American Idol Talent Pool Gets 'Even Shallower'

Hsve you heard the news? Melinda Doolittle was the latest cast-off of America's highest-rated singing competition, leaving the predictably quirky Blake and perpetually perky Jordin to duke it out in the finals. Meanwhile, the newspapers and blogs have all reacted to the news with modestly understated headlines.

• Weak season gets weaker: ‘Idol’ boots Melinda (Boston Herald)
• "American Idol" Voters Kick Most Experienced Singer Out (eitb24)
• American Idol Disaster: Melinda Doolittle Voted Off Idol (National Ledger)
• WTF???!!! Melinda Voted Off (phillyBurbs.com)

And while the wording, phrasing and intensity varies from one publication to the next, one hierarching theme is consistent throughout, namely Melissa's vocal superiority to the remaining contestants.

Or, as D-Listed puts it:

[Doolittle] was starting to get on my nerves, but I figured she would get her "oh shucks" ass into the finals. This leaves Blake "please don't beat box" Lewis and Jordin "Ugly Betty" Sparks."

Stay tuned for the big finale!

Melinda Doolittle off of American Idol

Oh my, this could provoke some conspiracy theories about how the show is somehow "rigged".

Perhaps one of the best singers to ever appear on the show, Melinda Doolittle, is now lost to the competition.

It occurred to me, as I got over the initial surprise, that AI is not so much a Singing competition as a popularity contest.

It isn't looking for the BEST singer, but the MOST POPULAR singer, AMERICA'S FAVOURITE singer.

After (or perhaps during) her AI tour dates, perhaps we'll be hearing something in the way of a CD from her.

Since she didn't win, she has less of an obligation with regards to the AI Machine, and can perhaps be more creatively and artistically free with he career.

She didn't win American Idol, but she won America, and the chance to be great.

That is worth far more, and to me is a bigger, better prize for her.