'Idol' results hit sour note with local fans

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

"American Idol" viewers in Hawai'i knew Camille Velasco was on shaky ground this week, but few expected fellow Hawai'i finalist Jasmine Trias to be trembling with her — and that has a few conspiracy-minded people here thinking the worst.

VELASCO

TRIAS

In a new twist on the weekly culling process, the nine Idol finalists were separated into groups of threes on Wednesday's broadcast. Trias was grouped with Velasco and 16-year-old Diana DeGarmo of Snellville, Ga., as the three contestants with the fewest votes.

DeGarmo was let off the hook, leaving two Hawai'i girls to dangle over the last cut.

As judge Simon Cowell predicted two weeks ago, the one to go was Velasco, who has struggled with her composure on stage.

Before the cut was announced, both were asked to sing. Trias sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"; Velasco, prophetically, sang "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road," a performance that felt like a death rattle.

"It was horrible watching (Velasco) sing her last song," said Wendy Sabog, 40, of Kalihi. "Oh, I felt so bad for her. She knew it was over."

And Sabog said she knew it, too.

"I think once Simon targets you, it sends cues out to everybody not to vote for you," Sabog said. "He influences the outcome."

But Jasmine?

"That was a complete shock," Sabog said. "Yeah, she didn't perform as well this week as before, but the two haole boys (John Stevens and Jon Peter Lewis) were way worse. They've been bad the whole time."

According to Fox spokes-person Alexandra Gillespie, Velasco, Trias and Degarmo did indeed receive the fewest votes from Idol watchers this week.

Still, some local "Idol" watchers insist that something smells foul.

"I mean, come on," said Lilly Tengan, 20, of Nu'uanu. "They expect us to think the two Hawai'i girls ended up together by accident? Yeah, right. Not even."

Tengan said she believes Velasco was cut legitimately, but that Trias was added to the mix simply for the sake of drama.

"It's like soap operas on that show," she said. "Only one thing really happens so they have to make it dramatic and stretch it out to last one hour."

Leigh Jensen, 37, of Manoa said she thinks Stevens continues to survive because of where he comes from. Stevens "is a New Yorker," she said. "You lose him, you risk losing one of your biggest markets."

Still, Jensen said she appreciates the fact that the crooning redhead dares to be different.

"I have to give him credit," Jensen said. "I can also see why you might want to reward him for at least standing out and being true to his own style."

A USA Today poll conducted before Wednesday's broadcast had Velasco in last place with just 1 percent of respondents' votes. Lewis (2.7 percent) was next, followed by Stevens (3 percent), DeGarmo (4.8 percent) and Trias (5.1 percent). George Huff was the most popular, with 31.8 percent.

Justin Sabala, 19, of 'Aiea, said he wouldn't put it past the shows producers to manipulate the show's voting results, but he said Trias' tenuous position probably has more to do with where she comes from.

"The Mainland is more big than Hawai'i, so it's hard for her to get as many votes as the Mainland people," he said.

Some felt Velasco, in particular, was hurt by the songs she had to choose from.

"I don't think Elton John was right for her," said Allen Tripp, 49, of Mo'ili'ili. "I think maybe they choose music that isn't right for certain people."

Despite the suspicions, Hawai'i viewers are confident that Trias will advance, and many said that as long as she does, they'll keep watching.

"I think she's going to make it through at least the next two rounds," Tripp said.

And even if she doesn't, Melva Mae Wong, 51, of Wai'anae has her next career turn all mapped out.

"I'd love to see her be the next Miss Hawai'i," Wong said. "I'm very proud of how she's handled herself. I'd definitely vote for her for Miss Hawai'i."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2461.