American Idol: Carly Smithson shocker in the Idoldome

Absolute shock and pandemonium in the Idoldome tonight as the great Carly Smithson's Idol journey came to an end.  Carly fell as part of the most unfair bottom two in Idol history.  Outside, feelings ranged from anger at some of the surviving contestants to confusion.

I'll have more thoughts later tonight, but please use the comments section to say goodbye to the singer I have called the most electrifying Idol contestant ever.  Let's all try and get some closure on this together!

More later.

- Richard Rushfield

Comments

[H]

this show is dead to me...Carly was the only reason i watched and now that she is gone I am done! Carly is a SUPERSTAR and I hope she realizes what a joke this show is. I know she will make an amazing album and I will be first in line to buy it.

[Ruth Wetsell]

Is this a talent contest or a popularity contest? Every week I get a little angrier and more cynical. First, Michael Johns and now Carly?? Is the prerequisite cute blue eyes and dreadlocks or a back street boys vibrato? A year from now no one will remember Jason's eyes or Brooke's personality and they will go the way of Taylor Hicks, who was a nice guy, but forgettable. If the record industry is listening, cut a record of Michael Johns or Carly Smithson and I'm buying. Are you listening???

[jane madison]

Carly has an incredible voice, probably the best female vocalist in years, but, I'm sorry, I just couldn't stand her as a person. Maybe I hate garishly tattooed females, or felt that she had more money invested in her career than 99.9% of other aspiring singers and still couldn't connect to her audience, but, she didn't thrill me. At all. I found her personality completely off-setting. As a result, performances which should have been astounding were spoiled by her egotistical delivery and shrieky over-singing. She just didn't have a charisma which kept me in her corner and to be honest, I was thrilled she was voted off, even though she can outsing Brooke and Syesha by miles, and was certainly more vocally gifted than Jason. Jason is unique. He has that magical quality which is engaging, and I'm not a teeny-bopper. I love the guy. Brooke is so endearing and her voice is pure and touching. I'm glad Syesha got to stay as well. The only other annoying player is that 17 year old with the stage dad from hell. He gives me the creeps, despite his talent, but, at least Andrew Lloyd Weber made him open his eyes. He is a little easier to stand now.

[Drew]

Shocking... and demoralizing. Jason was so far and away the most deserving of the boot. When the result is so far from reality, it does make one question whether it's worth making the emotional investment in the show.

Both Carly and Syesha handled themselves with dignity; the result was so far from just, there was nothing else they could do.

[tom]

That was so totally wrong. Dred boy should have gone.

Two theories.

A) Red America didn't like her singing about "jesus christ" or

B) Her loser boyfriend with the tattooed face put everyone off.

[Scott]

2 of the best in the bottom, the worst is safe again. In my opinion a lot of crack is being smoked during Idol this season. Think about this - these votes are coming from the same people who will be voting for President in a few months. Be afraid, be very afraid.

[Gary K]

Wow. What a shocker. Neither girl belonged in the bottom 2. My biggest shock to date was Michael Johns departure. I thought for sure he would be the finalist with David A. I thought for sure the bottom 2 would be Jason and Brooke. I'll have to just listen to the TIVO from Tuesdays show to see what transpired. Both Syesha and Carly gave the performances of their lives. Even Brooke was in disbelief she is still there. At the rate this year is going, Ryan Seacrest might finally win !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KT]

ridiculous and i hope she knows it. what a bogus show.

[Louis]

Wow, I'm stunned. There were past weeks when I thought perhaps Carly would get the boot, but not last night. She is simply amazing and I'll have a tough time watching the show the rest of the season. Looks like it's become more of a popularity contest than a singing contest. There's way too much psychology involved from the judges... who never really gave Carly a fair shake. She didn't win, but she certainly has a great future ahead of her. I'l be the first on line to buy her new album.

[Ingrid Brown]

What a travesty!! The teeny boppers of American have taken over: no taste, no sense of real talent, nothing!! First Michael Johns and now Carly Smithson. I can't believe it. What two digit IQ's brought this about. No wonder American TV sucks: We have eliminated (with the exception of David Cook) the best. Can I even bear to watch more? And if little schmoozy David Archeleta wins, I'll never watch American Idol again!

[Karla]

I voted 25 times for Carly last night, should have voted more, she has been my favorite all season long and I am very sad to see her go. I was very surprised to see her go so early, I felt she should have made it much farther, she has a much better voice than several of the candidates still left. I am very disappointed in the Idol fans, they are not voting on skill, they are voting based on other factors, which will end up leaving us with a very boring final.

[Suzanne Aguilar]

I have said on several occasions how much i think Brooke stinks. She cannot sing. I can sing better than her anyday. She made a great mistake by starting then stopping then starting all over again. She needs to go. There is no way that she is better than carly or saeysha.Christy Lee Cook was better than her. She needs to go, go , go. NOW!

[gimbo]

Carly is immensely talented, but what a horrible song choice. You want to appeal to as many people as possible, so you don't sing "Jesus Christ, superstar, do you think you're what they say you are," and lose the votes of a large segment of the population. It's indicative of Carly's hubris, and unfortunately hubris don't sell unless you're Barbra Streisand. Look at her comment that in "future weeks" she'd be having more fun with her songs. Psych!

[Leo]

OMG...What just happened?? Carly was awesome and made the show worth watching. I feel the strongest and best is David Cook by far. However little boring stoner Jason is still in it?? And as for Sucky David A. Well sell him to Disney!! Can you imagine what Jason would look like bald?? He would look like those green men from the star trek series!!! As for Brook she is real for sure just a little under-confident. And Sy..well she's in a class of her own..very fine! I just have this to say. Ever since every kid in the world got a cell phone us reasonable adults have lost our say!

[Geoff Berkshire]

The only good thing about the David vs. David or David vs. Jason finale that we seem to be headed toward is that it will clear up a couple hours in my week to do something else.

It'll be the most anti-climatic ending to a decent season since Taylor vs. Katharine.

[Amir]

America made another big mistake again! If American Idol is Jason or Brooke, so what is a different between IDOL and IDLE?

[Jeannie]

What a completely disappointing result. Frankly, the only person who still interests me in the remaining is David Cook, and I actually hope he doesn't win -- I think he'll go farther faster if he isn't limited by the Idol producers. He could go the way of Daughtry right now.

Carly did NOT deserve to go. However, I'll be anxiously awaiting her album.

[john]

surprising and another mistake by AI AGAIN!! This shows rating is gonna be rly low someday. But not as shocking as michael johns being eliminated though

[Jenni]

Idol has lost a big fan/watcher since season 1. Talent has been lost to youth, and youth is who is voting. A youth, in which, has no sense (or care perhaps) of what is good and right. This show is sadly becoming high school- a place where only popularity counts. TIVO no longer has my season pass including American Idol. It's an unfortunate realization what has happened to the show. There are far better quality shows that deserve the attention. Let the teeny boppers have American Idol.

[Industry Chick]

Um, just so you all are clear, all the finalists are under contract to the "Idol producers" if the producers want them, so David Cook gains nothing by losing. As for Carly and Syesha being in the bottom two, it's about likeability, not about singing talent. I am so over Brooke's earnestness. I used to like her, but now she's the kid I'd beat up on the playground she looks so ready to be kicked. And having tattoos on one's face doesn't make Carly's husband (not boyfriend) a loser, but comments like that show why Carly was eliminated. If this is L.A., imagine what they thought in Idaho.

[iris]

OMG she was my fav, Why is Brook and Jason still in? Carly was the best.

[Michael]

I was also surprised that Carly Smithson was eliminated; she didn't deserve it. One could've argued that she was the best female remaining. However, I don't agree with the attacks on Jason Castro and Brooke White. Jason was doomed as soon as the theme was announced; Broadway certainly isn't his thing. He has turned in some of the best performances of the show, though -- Hallelujah, Over the Rainbow. He has a unique voice and, as Simon has repeated, he's charming. In my opinion, he DIDN'T deserve to go based on that one performance. And, in spite of some comments here, Brooke CAN sing. She doesn't have a spectacular voice but has a warmth and sincerity that is very appealing to a lot of people. Smithson has neither of those qualities. Finally, I'm aghast at Richard Rushfield's choice of words here: the GREAT Carly Smithson? The most-electrifying contestant ever? You gotta be kidding. She's pretty good but that's going way to far.

[vito]

Good Night Carly.....You will enjoy an amasing career I'm sure but it won't be at my expense. I can add its unfair you leave tonight as there are others that should leave the show before you but you were not destined to be the American Idol this year at any rate.
I personally think you murdered ALW and the song too - however it was only one of a few others - I guess your just not my cup of tea....Best wishes nonetheless

[John]

Wow. Syesha and Carly as the bottom two. Totally unbelievable. While I haven't liked all of Carly's performances, her performance of Jesus Christ Superstar absolutely rocked. I was blown away. And Syesha. Wow. She was HOT!! I'd even buy the video so I can watch her get off that piano over and over. She consistently gives top rate performances and is consistently in the bottom. But Brooke safe? WTF? She was terrible last night and hasn't had a good performance in weeks. Syesha and Carly are much better performers and vocalists. Despite what American Idol voters say, both of them have a much better future in the music business than Brooke could ever dream of.

[MacKenna]

Brooke's a one note wonder and Jason should be doing Karaoke. Although Carly struck me as tense and aggressive at times, I couldn't blame her because it seemed she wasn't liked by the judges, particularly Simon, from the moment the auditions were over and the show started. Time and time again Randy and Simon seemed less than enthusiastic about her performances, even though they were always light years ahead of others. I'm wondering if this has to do with Carly not being an American citizen and not fitting some desireable physical mould. The other stunner was Syesha being voted in the bottom two. What's that about? She's infinitely better than Brooke and goofy no talent Jason.