In a minor "shock," Aussie Michael Johns, once signed to Madonna's Maverick Records, got eliminated from "Idol" last night, ahead of the resurgent Kristy Lee Cook and the increasingly stumbling Carly Smithson.
Smithson, like much of America, seemed sure she was heading home after her iffy "inspirational" version of Queen's "The Show Must Go On."
Johns initially seemed like an early favorite to win the season, but as the show went on, he fell into a predictable, not-so-exciting pattern, getting surpassed by the inventiveness of David Cook and the juggernaut that is David Archuleta.
Did he exit a little early? Sure. But he probably would have struggled with Mariah Carey week anyway and be gone soon enough. And Carly shouldn't worry because she's in a similar predicament. Shouldn't they know by now that for "Idol" voters being boring is even worse than being bad?