Let's get to the main point:
Was there a conspiracy by Fox to get rid of Chris?No... for the following reasons:
1) there is always a "shocking" exit every season on AI (though few less shocking than this one.) Beginning with the first season, Tamyra Gray was booted in fourth place over the vocally poor Nikki "Pole Dancer" McKibbin. Just last season Constantine was booted early on over Scott Savol (though I prefered Scott over Crapenstine, personally). Not only that we had four
very good singers & performers. With three white Southern males, the vote was bound to be split in some ways.
2) why on Earth would Fox anger so many viewers by getting rid of the guy who was leading most of the polls to win? why on Earth would Fox dump such a good singer when many more fans were tuning in just to watch Chris? It makes no sense logically or financially.
3) re the phone number conspiracy. Last season Fox had two instances which the phone numbers were messed up or had technically difficulty, and not only admitted it, but in one instance even had a revote taken. Some fans say they couldn't get through, some have said they got through right away and voted for an hour straight. I haven't voted for Chris for sometime, throwing all my votes to Elliot (with a few thrown in for Taylor).
All this conspiracy talk is just poor sportsmanship on the part of fans and now listening & reading Chris' exit interviews, I see where they get it from.
Chris admitted that he arrogantly believed he was untouchable. On RealityTVGames, there is a post of play-by-play when he & Katharine were on the Seal. He's smirking & grinning just before the announcement, like he
knew there was no way he was going. Not only that, now he's placing the blame firmly on the shoulders of the voters, rather than admitting that his voice was having problems and he showed minimal personality (& mostly a boring one). And that his intensity - while great for most of the songs he sang - turned off alot of viewers. Hard rock music is not as popular as one thinks in the U.S. (witness Carrie, Kellie, Bucky....)
I've been reading & reviewing the boards the past few days, and surprisingly many fans - while not ecstatic that he's gone - actually are relieved not to have to listen to his one-note singing, see his glaring, unsmiling face/eyes, or get bored. These are not my opinions (though true to some extent), but rather everything I've gathered on the boards.
Why did Chris lose is a different story. I believe that yes, the fans weren't out in full force. But also, the majority of votes come in through
TEXT MESSAGING, NOT PHONING. Chris's fans for the most part, aren't the type to spend $ texting. Not only that, based on his interviews and listening to the last two weeks, I believe Chris was phoning his performances in, waiting for the finale. And I'm not the only one who believed that. It's very obvious now that he's very hurt, upset, and slightly bitter.
OVER A TV SHOW?! One that gave him more fans and opportunities than he could ever have singing in a bar. He needs to calm down, move on, and so do the fans. Chris will actually be better off not having won or even come in second and have to do some lame-ass soft-rock like Bo was forced to do. (For proof, a months-old documentary that was reviewed on FoxOnIdol.com, it's very revealing on how frustrated Bo was in making 'his' CD.)
