Kellie Pickler reaches her level, and fails to reach top 5

North Carolina Beauty Runs into Wall

There are differences between the great and the almost great. Andrea Bocelli broke the code. By bringing PBS quality vocals to FOX, he raised the standard, and only Katharine really rose to the occasion. Chris seemed willing to learn, but it all seemed new to him. I suspect Bocelli was new to everyone there, except Katharine. This is the difference. It's important to search high and deep when expanding one's repertoire. You give points for growth, but preparation is better than learning on the job. Paris also seems quite prepared for her few years alive.

I think Kellie sacrificed her place that others may stay longer. She didn't try to hide her mistakes. I think she is an innately classy and brave woman, and Lord knows she is beautiful to boot. And while she may not be quite ready for concerts, she could, and probably will, burn up some TV sets with rock/country videos.

Stay nice and everyone will help you...

It's interesting to ponder what the remaining five might be thinking.
I bet there is a good deal of secret wishes that someone else wins. Each have reasons why they could think that they deserve to win, except maybe Chris, who I think is astonished he has made it this far. One reason he is so likeable.
Taylor is the oldest, and thus should be rewarded per seniority. Paris is youngest and thus has the greatest shelf life. Elliott has had to overcome great odds. Katharine probably has the best training and range...and looks. I wonder who they would pick, if put to a vote...

Kellie was at her best when she was at her sexiest, like in the picture above. Last night, however, she looked like a 50s maltshop girl. A regression, as was the song. Meanwhile Kat was channeling Sharon Stone. Maybe she will resist the urge to go backwards.

Book Art by Anonymoses

Tony Snow joins Sgt Pecker's Homely Farts Club Band

Sgt. Pecker's Homely Farts Club Band

It was many years ago today
Sgt. Pecker taught the bland to pay
They've been going out and out of style
But they're guaranteed to raise a pile
So may I introduce to you
The fact you've blown for all these years
Sgt. Pecker's Homely Farts Club Band

We're Sgt. Pecker's Homely Farts Club Band
We hope you will enjoy the blow
We're Sgt. Pecker's Homely Farts Club Band
Sit back and let the Enrons go
Sgt. Pecker's Homely, Sgt. Pecker's Homely
Sgt. Pecker's Homely Farts Club Band
It's wonderful to drink beer
It's practically a pill
You're such a homely audience
We'd like to take your home with us
We'd love to take your home

I don't really want to stop the show
But I thought that you might like the blow
The speaker's going to suck a bong
And he wants you all to suck along
So let me introduce to you
The one and only Tony Snow
And Sgt. Pecker’s Homely Farts Club Band

Ally McBeal crashes Boston Legal set

On tonight's episode of "Boston Legal", a character from "Ally McBeal" (John Cage) appears and threatens to shoot Denny Crane. David E. Kelley was the writer and producer of both Boston-based shows.
I had suggested they do such a thing on their message board. Do they really read those things?

Anonymoses' American Idol Assessment: April 25, 2006

Sex Appeal: The Secret Weapon

Stunning Katharine McPhee gets shafted by the judges. Simon says something about back pocket, making me think Paula may be taking bribes. Kat also sang Italian opera with Andrea, just as I had predicted on April 11th.

Katharine's strong point is that she could and would probably do Sarah
Brightman, Linda Eder, Dawn Upshaw, and the high end of the vocal art. Kellie
might not know to do such things, and be sucked into being a bottom-feeder. Let
us hope not.
Perhaps they will be given the opportunity to do some high art. This would
certainly serve as a shake out. Why not see if they can handle America's very
best singers? We've been everywhere else!

But she also flashed the audience, exposing her undergarments to a grateful public.

Elliot Yamin was masterful, and even looked great. A little work on the jacket gape, but otherwise, he has a Tony Bennett appeal, and a great voice. He certainly came up, along with his clothes (excluding the tie) this week. He should sing "Send in the clowns".

Kellie Pickler was okay. She needs to be more original in her song choices, and should have taken advantage of Bocelli. Kat did. Kellie didn't. It will probably hurt her. Strangely, I think Kellie is more interested in eliciting sympathy, which is fine. She is still young at heart. She needs to realize that study is a serious matter, and that intellection is a good tool for study.
Keep the heart and looks, gain a head. You'll go far. Bonnie Raitt, Nancy Griffith, Celtic Women, Lorena McKennit...would all be good for you, I predict.

Paris Bennett was excellent. A step up for her, I suspect. For a variety of reasons, she may well win it. But Katharine was still the best as far as being the total package. It would be fun to see Paris perform some Josephine Baker or Neenna Frelon.

Taylor Hicks looked better than ever, but sang worse than ever. Milking the George Clooney resemblance is a smart thing. Try some tai chi moves and top shelf songs...or scat! Al Jarreau would be way cool. And something challenging, like Blue Rondo.

Chris Daughtry was brilliant. He may well win it all. I wish he would do "Working Class Hero" or "Einstein on the Beach". "Shining" bu Badly Drawn Boy would be a great one for Chris, as well as would be "I'd love to change the world" or "Hail to the Thief".

Culturally, Katharine wins, since she is the most flexible in the upward dimension. Love to hear her do some Eder, Gerrard, Upshaw, or even Cranberries or Bjork.

Kellie and Taylor seem most vulnerable now, ear-wise anyway.

I wonder, finally, if the judges are trying to talk Kat down, so to speak. She is turning into Rita Hayworth, and they don't see it.

Sex appeal is the secret weapon that only a few of the remaining can use with any great success. Kellie and Katharine, mainly. And it may save them, if they don't hide it under a barrel.

Better turn on the heat before it is too late! You'll have the eyeballs.

Classic 24: "This country doesn't deserve to suffer. You do."

God

The First Lady is God. The President is only George W. Bush.

Tonight is the best so far. Find a way to see it.
Think Hamlet.

How on earth did Charlie Logan win the amazing Martha in the first place? She totally outclasses him, and she is not even a murderer. She is as beloved as her husband is despised. Maybe she will become President after her pathetic husband is hauled off to Gitmo...

CIA Official Reveals Bush, Cheney, Rice Were Personally Told Iraq Had No WMD in Fall 2002

Think Progress ? 60 Minutes

BRADLEY: So, in the fall of 2002, before going to war, we had it on good authority from a source within Saddam’s inner circle that he didn’t have an active program for weapons of mass destruction?

DRUMHELLER: Yes.

BRADLEY: There’s no doubt in your mind about that?

DRUMHELLER: No doubt in my mind at all.

BRADLEY: It directly contradicts, though, what the President and his staff were telling us.

DRUMHELLER: The policy was set. The war in Iraq was coming, and they were looking for intelligence to fit into the policy, to justify the policy.