scenario where blake (or maybe even chris r.) could win

[pete fabrizio]

so if blake manages to get to the final 3 with melinda and lakisha, he has a reasonable shot at beating the worse of those two that week and squeaking into the final 2. In the finale, they perform an original song. this is usually the worst part of the season, as we get crap like "Do I make you Proud?" But as more of a musician than a singer anyway, Blake might have a real advantage in this. can't you imagine him busting out something pretty sweet that people will want to hear on the radio, while Lakinda sings some boring old-fashioned [censored] (perfectly) that no one will ever want to hear again?

[private joker]

If Chris Richardson wins, I'm going to eat out Ryan Seacrest.

[Curtrosity]

[ QUOTE ]
If Chris Richardson wins, I'm going to eat out Ryan Seacrest.

[/ QUOTE ]

gross.

OP definitely has a point.

[Analyst]

One problem with your scenario - in the round of three, say the votes go 40% Blake, 35% Melinda, 25% LaKisha. Blake would have to pick up over 40% of the LaKisha vote to win, which I don't see happening. Of course, you could set this up where Blake already gets over half the round of three votes and doesn't need to pick up any more, but I think that's pretty unlikely. At this point, at least (and assuming DI isn't completely messed up) Melinda and LaKisha are dominating the votes.

I like Blake and think he's a pretty good musician and very good onstage. He'll probably sell more than any of the other contestants - but he isn't half the singer that Melinda is.

[disjunction]

Yes, I'm interested to see what happens in the Final 3 where the worst singer clearly has the best night. I don't remember this ever happening, and the "X singer has no chance" arguments depend on this.

[pete fabrizio]

[ QUOTE ]
One problem with your scenario - in the round of three, say the votes go 40% Blake, 35% Melinda, 25% LaKisha. Blake would have to pick up over 40% of the LaKisha vote to win, which I don't see happening. Of course, you could set this up where Blake already gets over half the round of three votes and doesn't need to pick up any more, but I think that's pretty unlikely. At this point, at least (and assuming DI isn't completely messed up) Melinda and LaKisha are dominating the votes.

I like Blake and think he's a pretty good musician and very good onstage. He'll probably sell more than any of the other contestants - but he isn't half the singer that Melinda is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Um, he can also pick up "melinda votes." while there are fan clubs and such that vote for the same person every time, a lot of america just votes for the performance that they love.

I think Blake needs to hope for is a round of 3 that goes something like Melinda 40, Blake 35, Lakisha 25. then in the final he squeaks by with a great song against whatever junk melinda sings very well.

[thing85]

To add to Pete's comment, I think many Melinda fan don't like Lakisha and many Lakisha fans don't like Melinda. It's the classic case where you have a favorite and dislike the direct competition simply because it's competition.

Under that assumption, if Lakisha goes because of Melinda's popularity (in a top 3 setting), I could see many Lakisha fans pulling for Blake (or whoever) to beat out Melinda, because she caused their favorite to become eliminated. I don't know how realistic this rationale is, but it seems logical.

Also, as Pete said, many people just vote for the best performance. Either way, I think there are several significant factors aside from just liking the Melinda/Lakisha "style" if you want to call it that.

[SoCalRugger]

I don't think Melinda and Lakisha both make Top 3. I think Lakisha goes out 4-6. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking, since I really don't like her.