Hernandez takes a hike on ‘American Idol’
Posted on March 12th, 2008 – 9:57 PMBy Randy A. Salas
Well, that was a little bit of a surprise. David Hernandez, not Kristy Lee Cook, left American Idol tonight after receiving the fewest viewer votes. Hooray?
It’s guest blogger Randy Salas here. 
Actually, after David (pictured) and Kristy were announced as being among the bottom three, along with Syesha Mercado — all as expected by many — I found myself rooting for Kristy to stick around a while longer. Her repeat performance tonight confirmed that her countrified “Eight Days a Week” was still a horrible miscalculation, but she did much better with it — more confident, less bug-eyed, stronger rhythmically. Cook also showed a flash with a few twangy lines from “All My Loving” in the opening medley. (That’s the song she should have chosen Tuesday.) David, on the other hand, sounded as Easy Cheese-y as ever with his Vegas-style rehash of “I Saw Her Standing There.”
It’s just as well that David left now, too. The recent controversy over his past as a male stripper — not a man who strips, but a stripper for men — threatened to spiral out of control with each passing week without a mention on the show. It’s like the Jim Carrey elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about.
As for Syesha, all I have to say is “Eh.” She clearly belonged in the bottom three, but this wasn’t her week to go. It will come soon, though.
One final thing: The show is making a Cook-like misstep by repeating the Beatles theme next week. Sure, the Fab Four’s music is timeless and popular, but AI could really use something fresh. After weeks featuring the music of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, and then a return mostly to the ’60s with the Beatles, the show is in dire need of a contemporary jolt. Why not do something newer next week with a promise to revisit the Beatles later in the season?
What do you think? Did viewers make the right choice with David? Should it have been Kristy instead? Or someone else? And how do you feel about a Lennon-McCartney encore?
9 Responses to "Hernandez takes a hike on ‘American Idol’"
Beatles again? Boring! I thought for sure Kristy was gone ,i was shocked when David was eliminated.
I wasn’t surprised David was eliminated, it was his time to go. I love the Beatles, but enough is enough. I say it’s time for American Idols to move on to the 21st century. I’d love to hear new artists.
I did think it would be David so there was no surprise. I believe Sayesha can still turn it around. She has a great voice but she isn’t consistent. As far as the Beatles? I agree that they shouldn’t do back to back weeks - give the Idols a break.
More Lennon and McCartney? Blech. Let’s get on to the mentors and some fresh, fun stuff.
I basically agree with everything people say here, although I can understand the desire to use the L-M book again - it’s amazing how helpful it is for performers to have actually melodic, original songs to sing.
A few times in past years when they’ve sung “the standards,” the result is similar.
I do gotta say, though - KLC’s version of “8 Days a Week” made me suspect that it might not be that great a song. It needs a third section to be a viable country song.
You’re right, Randy, about Chikezie picking a song that is least not overwhelmingly known by everyone. In general I’ve never understood why these kids are typically so mundane in their choice of songs from whatever category or era they’re offered.
Like picking from the 60’s a couple weeks ago: young Mr. Archuletta has to go with one more g*****n version of Imagine? How about “A Change is Gonna Come,” which is a better song and less familiar? Or “Crying?” Or “Underneath the Harlem Moon,” even?
Well it will be interesting what intangible words VFTW candidate Amanda will sing next week during Lennon-McCartney part two. I have to agree with Simon that I cannot understand about half the words she sings. I am not sure how much more America can take of Amanda does Janis Joplin singing the Beatles. If I were to predict I would say she is gone next week as I cannot see the producers having Amanda in the top ten and singing on the road show during the summer tour. But if by chance she does make it then VFTW is going to claim moral victor for having her on the summer road show.
i tell all that brookwhite would be winnar. contemporary music doeses not have originality, creativity and melody of year past. the southern rap and r&b makes es for the garbage can, yes. Town Atlanta bad for hearing music.
Seriously. I agree with the earlier comment that they should have revisited the L-M songbook again later in the season instead of doing it back to back. Personally, I was really hoping that Kristy would go home - I get really tired of how the really pretty girls end up overstaying their welcome on this show (reminds me a lot of Hayley from last year). Get her out of here!
