Missed the first 15 minutes (sorry), but tuned in just in time to see Anoop get sent to the naughty seat. I really do get an incredibly rude vibe from him lately. Maybe I'm projecting, but he just seems so smug and over it all.
And then, Jennifer Hudson. I have some thoughts. I absolutely loved her when she was a contestant on Season 3. Her fairly early elimination was total bullshit. (That season was especially egregious for its ridiculous bootings, with total chaff like John Stevens somehow surviving until Top 6, George Huff until Top 5, and Jasmine freaking Trias coming in third.) But since she left the show I've found her to be mostly infuriating. She was unquestionably the best part of "Dreamgirls," but it was in general a TERRIBLE movie. And winning an Oscar for that? Are you kidding me? She then went on to very nearly ruin the "Sex and the City" movie (I would read reviews calling her the only good part and think I must be on crazy pills). She released a solo album that I found to be largely boring and a waste of her amazing vocal talent (not unlike her S3 compatriot Fantasia's first record, actually), and she somehow became a media darling during all of this, giving a series of largely off-putting interviews.
Last year she went through an indescribable personal tragedy, and I think she handled the whole thing with a lot of grace. But there's still something about her that's so...entitled. Again, maybe I'm projecting. I just think she's being fake when she acts all shocked and surprised about her Grammy and Oscar wins. That said, she was amazing singing the national anthem during the Super Bowl this year, and while I thought her performance last night was lazy up until the ending part, she then went on to freaking slay it. Jennifer Hudson, you are a conundrum.
More results. Kris safe, Lil in danger. Matt said if he had to do it all over again, he would have just done a karaoke version, which I don't think was the judges' point AT ALL. Danny looked particularly sexy last night (I'm sorry, America, I'm just reporting what I'm seeing). And Matt ended up in the bottom. So the Trio of Doom was Anoop, Lil, and Matt. Surprised Allison wasn't in there, honestly. Maybe she's finally gaining some traction (and good for her). Anoop was spared, leaving just Lil and Matt.
Miley Cyrus performed "The Climb" from that Hannah Montana movie. I'll say this for the girl - she can at least sing, which is more than most of the pop princesses currently topping the charts with their vocals ProTool'd out the wazoo (that new Ciara/Justin Timberlake song - yikes). But she has a tendency to get nasal, and there were entire sentences where I could not understand a word she was saying. Also, hilarious that she was dressed like she was going to the prom, and then actually headbanged throughout the guitar solo. Oh, girl. You ruined your hairstyle and looked like such a poseur. It's not "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I doubt you even know what that means. Kids.
Matt ended up with the lowest number of votes, and when singing for his life, he sounded even worse than Tuesday night - he was flat through the first half of the song, and that beginning was DREADFUL. Falsetto sounded better though, and by the end he got it together. And the judges ended up using the save. I'm not surprised. I honestly kind of figured that either he or Lil would get the pass - it's only in play for another two weeks, right? - and as much as I dislike Matt's blatant aping of a couple different singers (Timberlake, Buble) and find his vocals wildly inconsistent, he is clearly a talented musician. I agree with Simon that he has no real shot of winning the competition (at this point it's pretty clearly Lambert, Gokey, or dark horse Kris), but it's better than saving, say, Anoop or something. Not that I think they would.
Next week: DISCO! What fresh hell that will be. And since Matt was spared, two Idols will go home. Y'all should start mourning Allison and Anoop now, I think.