Lambert, Scott, Hall and Eperly say goodbye

The semifinal phase of the show America can't get enough of ends as four singers-- Alex Lambert, Lilly Scott, Todrick Hall, and Katelyn Eperly-- take their final bow from the Idol stage in last week's episode.

Stand and non-deliverance

Everything is "awfully cheeky" as A.I. season 9’s top 16 open the show with their version of Michael Bublé’s “Just Haven’t Met You Yet.” Events get a little sour, though, when the eliminations begin in what Simon Cowell called "the worst night to go."

A.I. host Ryan Seacrest calls in Didi Benami first, then zeroes in on asking Randy Jackson about the importance of consistency in the competition. Didi is the first to have a guaranteed position in the top 12, followed by Siobhan Magnus and Paige Miles, who misses the axe by an inch over Katelyn Epperly, who, on the other hand, becomes the first eliminated semifinalist to learn of her Idol fate.

The spotlight is turned to the boys then, and Todrick Hall, Lee DeWyze and Casey James get called onstage. Tim, Casey and Lee heave a sigh of relief while Todrick takes his final bow.

Strong contenders Crystal Bowersox and Michael Lyche also take their predictable seats, and Lacey Brown follows their lead. Aaron Kelly also gets the axe another day. Finally, the last two boys, Alex Lambert and Andrew Garcia, go head-to-head for America’s votes. To some of the fans’s dismay: Andrew is saved and Alex is let go. Facing the crowd last are Lilly Scott and Katie Stevens, who take in the verdict: Katie stays while Lilly says goodbye.

Pleaser vs. Yawner

The show has just begun with the revelation of the top 12, but it seems fans, media, and critics have already had enough. Various forums about last week’s episode have sprouted on cyberspace like mushrooms, and netizens expressed their dismay over who stays and who gets cut – no holds barred. CNN Entertainment lamented how "American Idol" used to be "a launching pad for undiscovered talent, fodder for national conversation and even a blending of politics and pop culture," and how it is plain "boring" now.

The ousted

Simon Cowell’s words come close to being prophetic as Katelyn Epperly’s rendition of “I Feel The Earth Move” by Carole King does prove to be a "huge mistake" as she is eliminated from the semifinals. However, the judges’ verdict doesn’t always predict the outcome of votes, as Todrick Hall still got sent home despite having impressed the judges with his version of Queen’s “Somebody To Love”.

Another case of mismatch between the judges’s assessment and America’s decision is Alex Lambert’s ouster. Despite praise for his "continuing week-to-week improvement," the 19-year-old high school student’s Idol journey still fell a week short from the top 12, as his performance of Ray LaMontagne’s “Trouble” didn’t appeal to viewers enough.

What was called by some the "most surprising axe of the night" came with Lilly Scott’s elimination. The eccentric, white-haired indie singer who was deemed an early frontrunner along with Crystal Bowersox and Michael Lynche was the last one to take her final bow, dumbfounded at her loss.

Letdown

Tagging the four eliminations "deeply to moderately infuriating," Entertainment Weekly elaborates on the dull, painful blade of the axe that killed the Idol dreams of Lambert, Scott, Hall and Eperly in one sharp blow.

"Does it really matter who’s cut? This season’s Idol is comparable to determining the valedictorian of summer school. American Idol is done," says user ‘Hate4Life’ in a strikingly Cowell-like tone.

Those who rooted for Alex Lambert and Lilly Scott were also furious, with one JBD commenting how the two were "ten times better singers than Katie, Aaron and Paige." He was also quick to add how the results have made him "have little hope for the show." On the other hand, one Namanh Hoang attributes the two singers’ Idol demise to having the lowest online fanbase. One user named Tim even commented it was A.I.'s "worst season ever."

While some fans had their Idols’ backs, others are prone to pushing disappointments to the edge of an imaginary cliff. One user says, "American will know they’ve made a grave mistake if Andrew Garcia does another acoustic rendition of a female song."

"It turns out Alex Lambert was an overly ripe banana, Todrick Hall was more than dancer than singer, Lilly Scott was too '(500) Days of Summer' cute and Katelyn Epperly never really got her due," NY Daily News writes with pun intended, claiming "‘singing talent’ was the biggest casualty of the night."

While having been spared in the previous week, "16-year-old pseudo-country singer" Aaron Kelly, "pretty boy" Tim Urban, "forgettable 16-year-old Connecticut-born singer" Katie Stevens, and Paige Miles will have to work to the bone in order to prove themselves worthy of their spots in the top 12. And everyone, especially the audiences and the press, will see to that – if and only if they haven’t given up on American entirely.

The top 12 finalists will be rocking the Rolling Stones songbook in next week’s live two-hour performance episode broadcast.

American Idol Season 9 airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. on QTV Channel 11.

Photo screencap taken from VdovinaHD.

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