Clyde’s gone! Can Sanjaya be next?
This could be the week the banes of my competition-show-viewing finally exit the stage, clearing the way for more talented contenders to power toward May’s sweeps-month finals.
Clyde Drexler has been awful forever on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” yet the gawky ex-NBAer somehow managed to hang on, despite my hopes (and predictions) every week that he’d be booted. I couldn’t figure out who this dull guy’s voting constituency was, as better hoofers like Leeza Gibbons (heroine of 50-year-old women) repeatedly finished below Drexler in viewer voting. Until last night. All right!
Now it’s gotta be Sanjaya’s turn. This year’s “American Idol” kewpie-doll seems to have been kept in the running on the Fox hit by crush-struck tween girls (and maybe some gay guys?) -- plus subversive votes from train-wreck gawkers enjoying the sheer spectacle of Hairboy Grinner’s dreadfulness (and “Idol’s” continued embarrassment).
Malakar absolutely stunk up the Fox show last night, turning in a “Something to Talk About” rendition so awful, it practically left Simon Cowell speechless. And you know how awful that has to be.
But it was a weird night. Perennial bottom-dweller Phil Stacey was amazingly good singing country. LaKisha Jones’ vocals were too weak, then too strong, and always disappointingly forced. Where Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks were powerhouse perfect, Chris Richardson and Blake Lewis were bland and, as Simon judged Chris, “insignificant.”
Will Sanjaya once again dodge his well-deserved bullet? Stay tuned.
Go away, little boy! [Fox photo by Frank Micelotta.]