I don’t think many people thought Carly Smithson would land in the bottom three so soon. She definitely has the strongest female voice in the competition, but her stage presence is iffy. Her dress Tuesday night looked like she had a lei on top of her shapeless red dress and that tattoo certainly doesn’t play well in what we call “Middle America.” Plus, she makes some odd facial expressions while singing that gives people the impression she’s harder edged than she really is. (See above)
But all is not lost for Carly. Plenty of past contestants who ended up in the final three or four have been in the bottom three at some point in the early stages of the top 10/12.
Season one’s Nikki McKibbin (right) lived in the bottom two or three five times before she was ousted in third place.
Season two’s Kimberley Locke had the same problem, landing in the bottom three four times (including top 12 week) yet finishing in third place as well. (In fact, she’s reportedly appearing next Wednesday in the results show.)
Season three’s Diana DeGarmo was in the bottom three three times including top 11 week before finishing as the runner up.
Season four’s Anthony Fedorov was in the bottom three during top 11 week finished strong in the final four.
Season five didn’t have anybody who ended up in the top 4 take a spot in the bottom three until top 9 and 8 weeks, with Elliott Yamin both times. He ultimately finished in the bottom two or three four times before finishing third.
Season six’s top three didn’t finish in the bottom three at all until top 7 week with Blake, who ultimately became runner up.
The list of people who ended up in the top 5 but never finished in the bottom two or three until the week they were eliminated include: Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Jordin Sparks, Melinda Doolittle, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Hicks and Carrie Underwood
Only two ultimate winners landed in the bottom three at an earlier point: Ruben Studdard and Fantasia.
I’m not convinced Carly will be the winner at this stage but I don’t think she’ll be out the next two or three weeks either, unless she tanks completely.
- I caught Amanda Overmyer’s exit interview. She sounded a bit bored. Or maybe she was just tired. She said she had only two hours of sleep and had been doing interviews for six hours.
I asked her what song she would have sung next week. She actually blanked for a second the name of the song, then said, “On the Dark Side.” Showing my wonky knowledge of ’80s music, I quickly said, “John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band!” I would have loved to have heard her sing that personally.
Here’s that song, to refresh your memory:
She said her favorite performances were on the big stage the past two weeks. She liked the energy of the crowd. Her least favorite was doing the group sings. (Couldn’t you tell?) She said she didn’t like doing the choreography. She said she didn’t mind her Kansas “Carry on Wayward Son” but knew she was slammed for it.
Amanda, perhaps referencing Asia’h Epperson bitching about going first two weeks ago, said “You’ll never hear me pissing or whining that I went first. I definitely had hopes for positions six or seven. It’s not how it worked out. I won’t cry over spilled milk.”
“My personality, I keep pretty sheltered and stay away from anything. I can count on two hands friends and family that truly matter. I’m kind of standoffish… But I had no problem fitting in.” She spent the most time with Carly, who was her roomie.
Not making the tour? “It was somewhat of a goal. I’m not extremely disappointed I’m not doing the tour. The ultimate goal is to get my own. But I think for it being an American Idol tour and being it is what it is. They have the best group for it. I kind of stuck out. I didn’t really fit in.” (Didn’t she just contradict herself?)
Her reax to being eliminated: “I was kind of surprised. I didn’t go in with preconceived notions of what I would be or wouldn’t be. It’s such a crapshoot being a square peg in a round hole.”
She said she plans to stay in Los Angeles for six months and see how it plays out. If not, she has no compunction going back to nursing. “I have zero experience in this industry and am as green as it comes. I have no idea what the best way to do it. I have to ask some people. It will definitely be the Southern rock genre. Do the big biker rallies.”
Amanda said the stylists didn’t bug her about her distinctive look. “They were really good to me,” she said, then she yawned.
