If only America could forget Brandon Rogers' gaffe on Tuesday night as easily as he forgot the lyrics to "You Can't Hurry Love."
Rogers may have been thinking that to himself the day after he bungled the Supremes' classic Motown hit — while Diana Ross watched from the front row — and was sent packing.
The 28-year-old California native, who said he grew up listening to Ross' music, had already lost points with Simon Cowell throughout the early portion of the competition for what the mercurial judge called his "lack of charisma." And then on Tuesday, Rogers committed what he himself called "a cardinal sin" when he couldn't recall the words to his selected song and ended up mumbling through his blunder (see "'Idol' Recap: Lakisha Edges Out Melinda, Haley Has A Breakdown").
On Wednesday night the background singer took a step further into the background as he became the first of the final 12 contestants to be let loose.
"I have no hard feelings," Rogers told Ryan Seacrest after learning of his elimination. "I kind of expected it."
We did too, but the decision was made by the 28 million viewers who called and sent text messages Tuesday night, when Rogers received the fewest votes.
Another contestant who may have expected a dismissal was Sanjaya Malakar, who was among the bottom three vote-getters but is still in the running after a meager performance of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" that Cowell called "brave." Fellow bottom-three dweller Phil Stacey, who delivered an underwhelming take on "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" on Tuesday, also made the cut.
Ross, who appeared on the show this week as a coach and confidant for the aspiring hopefuls, took to the stage herself toward the end of the program and belted out a crowd-stirring rendition of Spiral Starecase's 1969 hit "More Today Than Yesterday," from her recent release I Love You.
After her performance, when Seacrest asked the diva who she thought would be going home, Ross responded, "Me!"
Wednesday's elimination narrows the field to 11 contestants. The winner of the competition will be crowned in May.
Comments