Time for a review of the singers..
Ok lets quickly rule out the contestants that cannot win and in the running for elimination…
Phil Stacey – How this guy is still in is beyond me – a blatent patriot fervour towards the armed forces by the viewing public is the only reason about a singer who blatently lacks any likeability and talent
Sanjaya – Well this – as Stereo has implied before is your 'typical crap singer but the public adore them’ syndrome. That blubbing kid in the audience will have done wonders for him , and the very fact that he can’t sing means nothing as every young girl fancies him and every older woman wants to cuddle him. Will last another 2-3 weeks until he is up against an heavyweight.
Haley – (already placed - 0.4 pts stake @ 65) Rock chick- sings well at times but is too likely to be shown up with a song out of her genre. Doesn’t really have any real charisma and highly likely to be a goner shortly (along with my 0.4 pt investment on her at 65’s..)
Gina – Well she’s one of those young fit girls that can’t sing – but hey who cares when she’s wearing a micro skirt and a cleavage hanging out. Visually she is probably the only decent eye candy left and if she performs one of those ‘fun songs’ she did last week, she could well hang on a bit longer.
Summary
Gina and Sanjaya – although potential for the bottom two, should survive against one of the other two above. Ok there is nothing more unpredicatable than a talent show and literally anyone could be in the bottom two – witness Chris Richardson last week. However I believe it should be between Phil and Haley for the kick this week, and I will be praying that the annoying dick Phil Stacey goes..
Phil to be eliminated this week at 4.33 (Skybet) – 2 pt stake
Ok Lets look at the rest of the contestants..
Phil Sligh (Already laid off to break even) Everyone’s favourite fat geek who is a genuine funny guy willing to take the piss out of himself. When he tries to take himself too seriously or drop the glasses he loses his appeal. Good singer and a novelty act, but aint got the real presnce or ability to win it..
Chris Richardson (Already placed - 1 pt stake @ 26) Well that was a shocker last week..Highly praised by all the judges and yet in the bottom two. Cannot guage that, and strugging to get into the American viewers mind. I honestly think he has potential to get to the last 4 and possibly best male, but he needs to be consistantly good and probably needs a ‘great’ performance in the next week or two..
Lakisha – Sorry but I do not rate her at all.. As I’ve said before, she lacks any really personality – in fact she smacks a tad of a growing arrogance due to the compliments she has receiving. Lets face facts – she like many of these gospel choir, backing singer large black girls – nothing more – nothing less and although she’ll last a few more week – she aint gonna win it..
Jordin Sparks – Well Jordin is one of these juvenile talented singers. Only 17 she is certainly someone who has a great talent and who I rate as the second best singer in the competition. However under 18’s just don’t seem to win these types of contests, and I do get the impression that the judges feel uneasy at seeing a young winner who has the all future ahead of them as opposed to the older singer with the bad luck story. Just cannot see her winning.
Blake Lewis – To be honest I was wondering what all the fuss was when he was suddenly pitched as the top male. However he is growing on me and although I find his ‘beatbox’ annoying he is a good singer and possibly a finalist..
Melinda (already placed – 2.5 pts staked between odds range of 6 – 5.6) Accomplished beyond belief and by far the best singer. She’s got a nice friendly persona and appears genuine. She also has that hard luck story (always the bridesmaid never the bride type of career). She also looks a bit weird which may help. However – although I have the majority of cash on her I am worried. I am worried because I really think that she may have peaked to early. She also needs to change her song choice a bit – She’s ok belting out the power vocals on a balled, but she needs to show she can turn her voice to other styles. I still reckon she should win though (and I hope so..)
Already placed
Melinda (already placed – 2.5 pts staked between odds range of 6 – 5.6)
Chris Richardson (Already placed - 1 pt stake @ 26)
Haley – (already placed - 0.4 pts stake @ 65)
Gonna absorb my liablilty on Blake as I feel he could well make the final..
Blake to win American Idol – 1 pt stake @ 7.6 Betfair
Liability on the rest (bar Chris Sligh) - 6.5 pt
Finally a couple more bets placed..
4 pt stake @ 2.59 (Pinnacle) – At least one male make the Final Could see a 3 way carve up between Melinda fans, Lakisha fans and Jordin fans leading the way for a male to get to the final. Males seem to make the finals of most talent shows and I see no reason why Blake nor Chris can’t give Melinda a challenge in the final..
6 pt stake @ 1.92 (Pinnacle) Blake to last longer than Lakisha – Really based on the comments above..Blake can make the Final – Lakisha can’t..