'American Idol': Johns but not forgotten

We knew this could happen. When each new 12 is introduced, we meet our new champions knowing that for all but one, their lives on this stage will be short, and one day very soon, the end will come; without warning, Angel of Death Seacrest will take each in his icy embrace.

But somehow, even knowing the day must come doesn’t make it any easier.

Tonight, in the Idoldome, America said goodbye to Michael Johns, the Duende From Down Under, one-time favorite to win it all.  Perhaps the most charismatic male candidate ever to step foot in the Idoldome, the most musically adventurous of any remaining candidate met a premature end this evening; the journey ending at the number eight slot for the soulful Australian crooner.

The Duende’s early departure was the first major unexpected cut of a season that has been quantitatively proven by this column to be the highest average season in "American Idol" history. 

This is traditionally the point in the "Idol" season where early favorites begin to falter. At roughly here in previous years, the Idoldome has been shocked to see Angel of Death Seacrest swoop down without warning on sensations Chris Daughtry, Mandisa and Jennifer Hudson. But the dismissal of Johns, the oldest of the remaining candidates who often seemed to be operating on another plane entirely, seems particularly cruel while perpetual denizens of the bottom three Syesha Mercado and Kristy Lee Cook linger on.

Ultimately however, Johns dismissal proves, once again, that you cannot ignore the youth vote on "American Idol." The smoldering performer offered a very grown-up appeal that did little to play to the 10-year-old set, and, like Daughtry, Mandisa and Hudson before, the neglect of that critical demographic may be what ultimately cost him his place in the Idoldome.

Further, The Duende’s mere presence in the bottom three, standing alongside another early favorite and the most electrifying performer in "Idol" history Carly Smithson, shows that in this greatest of all seasons, no one –- except of course The Chosen One -- can afford to have a bad night. After every single non-amazing performance they give, the contestants are forced to play Russian roulette with their survival.  This week sadly, the Duende turned in a performance that was merely OK, and that failure cost him everything.

And in the coming weeks, the stakes will only rise and rise, as will the expectations. 

But now, we bid farewell to The Duende with these words from A.E. Housman, which remind us that having created them and brought them this far, even "American Idol" can no longer truly kill its children for whom the arms of show business await outside the Idoldome gates.

And thus:

“Smart lad, to slip betimes away

From fields where glory does not stay,

And early though the laurel grows

It withers quicker than the rose.”

All the same, it was far too soon to say goodbye.

-- Richard Rushfield

(Photo courtesy of Fox)

Comments

[Steven]

You mean Jennifer HUDSON, not Holiday.

[Jay]

Michael Johns should have been in the top three in the end, not the bottom three this week. He has all the talent to become a major recording star who will be a big success with the 25 years of age and older public.

Johns could become the Chris Daughtry of this years American Idol. Lets hope so, he deserves to become a big star.

[Kei]

A HUGE disappointment...From an ITunes perspective, there were only 2 contestants whose songs I've actually downloaded: Michael Johns and David Archuleta. When all's said and done, I think that these are the only two Idols whose CD's I'd buy. Just listen to some of Michael Johns pre-Idol music with his band on YouTube. Great stuff! Surely he will have the kind of success that Daughtry did... Nonetheless, it's a real bummer that he won't be around to watch on Tues.nights anymore. His absence will be felt very strongly.

I also want to add that Ryan Seacrest's final comments to Michael, teasing him into believing in the possibility that he might be offered another chance to stay, was cruel and tasteless. Seacrest and Producers...you have NO CLASS!

[Matt]

Syesha MUST go! Too early for Michael, too early for Carly. Down with Syesha!

[Dropping By]

While AI is a talent show -- meaning Michael Johns should have stayed around a tad longer perhaps -- it is also a reality show with a "Survivor"-like subtext. Johns, Daughtry, Hudson et al. are all very talented and attractive, and the latter two have gone on to be richly rewarded for their core gifts. But at times their performances on AI betrayed a cluelessness about the way the game should be played. To give just one example: With a handsome smile on his face, Johns kept popping off at Randy this past Tuesday night until the Big Dog felt compelled to get in a final, sharply-edged last word. Regardless of how the tiny crowd in the Idoldome might feel about such displays of independence by a contestant, it does NOT play well to the at-home audience. And the content of Johns's blathering, hitting what seemed to us to be a few calculating words ("America," "dreams" etc.) came off with a whiff of desperation. The TV audience rewards CLEVER calculation (such as Kristy Lee Cook's singing "Proud to be an American"), but Johns didn't seem clever -- to say nothing of the fact that he sang a song the style of which Randy and Simon had already in a previous week said was not his forte. If a contestant hasn't learned by Season 7 that he will rue the day he dismisses the judges' counsel, then he doesn't deserve that stage. Johns's departure was, thus, early but inevitable -- and would-be Idols should be paying attention like dedicated professionals if they are hoping to survive the AI gauntlet.

[Coonie in SC]

Syesha is the worst of the group, but she is safe because she is the only black performer.

[ExSinger]

After Tuesday's performances, I predicted to my wife that this week would be a shocker. Someone on another board said it best about Michael: he's only playing at being a rock star. Rushfield's got it wrong, I'm afraid: Mr. Johns does not have the charisma, he is only pretending to have the charisma. He is not paying attention to the competition element here, which is to get votes, not just to be a better singer (which he's not, compared to Carly, David A., or David C.). When asked why he chose certain songs, he would reply that he'd always wanted to perform that song in front of an audience. He's living out his fantasy of rock stardom, not simply being a rock star. Those who are extremely successful in the business are so because they stick with what they're really good at. You don't hear Stephen Tyler singing R&B, or Snoop Dogg belting out Broadway tunes, do ya? Granted, the AI format pushes singer outside their comfort zone, but past winners (or those who didn't win but went on to become mega-stars) weren't simply the most versatile singers who could get inside a genre and conform to it. They were those who really could mold a song or genre to their vocal/performance strengths. Daughtry, Aiken, Clarkson, Underwood (my new favorite), and even Hicks played to their strengths and came out ahead. Randy said it on Larry King Monday night: he'd record Kristy Lee Cook before Michael Johns. Apparently, American voters agreed.

[Michael]

Steven, he SAID "Hudson." (Unless he went back and changed it, the sneak.)

[Jackielou]

I have been trying all season long to have a favorite, however I am at a loss. No one has any "pizazz" (I liked Chikezee, I feel he will go far in his entertainment endeavors)... I miss Melinda from last season, she is a performer, there is no one this season that has stepped apart from the rest.

I am sad to see Michael go, however he really blew it with "Dream On" he took out the best part of the song that would lead up to rockin' end. He'll get offers and we'll know of him in the future, but he is no "AI".

Carly has a good voice, no "pizazz", boring except for that tattoo she keeps advertising for her husbands business.... get over it Carly, dress like your "Idol" material and cover it up.
David "The Chosen One" has not shown any range or "pizazz".
Brooke looks like she doesn't know what to do if she isn't behind a guitar or piano.
Syesha is good but forgettable.
David Cook was terrible on Tuesday, started the song "too low" and had nowhere to go. He needs to take some pointers from Daughtry if he plans to be the next "Idol" rocker.
I like Jason Castro, I doubt if he'll be the next "AI" but he is different and real.
Kristie Lee, hmmm, maybe she'll get her horse back? She's growing every week but she also needs to generate a spark to get some heat.

As I mentioned before, I miss Melinda...

[Eric]

I don't necessarily disagree with the overall point of this article, but the example used are kind of faulty. Chris Daughtry made it to the final four--that's far longer than Michael was in the competition. Jennifer Hudson was never really a favorite for the title, as least not nearly as much as Michael Johns was at the beginning of the final 12. Jennifer Hudson was a wild-card selection and only really had a good week or two before being eliminated--Fantasia and Latoya London were the big favorites that year, and no one seriously talked of Jennifer Hudsdon winning, at least that I can recall. Retrospectively, people are now saying she was much better on Idol than she actually was.

And Carly Smithson the most electrifying performer in Idol history? Really? I kind of like her, but she's only electrifying if you like funny, strained faces when someone is singing.

[Jose Arribas]

Of the thousands of recaps on the Internet, yours is absolutely by far the best. I always get several chuckles and guffaws and sometimes even a belly laugh out of it. We missed you earlier this week. Where were you?

[Roger]

"the most electrifying performer in "Idol" history Carly Smithson" --- REALLY???

Then, American Idol is in deep trouble, indeed.

[R.L.]

Okay, here's the reality of it. Could you imagine Michael Johns gracing the cover of 'Tiger Beat' magazine? Could you imagine the mom's of the pre-teens who drive Idol voting lettimg them buy that magazine? (Avert your eyes, Muffy, before he seduces you with his smoldering stare!) Johns was far too provocatively sexual for an extended stay on 'Idol.'. Let's face it: he was doomed because he is an actual adult. I could see him on the cover of 'GQ.' with other grown-up celebrities, not the plethora of teen magazines where David Archuleta covers will sell a billion copies. It's over and it's been over from the start. David Archuleta will win, the marketing gods will be pleased and all will be right in the world of reality show celebrity.

[Zack]

American Idol lost their best performer but he'll get his deal anyway.

[jozielee]

American Idol does it again. Just when I thought I was immune to the allure, they shock then reel me back into the fold. I've been a fan since season two. Copiously voted, attended the Pop-Tart concerts bought the poster, CDs and t-shirt. I still follow Kimberley Locke's career and buy tickets to her concerts.

Taylor Hicks and Sanjaya soured my taste for Idol.

Then, a few weeks ago, the buzz surrounding Michael Johns, DCook and DArchuleta drew me back. On stage these guys are dynamic. Every season there's a shake up. But not until the dismissal of Michael Johns have I felt true loss.

Voting Michael Johns off serves three purposes: 1) fires up viewers to vote, 2) keeps him in the consciousness of fans who will support his career, 3) ensures the remaining front-runners do better choosing more appropriate musical selections.

Michael probably wasn't going to win, so the drama that's surrounding him today has created a crescendo of buzz that will hopefully increase in volume as the years pass. Like Simon Cowell always says, AI can open the door: What you do with the exposure is up to you. Just from the AI association, he's sure to enjoy an exciting entertainment career. Best wishes, Michael, you sexy thing!

[L.A.]

I read in an interview Michael Johns gave that he was contacted by Dolly Parton, Nicole Kidman, and Keith Urban this morning. He was my favorite on AI and it was his amazing Bohemian Rhapsody audition that actually even got me interested in it in the first place as I'd never before bothered to watch the show. He will be missed terribly, but with huge names like this contacting him it gives me definite hope that he's just at the beginning of a long prosperous career. I sure hope so!
Will we continue to watch AI now that he's gone? I really can't say that there's anyone else on there nearly as gripping, and it will be damn hard to watch Syesha and Kristy with their blah renditions knowing full well it should have been one of them to leave!
We love you, Michael!

[Michelle]

I'm still in shock and probably will be until the show is over. I could not believe what happened last night. It feels so unreal. America got it wrong, I voted several times. I'm on the west coast so I looked online to see who was voted off (at 6 my time) and when I saw it was him, I thought it was a joke. This guy is full of talent and this elimination proves that it's all based on popularity. I mean come on, we all know Kristy Lee Cook should've gone home awhile ago. It hasn't sunk in yet that I won't see him on tuesday & wednesday nights anymore. (Doubt I'll be watching AI anymore) There were a few before him that deserved to go home. I know he wasn't going to win it all but I wanted to see him for a few more weeks. And when you think about it, he had never been in the bottom three, then suddenly he falls there and is eliminated? It doesn't make sense. Even during the Paul McCartney/John Lennon and Beatles week, I had fears he'd be going home and you could even see by his signs of relief that he was happy he didn't fall in the bottom three. Now he can get a jumpstart on his career. Like he sang two weeks ago, (My favorite performance!) "It's all WRONG, but it's ALRIGHT." And we won't forget about you Mr. Johns, you are the Champion in my heart.

[Gail Cruz]

I think the American people made a BIG mistake in eliminating a talent in Michael Johns. I mean compare him to Christy!!! Are you Americans mad???

[mjack103]

I'm as shocked and disappointed as any of the American Idol fans at Michael Johns dismissal, but it only happen because idol fans assume that good performers are safe and others are going to vote for them. In fairness, with cannot say that syesha or carly are better or worse. Idols tend to get better and develop down the stretch. Kristie was in the bottom three for three straight weeks. noboby's streaming down with kristie. In my opinion, each of the contestants can be the best performer of the night or the worst. This week I thought that was Carly. Next week it might be either of the Davids.
Syesha may benefit from some black support because she's black, but I believe she's still around she's earned her spot with her ability like everyone else and all ethnics are impressed with her, not just african-american. It's a competition and there will only be one winner. Best wishes to all contestants!

[ivee]

YOU PPL DON'T GET IT!! AMERICAN DIDN'T WANT TO VOTE THAT WAY..IT JUST HAPPEN..EVEN THE LITTLE 10 YRS OLD DIDN'T WANT HIM TO WIN..COME ON U SING WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS AND THEY ARE IN LOVEEE WITH YOU!! BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEIR DADDIES LISTEN TO AND THEY HAVE THEIR MOM TO INFLUNECE THEM..MOST LIKELY THEIR MOM LIKED MICHAEL! Something went wrong...I don't want to watch ever again..I lovedd Michael and Im not even legal, so yes he had sex appeal to girls under 17 too

[KA]

Johns went home because he didn't vary his song choices. All the rock anthems got to being a bit boring and one-note.