Chuck Ross, editorial director at TV Week interviews producer Nigel Lythgoe.
Nigel is predicting….that tonight’s double boot will not be a shocker. He says, “I’m not that shocked tonight, and I don’t think our viewers will be shocked tonight.”
Chuck congratulates Nigel for raising Nearly 70 million dollars through Idol Gives Back.
Nigel claims that the vote totals this week were very close to the vote totals last week. He believes that holding the phone lines open for 4 hours helped, and that “people have now decided who…their favorites are.”
Nigel says the IGB videos are #1, 2, 3 and 4 on the iTunes video downloads chart. The money generated from the iTunes’ downloads have not been added to the total yet.
Nigel mentions that Robin Thicke will be performing tonight (he doesn’t mention it, but this performance is pre-recorded). Read Nigel’s comments on the contestants performances after the jump.
- Phil Stacey - Chuck says that the show was interesting last night, because there was no Chris Daughtry this year, nobody “close to that rock n’ roll space.” Nigel responds that he thinks Phil is “close to that space.” He mentions that Phil has done a lot of rock with his band in the Navy. Nigel thought Phil was superb last night–he opened the show really well.
- Jordin Sparks - Nigel thought she was uncomfortable with the song, but that she looked great.
- LaKisha Jones - Nigel thinks it was a good song for her, she gave it some attitude, and, “even turned Simon on–what about that?”
- Blake Lewis - Nigel thought he was terrific last night, and that what he did was very brave and that it paid off for him.
- Chris Richardson - He thinks Chris has managed to find a little niche for himself over the weeks, and he did very well again last night.
- Melinda Doolittle - Nigel thinks Melinda chooses the right songs to sing. He adds that he thinks it’s “a hell of a competition when your asked to go through what they go through…from Jennifer Lopez Latino night to Bon Jovi rock night. He thinks it shows how the contestants are learning every week how to perform.
Related Posts
“Not a shocker” can only mean some combination of Chris, Phil, and LaKisha. I’d be shocked (as would many people, I think) if Jordin, Melinda, or Blake were to go home.
Not a shocker, to me means Chris is gone for sure. I hope the other is Lakisha, but wouldn’t be surprised if it was Phil.
“Jordin Sparks - Nigel thought she was uncomfortable with the song, but that she looked great.”
So Nigel is the new Paula?
So not a shocker means Jordin, Melinda and Blake are safe.
I might not even watch the results! (who am i kidding.)
Well, dangit. They need a shocker. They need something. There needs to be some drama. As much as I would dislike someone I prefer leaving over someone I don’t care about, this season needs a little life pumped into it. Everyone at work has pretty much stopped discussing this season, except for the week Blake was in the bottom 3. I miss having something to discuss!
oh wait, what am I thinking! They save the shocker for next week! That’s the final 4 going into the final 3! That’s when we always get our shocker. What will they kick Melinda off? Will Blake leave? Something always happens that week…but Melinda would be pretty farfetched.
I have a meeting tonight, but I’ve given up on taping the results show so I’ll just sign on later and find out who got the boot if I’m not home in time. Robin Thicke? Really? I saw his video on VH1 a few times and i about fell back asleep. Hour long results show drive me batty.
Yeah, “not a shocker” coming from him probably means Chris & Phil, maybe Lakisha. I want Kiki to stay, but I will be sad if Phil goes too. I think he has really hit it out of the park these past 3 weeks.
IF Chris R stays I may scream profanities.
I can’t take anymore nasal from JT-Lite.
I agree St.Lucia, he doesn’t have half the talent Justin does in his pinky finger. He can go take his nasally singing to a bar in Virgina never to be heard from again.
Not a shocker…
Chris and Lakisha. Chris, two meh. Lakisha one meh one very good.
Phil had one really, really good and one completely awesome performance. It WOULD be a shocker for him to go home this week. Of course…not according to Simon.
I love Phil but I think ‘they’ want him to leave and Chris to stay. I could be wrong. Clearly Phil can sing circles around Chris. We’ll see.
I think Nigel is an ass.
Next week will be top 4 and a shocker would be expected then. If Phil went home this week, I’d be shocked, but the PTB wouldn’t. In fact, I don’t believe Dial Idol is that far off, so if Phil goes home this week then I believe he was claused because he’s been getting better. I don’t think the PTB see things the same way we do. Did I mention that I think Nigel is an ass?
It should be Chris and Jordin that go home based on the past two weeks, but I think it will be Chris and Phil or Lakisha (if Nigel says it’s not a shock). Chris has been coasting and they’ve been propping him up. It hasn’t worked and it’s time for him to go. Lakisha has been inconsistent although she was good this week. Phil has been getting better the past three weeks and should have another chance.
Did I mention that I think Nigel is an ass?
I have this feeling I’m going to be really sad tonight because for the first time since Taylor, and only the second year I’ve ever voted….. I voted, and I voted, voted, voted last night for Phil. I think Nigel’s “No Shocker” means Phil’s going home tonight, and I so want him to stay longer. In the very beginning I was only half wanting Phil to stay longer than some of the others, because so many here were snarking on him, but the longer he stayed, the more I wanted to see him the next week.
Stay, Phil, Stay. I’ll vote again next week. :)
Want someone else to say it, MaryS? :) Nigel is an ass. Heck, they all are - all the PTB.
Not a shocker probably means that, sadly, Phil is going home. I hope not as he seems to be coming into his own. But if he must go, I really hope that Chris joins him as there’s nothing about *him* I like and a 50-50 split would be okay, I guess. Although a Chris-Lakisha exit would be a much nicer boot IMO.
I think that it will be Phil and Chris but I wish it were the overrated Jordin who can only sing ballads. The girl has more experience than most of them on the show this year and she still can’t sing anything but slow songs.
WOW. So much praise for Phil now. I think he’s growing on us. Well when Chris Daughtry got voted off last year Nigel and the rest of the idol clan was so mad…..
I voted only for Phil last night because I truly see him trying and progressing each week and I can tell he wants it.
As for Phil, he will be signed there is no doubt in my mind with a record label that will appreciate his talent..
Is it me or did he look not as pale as other shows? self tanner perhaps????
If looks are key to winning.. Look at Taylor/Clay/Elliott. Not the best looking but they can sannnnnnnng……
Just checked out dialidol and I am PEEVED to see Jordin on top. ARGH. Goes to show that if you act after every performance as if you just won the Miss American contest, the judges start to believe you - and the public as well. BOO!!
I’d like to see Lakisha NOT kicked off tonight. In a Walgreens world world, Chris and Jordin would be leaving us tonight.
As most know, I have been a Phil fan from the audition! Through his fan site I have discovered what a great guy he is. Having family contact makes him more of a “real” person to me. I know his fan base went wild last week and we have added more fans this week, but I don’t know if it is enough to safe him.
If Phil goes before Chris, THAT would be the shocker! It is my hope that he WILL be in the TOP 4!!
I am now officially a Phil fan. I still like Blake and Melinda but am fading on Jordin.
Maybe since Nigel usually says there will be a shocker and there isn’t, he is tricking us and we will be surprised tonight?
Nigel is an ass!!!!!!
I hope it is Chris and Lakisha - since 2 have to go.
My ideal top two is Melinda and Phil. My ideal two to go tonight are Chris and Jordin.
I knew I was gonna be sad tonight but didn’t know I’d be this sad. My husband and I were watching Criminal Minds, and I taped AI so I could fast forward through all the junk that is the Hour Long Results Show - UGH! During a commercial break on Criminal Minds about 8:30, I switched to AI, and there were Phil & Lakisha standing, with Melinda declared ’safe’. It was so EARLY in the show to announce the bootee, and my mind was trying to understand how Melinda, Phil and Lakisha could be in the bottom 3! Then Lakisha was told she was safe and I knew the other bootee would be from the other 3 at the end of the show.
Was NOT ready for Phil to leave. I wanted him to make it at least long enough to get to perform two songs.
Which one will get Phil’s votes now I wonder. Almost a no-brainer that Blake will get ChrisR’s. Maybe Lakisha will get Phil’s! Go, Divas!
Nigel is an ass. Simon is an ass.
Actually, I think Melinda or Jordin will get Phil’s votes.