personality, personality, personality

I'm a little annoyed by the fact that everybody keeps calling Melinda's elimination a "shocker." Not true. These are probably the same people who still think AI is a talent competition.

In summary, Melinda sang well, but she was stiff. Let's just say she was a former backup singer for a reason. Think she never had the opportunity to step into the spotlight? Think again. She probably had plenty of opportunities, but was denied because she didn't have the personality that's so central to star power.

Is Melinda's elimination some gross injustice to popular culture? Hardly. I'm willing to venture that there are plenty of struggling singers out there who can sing better than 75 percent of today's hot artists. But they don't know how to make waves.

And even though it isn't the American public's job to market the show's eventual winner, viewers like to take on that responsibility. Whether or not it's warranted, people consider things like marketability when they're casting their votes. Why shouldn't they? They're the ones who will ultimately buy -- or not buy -- the winner's CD.

Finally, let's not forget that this show is about unpredictability, the same thrill you get during the auditions when you don't know if the fat guy approaching the judges is going to fail or blow you out of the park. As strange as it sounds, Melinda was too consistent. She was too fail-safe, too technically superior, too perfect.

I don't think voters want that in the finale. They want someone human, not a vocal fembot who always woos judges beyond belief. Part of AI's appeal is its emphasis on progression -- the idea that some kid can go from singing in his or her parents' basement to receiving a standing ovation at the Kodak Theater.

Melinda, it seemed, was already there.

And let's just say her "Death Cheater" T-shirt last night didn't help, either. What was THAT about?