'American Idol': Syesha Mercado faces the Idol Extra reaper

As soon as an "American Idol" contestant is eliminated, before he or she even has time to cry, scream or kiss their mother, JD Roberto appears. He is the host of "American Idol Extra," a behind-the-scenes "American Idol" post-show that runs Thursday nights on the Fox Reality Channel.

"Idol" alums Constantine Maroulis and Gina Glocksen serve as JD's co-hosts on the show, conducting interviews with a lively mix of celebrities, "Idol" judges and "Idol" experts. It is JD's portion, however, that truly sets the "Idol Extra" apart from other "Idol"-themed after-shows. Because JD meets each contestant for the first interview of their post-Idol career, he is like the grim reaper of "Idol" lore.  When JD approached Carly Smithson after her ouster, she reacted by shielding her face in mock-horror. "Oh, it's you!" She exclaimed. "I never wanted to see you!"

After exchanging a few words with JD and soaking up some love from Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Simon Cowell, the fallen Idol gets an hour of much-needed down-time, away from the press and their fans. What the eliminee does during that hour of relative solitude remains a mystery.  My uneducated guess is that some sort of coaching occurs, preparing the fallen Idol for the impending deluge of press.

After the hour expires, the eliminated contestant heads to the set of "Idol Extra" for the first formal interview since his or her ouster, again with JD Roberto. On Wednesday night, it was Syesha Mercado's turn to face the man, the myth, the legend, the reaper.

Typically, "Idol Extra" is filmed on the "Idol" stage, but since the flagship show moves to the Nokia Theatre next week, stagehands broke down the "Idol" set on Wednesday evening, leaving "Idol Extra" to shoot in the parking lot. The setup in the parking lot was primitive and the air was chilly, but the audience didn't seem to mind.  They were easily placated by a steady stream of "American Idol" T-shirts and Reese's Pieces.

The show began with an appearance by Syesha's loyal entourage. Her mother, father and fiancé confessed that they pray together before every show. "We hate Wednesday nights," Syesha's fiancé revealed. "We're like, 'Why's she always on the bottom?' "

And then she emerged.  TV doesn't do this woman justice.  Dressed in simple dark jeans, white sneakers and a low-cut white tank, Syesha was effortlessly gorgeous.  "You're beautiful," shrieked a fan from the audience. "Thank you," Syesha replied, her Cheshire cat grin stretching across her face. And from that first mile-wide smile, Syesha's pride never faltered.  Sure, she had just been booted off of the nation's largest television show, just one week shy of winning it all, but you never would have known it.

"I love you," shouted a voice from behind the camera. "I love you too, daddy," Syesha replied evenly. Turned out that after leaving the stage, Syesha's entourage had not gone far. They were lurking in the shadows behind the bleachers, ready to give her a word of encouragement if ever she needed it. Which she didn't. Syesha was unshakable.

Next, Syesha was subjected to clips of remaining Idols David Archuleta and David Cook bidding her adieu.  Archuleta talked about the way Syesha had "blossomed," and Cook told her, "You know, you could take over the world with your voice." It was a sweet tape, sure, but there was something undeniably sinister about watching the victors compliment the loser. Still, Syesha retained her impeccable composure, perching on her petite stool with a Miss America-perfect smile. 

When asked how she had defied the oddsmakers and rocketed into the final three, Syesha attributed her success to visualization.  She had visualized herself in the top 6, 5, 4 and 3, and her dreams had come to fruition. "My last goal was top 3, and I accomplished it, so I'm really happy," she explained. "I'm at peace now."  Syesha also cited "meditating" and "reading positive books" as crucial steps on her journey to the top. 

Throughout the interview, Syesha's fiancé waited on the sidelines, eager to embrace his ladylove between segments.  Syesha obliged but never came anywhere close to crumbling in his arms or breaking down. As much as she showered praise on her family during her interview, it was clear that Syesha's strength came, first and foremost, from within. 

Now, I know that Syesha's unshakable demeanor and omnipresent supersmile led some viewers to question her sincerity.  It was all too reminiscent of a pageant queen, perhaps.  A bit too Broadway, maybe. But for the elimination, it served her perfectly. Syesha left with her dignity intact, nay, enhanced. Syesha must be great at getting dumped. She would just flash her pearly whites and say (as she did in her "Idol" bio), "Someone will always have an opinion about you, but what's most important is what you think of yourself. " And she might show a little cleavage too, just for good measure. 

Before she left the "Idol Extra" stage, Syesha autographed a stack of headshots for the audience. She was sweet and accommodating but a little distant. When she got to the awkward, black-clad teenager in front of me, however, Syesha slowed down. "Are you shy?" Syesha inquired, gazing at the girl whose down-turned expression betrayed a critical lack of self-confidence.  The answer was inaudible. Syesha looked deep into the troubled girl's eyes and gave an answer both loving and firm:  "Don't be shy, girl!"

-- Stephanie Lysaght

Comments

[Garrett Fountain]

syesha had to be eliminated because she was too much competition against David Cook. Now with only Little David as his only foe, he will just breeze into the winners spot. It is sad that the show used Syesha the way the it did but that is the true American way. She sings one thousand times better than Archeletta and everyone knows it. We were all slapped in the face with her departure but could not see the hand.

I wish you great success Syesha and I will buy your music when it is released.

[Michelle]

David Archeleta is the best for winning Idol #1.
Syesha has the best voice and is the best looking.
David Cook sang the best songs and would sell more albums in real life.

anyone agree?

[Jules]

Yes, the show does come accross as contrived. So many talented singers were voted off earlier on - Carly Smithson, Michael Johns. And Brooke White and the girl who sold her horse were kept on. Also, Paula told Sayesha that she didn't perform well enough to get in the finals. That does not sound like her. At least Simon's critiques (though harsh) are not that off the mark. Paula either praises people too much or discounts them unfairly. If I remember right, she didn't seem too keen on Carrie Underwood.

[Karen]

i love David Archuleta's exquisite, soaring, passionate voice. There are a number of his songs that I can't listen to without getting teary. (Brodie, you should get your hearing checked.) I am way past being a teeny bopper, and I love this young guy with the killer voice. A recent poll found that Archuleta's fan base was 70% female, 30% male. Ages were 30% 17 and under, 28% 18-30, and 42% aged 30+. Maybe you are just a rocker and don't care for more melodic music; my son's that way.

I'm not alone in being impressed with David A. Here are a couple of comments by men who are wowed by David.

A musician with the handle Zog wrote about how David A. stylizes music:
"You'll notice that the improvised lines are very different from the other link (comparing live and studio versions). David is doing that on the fly—his melodic instinct guiding him through those phrases. That's his gift.

It's like watching a cat spinning in midair to land on its feet every time. It seems like he just can't fail to glide into the perfect landing on those phrases, and they're different every time. This is what David A. does without thinking.

DAVID HAS A BEAUTIFUL, SMOKY POP VOICE, BUT ALSO THE MUSICAL SOPHISTICATION OF A GOOD JAZZ SINGER. If he visited the studio 5 or 6 times to record this song, believe me, it would come out differently each and every time. His virtuosity makes him like a musical gyroscope, he'll tilt this way in one session, another way in the next session, but it always comes out exactly right.

When David is allowed free reign over his own artistic choices, he'll be in a class of his own. HE'S THE GENIUS OF THE GROUP, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT."

An eonline reporter wrote the following about the quality of David A.'s voice:
"But tonight, sitting in the live audience at Idol, I came to the realization that no matter who you are or what your age, when you hear David Archuleta in person, it is hard not to admit: He is so undeniably talented—WITH A VOICE SO FLAWLESS AND DYNAMIC AND PURE, IT ACTUALLY RESONATES IN YOUR SOUL—that he probably most deserves to be the winner of this year's American Idol. (It would explain why HE GOT THE ONLY FULL-AUDIENCE STANDING O's of the night—and TWO of them, at that!)"

David Archuleta is incredible and should win Idol. I'll do what I can to help by voting my fingers off come next Tuesday. Good luck, David A!

[Karen]

I can't believe people here denigrating David Archuleta, saying it's just boppers who like him, that he's a one-trick pony. It just isn't true. It's not David's fault that American Idol had theme weeks. You sing what you get, and he's done it well, VERY well, and America loves the kid with the incredible voice.

I just peeked at some poll sites. At votenumber1, David A. leads Cook 64% to 36%. At vote4idol, overall votes for Archuleta are 5,858,000 to Cook at 2,173,000; today's count is 104,600 for Archie, 27,500 for Cookie. At votefair, David Archuleta has a huge lead over Cook. At AOL, David A. leads Cook but they don't show the breakdown.

It just may be that you like a particular genre of music, so you're turned on by Cook and off by Archuleta. Fact is, though, a whole lot of people like Archuleta. Personally, I think it'll be close coz a lot of rockers tune into Idol. Archuleta has that beautiful, emotive voice that people love, so who knows how the chips will fall. We'll know come Wednesday.

Go, Archie!!

[DONNA]

THE REALTY IS DAVID COOK IS A STAR PEERFORMER.. HE PLAYS MUSICAL INTRUMENTS....AND SINGS AMAZING.. DID YOU HEAR THE BILLY JEAN THE SONG FROM MICHAEL JACKSON HE SANG ?? AMAZING .. IF MICHAEL JACKSON NEEDS MONEY HE SHOULD CALL DAVID TO SELL THAT SONG.HE WAS UNBELIEVABLE!!! . THE LITTLE GUY DAVID A ALTHOUGH SINGS GOOD CLEAR VOICE, HIS TALENT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO DAVID COOK.... DAVID COOK IS THE ENTIRE PACKAGE AND EVEN IF HE DOES NOT WIN.. RECORD SELLS WILL SHOW WHO REALLY IS THE BEST... ARCHELETTA IS A BALLAD SINGER... LIKE THEY SAID ABOUT THE TALENTED ABOUT SYESHIA .. DAVID ARCHULETTA IS PREDICTABLE.. DAVID COOK SANG A BALLAD ROBERTA FLACK?? CAN ARCHULETTA ROCK THE STAGE?? MORE LIKE A CHIWAWA TRYING TO BE A TIGER??

[DONNA]

DAVID ARCHULETTA CAN SING.. BUT DAVID COOK SINGS , PERFORMS AND PLAYS INSTRUMENTS...DAVID A IS PREDICTABLE HE IS A BALLAD BOY.. WHEN COOK WAS PUT TO THE TEST HE SANG ROBERTA FLACK AND WAS AMAZING IN THAT BALLAD.. WE KNOW DAVID COOK CAN DO BOTH.. ARCHULETTA JUST CANT ROCK THE HOUSE.. WE SAW THAT WHEN HE TRIED LAST WEEK...SYESHIA WAS AMAZING AT LEAST WHEN SHE SANG SHE GAVE PERSONALITY...ARCHULETTA IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING A STAR COMPARED TO COOK.. WE ALL KNOW IF HE STEPS OUT OF THE BALLAD BOX HES LIKE A " CHIWAWA TRYING TO BE A TIGER" COOK CAN OUTPERFORM HIM ALL AROUND.. FACT!!!

[Atlantic Islander]

I picked DC as a front runner from the top 11, however, when Syesha did 'Me and Mr Jones' and the judges slammed it, she became a favorite for me, more so after it was so obvious that Randy and Simon were dogging her every performance, when she started improving by a mile, Paula was the only one giving her any props, but I lost all respect for Paula when she went along with the producers and the other two judges and told Syesha that her performance this past Tuesday was not enough to get her in the finals, and Randy told her she's #3. Syesha, you have a great voice, it's not perfect yet, but almost there, your studio versions are almost flawless and you have beautiful tone. You have gained a lot of fans, and your rendition of 'One Rock and Roll too Many' is one of AI's best performances. No, i do NOT think all you can do is Broadway, what a stupid thing for the judges to say and for others to run with. I will miss you next week, will not be watching AI and will not vote for anyone else, Libby D, i agree...i got the same strange phone antics and re: .'I TRIED to vote for Syesha. Kept getting a message the numbers could not go through as dailed. That was BS. You could hear a little click after hitting the last number..then the message.'
AI, can you explain that little click??? You guys have fooled people for the last time, this show is heading out the door!

[Kish]

IDIOTS, I hate that your Americans. You make a joke out of all of U.S.. You pay more attention to this crap, dreaming of fame or a relationship with the famous. You are the truely Dead-Behind-the-Eyes people. Don't worry, by the time you freaks start paying attention, the U.S. will be no more. I hope history will forgive the X'rs for not having the numbers to stop the selfish baby-boomers and thier oblivious grandchildren from running America into the ground.

[peajmac]

Interesting Kish because clearly you cared enough about "this crap" to come onto the page...and didn't care enough to spell TRULY correctly.
Anywhoo...love David Cook but that arrangement of Billy Jean was not his own Donna, Chris Cornell did it originally. David A. seems geniunely sweet and does do those ballads well. He also seems like a scared little gay boy who's overbearing Mormon father is stifling any creativity he may have. Hopefully he'll be able to break away in a few years. In truth, David C. doesn't need the win to do well...David A. just might. I'll still be voting for DC.

[speakonit]

Randy was the one who dogged Syesha the most of the judges. His comments were baseless. She was a good singer from the start of the show. I wonder if this guy like black females. He is married to a white woman and seemed to have given some of the lesser talents of the white girls (especially the ones with blonde hair) positive comments when they clearly couldn't sing as well as Syesha. sometimes they would do subpar songs and he would give them good comments but when it came to syesha and some of the other black females on the show he was tougher on them. I used to get bewildered that he hardly ever had good things to say about her when she would sing the songs good. It was only in the later part that he had some decent and poistive comments for her a couple times.

[anggie]

i love syesha
she's wonderful