If Taylor Hicks wins, they will have to include video snippets with his CD because the real kick that people get out of Taylor is his strange antics and weird gyrations. Is there anything really special about his voice? Not at all.

This finale is going to suck. A finale without Chris will just be a lame-o karaoke competition.

Just look at the expression on Simon's face. He knows America got it wrong and the finale is gonna blow.

I AM THROUGH WITH AMERICAN IDOL!! I WILL NOT WATCH IT THE REST OF THIS SEASON AND VERY, VERY LIKELY WILL NOT WATCH AI EVER AGAIN!!

(sorry for the yelling, I just had to get taht out of my system!, lol). Chris Daughtry was the most talented of the whole lot and I predict a bright future, maybe solo or maybe as a lead vocalist for an established or a new rock group. I will buy his cd and I hope it will outsell Taylor Hicks's by millions!

If chris leaves I'm finished with this show.

True that darraholic!!!

Really? You think Chris is the best? different strokes I guess lol

IMHO he sings in the same key on every song, no vocal range at all, and he's cocky. Tonight, he took A little Less Conversation and turned it into a sexual camera [!@#$%^&*] song. But, he would be the perfect lead singer for a rock band.

True different strokes, but he outsings Taylor Drunken Fool Hicks who sangs everything the same way, with his drunken dancing at a wedding act and was very off-key on "In the Ghetto".

Ugh, I hate Taylor a lot.

I cannot stand this motherf*cker! I hate him! I think I'd spit in his face if I saw him lol!

That's it. I'm threw with AI. Done. Complete. This is such bull [!@#$%^&*] and the show just LETS it happen! Katherine should have went home. This is just another stupid popularity contest and not about who can sing. That's it. AI sucks and I am not watching AT ALL anymore.

And Chris didn't even have a bad nite. He's had worst. Much worst.

True that RBSoapFan. So true! I said it last year when Bo Bice didn't win and I mean it this time. IDOL I'm DONE!

THIS IS BULLS**T!!!!!

I didn't even care if he won but him leaving before Taylor is a joke. Kat at least can sing. All Taylor does is do frickin jigs and acts like a drunk at a barn dance and he gets votes. GIVE ME A BREAK!! I used to like Taylor but at this point in the competition I need vocals. If I want what Taylor gives me I will walk down to my bar, get my friends drunk, and pay them to dance on a table and sing karoke. I let it go in regards to Taylor before but I am not anymore. KAT AND ELLIOT KICK HIS ASS!!!

This is AI 3 all over again. Watch AI get low finale numbers now just like they did when Fantasia won. This sucks-he may not have won but he should be in the top 3 no question.

Oh and why the hell did AI let Taylor sing? I thought he was in the bottom 3 when he did but he wasn't. Chris didn't even get a send off. Why is Idol pimping him-his vocals stink? My apologies to those who like him but if you watch the show back like I do he is almost always off key. That is not an American Idol and this is a singing competition. If he wins this thing, I am through!!!

True, Chris, Kate & Elliot all KICK TAYLOR's ASS! True that, Taylor cannot sing, his vocals stink, his dancing stinks, he almost always sings off key! It's crazy! I agree AI is pimping him and that Rebecca Romjin wanting him to sing crap was staged and I'm now believing this damned show maybe fixed.

Yea, that scripted Taylor request was retarded and disrespectful to the other 3, especially Chris. I'm tired with the AI producers/Taylor f**king.

Me too. I wish Simon, Ryan, Paula, Randy and those who voted for Taylor (sorry if I'm offending anybody, but I'm pissed) could get into a big orgy and [!@#$%^&*] him!

No ... Simon was mad because he predicted wrong. He probably didn't give two shits but you know he always has to be right.

But the Idol producers and judges constantly had a hard on for Chris, so... I think they built it up in their minds he would win. Did you see how relieved Paula was that Elliot and Taylor were safe. Priceless. But I loved her reaction to Chris going.

I won't lie ... I'm glad Chris is gone because the competition is now wide open. I always root for the "supposed winner" right up until the end... I can't help it, I love underdogs. Chris will go on to greater things, it's not the end of the world.

There is no justice in the world of A.I., truly.

And, America is dumb. And unlike April of BB6, I'm not going to take that statement back. I am sick of American and their dumbass moves.

If Taylor Hicks wins, they will have to include video snippets with his CD because the real kick that people get out of Taylor is his strange antics and weird gyrations. Is there anything really special about his voice? Not at all.

This finale is going to suck. A finale without Chris will just be a lame-o karaoke competition.

Just look at the expression on Simon's face. He knows America got it wrong and the finale is gonna blow.

Agreed. Simon knows now its going to suck-all the judges knew. Did you see Nigel in the audience during Chris's last song-he was clapping his hands but he looked worried sick now. Chris was big on the west coast-he was the favorite of the celebrities from what I hear much like Bo last year and now that whole sector is pissed and that is a pretty powerful sector. This is going to be just like 2004 if Taylor wins-he will just fade into the backdrop and no one will give a damn and people will be pissed about Idol. What is with these odd years? AI 1, AI 3, and now AI 5 have had major upsets every season in regards to the faves going down? That is weird.

I don't think Chris's fans got too complacent. He was in the bottom 3 before. I think what happened was Elliot turned it on and took some of his votes and deservedly so. What should have happened though is Elliot should have gotten Taylor's votes rather then Chris's. That is where things went wrong. The judges now are going to push hard for Taylor/Kat now. I don't mind Kat but Elliot is going to get screwed now because he wasn't pimped from the beginning. If Chris had survived and Taylor or Kat left, Elliot would have had a shot but now between all the teenyboppers that text message and vote for Kat and all the tone deaf people that vote for Taylor that is your finale folks. Poor Elliot is done next week and you can blame Chris's ouster for it because the tennyboppers would have split votes with him and Kat and Elliot might have made it through.

This is such a joke. This has happened far too much and needs to stop. If Taylor wins this it will be just as worse as when Fantasia won if not worse. The finale is going to blow in the ratings. I would be shocked if it didn't.

There is no justice in the world of A.I., truly.

And, America is dumb. And unlike April of BB6, I'm not going to take that statement back. I am sick of American and their dumbass moves.

Agreed-people vote these things like idiots. They get it right a few times like last year but overall you get these voteforworst places (who are supporting Taylor too I beleive) and then these fanbases that override talent. Its a popularity contest plain and simple.

I felt so bad for Chris they way Ryan did it. He didn't even get the send off he deserved. His face looked so shocked and he looked like he wanted the title so bad. Its not about needing it-its about the right person getting it and he should have had his rightful chance to go for it. I thought it was so nice how he went up onstage and to all the other singers and hugged them at the end. It showed America he cared about his friends there and about the competition.

Well I think its rather harsh to call America dumb just because Chris got voted off. I didn't vote for him because he got to predictable for me. At first I really liked Chris but then all his songs started to sound the same and his voice IMO started to sound hoarse all the time, I believe that all 3 contestants left can sing and deserve to be there. I think people are voting for Taylor because he does sing well and is not boring, he is a breath of fresh air. Do I think he will win? I don't know but I won't be mad if any of these 3 win because they are all good in their own unique way. Chris leaving makes the finale better not worse, IMO.

I am a Taylor fan, I love his voice he's probably the only one that I would buy his CD.

So he can't dance, it's a singing competition.

He's very entertaining and someone would never think would win this because he looks older.

You see in his eyes how much he loves to sing and he's a superb soul singer.

So go TAYLOR!!!

After being disappointed going into the Top 12, will I actually get the finale I hoped for? Katharine McPhee vs. Elliott Yamin?!?! For the first time in Idol history, both finalists deserving to win?!?!

Taylor and Elliott may not be the "marketable" singers but they have set themselves apart from everyone else. Those two have something that Chris doesn't ... originality. T and E have strong personalities and their own music/performance style unlike Chris, who is nothing more that a Rocker wannabee that looks and sounds like any other Pop-Rock band. He has no range, no stage presence, and completly butchered Elvis and Johnny Cash songs.

I think it's refreshing to see Taylor, Elliott and Kat in the semi-finals. The three singers that are all about the music, instead of trying to look and act like Hollywood robots.

I'm shocked! I definitely thought Katharine was going home tonight. I agree with another poster that Chris doesn't need this title to be a success. He'll go on to front a band.

I stand by my boy Elliott! I think he's the most well-rounded of the final 3.

Edited to add: Dial Idol got it right.

Where is all this "Chris has no originality" talk coming from? He has veered out of the rock genre several times in the competition and did well. He landed in the bottom two twice while deviating from rock so that is clearly what people wanted him to sing. Elliot was the same old same old every week until this past week when he turned it on and was a little different. Taylor on the other hand is the same old. How can he set himself apart from the rest when all he does is scream his vocals and dance on stage? That is not what the winner is. If Taylor backed up his performance with strong vocals it would be fine but he doesn't. That second song Tuesday night was nice but it wasn't impressive. It was even off tune in spots. You can't just get by on dancing-if I want that I will go down to the Karoke bar. Its fine for those of you who like him-but this is not what this competition is about. If Taylor doesn't win it will be fine but if he wins it all I am done and I think alot of people will be. Its about the vocals and he does not have them.

All you Taylor fans should take note to that I liked Taylor until a few weeks ago when I noticed he sucked unless he did his dancing songs. He needs that to cover for his vocals. I just watched the show back and everyone has been talking about Kat being smug you should have seen the look on his face. It was almost like he knows he has it in the bag now since he has never been in the top 3 and now the fave is gone. The way AI pimped him tonight was ridiculous and the looks and reactions on the judges, Nigel's, and the people at AI tonight said it all. The fur is going to fly now and those left are going to feel the backlash like two years ago. People were mad about Jennifer Hudson and Latoya London so the finale fell well short in the ratings and it will again.

Even if you don't like Chris you can't deny this was wrong. Whether he needed it or not is not relevent. he wanted this and deserved his chance to sing for it and he didn't get it because the voting public once again chose based on popularity rather then talent.

I guess next year I will have my nephew try out for AI and just tell him to jump around on stage like he is drunk and then just collapse on stage so he can get to the final 3 and probably win the competition . That seems to be what American likes I gues-or is it voteforworst and Taylor-s fanbase that likes it? I respect you Taylor fans I do but for the sake of AI's credibility Kay and Elliot better advance or AI is in lods of trouble if it isn't already.

Oh and if we are going on people who don't need this competition-Taylor already has two cd's out. Go to dialidol and in the forums section. Some people already own his cd's so if Chris doesn't need it I guess Taylor doesn't either? I guess we can't just use that argument in relation to Chris if Taylor actually his cd's out before Chris-so if we go by that logic Taylor should be out next even if he deserves a chance since he does not need it.

Phoenix, you know I love ya but

I actually know what you mean though, Just like you liked Taylor until a few weeks ago. I liked Chris until a few weeks ago when he sang "What a Wonderful World" it was evident that he could only sing Rock Music and did not have the vocal chords to sing a ballad or a slow song.

I think with Taylor it's the throwback to old soul/blues/jazz music, and it's a nice treat to see that type music again. Elton John, Rod Stewart, Sam Cooke, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles and Bob Seager all have similar voices so he's in great company.

IMO Taylor has stong vocals. Not strong like Celine Dion but strong for the type of music he sings. Just like Chris has great vocals for type of Rock music he sings (Puddle of Mudd, Live, Incubus) After his AI contract is up, he will probably take that offer from Fuel.

I have both of Taylor's Pre Idol CD's "Under The Radar" and "In Your Time" and they are excellent!

I know that Krypton and you are right but for me its about the integrity of the show. If Kat or Elliot wins fine but Taylor is not good vocally and this is a SINGING competition. This has happened far too much starting with Tamyra Grey then Latoya London and now this. It ruins the credibility. I am not saying it was fixed I am just saying people are voting on looks and popularity instead of vocals and talent. I would have even been fine with Kat leaving just as long as Taylor did next week. Its just wrong and goes against what the show is about.

It reminds of what happened with DWTS2. Stacy and Lisa were better then Jerry and they both got screwed because Jerry was more popular. That is why I think AI should give most of the percent of voting to the fans and some percentage to the judges so that things like this don't happen. Its not about the person needing it-its about who is better vocally and deserves to move on and it was down to Taylor and Kat last night. Both were bad but Taylor was worse vocally. If Chris had a bad night fine but he was fine last night. He has done worse. If this happens again next week and Taylor goes through and then wins-I am through completely.

Much as we agree on "Days" and 'Pash,' Phoenix, I have to disagree here.

The truth is, everyone has different opinions of all the Idol hopefuls, so I don't think it's fair to say anyone is better than the other as fact. Whereas you think Taylor can't sing, I TRULY got CHILLS during his rendition of "In the Ghetto." I thought it was the best performance of the night, easily. And even if others didn't, that's no reason to quit watching the show. After all, Americans vote for the winners, not the judges. So it's only our fault if we didn't call in enough for our favorites.

So then it is all just a popularity contest? Why claim that it is about singing? Katherine isn't the best singer there now and many who have been voted out were better. She's not bad, but I don't think anyone will deny that she is not the best and shouldn't be in the top 3, not Simon, not Randy and whomever... IMO... That's where the problem is. Votes are not made based on singing they are just made on popularity and once the show continues that way it is almost pointless for it be on the air IMO.

I don't agree that the votes aren't based on singing. AS somebody else mentioned, Yamin--who, let's face it, is probably the least marketable of all the top 10--is in the top 3 and, with any luck, probably will be in the top 2. That proves this competition is just fine.

Me too. I wish Simon, Ryan, Paula, Randy and those who voted for Taylor (sorry if I'm offending anybody, but I'm pissed) could get into a big orgy and [!@#$%^&*] him!

I never said Taylor can't sing. I was impressed with him twice in the competition but the last 3-4 weeks he has been horrible and its almost like he figures what the hell I can get by without vocals. My simple argument in my last post was that everyone said Chris didn't need it. Well, Taylor has two albums out so why does he need it then? That was my point.

The voting system itself isn't the problem-the people voting is. You got these sites who support the worst vocalist (they are supporing Taylor) and if a contestant happens to be from a large area (like Jasmine Trias) they can unfairly beat out a better singer. I don't think Chris was the best vocalist. I just simply think he was unjustly voted off and if it hadn't happened almsot every year I would be fine but it happens every year. This is a singing competition and if you watch the show back like I do mulitple times (I know have no life ) and listen Taylor is horrible. The dancing and all was nice but to win AI you need to display range and you have to falt out sing. We didn't have that in AI 3 and the ratings sucked and Fantasia did well but not as good as some other Idols. Last year we had that and look what happened-Carrie and Bo are doing extremely well. Chris didn't have a whole lot of range but he proved he could sing outside of his comfort zone-even if it wasn;t as good as his rock stuff he was decent. When Taylor comes out of his element and just stands and sings he is horrid. I would have been fine with Chris losing the next round but not now. His chance was shot to hell.

Honestly, what is going to happen on the finale when they ask Taylor to perform one of those good old fashioned sugary AI pop songs? He won't have the range to pull it off but Kat and/or Elliot will and he will look foolish. In the finale, he will need to sing but then again he hasn't had to sing the whole competition so go figure. Maybe he will prove me wrong but he needs to wow me and I don't mean prancing around on stage. I want a vocal performance not something that looks like a drunken stupor. I mean Simon even had his back turned to Taylor tonight when he was performing. Taylor actually sang "Jailhouse Rock " better tonight but last night was crap. If he comes out next week and wows me I will eat my crow but if he continues his trend of the last few weeks and still wins this thing I am done. I watch because its about the singing and I vote on the singing. Chris and Kat are my faves but I did not vote for Kat last night. I beleive you should vote on whose performances you felt were good vocally and Elliot and Chris got my votes. You can't even blame this on Chris's fans. They voted just as well its just Elliot probably took his votes Kat's fans came out in full force because she wasn't good either. I would have even been happy with my other fave Kat going home but Chris was all wrong and Taylor winning is too. Everyone likes who they like but if you honestly watch it back Taylor was the worst vocally last night and has been for a while. Kat has had her moments to but she seems to rebound on her other song so she makes it up but Taylor vocally has not been pretty if you watch it back.

After being disappointed going into the Top 12, will I actually get the finale I hoped for? Katharine McPhee vs. Elliott Yamin?!?! For the first time in Idol history, both finalists deserving to win?!?!

No.

A ) Kat sucks and isn't deserving. She's fake and phony, and all she really does is hit a high note at the end of each song, flash her ass in some tight jeans, and shows her mid-riff and gets by. God knows how.

B ) Taylor is NOW a shoe-in for the final two AND the win.

Unfortunately.