So is it "American Idol" producers' goal to re-employ all their struggling former finalists? Or only the ones who are still under a management contract with "Idol" parent company 19 Entertainment?
Katharine McPhee's appearance on last night's show was inexplicable enough, but when you throw in the selection of Ruben Studdard's also inexplicable cover of Kenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home" as this season's theme for the eliminated, suddenly it seems like a concerted effort. Both McPhee and Studdard were dropped from their recording contracts from RCA affiliated labels, along with Taylor Hicks, so the high-profile involvement on "Idol" must be part of a plan to get them more work. McPhee's appearance with producer David Foster -- which, by the way, didn't fit the Lennon-McCartney theme since George Harrison wrote "Something" -- looked like a ploy to get her another deal, apparently no matter how Simon Cowell feels about her.
Favoritism is one thing, but when the favors hurt the show, maybe they need to be a little less blatant.
One thing was deserved last night: David Hernandez got the boot, not because he was a former stripper but because his performance was downright painful.