SamboraBlog

`Shock' Just A Tease

"American Idol" has been known to play with the fragile emotions of its contenders before.

When judges choose singers to advance, they tell them, "I'm sorry to tell you ... you'll be spending more time with us here!"

Host Ryan Seacrest made his career out of teasing: "We can now tell you who is going home ... right after the break!"

But the teasing reached a new low last week when, after telling the five other singers they were safe during the gala "Idol Gives Back" telethon, it seemed that Jordin Sparks would be going.

Producers let the shock settle in. A pall set over the crowd. The night would have "the most shocking result show ever in our history," Seacrest had promised, and this certainly filled the bill: Jordin, who at 17 is the youngest performer left, was by most accounts the standout in Tuesday's performance show, with her show-ending version of the old "You'll Never Walk Alone." It looked like, with her youth and her voice, she'd go all the way.

So yes, it was shocking.

Then, after a long-enough pause for Jordin to start crying, Seacrest told her, "Jordin, you are safe, too."

Although they promised repeatedly that they would, it seems they couldn't in good conscience kick somebody out on a night devoted to charity. But they were still up for a little sadism, apparently.

This week, after raising $60 million for charity, it's back to business, with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora as mentors, and two people to kick out on Wednesday.