Gatekeepers (and a rant)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Before I post the results, I want to take a moment to thank the Gatekeepers.

It is not the easiest position to be in, knowing that your vote may be the one that can tip the balance in either direction. Knowing that a handful of you are going to be making a decision that will have a major impact on the competition.

In this case it literally came down to 1 vote. 1 vote that tipped us from being in a position to eliminate 23 to one where we are eliminating 11.

This wasn't an easy decision. I wish that I could say there were so many amazing entries to pick from - actually I did hear some *very* nice things from the Gatekeepers about a number of entries.

I'm going to be quite blunt though, and say something that you have never heard me say before. I don't care how long you have been at Idol. This is the first time that I've said this, and I hope it's the last - this week did not live up to expectations whatsoever.

I don't know if it was that people froze when you saw "Open Topic" or what. I still maintain that HANDS DOWN this is my favorite group of writers from *any season* - and maybe that's it, maybe I just hold you to a higher standard because of that. I know what you are capable of doing, and when I see you not doing it, I just get all befuddled.

I digress, but I do it because I think that it needs to be said. The line between "in" and "out" this time was one vote. I don't think anyone should be feeling particularly safe right now.

1 vote, and I'll be frank about this, they were nicer than *I* would have been.

It's really time to dig in and refocus. Show that talent that amazes me week after week.

Because I know it's there and I want other people to see it too.

/mindless rant and return to thanking the Gatekeepers.

Our Gatekeepers came from a fairly wide range of backgrounds and experiences within Idol, from a couple of winners, to an academic, some fan favorites, an early drop who caught my attention quite early, and one of my favorite contestants of all time - as I said earlier, this is an amazing group of people:


Season 5 Finalist (who was eliminated during a Gatekeeper round and *brought back into the game) abbismom
Season 5 Winner boxsofrain
Season 4 Winner chite
The rogue poet danialtravieso
The Dark One (and Season 5 runner up) darkprism
The complete professional in every sense of the word just_the_ash (formerly ka_crow)
The one who I wished hadn't dropped out so early! perrie
The always outspoken rm
The veteran of veterans (who has experienced both being eliminated and surviving Gatekeeper rounds) spydielives
The previous mentioned personal favorite the_dark_snack

Thank you to all of you.

Comments

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Well I can't say much since I took a bye. I did have a topic towards the end of the week but no internet.

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Wow! Thanks to all of you! I was surprised and pleased to see the really varied list of people!

[sushimustwrite.livejournal.com]

I guessed only four gatekeepers correctly this time. Losing my touch. ;)

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

I only got four, and I include myself!

[sonarvampress.livejournal.com]

I actually thought this week was lame too. I think it was the free topic thing though it's so much easier to pick what to write about when we're given a topic.

[finding_helena]

I agree, it was harder to write. I literally said to my husband "Tell me what to write about", because I couldn't come up with anything. Hence why I ended up writing about bikes. I rejected his first topic choice. I forget what it was.

[oberonia.livejournal.com]

Well, thank you guys for doing the hard work! Gatekeeper rounds are always hard for the judges.


On another note...I was rather fond of my entry this week. LOL AND several others, especially zia_narratora's. :)

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks so much!

[lyrical-liessss.livejournal.com]

Ahh, I've never been through this before so it's been nerve racking.

[drippedonpaper.livejournal.com]

I'd like to know too?

[sra33.livejournal.com]

*jaw drop*

Now I'm even MORE scared. D:

Get on with it, yes? End this misery?!

*clings to people around*

ETA Oh yes, sorry. When I first saw this post I had originally intended to thank the Gatekeepers for their time and effort. :) Then I got blindsighted. So um yes.

Thank You! :D

[drippedonpaper.livejournal.com]

::grabs you back:: :)

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

What a fantastic choice of Gatekeepers! I called three (and a friend of mine called another) but all very highly qualified and utterly respected.

Sorry I didn't get to post this week but what a bunch of people to be judged by.

[onda-bianca.livejournal.com]

Wow.

It is far too easy to use the "open" topic like a "free" topic. And many use that as a time to try something new.

That said, I still like my entry and I liked quite a few entries from several other contestants as well.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

My comments are here -- http://spydielives.livejournal.com/2110830.html

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[jack-batelin.livejournal.com]

I don't mind saying that I froze up when I saw that it was an Open Topic week. If this is my week to go, at least I went out on an entry that I, myself, thought wasn't up to par.

[gratefuladdict.livejournal.com]

Wow... If anyone needs me, I'll be huddled in the corner looking for my happy place...

[darkprism.livejournal.com]

Can I come, too?

[hug-machine.livejournal.com]

Waaaah, my stomach is somewhere between a butterfly garden and a pretzel factory. So many knots!

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!!! *holds hands*

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

IT IS A CAT'S CRADLE.

[stormkitty.livejournal.com]

Thank you to the Gatekeepers, it couldn't have been a particularly easy job.

I will say, while I'm pleased with what I wrote, I do worry that I shook down into the bottom compared with some of the other entries. Well, I guess we'll see.

[beautyofgrey.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Gatekeepers, for all your hard work! (So is Gary the Keymaster? And do you guys cause fantastic lightning storms when you work together?)

[norda.livejournal.com]

There is no Gary, only Zuul.

[C'mon, someone had to say it...]

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Gatekeepers, for doing what you did, and choosing the contestants that you thought were the strongest. I'm sure it was hard on you, but your hard work is definitely appreciated.

[marjory.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Gatekeepers.

[darkprism.livejournal.com]

That's MADAM Dark One to you, Gary.

*wink*

And my comments/notes/rambling bits of nonsense can be found HERE (http://darkprism.livejournal.com/271445.html).

[norda.livejournal.com]

That's a very nice spread of Gatekeepers, and my hat is off to all of you.

[beloved-tree.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Gatekeepers! :) This must be a nerve-wracking job. I can't help wondering how my entry went over with various judges (natural human curiosity, I suppose) but suffice it to say, I'm happy it made the cut!

[lawchicky.livejournal.com]

Thank you to the gatekeepers. This must have been a tough job!

[boxsofrain.livejournal.com]

You know I am a huge fan of yours, and this weeks entry did not disappoint at all. :)

[hexkitten.livejournal.com]

Thanks to all of the Gatekeepers. Let me know where to send these cookies I baked for not eliminating me.

[the-dark-snack.livejournal.com]

We're just holding out for the boobie pics.

Seriously, you had a very good entry.

[java-fiend.livejournal.com]

Well, being that I took a bye, I didn't even live up to my own expectations. Bleh. Consider my butt appropriately kicked... and just for the record, I never feel safe.

Thanks to the Gatekeepers... I know that couldn't have been fun or easy...