And here I thought that I’d be doing the happy Snoopy dance the night Kristy Lee Cook finally found her rightful place – off the “Idol” stage.

But maybe it was the double punch of Elliott’s sweet tribute to his mother (although I hope this message-on-hand thing doesn’t turn into a trend) followed by Mariah Carey’s heartfelt – if way, way, waaay too long – “Bye Bye,” a song she wrote about her late father, that left me too emotionally depleted to celebrate KLC home.

I did snap out of my daze long enough to shout an “Are you kidding me?!” at the TV when Ryan sent Syesha back to safety on the couch. Can’t wait to see how she drains the life out of an extravagant Andrew Lloyd Webber opus next week.

But let’s talk about Elliott for a second.

I’ve gotta say, it gives me chills to watch him on that “Idol” stage now. Just a couple of years ago, a young man with an unflattering haircut stood mannequin stiff up there, awkwardly patting his chest as he sang.

To see Elliott in his stylish duds (though not sure he needed that scarf flapping around), working the stage like a pop star and sounding incredibly confident on his song “Free,” really should be an inspiration to the remaining “Idol”-ettes.

More than many of the other contestants over the years – the Daughtrys and Taylors and Carlys who had significant experience before coming on the show – Elliott represents what “Idol” should be about; taking a kid from the pharmacy counter to the international stage.

It really did wrench my heart when he acknowledged that this was his first performance on that stage without Claudette in the audience. But how respectable of the “Idol” folks to bring him back for some massive exposure and a chance to publicly eulogize his mother.

So…on to next week. Personally, I’d love to see David Cook rock up “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” from “Evita.” But the big question is, who’s going to tackle a song from “Cats”?

 

 

Posted by Melissa Ruggieri in • Entertainment • Music • Television
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