I have just watched my LAST episode of American Idol

---

Posted by Jenn524

I am also outraged by who was in the bottom 3. But I don't think the show is fixed. To those of you that think it is fixed I'm wondering: 1) How is it fixed and 2) what purpose does it serve to have it be fixed. I just don't see the reasoning behind it.

I think this is what happens when you have people voting. You take the chance that they are not going to pick the best singer. Rather they will pick the cutest or they'll pick the person they think needs the most help.

I've said it a million times before, they should have people vote for who they want off. You would have a lot less of people sneaking through.

---

Well said Jenn

---

Posted by regi

---

Posted by regi

---

Posted by kpny622

I somehow can't believe those were the real bottom 3 - I think they are just trying to get people to vote. I want to meet whoever is voting for John Stevens! I have a couple of questions!

---

Is there a limit onhow many times Jon stevens mom can vote for him?? Honestly, maybe there should be a rule.

---

---

I also think that next season they should change the rules so people vote who they think should be kicked off. This is so ridiculous!! Total BS! She did amazing last night. With the exception of George Huff, the 'top three' all deserve to go before Jennifer Hudson. Total garbage this was!!

I was shocked by who was in the bottom three, but I have to say, I don't think Jennifer Hudson is all that great. Her last two performances were much better, but she needs to learn the difference between singing and shouting at the top of her lungs.

Despite that, I still think she did better than John Stevens. Barry Manilow should NEVER allow him to sing Mandy again. He butchered that song!

---

Posted by groovypeg

John should have stood up and quit last nite! You can tell by the look on his face that he knows he should have been the one to go home last nite.

---

Yep, he looked miserable (I wonder if he now has JPL's votes, like Paula said). I felt bad for him, and George too. They looked like they felt massively guilty, and what happened wasn't their fault. John wasn't bad at all this week, IMO, but he wasn't as good the so-called 'bottom three.'

I agree that this incident was probably an underhanded ploy to get people to vote.

If Fantasia had gone home, I probably would have stopped watching the show altogether. I think she's actually too good for the show.

---

Posted by groovypeg

John should have stood up and quit last nite! You can tell by the look on his face that he knows he should have been the one to go home last nite.

---

He definately looked like he was about to cry. I feel bad for him- he's only sixteen!

I am so mad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who is voting for these losers!!!! I was totally shocked when they made George switch!!!

I can not explain enough how loud I screamed, how many things I threw and many people I called!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a sad American Idol. The talents are all leaving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One Question though...WHY IS JON STEVENS STILL THERE????????????????

I LOVE GEORGE....sorry had to let it out!!!
I am so scared they are gonna vote him off anyway just because. This is insane!!!!

this is an interview that a radio station did w/ Matt Rodgers after he got booted!

Local ‘Idol’ Cast-off Casts Stones


By Carol Shepford

Local Rancho Cucamonga resident and former American Idol finalist Matthew Rogers joined Mike Strunge and Tom Leykis on KABC’s Midday with Mike & Tom yesterday afternoon and, despite rumors of a prohibitively strict non-disclosure agreement all AI contestants must sign, the spunky shock dj’s were able to get Matt to do quite a bit of dishing on his fellow finalists, the judges, and the program itself.

{Transcript excerpt courtesy of KABC radio}

Mike Strunge: Joining us in the booth today is former American Idol finalist, Matt Rogers from nearby Rancho Cucamonga. Good afternoon, Matt, and welcome to the program.

Matt Rogers: Hey guys, thanks for having me. A big shout out to Danno! He’s the QB of Team Hurt, our flag football team, and he says he never misses your show.

Tom Leykis: That’s quite a shout out. With a voice like that, I can’t see why you’re out of the finals. Of course, I think you might have blown out our wattage, so we’re probably talking to dead air now.

Mike: Thanks a lot, Matt.

Matt: Sorry, dudes. Didn’t realize your mics were so sensitive.

Mike: So Matt, what’s the deal with the voters? I mean, I thought you were one of the better ones, and you’re gone already? I mean, c’mon, at least you aren’t wetting your pants onstage, or putting folks to sleep, like some of the other finalists.

Tom: Hey, at least he got a hug from Camille.

Mike: Yeah, but you seemed to like hugging Ryan Seacrest more, Matt.

Matt: Ryan’s my boy. Seriously, guys, he’s pretty cool. Except for, ah, skip it.

Tom: Skip nothing. That’s why you’re here, Matt. What’s the scoop on Seacrest?

Mike: Or can’t you talk about the show?

Tom: If that’s the case, we’re in for dead air, anyway.

Matt: I’m here, ain’t I? No, really, Ryan’s great. No different than what you see on TV. But I think he’s in make-up and wardrobe for at least an hour before airtime. Or two.

Tom: Color me unsurprised.

Mike: No kidding. He always looks like he just walked in from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Tom: Or make that Queer Eye for the Queer Guy?

Matt: Ok, you guys are definitely going to get me in serious hot water. (Laughs.)

Mike: So Ryan’s a make-up queen. No big surprise there. What about the judges? You and Simon seemed to have a bit of a connection. Is that all b.s.? You talking about making his head bleed and stuff? Did his comments really piss you off that much?

Matt: Simon is prompted for that stuff, I’m pretty sure. Yeah, he can get pretty nasty, but you kinda expect it. But when the cameras aren’t on, he’s not a bad guy at all. Actually, he was pretty nice to me after I was booted.

Tom: Probably scared to death you were going to kick the [crap] out of him afterwards.

Mike: Or kiss him! Man, that was a classic, classic exit. Best Idol departure I’ve seen. Why did you sing to Simon?

Matt: I thought I’d leave with some fun, you know. Everyone got a big kick out of it. Simon said he loved it. Sure, I wasn’t too happy about leaving, but I pretty much knew it was coming, so I was already prepared.

Tom: So Simon’s really a big pussycat, eh? Is Paula as whacked out as she seems? Is she really Miss Goody Two Shoes all the time?

Matt: She’s great. She keeps everyone pretty calm and upbeat. Very nice lady. And yeah, she’s like that all the time. The producers tease her a lot, though. On account of her being ill a lot.

Mike: Yeah, she’s missed some of the auditions, I remember.

Tom: Lucky her.

Matt: The staff tease her a lot about her being sick all the time. They like to call her “American Midol.” (Laughs.)

Tom: (Laughs.) Y’know, that’s perfect for her. Whatever it is, she always seems like she’s on some serious meds.

Matt: (Laughs.)

Mike: What about the Big Dog? Does Randy really talk like that off the air? With all the stupid hand gestures and stuff?

Matt: I wouldn’t know. Randy never talks to the contestants when we’re not on the air. I don’t know if it’s some star attitude or what, but he doesn’t socialize, he doesn’t say much of anything. He’s also got a huge, huge posse. His entourage is bigger than Mike Tyson’s.

Tom: So you mean huge in number, not huge like…

Mike: Like Randy.

Matt: Right. (Laughs.) They’re at all the shows, and they follow him everywhere. I don’t know if they’re friends, or what. But none of them mingled with any of us.

Tom: Ah, ok, this is the stuff we’re after.

Mike: Yeah, right, attaboy, Matt. What about the others? Like Camille? You had to be pretty P O’d that you got booted before her, right?

Tom: At least he got that hug! Probably worth it.

Matt: Yeah, I can’t lie. I was majorly ticked, but I pretty much knew it was coming. Camille is covered, probably for at least another couple of weeks.

Mike: Uh ho! What’s this? Covered? You mean she’s “protected”?

Matt: Yeah, kinda. I’m not sure exactly how it works. Much as I’ve gathered from the producers, they tally the votes, but there’s some kind of number assigned to each of us by the producers. Those with higher ratings from the staff are automatically assigned some vote percentage, even before the incoming calls are added.

Tom: I don’t follow.

Matt: I’m not sure myself, but I got this from a few insiders, and it’s pretty obvious, anyway. All it really means is that there are some finalists there because the show wants them there.

Mike: Hold up. I thought something like this was going on when Carmen, or whoever, kept hanging around last year. So the votes don’t really count?

Matt: Yeah, they do, but only after the producer’s ratings are given. So like I’m assigned a value, you know, based on whatever they see as my, um, draw, or whatever. Like I’m a 4, and Camille is an 8, or something. Not sure of the actual ratings, but I know the girls, especially the, well, you know, like, the cuter ones, are rated pretty high. So if Camille and I get about the same polling numbers, she’s going to move on, and I’m going home, on account of the producers giving her the edge. You know, for ratings.

Tom: Think I got it. And I’m not really surprised. But it sure doesn’t explain that John boy.

Mike: John Stevens? The crooner kid?

Tom: Well, him, too. But I meant the little guy. John Peter Lewis. I mean, c’mon, Matt’s a much better singer, as is pretty much everyone else. Hell, Mike, you can sing better than that kid.

Mike: I don’t know about that. I know I can dance better than he can, though. Even after I’ve had a few.

Matt: John’s a pretty lucky guy. John Peter, that is. He’s got a ton of fans. You should see the studio when we’re on air. My brother says it doesn’t seem so loud when he’s watching on TV, but in the studio, it’s deafening, especially when John Peter Lewis sings. It’s like Beatlemania for him.

Mike: So the producers must like him too, right?

Matt: I really don’t know about John Peter. But I do know there’s no one on the show as safe as John Stevens. Well, that was true before. But now they all like George, so I don’t know.

Tom: So, wait, they’re just playing favorites among the guys? Why?

Matt: Well, I guess they need to keep at least one of us guys around.

Tom: Something for the ladies!

Matt: And it always looked like it was going to be John. John Stevens, that is. The producers seem to love the guy. I guess he’s considered the new In thing or something.

Tom: John Stevens. The It boy of 1949. Gimme a break.

Mike: Does John know it? Know they’re covering for him? If that’s what they’re doing?

Matt: Yeah, pretty much. I think he feels pretty bad about it. He said he thought even Leah Labelle was a better singer than him. I don’t know if he’s just blowing smoke, or whatever. He’s a pretty quiet kid.

Mike: I don’t know if I can take much more of that crooning crap.

Matt: Not my bag, either, but he’s pretty good at it.

Tom: He does it for every single song!

Matt: (Laughs.)

Mike: You’re on a roll now. What about the others? George Huff?

Matt: What can I say? Everyone likes George. He’s like, super nice. I hit it off with George right away, well, back in the Hollywood auditions. He’s a total momma’s boy, so we’re like blood brothers in that way.

Tom: No, no, no. We need something meaty. Come on, Matt, give us some dirt on the ladies.

Mike: Yeah. What about, what about Camille? Do you hold some kind of grudge? I mean, you gotta admit, you’re a lot better than she is.

Matt: Well, different. She’s pretty quiet and everything. We didn’t socialize to much, Camille and me. I don’t know if she’s a bit full of herself, or just real, real shy. But she doesn’t blow me away when she sings, if that’s what you mean.

Mike: Who’s the best singer, in your opinion.

Tom: Matt Rogers!

Matt: Matt Rogers! (Laughs.) If I was voting for anyone else, though, I’d probably say LaToya or Diana. But I like ‘em all.

Mike: Oh, man, they’ve coached you to death, you know that?

Matt: (Laughs.) Then they must have done a poor job of it, or I wouldn’t be sitting here, talking to you guys

The voters of this show are probably young and female and they are going to vote for the young, fresh, 'william hung' kid that best represents them. John Stevens is the only one of his kind up there. He is the only very young (youngest in the competetion), white, male, old school singer up there (and America LOVES the comeback kid) and so he has a loyal fan base that never divides against him. Latoya, Jennifer, and Fantasia, and even George are going to have a smaller loyal fan base because although they are amazing, they all sing very similarly and would attract the same fans. JMO.

More news: if Jasmine or Diana leave the competition, I feel like more of those votes would go to John too.

He is probably upset because some of the country calls him horrible things and he never diod anything to deserve it. He is just standing up there singing and cant vote himself off. People are bad mouthing the fact that he doesn't know who Hardy is (hello, he is 16 not 40!), calling him a 'red headed freak'. I would be intimidated up there too. Some people are probably really mean to him for no reason.

---

Posted by sept20yay
He is probably upset because some of the country calls him horrible things and he never diod anything to deserve it. He is just standing up there singing and cant vote himself off. People are bad mouthing the fact that he doesn't know who Hardy is (hello, he is 16 not 40!), calling him a 'red headed freak'. I would be intimidated up there too. Some people are probably really mean to him for no reason.

---

EXACTLY!! If you listened last night when Simon said that he didn't want to take away from Jasmin & Diana's performance they were fantastic. You heard Paula said 'And so was George' leaving John sitting there listening to it. I know they ask her opinion. but her part of the opinion asking was OVER. No need to continue!
As I said before she has bad mouthed John Stevens on every interview. I even saw her on ET last week she was outside the place where A.I. is taped. Asking So, who's leaving JPL or John Stevens. And the screams were even. and she turns around & said 'It's John Stevens that has to go'

She was the same w/ the arse kissing w/ Tamyra Gray. Every interview she couldn't stop boasting Tamyra. Even after she was voted off. She would say oh Tamyra would of been great this week or whatever.

---

Posted by ThongLori

America should stop smoking crack before they call in their votes!!!!!!

---

I couldn't have said it better!

That interview with Matt was really interesting. Granted, he has reason to spout off and call attention to himself (gotta stretch those 15 minutes of fame!) BUT his story doesn't sound all that implausible. Conspiracy theorists unite!

---

Posted by IrishTracy

My opinion (not that anyone cares)

I think it's the attitude that Jennifer shows that made people not vote her in.

Going by LAST NIGHTS performance..George should have been gone.

I do like John I think he is talented! The fact that Paula picks on him constantly on EVERY interview. It ticks me off! She says it in such a nasty way. She can be really mean. I think that makes me call in an extra few times to keep him there!!

---

Tracy, I like John too. I agree with you when you said that George should of been gone.

After last night though, I do think that the rules will change next year in that America will vote for those that they want off.

---

Posted by kpny622

Tonight's show was the most ridiculous, obscene, fixed, repulsive, sad, frustrating, and unfair thing I've ever watched!

---

I AGREE

i feel so bad for jennifer. she got hosed. she should give tamyra a call, maybe she can give her pointers on where to go from here.

as far as john is concerned, i sometimes wonder if the younger kids (the ones still in high school) have an edge in that their entire school probably votes for them A LOT. i mean that age group is the ones who really watch the show and vote the most, i would think. i watch religiously but i almost never vote. anyway, i feel bad for him too b/c he knows he shouldn't be there based on his performances and i think he genuinely feels bad for the other contestants. but maybe i'm misreading him.

anyway, if the producers are fixing this thing, i hope they're smart enough to realize that john should not win.

guess i'll be rooting for latoya now.

---

Posted by WeddingsRock

Here's the deal...Whether we want to admit it or not. It all comes down to race. Middle America, does not want to have an all African-American finals. That is it. Many people were outraged that Clay Aiken didn't win last year (even though speculation said he REALLY did win and that there were some problems with the phone lines that night) I do think the show is fixed to some extent. They (producers) need to have some sort of excitement in order to keep interest high. What AI needs to do is make it such that you can only vote once from any one phone. They also need to start showing the vote statistics.

---

That thought crossed my mind.

AI is a sing competition and clearly is NOT being judged that way. There is nothing about John that is appealing to me. I can't image an song of his playing on mainstream radio. I picture him singing in a lounge in AC or Vegas.

This morning Jennifer's sister was on the radio here in Chicago. And she said that America hasn't heard the last of Jennifer yet. She also said that George and her were very close, which is why he probably reacted the way he did.

The DJ said that he heard that Randy said he is gonna help her get a deal. That she may come out better than the top contests who get a deal through Simon. He said that he interviewed Trenyce from last year and she said that she was happy not to be in the top 3. She said that most of the people who have gotten AI deals are not very with the record label management. So being voted off eary gives you the opportunity to 'shop' around and make your own choices.