Idol Chatter & Voice Views

hope for a truly special final season of American Idol is fading faster than the pace of the one-hour solo shows we watched the past two weeks.

Faster in fact that the rate at which Idol judges were spouting untruths — okay, let’s just call them lies — Thursday night.

Which is another problem. After that show, can we believe anything that comes from the mouths of the three celebrities judging the talent?

Let’s check out some of the whoppers that registered highest on the bull-crap meter.

1. Jennifer calling Dalton Rapattoni a “dark horse” in Season 15. The dude entered the show with more than twice as many Twitter followers as everyone but MacKenzie Bourg. He’s got blue-eyed good looks on a show that has derisively dubbed “Cute Boy Idol.” He’s gotten tons of screen time, including that silly Hollywood Week we-lost-our-third-member drama. And I won’t believe for a second that the judges aren’t aware of his connection to Idol creator Simon Fuller.

2. Jennifer saying the judges thought Haley Reinhart would win Season 10 of Idol. Well, she could have and perhaps should have after putting together one of the most incredible Cinderella seasons ever. But I recall an Idol machine hellbound to do everything possible to ensure its preferred outcome — a country showdown between teens named Scotty and Lauren. And that included sabotaging Haley with a ridiculous judges’ choice song on Top 3 night.

3. That Shelbie Z. “got lost” in her “Bohemian Rhapsody” duet with Constantine Maroulis. Huh? I beg you. Watch it again. I’ve embedded it above. Do they mean she sang in tune? Do they mean Shelbie looked perfectly comfortable on stage with someone who found a post-Idol home on Broadway? Oh, well, I guess the judges had to find some explanation for why they were about to eliminate the Voice veteran and keep younger singers who struggled with something as simple as pitch in their “star” duets.

At the end of it all, we’re left with a Top 14 that viewers had absolutely no hand in selecting — an Idol first.

And with the judges in control — well, you would have thought they were casting American Idol Junior. Or a high school talent show.

The four oldest contestants were axed. Seven of the 10 oldest contestants were sent home.

Is the Top 14 loaded with potential? Absolutely.

It’s also loaded with minors; six of the remaining 14 where 17 or younger when they auditioned. And potential would be the key word for those youngsters. Most of them looked none-too-ready for Idol’s big stage during the opening round of the semifinals.

And they’re not going to have much time to find their Idol footing. This week’s finals will be crammed into seven pressure-packed performance nights. That compares to 10 to 13 weeks of finals over the past three seasons.

The glimmer of hope: La’Porsha Renae will be taking the stage again. So will another Voice veteran, MacKenzie Bourg. Sonika Vaid is blessed with a gorgeous voice. Trent Harmon is capable of carrying the country banner single-handedly. And Dalton was impressive Thursday night.

Here’s the Idol Chatter ratings of the Top 14. Each contestant’s audition age appears in parenthesis.

1. La’Porsha Renae (22)

2. MacKenzie Bourg (23)

3. Sonika Vaid (20)

4. Trent Harmon (24)

5. Dalton Rapattoni (19)

6. Avalon Young (21)

7. Jeneve Rose Mitchell (15)

8. Olivia Rox (16)

9. Manny Torres (20)

10. Jenn Blosil (23)

11. Tristan McIntosh (15)

12. Lee Jean (15)

13. Thomas Stringfellow (17)

14. Gianna Isabella (15)