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

[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.

[Mark]

Carly is awesome! American Idol is a great show but the producers have become a little obvious in the pusuit of their own agenda. I still don't have a clue why any level headed parent would let their child pay money for the privilege of casting a meaningless vote.

Best of luck to Carly.

[Christina]

I'm already bored to tears at the thought of watching Idol without Carly. In my opinion, she was the best contestant to ever grace the Idol stage. I've watched the show for six of its seven seasons, and I've never been compelled to vote until my fingers hurt for anyone else but Carly. Hell, I've never before been compelled to vote weekly for any contestant period, but she was worth those arduous two-hour sessions.

I can't bring myself to watch the rest of the season. David vs. David is inevitable, and though I really like the singers as a whole this season, I'd throw 'em all on the Idol chopping block to hear the sensational Carly sing again on my TV. Not only will I buy her album, but I'll be on the lookout for a San Francisco date when she (hopefully) headlines her own tour.

On the bright side of things, I've regained my Tuesday nights back...

[Katie]

I can understand anyones anger when their favorite is voted off AI, but I can't understand how people still believe that this show is only about who has the best voice. It's been on for seven years. If you have ever read blogs or message boards on the internet, it is totally about fan bases. That is the way it is set up and has been from the beginning. As we speak tonight, people are planning on who to vote for, to stop someone else from advancing, even if they do not like the person. Stop being naive. He who makes it in fast enough to vote helps their favorite. After people are voted off, then people gravitate toward someone else or vote in retribution. Also, I get tired of hearing about season five. Taylor Hicks was a breath of fresh air that season. He created excitement and his versions of songs were unique. He has not disappeared from the scene at all. He is still thrilling his fans, but he, and they have moved on. Be careful who you vote for though.........the show can be very cruel if you don't meet their criteria . Whoever wins, they had better be a strong person to withstand the vitreol they can create against you.

[giancarlo]

this is a very very sad moment in the history of AI -- once again, it's a popularity contest, and not a singing contest. The three judges have their responsibility in all this, because they've been unfair to Carly for weeks now. And yes, the frequent closeups of Carly's husband's tattooed face didn't help, nor did Carly's histrionics last week when she was revealed safe -- the tshirt was not brilliant either. But she was the best singer, together with David Cook. Her Dolly Parton week will remain as one of the most perfect performances in Idol history, comparable to Kimberley Locke's New York State of Mind or Band of Gold. Stoner Jason remains there, lost in the cloud of smoke he's been inhaling, David A. will keep wowing pre-teens and force their families to vote for him. Syesha is off the show in 7 days, for sure. And Brooke? She'd better wake up and pick up the pieces, since America has obviously proven they do love her...

[Ryan]

Not so shocking. Carly's been down near the bottom before. She did reasonably well on Tuesday, but David A. and Syesha did better. She's got a big voice, but I never thought she connected well with the audience, at least on TV (the overheated praise for her on this blog notwithstanding). And, come on, her favorite band is Heart.

If Carly's ouster wasn't this week, it would have been soon. That said, she shouldn't have been voted off this week -- it should have been Brooke or Jason, but that will work itself out in short order. We remain headed inexorably toward a David vs. David final.

[jozielee]

AI is growing up. Winning the AI title isn't the crowning glory it once was. That show is producing many "idols" per season as other producers come in and offer opportunities to the "cast-offs."

Carly will be HUGE in short order, especially if she works with someone like Andrew Lloyd Weber. She could probably use the rest between now and AI tour rehearsals.

There's so much talent in the pool of contestants this year it was inevitable voting would change. I applaud AI for staying fresh and evolving.

[Dan]

She sucked and it's good she's gone.

[Daniel]

She was never as good as she thought she was. She has had many chances and they finaly ran out. Good bye, good riddance!!

[Rick Boy]

She didn't have the talent to connect with the crowd, it was just about look at me. But mainly it was America just got fed up with the camera cutting away to her husband's face after she'd finished her work. This is American Idol!! not a freak show.

[Kate]

Carly is an exceptional vocalist but it seems like she failed to connect with the viewers for some reason. As a result she didn't build up a fan base like some of the other contestants have.

It's pretty disturbing that people would get angry at the surviving contestants over this. It's not their fault. It would be like getting angry at Carly because Michael Johns was eliminated. Ridiculous.

[Thomas]

This has to be the most disappointing 'boot' from Idol since Daughtry two seasons ago. Carly is magical and so gifted. How Dreadlock Boy is still in there can be explained in 3 words: Cellphoned prepubescent females. There needs to be a monitoring system online or via phone where you can only vote ONCE. But the producers would never go for this.
So our dear Carly, as Simon says, can hold her head high. Maybe she can have a life on Broadway, but could be equally successful as a Pop singer.

[idollover]

carly had a nice voice, sure, but can u imagine her as the next american idol, she doesn't have the range, or the emotional connection or the vocal restraint. She has the voice, but can't do anything with it. Simon was right, she was a little bit shouty. She always is - I do think though that she was a little better than some others....like jason. i wish he or maybe syesha went....i'm rooting for brooke and david c to win now...he was by far the best. i hate david a....he has a voice sure...but imagine him as our next american idol...c'mon - he won't even know whether he won because of his voice, or his ability to woo the teenage girls in america.

[dana]

david c is by far better than carly, and i'm glad she's gone. while interesting, and very loud, carly wasn't at all connected, emotionally or otherwise - to the audience. i have to say, i'm a little relieved i won't have to bear another week of her just shouting in my face. her voice is brilliant, true, better than others, and i loved her accent....but she was no american idol. the word 'idol' just doesn't go with her. she's just not idol-like...i wouldnt' want her as my idol. it doesn't matter...everyone knows that david c will win, or maybe because of his fans, david a.

[JW]

Randy Jackson is part of the problem. So many people who vote actually listen to that idiot and he keeps saying. 'If you can sing, you can sing anything". That is absolutely absurd. Can you imagine Aretha Franklin, the late Ray Charles, Tony Bennet, the late Janet Joplin, Barry Gibb or countless other artists who are great singers, attempting to sing some of the idiotic categories that they give the contestants to sing? It's pure lunacy. In my opinion, they jumped the shark this week by having them sing Andrew Lloyd Weber songs and I just removed Idol from my Tivo season pass. This show has really become a joke.

[LB girl]

Week after week, David A. is given a pass. He is never criticised for his boring sameness or goofy personality. He actually is starting to creep me out--he doesn't seem human. Just wind him up and send him out on stage and he will shuffle his feet, giggle and sing. And artistically--he has not a clue about depth and soul and how it relates to music. He does have a gift with his voice but still, he ain't all that. I dont know why the judges were so harsh on Sanjaya last year--who was the same age--and David is never criticised. Sanjaya was awful, but at least he was interesting! Obviously, I am not a teenybopper, so perhaps I don't appreciate what makes the little girls cry, but it feels to me that the powers that be want him to win very badly, so a hands off order has been issued to the judges. I mean, you would think Simon would find *something* negative to say!