The Marine Has Landed – In the Final Four

As I settled down in my TV chair Wednesday night to watch the results show, I was feeling rather smug. Confident that my predictions would be vindicated, a self-congratulatory article was already forming in my head. My dream team scenario had set up nicely with a little Trenyce tossed into the mix to make things interesting. She had nailed both songs on Tuesday, delivering a one-two punch that certainly would knock Josh right out of the ring. Our marine friend had really “shown out” on Tuesday and after an especially dismal performance of “Bad Blood,” came right back at Simon with some seriously caustic remarks. What the hell – he had nothing to lose at this point. Good for you Josh, I thought. No more nicey nicey! Show him how you really feel. Of course with an entire hour to fill, the results would have to wait. Please, I thought, no more stupid Simon polls.

For a results show, this was actually pretty good. Our finalists did a nice little oldies montage that showcased them individually and as a group. Even with only five remaining, their group efforts are stellar and harmonies remarkably strong. Sure, it is a little weaker but fun nonetheless.

The Burt Bacharach number reunited us with our old friends Rickey, Kim C and Julia (did you notice Kim and Julia came out holding hands?). I smiled like an idiot. I love these people! The song was wonderful too. I have listened to the CD version a number of times and continue to be amazed by the professionalism of this group ensemble. They are just as good live. By this time I feel as though I am at a family reunion and just loving it!

The first half of the show wrapped up with Justin Guarini singing a cut from his upcoming CD. He looked great and the song was perfect for him. Was it just me, though or did it seem as though he was singing this song directly to Kelly Clarkson who was right down in the front smiling from ear to ear as he took the stage. I replayed the tape and I don’t care how much they deny it - the look in his eyes -come on now!

So now we get down to the actual point of the show. Bye Bye Josh, I am thinking. It started off perfectly – first Kim was spared and then Clay. Both looked appropriately relieved. Okay, Trenyce is in the bottom two. No surprise, someone has to share the stage with Josh. This left Josh and Ruben sitting there looking equally nervous. Oh Ruben, I am thinking, lighten up, it’s not like you are in any danger of elimination here. Cut to commercial.

I was still in the kitchen when the commercial break ended. Now let me tell you how addicted I am to American Idol. I have a little TV in the kitchen and when the show is on, I turn that TV on as a “backup”! If I need to get up during the show, I can still hear what’s going on with this stereo effect I have set up. I can see my big-screen from the kitchen and use the little TV like a speaker. I was on my way back to the living room as Ryan read the results. My jaw literally dropped as Ruben stood up and lumbered to center stage. WHAT???? Ruben? I dropped into my chair, stunned. I was not alone. The judges were dumbstruck – Simon in particular. Josh hid his face, cradling his head in his hands for a good part of the segment. The audience continued to boo. Talk about drama. Just when the show seemed totally predictable and was actually starting to border on being boring, wham – we got knocked upside the head.

Trenyce and Ruben performed again and received a lot of love from both the audience and the judges. Paula was particularly out of control, swaying and shouting and finally dancing with Randy. Simon was beyond pissed off. It was amazing.

In the end, of course, Ruben was spared but Trenyce was sacrificed as the Josh supporters once again rallied round the flag. People, you are not doing him any favors at this point. Paula and Randy are mad now. And Simon is furious. I, for one, don’t think we have seen how nasty Simon can get but I believe that next week we will get to witness him at his absolute worst. He will shred Josh into tiny pieces. Based on what we saw this week, Josh has no love at all for our British friend and he will most likely bite back. It should be some good television if nothing else. Or perhaps painful, depending on your point of view.

So, what happened? I had predicted that many of Carmen’s fans would go to Josh. Looks like I was right on that anyway. But in order to beat out Ruben, Josh had to have an enormous amount of votes – way more than the Carmen contingent could muster. Where did these votes come from?

I got my answer in an email that I received this morning from a fan in Chicago. John wrote:

“I have to believe the reason Josh lasted this week is because there have been thousands and thousands of American military troops coming home to the States over the past two weeks which instantly and significantly increased his fan base with people who had no opportunity to vote for him over the past two months. I do believe the patriotic votes for Josh have dwindled as the major war effort has concluded, but he has a completely new group of fans arriving in the U.S. every day. He may end up being this years ‘Nikki’ for that reason. ”

Of course! Now why didn’t I think of that? Makes perfect sense. Every week his fan base will grow and there is no way to stop that from happening. No matter how poorly he performs, these people will vote for him because he is “one of their own”. Scary. If Josh went all the way, Simon would have apoplexy. Fisticuffs might ensue. Ugly.

In an email I received this morning, Neal suggests a different scenario. Picture this: Josh takes the stage for his second number. Suddenly he stops, turns to the camera and “makes an impassioned speech about stepping down for the good of the show.” A stunning moment in television history.

Now do I really believe and of this could happen? No…I think people will come to their senses and realize that all they are doing is setting Josh up for abuse and ridicule. Bottom line, he is not the most talented and his winning would really be the end of the line for him. The U.S. government is not going to let him leave the Marines because he is the newest American Idol. This is just not going to happen. Let’s say he does win, he still has a year to serve and would not be able to tour, cut a CD, or do the promotional work that is necessary for even a top rate performer to ensure success. And Josh is far from top-rate. The key is to strike while the proverbial “iron is hot” and ride the wave that follows the end of the show. If he is unable to do this, his career will fizzle.

What he can do, though, is ruin Kimberley’s chances at the top three. That is a real possibility. After this close call, Ruben’s fans will be pumped up for next week. There is no way that they will allow that to happen again. Clay seems to have a lock on a top two spot. If Josh’s fan base continues to grow in number, Kim’s in real trouble. Time to get busy, fans of K’Lo! No time to relax this week.

Much as I hated what happened last night, it was great television! The competition begins in earnest now. My dream team is still standing but the marines have landed and the fight could get ugly. Waiting a week for this is going to be painful! But I guess that is what reality TV is all about. The good, the bad and the truly ugly. It’s why we tune in week after week after all.

Donna Reynolds is a freelance writer and technical writer from Syracuse, NY. You can e-mail her at dlrturtle@earthlink.net.

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