Idol Chatter & Voice Views

So, from the way Wednesday’s results show ended, are we supposed to believe that Casey James got more votes this week than Crystal Bowersox?

That Crystal Bowersox — hands down the best talent in season nine — was one spot away from elimination?

Or was the show just staged that way, sending Casey to safety first, to build drama on what can be a pretty tedious results night?

I know this. Idol has taken lots of knocks this season, many of them deserved.

Had Crystal been eliminated, the show’s credibility would have taken a serious hit.

As it is, voters sent Michael Lynche back to St. Petersburg, and not in the way he was hoping.

The final three, you see, get to head home for a hero’s welcome on Friday.

Last I heard, Crystal was supposed to have a parade in Toledo and in her hometown of Elliston, Ohio. Lee was supposed to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game. Casey … well I can’t find a story with Casey’s itinerary on Google. Maybe folks just assumed he’d be eliminated Wednesday night. Sure should have been.

The recap:

Deserved his fate: I won’t say Big Mike deserved his fate. I will say he was fortunate to be saved by the judges … what was it, five weeks ago? At the time, I wasn’t a big fan of the move. Turns out he was one of season nine’s most consistent performers, even if I would have preferred to see more range in his performances.

Stock rising: Lee DeWyze. He’s cute. He has fans shouting, “Love you, Lee,” while he awaits the results. He
sings well enough to make the finals. He’s had a huge supporter in Simon Cowell since the show began. He shouldn’t win, but probably will.

Stock sinking: Casey James. Or at least it should be. He plays a mean guitar, but was clearly the inferior singer during the duet with Michael Lynche on Tuesday. The laid-back performance of “Mrs. Robinson” wasn’t among my favorites either. Casey said he was shocked to survive Sinatra Week. Judging from his reaction, I think last night’s results were another shock.

Very, very lucky: See stock sinking.

On the bubble: Nope, I’m not saying that about Crystal Bowersox. Idol voters can’t be that idiotic. She had to be standing center stage at the end of last night’s show for dramatic effect. Didn’t she? Anyway, her reaction to avoiding elimination should erase any questions about whether she cares about the competition or whether she takes it seriously.

Best performance from a guest artist: Daughtry. Another great song of the band’s sophomore album, “Leave This Town.”

Weakest performance from a guest artist: Fantasia. Hope the season three winner has songs better than that to offer on her third album, due out this summer. And it’s a little distracting when the singer constantly has to peek at the audience from under the bangs that are dangling over her eyes.

Check back tomorrow for photos from tonight’s results show.

Check back tomorrow for an exit interview with Michael Lynche.

And check back Friday for coverage of Idol’s final three on their homecoming journeys.