[IMG:L]Jason Castro made it a lot easier over the past week for voters torn between him and Syesha Mercado (David Cook and David Archuleta haven’t been in the elimination equation for some time now).
First, he was quoted in the most recent issue of Entertainment Weekly as saying the following in regards to American Idol: “What happens happens. I’ll sing and if people like it, they like it. And if they don’t, they don’t. I’m kind of ready to go home.”
Then, on Tuesday night, came his coup de grace: forgetting the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.”
The dreadlocked singer’s lyrical blunder wasn’t endearing the way Brooke White’s was a couple weeks ago or negligible like Archuleta’s a couple months ago; no, Castro hummed along wordless for a good five seconds to one of the 20th century’s songwriting masterpieces, with nothing but his amateurish guitar playing to distract cringing viewers (it was a solo, acoustic performance!).
Simon Cowell promptly told Castro to “pack your suitcase”–advice he admitted to heeding on Wednesday night’s show–and viewers promptly gave him the boot, although Idol host Ryan Seacrest said the results were close.
But just how upset is Castro about being voted off?
Well, in addition to his comments about being “ready to go home,” the 21-year-old Texan took his elimination on Wednesday night with a smile and, apparently, a side of relief.
When Seacrest asked if Castro was indeed relieved after being eliminated, he said, “A little. There’s three songs next week–I don’t know what I woulda done.”
Which perfectly summed up Castro’s overlong stay on the show: flustered, goofy, reluctant. It also confirmed that he just wasn’t cut out for the Final Four to begin with (sorry, teenage girls).
As for next week, to which Castro alluded in his parting words of wisdom Wednesday night, Syesha and the Davids will sing three songs apiece–one chosen by the judges, one by the producers and one by the individual contestant.
And with all due respect to Syesha, her elimination next week–no matter how well she performs–is one of the safest bets in Idol history.
