| American Idol (Results Show Final 7) |
| The Great American Songbook and Rod Stewart made last night one of the best theme nights in Idol history. Unfortunately, for one unlucky contestant tonight will be the one they wish never happened! |
| We get an early glimpse of the seven hopelessly nervous hopefuls. As usual they're arranged in top and bottom rows. Top row left to right is Elliott, Chris, Paris and Kellie, the front row is Ace, Katharine and Taylor. Our brains get busy trying to decipher the formation and pick out tonight's ouster. |
We're back to the half-hour format so it's straight to the performance recaps followed by the Ford-ommercial. This week the focus is more on style than humor. The Idols sing Kids In America    , popularized by an American Juniors cover in 2003, and the video features a Ford whizzing past animated billboards of the 7 finalists before unloading 5 of them outside a concert venue, where they run the gauntlet of fans and flashlights. |
| On comes Rod Stewart. First off he has a chat with Ryan, squeezing in on the front row of the contestants' sofa. When Ryan congratulates him on doing a great job with the Idols, Rod pays tribute to them, "They were tremendously easy to work with. I thought I was going to get some attitude or something but they were great". |
Ryan asks why Rod has covered "The Great American Songbook", he says it's because his family used to sing the songs at parties, "I've always loved them, and I've been trying to make this album for 25 years". Rod also reveals that he's working on a '70s classic rock album, which is near completion, so Ryan wastes no time in booking Rod in for the '70s rock theme next year! |  |
| Rod gets up and performs "The Way You Look Tonight" which is featured on his first album in The Great American Songbook series, "It Had To Be You... " |
| "Any good?" He asks the audience. Thankfully Simon Cowell keeps his mouth shut! Actually, we do think Rod sings quite sexily for a sexagenarian, although we wouldn't go so far as to say we want his body! Still, he's got Penny Lancaster for all that, and judging by her reaction to his performance, she's still pretty keen! |
| Next week the theme is "Greatest Love Songs Of All Time". It promises to be quite a challenge for the contestents, but luckily the king of Romanza , Andrea Bocelli will be on hand to squeeze the loving feelings out of their souls and into their songs. |
| The moment of reckoning approaches. Seven people are to form 2 groups on stage. One group will be the bottom 3, the other the top 4. Following the tradition set over the previous 2 seasons, Ryan announces the first 3 in each group... |
- Elliott is called first to the far side of the stage (Group 1).
- Chris is stationed near side (Group 2).
- Paris joins Chris near side (Group 2).
- Kellie goes far side with Elliott (Group 1).
- Ace hops nearside with Paris and Chris (Group 2).
- Katharine makes 3 on the far side (Group 1).
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To recap, we now have 2 groups of 3... Group 1 - Elliott, Kellie and Katharine.
Group 2 - Chris, Paris and Ace. |
 | By now everyone has sussed that Taylor Hicks is in that awkward place occupied by Bo Bice last year and George Huff the year before that. Ryan tells him he's definitely safe, but after the break he has to join the group which he thinks America has decided is safe. Moments later Taylor walks toward Group 2 and shakes Chris' hand. It's only a courtesy call though, because just before Ryan corrects his choice Taylor does a 180 and heads over to Group 1 to join Elliott, Kellie and Katharine. |
| Ryan verifies Taylor's choice, which means the 3 contestants receiving the lowest vote tallies this week are Chris, Paris and Ace. Paris isn't there for long, as Ryan gives her a hasty reprieve. It's between Chris and Ace. Chris' family look shocked, but no more shocked than the rest of America. |
| Ryan describes Chris and Ace as "two guys who are like the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck of American Idol, best of friends..." He reminds Simon that he took credit for Chris doing a great job last night and asks him if he takes credit in Chris winding up in the bottom 2. Looking rattled, Simon is quick to disclaim all responsibility. "I wasn't the one who was singing" he tells Ryan, adding that he thinks it is Ace who will be going home. |
| Ryan makes the announcement, "The person with the lowest number of votes, leaving us is... Ace". |
| Ace smiles, then gives a manly hug to his pal Chris. He remains upbeat and tells Ryan "I've had a blast! I can't wait to peform with all the top 10 and see all my fans that have seen me through the TV... it'll be amazing." |
The VT of Ace's journey rolls on from his audition proclamation... "Prepare yourself, I'm ready to entertain you"... through to the finals... singing with Stevie Wonder and Queen's Brian May, hugging Rod Stewart and chewing the fat with Barry Manilow. Simon's voice plays back... "You've got that extra special something", then Randy's... "You definitely are a star", finally Ace's... "If you just remember my name I guess I came out on top". |
| Ace sings us out with a repise of "That's All". Of course that isn't all from Ace and we won't be forgetting him in a hurry. For starters we'll catch him on tour with the other top 10 finalists. Furthermore, with the strong fanbase he's accumulated during his Idol time that elusive deal can't bee too far off for Ace if he plays his cards right! |
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