April 04, 2008

American Idol Elimination: Ramiele Malubay Flunks Out; Carly Smithson Tries To Make Eyes At SimonViews 7,071

By Gil Kaufman (MTV.com)

Despite bonding with guest-coach Dolly Parton over their shared navel-eye view of the world and actually moving around onstage while performing for the first time this season, 20-year-old Ramiele Malubay didn't cut it on American Idol on Wednesday. The diminutive sushi restaurant hostess was done in by a theme-park-style ramble through "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" that judge Randy Jackson gave a barely passing grade of 6.5 out of 10.

Cowell was less kind, perhaps sealing her fate Tuesday night by quipping, "We're not going to remember this in 10 years, are we?" He went on to refer to it as "forgettable" and, adding his venomous kiss of death, something you might hear "on a cruise ship."

Wednesday night began on a happier note, with a corny hoedown version of one of Parton's best-known tunes, "9 to 5," which included Carly Smithson climbing up onto the judges' desk and pretending to make eyes at Cowell, who had harshly criticized the belting bartender's fashion choices the night before. The show also featured a performance from "Next Great American Band" winners the Clark Brothers, who performed a frantic take on "This Little Light of Mine." And, before the bottom three found out who would be going home, Parton sang her new single, the inspirational "Jesus & Gravity."

Then we caught up with season five's very country Bucky Covington, as well as last season's bald-headed Nashville wonder, Phil Stacey, and season-four runner-up and major-label refugee Bo Bice, who told his hard-luck tale of success and struggle since leaving the show.

The evening began favorably for David Archuleta, Michael Johns and Smithson, who were quickly whisked to the safe couch early in the show. Joining them a short time later were Syesha Mercado and Jason Castro.

As part of this season's increasingly honest tone, where scandals that might have been blithely ignored have mostly been dealt with right away on-air, host Ryan Seacrest asked rocker David Cook about the reports that he was rushed to the hospital after Tuesday night's show because of high blood pressure and heart palpitations. "The whole thing kind of got blown out of proportion," Cook said. "I have high blood pressure and it spiked, so they took me there as a precaution, but I'm cool. I'm not going anywhere." Moments later, his prediction came through and he was waved over to the couch. (Relive other memorable reality-TV health scares here in the Newsroom blog.)

Speaking of honesty, after a series of jokes about all the people Cowell needs to apologize to, the irascible judge came as close as he ever has to doing just that, when he told Smithson that his crack about her clothing on Tuesday night was meant to help. "I really, really like you. I just didn't think you looked as good as you should have done because you're very cute," Cowell said, inspiring his fellow judges to grumble that he may have been crossing a line with the compliment.

What wasn't surprising was the makeup of the bottom three. Judging by her awkward posture, it was clear right away that Malubay sensed she was headed to the bottom Wednesday night.

Kristy Lee Cook took the unusual measure of writing a little note to herself that read, "Kristy's seat," which she said was intended as her placeholder for the bottom three. She suspected she was bound for the stools after Simon's withering put-down of her take on "Coat of Many Colors." And, like Malubay, she got it right and took her seat. More surprising was the first trip to the bottom for spunky Brooke White, whose ticket was stamped by her stripped-down version of "Jolene," which got mostly positive notes, except, of course, from Simon, who quibbled with the arrangement.

In an odd twist, the three contestants happened to be roommates in the "Idol" living quarters. Cowell said he absolutely thought they all belonged in the bottom three, but, as the judge predicted, White was swiftly taken back to a safe seat on the couch, followed by Cook.

Which left Malubay, who Parton had described the night before as "so sweet and so scared," at center stage. Cook gave the castoff a big hug, with the tiny singer burying her face in the towering blonde's chest as the other four female contestants gathered around, wiping tears from their eyes.

Seacrest tried to give Malubay a pep talk and told her to "stand up here proud and do your thing like only you can do." Her eyes puffy from crying, Malubay struggled to reprise "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind," touching hands with the screaming fans as the remaining eight contestants stood behind her clapping along, her voice getting more confident as the credits began to roll. The remaining eight contestants are safe for an extra night, as next Wednesday's usual results show will be replaced by the "Idol Gives Back" charity special, with the elimination moving to Thursday night. According to "Access Hollywood," the all-star show will be short at least one star, as expected co-host Ellen DeGeneres has backed out of the event due to reported "unforeseen production-schedule" conflicts with her daytime talk show.