LaToya's ouster on American Idol was much more of a shocker than was the dismissal of Jennifer Hudson from the field of eight. And yet I wasn't lectured on stupid voting practices. Hmmm. I wonder if they learned their lesson?
Okay, we have four girls. Three of them are very talented, one less so. The one-less-so makes the top two. How did that happen when the one-less-so was nearly booted just one week prior? I think this one's easy to explain. But it's a combination of many factors.
Tears. Watching a beautiful face become covered in tears can melt a cold heart and turn passive, sympathetic people into mad power dialers. Hawaii is proud of its favorite daughter, and rightfully so. And it's the last precinct to vote, giving the Hawaiian voters ample warning that their girl was in trouble, mobilizing the troops at high alert. [I'm an hour behind New York, and I knew Jasmine had cried before the show even started here.] Could it be that the Hawaiian legislature met in special session Tuesday evening to require each household maintain five phone lines? After all, the hometown newspaper is giving lessons on how to most effectively and efficiently cast votes! The lessons obviously paid off. Out of 5 million phone attempts Tuesday night, 1.32 million of them were completed, an increase of 21 percent from the week before when Jasmine stood next to George as he was eliminated by a mere 200 votes. [Recount anyone?] This could now be called the Jasmine effect. Waterworks can win votes. Lots of them.
Simon and the anti-judge sentiment. This is a catch-22 situation. The show just isn't the show without Simon's biting critique. And yet, that same critique, which is usually on the money, can send some voters into a "I'll show you" mentality. Simon told Jasmine she was leaving. Paula calls LaToya the American Idol. Randy says "dude I'm not feelin' ya dawg." The voters show Simon who's the boss, screw up Paula's prophecy, and are still trying to decipher Randy. In other words, we will not do as we're told despite the fact that the result will compromise any integrity this competition has left. [And after this season, that may not be much.]
Arrogance. I had a hunch LaToya's cool demeanor was going to bite her on the behind eventually. I was ready to predict her dismissal next week, but I really expected her to hang in there longer than Jasmine. Technically LaToya has the purest talent of the four. But she comes off as arrogant and snooty. Her "we'll-all-make-it" comment to Ryan sealed her fate. It really revealed her smugness. And smug isn't pretty. Give me good, old-fashioned humility anyday. After she digs that foot out of her mouth, LaToya will, undoubtedly, "make it." Just not on American Idol.
Race. Yes, it's a fact. But it's not the overriding factor here, despite the screaming. Yes, of course, racism exists. To say that we're a colorblind society is naive. There are some voters choosing contestants on the basis of complexion. And Diana's the whitest in the group. The problem with that argument, though, is that Diana also has the talent to back it up with, so this is not a John Stevens situation. Race may play a part in voting, but it's a very very very small part. If it weren't, Clay would have won. Enough said.
Several weeks ago I was begging for people to stop voting for John Stevens because he was clearly out of his league, and he was being made a scapegoat and was being further and further humiliated. I really hope this does not happen to Jasmine, but I must say that I have far less sympathy for Jasmine than I did for John. Her reaction to being in the top two, while typical for a 17-year-old who has just been named to the homecoming queen's court, was far less dignified and mature than John's behavior throughout.
Of course she was happy. I think it's fair to say that she was astonished, probably moreso than the rest of us. But at this stage of the game, it's about saying goodbye to a colleague. [Fantasia and Diana, also take note.] You can celebrate your victory tomorrow. Off stage. Be humble, respectful and grateful on stage. I recognize the pettiness of my criticism, and I know that's a lesson that comes with age. But humility is important. Even if you have to fake it.
Just ask LaToya.
*photo from idolonfox.com
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