On Tuesday night American Idol welcomed disco legend Barry Gibb as mentor and coach to the four remaining contestants tasked with singing two songs each from Gibb’s portfolio. The night did not go well for the contestants as a group but worse for LaKisha Jones and Blake Lewis.
Sometimes I don’t believe what my eyes are seeing and that is how I feel after viewing the odds, installed by Bookmaker.com, on each contestant’s chances of being voted off Wednesday’s show. Before I go any further, let me make this clear. Lakisha, if she hasn’t packed them already, will be packing her bags because this girl is going home. Oddsmakers are so sure of it they have installed some expensive odds (-585) on the chance she will be shipped out. If you don’t understand please let me help you. If you want to win money betting on LaKisha going home it will cost you $585 to win $100. Jones chose to sing ‘Stayin Alive’ and ‘Run to Me’. After her second performance Simon Cowell said to LaKisha,” I think you and Blake will be vulnerable tonight.”
To put it mildly, Blake had a bad night . He was hammered by the judges more than the other three performers after his rendition of ‘You Should Be Dancin’ and ‘This Is Where I Come In’. As a viewer I felt sorry for him especially during the first number when it was obvious he couldn’t discipline his beat boxing. Last week Lewis helped himself with his originality while performing the works of Bon Jovi but this week he hurt himself with it. In spite of his bad night, oddsmakers think Lewis is safe installing him with +975 odds that he will be back.
Melinda Doolittle , whom judge Randy Jackson calls the resident pro, also appears safe. What’s surprising, oddsmakers don’t see Melinda as safe as Blake with +395 odds. Doolittle sang ‘Love You Inside Out’ and ‘How Do You Mend A Broken Heart’. Randy liked it, Paula said her vocals were “spot on” and Simon compared her performance to that of a back-up singer. Perhaps Simon said this in reference to Melinda’s working as a Nashville backup singer. Her second performance drew much better reviews.
Jordin Sparks now appears to be the frontrunner to win American Idol so its obvious oddsmakers would show the 17 year old as very safe with +1400 odds. Jordin sang ‘To Love Somebody’, a performance the judges lauded as best of the night and finished the show with ‘Woman In Love’, a performance where she struggled. Simon compared it to singing in a pageant and even lambasted her long formal dress.
Not one contestant escaped Simon’s sharp ire on Tuesday. Tonight we will find out who the voters don’t like.
American Idol Elimination Odds for Wednesday
Lakisha Jones -585 (It’s been nice knowing you)
Melinda Doolittle +395 (you deserve better than this but you are safe)
Blake Lewis +975 (after Tuesday’s performance its you who should be on the bus)
Jordin Sparks +1400 (Is Jordin going to be the next American Idol?)
