Based on his reaction to the judges' negative commentary Tuesday night, Michael Sarver had a sneaking suspicion Motown week would be his last on American Idol — and he was correct. What was surprising, however, was his company at the bottom: after being told he's turning into a contender for the title, Matt Giraud placed in the bottom three Wednesday night, along with Scott MacIntyre.
Ryan Seacrest couldn't resist ribbing the show's mathematically challenged judge at the top of the show ("I've got three words for you: Kara Dio Guardi" he said to a baffled DioGuardi), and after announcing this week pulled in a record-breaking 36 million votes — the most ever for a Top 10 — the remaining hopefuls likely lip-synched a Motown medley. Can somebody please stop this show from whipping out "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" again? Ruben Studdard sweated like Patrick Ewing crooning his new single, "Together," and Smokey Robinson and Joss Stone teamed for a duet. By the time Stevie Wonder took the stage, Anoop Desai and Danny Gokey were dancing like they were at a wedding. An elated Wonder threw an "I love you, Barack Obama!" into his set. He loves you, too, Stevie.
When Sarver got the bad news that he'd been axed, an even tougher reality set in: "I have to sing after Stevie, oh, crap," he muttered. Aptly, his tune was "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." While the judges deliberated whether to use their special "Judge's Save" option, Simon Cowell cut through the chatter with "I'm going to make a decision. Michael ..." and my DVR cut off. Nice work, Fox. But it looks like Idol won't get to toss around the phrase "roughneck" anymore.
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