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Did Ryan accidentally announce Melinda's elimination too early on Idol's results show?

by Liz Finn-Arnold, posted May 18th 2007 1:22PM

Melinda Doolittle Goes HomeOn Wednesday night, many of us were shocked to see "resident pro" Melinda Doolittle get booted from American Idol. But more shocking than that, many of us swore we heard Ryan Seacrest mistakenly announce her upcoming ouster prematurely.

Here's what happened. After Elliott Yamin performed, and before a commercial break Ryan said, "We've got more music coming up live from Maroon 5. Plus, more emotional results and Melinda Doolittle goes home."

The cameras quickly panned over to the final three contestants and Melinda did look a little confused, and a bit less enthusiastic than Jordin and Blake. Did Ryan just announce her departure before a commercial break and without the traditional "dimming of the lights?"

Melinda shed some light on the incident in her exit interview with AOL. She said, "I thought he was saying it in regard to the next package they were going to show of me going home to Nashville. I knew I was the next one they were going to show. I think he was getting us ready for that. I don't think it was a slip."

It is clearer upon reviewing the footage that Ryan was referring to Melinda's trip home. However, the first time I heard him say it, I did think he had slipped and announced her elimination. My whole family thought the same thing. We all immediately screamed out "What?" And then we quickly rewatched the segment thanks to our DVR. Upon second viewing we realized what he meant by the statement.

Why the confusion? I think Ryan Seacrest, usually so on top of his game, unfortunately selected his words poorly at that moment in the telecast. After all, we have been trained to believe that the words "going home" specifically mean someone has been eliminated. In fact, this very phrase "going home" has been beaten into our brains for 12 weeks. Each time we've said good-bye to a contestant, it's been underscored by Chris Daughtry singing, "I'm going home."

This all could have been avoided if Ryan had merely said, "and Melinda Doolittle gets a hometown welcome," instead of "and Melinda Doolittle goes home." But that's what happens when a show is live. Sometimes mistakes are made, even by someone like Ryan who is usually a pro at ad libbing. Just moments before he had a super-quick comeback ("that's a no-no on this show") when Elliott thanked Porsche (a non-Idol sponsor). I'm also not sure Ryan is completely at fault here. I'm not certain just how much of his stuff is actually scripted. But I would think that this transition was probably written by Idol's writers. This would make the unfortunate phrasing their fault, and not Ryan's.

Still, while Ryan (or the writers) may not have intended to foreshadow Wednesday's elimination results by this poorly selected phrase, I think that Ryan (one of the few people to know the results beforehand) may have unconsciously telegraphed the results through his tone. So many of thought we heard a different meaning in his words. We can't all have been wrong. He may not have meant to tell us Melinda was going home for real -- but he kind of did.

Click here to read the rest of Melinda Doolittle's exit interview with AOL.

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Cheryl

I am disappointed in this season. What a mess! I also heard Ryan; he was being ambiguous.

For me, the joy has been taken out of the final tonight. We all know that Jordan will win. With Melinda in the final, we would not have known who would have won.

Melinda and Jordan would have been a great final. We were robbed! Just another opinion, however.

What a mess!

May 23 2007 at 8:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
c

This is not the first time Ryan played with words. I'm not so sure his saying "Melinda goes home" wasn't intentional. Watch the results show the night when Phil Stacey went home. Right before the break, he said, "No more fill-ers." I thought it was an odd thing to say. Right after the break, Phil was eliminated.

Oh yeah, Melinda should have been in the finals.

May 23 2007 at 7:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jerry

If the vote was really made according to talent and not looks, Melinda would be in the finals. She has a great powerful voice. But I notice that a great deal of people thinks that when someone screams loud that they are good singers. Jordin is (OK), but she is know Melinda.

May 23 2007 at 5:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lene

After reading some of the comments made I would like to add my two cents. People seem so surprised that Blake and Jordan are in the final two - well lets explore why. Jordan without a doubt belongs where she is, on the other hand Blake although likable should have been voted off before this. With talent such as Jordan, Melinda and Lakisha it is clear that something has to be revamped when it comes to voting. I believe that the judges deserve the right to have their votes counted, they should be scoring the singers and these votes should be factored in, also there should be a limit on the number of times you could vote. Each person should be allowed at least 1 vote and no more than 4 (one each from land line, cell phone, text message, and on-line) this will help keep the playing field even. We all know that this season was a little converluded, but the talent was there it just didn't shine. Maybe the song lists should be revisited and the input from the "celebrity mentors" should also play a part in the scoring. With all that said, I would like to wish Melinda, and Lakisha all the best with whatever comes their way, I think Blake will not wear the crown tonight so I wish him the best also, and to Jordan if she does win - go to school, sing your songs and live your dreams.

May 23 2007 at 4:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jerlyn Webb

Ryan always have mistakes like last year he announced also daughtry going home and now Melinda.Melinda deserve to win the AI.Jordin doesn't deserve to win its so boring to hear of Jordins song its better that Blake will win.

May 23 2007 at 1:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mewe

Ryan knew exactly what he ws saying, I do not like him because he is partial and sneaky. This the last season I will watch American Idol.

May 23 2007 at 11:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rose

I think Jordin is too young to win "Idol", she should be in school. I also think you should be at least 18 before you can compete on the show. If she wins, she will certainly need some professional advisors, she is just too young to handle it all.

May 22 2007 at 7:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rose

I'm not sure if I will continue to watch American Idol, they continue to send the best singers packing. Blake can not sing, has no personality, and don't know how to dress. I think American Idol need a make over, they can't keep doing business as usual. You can't blame all of it on "Vote for The Worst".

Rose

May 22 2007 at 7:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
maria eisenberg

Ryan Seacrest is such a Pro! I knew exactly what he meant about her going home.. to her hometown..Never
had an inkling of anything else at all..
By far, Mr. Seacrest deserves every respect for a job well done within the entire season!

May 22 2007 at 7:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jodilarson

Ah, it must be a conspiracy! For every contestant he said "and Blake goes home" or "Jordin goes home". Just as he said "and Melinda goes home". Do you not remember last week he said after Lakisha was voted off something about tomorrow the top 3 contestants "go home". I thought it funny at the time he was saying top 3 go home when in actuallity all 4 were going home, just Lakisha was going for a different reason.


I watch the show to hear and enjoy the singing and the personality (of which Blake and Jordin each had more in their little fingers than Melinda and Lakisha put together) not to sit and wait for something to happen that I can complain about.

May 22 2007 at 2:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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