Lakisha Jones at the forefront. The competition stiffens. Anticipation surges as we await who would be the strong two to set the Kodak Theater on fire for the grand finale. Will they make the right song choice? Will they impress the judges and America? Will their star continue to shine these remaining weeks? Will Blake be the last man standing? Or is it going to be a battle of the Divas?

Stay tuned.